Hidden gems

[Frick]

Wait, ZangbandTK?

 

[Sithaer]

I don't know if I have any "hidden" gems, but I always felt Jade Empire never gets the attention it deserves/deserved. A truly hidden gem is of course Bumping Balls 4, a game made by my cousin-in-law, and as such doesn't exist on the internet anymore. A great old school adventure that sometimes gets forgotten when listing great old school adventures is Full Throttle. And a game I just love but never see mentioned is Crimsonland.

Someone gifted me Jade Empire for xmas many years ago 'box copy' and I'm ashamed to say that I never played it.

@Sithaer +1 for Enclave. I actually remembered it while posting my list, I just couldn't recall the name.

I also almost forgot it, had to think a bit to recall the name.

O ye I just remembered this, I know that it wasn't exactly a success but I kinda liked it as a kid.

Command&Conquer: Renegade

 

[bug]

I also almost forgot it, had to think a bit to recall the name.

There was another one, roughly the same, a few years before Enclave. But I forgot that name for good. I only remember it had PowerVR support and weapons were more interesting/impactful.

 

[Bones]

Jane's WWII Fighters is one from way back in 98, before EA went to total shiite.
Ahead of it's time, VERY configureable and there was a site that had alot of mods for it, of which I still have a good many of those plus it's even got a mission editor/creator that's built-in too.
I can't tell you how many hours I spent flying it and just having fun all around.

 

[bug]

Jane's WWII Fighters is one from way back in 98, before EA went to total shiite.
Ahead of it's time, VERY configureable and there was a site that had alot of mods for it, of which I still have a good many of those plus it's even got a mission editor/creator that's built-in too.
I can't tell you how many hours I spent flying it and just having fun all around.

Strike Commander was also an underrated (imho) flight sim at the time.
There were a series of helicopter sims (Comanche-style), but those were well recognized.

 

[Rei]

Jane's WWII Fighters is one from way back in 98, before EA went to total shiite.
Ahead of it's time, VERY configureable and there was a site that had alot of mods for it, of which I still have a good many of those plus it's even got a mission editor/creator that's built-in too.
I can't tell you how many hours I spent flying it and just having fun all around.

Speaking of Jane's, heard there was a game from the same company that made it into the Guinness Book of World Record 2000 called Jane's 688(i) Hunter/Killer for being the most realistic submarine simulation at the time. Looked for the YouTube video: graphics was meh... gameplay was... complex...

 

[bug]

Speaking of Jane's, heard there was a game from the same company that made it into the Guinness Book of World Record 2000 called Jane's 688(i) Hunter/Killer for being the most realistic submarine simulation at the time. Looked for the YouTube video: graphics was meh... gameplay was... complex...

Too bad subs are boring. To make them slightly more interesting, you have to go back too WWII era when you had to aim torpedoes manually. I played a few of those, the only interesting thing that stuck was a mission when you started out surfaced (?) in the middle of a convoy that greeted you with their full fire power.

 

[Devon68]

These come to mind.
Infernal (2007) - is a modern-style third person shooter, with major fps influences. Players control protagonist, Ryan Lennox, a former angel turned dark by unfortunate circumstances who has access to a number of unique demonic powers, including pyrokinesis, teleportation, and the ability to feed on the souls of fallen enemies
and
Crashday (2006) - is a destruction derby/racing/car stunts game.

 

[Deleted member 194470]

I don't know if I have any "hidden" gems, but I always felt Jade Empire never gets the attention it deserves/deserved. A truly hidden gem is of course Bumping Balls 4, a game made by my cousin-in-law, and as such doesn't exist on the internet anymore. A great old school adventure that sometimes gets forgotten when listing great old school adventures is Full Throttle. And a game I just love but never see mentioned is Crimsonland.

Jade empire is a cool game, but when I played it the second time I did not think it was as good.

 

[silentbogo]

Almost forgot my favorite, though it's been dead for more than a decade...
Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa. After getting bored with typical "Elves'n'Dragons'n'shit" MMORPGs it was a breath of fresh air. One of the first decent MMOs in SciFi setting.
Played throughout the entire closed beta period and a bit afterwards, took a break after I started working night shifts. Came back a year later only to find out that the game is about to kick the bucket, and that Garriott is about to sue NCSoft.

 

[basco]

Abuse:

Abuse

Remember Abuse, an old video game from 1995? Download it and play again on MyAbandonware.

www.myabandonware.com

 

[Bones]

Too bad subs are boring. To make them slightly more interesting, you have to go back too WWII era when you had to aim torpedoes manually. I played a few of those, the only interesting thing that stuck was a mission when you started out surfaced (?) in the middle of a convoy that greeted you with their full fire power.

The Silent Hunter series has all that including going full-on manual everything. I can't say about the original and can't recall if SH2 has it (I think it does) I know for a fact SH3 and 4 does.
Speaking of "Boring" it has a time compresssion feature to get you to the warzone from your base in a hurry so you can leave out, time compress it until you reach enemy waters and go from there.

Also in career mode you always leave out from base to an objective/patrol point so it's not like you're popping up in the middle of a convoy.
There are missions/scenarios that do place you in a position like that but those are optional and not part of career mode games - You don't have to do those.

I do have to say it has it's share of bugs at times but nothing serious, there is even a glitch/bug that if you know how to do it is helpful.
Biggest issue I have is once detected by a partol aircraft it's like they "Know" where you are and you'll have to constantly watch for them.

That part of it doesn't seem realistic in how often they seem to find you and attack but deckgun fights with enemy destroyers coming after you is another deal - FUN to do and quite the challenge too!
Even alot of the merchant ships are armed too and can fight back with deckguns.

I haven;t played SH5 before so can't speak to that but SH3 and SH4 are the ones I'm referring to.
BTW if you can find a profile and compatable program they are voice command capable too!

 

[R-T-B]

SH5 is a weird animal that changed a lot of stuff. Not sure I'd advise it. SH3/4 are gems though.

 

[Sithaer]

These come to mind.
Infernal (2007) - is a modern-style third person shooter, with major fps influences. Players control protagonist, Ryan Lennox, a former angel turned dark by unfortunate circumstances who has access to a number of unique demonic powers, including pyrokinesis, teleportation, and the ability to feed on the souls of fallen enemies
and
Crashday (2006) - is a destruction derby/racing/car stunts game.

Those I remember somewhat.

My bro was into that Infernal game and I liked Crashday.
Well I like racing crash games in general, grew up on Carmageddon and FlatOut.

There was another one, roughly the same, a few years before Enclave. But I forgot that name for good. I only remember it had PowerVR support and weapons were more interesting/impactful.

Sadly I'm not sure what that could be, I also remember Rune as a fun game where you could even use your enemie's head as a weapon.

 

[yotano211]

there is a game called t34 vs tiger that is a complete gem but still needs lots of work. The game maker ran out of money so they don't support it anymore and there's only a few missions.
Its a ww2 tank sim based on the eastern front in the later years of ww2. It doesnt run on windows 10, i run it on Vista.

 

[R-T-B]

there is a game called t34 vs tiger that is a complete gem but still needs lots of work. The game maker ran out of money so they don't support it anymore and there's only a few missions.
Its a ww2 tank sim based on the eastern front in the later years of ww2. It doesnt run on windows 10, i run it on Vista.

OT, but have I possibly run into you on War Thunder?

Could swear I saw your user name the other day, and in my shock you killed me lol.

 

[s3thra]

Well then i´ll share 2 titles wich only a few will remember but when those games came out i really liked them:

The Wheel of Time from 1999

I'm glad you recommended this! I just finished reading the first Wheel of Time book and wondered if there was a game, and I stumbled upon it being kept alive here: https://wheeloftimegame.webs.com/

I downloaded it, but haven't had a chance to load it up and play it yet. At face value it looks kinda like the upcoming retro 3D Realms FPS GRAVEN. I guess it helps that they both use a fantasy setting and use the Unreal 1 engine.

 

[Deleted member 194470]

The Silent Hunter series has all that including going full-on manual everything. I can't say about the original and can't recall if SH2 has it (I think it does) I know for a fact SH3 and 4 does.
Speaking of "Boring" it has a time compresssion feature to get you to the warzone from your base in a hurry so you can leave out, time compress it until you reach enemy waters and go from there.

Also in career mode you always leave out from base to an objective/patrol point so it's not like you're popping up in the middle of a convoy.
There are missions/scenarios that do place you in a position like that but those are optional and not part of career mode games - You don't have to do those.

I do have to say it has it's share of bugs at times but nothing serious, there is even a glitch/bug that if you know how to do it is helpful.
Biggest issue I have is once detected by a partol aircraft it's like they "Know" where you are and you'll have to constantly watch for them.

That part of it doesn't seem realistic in how often they seem to find you and attack but deckgun fights with enemy destroyers coming after you is another deal - FUN to do and quite the challenge too!
Even alot of the merchant ships are armed too and can fight back with deckguns.

I haven;t played SH5 before so can't speak to that but SH3 and SH4 are the ones I'm referring to.
BTW if you can find a profile and compatable program they are voice command capable too!

which silent hunter would you recommend playing for the first time. I was always interested in this game. would you say it's the best sub game

I'm glad you recommended this! I just finished reading the first Wheel of Time book and wondered if there was a game, and I stumbled upon it being kept alive here: https://wheeloftimegame.webs.com/

I downloaded it, but haven't had a chance to load it up and play it yet. At face value it looks kinda like the upcoming retro 3D Realms FPS GRAVEN. I guess it helps that they both use a fantasy setting and use the Unreal 1 engine.

Did you ever play Anachronox. I remember reading about this game when it came out and it sounded weird/interesting. maybe you would know about it if you played wheel of time

 

[R-T-B]

which silent hunter would you recommend playing for the first time. I was always interested in this game. would you say it's the best sub game

I'd say probably Silent Hunter III, but keep in mind it's a bit dated. Definently take a look at a few of the mega mods too. GWX is what I used to run.

 

[s3thra]

Did you ever play Anachronox. I remember reading about this game when it came out and it sounded weird/interesting. maybe you would know about it if you played wheel of time

Nope, but I am familiar. I remember reading about it and seeing it in PC gaming magazines at the time. One of the gems to come out of the great Ion Storm, Deus Ex being my favorite.

 

[Deleted member 194470]

I'd say probably Silent Hunter III, but keep in mind it's a bit dated. Definently take a look at a few of the mega mods too. GWX is what I used to run.

I think older games have better gameplay generally but they can be hard to play when your used to new games and better graphics. I will check it out

Nope, but I am familiar. I remember reading about it and seeing it in PC gaming magazines at the time. One of the gems to come out of the great Ion Storm, Deus Ex being my favorite.

Deus ex 1 was the best one. Human revolution was not bad, mankind was a disappointment. Deus ex 1 is probably the most 'free' game I played, when you can really go about things anyway that you want. It had a good story I recall. They should make a new game like deus ex, maybe cyberpunk will be as good.

 

[silentbogo]

Nope, but I am familiar. I remember reading about it and seeing it in PC gaming magazines at the time. One of the gems to come out of the great Ion Storm, Deus Ex being my favorite.

That reminds me, gotta ask my stepdad to give up his original box set for this new years ))) And Q2....

 

[s3thra]

Deus ex 1 is probably the most 'free' game I played, when you can really go about things anyway that you want.

That's what makes the Deus Ex games special, in particular the first one. I remember watching a lecture on YouTube a couple of years ago (could have been by Warren Spector himself - can't remember) and he explained the "verticality" of the level design in the game and the importance of building a truly 3D world. I've thought about that concept, and while many games are 3D, not many take take advantage of verticality and mainly exist on the horizontal plane. They might as well exist as a 2D game for all intents and purposes.

Games don't have to be huge, open worlds to feel alive and interesting. Deus Ex nailed a lot of different concepts such as level design, character development, storyline, puzzles, and music. "Wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle" is how a lot of "big" games can be described, and I think Deus Ex is the opposite of that concept entirely. Concise levels with so much depth and player choice makes it shine.

BTW, I've recently played the original by way of the fan-made enhanced version of the game: Deus Ex: Revision. Good stuff and worth checking out if you've already finished the original. It's been in active development for a few years and keeps getting regular updates.

Deus Ex: Revision — A mod for Deus Ex by Caustic Creative

Revision is a complete overhaul of the original Deus Ex, bringing new level design, music, and world-building detail. It also bundles in high-detail textures and models, Direct3D 9 rendering, and alternate gameplay modes.

www.dx-revision.com

 

[Rei]

For those who like carrier command-like tactical strategy, I recommend Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising, for semi-tactical FPS another would be Star Wars: Republic Commando.
Clive Barker's Jericho is another good FPS/horror game.

 

[Frick]

That's what makes the Deus Ex games special, in particular the first one. I remember watching a lecture on YouTube a couple of years ago (could have been by Warren Spector himself - can't remember) and he explained the "verticality" of the level design in the game and the importance of building a truly 3D world. I've thought about that concept, and while many games are 3D, not many take take advantage of verticality and mainly exist on the horizontal plane. They might as well exist as a 2D game for all intents and purposes.

Games don't have to be huge, open worlds to feel alive and interesting. Deus Ex nailed a lot of different concepts such as level design, character development, storyline, puzzles, and music. "Wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle" is how a lot of "big" games can be described, and I think Deus Ex is the opposite of that concept entirely. Concise levels with so much depth and player choice makes it shine.

BTW, I've recently played the original by way of the fan-made enhanced version of the game: Deus Ex: Revision. Good stuff and worth checking out if you've already finished the original. It's been in active development for a few years and keeps getting regular updates.

Deus Ex: Revision — A mod for Deus Ex by Caustic Creative

Revision is a complete overhaul of the original Deus Ex, bringing new level design, music, and world-building detail. It also bundles in high-detail textures and models, Direct3D 9 rendering, and alternate gameplay modes.

www.dx-revision.com

Thief 1/2 have thesame feeling, even though the games are narrower, as in you are only focused on one thing. Thief 2 is one of my all time favourites. And btw, does the mod mess with stuff? Lots of mods seem to do graphical stuff but also just change stuff that doesn't need changing, like GMDX or New Vision (which is just ugly imo).