Games that you just can't go back to, but want to...

**Turin** · 10-02-2005, 08:18

Well I'm getting to that age (20) when memories of childhood start to grow real fond.

I can remember the days when everything was 2D and there was no such thing as "multiplayer".

Back in those days there were so many games that were truly original and have left lasting memories.

When I got my SNES emulator a few years ago, I tried to play some of the old SNES RPGs again.

I barely managed to force myself through Chrono Trigger once and then through FFVI. They were definitely moments in both game that almost brought me to tears with nostalgia (I guess one is just more emotional at 3-4 AM when I was playing these things).

Then I got the PS1 emulator and tried to do the same thing with FFVII, I just couldn't do it though, not matter how hard I forced myself... not sure why.

I hate to say it, but the graphics and childish plotlines are off putting.

Really makes me feel old that I can't go back to these old games anymore, ones I loved so much.

Anyone else have games they love to play again but can't force themselves to do so?

**Catiline** · 10-02-2005, 10:06

I get this asll the time with TV programmes I watched as a kid. They were brilliant, but I hardly dare watch them now, prefer remembering how 'great' they were

**Mikeus Caesar** · 10-02-2005, 10:48

Age of Empires. When i was younger, i used to think it was the best thing ever (it was after all, my first proper game). And i try and play it now in single player, and i just can't be bothered. It seems so empty. I play it in Multi-player though occasionally with my dad. Playing with another person is just so much better. It doesn't seem as hollow that way.

**Meneldil** · 10-02-2005, 15:47

FF6 - Although the game was great, I can't play it now. Same thing with FF7, though I sometimes play until the 2nd CD.

**lars573** · 10-02-2005, 16:09

Let's see.
Age of empires,
Age of kings,
Age of mythology,
Starcraft,
MTW,
STW,
Un modded CnC Generals.

**Kekvit Irae** · 10-02-2005, 16:39

Age of Empires (once you got the Phalanx units, you dominated everyone)
C&C Generals (Zero Hour spoiled me)
Battlefield Vietnam and BF2 (1942 spoiled me)
EverQuest (DAoC spoiled me)

Plenty others, just none I can remember

**Lechev** · 10-04-2005, 13:23

This is one of the first strategy games i ever play when i was much more younger... heres some review which i manage to googled it out

Sword of Aragon Review 1:

A rather unique strategy game from SSI. You start the game by selecting and creating your character. After that you start the game as a military leader with your own army. The people that killed your father jas just returned to the land and of course you know what has to be done.

You will have to learn the game fast as the game really takes off at the beginning with a huge war againsy an orc army. But it does help that the whole game can be controlled with the keyboard and that you can even choose to let the computer place your armies and fight the battle for you or at least some of it. The graphics aren't that good but at least you can see some differences between the units.

Review 2:

Regarded by many wargamers as THE best fantasy wargame ever made, SSI's Sword of Aragon is a true precursor of later classics Conquered Kingdoms and SSI's own Fantasy General. Set in the Aragonian Empire, you are heir of the late Duke of Aladda, and your task is to once again extend Aladda's dominion and eventually crown yourself king in Tetrada. Executing your father's will properly means raising and equipping an army, then venturing forth to do battle against the dastardly foes threatening Aladda and its surroundings. Your success in Sword of Aragon depends on careful allocation of precious resources, astute military planning, and deft combat maneuvers. Knights, priests, warriors, mages, rangers, cavalry, infantry, and bowmen are some of the units you can recruit, and in true AD&D fashion, you can equip them with different armor types. Nothing in the game will strike anyone today as a big deal, but back in 1989 it was a revolutionary title that attracted many non-wargamers to the genre. Excellent AI and addictive gameplay help Sword of Aragon remain one of the most playable and replayable fantasy wargames ever.

**Duke Malcolm** · 10-04-2005, 13:55

Shogun Total War, Morrowind, Baldur's Gate, Rainbow Six (all of them), Final Fantasy IX. All fantastic games, but either I cannot find the time and space to re-install them or I lost the disks...

**solypsist** · 10-10-2005, 01:03

when in japan i got ahold of some commodore 64 roms and those lasted about ten seconds each. each fond memory shattered. i spent a whole summer with bard's tale (the original..in 1997? 98?) and couldn't take it for more than twenty minutes. same with so many others.

so i just settled on practicing my drifting on the initial d games in roppongi.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

it is dark.
you may be eaten by a grue.

**Murmandamus** · 10-10-2005, 05:41

Originally Posted by solypsist

when in japan i got ahold of some commodore 64 roms and those lasted about ten seconds each. each fond memory shattered.

I did that a while ago using an emulator and games from www.c64.com Games that I found really as a kid were really easy, some that I really loved seemed like complete crap and graphics that I thought were great just looked like a bunch of pixels on the screen.

I came to the conclusion that good memories are best left as exactly that. Memories. In fact, I probably got more out of just looking at the screenshots on the website than I did from actually playing them :)

Some were still good fun though. Like Spy vs Spy and R-Type.

**screwtype** · 10-12-2005, 06:31

Originally Posted by Turin

Anyone else have games they love to play again but can't force themselves to do so?

Not really. Oddly, I find that most games I once enjoyed, I still enjoy if I boot them back up. It doesn't take me long to get back into the feel of an old game again. I fired up Dungeon Master on my trusty old Amiga a year or so ago just for kicks, it's very dated graphically now, but I was suprised by how much it grabbed me. It's still a fun game to play, even though it's only pretend 3D.

Games don't have to be cutting edge to be good. My favourite game right now is still Imperialism II, a simple 2D strategy game that's five or six years old, but I find it has that crucial element of challenge that so many other games lack.

**econ21** · 10-13-2005, 16:53

Originally Posted by screwtype

My favourite game right now is still Imperialism II, a simple 2D strategy game that's five or six years old, but I find it has that crucial element of challenge that so many other games lack.

Good choice. Best genuine strategy game I've played. Other ones in the genre that I like are either squad level tactical games (e.g. JA2) or wargames (which I count Total War as - as you say, the battles are the thing).