What do you have installed on your PC right now?
Personally, I've had this little "oldies" kick recently. I have installed, removed and reinstalled all kinds of games these last two weeks. So, what do I have installed and did time fare well with these games that previously enthralled me so?
Anachronox
Definitely an underrated game when it came out. Excellent storyline, great characters and some seriously awesome laughworthy humor in it. Also, one of the most interesting main protagonists I've ever played.
Rating? 9/10
How has it dealt with time passed? Surprisingly well. 8/10
Beyond Good & Evil
Another underrated classic. Fortunately, it's excellence has been acknowledged by gamers in spite of poor reception at release. Good gameplay, decent story, good humor. I probably ought to update my gfx drivers though, since I've noticed quite a few graphics bugs running this on Vista.
Rating? 8/10
How has it dealt with time passed? Quite well. 8/10
Bloodrayne 2
Just some mindless hack n slash for those of us who enjoy needlessly violent and horrible deaths amongst our enemies. Sexy redhead half-vampires flinging bodyparts around and sucking enemies dry are always good for a laugh. Too bad the developers didn't spend as much time on the combat system as they did on the protagonist's breast movements and enemy personalities. The main enemies are kind of worth it though.
Rating? 6/10
How has it dealt with time passed? Not too good. 5/10
Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat
Well, this isn't too old so I'm not going to comment on the toll of time on this one. As for the game itself, it's certainly worth your cash. The singleplayer was well done indeed, having some very well written scripted events. A bit too easy and short though. I finished it in one evening on the hardest difficulty. Still, for the length of time spent in the main campaign, they've crammed quite a bit of content into that time. Not too much replay value though. Multiplayer was... generic.
Rating? 9/10
Civilization 4
Ah. Another one of Sid Meyer's goldpots. There's not really much in this game that wasn't in the older Civ games. It's basically it's predecessors in a new wrapping, new graphics and with more "simplification" tools. Easier to play, no real innovations. Still, the game can hold me locked at the computer for hours on end with the endless "just one more turn, then I'll save and quit" playing on repeat through my brain. Worth it if you like Civ. Never tried Civilization? Start with this one, the older ones may be too... finicky to start out with.
Rating? 8/10
Toll of Time? 10/10.
C&C First Decade (All C&C games except C&C 3)
Ah, lovely little package of games. All the C&C games on one single DVD, all launched from the same little compact menu. Definitely a pack any RTS fan ought to own. All the C&C games had great quality when they first appeared, and still do. If you fancy a trip down nostalgia lane, this is where you ought to go. Even the oldest C&C games run on Vista, but be prepared to look at the graphics and go "Did I really play this pixel soup those years ago?". Still, worth it for the Generals games alone if you are after graphics over content or just some multiplayer RTS. Also, C&C Renegade is still fun if for no other reason than Havoc being the single most cheesy hero ever made. I still giggle at his comments and manners.
Oh, as RTS games go, don't think this is the bastion of strategy and tactics. Mostly you can just steamroll any enemy by pouring out tons of the same unit. It's been that way since the first C&C game made... Still worth it for the storylines in all the games.
Rating? 10/10
Toll of time? Varies a bit. Ranging from 5/10 to 9/10 depending on Nostalgia levels.
C&C 3: Tiberium Wars
The one game that isn't in the First Decade pack. Seriously, where do the devs get the money for actors? If they had added some actors from Babylon 5 and Firefly, I'd have ruined a perfectly good pair of pants with a geekgasm of epic proportions. Play this game for no other reason than the cutscenes and you'll still think it's worth the money. Don't be expecting high-class acting though. It's cheesy acting, but it's supposed to be. Keep that in mind and you'll enjoy it thoroughly.
As for the game itself? Excellent indeed. Fine graphics, great fun, hueg liek Usagi explosions and units. Still as easy singleplayer as all the other C&C games, but still entertaining. I wish there was more difference between the human and alien races when it comes to units though.
Rating? 8/10. Loses a bit since it doesn't really provide the RTS challenge I like.
Crysis
The initial self-hype has waned and my feelings about this game has... descended. I have little desire to replay this game and I think it's not really worth my time anymore.
Still, worth your time for one run-through, but not for repeated playing. Torrent it and try it out before spending money on it.
Rating? 7/10
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
FPS view of a fantasy world. Kind of like Oblivion, but far less... easy. Melee combat is actually a little challenging. Or so it would appear until you realize the entire game centers around finding the one point in the room you can instagib the enemy by kicking him towards a hook/fire/spike/ledge. Still a little fun storyline though. You've got a nice little succubus in your head giving you demonic advice and the human lass counterpart in the world outside your head being the prissy little goody two-shoes.
Well executed in some respects, poorly executed in others. Still, I don't have any regrets paying for the game. Available on Steam as well as I recall.
Rating? 8/10
Dreamfall (The Longest Journey 2)
Definitely one of the games I enjoy the most. But I might be biased. It's one of the few quality Norwegian games out there and surprisingly enough the Norwegian voice actors are pleasant to the ear indeed. Only the Longest Journey games have managed that here in Norway, and that may be one of the reasons I'm so in love with these games.
Still, this game has it's issues. I don't like the combat system (or more to the point, that they added combat to the game at all...) or the sneaking system. The first game was an adventure point and click game which relied on puzzles and a great storyline for it's pull. This one tried too hard and thus fell a little downwards. Also, it's using that hated copy-block thingamabob Starforce driver crap. That alone makes me want to hurl.
Still, I play the game and enjoy it.
Rating? 8/10
Toll of Time? 9/10
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Well, what's to say? One of the best mindless ARPGs out there. Blizzard did wonderful things with the lore outside of the game while keeping the actual gameplay on a troglodyte level. And it works! Still to this day it's great. And come on, who can look at the Mephisto, Baal and Diablo cutscene and avoid getting shivers from Meph's monologue?
Definitely worth the replay time if you head online instead of offline.
Rating? 10/10
Toll of Time? 8/10
Doom II
Trip down nostalgia lane? Check. So far outdated controls and graphics that it's nigh unplayable by those of us used to far more intuitive and useful controls and surroundings? Check. Excellent game for it's day, just can't keep up with the time.
Rating? 10/10
Toll of time? 2/10
Final Fantasy VII
Well, my personal favourite in the FF games. Although, I've never really played the previous games so I can't say how good they were. FF definitely took a dive after this game though. Fun game if you like these kinds of games. Still, you might want to secure your monitor because at times you feel like strangling the main protagonist severely. You play it for the supporting characters and story, not for the hero. Seriously... But since when has a FF game had a decent hero?
The graphics need some serious spit and polish though. You are going to have to deal with some seriously muddled textures...
Rating? 9/10
Toll of Time? 7/10
Freedom: First Resistance
The game from Anne McAffrey's Freedom bookseries. Where the bookseries follow life and resistance in space, the game deals with what happened back on earth. Not a game for you unless you've read the books. The graphics will grind it's nails on the blackboard of your brain's visual center, the voice acting is so and so... But the gameplay is decent and the storyline is also good. Well made characters as well if you can look past the poor acting.
Rating? 8/10 if you like the books. 4/10 if you don't.
Toll of Time? 5/10
Hellgate: London
Tried to be the modern day Diablo II. Failed. Still, a decent enough game to whittle away an hour or two at times. Not something you play for story or content though. It's just something you play to watch your character get decked out in better gear and have better skills.
It did kind of pluck the "Evil Overlord" string in my heart of hearts though, since I play a Summoner. There's a definite feeling of glee when you unleash your demonic army onto the opposing same. Still, not enough to make the game worth money though...
Rating? 6/10
Neverwinter Nights 2
Ooooh yes... Am I allowed to say I love a game? Is it too geeky to have daydreams of romancing a gamebox with fine red wine, candlelight and Barry White? And then violating it horribly on fine silken sheets?
Excellent storyline. Excellent characters. Excellent character creation. Excellent in pretty much any way. And did you know you can make your entirely own game with the completely free tools that come with the game?
I love this game as much as I did Neverwinter Nights + addons.
Played through it with a Ranger, Paladin, Fighter and Bard so far. Other characters have mostly just been running one of the thousands of custom modules that's downloadable from the official website. If you like RPGs, this is the game for you. Kind of hard on your gfx card though, compared to what appears on-screen. So make sure you've got a decent computer for this.
Rating? 10/10
Toll of Time? 9/10
Oblivion
Meh. It get's old. The only way to still get enjoyment out of this is to download all the custom modules that add to the game, and even then it's a matter of hours until it's all old again.
It was decent when it first appeared though.
Rating? 8/10
Toll of time? 4/10
Quake III Arena
Still holds the throne as the most fast-paced and actionpacked Multiplayer FPS. The speed and skill needed to achieve mastery of this game is what still grips me. Excellent game, worth your time if Multiplayer FPS appeals to you.
Rating? 10/10
Toll of Time? 8/10
The Longest Journey
The original. Again, it might be my Norwegian bias, but I love this game. Just the right amount of humor, fantasy, puzzles and story. Some puzzles just doesn't make sense, though. Make sure you've got a walkthrough bookmarked so you can do a little bit of cheating when you get stuck. Still, excellent story and gameplay. Graphics? Weeeell... it's getting old. Or Ye Olde, really.
Still, it's the kind of game where gameplay really trumps graphics.
Rating? 10/10
Toll of Time? 8/10
There's quite a few more games installed on my PC, but I am probably stretching the limits of how huge a post can get already. So, in closing, what do you have installed on your PC (except MMOs) and how well do your games keep as the ravages of time keep whittling at their gameplay?