Exceptionally good games?

Peter

Is there (in a game-category you don't like!) a game that is so good that you make an exception and actually like and play it?

I for example HATE 4X-games. But I make three exceptions:

Aegis (non-free, browser-game, should be doable to clone it as a free game)
Illyriad (non-free, graphical browser-game)
SimCity! (non-free but several free variants exist.)

What about you?

Greetings
Peter

ffaf

Mhhh I really do not like FPS and I guess no game made me change my mind. Is there anything (possibly FOSS) exceptionally good?

poVoq

ffaf Non-FOSS but Half-Life Alyx is exceptionally good in VR even for people that do not like FPS. But I guess VR could be classified as a different genre.

Peter

Well, if you can't pick a certain game then that simply means there's no such exception for your personal taste.

A category could not only be FPS or so, but could be Fantasy or Science fiction or browser-game or casual etc.

Technopeasant

I am not into platformers for the most part (especially console ones, despite owning a Sega Genesis), but make an exception for Apogee DOS platformers like Duke Nukem or Hocus Pocus (or Dave Gnukem, if you want FLOSS).

Del

Technopeasant I am not into platformers for the most part (especially console ones, despite owning a Sega Genesis), but make an exception for Apogee DOS platformers like Duke Nukem or Hocus Pocus (or Dave Gnukem, if you want FLOSS).

Interesting. Of all varieties of platforming games, the DOS ones are the ones I find the least interesting. But Monster Bash is pretty great, taking the good parts of DOS platformers and turning it up a notch.

Technopeasant

Del

It's the physics mostly. I find Mario and Sonic (and clones like Super Tux and Open Surge) too floaty and bouncy. The Apogee ones you mostly jump in smooth controllable arcs without acceleration. I also don't find the level design where you mostly just head left and deal with challenges that compelling. Duke and Hocus Pocus are structured in terms of the combat and key hunting similar to an old school first person shooter (preceded them really; Hocus Pocus even features the multi-switch puzzles later seen in Duke Nukem 3D). So it's less they are exceptional games in their genre, and more that they are a simplified form of a genre I like better.

EDIT: Just realized Open Surge was not on Libregamewiki, which I have just fixed. It's funny since they link to it on their site!

Del

Technopeasant I see. I guess level design on those Apogee games focuses on exploration more than on dextrous platforming. I don't dislike exploration, but I like platforming, so I appreciate the linearity of Mario. Monster Bash has those slanted branches that make the platforming more interesting, in a way that enhances exploration - the "can I make that jump?" effect. And you get to shoot in an arc too, so there's aiming through positioning.

I really do like fixed arc platforming in some ZX Spectrum games, but those are very linear too. Puzzle-like, even. I have yet to play the classics Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy, but Horace in the Mystic Woods is *chef's kiss* MASTAPIECE!