Perhaps similar to other recommended threads but I put it in off topic to include non-vintage games if desired. So if you were to recommend a few games (we have time so you can choose how many to list if you really feel the need) what are a few titles and what platform would you suggest for someones bucket list and if you want to describe and excite folks, why?
A separate note, whats in your gaming bucket list if you've ever thought of one?
My personal bucket list:
The Legend of Zelda (NES), honestly never really played it much since I never had the system as a kid. Always wondered what the full game experience would be. Not sure I would play the dozens of sequels or remakes but I'd like to play the original some time.
Final Fantasy: Similarly never was able to play the original(s) but watched my brother have a lot of fun in the games. I'd rather play the original but I do recall lots of side games in future versions like PS1 and Chocobo racing which was an interesting but entertaining waste of time.
Ultima series (but specifically Ultima 6: Ultima 6 I played a bunch but like a lot of folks never truly beat the game. However I'd like to start from the beginning assuming the rest were as good (although I did see some mention of a rocket ship in one that does make me question the quality of game play in the earlier titles). Had lots of fun goofing around and chatting with NPCs and exploring the cheat code environment (you can actually try to use the runes, no clue if that's ever a real option or what word it wanted me to say).
My recommended games for someone else:
Ultima VI [1990]: Like I said, probably should recommend the series but for whatever reason Ultima VI was the first one I stumbled upon. Such an immerse environment, lots of NPCs around and options to talk to people. Not overly difficult since key words are highlighted to indicate what you can ask them about so you're not just sitting there guessing what commands you can give. Large world, good story, great mix of graphics and text and optional mouse. For me it was the graphics but having the command interface and keyboard control that made it so much fun and free.
Pool of Radiance (SSI Gold box/RPG) [1988]: One of the first in the gold box series and the beginning of a great future with TSR teaming up with SSI and coming out with Advanced Dungeons and Dragons games with stories in the manual to read, graphics in the game to get your imagination going, and plenty of quests throughout. Follows the rule book so if you were already familiar with spells, etc you'll know your way around or if not you could buy the official books and use them beside the game to help on. We used to have a group of us play the game together, one person at the keyboard to navigate (we'd get to the point where we weren't looking at the screen but just the map view to get back to where they'd remember), one person with the journal to read signs and stories if we came along an encounter, and one person with the real AD&D books when deciding what spells to learn or weapons to use. For us it was an early team game where all of us had our character and could play together.
Hardwar [1998]: I know, not vintage but one of my all time favorite games. Obviously I like games that have a world and not necessarily focused on you. This game could quite honestly care less if you're playing or dead. Stranded on a planet and several tech leaders trying to create fusion instead of solar powered energy cells for the ships everyone fly throughout the game, Hundreds of in game NPCs go around and do what they want to make money and survive. Fights break out between folks, others sit by and wait for the wreckage so they can fight to get to the crash first and sell the scrap metal or other precious cargo for money. People trade just about anything and you have whatever option you want as well during non-plot events. Buy and sell items to make a profit and upgrade your ship to get around raiders that might attack you for your cargo during your flight, be a bounty hunter for the police and make much more money at the risk of being outgunned, or follow folks around and hang out for free scrap after a fight or any cargo that gets dropped and scavenge the planet. Like I said, the game pretty much plays itself and you're just another person. You die, game's over. Or host a network game and log in as a new player and the game will continue with it's time-line. Several corporations and gangs also have their own agenda and hit list which you may end up helping or being on depending on your actions. Get a nice force feedback joystick and surround sound speakers and a late 90's gaming setup and you'll be happy.
Trade Wars 2002 [1990/BBS game]: A stretch but again same thing, love the game playing itself while you play. Similar to elite but was intended on BBS/modem/ANSI play. You can have more than one person playing at the same time and you can create a team. Basically a text based star travel and trade game. There were lots of modules written for the game to add different alien races, by default I think it just had the Ferringi, but you could add Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, Borg, Crystal entity, Q, etc. It adds an interesting twist because they'll set up base in a certain sector then start playing the game also. They're not all unfriendly depending on their in game traits/configuration. Obviously some may demand something from you or they may just be aggressive and attack. Classic game play and fun. Random universe and sector linking each universe creation, the choice to be good (and pay taxes each day) or bad and keep your cash but watch out for Federation ships who will be after you. Create planets, defense systems, etc to guard your bounty.
Alice (Meet Alice?) DOS **I'm not sure if this is the right URL, couldn't find it easily: Like most of my stuff I spent my youth trying to experience virtual reality and artificial life on a computer. This is a stretch but there was an old DOS AI bot called Alice. This was much different than the java version that I believe it became. This version is just a low res face on the screen which is Alice. You talk to her via text and she'll respond. For a small program it was quite impressive with some of what it would come back with. On a side note a friend (much more bored than myself) spent the majoring of a night telling her how they were married. I think 8 hours aftewards he could ask who her husband was and she answered "you are my husband.". He was quite impressed with himself. It saves certain info in a file for future use although I'm pretty sure the next day she was single again.
A separate note, whats in your gaming bucket list if you've ever thought of one?
My personal bucket list:
The Legend of Zelda (NES), honestly never really played it much since I never had the system as a kid. Always wondered what the full game experience would be. Not sure I would play the dozens of sequels or remakes but I'd like to play the original some time.
Final Fantasy: Similarly never was able to play the original(s) but watched my brother have a lot of fun in the games. I'd rather play the original but I do recall lots of side games in future versions like PS1 and Chocobo racing which was an interesting but entertaining waste of time.
Ultima series (but specifically Ultima 6: Ultima 6 I played a bunch but like a lot of folks never truly beat the game. However I'd like to start from the beginning assuming the rest were as good (although I did see some mention of a rocket ship in one that does make me question the quality of game play in the earlier titles). Had lots of fun goofing around and chatting with NPCs and exploring the cheat code environment (you can actually try to use the runes, no clue if that's ever a real option or what word it wanted me to say).
My recommended games for someone else:
Ultima VI [1990]: Like I said, probably should recommend the series but for whatever reason Ultima VI was the first one I stumbled upon. Such an immerse environment, lots of NPCs around and options to talk to people. Not overly difficult since key words are highlighted to indicate what you can ask them about so you're not just sitting there guessing what commands you can give. Large world, good story, great mix of graphics and text and optional mouse. For me it was the graphics but having the command interface and keyboard control that made it so much fun and free.
Pool of Radiance (SSI Gold box/RPG) [1988]: One of the first in the gold box series and the beginning of a great future with TSR teaming up with SSI and coming out with Advanced Dungeons and Dragons games with stories in the manual to read, graphics in the game to get your imagination going, and plenty of quests throughout. Follows the rule book so if you were already familiar with spells, etc you'll know your way around or if not you could buy the official books and use them beside the game to help on. We used to have a group of us play the game together, one person at the keyboard to navigate (we'd get to the point where we weren't looking at the screen but just the map view to get back to where they'd remember), one person with the journal to read signs and stories if we came along an encounter, and one person with the real AD&D books when deciding what spells to learn or weapons to use. For us it was an early team game where all of us had our character and could play together.
Hardwar [1998]: I know, not vintage but one of my all time favorite games. Obviously I like games that have a world and not necessarily focused on you. This game could quite honestly care less if you're playing or dead. Stranded on a planet and several tech leaders trying to create fusion instead of solar powered energy cells for the ships everyone fly throughout the game, Hundreds of in game NPCs go around and do what they want to make money and survive. Fights break out between folks, others sit by and wait for the wreckage so they can fight to get to the crash first and sell the scrap metal or other precious cargo for money. People trade just about anything and you have whatever option you want as well during non-plot events. Buy and sell items to make a profit and upgrade your ship to get around raiders that might attack you for your cargo during your flight, be a bounty hunter for the police and make much more money at the risk of being outgunned, or follow folks around and hang out for free scrap after a fight or any cargo that gets dropped and scavenge the planet. Like I said, the game pretty much plays itself and you're just another person. You die, game's over. Or host a network game and log in as a new player and the game will continue with it's time-line. Several corporations and gangs also have their own agenda and hit list which you may end up helping or being on depending on your actions. Get a nice force feedback joystick and surround sound speakers and a late 90's gaming setup and you'll be happy.
Trade Wars 2002 [1990/BBS game]: A stretch but again same thing, love the game playing itself while you play. Similar to elite but was intended on BBS/modem/ANSI play. You can have more than one person playing at the same time and you can create a team. Basically a text based star travel and trade game. There were lots of modules written for the game to add different alien races, by default I think it just had the Ferringi, but you could add Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, Borg, Crystal entity, Q, etc. It adds an interesting twist because they'll set up base in a certain sector then start playing the game also. They're not all unfriendly depending on their in game traits/configuration. Obviously some may demand something from you or they may just be aggressive and attack. Classic game play and fun. Random universe and sector linking each universe creation, the choice to be good (and pay taxes each day) or bad and keep your cash but watch out for Federation ships who will be after you. Create planets, defense systems, etc to guard your bounty.
Alice (Meet Alice?) DOS **I'm not sure if this is the right URL, couldn't find it easily: Like most of my stuff I spent my youth trying to experience virtual reality and artificial life on a computer. This is a stretch but there was an old DOS AI bot called Alice. This was much different than the java version that I believe it became. This version is just a low res face on the screen which is Alice. You talk to her via text and she'll respond. For a small program it was quite impressive with some of what it would come back with. On a side note a friend (much more bored than myself) spent the majoring of a night telling her how they were married. I think 8 hours aftewards he could ask who her husband was and she answered "you are my husband.". He was quite impressed with himself. It saves certain info in a file for future use although I'm pretty sure the next day she was single again.