2005 Dark Side recommendations

You asked for it so here goes
We all know why we are here. But just in case you don't, the object of this thread is to recommend to other boomers non-adventure games that you believe worthy of playing in this day and age. They may be your all time favourites, but they need not be. There might be a game you love dearly but for whatever reason you couldn't recommend it to someone to play today.
We then compile a final list as a resource for other players who want to know what to play next. I started the first such list for exactly that reason; I had no idea which games were good and which weren't.
There are rules, and they follow. I have been guided by last year and some earlier posts.

1. You can recommend a maximum of 10 games, but you can recommend less.
2. You can't list a series, unless you use single votes for each game.
3. Expansion packs will be considered seperate games, on the basis that the original might be ordinary but an expansion pack superb.
4. Any game that is not pure adventure can be listed, irrespective of genre.
5. You don't have to indicate the type or genre, and you are not limited to any specific number of games in any genre. Go ahead and list 10 rpg's if you choose.
6. It is essentially a pc list, but given that many players have consoles as well, if you want to list games for the console go right ahead. Ico got a mention in the adventure list and it is PS2.

Please use full titles where possible. I am not familiar enough with some of these games to know which games are sequels/add ons etc.
Lets agree the thread closes Friday fortnight, and at the end of it all I will compile an alphabetical list and a numerical list, and with the help of Nickie

Gday flotsam

Psychonauts
Freedom Fighters
Beyond Good and Evil
X-Files : Resist or Serve (ps2)
PSI-OPS : The Mindgate Conspiracy
Medal of Honor : European Assault (xbox)
Oddworld : Strangers Wrath (xbox)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell : Chaos Theory
Fatal Frame 2 : Crimson Butterfly
God of War (ps2)

Hi.

1. Star Wars: Knights of the old republic
2. Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban
3. Sacred
4. Lego Star Wars: The Video Game
5. Morrowind
6. The Sims 2
7. The Sims 2: University
8. Zoo Keeper (DS)
9. Neverwinter Nights
10. Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.

Caroline.

1. Knights of the Old Republic
2. Beyond Good and Evil
3. Psychonauts
4. Wik & the Fable of Souls
5. Divine Divinity
6. Neverwinter Nights
7. Morrowind
8. Anachronox
9. Zanzarah
10. The Fifth Disciple

(a darkside happydance) Thanks, Flotsam, for all your hard work.

1. Divine Divinity
2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
3. Morrowind
4. Anachronox
5. Neverwinter Nights
6. Dragonriders: Chronicles of Pern
7. Quest for Glory Collection (all on one disc)
8. Quest for Glory: Shadows of the Servants
9. Baldur's Gate
10. Beyond Good & Evil

EDIT: Crud! Love, Jen

1. Vampire the Masquerade-Redemption
2. Might & Magic 7
3. Wizardry 7 -Crusaders of the Dark Savant
4. Lands of Lore 1
5. Might & Magic 6
6. Indiana Jones & the Infernal Machine
7. Wizards & Warriors
8. Undying
9. Silent Hill 2
10. Silent Hill 3

Hello, unsurprisingly the vampires top my list.

Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption
The Sims 2
The Sims
Might and Magic 6
Might and Magic 8
Age of Mythology

Haven't really played that many and of those there are only a few I really liked.

Divine Divinity
Neverwinter Nights
Outcast

Thanks again Flotsam, .
My selections are as follows:

1. Divine Divinity
2. Zanzarah
3. Sacred Plus
4. Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition (also known as Kult or simply as Heretic)
5. Might and Magic 6
6. Might and Magic 7
7. Quest for Glory 4
8. Ghost Master
9. Beyond Divinity
10. Morrowind

I had to leave off a ton that I like, but I did so for various reasons I won't bore you with here, mainly that they might be hard to play on the newer computers. M+M and Quest might be difficult as well, but couldn't bring myself to leave them off...
Super games and just missing from being in the top ten are Dragonriders of Pern, The Fifth Disciple, Silent Hill 2, Might and Magic VIII, Europa 1400, Rollercoaster Tycoon, and Anachronox.

Well, here's my list in no particular order.

Sacred Underworld (didn't like underworld but did like the Ancaria Campaign in this expansion)
Knights of the Old Republic
Morrowind
Splinter Cell 2
OutCast
Divine Divinity
Gothic
Betrayal in Antara (My First RPG)
Vampire Masquerade Bloodlines
Quest for Glory IV

Okay, here's my strange assortment of favorite non-adventure games. These are all PC games. No particular order. They're all excellent!

1.Painkiller
2.Mafia
3.Max Payne 2
4.Silent Hill 2
5.Grand Prix Legends
6.MS Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
7.Max Payne
8.Richard Burns Rally
9.Splinter Cell
10.Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi

Only 10? I could go on and on and on...very hard to limit it only to 10.

Rusty

I haven't been playing games for long. Of the games I've played, I recommend:

Morrowind
Divine Divinity
Gothic
Arx Fatalis
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate 2

Hey great start. I will periodically provide little updates to how we are going, starting next time

Here's my list :

Divine Divinity
Sacred
Gothic I
Gothic II
Anachronox
Outcast
Morrowind
Planescape Torment
Knights of the Old Republic
Quest for Glory I (and 2, 3, 4, and 5)

Well I'll be darned - this is the first year I ran out of slots before I ran out of games

Dark Side Twisty!

Behold:

1) World of Warcraft
2) Sims 2
3) Planescape Torment
4) Anachronox
5) Baldur's Gate
6) Neverwinter Nights
7) City of Heroes
8) Dungeon Siege
9) Diablo 2
10) Icewind Dale

I tried to include some newer games to make my list different from last year, plus some older ones and some MMORPG's, so basically I don't know WHAT I'm doin'

Thanx flotsam

Here's my list. (PC)
1. Tombraider: the last revelation
2. Indiana Jones and the infernal machines
3. Max Payne
4. Prince of Persia: Sands of time
5. Max Payne 2
6. Gothic
7. Manhunt
8. School Tycoon
9. True Crimes: Streets of L.A.
10. Need for Speed: Underground

Silent hill 2 couldn't make it to top this time.

My List (if you can call it a list)...I have only just dipped my toes in the dark-side!

Thanks for all your good work, Flotsam!


Sue

Okay...think I'm ready:

Divine Divinity
NeverWinterNights
Hordes of the Underdark
Shadows of Undrentide
Heretic
Sacred Plus
Beyond Divinity
Morrowind
Bloodmoon
Tribunal

Wow, filled that up fast..had more but that's 10

Ingie

Oops, edit here: Flotsam, thank you so much for your time and input...great thing you do for Boomers!!

Just for clarification Flotsam, any entries for Heretic and Heretic Kingdoms are the same game.

Outcast
Drakan
Divine Divinity
Zanzarah
Darkened Skye
Tomb Raider 1 (still the best TR in my opinion)
Might and Magic VI
Might and Magic VII
Might and Magic VIII
Heretic II
http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/heretic-ii
(not Heretic Kingdoms, which I haven't played)

Yes, Heretic II is a different game than Heretic or Heretic Kingdoms. Sure can get confusing when names are so similar.

I've played exactly two darkside games
Drakan
Divine Divinity (almost finished...pant pant..its been a long time playing)
and I recommend both.

Divine Divinity because I haven't had so much fun since my mom made me a superman costume for Halloween--(I wore it day and night for three weeks--under my dress at school).

And Drakan cause you get to fly a dragon for most of the game. How cool is that!!! It was nice and long too

Next year I hope to have really played 10--I will be useing everyones suggestions.

AS a newbie to the DarkSide I also only have a couple recommendations, but they were both 2 thumbs up for me!

1. Divine Divinity
2. Beyond Divinity

Thank you for compiling the list Flotsam I hope to have more added by next year with your help and Boomer input. I have Zanzarah ready to go already.

Ana

Some of my favorite recent games:

1. Morrowind
2. Tribunal (exp for MW)
3. Bloodmoon (exp for MW)
4. Sid Meier's Pirates!
5. Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines
6. Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile
7. Railroad Tycoon 3
8. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
9. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
10. Clive Barker's Undying

Thanks, Nipomo, I'm still chuckling over this!

Can I just vote for Zanzarah 10 times?

Just try all of my recommendations looney , it's about as dark as you can get .

Hmmmm...

I wonder how this will compare to my last year's list...

If someone told me I could only keep ten of my games, these are the ones I wouldn't be able to part with, in no particular order,

1. Gothic
2. Gothic 2
3. Thief Gold
4. Thief 2 the Metal Age
5. Morrowind
6. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
7. Deus Ex (the first one)
8. Vampire Bloodlines
9. Splinter Cell (the first one)
10.Baldur's Gate 2 Shadows of Amn

I think that covers it.

Holy cow this can get confusing
Thanks for the heads up Nickie; now tell me, are Baldurs Gate 2 and Baldurs Gate 2: Shadows of Amn the same game?
Nearly 100 games mentioned already, about 40 not listed last year. Divine Divinity, Morrowind, Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic lead the way.
I noticed Syd that you tried to sneak in extras and Jen, more than one game on the same collection disc is at this stage not going to get you a vote for each of them, clever as it is. You can try and convince me though As for you Looney, you may indeed vote 10 times for Zanzarah but I will only count it once
Keep them coming :kiss:

yo, flotsam!

FYI, Baldurs Gate 2 and Baldurs Gate 2: Shadows of Amn are indeed the same game.

and then:

1. Fallout
2. Planescape: Torment
3. Fallout 2
4. Deus Ex
5. Half-Life
6. Divine Divinity
7. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
8. Far Cry
9. Arcanum
10. Jade Empire (XBOX)

Cheers,
metzomagic

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by flotsam:
<strong> I noticed Syd that you tried to sneak in extras :kiss:

Well, if that doesn't work, just pick one for me, I can't remember which was best, just that I had a great time & would recommend them all. Can't blame a gal for tryin'.

Love, Jen

Seems to me that many of us play series as one long game. I have done that with the BGs, Thiefs, Gothics and Might & Magic games to mention a few. However, for the list, in no special order:

Baldur's Gate 1
Baldur's Gate 2
Thief 1
Thief 2
Indiana Jones & the Infernal Machine
Anachronox
Divine Divinity
Planescape Torment
Gothic 1
Gothic 2

Alas, I must leave out so many wonderful hours of fun. Great gaming!

Moi try to pull a fast one???? Never, I say, never.

As my esteemed colleague from the state of Illinois stated (and elequantely I might add) Quest for Glory is more one long story that is simply broken up into several managable shall we say, chapters - yes, let's say chapters. And as such it is technically one long game so..........

Might and Magic 6
Anachronox
Divine Divinity
Gothic
Ultima Ascension
Zanzarah
Quest for Glory 4 (actually, all of them, but I won't try to sneak the rest of them in)
GhostMaster
King's Quest 8 Mask of Eternity
Arx Fatalis

And many more. *SIGH*

Thanks flotsam!

1. Outcast
2. Divine Divinity
3. Neverwinter Nights
4. Morrowind
5. Dungeon Siege
6. Beyond Good and Evil
7. Might and Magic 7
8. Splinter Cell
9. Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
10. James Bond 007 Nightfire

Kay

Thanks Floatsam! I didn't think I had played enough "darkside" games to come up with 10...but I guess I have "slid" a little farther than I thought!

Here's mine..[not in any order]

1. Quest for Glory 4
2. Quest for Glory 5
3. Kings Quest 8 Mask of Eternity
4. Splinter Cell 1
5. Outcast
6. Prince of Persia 1
7. 007 Nightfire
8. Deus Ex 1
9. Indiana Jones Infernal Machine
10. Indiana Jones Temple of Doom...[still playing...and playing...
{Syd & Jen..I agree...chapters! }

1.Morrowind
2.Divine Divinity
3.Baldur's Gate Shadows of Amn
4.Dungeon Seige
5.Icewind Dale
6.Diablo II
7.Baldur's Gate
8.Kult Heretic Kingdoms
9.Arcanum
10.Pain Killer
Slim pickins in the new game arena

I took my first foray into the dark side with Psychonauts and I have to say it was fabulous. So that's my only vote. I sure am getting great ideas from you guys. Thanks!

I have 3 Galapagos- Mendels Escape- becaise its maddening- but fun anyway- and Harry potter- the first 2- I couldn't finish the 3rd because they wouldn't let me use my gamepad so that was a major drawback-

Here are my favourites:

1)Divine Divinity
2-4)Morrowind, Tribunal (exp), & Bloodmoon (exp)
5)Baldur's Gate 1
6 - 7) Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, & Throne of Bhaal (exp)
8)Gothic 1
9)Gothic 2
10) Dungeon Siege

Hard to choose as there are others I like as well.

Hi Row,


Ingie

Hi there,
Divine Divinity leads the way with 1 week to go.
Intriguing sounding ones I must check out are Psychonaut and the two Gothics, and how could one resist something titled Hordes of the Underdark. If I ever make a game it will have to have a name something like that (Evil Minions of the Nether Regions maybe).
Well done to those who resisted the temptation to list those so called long chapter thingys, but I will make special mention of QG in my summary at the end (bribery and flattery does bring results).
Thanks metzo for the clarification, and do I recall that Kult and Heretic are the same or at least related?

Yep Flotsam, if anyone lists Kult, Heretic or Heretic Kingdoms, they are more than likely referring to the same game (released by different name in different countries). However, you do have one vote for Heretic II, which is in no way related to the other game. And you just thought it was going to be easy.

I have to contribute to this list despite getting very little game time nowadays, thanks to puppy and I tend to concentrate on my consoles when ever I am free. However these are my top recommendations in no particular order:

Populous The Promised Lands
Age of Empires
Anachronox
Zanzarah
America

1) Baldur's Gate
2) Baldur's Gate 2
3) Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal
4) Neverwinter Nights
5) Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark
6) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
7) Planescape: Torment
8) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
9) Realms of the Haunting
10) Fallout 2

1: Might & Magic 7
2: Morrowind
3: Halo
4: Might & Magic 9
5: Syberia
6: Syberia 2
7: Lands of Lore II
8: Thief II: The Metal Age
9: Thief: The Dark Project
10: Might & Magic 6

Hi ho,
48 hours to go.
I will send you a list Nickie so you can categorise.

Nickie, just e-mailed a list.
And my selections are

Outcast
Twinsuns Odyssey
Knights of the Old Republic
Ico
Realms of the Haunting
Deus Ex

It is almost too hard to just pick 10! Since lately I'm playing more shooters than adventure games, just love the freedom of running around in 3D environments, plus all of them have excellent stories too.... So here goes, I played all of them on a PC:

Thief Gold
Outcast
Chronicles of Riddick
Unreal 2: The Awakening
Alice
No One Lives Forever
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Wheel of Time
Silent Hill 2
Splinter Cell

And here is a shameless plug for some of my faves that I had to leave off that you shouldn't miss playing. Max Payne 1&2, Thief 3:Deadly Shadows, Drakan, Return to Castle Wolfenstien, Nocturne, Blair Witch 1, Undying, Unreal & expansion Return to Na Pali, Silent Hill 3&4, Splinter Cell2: Pandora Tomorrow, NOLF 2.

Here's looking forward to playing Doom3,Splinter Cell:Chaos Theory, and Far Cry, whenever I finally pick them up.

Sassy

Flotsam, mailed back to you - hope you got it!

OK a little early but real life is going to intervene tonight so better to be early than late.
Divine Divinity and Morrowind switch places this time, with Divine Divinity taking the honours. Knights of the Old Republic did well and came third, and Outcast showed its staying power.
Proving that flattery does work Quest For Glory snuck in a series vote, and proving that the dark side is in the eye of the beholder both Syberias got a mention.
A numerical list and an alphabetical list follow, and many thanks to Nickie for the categories.
Thanks again everyone

18 Divine Divinity (RPG)
14 Morrowind (RPG)
9 Star Wars – Knights of the Old Republic (RPG)
9 Outcast (Action/adventure)
8 Gothic (RPG)
8 Neverwinter Nights (RPG)
7 Anachronox (RPG)
7 Baldur’s Gate 1(RPG)
6 Baldur’s Gate 2(RPG)
6 Might and Magic 6 (RPG)
5 Might and Magic 7 (RPG)
5 Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (action)
5 Planescape Torment (RPG)
5 Quest for Glory 4 (RPG/adventure)
5 Vampire Masquerade: Bloodlines (RPG)
5 Zanzarah (action/adventure/RPG)
5 Splinter Cell (Action)
4 Deus Ex (action/adventure)
4 Dungeon Siege (RPG)
4 Gothic 2 (RPG)
4 Thief: The Dark Project/Thief Gold (action)
3 Beyond Divinity (RPG)
3 Beyond Good and Evil (action/adventure)
3 Heretic (RPG)
3 Morrowind: Blood Moon (RPG)
3 Morrowind: Tribunal (RPG)
3 Psychonauts (action)
3 Thief: The Metal Age (action)
3 Silent Hill 2 (action)

2 007 Nightfire, Arcanum, Arx Fatalis, 2 Baldurs Gate 2 – Throne of Bhaal, Diablo 2, Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern, Drakan, Fallout 2, Ghost Master, Icewind Dale, Kings Quest 8, Max Payne 1, Max Payne 2, Might and Magic 8, Painkiller, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time,Realms of the Haunting, Sacred, Sacred Plus, Vampire Masquerade: Redemption

1 Age of Empires, Age of Mythology, Alice, America, Baldurs Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, Betrayal at Antara, Chronicles of Riddick, City of Heroes, Clive Barker’s Undying, Darkened Skye, Fallout, Far Cry, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, Fifth Disciple, Freedom Fighters, Galapagos, God of War, Grand Prix Legends, Half Life, Halo, Harry Potter 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Heretic 2, Ico, Imperial Cities: Children of the Nile, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Jade Empire, Lands of Lore, Lands of Lore 2, Lego Star Wars, Mafia, Manhunt, Medal of Honour: Allied Assault, Medal of Honour: European Assault, Might and Magic 9, MS Flight Simulator 2004, Need for Speed: Underground, No One Lives Forever, Nosferatu: Wrath of Malachi, Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide, Oddworld: Strangers Wrath, Populous: Promised Land, Prince of Persia 3D, PSI Ops: Mindgate Conspiracy, Quest for Glory 1, Quest for Glory 5, Quest for Glory Collection, Railroad Tycoon 3, Richard Burns Rally, Sacred Underworld, School Tycoon, Silent Hill 3, The Sims, Sims 2, Sims University, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, Syberia, Syberia 2, Tomb Raider 1, Tomb Raider 4, Traitors Gate, True Crimes: Streets of LA, Twinsuns Odyssey, Undying, Ultima Ascension, Unreal 2: The Awakening, X-Files: Resist or Serve, Wik and the Fable of Souls, Wizardry 7, Wheel of Time, Wizards and Warriors, Zookeeper

2 007 Nightfire
1 Age of Empires
1 Age of Mythology
1 Alice
1 America
7 Anachronox
2 Arcanum
2 Arx Fatalis
7 Baldur’s Gate 1
6 Baldur’s Gate 2
1 Baldurs Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
2 Baldurs Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal
1 Betrayal at Antara
3 Beyond Divinity
3 Beyond Good and Evil
1 City of Heroes
1 Clive Barker’s Undying
18 Divine Divinity
4 Deus Ex
1 Darkened Skye
2 Diablo 2
2 Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern
2 Drakan
4 Dungeon Siege
1 Fallout
2 Fallout 2
1 Far Cry
1 Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly
1 Fifth Disciple
1 Freedom Fighters
1 Galapagos
2 Ghost Master
1 God of War
8 Gothic
4 Gothic 2
1 Grand Prix Legends
1 Half Life
1 Halo
1 Harry Potter 2
1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
3 Heretic
1 Heretic 2
2 Icewind Dale
1 Ico
1 Imperial Cities: Children of the Nile
5 Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1 Jade Empire
1 Lands of Lore
1 Lands of Lore 2
1 Lego Star Wars
2 Kings Quest 8
1 Mafia
1 Manhunt
2 Max Payne 1
2 Max Payne 2
1 Medal of Honour: Allied Assault
1 Medal of Honour: European Assault
6 Might and Magic 6
5 Might and Magic 7
2 Might and Magic 8
1 Might and Magic 9
14 Morrowind
3 Morrowind: Blood Moon
3 Morrowind: Tribunal
1 MS Flight Simulator 2004
1 Need for Speed: Underground
1 No One Lives Forever
1 Nosferatu: Wrath of Malachi
8 Neverwinter Nights
1 Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide
1 Oddworld: Strangers Wrath
9 Outcast
2 Painkiller
5 Planescape Torment
1 Populous: Promised Land
1 Prince of Persia 3D
2 Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
1 PSI Ops: Mindgate Conspiracy
3 Psychonauts
5 Quest for Glory 4
1 Quest for Glory 1
1 Quest for Glory 5
1 Quest for Glory Collection
1 Railroad Tycoon 3
2 Realms of the Haunting
1 Richard Burns Rally
2 Sacred
2 Sacred Plus
1 Sacred Underworld
1 School Tycoon
3 Silent Hill 2
1 Silent Hill 3
1 Sims, The
3 Sims 2
1 Sims University
5 Splinter Cell
1 Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
1 Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
9 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
1 Syberia
1 Syberia 2
4 Thief: The Dark Project/Thief Gold
3 Thief: The Metal Age
1 Tomb Raider 1
1 Tomb Raider 4
1 Traitors Gate
1 True Crimes: Streets of LA
1 Twinsuns Odyssey
1 Undying
1 Unreal @: The Awakening
1 Ultima Ascension
2 Vampire Masquerade: Redemption
5 Vampire Masquerade: Bloodlines
1 X-Files: Resist or Serve
1 Wheel of Time
1 Wik and the Fable of Souls
1 Wizardry 7
1 Wizards and Warriors
5 Zanzarah
1 Zookeeper

And another Dark Side Twisty comes to an exciting close!

Thanks to Flotsam and Nickie for their hard work!

I wonder if Larian knows how popular their game (Divinity) is here...they should think about giving us all free copies of DD2 when it's released

It's also interesting how popular Outcast still is, sad there is no sequel on the horizon

We humbly thank you Flotsam for all your work and it looks like it was a LOT of work.

My work was nothing at all, while you did a great job that required lots of time, Flotsam, and I sure thank you for it! These are ever so helpful lists for newbies to these genres. It's wonderful to see that there are several greats that remain on the list after all this time.

Schwab, they do know, but flattery doesn't seem to work as far as prices go...

Thanks very much, flotsam.

Thanks all and Nickie for all the contributions. I will archived it now.