The glory of mediocre PC gaming
I can’t confess to having the world’s fastest PC. Nor am I the world’s most knowledgeable when it comes to hardware specifications. Consoles are my specialty, and will probably continue to be so until the PC and console are essentially one and the same. This is fast becoming truer, with newer consoles featuring internet browsing and hard drives, and eventually the entire market will be PC-only. Hopefully by this time myself, as well as countless others, will have mastered the server, the patch and the mod to perfection.
I wish I didn’t need to get online in order to enjoy a game to its fullest. I wish I didn’t need to upgrade my video card. But I am a lazy, lazy man and prefer all my gaming goodness to be presented in one small box without the possibility of improvement - until the next small box comes along 5 years later. That’s about as proactive as I can get. But nowadays, even console games are receiving patches. It’s probably for the best, improving upon what could already be a great title, but I can’t help suspect some developers may push a game through development too fast, in order to compete with another title, ride off the success of another title – or even because the game is guaranteed to sell no matter how lousy. Subsequently the onus rests upon the consumer to get online and get downloading all this extra content; to be released whenever sales start to drop.
Saint's Row has recently received the patching treatment - a console game to boot.
The only problem I have with PC games is that they are reduced in price by a lot more, and a lot faster than console counterparts. I yearn for the semi-latest killer PC app at a low low price, but more often than not my PC is still not able to run it. An untapped resource to some PC gamers is even older titles that are surprisingly fit for almost any PC and also surprisingly excellent. Put it this way – World of Warcraft is one of the hottest games in the country right now, and is over two years old. I personally don’t recommend getting it nowadays – I had it before it was cool. I was 60 and pwning UBRS before Leeroy Jenkins was born. Coupling this with the fact it may destroy your life, I suggest sticking to some decent single player PC goodness.
In +1 you may occasionally find some mini-reviews for games that PALGN never got around to reviewing (or Luke sat on the game while watching Buffy – it wouldn’t break the disc, it’s just that no one else wanted to touch it). So to conclude today’s PC rant, and until the complete universal acceptance of PC technology and MMO domination, I present some glorious gems of PC gaming, suitable for among the lowest of low spec’d gamers. If you find these, buy them.
Syberia / Syberia II
I first came across this adventure series whilst traveling around the United States. I had spent all my money on new release GBA games (equivalent to AU$40 – score!), and was browsing the PC section when I saw the case for Syberia. “One of the greatest adventure games ever made!” yelled the box. I opened my wallet but only had a McDonald’s voucher, and the store didn’t except that as legal tender. I left the mall munching on my free cheeseburger, and Syberia left the dark recesses of my mind.
It wasn’t until I was back home and unemployed that I found Syberia again. I spent a good 6 months renting out games, finishing them, and then renting out the next one. Almost got through the store’s entire collection, when I spotted Syberia and Syberia II as a double rental pack. Needless to say I picked it up.
Syberia tells the story of Kate Walker, a US attorney sent to a small town in France, in order to facilitate the sale of an abandoned toy (automaton) factory for a client. However, the old owner of the factory has passed away, leaving behind clues of an heir and a cast of brilliant characters who lead Kate on an epic journey across Europe to unravel the mystery of the automatons and a man named Hans Voralberg.
Creepy and intriguing. The best combo.
I won’t go into too much detail on the plot, to ensure the entire experience is completely fresh. I did play many hours of Syberia, but unfortunately didn’t accomplish as much in the sequel, Syberia II. What makes the series brilliant is the art and atmosphere, from French graphic designer B. Sokal – and the ambience is rivalled by only those occupying the top tiers of gaming design. Stunning pre-rendered backdrops, a haunting musical score, and an enthralling mystery gives Syberia the acclaim of being one of the best adventure games ever made. Highly recommended, if you can find it. Sure, there’s always Ebay, buts where’s the fun in that?
Deus Ex
Ok, so this isn’t particularly unknown. In fact, it was undoubtedly one of the greatest games of 2000. What I am getting at by mentioning Deus Ex is that this game, and many others, are still good. Still great. I’m not just saying it because my PC can’t run Far Cry – but there are some massive savings to be had on superb entertainment, and I strongly urge everyone to get into it. For example, EB should still have various copies of Deus Ex in their bargain bin, under the Big Bytes range of classic games. On a sale day (everything seems to be perpetually on sale at EB) it can be obtained, brand new, for a few measly credits. Like the price of a Big Mac, only you don't pay for garbage.
Newer gamers who are not especially discouraged by dated graphics and animation have literally thousands of hours of entertainment available to them for chump change. I myself was skeptical about Deus Ex, and given that Luke had also sat on and broken my PS2 (“Kids, that was our only PS2. There will be no PALGN this year.”) I needed something to play, and fast. Recovering from my addiction to cheeseburgers I only had a few dollars left, and Deus Ex was ample gaming sufficiency for weeks.
Graphics only a mother could love, but the gameplay is to die for.
These are two excellent examples of gaming gone by. Nothing especially comprehensive for the first +1, but as mentioned the mini-review is sure to make another appearance with some obscure reference or another. As for the PC itself - try not to fall as far behind in the technological advancement as I may have done on a few occasions (Moore's Law is the devil), but if there is a gap you feel needs to be filled, look back only a few short years to play some true classics.
Stat-building
As always, the trusty PALGN forums are available for you to obtain extra information from our community, or voice your own game-related opinion. In celebration of today's +1, make your voice heard and share some truly excellent games that may have been underappreciated or overlooked. Send any specific comments or stories to phil@palgn.com.au, and your enthralling humourous anecdote might just make a future +1 appearance.
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Thoughts and opinions expressed in +1 Dexterity remain those of the author alone, and do not reflect the views of PAL Gaming Network, its advertisers, sponsors, and all other related parties.
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