Deep games for this pandemic period

[005AGIMA]

Thinking back to long games I played and enjoyed....

Captive

Mercenary (and Second City)

Lotus 1 (try and finish it on hard, using manual, without cheats)

Most flight sim campaigns are protracted but those that spring to mind are:
F18
F16 Combat Pilot
Falcon
Gunship
F29 Retaliator
F19 Stealth Fighter
F117 Stealth Fighter 2.0

Racing Sims that were in-depth:
Indy 500
MP F1 Grand Prix (full season with 3 day race weekends and the option to run races to full length, hell some Play Station titles dont even go that far)

That will do for now. Any more and we'll need a longer lockdown.

[SquawkBox]

Originally Posted by 005AGIMA

Most flight sim campaigns are protracted

What's that supposed to mean, if I may ask ?

[d4rk3lf]

Originally Posted by SquawkBox

What about Civ2 ? I've noticed on various Civ centred forum fans considering Civ2 has the edge, even over Civ3.

Tried it few times, but something just didn't worked for me. I know a lot of people likes it, and I am sure it's great overall, and has it's charm, but individually, for me, the 3 is way better.

I also don't like the 5 and 6, mostly because the game constantly interrupts me, asking me question like: "Do you want +2 worker speed, or +4 wall defense"... oh common... I am in a war, don'z bother me with that please!

Civ 4 is great, but I still prefer units strength in simplified manner (like in 3, you only have attack, defence, ans movement for units), and in 4, they over-complicated it (in my opinion) with "this unit is good against this unit, and bad again this unit".

Apart from all mentioned above, I just adore Civ 3 2D graphics, that is very detailed, very nice, and very clear (for resources look).

[SquawkBox]

Well, here is a little something for you then : An online resource for Civ3, namely a recreation of the Civilopedia as a web site, so that Civ fans can check it while playing (alt+tab, or on other monitor), should that be needed.

https://civ3complete.com/civilopedia

[d4rk3lf]

Originally Posted by SquawkBox

Well, here is a little something for you then : An online resource for Civ3, namely a recreation of the Civilopedia as a web site, so that Civ fans can check it while playing (alt+tab, or on other monitor), should that be needed.

https://civ3complete.com/civilopedia

Thanks, but that is in the game already.

[gimbal]

Originally Posted by d4rk3lf

I also don't like the 5 and 6, mostly because the game constantly interrupts me, asking me question like: "Do you want +2 worker speed, or +4 wall defense"... oh common... I am in a war, don'z bother me with that please!

You must be playing completely different versions of Civ 5 and 6 than I am, the games absolutely do not interrupt you with such questions.

[d4rk3lf]

Originally Posted by gimbal

You must be playing completely different versions of Civ 5 and 6 than I am, the games absolutely do not interrupt you with such questions.

I remember it like that. Constantly interrupted, and I didn't saw it as an adding factor to the gameplay, it doesn't meant for me that it have more depth, just more tedious.
Of course, I understand if people enjoy it, lot's of different tastes.

One more thing about 5 and 6 is that, at first, I liked the idea of non-stacked units, and only 1 unit per tile, then I realized, it's not really that good, and changes the gameplay too much. It's very tedious moving big armies like that.
It would be great (imho) if they had limited stacks, like 3 to 5 units per tile, and I think it would be more realistic.

[Anubis]

I completed all achivements in civ 5 and all I was able to do with my DLCs in Civ 6 and I don't remember every being interupted with those things, just as gimbal said.

Also, Civ 2 imho beats both Civ 3 and Civ 4. Civ 5 is finally first good continuation since Civ 2.

[d4rk3lf]

I was referring to, for example, social policies (had to google it).
I might give another try to civ 5, but I doubt I will try Civ 6 again... who knows...

[coze]

For me the best Civ is Civ4. It has the perfect balance between mechanics & complexity. Civ5&6 has some strange policy & government progression which I dont understand. Though I like the non stacking units there. Maybe I'll give them another chance.

Btw, Civ4 has some excellent mods. Fall from Heaven II being probably the most interesting. It's a fantasy setting, which has a Master of Magic feel to it. Give it a try if you still haven't !

https://www.moddb.com/mods/fall-from-heaven-ii

Also, not sure if anybody mentioned yet, but Mount&Blade are really good games which you can sink some time into. Great combat mechanics, expansive weapons array, no magic or supernatural stuff. Game play is something like Sid Meiers Pirates taking place on land with a Combat Engine. The new one Bannerlord is out now, but I found it slow to start (your character starts low and gets beaten a lot). Earlier games are more fun in the beginning and probably cheaper.

[Anubis]

If you want something complex, try Europa Universalis (playing at the moment) or Stellaris. Those game give word 'complex' all new meaning.

Civilization Test of Time is was my favorite later civ game, even I still play them all.

Will probably soon start with one game of Civ 1 on Win 3.11. (windows version, had better graphics then DOS version, very similar to Amiga version.

[SquawkBox]

This thread spanning over half a year from Dec. 2013 to May 2014 bears mention of quite a few complex games, among which the aptly titled Incubation ~ Time Is Running Out , from the Battle Isle saga (not your typical Battle Isle tactical game, but worth checking out nonetheless).

[005AGIMA]

Originally Posted by SquawkBox

What's that supposed to mean, if I may ask ?

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=protracted+meaning lol

But yes it means "Long or longer than expected".

I don't know why but it seems to be a word I use currently lol.

[d4rk3lf]

I just remember one more Amiga game: Castles.
Great strategy, where you manage your funds, to build castle, make defensive units, and have enough food for people. Right combination grants you victory, and on the higher levels, it can be tough.
Too bad, battle management is so simplified, with better battle system, and graphics more "Settlers like", it would be masterpiece.
What I really like about it (and that really adds to gameplay atmosphere), is some random events, where all kind of messengers arrives with questions, revealing small stories, and depends on your answers, the outcomes are different.

Never tried Castles 2 (only Aga), actually, I've tried it quickly, but couldn't figure out anything. Will try again.

[SquawkBox]

Seven Kingdoms ~ Ancient Adversaries aka 7KAA seems like a welcomed overhaul of Age Of Empires II worn out game mechanics. Game is offered as an open source project, or can be bought from steam, choice is yours Commander !

Enter the world of Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries, a world of
intrigue and diplomacy, of trade, conquest, and espionage.
Take control of any of the following emerging civilizations: Chinese,
Persian, Japanese, Greek, Norman, Viking, Mayan, Egyptian, Mughul,
or Zulu.
Begin with a single, modest village under your command, and go on to
conquer an entire world by force of arms, by guile and persuasion, or by
whatever other means you choose.
Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries is a real-time game of epic strategy
and empire building. Players compete against up to six AI opponents or
human players for control of land, trade, and peoples.
Wage open warfare on your rivals, or forge alliances with them. Send
spies to infiltrate their ranks, or hold your spies back to guard against
your enemies’ prying eyes. Mine ore and manufacture goods, then build
markets and establish trade routes to bring gold flowing into your cof-
fers. Have your scientists research new weapons of war, or turn from sci-
ence to the mystic arts, and seek the ultimate power: the ability to
summon the aid of the gods. All these choices and more are yours.

Source : The manual

[BippyM]

Originally Posted by 005AGIMA

Thinking back to long games I played and enjoyed....

Captive

Yesss!!!!!!!

[SquawkBox]

Warlords series (yup, PC follow up to the accessible Amiga turn-based strategy game released in 1990) received the GoG treatment in November 2019. Apparently, Age Of Wonders was heavily inspired by original Warlords game mechanics.

https://www.gog.com/news/release_warlords_series
https://www.gog.com/game/warlords_i_ii

[Anubis]

Just got Star Control Origins together with classic SC games and few others in bundle from HB.

[dreadnought]

Ah, Star Control Origins. Wasn't there some sad and bitter copyright battle going on about this ol' trademark?

If I had any time to get aways from my micros and play ~deep~ games on my PC I'd revisit Distant Worlds, Battle Brothers, Rimworld or any game from Illwinter (Conquest Of Elysium/ Dominions). All beautifully open and emergent timesinks.