Kinda Old PC Games
Jun 4, 2006 11:46:47 GMT -5
Post by Weasel on Jun 4, 2006 11:46:47 GMT -5
I've got a moderately old computer sitting next to me, with no network connection or fancy stuff in it. It's a Pentium 166 MHz (with no MMX whatsoever), 64 MB of RAM (the system's strongest point), and a 3DFX Voodoo 2 running Windows 95. Off and on, I've been looking for games in my collection that can actually run and be playable on the system. I've had a few major victories (games that I haven't played in several years) and a few major losses (stuff that just doesn't want to run properly, or is too slow to be worth it).
My most recent victory is Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, probably one of Monolith's best early shooter efforts (and the first one that they made their own engine for). Granted, I can't crank the details up to max, but it still manages to look good with minimal special effects (and I can pump models and textures to their highest without suffering too bad of a framerate drop). I really miss Monolith's sense of humor...now it seems they're just making Doom 3-esque horror games. Why not make another NOLF game? Or another Shogo-style game?
I've also managed to get Ultima VIII running pretty much perfectly. While it lacks the Roland MT-32 hardware (that's permanently installed in another, even older computer), I get the intended experience from it (complete with Guardian taunts). I'm not very good at it, though, because the interface is quite awkward and confusing (especially combat).
Finally, this computer is the first time in several years that I've been able to play either of the Crusader games - far smoother than I'd get in DOSbox, and with nice quality movies too.
Unfortunately, with these victories comes a few defeats as well - namely, the Tomb Raider games. Neither properly detected my video card, and forced themselves into software mode. TR1 ran tolerably in low detail mode, but TR2 was pushing five seconds per frame. Ouch.
I'm currently on the search for more games that can run on this old box of mine. Last night I got Quake 2 running, but then I remembered that I don't like Quake 2 (the weapon sounds bug me).
My most recent victory is Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, probably one of Monolith's best early shooter efforts (and the first one that they made their own engine for). Granted, I can't crank the details up to max, but it still manages to look good with minimal special effects (and I can pump models and textures to their highest without suffering too bad of a framerate drop). I really miss Monolith's sense of humor...now it seems they're just making Doom 3-esque horror games. Why not make another NOLF game? Or another Shogo-style game?
I've also managed to get Ultima VIII running pretty much perfectly. While it lacks the Roland MT-32 hardware (that's permanently installed in another, even older computer), I get the intended experience from it (complete with Guardian taunts). I'm not very good at it, though, because the interface is quite awkward and confusing (especially combat).
Finally, this computer is the first time in several years that I've been able to play either of the Crusader games - far smoother than I'd get in DOSbox, and with nice quality movies too.
Unfortunately, with these victories comes a few defeats as well - namely, the Tomb Raider games. Neither properly detected my video card, and forced themselves into software mode. TR1 ran tolerably in low detail mode, but TR2 was pushing five seconds per frame. Ouch.
I'm currently on the search for more games that can run on this old box of mine. Last night I got Quake 2 running, but then I remembered that I don't like Quake 2 (the weapon sounds bug me).