Last Online: 5/8/08
hellR1de
I'm a software developer who's been addicted to games since I was 12. I still enjoy gaming a lot, because of the immersive quality of games and of the endless context possibilities. I started as a console gamer but eventually switched to PC and I've been playing only PC games ever since. I wouldn't consider myself a great gamer in terms of competitivity. I'm rather a game consumer, who enjoys seing the totality of each game I play. I want to see the whole story. I also like diversity in level design and goals. That's why I mostly play single-player games, although I played a few online games as well. Games that are really immersive tend to have a greater replay value for me. So far, some of my all-time favorites are: Thief, Battlezone, Mechwarrior 2, Command & Conquer.
No coin is thin enough to have only one side.
I'm usually craving for ONE game at a time, so I put it on a pedestal and pray 'till it comes...
Development has been confirmed by Eidos, which just opened a new studio in Montreal. Even though Warren Spector won't be part of it, I'm confident that it will be a great game, especially if they build it on the new Unreal engine, like they did for the first one. I'm drooling already...
These are the games that I could play over and over again... If it weren't for new great games coming out. Still, I sometimes take my old dusty CDs out for another spin...
Probably the best mix of RTS and 3D action I've seen in a long time. Before that, I used to play a game with a similar context named Uprising, which was unfortunately a lot less stable. This game however has it all! Epic climax well transmitted through the great soundtrack. I found the play physics to be great, even by today's standards. Heck, you could even snipe a pilot and steel his tank. I think I'll take this one for another spin!
My first RTS. What a great one! Of course, most people don't know about Dune 2, but THIS game launched the RTS wave. I'm still rolling on the floor when I hear the commando, or soldiers screaming in agony as they die. Exaggerated but so funny!
I think this is the closest thing I could get to a futuristic RPG. A little like System Shock (which was like Thief and Deus EX, developed by Warren Spector), you can upgrade equipment and train in different skills. That way, there are lots of possibilities to solve your problems. Definitely worth playing, even with today's standards! I'm currently playing the second one, and I look forward to Deus EX 3!
The story was so intriguing. I just had to play a little longer, to see what awaited me at the next corner. An awesome story and great visuals. This wasn't just a regular FPS. Besides, I think it was one of the first to use skeletal animation, so the characters looked more life-like. Half-Life 2 is great, but this one holds a special place...
Unfortunately, this game didn't get the success it deserves. Really tactical. You could give advanced commands to squadmates and the game engine was quite beautiful. Impressive AI also. Fast-paced awesome campaign will never make me tired if this classic.
Ok, it's pure science-fiction but God, did I spend time doing the circling dance of death with enemy mechs! The climax, the soundtrack, the missions, the customization possibilities. Besides, this was my first love in the PC gaming world. This is what got me hooked up to PC gaming. Shame on FASA to have sold that to Microsoft!
Another scary title, like Thief. It shows that it was also developed by Looking Glass Studios, as one could almost say it's Thief in a futuristic context. Of course, having the possibility to upgrade skills and equipment gave it a more RPG quality. This kind of game, I love to play loud in dim light! Too bad I was never able to make it work under XP, otherwise I'd still play it.
This game was so friggin' scary! Play that in low-light conditions and a surround speaker system and tell me you don't feel nervous when you hear those nasty zombies! One of the pioneers of the stealth genre. Yes, it is possible to have fun without emptying 2000 bullets/minutes. Looking Glass Studio were geniuses. Too bad it closed down...
I never liked Wing Commander because of the play physics, which did absolutely not give the impression of inertia there is in space. However, that changed with Prophecy. Really great flight physics and the best space climax I had seen at that moment. You could almost feel claustrophobic in your little spacecraft.
Frankly, this is the best space sim I've ever played. Even its successors could not surpass the magic of this first installment. Being thrown in another part of the galaxy and having to start your way up from scratch, in a very eerie climax kept me hooked up a lot of hours. A great economy system, where you can have factories and vessels working for you, as well as a campaign you can play at your own pace. A bit like a space RPG. Awesome!
My best sites for gaming info
Here are the games I currently play, or that I have started not long ago. I tend to play several games simultanously. As I said, I'm a game consumer! :)
I've been addicted to the Battlefield series since the first installment and this one doesn't disapoint. Besides, I'm a science-fiction fan, so this game has it all! I really like the vehicules and the game's story.
So far, the game is great-looking and is quite playable on my 2-year old rig, but I must admit that I'm a bit disapointed with the gameplay and story. It's not as creepy as System Shock 2 and the bad guys always sound like Homer Simpson. I'm not very far in the game though. That may still change...
Well, I cannot claim to be one who saw the beginning of this great saga, but at least I played them all. From Arena, to this one, even Battlespire! haha. Really impressive, even though I'm not very advanced in the main quest. Bethesda rocks!
I know, I know. However, better late than never!
A nice addition to the franchise. The game is a bit less linear than the previous installments and the new game engine is really beautiful but aside from that, now much new here. It's still quite fun for fans of the genre though...
The scripted missions aren't as numerous as Beyond The Frontier, and there's no big "main quest" but the new features, like being able to transport from ship to ship, as well as the different ships to pilot are quite fun. Definitely worth it if you liked Beyond the frontier.
These are probably the ones I enjoyed the most, outside the RTS realm that I like so much.
Descent was one of my first PC games. I didn't know what to expect when its creators split to form Volition and Outrage but both did pretty good! Descent 3 was one of the most beautiful 3D games I've seen and I still find it quite apealing, even by today's standards. The seamless transition between the inside and the outside was awesome! My favorite in the series.
The first installment was so great ; it's hard to top that. In my opinion, Invisible war doesn't disapoint, even though it's major drawback is that it's been dumbed down a bit too much. Gone is the skill management, which is a shame, and the unique ammo, as well as the weapon mods limited to 2 are a bit stupid. Generally in a game franchise, you try to evolve. Not the opposite. Aside from that, I love the game!
A great sequel to Flashback, this one had great CGI cutscenes and was in the early 3D games generation. Once more, great puzzles, alhtough combat was a bit awkward, because of the rotating camera.
I love it when I have to use my brains to finish a game. Flashback is a perfect example of that! A nice reminder of the television series "V" and in fact, a mix cross between that and Total recall. Awesome story and great mix of puzzles and combat.
A Descent-like game, it was nonetheless a fantastic one. A lot of astonishing lighting effects and great textures. The code was also well optimized, as it ran very smoothly on my rig, which wasn't a top-level one at the time.
Not much new in the features department (aside from a few new different moves) but still, a complex story and great visuals. The enemy AI was a bit dumb though...
Really smooth gameplay and mission diversity. There's even one where you have to make your way under a train! nothing really new compared to the original one but great campaign nonetheless!
The creators of Wing Commander: Prophecy, made this very similar, yet very entertaining space simulation. Gone are the FMV cutscenes, but everything was well made. Great briefings, simple user interface and a very beautiful engine with a good feeling of inertia, make this one a sure value!
I cn't tell how the graphics were, compared to other games of that period, since I started it quite late. However, the story and climax were eerie and intriguing enough to make me want to finish it. Interesting story.
Another scary title, like Thief. It shows that it was also developed by Looking Glass Studios, as one could almost say it's Thief in a futuristic context. Of course, having the possibility to upgrade skills and equipment gave it a more RPG quality. This kind of game, I love to play loud in dim light! Too bad I was never able to make it work under XP, otherwise I'd still play it.
This game was so friggin' scary! Play that in low-light conditions and a surround speaker system and tell me you don't feel nervous when you hear those nasty zombies! One of the pioneers of the stealth genre. Yes, it is possible to have fun without emptying 2000 bullets/minutes. Looking Glass Studio were geniuses. Too bad it closed down...
More complex and political than the first installment, this one has it all, although it wasn't as scary as the first one. Anyway, a longer campaign and slightly better visuals make this one a must have as well!
This is mostly RTS
Great mix of 3D action and RTS. An innovative genre which allow you to drive different vehicules while managing resources. Definitely one of the best I've played!
Not as good as the first one in terms of climax but a much better graphic engine. Still enjoyable.
Self-explanatory. Aside Dune 2, this is the father of all RTS games. One of my all-time favorites
A nice addition to the franchise, even if it is a bit conservative in it's approach.
Alternate timeline with a Russian invasion? That was really fun! I enjoyed it a lot even though the engine wasn't very different from the original C&C, in the tiberium universe. The naval units were a nice addition though.
The new game engine is just so awesome! As always, the code is well optimized and the game is stable. The campaign is involving and challenging just enough, without being too frustrating. The trademark cutscenes are once again very fun. When I heard that there was going to be a sequel, I was thrilled, but didn't know what to expect without Westwood at the helm. They would have been proud!
Sadly, this is Westwood's last RTS game, before it was closed down by EA after the takeover. Although it didn't redefine the RTS genre, it introduced the experience concept to units. Great engine with good FMV cutscenes, this was Westwood best technical achievement at the moment. The only drawback was that you were required to pass through Westwood online to be able to play internet multiplayer games, and that's no longer available.
A nice addition to Battlezone. While not revolutionary, the cloaking device and new vehicules are nice!
What made this game special, aside for the fact that it was one of the first RTS (if not the first) to use 3D acceleration, is the large number of unit types and the countless management possibilities. Made by Cavedog, we were even blessed with new units that were released for free, on a regular basis. The story was a bit thin but the gameplay compensated a lot!
It came before Battlezone but was quite a blast as well. An unknown one unfortunately. It's main issue was that it wasn't stable but I still saw it all the way through, since it was so fun. Aside from that it had a lot of potential. Sure, you always drove the same tank but it could be upgraded and there were also infantry units as well as air units. This was a step above Battlezone, IMO.
A great example of multiple resources management and strategy. Not bad for a first installment but it could have a bit more diversity in terms of units.
Definitely my favorite in the Warcraft series and the funniest! The campaign, graphics and different units were great! I especially liked the fact that you could use air and naval units as well.
I liked this one a lot because of the 4 different races and the intricate campaign but fact that it maintained a cartoonish look kind of disapointed me a bit. No more naval units was annoying a bit as well. Still a definite must have!
I haven't played a lot of RPGs, which doesn't mean I don't like them.
Since the development of Morrowind was taking longer than expected, two spin-offs were started. Battlespire was one of them. Intended to be more dungeon-oriented, this game has some nice features and is very challenging. I remember a few frustrating moments. However, the story is rather thin because there's not a lot of interaction with NPCs. Still worth a try though.
Even though the graphics were already far behind when I decided to play it, I had a lot of fun. Let's not forget that it was one of the very first real 3D engine! The dugeons were sometimes very intricate and the story was compelling as well. A classic!
This game had a more humorous and lighter climax that all other Elder Scrolls games, which made it quite fun. I remember reading somewhere that it was like a cross between Tomb Raider and RPG and I found it to be so true! Some puzzles to solve and a lot of combat. Since you played as a Redguard, you didn't have any spells as the game focused more on sword action. A very fun game to try!
A little bit too generic and combat was so simple, you could just stand in front of the enemy and bash. If you're an Elder Scrolls fan, you can at least see the beginning of the saga...
The fact there were multiple paths options allowed for 4 different sub-main quests, which were all really fun to play. In fact all of them were more entertaining than Morrowind's main quest. A great expansion pack!
A really nice engine with a rich colorful environment. The water effect is still one of the best I've seen so far. The user interface was user-friendly and the main quest intriguing, although a bit repetitive at some point. Having no horse to travel was a bit annoying but overall, a great game!
A more complex and more entertaining main quest, which was in fact, better than Morrowind's. Definitely a must have for Morrowind owners/fans






































































