Game Recommendations Appreciated

[PCGR]

Hi all.

Okay, I'm looking for very specific games. The genre is Action-Adventure. This genre does not incorporate FPS/RTS/RPG/etc, nor does it incorporate Adventure nor Action solely. This genre is a combination of Adventure (puzzle solving) and Action (moving a character throughout a game with run/jump skills, piloting dragons, whatever). Story-driven games are a big plus.

So, I'd appreciate it if you could recommend games with the above criteria.

To date, my 2 favorite Action-Adventure games are:

1) Hype: The Time Quest
2) Bugs n Taz: Time Busters

Both of these games are Action-Adventure and story driven.

The games can be old or new, but have to be playable on Windows. DOS games aren't my thing.

I understand that the Harry Potter games for the PC are action games (of which I haven't played), but I do not know if they incorporate puzzle solving skills.

Pure adventure games intrigue me, but bore me to death. I prefer having to do intermittent Acion to break up the monotonous puzzles.

I appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks!

P.S. Does Drakan have puzzle solving in it, or is it just action/whatever?

[Suicides-by-Steve]

Drakan does have a few good puzzles, but it's generally a pure action/platforming game. Resident Evil Remake for the GCN is a good choice, but I think you're shooting yourself in the foot by excluding RPG/Action/Adventure games.

Keep on the lookout for Gothic or Gothic 2 if you want a good mix between the three genres. There's alot more action/adventure to this RPG than may seem apparent at first.

[DBS]

Have you tried any of the Tomb Raider games or latest Lucasart Raider of the Lost Ark game it might be up your alley as well.

[ShotgunShy]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Hi all.

Okay, I'm looking for very specific games. The genre is Action-Adventure. This genre does not incorporate FPS/RTS/RPG/etc, nor does it incorporate Adventure nor Action solely. This genre is a combination of Adventure (puzzle solving) and Action (moving a character throughout a game with run/jump skills, piloting dragons, whatever). Story-driven games are a big plus.

So, I'd appreciate it if you could recommend games with the above criteria.

To date, my 2 favorite Action-Adventure games are:

1) Hype: The Time Quest
2) Bugs n Taz: Time Busters

Both of these games are Action-Adventure and story driven.

The games can be old or new, but have to be playable on Windows. DOS games aren't my thing.

I understand that the Harry Potter games for the PC are action games (of which I haven't played), but I do not know if they incorporate puzzle solving skills.

Pure adventure games intrigue me, but bore me to death. I prefer having to do intermittent Acion to break up the monotonous puzzles.

I appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks!

P.S. Does Drakan have puzzle solving in it, or is it just action/whatever?</div>

Hokay, apparently the best Action Adventure to go after right now is "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time". There was a review posted on Computer Gaming last week, but for some reason, it's been pulled off (FYI it had received a score of 9.5 / 10 !). I don't think it's in stores just yet, maybe by the end of November.

Another good recent Action Adv title was "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb". I personally thought that the combat engine in the game was really sweet. <a href="http://www.3dgamers.com/dl/games/indyemperorstomb/indyetdemo.exe.html">Check out the demo</a> if you haven't already.

Some other Action Adven titles (albeit slightly old) are "Giants Citizen Kabutu", "Blade of Darkness" (aka Severance), and (one of my all time favorites, and don't ask me why) "Pitfall: the Mayan Adventure".

Hmm.. cant think of any others now, am sleepy, hope this helps.

[Static_Fred]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Hokay, apparently the best Action Adventure to go after right now is "Prince of Persia: Sands of Time". There was a review posted on Computer Gaming last week, but for some reason, it's been pulled off (FYI it had received a score of 9.5 / 10 !). I don't think it's in stores just yet, maybe by the end of November.

.</div>

Prince of Persia is actually out right now for the consoles. For some reason the PC version isn't shipping until next month. BTW, I read an article concerning the PS2 version on Game Informer (i rarely believe their rating systems, but i still use them to give me an idea about the games.) and it did sound promising, but i'm still weary that it might be plagued with "consolitis". I'm going to wait a few days after the release to make sure my purchasing decision is right, lol, money is tight this christmas!

[PCGR]

Thx for the replies...

Tomb Raider games are action without puzzle solving, IMO. So, they aren't what I am after. Prince of Persia 3D, IMO, sucked really bad. Definitely not of interest to me (the newest in the series). Arabian/Egyptian games don't appeal to me either.

I have 3 Indiana Jones games (including Emperor's Tomb). I've played Infernal Machine and that was also action driven (I don't recall any puzzles). I forget why I have Emperor's Tomb... gift perhaps.

Gothic is an RPG series I believe. I don't like RPGs. I believe people confuse RPGs and action games. Tomb Raider is an action game. Bauldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment are RPGs.

The criteria I listed is very specific I admit, and I wasn't expecting many, if any, hits. I appreciate the suggestions from everyone though. If you try any of the 2 games I listed, you'd know exactly what I am talking about. I got one of the title wrong too. It's...

Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters (Infogrames/Atari published it a couple years ago).


Cheers

[Richard Hobbes]

PCGR,

Drakan Order of The Flame is a superb adventure game. It may not have quite as many puzzles as you'd like, but it has a great sense of adventure and scope (plus flying on a dragon is too cool for words). Don't believe anyone who says Drakan is just a Tomb Raider clone. The only thing the two series have in common is a female heroine. Drakan emphasizes clever, strategic combat, exploration, and some puzzles. Tomb Raider emphasizes inane puzzles and poorly designed platforming. The sequel to Drakan (Drakan The Ancient's Gates) is also a superb game and in many ways bests the original. Both Drakan games are very good. (Note, the original Drakan is a PC/Windows game and the sequel is a PS2 game.)

The only other game I can think of (presently) that might fit your requirements is Beyond Good and Evil. I've provided links to reviews of this game below.

IGN:
http://pc.ign.com/articles/440/440099p1.html

GameSpot:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/beyondgoodevil/review.html

Hope this helps,

RH.

[E.T.]

Richard Hobbes: Seems you have experience w/adventure games.
Would you recommend The Ancients Gates for the "first time" adventure gamer? Also, how old/new is the game?

Edit: Check that, I see The Ancients Gates is for PS2 :(

[Richard Hobbes]

E.T.,

--- Seems you have experience w/adventure games.
--- Would you recommend The Ancients Gates for the
--- "first time" adventure gamer? Also, how old/new is
--- the game?
---
--- Edit: Check that, I see The Ancients Gates is for PS2

Yes, unfortunately for PC fans, the sequel to Drakan is on the PS2. (This should come as no surprise because the original Drakan was funded/published by Psygnosis who was in turn bought by Sony... I'm sure you can figure out the rest.)

The original (Drakan Order of The Flame), while not as graphically stunning as the PS2 sequel and not as rich with RPG elements either, is still a fabulous game. You'll only find it in bargain bins or on eBay.

The sequel (Drakan The Ancient's Gates) is one of the best console games of this generation. Much more substantive in number of quests and scope then games like Halo, FFX2, KOTOR, and Splinter Cell, Drakan The Ancient's Gates will keep you playing for many hours. The game is full of quests and interesting things to do. Unlike some games that just seem like one fetch quest after another, Drakan's quests are interesting and challenging. Drakan has that magic "I'll put this down after just one more quest" quality and before you know it, several more hours have passed.

Some of the dialog in Drakan The Ancient's Gates is hilarious. My favorite character is the blacksmith who utters up such gems (to Rynn the female warrior) as:

"You're never really alive till your knee deep in gore I say!"

and

"Well hello... if it isn't little miss bloodbath!"

While the original game doesn't have quite the polish of the sequel, Drakan Order of The Flame is definitely worth playing (especially if you are a PC action-adventure game fan).

You can get a demo of Drakan Order of The Flame here:
http://www.gamesdomain.com/demos/demo/284.html

Would I recommend either Drakan game for first time adventure gamers?

Hmmm. The sequel is less linear than the original and as such it is easier to get yourself into situations you are not ready for. That said, the original is no walk in the park. The original game isn't necessarily hard, but you have to use skill and strategy. If you go running into a cave swinging your axe you'll get your butt kicked right pronto. You need to use elevation and other aspects of the environment to your advantage. I probably would not recommend either game for first timers unless another, more experienced gamer was there to help them learn the ropes.

One other aspect of both Drakan games that is very cool is that the enemies can be scary. The first time I walled into a cave and had a huge spider come down from the ceiling to land on me I jumped out of my chair! When I looked up, the ceiling was covered in spiders waiting to come down. The creatures in Drakan are interesting in that they are quite lifelike. Enemies will spit at you and then turn and walk away. Enemies will relentlessly track you if they think you've done them wrong. Sometimes a creature won't move until you walk right up to it and then all of a sudden it attacks. Very creepy indeed. This is the one area where the original Drakan is better than the PS2 sequel. The enemy creature AI is considerably better in the original game. Likewise, the gore factor of the original (limbs fly off, creatures spurt blood when wounded and eventually die from blood loss) has been toned down in the PS2 game.

Final comment: both Drakan graphics engines (original and PS2) are amazing pieces of technology. Just like Dungeon Siege, the Drakan engine has the ability to render huge outdoor and indoor landscapes with seamless transitions in between. Unlike Morrowind where you never get to walk through a huge doorway and into a room without a load screen, in Drakan you go from indoors, to outdoors, to way up in the sky (on the back of a huge dragon) seamlessly. It really is something worth experiencing.

RH.

[DBS]

Maybe Starship Titanic would fit the bill. Not sure though as I own it yet haven't started it up yet.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">
IGN:
http://pc.ign.com/articles/440/440099p1.html

GameSpot:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/beyondgoodevil/review.html

Hope this helps,

RH.</div>

And here's a synopsis/excerpt from my review here on this site:

From what I have read, this game is a little different from what Psynosis normally publishes, but thank your luck stars they did, action/adventure fans. Having never played any games in the venerable Tomb Raider series before, if it's anything like this game, here I come (hphhum) Mrs. Croft. For those that shun Tomb Raider, but who enjoy their mega-dose of Fantasy, this game may be still right up your alley. Swords and Sorcery, Orcs and Trolls, Dragons and Giants, sprawling, gorgeous, massive worlds embracing epic battles reaching out from the past and a beautiful woman who tames them all, can be found in this one package.

And despite some minor flaws, this game is quite simply stunning. Tell me, when was the last time you played a game in which the antagonist stands 35' tall, picked up their "friends" (an Orc), and used him as a ballistic missile, and that can walk way faster than you can run? The Giants in this game do all that and more; when was the last time you hacked an opponent's limb off and still had to back away for fear of taking a thrashing? How 'bout the last time you cleaved a Troll's face off, exposing brains and other mushy parts? Well, you begin to see the idea… Every single thing I've always loved about pen and paper RPG's is brought right to the PC in the form of Drakan.

Now, granted, the above description of the game is rather violent, but this too can be password protected, for those that wish to do so. The story is of a woman named Rynn, and her struggle to find her lost brother. Okay, okay, not the most original, but remember, Legends are born from the hearts of ordinary beings, living ordinary lives. In her search for her brother, Rynn discovers the fabled Order of the Flame (an ancient enemy of darkness; Men soul-bonded with Dragons), and evidence that the evil that Man and Dragon once fought together in ages past, is again returning. This time Man stands alone, for the Dragons have grown weary of the world of Men, and now slumber. Bonding with the ancient Dragon, Arohk, Champion of the last great war, woman and beast fly and battle together in a perfect symbiotic relationship through 11 MASSIVE levels.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Thx for the replies...

Tomb Raider games are action without puzzle solving, IMO. So, they aren't what I am after. Prince of Persia 3D, IMO, sucked really bad. Definitely not of interest to me (the newest in the series). Arabian/Egyptian games don't appeal to me either.

I have 3 Indiana Jones games (including Emperor's Tomb). I've played Infernal Machine and that was also action driven (I don't recall any puzzles). I forget why I have Emperor's Tomb... gift perhaps.

Gothic is an RPG series I believe. I don't like RPGs. I believe people confuse RPGs and action games. Tomb Raider is an action game. Bauldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment are RPGs.

The criteria I listed is very specific I admit, and I wasn't expecting many, if any, hits. I appreciate the suggestions from everyone though. If you try any of the 2 games I listed, you'd know exactly what I am talking about. I got one of the title wrong too. It's...

Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters (Infogrames/Atari published it a couple years ago).


Cheers</div>

Well, Gothic IS an RPG, but don't confuse it with a standard RPG... There's PLENTY of action involved in the gameplay. The adventure part comes in with the huge environments you have to explore. Leveling up in Gothic is automatic, and doesn't depend on your input (except for the skills YOU wish to level up on- gained through deliberate purchases). In this regard it IS similar to Drakan, but with the ability for you to have direct input on the way you wish the endgame to turn out (as a Wizard, Warrior, or Thief). The last true Action/Adventure I played was Resident Evil Zero, RE, and before that Rayman...

[PCGR]

I have Douglas Adams Starwhip Titanic... adventure-only game.

Rayman = platform game for the most part.

I'll keep hunting around. Thanks again. :)

[Hieremias]

So why the extremely limited criteria? Fine, everyone has their favourite genres, but being so single-minded is severely limiting your selection.

There are tons of games that contain action and adventure elements, but your criteria would dismiss them for being RPGs, or FPSs, or whatever. Deus Ex, No One Lives Forever (and its sequel), System Shock 2, and Thief all have adventure elements with action mixed in. Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown and the Commandos series have lots of puzzles as well as tactical combat. All are great games.

You're missing a ton of really enjoyable games if you say "I want an exact 50/50 mix of action and adventure, and nothing else whatsoever!!"

[PCGR]

First person point of view makes me feel sick if played too long, so I dismiss FPS by default. RPGs I just don't like. Pure adventure games are mostly first person. I can handle those because there isn't constant motion, but they bore me to death. I've played one of the commandos games... definitely not for me. I believe it was Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines.

I'm after part action and part adventure... no other genres incorporated. What the ratio of Action/Adventure is doesn't concern me. It's a shame developers don't make more games like this.