I was a bit too young when Deus Ex was originally released to have played through it fully. Yes, it is now 2022 and people are still going back to the classic games and completing them. Many people have told me that this is one of the ultimate PC gaming experiences and that this game paved the way for immersive RPG's and FPS titles that would come after it. Was it all hype? Not really. As someone who has played many modern games and experienced the comfort of present day mechanics, where games have polish and big budgets and a shiny hollywood feel... would a game as old as this hold up? In my opinion? yes! Even though the FPS elements are janky and dependent on your skills and then coinciding RPG mechanics that make those elements function are somehwhat primitive, its the overall combination of the outdated mechanics, the story, and the undeniable charm of this game that come together and make this a masterpiece. Of course I have experienced better gunplay. Of course I have experienced better Stealth mechanics. Of course I have experienced better RPG-lites. It's the tying together of these systems, combined with interesting social interactions and a completely choice driven and nearly fully interactable world that blend together and create a gaming experience that I am absolutely satisfied to have played. Yes the game shows it age, but the concepts explored here are the foundation of many modern titles with an excellent story to boot. Play. This. Game.
Can mainly speak to MoO 2 as that's the one I plunged 100's of hours into. If you even have the most basic interest in 4X or Civ type games you'll abolutely love this one. All the concepts of a good 4X and Grand Strategy game are here, expanding into new planets, managing your colonies and fleets, researching technologies and advancing the tech tree, tense diplomacy with your rivals, allies and enemies. It's all executed so well here, and the satisfaction of seeing your fleet power grow, the buildings populate on each of your planets and filling in the map as you travel the stars and discover where your enemies are... its all just so well done. Each race has its strengths and weaknesses, and although there may be some races that are overall weaker than the others, it still lends to the games replayability as you try and maximize what each different race is effective at doing. Some are excellent at diplomacy while others are so hideous or disliked that they have little to no diplomacy options at all. It's easy to see where future sci-fi games of this genre found a lot of inspiration, and this one still holds up as a highly enjoyable example of why it remains a classic.
Bullfrog/EA Games were synonymous with childhood fun back in the day. One of their most classic titles was Theme Hospital. Here, you'll be building rooms, and designing an efficient layout for your Hospital as you treat a variety of humorous illnesses. The games charm and graphical style hold up perfectly, and any gamer who had a PC back in the late 90's will feel comforted and fuzzy inside as you revisit this all-time classic. There are a few "dumb AI" issues as you get into the later stages of the game but even through some frustration and nit-pickiness I never wanted to shut the game off.
As Maxis transitioned out of it's retro years and into modernity we received SC3K, a charming but awkward entry in the franchise. With graphical improvements, a host of tools to access data and charts on your cities progress and a wonderful soundtrack, humorous advisors and petitioners... there is just something about this one that doesn't hold my interest the way SC2K does. Maybe I prefer the aesthetic and simple and clean interface of 2K more than this, but that isn't to say 3K doesn't have its place. The options for making your city look and feel the way you want it to, with special reward buildings, monuments and tilesets it an incredible addition to the game that really gives your city some variety. The scenarios this time around are well excecuted and quite interesting as well. The game is quite easy, even compared to the already fairly easy SC2K and though your city may face a few problems here and there, nothing is ever unsolvable or frustrating. I can't place my finger on exactly why, since 3K is a wonderful game, but I just simply prefer the retro approach of 2K. Still this one is well worth your time, and is probably the last very good entry in the series as Sim City 4 and 5 never came as close to capturing the simplistic joys of these classic Maxis titles.
City Building, Simulations and Management type games have always been some of my favorites and SC2K scratches a particular itch that few others have touched. You won't find the modern depth and complexity of modern simulations and management games here but that doesn't detract at all from how much fun there is to be had in this classic title. The simplicity and relaxed difficulty of this older city builder is a perfect escape from the day-to-day, as the charming graphics and music take you back to a simpler time. Plopping down your power plants, zoning out your areas and watching your city spring to life is a joy. You won't need to micro-manage and tear your hair out while solving traffic problems or complex minutae, although the game gives you options of rail, subway system and even highways to help out... the game is much more relaxed and its easy to get into a flow state and lose a few hours when firing this up. When you get bored, there are a number of scenarios to tackle for those that want a more focused game with some challenge, though I personally dont find these to be a lot of fun. There are a few nit-picky things here and there that are annoying but every time I turn this game on I lose out on half a day. For anyone who appreciates the classics this is a must-have in anyone's library.
Some of the games from my childhood don't age well as I return to them now. Dungeon Keeper is an absolute exception. Sure the graphics are never as good as you remember them but the sound design and aesthetics are absolutely masterful. There was nothing quite like this in strategy gaming when I was a kid, and still not a lot comes close these days. Though there are some modern takes on this lmiited genre of Dungeon Management, none have ever made me as happy as this original classic. The game isn't overly deep, or even all that difficult, but I admit to struggling on some of the later missions when I was a kid. Coming back so many years later and replaying this as an adult has been an absolute treat. With my mind matured and geared towards strategy I was able to crush the games main campaign and immediately started over because I wanted to keep playing. The game isn't overly deep or complex and your immediate control over your minions is very limited. But the gameplay loop of designing your dungeon layout, training your minions, setting down some traps and then executing the final battle while your creatures shriek, scream, cast spells and beat down the troublesome forces of good and your rival keepers is masterful. The chaos of these battles is fun to behold, even through the pixels and aged graphical quality. For a few bucks you have a highly addictive game that you'll return to time and again. Just beware the sequel isnt quite as good.
Firstly, I have many fond memories of the Medal of Honor series and Allied Assault is perhaps one of the finest examples of the franchise. The theming, aesthetics and atmosphere are remarkable considering the games age. Very few games, and even more modern takes on this genre fail to really capture the feeling of 1940's warfare. With an excellent ambient soundtrack, solid sound design and surprisingly good voice over and acting work, this title excels at delivering the look and feel of WW2. . With a mix of run and gun combat, stealth and espionage as you steal documents and sabotage tanks, guns and ammo caches and even the epic set piece of D-Day, these are timeless monuments to what PC gaming and FPS games had achieved back in the day. Disguising as a German officer and sneaking aboard a submarine, sneaking through in the darkness of night and avoiding spotlights while you weave your way deep into enemy territory. These were outstanding gaming memories when I was a youth and a lot of it holds up shockingly well even today. However, even nostalgia and the memories of my most formative experiences with gaming can not hide some of the issues of a game that has aged well in some areas and very poorly in others. By the time Mission 5 rolls around and you're in the last half of the game, the issues become too frustrating to be considered fun, even from a gaming veteran who prefers old and difficult games. The infamous "Sniper Town" level will lift the veil and the game will cease to have much fun left in it. The enemies carry snipers, do not miss, and know where you are 100 percent of the time. The games limited draw distance and graphical fidelity means it is nearly impossible to progress without quicksave cheesing and memorization of enemy locations. Combine with the fact that some sections have teleporting and infinitely spawning troops means that any sort of fun and engaging difficulty has been replaced with cheap shots and frustration.
