oh dear lord, was just checking posts and caught the stuff about Ravenholm... My kinda place but i needed a change f shorts after getting trapped in that first little barn with the lawnmower *sigh* good times...gooood times. 

Playing Black Mesa, which is in fact  half-life completely rebuild as a Half-life 2 mod from scratch.

I and many others never believed it wouldn't be possible to accomplish such an enormous project, but it's done and it looks magnificent. Every tiny detail has been rebuild and it's wonderful to play the game again after so many years 

I'll probably stop once i get to the blast pit though, i don't want to face those horrible tentacles again 

let me rephrase the above: they've actualled managed to improve an already wonderful game.

The Black Mesa facility is far more realistic than before, rooms have been crafted with much more detail and the npc's conversations have improved as well.

They've even added some new puzzles (thanks to the physics engine).

If you like Company of Heroes, you should try the Men of War/Order of War games, they are more realistic with many more options the soldiers can do, more interactive environments.

Also, going back old school, try the Close Combat series and the revised Iron Cross and Wacht Am Rhein version which made the games pretty much up to date and play in Win 7 perfectly.  These are the most realistic squad level comabt PC games ever made.  They are very similar to the sophisticated board game Squad Leader.

Just started on Kingdom of Amalur as my casual RPG- anyone played it? Is it good? I was looking for something that wouldn't get me as involved as the Witcher (which once I start I have to play every day non-stop).

Playing Game of Thrones RPG, currently at Chapter 8. I do not understand the mediocre reviews this one got, it is a bit lackluster when it comes to graphics and some of the voice acting is hit and miss (Valarr is amazing as far as I am concerned), but story wise it is everything a fan of the books could wish for. I am completely engrossed.

Do you play one of the book characters in that game?

I loved the books when I read them (a while back so I am about to embark on a re-read of all of them on the Kindle as soon as the last one is released) so I am a bit weary of a great book universe recreated as a game.

Reviews are always confusing (there was a really interesting thread on this board of what constitutes a 'good' review btw). As I said I have just started Kigdoms of Amalur- I read one review that raved about it and called it a potential best game of the year, then another v dismissive one (even though it ended up giving the game 8/10) that slammed it as generic and formulaic.

What to believe?

No, you play two completely new characters. Mors, a veteran ranger of the Night's Watch, and Alester, a nobleman that left his estate to become a Red Priest, but circumstances force him to return. Through a series of unfortunate events, they both become involved with Spoiler AlertJon Arryn's and Queen Cercei's search for King Robert's illegitimate children. So, the story is tangential to the events taking place shortly before and at the beginning of the very first book. You do get to meet some of the book's important characters, like Lord Commander Mormont, Varys and Queen Cercei. While the game has its issues, I think it does a great job of recreating the world and grey morality of the books. Fans of the Song of Ice and Fire universe should definitely take a look.

Originally Posted By Mr Innocent. (22 SEP 2012 5:28pm)

Playing Game of Thrones RPG, currently at Chapter 8. I do not understand the mediocre reviews this one got, it is a bit lackluster when it comes to graphics and some of the voice acting is hit and miss (Valarr is amazing as far as I am concerned), but story wise it is everything a fan of the books could wish for. I am completely engrossed.

Hmm, i actually started that game, but.. lordy, i just can't get through Skyrim!!!  If only i wasn't such a completist, and if only i'd be happy to skip some quests, but no, i have to do every single darn quest, not to mention make potions and armor as i go along....  

To be quite honest, i had started Kingdoms of Amalur as well, and Risen 2 and Arcania, and... 

lol sounds like you and I have the same problem. I seem to constantly start games (Skyrim, KoA, Guild Wars, etc) but then a newer game catches my eye and I never finish the ones I was playing before then.

I used to focus on one game a lot more, now that I'm an adult I just lose focus and move to a new one. Only games I tend to actually go through and beat are more linear designed games (IE adventure games, recent Diablo 3).

I just started on Borderlands 2, and while it's a fun game like most open world games I doubt i'll see the end lol.

I have the same problem!

I'm sticking with KoA at the moment. I have played 6 hours so far and I'm enjoying the setting, my character, and the fact that it is easy- one of my biggest peeves and the reason I was never able to get far in any of the Gothic games. I am shockingly bad at fighting.

Some games, like DA: 0 and The Witcher games, i play right through from start to end.  ..but i'm already 414 hours into Skyrim, and i'm only level 44 and still have a ton of quests to do!

At least i have a skill range of 100 in smithing and destruction, and i have made some very nice armor for myself and my companion..- yes things like smithing eats away your time in the game..

..but boy, are we awesome!  I think it's more a competition between myself and my follower/husband to see how many enemies we can send flying before the other person gets to them first!

I easily kill three bandits all at the same time with one cast of my ice-storm spell. I'm at the point where i can kill things like witches and ogres with a single blow of my souped-up mace.  Even a giant can't kill me (well, ok, not in one blow like they could at the start of the game)  in my super-duper armor.  I think it's fun to be strong.

Originally Posted By Traveller (25 SEP 2012 9:11am)

enemies we can send flying...  kill three bandits all at the same time...  ice-storm spell... my souped-up mace...  in my super-duper armor. 

You make this game sound so appealing and fun. 

Thanks Traveller.  You've reminded of some of the reasons I want to play this game.  

Addendum:  I really don't like the icons/icon system for this forum.  They are not responsive to my needs and they don't always go where I'm trying to put them.

Originally Posted By SharonB (25 SEP 2012 11:06am)

Originally Posted By Traveller (25 SEP 2012 9:11am)

enemies we can send flying...  kill three bandits all at the same time...  ice-storm spell... my souped-up mace...  in my super-duper armor. 

 

You make this game sound so appealing and fun. 

 No, I'm not going to play it any more till I've finished the games I've already started.  I don't want to go into it feeling guilty about some partially played games.  I want to relax and concentrate soley on Skyrim and start having some success whacking people on the head or blowing them up. Enemies Only. 

 

Thanks Traveller.  You've reminded of some of the reasons I want to play this game.  

 

Addendum:  I really don't like the icons/icon system for this forum.  They are not responsive to my needs and they don't always go where I'm trying to put them.

 

 

LOL, cool, Sharon!  Now that you mention ENEMIES only: my follower, who also happens to be my husband, usually stays behind me, but yesterday he got a bit over-eager when i literally bumped into an enemy around a corner, and just as i, more in fright and reflex let loose my spell that i was holding ready in my hand, Marcurio surged in front of me to protect me- and got the full blast of my ice-storm.  It wasn't too fun to see him lying dead there in all of his dragon-and daedric armored splendor (by my own hand!), but it made me realise how frighteningly potent my destruction skills had become.   Though it took a long time to get there!

Anyway, luckily i had a game saved not too long before, and poor dear Marcurio wasn't any the wiser in it...

Playing Skyrim is just like doing spring cleaning...-the more you do, the more you find to do!

Probably one of the hardest choices that a game has ever forced me to make. Which one of the 7 super cute dragons should I pick?

By the way, I just discovered a new forum feature. If you hold down middle mouse button and move your mouse up or down, you re-size the image. 

*edit* and I also discovered that you can't hot-link from your screenshots on steam... 

Originally Posted By Fnord (26 SEP 2012 5:17am)

 

 

Probably one of the hardest choices that a game has ever forced me to make. Which one of the 7 super cute dragons should I pick?

 

 

Very difficult choice.  In your place I would use the reliable "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo" method of selection.

The pink one of course!

Oookayy- since you're a guy, choose the gold one.

I actually quite liked the pink one, but in the end I decided to go for the one that added defense, as I could not chose which one I liked the look of the most. It was the bronze one (the one between pink & green). 

Originally Posted By Fnord (26 SEP 2012 1:12pm)

I actually quite liked the pink one, but in the end I decided to go for the one that added defense, as I could not chose which one I liked the look of the most. It was the bronze one (the one between pink & green). 

Cool!  That's the one i had meant!  It must have been telepathy at work...

I know this game, right??

It's king's bounty: armored princess.

Originally Posted By Stiler (27 SEP 2012 8:15pm)

It's king's bounty: armored princess.

Yep!  And a suggestion to anyone who plans to play the game. Get Crossworlds as well. The main part of that expansion is the additions to the Armored Princess campaign. There are two mini-campaigns in it as well, but Orcs on the March (the additional content to the armored princess campaign) is the main draw.

After seeing lots of positive reviews for Borderlands 2, I thought i should give Borderlands 1 a try.

I love the cartoonish art style, it's a refreshing style for a 3D open world.

So far the game is bit too hard and linear for me, but i'm still hopefull that will change if I progress a bit further into the game

Originally Posted By markornikov (29 SEP 2012 6:43pm)

After seeing lots of positive reviews for Borderlands 2, I thought i should give Borderlands 1 a try.

I love the cartoonish art style, it's a refreshing style for a 3D open world.

So far the game is bit too hard and linear for me, but i'm still hopefull that will change if I progress a bit further into the game

I just started playing Borderlands 1 again, with a friend. In my last attempt I got pretty far into it, but then lost interest, but the game does seem to be more fun with more people. 

Be forewarned if it is rather hard you may be playing a class that doesnt fit you. Borderlands is awesome don't get me wrong but I found i played some better than others and this bothered me some. I wanted to play the guy i liked and be awesome with him (don't we all) and i couldn't pull off the play style. Came to find out i was more into the assault style more than sniper. I play Roland far more effectively than Mordecai.

Another reason could be the talents you're using. Seems like some are specifically for groups and using it single player you'll really struggle. Just try different classes and talents see what fits you