HOMM 4 is bit different from HOMM 3. And since the vast majority of players started with 3, those differences are considered bad. I suggest not to listen too much to the fanboys. Both games are good. But 4 is much more balanced, has better graphics, is much better documented (you can get most info right in the game, while 3 leaves you with much guesswork or internet-searches). I'd say it also plays better, but that might be because I'm used to its UI and mechanics and would be no more valid than the HOMM3-fanboys chant. Besides that, the differences are mostly a question of taste. You like your heroes transparently customizable? Play 4 You're afraid someone might hurt your heroes? Play 3 Like to send lot's of low lvl units around to scout? Play 4 Like surprises, because your cheapest scout party costs as much as a dragon? Play - your guessed it: 3 Prefer heroes that cast spells and/or improve army stats? Play wathever you want. Like heroes that, in addition to that, can sneak past enemy lines, take out small bands by themself? Only 4 has that kind of hero-versatility. I personally prefer HOMM4, it accomodates my playing style. It's more strategic, because scouting is cheaper. More tactic because you can decide wether to attack the hero first to take away the armies boni or neutralize the thread of disrupting spells, or go for the glass-cannons right away. You can combine a few very different heroes into one stack for specific tactics. If, however, you are a die-hard fan of HOMM 1 & 2 and want more of the same - go with 3
This game is the sequel to one of the greatest crpgs in and outside of the D&D-franchise. It has interesting companions that grow on you, the same great game mechanics, and quite a few sidequests that go beyond the usual "go there kill those" of many current crpgs. It is a bit more focused on items, and the prestige-classes do not add much to the game, but that is pretty usual for sequels. Unfortunately, it starts telling a vast story, and then suddenly ends without ever getting closed to finishing it. It feels like there should be a second half to the game that was cut due to budget reasons or christmas drawing close. So.. if you have loads of time on your hands, really loved KOTOR 1, and don't mind a feeling of incompleteness go ahead. If not, I'd recommend Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. which are both on par with KOTOR 1, and hands down better than KOTOR 2
MOO 2 scratches the same itch as Civilisation, but unlike those almost eternal Civ-sessions you can finish a game in one or two days. (You don't have to, by all means choose a cluster-type map, do lots of micromanagement, and play for a week or two). You can tailor your custom-race to your playing style. In the highest difficulty setting this is highly recommended. You can also tailor your research, and ultimately your ships towards your opponents weaknesses, with sometimes devastating results. Your opponents however could do the same. (Un)fortunately the AI doesn't make much use of that opportunity, but if you play against a skilled human player that has a potential for lots of fun - or frustration. MOO 1 is not bad either, but a lot of things got streamlined in 2, so I for one play almost exclusively MOO 2. To me, MOO2 is the best turn based deep strategy game to date, and a must buy for fans of that genre, especially on sale
This game is a curios one. Maybe best described as a sandbox knight simulator, or Pirates! with horses. It allows you to do pretty much anything you like - trade, fight, rob, coerce, or climb up the hierarchy and do the same on a whole different scale: command bannermen, wage war, besiege and plunder. It's a game one can enjoy for many, many hours. That said... it needs dragons! Or something to that extend. Anything that lends color and a fresh breeze now and then. Because in the many, many hours it takes to become king, it gets a bit repetitive. Some kind of story, a rare monster every ten hours or so, maybe some pestilence, riots, fires... hell, I settle for In Extremo playing in one of my cities like in Gothic I...
.. in one brilliant package. This game does (almost) everything perfectly. A great story, a fantastic world, an adjustable, but high level of difficulty.. Don't get me wrong: You will hate STALKER, and for good reason. Ammo is scarce, Weapons and Armor degrade (quickly!), and if the monsters don't get you, the radiation will. Or the anomalies. Or Snipers. Or Hunger... But that is the beauty of STALKER. If you survive, you can be proud of yourself. You fight against a harsh, unforgiving world, and only skill will save you. Not high "level", grinding, or exploits. Guns have very realistic behavior, bullet drop and recoil, and you will quickly find yourself using your assault rifle in semiautomatic fire mode to save bullets and actually hit anything. Not coincidentally, just like the real world. However, unless you are really good at this kind of game AND like a slightly unfair challenge I suggest to at least install a mod that lets you fix your gear.
A ,ot of reviews call it a modern Baldurs Gate. And that would indeed be beautiful - if it were true. It's not Baldurs Gate. It's colorful, and has very decent graphics even on a mobile system (unlike certain other games of that genre - I'm looking at you, Gerald) But that's about all the positive I can say about the game. The player has very little freedom in his decisions, the only 'nonlinear' thing about the game is that you can decide which area to visit first. More often than not you are forced to choose between two options that no remotely sane person would pick. If you're lucky enough to actually get two options. More than once you will watch in disbelive as the discussion unfolds like this: Game: Let's go do something totally insane "You": No, I don't think so Game: But we have to "You": I said no! It's insane, it's wrong, it is absolutely unnecessary, and nobody can force us) Game: Ok, so it is decided, we do it And once the illusion of free will is gone (or you decide you are good with playing the worlds dumbest, most shortsighted and infuriating Hero imaginable - and yes, that includes Jar Jar Bings) what remains of Dragon Age? Boring fights that take way too long, but are mostly identical. Maps that are to big to run errands (and you have to run errands. A lot.), but way to small to explore. If you really need to compare this game to the classics, it is much closer to TOEE than to BG or Planescape:Torment. So, talking about good old games... If you want freedom, play Morrowind If you want story, play Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, or P:T If you want to play in a consistent world, play Gothic If you want all that DA:O promises, play Baldurs Gate. If you're ok with just killing thousands of similar Monsters with a lame story and a railroad plot, at least do it the fun way and play Diablo.
