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[Rocinante618]

hi GAF, I recently went back I played through a few old titles as when these launched I was a child and I'm shocked how fun and cool they were (and still are!). In no order:

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, 2006, Ubisoft + Arkane

Incredibly fun, the combat is excellent! The physics just adds so much interactivity to it, the VA and the world is so enchanting. It's really immersive and seriously, the combat/physics and *swiftness* of it blow so many releases (ahem, Avowed) of today!

Rainbow Six Vegas 1&2, Ubisoft, on Steam

Absolutely bonkers cover system, smooth and effective. There's a certain flow to this cover system + tactical, slow yet ruthless and fun combat. Control team members, smoke and move, Terrorists Missions, so so good. I mean Ubisoft, holy you were so good.

Stranglehold, Midway Studios, on GOG

This is a Max Payne clone and I dare say some stuff is legit better than it, fast & frenzy gunplay, great sets, great physics, lots of interactivity, fun combat and flow, decent albeit obvious, popcorn story. Later levels get quite hard! Bonus: this is John Woo's Hardboiled sequel, he is a cameo character in this, lol.

Driver San Francisco, Ubisoft, (delisted everywhere)

Really cool concept, you're a cop you get hit and land in a hospital, enter supernatural stuff - you can pretty much posses any car in the city, race, get style points, help SF, catch criminals, get to the end. I spend so much time just making donuts with a Dodge! Seriously, one of the best car games, right along with NFS: Most Wanted (2005).

SWAT 4 (Gold), Irrational Games, on GOG

Fantastic tactical based team shooter, clearly Ready or Not (excellent) got inspired from this. This was made by Irrational Games so Ken Levine and folks who made System Shock 2 so it is quite spooky in an emotional way, so many cool missions that bring out the evil inside humans, do yourself a favor and play the missions as I won't spoil them!

Prey (2006), Human Head Studios, (delisted from all stores)

A Cherokee Mechanic, ex-US Army + Supernatural Powers from his Native American lineage + Alien Spaceship that is a living organism + DOOM 3 idTech engine = pure badass. Dark atmosphere, shocking twists, super cool enemy designs and (meh!) portal mechanics. You should try this out solely for it's artstyle and the shooting and quite possibly one of the best alien abduction scenes out there!

Rise of Legends (Abandonware)

This is kinda a sequel for Rise of Nations but has a cool setting (steampunk + arcane) and really cool characters, world building. Unique and a cool RTS.

2 March, 2025, EDIT: Fixed typos and cleaned up, beautified and added a few more titles.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (delisted from all stores)

Vin Diesel, corny jokes, gloomy sets, great combat, cool story. This version includes a remake of the prequel and I suggest playing through both of them! Seriously, why is the gunplay so good? Bullets spraying, gun blazing through dimly lit passages looks so hot!

Darkest of Days (delisted from all stores, abandonware)

Super unique time travel FPS-Action with a bleak watercolor like artstyle. You're an agent of a time travel history preserving task force and you jump in time to fix stuff. From Rome to WW1, to the American Civil War, gunning down enemies in a futuristic gun is always so fun. Has a bit of jank but it's quite special.

TimeShift, on Steam or GOG & Singularity, Raven on Steam.

TimeShift is surprisingly fun shooter! Still looks great and plays great. Quite hard as well. Cool but cliched story. Singularity on the other hard is a classic Raven title before Raven got sucked into the COD grinder. Lite horror with a cool time bending US-USSR Cold-war setting, quite fun and has cool secrets to uncover. Mostly linear.

Mark of the Ninja, Klei, Steam

Incredible stealth mechanics and controls, extremely fine-tuned and sharp, pure perfection. Nails the game mechanics so well. Quite the benchmark of game design.

Heroes of Might and Magic® 3, GOG (Steam version is bad)

A timeless masterpiece, gorgeous, vivid artstyle that still shames recent releases. Wealth of options, deep strategy through combing simple elements. Easy to learn, hard to master. Exceptional game with a fanatical, crazy userbase.

Cheers!

 

[grvg]

Man, I really need to play through dark Messiah. It's been on my to do list since 2006. I remember the mega64 skits for it, those were great.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

I didn't realize Prey was delisted everywhere. I own it on Xbox and never played it but have always heard good things. Maybe I'll install it.

Also, Stranglehold is amazing.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

One has never been 'updated' and one just outright got memory holed for eternity

Just shocking, really.

And let's not forget about these two great missing games

They really don't make em like they used to. Or even let us play them when they did.

 

[Cakeboxer]

SWAT 4 is still such a good game. Replayed it a few years ago.
Also Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear and Raven Shield.

 

[Gonzito]

I miss the Rainbow Six Vegas games. They were so cool and fun to play. What Ubisoft has done with the franchise is unforgivable

 

[simpatico]

 

[Madflavor]

I had more fun playing Tomb Raider I-III Remastered than Rise and Shadow.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

The Rainbow Six Vegas games remind me of a very dark time in my life.

 

[Ceadeus]

Man, I really need to play through dark Messiah. It's been on my to do list since 2006. I remember the mega64 skits for it, those were great.

I was to say how much I like Dark Messiah. It's definitely a must play even though it's a bit simplistic, it's  never boring! You might laugh but even though the PC version is logically the best, my favorite way to play is on 360. The port is a bit different from the PC version but there is something about it. It might just be nostalgia and the bloom effect and bump mapping on everthing, it makes you travel back to that era.

 

[thief183]

I would love to have a black and white 3, using AI to let the beasts learn would be glorious.

 

[TGO]

The Rainbow Six Vegas games remind me of a very dark time in my life.

The years before Gravity Rush was hard for us all.

 

[amigastar]

Man, I really need to play through dark Messiah. It's been on my to do list since 2006. I remember the mega64 skits for it, those were great.

It's been on your to do list since 2006? That's quite some time, my friend.

 

[El Muerto]

Single player 3rd person action games have been neglected. They really shined during the PS360 era.
Kane and Lynch
Splinter Cell
Mercenaries 2
Binary Domain
007
Spec Ops The Line
Vanquish
Sleeping Dogs
Wet
Brothers in Arms
Bionic Commando

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

The years before Gravity Rush was hard for us all.

The Gravity Rush games arrived, I met them and they are wonderful... Those games make me happy. Curious that I had other games pending, I saw some trailers and kat and I didn't think it would be the games of my life.

Even though good games were released in 2006 to 2008... I remember Conan from Xbox 360, Rainbow Six Vegas, Bioshock... At that time it was horrible for me, not because of the video game catalog... But life situations.

Last part of 2012 and 2013 I liked those years... Which coincides with the releases of Gravity Rush and the guided fate paradox.

 

[phant0m]

hi GAF, I recently went back I played through a few old titles as when these launched I was a child and I'm shocked how fun and cool they were (and still are!). In no order:

• Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (2006), Ubisoft + Arkane, on Steam
  Incredibly fun, the combat is excellent! The physics just adds so much interactivity to it, the VA and the world is so enchanting. It's really immersive and seriously, the combat/physics and *swiftness* of it blow so many releases (ahem, Avowed) of today!
  
  
• Rainbow Six Vegas 1&2, Ubisoft, on Steam
  Absolutely bonkers cover system, smooth and effective. There's a certain flow to this cover system + tactical, slow yet ruthless and fun combat. Control team members, smoke and move, Terrorists Missions, so so good. I mean Ubisoft, holy you were so good.
  
  
• Stranglehold, Midway Studios, on GOG
  This is a Max Payne clone and I dare say some stuff is legit better than it, fast, frenzy gunplay, great sets, great physics, lots of interactivity, fun combat and flow, decent albeit obvious, popcorn story. Later levels get quite hard! Bonus: this is John Woo's hardboiled sequel, he is a cameo character in this, lol.
  
  
• Driver San Francisco, Ubisoft, (delisted everywhere)
  Really cool concept, you're a cop you get hit and land in a hospital, enter supernatural stuff - you can pretty much posses any car in the city, race, get style points, help SF, catch criminals, get to the end. I spend so much time just making donuts with a Dodge! Seriously, one of the best car games, right along with NFS: Most Wanted (2005).
  
  
• SWAT 4 (Gold), Irrational Games, on GOG
  Fantastic tactical based team shooter, clearly Ready or Not (excellent) got inspired from this. This was made by Irrational Games so Ken Levine and folks who made System Shock 2 so it is quite spooky in an emotional way, so many cool missions that bring out the evil inside humans, do yourself a favor and play the missions as I won't spoil them!
  
  
• Prey (2006), Human Head Studios, (delisted from all stores)
  A Cherokee Mechanic, ex-US Army + Supernatural Powers from his Native American lineage + Alien Spaceship that is a living organism + DOOM 3 idTech engine = pure badass. Dark atmosphere, shocking twists, super cool enemy designs and (meh!) portal mechanics. You should try this out solely for it's artstyle and the shooting and quite possibly one of the best alien abduction scenes out there!
  
  
• Rise of Legends (Abandonware)
  This is kinda a sequel for Rise of Nations but has a cool setting (steampunk + arcane) and really cool characters, world building. Unique and a cool RTS.

A few more I played but are popular: Max Payne series, System Shock 2, Far Cry 1, Republic Commando and Stalker trilogy. All so good.

Good news, if you like SWAT4 you should play Ready or Not. It’s a modern take on the formula that’s very similar.

Also Strangehold has dope gameplay but the atmosphere and vibe ain’t got shit on Max.

 

[willothedog]

Loved the descent and lancer series of games. FS2 is still being worked on by passionate modders to this day.

 

[amigastar]

Loved the descent and lancer series of games. FS2 is still being worked on by passionate modders to this day.

I recommend Wing Commander Saga a standalone mod for Freespace 2, its really great

Home

Wing Commander Saga - A Wing Commander Freespace 2 Total Conversion Fan Project.

www.wcsaga.com

 

[Bungie]

Oh man, you made me think about the Terrorist Hunt mode on Rainbow Six Vegas 1&2 with the boys. Always was a good time.

 

[Nankatsu]

• Rainbow Six Vegas 1&2, Ubisoft, on Steam
  Absolutely bonkers cover system, smooth and effective. There's a certain flow to this cover system + tactical, slow yet ruthless and fun combat. Control team members, smoke and move, Terrorists Missions, so so good. I mean Ubisoft, holy you were so good.

Agree 100%. Used to play that Terrorist Hunt with my buddies back in the day, that shit was so fun and cool to play.

 

[RAIDEN1]

You should throw in Xtreme G3 in the mix too, they don't make something like that today! (Let alone F-Zero GX)

 

[amigastar]

You should throw in Xtreme G3 in the mix too, they don't make something like that today! (Let alone F-Zero GX)

F-Zero GX still looks good today.

 

[SCB3]

SWAT 4 (Gold), Irrational Games, on GOG
Fantastic tactical based team shooter, clearly Ready or Not (excellent) got inspired from this. This was made by Irrational Games so Ken Levine and folks who made System Shock 2 so it is quite spooky in an emotional way, so many cool missions that bring out the evil inside humans, do yourself a favor and play the missions as I won't spoil them!

To this day I don't know why this game never got a sequel or even someone doing the same genre aside from Ready or Not

 

[RAIDEN1]

F-Zero GX still looks good today.

A game ahead of its time literally more 20 years later still going strong

 

[amigastar]

A game ahead of its time literally more 20 years later still going strong

I play it on Dolphin from time to time, still awesome.

 

[noob smokes]

Socom

 

[TintoConCasera]

We need more third person action games about combat and exploration that are NOT souls games, please!

More stuff like Heretic II, Rune, Blade (Severance) and Enclave.

I miss this kind of game with lots of melee action and sprawling levels to actually explore. Well, Blade is somewhat souls-esque since it's combat is slower, but the rest are quite fast-paced. In fact Heretic II's melee is kinda like a prototype for Jedi Outcast lightsaber combat.

 

[grvg]

It's been on your to do list since 2006? That's quite some time, my friend.

It’s one of those things that I’ve been meaning to do for a long, long time. It’s probably one of the things in life that’s been nagging me the longest.

I watched the mega64 skit half a dozen times, I have watched all of Sseths videos except dark messiah because I don’t want spoilers, I notice it in my steam library all the time

Anyone know how pc version is on controller? It may be my next deck game.

 

[kiphalfton]

Man, I really need to play through dark Messiah. It's been on my to do list since 2006. I remember the mega64 skits for it, those were great.

Think it's on sale for <$3 currently on steam.

 

[fart town usa]

I'm really looking forward to the Gothic remake, should be releasing this year (hopefully).

I never played the OG, I've never been much of a PC gamer, but people rave about it. THQ Nordic and the studio making it have gone into overdrive with obtaining feedback from the OG fans, to ensure it's the game that the diehards want.

 

[kiphalfton]

I see lists like this, and it makes me feel so guilty.

Mainly because I haven't even scratched the surface, when it comes to classic games I haven't played (but also wasting time on current games, that probably don't deserve my time).

 

[{insert code here}]

All of the classic Ubisoft games are on sale right now. Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Far Cry, Rayman. Looking forward to replaying these maxed out and modded on modern hardware.

 

[TintoConCasera]

All of the classic Ubisoft games are on sale right now. Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Far Cry, Rayman. Looking forward to replaying these maxed out and modded on modern hardware.

Thanks man! I just got Rainbow Six: Vegas for 2.5€

 

[Blank Space Invader]

I skipped PS3 at launch due to pricing. I played Rainbow Six Vegas at someone's house and went out and bought an Xbox 360 just for that game lol. Terrorist Hunts with Magnum and Shield at LVU were epic! We played Killhouse constantly. I remember a community member who we'd frequently play with, and he'd always yell, "I got small arms fire in the Vault!" on that stage lol. Such good times...

 

[deriks]

I miss not-mascot-platformers

Shadowman, Soul Reaver, Urban Chaos, Oni...

Those today area always disguised as another famous game, like Dark Souls, Uncharted or Batman. They're not as good, and also, not in the old way

 

[{insert code here}]

Thanks man! I just got Rainbow Six: Vegas for 2.5€

No probs. I grabbed the Splinter Cell Conviction bundle for 10 which I highly recommend to anyone reading because it includes the 2 best games in the series, the original SC and Chaos Theory.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Loved the descent and lancer series of games. FS2 is still being worked on by passionate modders to this day.

The GOAT space game. Still supported heavily to this day by a passionate community.

Also another GOAT that its dynamic campaign in fighter jet sims has never been beaten even though it dates back to 1998

Its so unique in flight sim world that the community is still very much alive 27 years later and they modded the hell out of it. New graphics, better modeling, triple monitors, modern HOTAS, VR, etc.



Same for Richard Burns Rally. Still supported to this day after 21 years later. New tracks, new sounds, refined physics, VR, triple screen, modern simulators, etc.

PC modders are insane

 

[Krathoon]

I remember that Prey had this weird vagina joke towards the end. Definitely a WTF? moment.

 

[Loomy]

The loss of SP Rainbow 6 is sad.

 

[amigastar]

The GOAT space game. Still supported heavily to this day by a passionate community.

Also another GOAT that its dynamic campaign in fighter jet sims has never been beaten even though it dates back to 1998

Its so unique in flight sim world that the community is still very much alive 27 years later and they modded the hell out of it. New graphics, better modeling, triple monitors, modern HOTAS, VR, etc.



Same for Richard Burns Rally. Still supported to this day after 21 years later. New tracks, new sounds, refined physics, VR, triple screen, modern simulators, etc.

PC modders are insane

These games are a proof that mods rock. One of the many advantages of PC.

 

[yansolo]

Thanks man! I just got Rainbow Six: Vegas for 2.5€

do you need to download their launcher to run their old games too? havnt played the vegas games in years

 

[dolabla]

I just played through Stranglehold. Game is just pure fun. Sucks we never got a second one.

 

[Rocinante618]

Thank you for all the comments! Updated the post with a few more titles!

 

[Rocinante618]

do you need to download their launcher to run their old games too? havnt played the vegas games in years

you don't need to get the launcher for it.

I highly recommend fixing that yellow tint, blur it has however, just check pcgamingwiki for instructions.

 

[Guileless]

Darkest of Days sounds awesome, I don't know how I have never heard of it. Unfortunately used copies are $75.

 

[JimmyRustler]

Everything is Live-Service and bloat today. Miss the old 8-10 hour SP bangers I grew up with….

When did gaming become a friggin 2nd job?

 

[Rocinante618]

No probs. I grabbed the Splinter Cell Conviction bundle for 10 which I highly recommend to anyone reading because it includes the 2 best games in the series, the original SC and Chaos Theory.

Ha, I did the same yesterday. Surprised how well even the first one plays, the first mission was super fun and visually so rich.

Chaos Theory just blew me away when I found I could cut those tents in the first level, the sticky camera to check ahead, insanely snappy animations that keep your position or move Sam smoothly. Can you even save that hostage? Lol he died all the of the times I tried lmao, need to see a guide.

Incredibly complex, you have to learn, think and adapt.

Small nitpick though: headshots/gun are not as precise I would have wanted. This is fixed in Conviction though.

 

[No BBC=Anger]

R6 Vegas 2 had the digital face webcam scan/swap. Scan your own face or anyone else. Imagine what an update on the tech is like with AI and such.

 

[Sephimoth]

Hopefully the indie scene steps up to bring back this style of CLASSIC.

 

[darrylgorn]

Was actually thinking about this as I replayed Max Payne 3 again.

Solid gameplay with a narrative that doesn't hold the player's hand.