What is your favorite 'old-school' game?

[Oniya]

Come on, admit it.  For all that gamers rave (and rant) about the latest and greatest game to hit the market - the one that everyone has 'got to get' - there is one game that is the equivalent of 'console comfort food'.  A game that you can always drop in (after blowing dust off the console) and waste an evening with, and still feel pretty good about it.  You don't even worry about playing it 'right' any more.  Maybe you try to win the game with some insanely low-powered setup - or use a secret way of powering up and blast through at breakneck speed.  Or maybe you don't even have the game any more, and the console has long since gone to Silicon Heaven, but you secretly look for Flash games that resemble it.

Anyone here remember Lemmings?  That was one that I spent hours on.  Even losing a level had the perk of hitting the 'self-destruct button' and hearing 'Oh noooo!' just before the little guys went 'pop', but you could feel insanely proud when you got all the Lemmings to the exit.

[Remiel]

1. Any of the Civilization series: nothing is the equivalent of "comfort food" in a video game like playing at the lowest difficulty setting, then completely researching the shit out of everything and then building every Wonder in the game before my opponents even discover how to procreate.  Sometimes I even keep "zoos"; little islands or enclaves where I keep my opponents surrounded.  "And now, over on the left, you can see some French citizens enjoying a typical day in France. And over on your right, Mongolians."

2. Master of Orion 2. As above, but IN SPACE! Nothing gives me a secret little evil thrill as much as using a Stellar Converter to literally blow someone's planet up into tiny little pieces.   "I sense a huge disturbance in the force...as if millions of voices cried out in anguish and then were suddenly silenced, leaving just one voice, cackling like a drunken idiot."

3. Starcraft.  Until just recently, when the sequel came out, I was still playing it.  Anyone who hasn't sent nine hotkeys full of souped-up Zerglings at an enemy base hasn't felt the thrill of being, well, a total dickwad.

[RolandDragoon]

Brigandine, the best game hands down, no quistiosn asked. I can never get bored playing this game and seeing all the interesting charterers live out their lives ha ha. Very old, but an all time favorite.

[Endorphin]

Now this is a topic I can relate to. Not so much to consoles, but computer games…

The Lemmings series is definitely high on the list. As was the original Civilization, Master of Orion 1 & 2, Starcraft, Warcraft 1, 2 & 3, Age of Empires 1 & 2, the Heroes of Might & Magic series, the Caesar series, Pharaoh, Baldur’s Gate. I'm sure there's a few more that should be on that list.

Two stand out in my mind above all, though…
SimCity, the first game I ever bought back in 1989; and
Dune II, the first real RTS (which was later remade into Dune 2000).

I’ve still got copies of all of the above and give them a good run from time to time, when I should be doing things that are more productive.

[Crisis]

I've lost a lot of time in the Heroes of Might and Magic series, specially II and III. Also, Neverwinter Nights, the first one. The game was actually so-so, but some player modules were just incredible. The sequel failed to grab the same community interest, for some reason (or perhaps I missed the good modules).

But one game I always go back to is Angband. Roguelikes forever!

[Milla]

Goodness! I have a few of those "comfort food" games.

The one I can not stop playing, despite the bad graphic is Counter strike.

Older games are SimTower! So simple but so awesome. I haven't been able to find it again though :(

SimCity came after SimTower and that one is also close to my heart.

[ladylotty]

Got to say, I keep it very simple. I used to love playing the table-top Pac-Man games when I was a kid!
I did recently find an on-line version and have even introduced my kids to it. They love it!!

Used to like playing Space Invaders too.

Simple tastes for a simple mind!

[LunarSage]

The original Zelda was fun... as were the Metal Gear games for the NES.

Moving ahead a bit though I think my favorite game of all time was the first Metal Gear: Solid.  Such a great story!

[Alika Luminos]

Another vote for the original Zelda from me!

I -loved- that game. Zelda II ... not so much.

[Underneath]

The very first Sonic the Hedgehog!  Will always remember my little blue Hedgehog with the super fast red shoes :D

[BeaconOfSpirit]

Duck Hunt. Though there were SOOOO many times I would have sold my soul for a crack at the frakking DOG.

[LunarSage]

Like this?  >.> 

Dog Hunt

[BeaconOfSpirit]

I think I just came closer to pissing my pants laughing than I ever have before. Yes, almost exactly like that. Except in my fantasies, the little bastard didn't get up again, lol.

[sleepingferret]

Duck Hunt. Though there were SOOOO many times I would have sold my soul for a crack at the frakking DOG.

*nods* I don't know how many times, I started games just to waste ammo on the dog that you just couldn't kill. :P

My favorites:

Duck Hunt
Zelda I

MechWarrior (PC/DOS) - old school, the you can't really uninstall/delete me version; though I'd have to rate pretty much the entire MechWarrior series amongst my favorites.
Neverwinter Nights I (PC)

[BeaconOfSpirit]

Yeah, Zelda was a classic. Ever play Neutopia for the Turbo Grafix? Biggest... Zelda... Ripoff... EVER! I am shocked that the producers weren't sued so bad their descendants for ten thousand generations would be scraping for change to pay the debt.

[Kitsunetsuki]

How far back do we want to go with this? I mean, I still remember playing Sword of Fargoal on my old Commodore 64...I loved that game! The first Zelda was awesome...I also love the first 2 Sonics...oh, and for old school arcade games? Tempest & Centipede ;D

[BeaconOfSpirit]

I never hade a commodore. I only go back as far as the Atari. Speaking of, anyone remember the Atari version of Spy vs. Spy? That game was the uber-lame, but I played it anyway.

[Inkidu]

Super Mario Bros.
Wing Commander.
Illusions of Gaia.

[BeaconOfSpirit]

There will always be a soft spot in my heart for my first RPG. Not the OLDEST I have played, but the first one I ever played... Dragon Warrior IV.

[LunarSage]

"Wshhhkt"!

"You have scored a critical hit"!

"blue slime dies"

[BeaconOfSpirit]

That game took me seven YEARS to beat, because my darn cartridge kept wigging out, resulting in a fragged save file. Plus, it was actually a really challenging game for it's day. Oh, and the worst quote in the whole series. Everyone who has played has had a moment like this...

Game: Metal Slime runs away. Player: (censored due to the fact I don't feel like having my membership revoked)

[Inkidu]

Final Fantasy II (what would be eventually and appropriately labeled IV)

Spoony bards. Good times, good times...

[BeaconOfSpirit]

Final Fantasy III (VI)

Kefka: Son of a submariner! ROTFL

[Remiel]

Final Fantasy III (VI)

Kefka: Son of a submariner! ROTFL

As far as I'm concerned, FFVI will always be the epitome of the Final Fantasy series.

Most super-villains merely threaten to destroy the world, but Kefka actually did it.

[BeaconOfSpirit]

It gets my vote, too.

[Aiden]

The first Harvest moon


Must water plants...night time...sooon *pass out* FUUUCK!

[Oniya]

Not to mention the fact that the villain proves that clowns are just E-E-EVIL!

[NikkitaXIX]

Zelda SNES LttP

But if I was stranded on a deserted island with one game I think mario 3 or world would have more replay value.

[Saerrael]

Settles!

Knights and Merchants.

Diablo.

Boulderdash.

FF7 and FF10.

Harvest Moon.

Doom.

I'm probably forgetting a lot...

[BeaconOfSpirit]

Final Fantasy 10 doesn't count even a LITTLE as "old school", and 7 is arguable. The one I remember the most fondly has to be Bubble Bobble. The storyline was cracked, the bad guys were hilarious, the game play was addictive, and the execution was pure magic.

On the other hand, the one that still plagues my nightmares is Prince of Persia. The original. It always went something like this...

~ steps out of opening screen, falls in a pit, and dies ~ Well, crap. ~ restarts, jumps over pit, triggers spike trap, and dies ~ Dammit... ~ restarts, jumps over pit, jumps over spike trap, walks under collapsing ceiling, and dies ~ Alright, !?*# this !?*# ing game! ~ turns off NES ~

[LunarSage]

Remember that "Old School" is different to different people.  To me, "Old School" means mid to late 80s, but to a younger person it could mean mid to late 90s or even early 2000s.  :-)

[BeaconOfSpirit]

Let me put it this way... If you are old enough to register on the site at all, FFX is pushing the definition, lol. Of course, I do see your point... But FFX is only a few years old. If I accept FFX as old school, then I have to accept MYSELF as a living, breathing fossil, and that I just won't do.

[Oniya]

*ahem*

As the starter of the thread, I'm just going to say the older the game, the better as far as designations of 'old school' go.

[LunarSage]

Ok, so Metal Gear Solid doesn't count?  That was a bit ago... 1998.

Magnificent game.

[Funguy81]

mario brothers, Duck Hunt, Sim Towers, pac man, ms. pac man, the original simpson arcade game.  Does Crono Trigger count?

[BeaconOfSpirit]

I would count it. Anything Playstation era and on is open to debate, but I think EVERYONE can agree that the SNES/Genesis back would certainly qualify. Any dissenting voters?

[Oniya]

I'm not going to say that anything 'doesn't count', but if you say your favorite 'old school game' is Little Big Planet 2 (picking something randomly from the recent spate of PS3 commercials), I'm going to seriously worry.   ;)

[Wyrd]

I know this might seem a bit childish but... Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie were and still are my all time fav games of the old school if you will. So amazing and iconic. It really apealed to me more then anything around that time. Well, except maybe for Conkers Bad Fur day. ;)

[BeaconOfSpirit]

Wyrd just earned himself my vote for "guy we put in charge of action game design FOREVER". He clearly knows quality when he sees it. And childish? Never! Awesome games, all three. Also, anyone else play and love the Worms games? "Oh, dear..." *KABOOM!*

[subrob99]

Guantlet was my favorite. Remember the wizard needs food badly. I know it isnt a video game but a good game of Jenga when drunk is always fun.

[Stella]

Day of the Tentacle!! Loves it!

[LunarSage]

Day of the Tentacle!! Loves it!

I had forgotten about that one.  I remember when you try and use the scalpel with the girl on most stuff she's like "I can't.  My therapist and I have an agreement".  Awesome game.

[Stella]

It was the first game I'd played where you couldn't die. I thought that was brilliant - and the options of being able to choose what you talk about to other characters was just terrific. I wish they'd make another one!

[BeaconOfSpirit]

How on earth did I miss this one? Would somebody fill me in on exactly when, and what, this game was? ~looks curious~

[Oniya]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Tentacle

[BeaconOfSpirit]

They made a sequel to Maniac Mansion.... And I missed it completely. ~weeps bitterly~

[lenka]

Cluedo...I just loved that when I was younger..