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

**Jubilation T Cornpone** · 10-05-2005, 13:31

Ah yes, those dim days of the Spectrum 48K. I avidly collected and played all the computer war games I could find. Particularly the R T Smith series, Arnhem, Vulcan, Tobruk....I played them to destruction but try and compare them now with games like the Combat Mission series, the Close Combat series or the Total War series and the difference is beyond belief!
I've downloaded the R T Smith series for the PC and its good for a quick blast but it just doesn't feel the same with out the Spectrums beep!

**Mount Suribachi** · 10-10-2005, 12:05

Originally Posted by Gerard Byram

Ah yes, those dim days of the Spectrum 48K. I avidly collected and played all the computer war games I could find. Particularly the R T Smith series, Arnhem, Vulcan, Tobruk....I played them to destruction but try and compare them now with games like the Combat Mission series, the Close Combat series or the Total War series and the difference is beyond belief!
I've downloaded the R T Smith series for the PC and its good for a quick blast but it just doesn't feel the same with out the Spectrums beep!

Those RT Smith games were indeed legendary. Are you aware he works for CA? He even posted on another TW forum around the time of MTWs release when us older gamers had a little bit of an RT Smith love-fest going on...

My problem with Arnhem was that after a while, you learnt the CPU always showed up at the same time in the same place with the same units - but that was the only way to win some scenarios, by anticipating them.

Desert Rats did a superb job IMO of utilising supply to re-create the backwards and forwards nature of the Desert War. You'd drive the Italians all the way back, then run out of fuel/ammo and the Germans would drive you all the way back...and forth...and back...and forth. Loved it.

**Rob The Bastard** · 10-10-2005, 17:40

Red Baron 1: The first flight sim that really got me interested in the genre.

F15 Strike Eagle 3: Awesome immersive campaigns and excellent multiplayer... I have tried going back to them but the graphics mess up my eyes.

Ahh... Bards Tale... " scry site" and hand drawn maps!

C64
Amiga 500
DX2 40 Mhz
P120 Mhz
P2 500 Mhz
K6 1200 Mhz
2400 Mhz...

Computers and games on the scrapheap of my mind.

Thousands of dollars squandered.

**Kraxis** · 10-10-2005, 17:46

I see quite a few mentions of games that are perfectly playable still... How can't you return to those?

**screwtype** · 10-12-2005, 06:37

Originally Posted by Rob The Bastard

Ahh... Bards Tale... " scry site" and hand drawn maps!

Gah! I was trying to forget that one. What a terrible game!

Can't believe I spent so much time playing it...not to mention BT II, BTIII...

**Shambles** · 10-14-2005, 10:34

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

I bought Final Fantasy Chronicles today.. re-vamped versions of FF4 and Chrono Trigger. Shizam.

REVAMPED CHRONO TRIGGER!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Where do I get this???

**Jubilation T Cornpone** · 10-11-2005, 22:11

[QUOTE=Mount Suribachi]Those RT Smith games were indeed legendary. Are you aware he works for CA? He even posted on another TW forum around the time of MTWs release when us older gamers had a little bit of an RT Smith love-fest going on..

I didn't realise he was still in the business. Good to hear! There are many others around the same time as Arnhem etc which I dimly recall, all released by such stalwarts as Cases Computer Simulations and Lothlorien. Good days but still no comparison with todays PC masterpeices. Perhaps its better to just fondly remember....

**Steppe Merc** · 10-12-2005, 02:02

Dark Forces, the first computer game I ever got. Such a cool game, but it of course won't work on my comp, nor could I stomach the graphics. Ah well...

Tie Fighter Gold

Damn, that game pushed me towards being an Imperialist in the Star Wars universe. I was the good guy and the evil Rebels were terrorists and I did well. It was so nice to see it from the other side with none of that rethoric that is so easy to see through (C&C Generals for instance).

Yeah, I loved that series. Though I think I had X wing... not sure, since somehow my dad got it on a floppy disk, and installed it to our computer. Ancient stuff, but there hasn't been a Star Wars flying game close to the X wing and Tie Fighter stuff. Another great Star Wars games was Rebel Assault (another flying game, better graphics but not as detailed control wise).

**Kraxis** · 10-12-2005, 02:34

Originally Posted by Steppe Merc

Yeah, I loved that series. Though I think I had X wing... not sure, since somehow my dad got it on a floppy disk, and installed it to our computer. Ancient stuff, but there hasn't been a Star Wars flying game close to the X wing and Tie Fighter stuff. Another great Star Wars games was Rebel Assault (another flying game, better graphics but not as detailed control wise).

Heh... Yeah... There wasso many things you had to control at the same time. Yet it was so easy. Match speed with enemy, fly for the green reticule (reticule lighting up green when shot is good), keep an eye on the radar (good old sticks for the 3D), cycle guns to preferred style (I loved the quad burst for capitals and other lumbering targets, and dual for fighters), blast enemy, swirve to avoid, speed up, target new enemy, match speed... THen when you got missiles it got worse, then with the shields it got even worse and lastly when you got beams... ARGH! But it was so cool. Though I managed to knock out a friendly ISD with my ion cannons a few times (don't chase an enemy with them if your big friend is 'shields down').
When I got really good I could do it all in a few seconds. The endtally for the entire game was massive. Some 2000+ fighters, 100+ capitals and platforms... I saw myself as a legendary warrior, one who put the fear into even the greatest commanders and fleets.

The only battle I never got the hang of in the game was one where you had to knock out a platform, an Interdictor and two Frigates. Then jsut as you are finishing two enemy ISDs jump in and beat the crap out of your escorting ISD. All the while fighters are jumping you. Your own fighters are of course blasted to bits within seconds ofthe start. THAT was one bad mission, though I msotly managed to do it all (tried to go for a full Secondary and Bonus completion).
Despite of my mastery of the game it was never easy, you had to keep it up all the while. Especially early on when you had no shields (taking out three Corvettes with a shieldless Tie Fighter is simply not doable, or assaulting a platform with an Interceptor).

The best was perhaps that it was so diverse. One mission you have to protect someone doing an inspection, next you have to hunt down the attackers, next again you have to just survive until reinforcement can arrive. Then you have to protect disabled ships from boarding (tough one)... ect ect. Basically not a single of the 100+ missions were alike. And you felt very much like an Imperial Tie pilot, rising from backwater patrols to the private pet of Thrawn.

**Geoffrey S** · 10-14-2005, 14:02

Originally Posted by Steppe Merc

Dark Forces, the first computer game I ever got. Such a cool game, but it of course won't work on my comp, nor could I stomach the graphics. Ah well...

If you want to get Dark Forces to work again you could always try this article. There's also a number of good levels around the site, if you're interested you could check the Hall of Fame.

Originally Posted by Steppe Merc

Yeah, I loved that series. Though I think I had X wing... not sure, since somehow my dad got it on a floppy disk, and installed it to our computer. Ancient stuff, but there hasn't been a Star Wars flying game close to the X wing and Tie Fighter stuff. Another great Star Wars games was Rebel Assault (another flying game, better graphics but not as detailed control wise).

Those games kept me entertained for ages in my childhood. X Wing and Tie Fighter struck a perfect balance between accessibility and depth, making it easy to do things but challenging to keep track of everything at once. That and the missions were some of the best designed scenarios of all time.

Rebel Assault was one of the first games I ever played, along with the Monkey Island series. Spent hours playing those.