PC games of 2009 and 2010

[Hümmelgümpf]

NWN 2 3rd expansion that combines SoZ's gameplay with MotB's story, introduces turn-based combat and is set in Eberron instead of Generic Realms. Take notes, Mr. Davis, take notes.

 

[Longshanks]

What's with all the adventure games in 3d with female protagonists?
Longest Journey clones?

Young female protags have been a trend for a while now, nothing wrong with that, except that they are mostly very poorly drawn and incredibly annoying.

There are definitely some interesting Adventures on the horizon, though nothing stands out as particularly exciting. Hoping Gray Matter will actually see a release. Have some interest in Three Cards to Midnight, from the creators of Tex Murphy. There was meant to be a demo out a couple of weeks ago, but it's been delayed.

 

[Shoelip]

Phoenix Wallice is older and allot more mature than April from TLJ, without being anything like the annoyingly depressing older more mature April from Dreamfall. They aren't any more similar than John Blade and Nathan Frost.

God damn it! I want SiN Episodes 2!

Hey, anyone else notice Dropship on there? How old is that list?

 

[Longshanks]

^^Missed your post before my previous. I agree that young female protagonist does not equal TLJ clone, and as I said I have no problem with them, except, just as with males, when they are poorly realised, as in CI. Just happens that many of the female leads in the recent AGs I've played have been terrible, the addition of "girly" elements to gameplay did not help (particularly true of CI).

I did find Phoenix young, naive and annoying, possibly not as young as April, don't remember. Still Life's protag was okay.

 

[PlanHex]

Because male protagonists are supposed to shoot/stab/slash/bludgeon things. Not solve puzzles. ... Are all adventure games with male protagonists clones of King's Quest?

Bad choice of words on my part I guess, longest journey is pretty much the only realistic looking 3D adventure game w female protagonist I've heard of. Never played it tho. Probably should.
It's just odd that half the adventure games on the list follow that formula. The ones with male protagonists are 2d and cartoony.

 

[kris]

I actually saw plenty of interesting titles.

Starcraft 2 - Loved the first.
Empire TW - They have Sweden in it
Dragonage - I like many of their choices for this one.
AOD - Because of agreeing on gameplay principles.
HOI3 - I am recovering Paradox whore.
Demigod - looked worth another look.
Star trek supremacy - I actually liked its precursor, "birth of the federation".
Diablo 3 - they know gameplay.
Broken hourglass - Also looked worth another look.
Aliens - could be fun

2010

elemental: war of magic - Sounds like win.
star wars: the old republic - Just joking, burn in hell MMO.
Northstar - Raised my interest.
Afterfall - Possibly.

 

[Lesifoere]

Because male protagonists are supposed to shoot/stab/slash/bludgeon things. Not solve puzzles. ... Are all adventure games with male protagonists clones of King's Quest?

Bad choice of words on my part I guess, longest journey is pretty much the only realistic looking 3D adventure game w female protagonist I've heard of. Never played it tho. Probably should.
It's just odd that half the adventure games on the list follow that formula. The ones with male protagonists are 2d and cartoony.

Mm, A Vampyre Story does have a female protagonist but is very cartoony. The Lost Crown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure has a male protagonist, and has visuals that are roughly as "realistic" as TLJ, for what it's worth.

Regardless, do give TLJ a try. It's very, very good. The story's nothing special in terms of ideas and premise, but it's just executed so well. I remember the sense of wonder, which is a rare thing nowadays to experience in a game. The sequel, Dreamfall, has much shittier gameplay but is still worth playing for the story.

 

[SimpleComplexity]

The list isn`t perfect but does the job. It seems very unlikely that Diablo 3 will be a 2009 release. Dropship stopped development (?). I think Mass Effect 2 will be released in 09.

I am looking forward to play:
ArmA 2
Disciples III
Divinity 2
Age of Decadence
Two worlds Two ( )
Mafia 2
Godfather 2
Duke Nukem Forever
White Gold
Street Fighter IV
And some tank-sim, i forgot the name

Even if half of them fail, still a good year.

 

[Suchy]

Actually I liked Dreamfall much more, despite awkward controls and some idiotic arcade moments. The puzzles were much more logical though (forget about that rubber-duck thingy and trying everything on everything).

Anyway there are some nice oldschool adventures coming up. Also Armed Assault 2 and Operation Flashpoint 2.
A bit sad on the RPG side though. I'm expecting some medicore to weak actionRPGs, the only games I'm waiting for are Age of Decadence and Afterfall coming up in 2010.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

Actually I liked Dreamfall much more, despite awkward controls and some idiotic arcade moments. The puzzles were much more logical though (forget about that rubber-duck thingy and trying everything on everything).

Dreamfall didn't have any puzzles.

 

[MetalCraze]

ArmA2 (most def. most wanted game of 2009 for me - I hate consolized interface however)
Starcraft 2 (despite Blizzard milking the franchize)
Diablo 3
Mafia 2

that's everything what I expect in 2009. Still 4 times more than what I expected in 2008 and hopefully 4 times less disappointing (and no I don't mean F3 bitch)

 

[JarlFrank]

Dropship? Seriously? In 2009? Is that for real?
And they're linking to the Codex there heh.

 

[Shoelip]

^^Missed your post before my previous. I agree that young female protagonist does not equal TLJ clone, and as I said I have no problem with them, except, just as with males, when they are poorly realised, as in CI. Just happens that many of the female leads in the recent AGs I've played have been terrible, the addition of "girly" elements to gameplay did not help (particularly true of CI).

I did find Phoenix young, naive and annoying, possibly not as young as April, don't remember. Still Life's protag was okay.

I thought Phoenix was fairly well realized as a woman raised from birth to believe in a questionable system. Just what did you dislike about her so much?

 

[inwoker]

I am optimistic about Alpha Protocol.
- no elves and ancient evil - CHECK
- no scifi and no fantasy setting - CHECK
- No xp for killing enemies - CHECK
- choises and consequences with factions and so - CHECK
- combat can be fun - CHECK
- And nobody knows how dialog system works so far. Can be good. - CHECK
- different playstyles and different super agent types possible - CHECK
- sex interest encounters.. oh wait

 

[doctor_kaz]

http://adrianwerner.wordpress.com/games-of-2009/
http://adrianwerner.wordpress.com/games-of-2010/


kinda depressing]

It's more than kinda depressing. Pretty much everything that isn't Sims or Blizzard is either crap or multiplatform.

 

[Shagnak]

It's more than kinda depressing. Pretty much everything that isn't Sims or Blizzard is either crap or multiplatform.

Well, I'm obviously a crap-loving coprophage, because I see a lot of decent stuff there (mostly in the PC exclusives section).

Definite buys:
Age of Decadence (shaping up nicely)
Eschalon Book 2
Subversion
Majesty 2 (the first is one of my fav RTSes. Yes I like passive RTSes, so sue me)
Dragon Age
The Broken Hourglass (this will appear? I'm not up to date on progress...)
Divinity 2 (one day I might even finish the first one )
7.62mm (ummm. Not certain if it's on the list, but I'll put it here regardless)


Might buy (i.e. highly interested):
Jagged Alliance 3
Disciples 3
Solium Infernum (Armageddon Empires was pretty darn good, read our very own Astro's review)
Diablo 3
Reluctant Hero (I kinda liked aspects of Heretic Kingdoms)
Storm of War: Battle of Britain (Sturmovik roxored)
Precursors (am I the only one that enjoyed Boiling Point to a degree?)
Arcania (even though I was massively disappointed in Gothic 3)
Deus Ex 3 (as a proud member of the SGLF, I boldly state that "Deus Ex 2 wasn't as bad as it was cracked up to be". (Runs and hides))


Also, as already noted, some of those adventure games look intriguing.

 

[DefJam101]

I wasn't aware that Neuroticfish song was a cover.

 

[Beans00]

I am optimistic about Alpha Protocol.
- no elves and ancient evil - CHECK
- no scifi and no fantasy setting - CHECK
- No xp for killing enemies - CHECK
- choises and consequences with factions and so - CHECK
- combat can be fun - CHECK
- And nobody knows how dialog system works so far. Can be good. - CHECK
- different playstyles and different super agent types possible - CHECK
- sex interest encounters.. oh wait

your a faggot bitch

 

[Ghoulem]

That Troll has gone too far. And I should know. I'm from Norway.

 

[MisterStone]

Why are there like twenty fucking space sim trading games, but only one ISN'T an MMO. Who the fuck has time for that MMO bullshit? Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. :evil:

 

[Beans00]

That Troll has gone too far. And I should know. I'm from Norway.

whats why your wife is so hairy

 

[Ghoulem]

What are you talking about? She shaves every day.

 

[Beans00]

What are you talking about? She shaves every day.

She has to, she's like a carpet at the end of the day :D

 

[Longshanks]

I thought Phoenix was fairly well realized as a woman raised from birth to believe in a questionable system. Just what did you dislike about her so much?

I think the character idea was fine. But, some of the execution was off and I feel the character was poorly meshed with the plot and player knowledge. Dialogue was mostly good enough, but the regular over-emotional outbursts and often silly questions from Phoenix seemed out of place, especially given her job.

My main issue with the character was her naivety. It was clear to me from the outset that all was not well with the superficially perfect World Union. This was underlined by the intro with the Renovators which not only made it clear that there is something beneath the surface, but also got me thinking about Phoenix's name foreshadowing her as some kind of saviour or agent of change. Given that I started out questioning the Union, Phoenix's blind acceptance of it, even in the face of clear counter-evidence, became annoying. Phoenix's journey from unquestioning citizen of the Union, to realising its weaknesses was obviously a big part of the plot, but the game never allowed me to take that journey with her, and instead left me cursing her stupidity. The whole game would have worked much better if they'd been more subtle about the Union's flaws, and not given so many early hints that all is not well.

Not a terrible character, as I may have earlier inferred, but certainly one I grew to dislike by the end of the game.

 

[Edward_R_Murrow]

Snipe

Nice to see Cyclopean on the 2010 list, even though that seems very optimistic. I wouldn't mind it though.