Recommend me a good PC game

[borateen]

Now that I've got a laptop I can use in the living room while watching TV, I wouldn't mind delving into a PC game or two.

To preface, I haven't been much of a gamer since my SNES about 15 years ago. Since then, though, I've really enjoyed Final Fantasy VII, Parasite Eve, and Rainbow Six 3. While I enjoyed RS3, it was more of a group thing at work. I did do a few of the missions solo, but the enjoyment was limited. I really enjoyed FF VII and PE, though.

Ultimate Alliance really interests me, but I can't seem to find it for PC. Was it ever released that way?

[Gargus]

Yes UA was out on the pc.
http://www.gogamer.com/Marvel--Ultimate-Alliance-Front-Page_stcVVproductId7274577VVcatId444710VVviewprod. htm

Im not sure what you have in your laptop in terms of hardware to handle games though. But starcraft and warcraft 3 and fate are cheap and safe choices. If it can run it and you want to give world of wacraft a try email me your name (first and last) and email address you want blizzard to send you the login info to and Ill send you a free trial from my account.

[Sparda]

Warcraft 3 and Starcraft is "OMFG" good. Though Starcraft is a bit dated but it's still really really good that even new gamers who are graphic whores will love this game. WC3 is just plain addictive, especially when you play online on ladder games or custom maps which one of them is Dota very much fun. I never personally played Diablo but I heard good things about it, so you might give that a try.

Age of Empires is fun as a strategy game as well. Don't know if it'll be your cup of tea though.

[Thorlief]

post some specs and then I'll be able to give you some good pickups

[borateen]

I think I remember playing Warcraft (not World of, just regular old Warcraft) about a decade ago in college. You set up armies and try and conquer stuff, right? I didn't get that into it in college, but I've got more time and greater flexibility now, so that might work. Is Starcraft like that, except in space? I've also seen some Star Wars games that are like this, I think. Any word on those?

[borateen]

post some specs and then I'll be able to give you some good pickups

I have absolutely no idea what you mean. What kind of specs? Laptop specs? Personal specs? Do you need to know my inseam ;)

[Jade69/Legolaslady]

Yeah, warcraft of old was an RTS but World of Warcraft... you basically become one of the peons ;)
j/k
I'd caution you to playing that on your laptop though, as I've kind of burned out the cooling fan for the video card on ours.
More along the RTS lines I love love love Total Annihilation, and if you can find it, shouldn't be any more than $10-$20.

[Serik]

C&C Red Alert 2

[titanfan]

I have absolutely no idea what you mean. What kind of specs? Laptop specs? Personal specs? Do you need to know my inseam

You know, your stats, pictures, interests, hobbies, etc.

Ok, just kidding. Your laptop specs. Processor/Graphics Card/RAM/Operating System, etc.

[StoneGold]

Eventually, I recommend Savage 2: A Tortured Soul. It's a real time strategy first person shooter. Except it's not out yet. And I'm a really lousy person to be unbiassed, since I work for the game.

[Thorlief]

I have absolutely no idea what you mean. What kind of specs? Laptop specs? Personal specs? Do you need to know my inseam ;)

laptop specs fool :D

[BlairH]

Yeah, we'll need to see the specs of your new lappy. Not every PC game will play well on every PC (especially if it's a laptop. In most cases tend to use cut down or underpowered graphics cards, although there are some exceptions to the rule.)

That aside, Deus Ex (The first one) is an awesome game that everybody should play through at least once. It's a first person role playing game with sci-fi and conspiracy elements. It will work on practically any system, because it's around 7 years old.

[Zanku]

I'm gonna recommend you games I like to call unknown gems. Incredibly good games that never got that attention they deserved. Both are from 1999 though, but do not let that sway you.


One is Clive Barkers Undying. This is a FPS, but it combines a great magic system with a nice set of weapons. Nothing too high tech, pistols, etc. a bad ass scythe. its just a creepy game, great sound effects, great gameplay, great storyline. If you know who clive barker is, you know the quality of the story.

The other one is an RPG called Anachronox. A sci-fi type rpg where you go around to different planets, I wont spoil the storyline, but this game plays a lot like FF7. Great game.

[borateen]

You know, your stats, pictures, interests, hobbies, etc.

Ok, just kidding. Your laptop specs. Processor/Graphics Card/RAM/Operating System, etc.

The only thing I can tell you is that it's got 256 MB of RAM, a Pentium III Mobile CPU, 1000 MHz and it's running XP Pro. I don't have any paperwork on it, because I got it second-hand from my dad, who was able to keep it when he was laid off from his job. They didn't give him any of the paperwork, though, so I can't give you detailed specs. I'm not much of a computer guy, so if you could tell me if there's someplace in or on the computer I can look, I'll do that for you. I looked through the system tabs in the Control Panel, but nothing about a graphics card jumped out at me.

Let me know what you need, though, and where I can find it, and I'll get the specs to you.

[Gaz]

Best way to get most of that sort of info would be through Device Manager, I think. Right click My Computer, choose properties, then the Hardware tab. There's a button saying Device Manager there and the graphics card is under Display Adapters, I believe.

[borateen]

FYI, I'm planning on gradually upgrading/refurbishing this computer. My wife and I can't afford a brand new laptop, but working on this one we got free (my dad's kicking himself because all it needed was a new hard drive) gradually is definitely within our budget. I had planned on buying a new battery for it next, but if I'm going to need a new graphics card (that IS something that can be replaced/added, correct?) in order to play games, then I've got no problem with that.

[borateen]

Best way to get most of that sort of info would be through Device Manager, I think. Right click My Computer, choose properties, then the Hardware tab. There's a button saying Device Manager there and the graphics card is under Display Adapters, I believe.

The only thing listed is "ATI RADEON Mobility (Dell)." That help?

[Sheldon]

Laptops typically cannot have their graphics card upgraded. From the specs you have already listed I do not think you will be able to run any games more recent than 4-5 years ago (at least anything that requires any serious 3d rendering). But I may be wrong.

Besides the Hard Drive typically you can only upgrade memory in a laptop. If it has 256 right now, I doubt you could put more than 512 in it. It probably has two 128 mb chips, so you can probably put two 256 mb ones.

That will help a bunch.

Whats the Dell Model #? Is it a lattitude or Inspiron?

[Serik]

I also recommend Civilization III - the best game in the series. Sure, Civ IV looks nicer, but it never vibed with me. The Civ games are great laptop games for long flights. Plus you can play most of the game with the keyboard no problem.

Your laptop should be able to run it.

[borateen]

Whats the Dell Model #? Is it a lattitude or Inspiron?

Inspiron 4100.

[borateen]

I also recommend Civilization III - the best game in the series. Sure, Civ IV looks nicer, but it never vibed with me. The Civ games are great laptop games for long flights. Plus you can play most of the game with the keyboard no problem.

Your laptop should be able to run it.

What's the storyline/point with this one?

[Chiasm]

I really enjoyed FF VII and PE, though.

Ultimate Alliance really interests me, but I can't seem to find it for PC. Was it ever released that way?

If its a good RPG you want then there are several excellent ones out there and most have been out long enough you can get them cheap and not have to worry about your computer having to have the latest graphics card.

Baldurs Gate I and Baldurs Gate II - its an epic RPG based in the Dungeons and Dragon's World. It will easily take 200 hrs to play through both and you'll enjoy every minute of it. You control one main character and then five NPC's out of many you'll meet. The NPC's interact, often hilariously, and there is tremendous depth.

Icewind Dale I and II - more D&D games similar to Baldurs Gate but not as story oriented or RPG'ish as Baldurs Gate. Basically it takes out a lot of the character development of Baldur's Gate and instead focuses on hack and slash.

Freedom Force I and II - Superhero RPG. Pretty fun but they make it hard to make your own hero and you mostly end up playing prebuilt ones in the game.

Knights of the Old Republic - Star Wars RPG set 4000 years ago in the Star Wars Universe. An overall excellent game. There is a KOTOR II but I cannot recommend it. Its pretty excellent til the end where the company making it was forced to rush it to stores in time for Christmas so the game ends unspectacularly and doesn't resolve any of the plot.

Vampire Bloodlines: The Masquerade - Vampire RPG

Neverwinter Nights - Another D&D RPG.

[Sheldon]

I think your laptop specs should be something like this:

Dell Inspiron 4100
PC WorldBench 4 score of 107, 1.2-GHz/800-MHz Pentium III-M, 256MB of RAM, 512KB L2 cache, Windows 2000, 14.1-inch active-matrix screen, ATI Mobility Radeon M6 graphics with 16MB of SDRAM, 20GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM and 8X/8X/24X CD-RW combination drive, built-in V.90 modem and network adapter, touchpad and eraserhead pointing devices, 8.1 pounds (including AC adapter, external floppy drive and cable, and phone cord); Microsoft Office XP 2002 Small Business Edition.

From:
http://pcworld.about.com/news/Nov162001id71683.htm

Your graphics card will be the limiting factor on the notebook, but you should be able to still play some great older games like Deus Ex, Baldur's Gate II or Starcraft without any problems.

[Headhunter]

WarCraft II: Reign of Chaos and the expansion pack Frozen Throne are both great titles, I think you can get both with their respective strategy guides boxed together for something in the neighbourhood of $30.

[Serik]

What's the storyline/point with this one?

To run a civilization from the beginning of time to the present. Sounds overwhelming, but Sid Meier does a great job of making it manageable.

Civ is one of the cornerstones of PC gaming, IMHO.

[ubergeekette]

One game, one name,.................................. Solitaire!

[borateen]

I think your laptop specs should be something like this:

Dell Inspiron 4100
PC WorldBench 4 score of 107, 1.2-GHz/800-MHz Pentium III-M, 256MB of RAM, 512KB L2 cache, Windows XP Pro, 14.1-inch active-matrix screen, ATI Mobility Radeon M6 graphics with 16MB of SDRAM, 40GB hard drive, CD-ROM (unknown specs at the moment, built-in V.90 modem and network adapter, touchpad and eraserhead pointing devices, 8.1 pounds (including AC adapter, external floppy drive and cable, and phone cord).

From:
http://pcworld.about.com/news/Nov162001id71683.htm

Your graphics card will be the limiting factor on the notebook, but you should be able to still play some great older games like Deus Ex, Baldur's Gate II or Starcraft without any problems.

I bolded a few changes, but yeah, that sounds like my laptop.

[borateen]

I appreciate the help and suggestions from everyone. I'll be gradually looking over most (if not all) of the game suggestions, but please, keep suggesting!

[BlairH]

The only thing I can tell you is that it's got 256 MB of RAM, a Pentium III Mobile CPU, 1000 MHz and it's running XP Pro. I don't have any paperwork on it, because I got it second-hand from my dad, who was able to keep it when he was laid off from his job. They didn't give him any of the paperwork, though, so I can't give you detailed specs. I'm not much of a computer guy, so if you could tell me if there's someplace in or on the computer I can look, I'll do that for you. I looked through the system tabs in the Control Panel, but nothing about a graphics card jumped out at me.

Let me know what you need, though, and where I can find it, and I'll get the specs to you.

Yikes! That's old!

You might be able to play Deus Ex in "software rendering" mode. It's still worth it though, because it truly is an awesome game. Give System Shock 2 a try as well, it's a similar style of game with lots of horror elements added in.

[borateen]

Yikes! That's old!

You might be able to play Deus Ex in "software rendering" mode. It's still worth it though, because it truly is an awesome game. Give System Shock 2 a try as well, it's a similar style of game with lots of horror elements added in.

What kind of games are they?