Perfect Games

[CommanderJameson]

Over the years I've played lots of computer games. As Sturgeon's Law is inescapable, most of them were crap, but a few were good, and a very few were better than that - perfect in all aspects.

My perfect games are (I lean heavily towards FPSes and shootybang in general; I don't really go for sports games, except driving):

• Elite (BBC Micro) - obviously, given my username. I'm hard-pressed to think of any other game that pushed the hardware as hard, and yet had such absorbing gameplay. The Archimedes version was better, but the BBC was where it started.
• Quake (PC) - better multiplayer than Doom, better maps, better monsters and better weapons. The super nailgun makes the best sound of any gun in any game evAr, in my opinion. Especially when quadded. I still play this today, thanks to http://www.fruitz-of-dojo.de/
• Civilisation 2 (PC) - the huge mod scene for this most-perfect iteration of the Civilisation games means that you're never bored. It strikes the exact right balance between complexity and entertainment.
• Quake 3 Arena (PC) - another game with an extensive mod scene. The level of fit and finish on mods like Rocket Arena and Threewave CaptureStrike is astounding. Another game I still play from time to time, just to remind myself that no, I can't rail for st.
• Deus Ex (PC) - Immersive, brilliantly plotted and with more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing. It's allegedly possible to finish it having killed only one person. I would suggest that to complete the game this way would be incredibly bd hard.
• TOCA 1 (PS1) - Rubbish graphics, a real sensation of speed, Tiff Needell, UK club racing circuits, EAT GRAVEL! A truly excellent damage system, and a genuine thrill when you get Brooklands at Thruxton just right.
• Resident Evil 4 (GameCube) - Brilliant graphics and sound, an interesting range of well-balanced weapons, superb controls, gloriously horrible monsters (never mind the giant thing in the lake, it's those buggers with the chainsaws that you want to watch out for) and replay value in spades, due to the mini-games and the ability to carry your weapons over. Best console game I've ever played.
• Silent Hill (PS1) - This game remains the only game to have given me disturbed sleep. That bloody radio still gives me the willies. This was the first game I played where the protagonist was genuinely rubbish at everything.
• Citadel (BBC Micro) - For something that fits into 32K, uses 160x256 pixels in 8 colours, and is played on the keyboard, this is oddly (and utterly) absorbing. Sound is sparing but effective. The Well remains one of the cunningest puzzles ever.

Near Misses:

• Half-Life (PC) - an amazing game, ruined towards the end by the Stupid Xen Jumping Puzzle and the Stupid Big Yellow Teleporter Puzzle.
• Gran Turismo 4 (PS2) - No damage means that it's a valid racing strategy to use the car in front as a large brake.
• Doom 3 (PC) - ridiculously difficult on the higher levels, and a bit samey. Stunningly scary the first time through, though. Some of the best voice acting in a game I've ever heard.
• Shadow Of The Colossus (PS2) - easily the best art direction on any game, on any platform. The beautiful and atmospheric is realised with total conviction, and the colossi themselves are amazing to behold. A bit less art and a bit more game would be good.

[stephen300o]

Toca used to be great r.i.p

Also loved Total immersion racing(I may be the only one though).

Edited by stephen300o on Saturday 21st June 10:58

[stu 9thgate]

I agree with Elite at the top mate .
What about Gran tourismo (ps1) i still have my fondest memorys of this gem. buying a 2nd hand honder prelued 1st then working my way up to the best skylines. awsome game.
Turrican 2 (amiga) Best running and shooting game ever made.
Command and cConquer red alert (ps1) lost many houres linked to my mate machine playing heads-up.
Doom (ps1) (my 1st experiance of 1st person)- Medal of Honor (pc) (my 1st experiance of online play) - right up to Call of duty 4 ( never thought i would get used to a hand controler instead of mouse and keys).
Pro evo soccer( ps2) (Not the ps3 one though, is ste!)

Damn it! now my mind is in over load thinking of all the old classics.

Gribbly's Day Out and International Karate (c64) anyone ?

[PulsatingStar]

Im not sure 2D platoforming ever got better than Sonic 2. Its a masterpiece, as was the 2 player VS mode.

[HAB]

GTL/GTR2 with a G25 is easily the best racing sim experience yet imo.

[Dave^]

what about Grand Prix Legends? not easy to get right, but when you do, damn it feels good!!!

[shadowninja]

I agree with Elite on the BBC B. Also, Doom and Quake originals on PC; yes, there are much better FPS games now but they're all pretty much the same thing. Racing game-wise, Toca 1 and Gran Turismo 1 on the PS2... both pretty hard and trying to be realistic (GT1 not having crashes is a minor issue and doesn't detract from the game); it was GT in fact that got me on the slippery slope of sports car addiction... I am sure I could have saved myself 40-50k if I stuck to PC gaming. The original Colin McCrae Rally Championship (I'm sure "Network Q" needs to be stuck in there somewhere) deserves a mention for being probably the first realistic driving game available in the home that had vaguely decent graphics for its time (the likes of Revs on the BBC and other early attempts, while trying to be realistic, did in fact leave a lot to be desired).

Edited by shadowninja on Saturday 21st June 15:05

[Steve Evil]

shadowninja said:

...there are much better FPS games now but they're all pretty much the same thing...

[Devils Advocate]But we're in a perfect games thread, something can't be perfect if there's something else out there that does things better surely?
[/Devils Advocate]

Edited by Steve Evil on Saturday 21st June 15:10

[shadowninja]

You have a point. I got carried away. It's Saturday. I'm allowed to get carried away. Mind you, every day is a Saturday to me since I quit my job a year or so ago.

[stu 9thgate]

"perfect" is in the eye of the beholder, no too people will agree on everything . For me games are about a the fond memorys playing them . most have been surpassed with better graphics , sound, gameplay and scale.
Its not about if or when it will be bettered , its about how you felt at the time playing them .
Nothing in the art world is "perfect" but some stuff gets damn close!
I guess the topic should have been called " nearly perfect games for when they were made"(for simulations)
and "nearly perfect games" ( for non simulations ).
unfotunaterly truly origonal game ideas are in short supply in modern console gaming.

[LukeBird]

Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil 4, GTR2, GTL there are several more games I highly rate...
Not sure if they fall under 'perfect' though! :scartchchin:
Top of the bunch for me though, Zelda OOT, ground-breaking at the time, enormous map, just incredible!

[BigAlinEmbra]

Sensible Soccer.

[SlipStream77]

I'm into racing sims so...

GPL, GTR2, GTL, rFactor, GP1.

I also thought the 'No One Lives Forever' series was great, excellent graphics even by todays standards and a comedic 60's theme in an FPS.

[heppers]

Monty on the Run C64, Way of the Exploding Fist C64. Quo Vardis Vic20,

Wolfenstien (orginal) PC, Wolfenstien 3D PC, Quake PC, Half Life PC, C&C Red Alert PC.

GT1/2/3 PS

Forza 2 X360

Just bought a Wii so seeing if there is anything Earth shattering, nothing as yet but unique experience.

[Tycho]

Manic Miner on Spectrum/C64


I think games like Metal Gear Solid 4 will be looked back on as masterpieces in 10 years or so.

Donkey Kong at the arcade.

[paul26982]

donkey kong for the snes was it donkey kong 3d or 64, was imense when released

[xiphias]

F Zero X, travelling at 1200km/h and giving an opponent a perfectly timed nudge, ace. Something about the handling in that game that meant you could just keep on improving and getting it oh so right.

[paul26982]

star fox lol

[stu 9thgate]

BigAlinEmbra said:

Sensible Soccer.

[ferrisbueller]

stu 9thgate said:

BigAlinEmbra said:

Sensible Soccer.

+1

For sheer playability they've never matched it on any other format.