Hello,
I'm not what you'd consider a hardcore gamer, but I enjoy quality games from every genre. From point and click adventures to twitch shooters, if it's an engaging game, I'll like it. However, I've been itching for a good turn based game lately. I'm getting tired of GalCiv and Space Empires V (if you love either of these games get the other, you'll love it too).
Some of my favorite turn based games were the Front Mission releases. For those not aware, basically, you control a team of battle mechs (wanzers) that you repair/upgrade/manage speed, armor, weight, & etc options between turns. AFAIK, none of them were ever released for the PC, but that doesn't mean there aren't similar games that have been that I've never heard about.
If anyone knows about another great turn based game, I'd love to hear about it. The purpose is so I can find a copy and play it, so if you've got a link that'd be great too. I'd prefer PC games, but I've got the consoles too so they're acceptable. I'd prefer a game similar to Front Mission (battle mechs and such) but that's not as important as a good turn based. I had an old GBA game, Zone of Enders I believe, that was a very poor man's version of Front Mission, but was remotely similar, if that helps anyone's idea of what I'm looking for.
I'll also note that I've played many of the big named and famous turn based classics, but feel free to list any as they might help someone else looking.
I loved Front Mission. Square FTW.
You had me up until Zone of the Enders. This was an arcade style action game. And it was only like four or five hours long.
Oh wait. GBA? Now I'm really lost. I only know Z.O.E. as a PS2 game. Maybe you're just getting the name mixed up with something else? Or maybe there is a version I don't know about. IIRC it's a Konami (Metal Gear) game. Don't feel like googling
Not in the same setting by any means.... but a great turn-based FREE high fantasy strategy game = Battle for Wesnoth.
Tons of user support, many many campaigns. If you like that kind of stuff and you can get used to some of it's bizarre aspects, it will do you well for months and months.
The multiplayer is pretty fun too.
http://www.wesnoth.org/
Edit: Oh- and I just wanted to say that I totally relate to your multi-genre appreciation. I've always kind of wondered about people who just can't stand to play certain kinds of games. Every genre has _something_ to offer.
Zone of Enders was a very good GBA game ... dunno about front mission but doesn't sound to nice to tell Z.O.E. a poor mans version.
Well there are many more or less good games like this.
I preffer Final Fantasy Tactics Advance / A2 (not the psx one ... even thaught most ppl like it better than the two new ones i completely dislike it)
And Disgaea (DS version same as PSP as for what i know)
Advance Wars is similiar ...
Tactics Ogre: The Knights of Lodis
Drone Tactics
Panzer Tactics
Blue Dragon Plus
Fire Emblem (very good game i especially love the Wii version even thaught its rather short and many ppl say it sucks cuz its to hard ... even thaught in my opinion it was one of the easyest ones at least when played at easy)
Thats just some part from DS/GBA games out there that are tactics games ...
The original FFT is set in a much more interesting version of Ivalice. The combat mechanics are also a lot deeper than they are in the new games (Zodiak-based combat system that resolves attacks and spells based on relative astrological signs anyone?)
But really it's the world that kills the new FFT games for players who played in the original Ivalice. Don't even make me mention how they RAPED the whole world in FFXII. Where the hell did all those porn star bunny aliens come from? sigh.
All of them are great games, IMO. Just very different. FFT for the PSX was a cult classic with a rabid following. GBA watered it down and sold it to a whole new audience with much better commercial success. BUT... the original will be talked about 20 years from now. The new ones won't even be on the radar.
I'm going to have to look into this GBA Zone of Enders. I have just never heard of any game by that name that is not this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_the_Enders
TripleA.
It's free. Go download it.
Making History
Thanks for the replies, I'll look into the games. Keep them coming though!
Zone of Enders, the PS2 version, is only remotely related to Front Mission, but I enjoyed the Front Mission games ten fold more. The poor man's version I'm refering too is "Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars". To be fair, comparing any PS or PS2 game to a GBA game isn't fair, thus the derogatory description.
edit: I dug it out of my GBA game collection, to make sure I remembered the title correctly and noticed it is made my Konami, but a quick google of the title will bring the game up. I've long forgotten the universe, so I'm sorry if this is a bastard stepchild of the series, I only brought it up because it's gameplay (turn base mech combat with player controlled basic skill level advancement) is similar to the Front Mission series, even if not true to it's PS2 gameplay. I'd recommend it though, it's quite long for a GBA game and if you don't mind the inherent repetitiveness of such games it's a good time waster.
edit #2:
Making History is a great and very underrated WW2 game, but I've played and beaten it many times. Thankyou for reminding me though, others might really enjoy it.
TripleA appears to be an Axis and Allies clone. Insta download. I'm sure I'll be playing it off and on all night instead of sleeping just to test it out. Thankyou. I've never heard of it before.
Well there is a game called Elemental being released next year...
Fire Emblem are pretty nice games (you have them in GBA, DS, GC and Wii), I just love those series.
I love all of the TOTAL WAR games. Great epic TBS with awesome battles.
King's Bounty: The Legend has been mentioned much on this site. RPG with TB battles. VERY fun!
Fantasy Wars and Elven Legacy are great TBS fun, mimicking tabletop miniature games.
The HOMM series is one of my favorites.
I also like the Disciples games, fantasy TBS. II was great and III is due out this fall and is looking cool.
I've never played CivIV or Europa Universalis 3, but I've heard great things.
Also, could you post a bit about why you like Space Empires V? I've always been curious about it.
Indeed, Heroes of Might and Magic is one of the best IMO. All Civs are cool too and there´s the UFO series
Panzer General
Stars!
Kings Bounty is a new Heroes of Might and Magic type game. Its not bad.
SE V is fairly similar to GC2, but not quite as pretty. The learning curve is there, and it'll take you a bit to get used to the control scheme and at time annoying menu system. Also, you really shoulddownload a few mods to get things really rolling (they have a balance mod and some AI updates that make the game much better imo).
I can go into depth if anyone really would like me to, but essentially you start on your planet (depending on settings) and have to expand outward. There's the colony rush, and you have to tech up for weapons, mining, improved culture, better weapons, starbases, bigger ships, satelites, mines, mobile starbases, etc. There's your standard diplomacy options, with treaties playing a big part of it. It's a very long game, but you can adjust the tech speed. Eventually you can obtain ridiculously cool tech. Overall, It's not as polished as GC, but is very well done and highly enjoyable. Honestly, I like it better than GC2.
Things I love about this game that I can't get in GC:
1. Tactical combat - you can (but don't have to) have basic movement and firing control over your units
2. Carriers - also mobile shipyards, mines, satellites (spy and armed), computer drones, etc
3. Cloaking - and other forms of stealth
4. Ground Units - and battles, including fighter/bomber support as well as weapon platforms
5. Boarding Parties - I like that ship, mind if I come aboard?
6. Different "Races" - by that I mean you can have organic, machine, telepathic, etc, which opens open up new tech tree options
7. Retreat from combat - so engines have more than one purpose
8. Weapons - have effective, max, and deadly ranges. Point defense actually counter missiles, torpedos, etc. It's not a rock paper scissors affair, but it's not overly complicated.
9. Supplies - you have to stock supplies, life support, and ordinance for your ships to remain functional
10 System damaging weapons - blow their engines and weapons but leave the hull in shape, then steal their ship and analyze it steal their tech
11. Damage systems - like the previous, you can damage ship components, making them useless until repaired. In GC, the ship works great until it has 0hp left. in SEV, you've lost your weapons, engines, sensors, etc. And if you lost life support, well, you've got a derelict floating around.
12. Awesome high level tech -"I really hate you and your species, instead of glassing over your planets with planetary bombardment, or sending troops in to kill your military, I'm going to turn your star into a blackhole. kthxbai"
- you can build Ringworlds and Dyson spheres, create/destroy planets, stars, black holes, space storms, nebulaes.
13. Races don't vanish - it bugged my in GC that if I was the Torians, and invaded Earth, the Humans were no more. If you invade a planet in SEV, whatever percentage of the race you didn't slaughter in your attack is still there, Your race will start living/breeding/migrating there now too. You can have planets with multiple races, and set treaties so you and your allies' people will live amongst themselves on the same planet. I love this. Or you can eject their remaing population into space when you take over. It's whatever really.
14. Each system (stars and planets) is connected by warp points to other systems (like in sins), so you can have closed borders, choke points etc. At high levels, you can also make/close your own warp points,.
15, and 16. Multi and Player
Things I like better about GC:
1. You can build your own ships - SE uses ship sets
2. It's prettier, and has a better UI - SEV's is a bit clunky, but if you're a graphics whore I doubt you're into GC anyway
3. Mod-ability - SEV is moddable, and there are great mods out there, including Star Trek, Star Gate, Star Wars, Babylon 5, Battlestar, Homeworld, etc shipsets out there, but GC is easier for someone with no idea what they're doing to mod.
4. AI - the ai isn't as developed as in GC, but with the balance mod and some other optional AI updates if wanted, it'll still bomb you to hell (you'll be pissed when you loose your battlefleet to a minefield)
5. I'm sure there's more, but I wasn't asked to explain GC.
For all the people that were wondering, this is the ZotE he is talking about: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_the_Enders:_The_Fist_of_Mars . The ZotE for PS2 is in the same world settings, and the one one of the posters above linked to is a "followup" (connected by story, not by playstyle). (edit- didnt notice the op already typed the full name earlier)
I personally found the total war games bad due to AI being bad. Many times my units will refuse to follow orders.
Elven Legacy is a remake of Fantasy General. It ripped off nearly the entire game. BTW, the next male elf I play will be named segittel...
I recommend civ4 as well, a pretty good game.
If you like strategy, you should play these:
Star control (1)
Master of Magic
master of Orion 2
You should also try:
Betrayal at Krondor, the game has a great story
Star control 2
BEST Turn-based game ever with EPICLY long campaign ::::===>>>
EXILE TRILOGY (and mostly the Ruined World (Exile 3)).
Look up all other awesome RPG's at spiderweb.com! It's an indie games develloper but try the demoes and you'll see that by himself, he outclasses even actual RPGs!
HOMM has been mentioned, so has Kings Bounty. Kings Bounty is awesome in just about every aspect. One more game I never have enough time to play....
I liked age of wonders shadow magic With luck (though not likely) they will make a new one in my life time.
King bounty the lgend was lots of fun but after 5 or 6 plays it has become old (static map) but the expansion will be out soon.
space rangers 2 was a *lot* of fun - 1c makes nice games (but fantasy wars was not that enjoyable to me).
I'm watching to see what sort of game elemental will be - not very clear to me from the press so far.
Age of wonders (the first potential successor to MoM) which is a great turn-based fantasy strategy/tactical game
Age of wonders 2 Shadow Magic (in some ways better in other ways not as good as AOW)
http://aow.heavengames.com/
Sword of the Stars
Dominions 3 (pretty hardcore, but indie game so doesn't have great visuals)
Civ 4: Get the mod called Fall From Heaven II
GalCiv II
The best turn-strategy series to look for is easily Fire Emblem. I highly recommend Thracia 776, Fuuin no Tsrugi, and Sacred Stones of these. Very deep and easy to understand with excellent mechanics. If you need any information on the Fire Emblem games, please do ask.
Nintendo Wars series are also worth looking at. Made by the same company (Intelligent Systems), these aren't RPGs, but still very fun.
Sega has quite a few wonderful SRPGs. Obviously the Shining Force games are notable. The best on the Genesis are Langrisser (Warsong in America) and it's sequel, Langrisser 2.
Other than those, the DS has quite a few good strategy games as well. Disagaea, Hoshigami, and the Age of games are worth looking at.
Not really turn based, but a good strategy game is Hearts of Iron II, (III is slated for August release). Along with the Europa Universalis series is good too.
Fantasy Wars - classical wargame, a modern Fantasy General with a good graphics and some extra features
Valkyria Chronicles - tactical TBS like Jagged Alliance etc.
Space Rangers 2 - THE best remake of Elite (Elite was the first game with open-ended gameplay)
Spectromancer - online multiplayer CCG-like TBS with fast matches (7-11 minutes) and a random start so you should make strategies on the fly
CIV4+beyond the sword exp pack was good
MoO3 was potentially the biggest let down... had amazing promise but played like a spreadsheet! Still, I read somewhere that someone has bought the franchise and is looking at doing a new one. Saying that, if MoO3 hadn't flopped I'd have never found Stardock as I was one of the MoO3-GalCiv rebound peeps!
one of the best free turn based games i've ever played is battle for wesnoth. in fact, one of the best games i've ever played
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