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This Old Gamer: My Games
By Joey Cooper
It's been quite some time since I last wrote one of these "This Old Gamer" columns, but today I decided to write another edition to talk about some of my favorite games (and not so favorite ones!) that I currently own. These are the CDs that are lined up on the shelf next to my iMac, mostly games my brother or I have bought.
I wouldn't consider myself a "big gamer," as I prefer to not play the latest and greatest but rather games that are fun. Thus, the This Old Gamer column fits just right for me. But I also like some newer games, although as you'll see all my games are at least one year old, because I've been too busy to buy anything new.
NASCAR Racing For Mac - Sierra
This has got to be one of my family's most used games. The sports
shelf-- and especially car racing -- on the Mac has always been
rather scarce, and as such this game is quite unique for Mac users.
NASCAR is actually more of a simulation than a action game. The game features quite nice graphics, realistic racing schedules, and incredible control of how your car is adjusted in the garage. Of course, the best part of the game is the actual racing, which I find is awesome.
Why I like it: It's networkable between two Macs!
MDK - PIE/Shiny Entertainment/Shockwave Software
This game came bundled with my iMac, the lesser-known of the Nanosour/MDK
game bundle. MDK is a third person shooter, although I've found
it's nothing like many shoot 'em uppers you'll find. You actually
run around and fight robots, which is much less gory.
I found MDK to be more cartoonish than you'd suppose such a game should be. I've never gotten past the 4th or 5th level, and although the game is fun, I never found myself addicted to it.
Why I like it: It came with my computer!
MYST - Broderbund
It used to be that everyone had played MYST. Nowadays, most people
have heard of it, but you don't hear people talking about this
game like they used to. MYST is, quite simply, the best game ever
made. It's like Star Wars -- it inspired an entire genre, of which
it was the only game that was even fun to play.
My brother, a couple friends, and I spent hours and hours and hours working to finish MYST. The amazing thing is, we actually solved all the puzzles -- after 6 months trying! Just because of that it's a great game.
Why I like it: The name is cool.
Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective - ICON
This is one of those games that's supposed to be a lot of fun.
Well, it really isn't. We bought this game years and years ago,
and although playing it was fun for a while, the detective work
became old very quickly.
The way this game worked is pretty lame. They have some video clips, and when you decide to go somewhere they show a clip. There were three cases, and because everything was done via video, the game could only go on so long.
Why I don't like it: Poorly done game.
Sea and Sky - Digital Illusions
This is another one of those games that, when released in 1994,
might have been interesting for 7 minutes. The game was really
a bundle of different boat and flight simulators, and frankly
it sucked. The graphics, the simulation -- every part of the game
sucked. It was even hard to figure out what was going on -- were
you bombing that other boat or was it bombing you? Did you just
release a death charge or a missile?
'Nuff said.
Why I don't like it: Graphics sucked.
Rebel Assault - Lucas Arts
For Star Wars buffs, this game was incredibly neat when it came
out. I loved the game, spent a lot of time flying around in Star
Wars spaceships -- however, as time went on my brother and started
to feel that Rebel Assault wasn't a great flight simulation.
Rebel Assault is, simply put, an arcade style game converted to the computer. Instead of being able to fly anywhere, you are confined in the game to strict areas of flight -- you mostly just have to fire the lasers.
Why I like it: It's still cool, even if it lacks as being a real simulator.
Connectix Virtual Game Station - Connectix
This isn't as much of a game as a platform -- for playing PlayStation
games on your Mac. The emulator actually works great, and I've
had a lot of fun playing Madden 99 on my iMac.
Why I like it: Sony's injunction got lifted, and now all my friends can buy it.
TIE Fighter -- Lucas Arts
In heavy contrast to my review of Rebel Assault, TIE Fighter is
simply a great simulator. You pilot a Imperial fighter, swinging
this way and that. The action is great in this game, and the graphics
ain't half bad either.
My only complaint would that without USB support I can't play it on my iMac with a joystick. Too bad, too, or I'd play this game all day long.
Why I like it: Darth Vader is on your side.
Myth: The Fallen Lords - Bungie
This game (along with its sequel, Myth II) is, for many people,
a real time waster. With multiplayer support online -- and a great
single player campaign -- controlling your Dwares and other creatures
around the battle field fighting with your opponent is very fun
and addicting.
I for one, however, have never become a big Myth head -- I guess I just never devoted enough time to it.
Why I don't like it: I can't get the networked play to work between two iMacs -- on both computers at the end of a battle it says we both won!
Command & Conquer - Westwood
For people who love the Warcraft series, Command & Conquer
is a great alternative game. You're in charge of forces of infantry,
tanks, and all sorts of special units. The later levels involve
both good planning and execution.
Why I like it: An addicting war simulator, even if it's not supposed to be a simulator.
Starcraft - Blizzard
Of all the games here, this one is the most likely one for me
to waste lots of time on. More or less a sequel of Warcraft II,
Starcraft features all the normal resource management war fun.
I like the multiplayer the best. Once I get a faster Internet connection, I know I'll spend a lot of time playing this game online!
Why I like it: Network play on Ethernet!
SimCity 2000 - Maxis
Another great game, one of the best of all time. SimCity lets
you build your own town -- but beware, because going into debt
is virtually impossible to reverse!
Why I like it: You can learn more about local government from this game than 80 hours of school!
That concludes today's article. Whew, that's a lot of games. In the end, I think I've made some of the best purchasing decisions on games -- most of these will continue to be enjoyable for years to come. Some -- like Starcraft and SimCity -- are known as the best games ever.
Next week I'll be discussing more old games. I'd like to publish your letters about what shareware games you still play often -- that's joey@macmilitia.com. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
-Joey Cooper spends most of his time eating food.
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