Deep computer games?

[CarlZog]

What's are the deepest computer games you ever played?

Depth meaning the level of involvement or, possibly, complexity. What games really challenged you to think, and left you feeling like you really achieved something?

Carl

 

[KenM]

With all the problems I had getting Civ 4 to run, Once I finally got it to run I felt like I did something special.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Baldur's Gate II is definately one of them. That game is absolutely huge, and can take over 100 hours of play to complete if you do everything there is to do.

Another pick would be World of Warcraft. When I finally got to level 60, I felt like I had really accomplished something.

 

[Psionicist]

Planescape Torment/Fallout is pretty deep in a computer game sense. Other than that most good games challange you in a way such it feels you've accomplished something, otherwise it would just be a waste of time.

A "hybrid" here is probably MMORPG:s such as World of Warcraft which are very rewarding, but because it involves so much time and work you will realize you have wasted time when you stopped playing. A great but short single player game will not haunt you as much afterwords, but it's certainly not as rewarding either.

There are of course a bunch of great "thinking" games, without being really "deep". Examples would be the text adventures (hitch hikers guide to the galaxy for example) and Monkey Island. No deep meanings there, but challenging.

Then we have a bunch of games which are very deep emotionally and socially, such as the older Final Fantasy-games. Final Fantasy 6 (aka Final Fantasy III) and 7 for example. They have deep meanings in a way.

Another kind of game is the "shower genre", which itself is so repetetive and monotone you can play them without thinking at all, which lets your mind wander freely like when you have a shower. These games are far from deep but they can help you think deeper.

Great thread btw.

 

[Dark Jezter]

A "hybrid" here is probably MMORPG:s such as World of Warcraft which are very rewarding, but because it involves so much time and work you will realize you have wasted time when you stopped playing. A great but short single player game will not haunt you as much afterwords, but it's certainly not as rewarding either.

As someone once said "It's not wasted time if it's time that you enjoyed wasting."

Not sure I got the quote exactly right, but you get the idea.

 

[talmar]

I have to say Planescape:Torment is the only one I've played where I would sit back on contemplate some of the things going on in the game.

To Date best game I've ever played.

 

[Wystan]

I have no mouth and I must Scream

Great Game

Normality

That was another great game

 

[BiggusGeekus]

 

[CarlZog]

Interesting that there's been little mention of strategy games -- which is actually what I had in mind when I posed the question.

I had expected to hear things like "Master of Orion" and the Civ games, but "Planescape: Torment" is defiitely a thoughtful game in a different kind of way.


Carl

 

[andargor]

Interesting that there's been little mention of strategy games -- which is actually what I had in mind when I posed the question.

I had expected to hear things like "Master of Orion" and the Civ games, but "Planescape: Torment" is defiitely a thoughtful game in a different kind of way.

It might not qualify as "strategy", but rather "tactics", but I'd have to say the Fallout series is a thinking person's game, even if it's an RPG.

Also, I enjoyed the Homeworld series because of the allocation of resources, 3D tactics and fleet formations.

Lastly, the Thief series is pure strategy and tactics wrapped in an RTS RPG game. I enjoyed those immensely, especially the missions where you can't shoot anyone. Sneaky stuff.

Andargor