Incline 21st Century, here I come!

After more than nine years I've finally reached the year 2001 on my chronological play list.

Partly inspired by all the crud being released in the years 2007 - 2010, partly inspired by The CRPG Addict, and GOG providing good old games cheaply, I decided to stop replaying the same games over and over, and look back to the beginning since looking forward was just too depressing. I don't play only CRPGs, though, but also FPS and TBS games, and I limit myself to the games I know or think I will like.

I must admit that Wizardry 1 (1981) intimidated me back then, so the first DOS games on my list were The Bard's Tale, Ultima IV and Phantasie. But the very first game was the ZX Spectrum game Tir Na Nog from 1984. I had planned on playing lots of Spectrum games, but in the end the UI is just too cumbersome for most games when using emulator, so I ended up only playing Tir Na Nog, Dun Darach and Marsport, all by the great two man outfit Gargoyle Games. I completed the first two games, but they were much smaller than I remembered them. I gave up on Marsport halfway through, since the gameplay was just too limited. I also tried to play old favourites like Fairlight and Heavy on the Magic, but the UI combined with real time was too much for me. I was impressed that the CRPG Addict completed HotM, though.
Anyway, the Spectrum gave me many good gaming moments as a kid, and many memories, but that's all it is now: memories.

I found that old Amiga and DOS (and Apple, which was often the machine most old CRPGs were made for) have aged much better. Or maybe it's pure CRPGs that have aged better than other genres?
The first game with no RPG elements I played was probably Civilization from 1991.


Some statistics after nine years.

Games (including expansions and mission packs) played: 131
Completed: 114
Games I either didn't want to replay at all or didn't complete, because I completed them before: 8
Didn't complete due to bugs: Star Command, Starflight 2, Wasteland, Wizardry 5 and Anvil of Dawn, the last two at the very end.
I can probably count on one hand the games I didn't finish because I screwed up or didn't have the willpower to finish. So this project has certainly taught me to complete what I start.


User made maps and fan missions completed, ranging from small single maps to large campaigns or Mega WADs:

Doom 1+2: 49
Duke Nukem 3D: 13
HoMM 2: 26
HoMM 3: 28
Unreal: 3
Half-Life: 5
Thief 1: 24
Thief 2: 7
FRUA: 90

I'm surprised at the number of FRUA modules completed, but I guess it explains why I'm tired of FRUA.

I play the FPS games on Normal difficulty, while the Thief and TBS games I play on highest difficulty.
My high scores for HoMM 2 and so far for HoMM 3:​

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

​

Games of the Year (and Runner(s) Up beneath):

1984: Elite
Lords of Midnight

1985: Ultima IV
The Bard's Tale

1986: Might&Magic 1
Starflight

1987: Dungeon Master
Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna

1988: Pool of Radiance
Might and Magic 2
Ultima V

1989: Chaos Strikes Back
The Magic Candle
Curse of the Azure Bonds
The Dark Heart of Uukrul

1990: Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Champions of Krynn

1991: Civilization
Disciples of Steel
Pools of Darkness

1992: Ultima Underworld
Dark Queen of Krynn
Darklands

1993: Doom
Betrayal at Krondor
Master of Orion

1994: System Shock
Nahlakh
Doom 2
X-COM: UFO Defense

1995: Heroes of Might and Magic
Jagged Alliance

1996: Diablo
Heroes of Might and Magic 2
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri

1997: Fallout
Outlaws

1998: Thief: The Dark Project
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
Unreal
Fallout 2
Half-Life
Baldur's Gate

1999: Heroes of Might and Magic 3
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
Age of Wonders

2000: Diablo 2
Deus Ex
Icewind Dale
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul

 

So how do you feel about the 21st century so far, being one year into it?

 

Schizoid.

 

The 21st century sucks. Turn back while you still can.

 

What's on your list for 2001 - 2003, just out of interest? I tried making a chronological list of games myself and found that 2003 in particular was a surprisingly weak year.

 

2001:
Clive Barker's Undying February 19, 2001
Europa Universalis February 20, 2001
Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter February 20-21, 2001
Blade of Darkness February 21, 2001
Gothic March 15, 2001
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel March 15, 2001
Wizardry Chronicle March 23, 2001
Serious Sam: The First Encounter March 23, 2001
Black & White March 27, 2001
Summoner March 27, 2001
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive April 18, 2001
Red Faction May 22, 2001
Heroes Chronicles: The Sword of Frost June 1, 2001
Half-Life: Blue Shift June 12, 2001
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction June 27/29, 2001
Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos June 29, 2001
Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter - Trials of the Luremaster July 3, 2001
Max Payne July 15-23, 2001
The Earth Lords July 26, 2001
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura August 21, 2001
Pillars of Garendall August 27, 2001
Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis September 1, 2001
Siege of Avalon September 17, 2001
Commandos 2 September 20, 2001
Throne of Darkness September 21-25, 2001
Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor September 24-27, 2001
Runesword 2 October 3, 2001
Aliens Versus Predator 2 October 22, 2001
Sid Meier's Civilization III October 30, 2001
Codename: Outbreak November 1, 2001
Etherlords November 8, 2001
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon November 13, 2001
Wizardry 8 November 14-15, 2001
Return to Castle Wolfenstein November 19
Gorasul: The Legacy of the Dragon November 26, 2001
Europa Universalis II December 11, 2001
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land December 21, 2001

A long list, but only a tentative one, as I still need to evaluate each game if they are worth playing, assuming they are even available.
The lists for 2002 and 2003 are not complete yet.

2003:
The Brotherhood of Ruin February 1, 2003
Unreal II: The Awakening February 4, 2003
I.G.I-2: Covert Strike February 14, 2003
Master of Orion 3 February 25, 2003
Freelancer March 4, 2003
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic July 15, 2003
Titans of Steel August 1, 2003
Hidden & Dangerous 2 October 21, 2003
Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria October 21, 2003
Devil Whiskey December 1
Deus Ex: Invisible War December 2, 2003
Helherron
Dark Disciples
Teudogar

Yup, looks like 2003 was indeed a bad year (looking forward to Helherron, though). But there will likely be lots of good user made content for some of my favourite games.

 

WTF

 

You should add perfect cherry blossom in 2003.

https://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Perfect_Cherry_Blossom

I'm not joking.

 

That 2001 list is looking great.

You've probably already played it, but you might want to consider playing the first Call of Duty from 2003. It's not too bad in itself, but as a piece of FPS/gaming history it's a really clear turning point away from 90s design and into the boring military shooters that the 2000s had so many of.

 

Battle for Wesnoth was first released in 2003, so you might want to add that to your list. It's free so no harm in trying it out.The artstyle is kinda anime but it's within my tolerance limits at least.

What's on your list for 2002?

 

I have it on my 2005 list (August 2)

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault January 20, 2002
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter January 24, 2002
Laser Squad: Nemesis February 1, 2002
Disciples II: Dark Prophecy February 23, 2002
Star Trek: Bridge Commander February 26, 2002
Dungeon Siege March 5, 2002
Freedom Force March 25, 2002
Global Operations March 26, 2002
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Desert Siege March 26, 2002
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast March 28, 2002
Heroes of Might and Magic IV March 28, 2002
Might and Magic IX March 29, 2002
Morrowind May 01, 2002
Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix May 21, 2002
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne June 12, 2002
Neverwinter Nights June 18, 2002
Arx Fatalis Jule 28, 2002
Dungeon Odyssey August 19, 2002
Dominions September 22, 2002
US Special Forces: Team Factor September 23, 2002
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin October 2, 2002
No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way October 5, 2002
Space Rangers December 20, 2002
Prelude to Darkness
Wizardry Empire 2 2002

 

Prince of Qin may be worth a look too from 2002 but you will probably have to sail the seven seas in order to acquire it.

https://rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=29

 

Damn fine years, these. Would be nice to see a single-paragraph review of each game or something, as you probably have a unique perspective on some of them.

You need to add Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield to your 2003 list. It's probably better than anything else on that list.

 

I like time limits in turn based games, but not real time games so much. I still remember rage quitting CoD when I couldn't rescue those POWs (British pilots IIRC) in time. So my exposure to CoD is limited.

 

You lack these in yout lists:

2000
Majora's Mask

2001
Devil May Cry
Silent Hill 2
Anachronox

2002
Metroid Prime (might also wanna go back to 1991 to try out Super Metroid)
Timesplitter 2
Splinter Cell
Resident Evil Remake

2003
Sands of Time
F-Zero GX
Max payne 2
Jedi Academy
Aria of Sorrow
Viewtiful Joe
Rainbow Six 3
Soul Calibur 2
Disgae
Beyond Good and Evil
Temple of Elemental Evil

 

Starflight is the distinguished gentleman's preference for 1986.

 

Well, it was a close call between two very different types of CRPGs, and I personally happen to like blobbers.

 

Dude he's obviously only playing PC games.

 

Loved the whole post until this fucking tragedy.

 

I would be interested to see an overview of the FRUA modules you played and how you rank them, if you have that data, from great > good > average > avoid (not sure if you consider any of them great)

 

Don't be a pretentious git, except Evil Islands (which I haven't played), the other tree are all mandatory CRPGs who have stood the test of time, whether you personally like them or not

 

Yeah, the idea is putting Diablo 2 over Deus Ex should be a capital offense.