Topic: Old games that just haven't aged well

[Lumi Kløvstad]

So, I hate to say it, but as a 1997-and-onwards gamer, System Shock (at least the first one) has aged absolutely terribly. It's without a doubt the clunkiest UI and navigation system I've ever met, and I really appreciate just how far we've come since it debuted.

I've heard it's a classic, but it's just such a clunky affair that I genuinely cannot will myself to play it further than the first 20 minutes. It's kind of the gamer equivalent of reading Chaucer's version of English: I recognize a lot of the constituent elements as proto-forms of things I am familiar with, but on the whole it's just an alien experience unless I were to devote way more time and energy than I am comfortable with spending on getting to master the material.

Maybe someday there will be a remake that repackages all the awesome stuff in a more modern and playable form (being able to turn my head reliably would be a nice addition), but for now, I'll just have to let this one sit.

It's a shame because I was really looking forward to this one.

But, on a semi-related note, Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniversary World Tour is a remake of a classic done absolutely right. Hopefully we can get a do-over of System Shock done that well (and playable to modern sensibilities).

Here's hoping.

To keep this from just being a "waaaaah" post, does anyone else have any classic games that they don't feel have really stood the test of time all that well?

[theANdROId]

About a year ago, KaZudra shared a little bit of information with us.  There wasn't much in the original post if you want to read it, but there was a link to a Kickstarter you may be interested in seeing.  I didn't keep up with it at all, but it looks like their goal was met and there are still ways to pledge on their official site.

[aensland]

Final Fantasy VII

[JR]

Heh, when I saw the thread title, System Shock 2 was the first thing that popped in my head. I played it for the first time a few years back and just didn't like it that much, so that could've added to it, as well.

I'd say the original Fallout, too. I still have to pick up on my save file one of these days, but my brother-in-law warned me that the gameplay doesn't really hold up anymore. I don't mind it, but I can see where he's coming from.

[X]

I never did get to try Fallout's 1 or 2.

Speaking of not aged very well. Knights of the old Republic. I enjoyed the first game very much although now after playing Dragonage: Inquisition KotoR could use a definite upgrade in that kind of play-style and character animations. KotoR 2 even more-so as it had virtually no ending after all was said and done. An utter disappointment really. It needs a proper ending.

[redrum]

deja vu/shadowgate/uninvited.
those games were a task to play on the NES to begin with, because of the lack of mouse and all,
now they just feel like a chore to play.  it'd be interesting to see a remake of those games on a PC platform...
the stories are certainly written well enough to warrant something like that.

[Highwind Dragoon]

The Kohan RTS game series, heroes of annihilated empires, the dune RTS series, the older command and conquer games, warcraft 1 and empire earth 3.

[BLOOD MONKEY]

pretty much anything on n64 except smash bros and perfect dark (if you play with a proper controller setup, that is.)

[The Puritan]

The NES Final Fantasys.

[JR]

pretty much anything on n64 except smash bros and perfect dark (if you play with a proper controller setup, that is.)

Agreed. The N64/PS1 era is probably the one I play the least these days.

[redrum]

sonic 3d blast
although that one was already crap when it was released...

[TheTextGuy]

sonic 3d blast
although that one was already crap when it was released...

The only time I beat it was with a "no flickies hack" that also hacked in Super Sonic.  Even then, that just makes the levels feel very barren and short.  Yeah, Sonic 3D Blast isn't that much fun anyway you slice it (the soundtrack for both Saturn and Genesis/Mega Drive version are pretty jammin' though).  If you want to collect birds, then I recommend Flicky.