What Are Your Top Five 'Comfort' Games? 588
Via GameSetWatch, an article at The New Gamer talking about comfort games. These reliable, fun titles are the old favorites you consistently look to for amusement and solace after a bad gaming session, a bad day, a bad week. From the article, with the author's comfort games: "Mega Man 2 - This Capcom classic has been with me since I was a kid, and I know it like the back of my hand. I'm sure that, if blindfolded, I'd somehow intuitively be able to maneuver through the levels, but I'd much rather be able to view it in all of its 8-bit goodness and remind myself of the good times." My current top five would have to be Super Mario World, Half-Life 2, World of Warcraft, God of War, and Civilization IV. What are yours?
My Top 5 Games (Score:4, Interesting)
San Andreas. Sometimes I have a bad day and want to shoot stuff, beat some hookers, blow up some cars etc. Quite often I will load the game, and not do any missions. Just blow shit up for as long as possible. For fun.
C&C Generals. It's so fun to play against friends on a LAN, and it's so warming to hear a Scottish pal yell obscenities after a carefully planned assult on his base. It's also fun on skirmish mode, solo. I'll do battle against the CPU, and win. That makes me feel a little better.
Settlers. I loved this game, played it as a young teen. I played the first one to death. So did my younger sister, and occasionally I'd tell her the level password so she could try and beat it. That was fun. I remember enjoying the little swordfights.
Transport Tycoon. Sorry, I love this game. It was and is great. Tried to get Locomotion working today, but XP is crashing on it for some reason (must me some driver error, I'll work it out). Anyway, what a classic game. So much fun.
The Sims. Fine, it is basically a virtual doll house, but its mindless and easy to lose yourself in. I remember many years back, a friend and I tried 'hash cake' - my friend stared at the ceiling for hours and I played (the first) Sims. For about ten hours solid. All of the people in my house had top level jobs, not that it matters now though.
While games are engrossing and fun to play, and it is so easy to spend that many hours on them, they're not the hours you're going to remember in ten years time. The comparison with 'comfort foods' is apt though, I don't remember what food I comforted myself with two years ago either. Labelling something a 'comfort' doesn't really say anything though. We're all different, and what comforts me may completely unsettle another. For instance, I might smoke in a tense situation and in doing that I make someone uncomfortable.
Different strokes for different folks. This is just a poll rather than an article though.
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Re:My Top 5 Games (Score:5, Interesting)
1. UT 2004 - nothing like a fast paced shoot to kill with no goals. I especially like to play Capture the Flag or Bombing Run in the CarPark map with as many bots as possible. Nothing but fragging there.
2. Minesweeper - If I have just a few minutes, this is my standby.
3. Warcraft III - I can do single player, against bots, or online and all of them are just fun. Plus, my wife loves this game. The DotA allstars mod is really fun as well.
4. Half-Life 2 - If I just want a good shooter with a good story this is where I go.
5. Jedi Outcast - This game is my favorite. This game alone caused me to switch from Bio-Chem to Computer Science in College. Sometimes, it's good to get back to your roots.
Another fun game I love is the Trackmania series. I still think the original is better than Sunrise or Nations. Unfortunately, it has Star Force copy protection and after a year my DVD drive went nearly useless. I loved playing it, but I'm not too sure I ever will again. Do you hear that Nadeo? It was your DRM that made me not play the game. You had a big fan, and when I found out what was happening, you lost me.
Good and gooder (Score:3, Interesting)
UT 2004 is a fantastic game. I can think of all the times I'd take a flyer up to the top of a tower where there's a nuke shooter and just blow the hell out of a little group of enemy. Sniper is tops.
It's been a long time but I remember being so enthralled by UFO, Total Annihilation and Starcraft for a good long while.
Half-Life 2. Just the best FPS ever made.
Eve-Online. I can't get enough. It's the first game that I've ever played that actually makes me feel at peace. Al
Re:My Top 5 Games (Score:4, Interesting)
2) Baldurs Gate Series - One of the finest games to play across a home network with your girlfriend ever made.
3) Sid Meyers Pirates - You can rest one hand on the keypad, sit like a slug without moving at all and have an engrossing adventure for hours. A very lazy game to play.
4) Neverwinter Nights - Another fine game to play across the network with your girlfriend. Fiendish laughter as the two rogues disappear into the shadows leaving death in their wake.
5) Street Fighter vs X-Men running in MAME - Memories of high school. Wireless gamepads, beer a few buddies and an endless supply of credits.
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Dude, that's like saying you're one of the richest homeless people..
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It took me a while to get this, so I understand, but... Jaheira is not really your girlfriend.
Re:My Top 5 Games (Score:5, Informative)
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My 5 favourites would have to be something like this:
1. UT GOTY
2. Wolfenstein 3d
3. Quake 3
4. Age of Empires II
5. Duke Nukem (1, 2 and 3d)
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Re:My Top 5 Games (Score:5, Insightful)
Mine are:
I like games where you actually develop a motor skill by virtue of playing it. Those are the most satisfying. In each of those 5 games, I remember starting the game as an inept clod, then gradually having my fingers learn what to do, and finally becoming good at it.
I suppose that's what a lot of gamers mean when they say they play games for 'gameplay', as opposed to some of the other commonly cited reasons, like graphics or story.
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http://www.plasmapong.com/ [plasmapong.com]
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Anyone remember Jetpack?
Lets go further back... How about ZZT.
ZZT was on eof my top five for a good 3 or 4 years.
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Tendonitis, can't type much, but play Ninja Gaiden on Xbox. Best (1P) game ever.
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2. The Ocarina of Time
3. Star Ocean 2
4. Vagrant Story
3. Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
You need to play these games.
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I used to play Settlers a lot on my Amiga. I could never get into the sequels, they just didn't feel right.
Anyhow, the post lists World of Warcraft, and I think it's a pretty good "comfort game," though I'm currently not subscribing (waiting for Burning Crusade
Open Transport Tycoon is your friend! (Score:4, Informative)
simple answer (Score:2)
Quake III Arena (Score:2)
away from my job (Score:5, Funny)
WoW is more like my full-time job, and I play other games to relax after my 8-hour pvp shift.
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More Hot Pockets (TM)! (Score:4, Funny)
There can be only one #1... (Score:3, Insightful)
My 2nd home is on IRATA.
After that:
Alternate Reality
Ultima IV
Jumpman
and tied for 5th are a number of old infocom games (Zork, H2G2, Infidel)
Best. Game. Ever. (Score:2)
Mod parent up (Score:2)
New Vs Old (Score:4, Interesting)
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Tetris (Gameboy)
- Bubble Bobble
- Age of Empires
- General Chaos
I find it interesting that so many newer games are finding their way into the highly revered realm of gamer's favorites. The social aspects of the game are a double edged sword because although this increases the enjoyment, it also causes the enjoyment to be highly volatile because your friends aren't going to always be there playing with you. Had Star Wars Galaxies never underwent the combat upgrade, I would have it as a comfort game. Unfortunately, it's no longer there for me. I currently play World of Warcraft but I am wary about marking it as a comfort game. After all, the expansion is on the horizon and who knows what's going to change in the game? There is a chance that World of Warcraft suffers from the same corporate zeal that destroyed Star Wars Galaxies--all we can do is wait and see.Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Number one comfort game: Grand Prix Legends
Number Two: AOEII
A racing game and a destruction game.
Number Three: Red Baron 3D
A racing destruction game, although not in the mold of GTA.
Number four: Well, yes, it's solitaire. So sue me. I play it as . .
Five is right out.
KFG
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My Games (Score:5, Funny)
2. Daikatana
3. Superman 64
4. ET
5. Extreme Paintbrawl
Whenever I'm feeling down, I can say: "At least I don't develop video games for a living!"
Five or More FTW (Score:2)
Balder's Gate (Score:5, Informative)
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Re:Balder's Gate (Score:5, Funny)
Going back to the Build Engine days ... (Score:2)
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"Are you a stupid?"
"You want to wash wang, or watch Wang wash wang?
If you liked Shadow Warrior, you would probably have liked the original Blood as well. All those Build Engine games were just hysterical. We'd get seven or eight of us in network play and we would keep going from dusk 'til dawn. Of course, pretty much all of our fingers were numb by morning, but it was worth it.
my top five (in no particular order) (Score:3, Interesting)
2. Kohan - Ahriman's Gift
3. Super Mario World
4. Super Metroid
5. Colonization
Re:my top five (in no particular order) (Score:5, Funny)
Don't go. The drones need you. (n/t) (Score:3, Funny)
Nethack (Score:5, Insightful)
You sit down, play and lose. You get up and you are full with that warm fuzzy feeling inside which wispers into your ears that the world is not so perversely against you, because the game has proven that things can be much, much worse.
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I also like Super Collapse II [gamehouse.com] and Frozen Bubble [google.com] -- they are both good for "zoning out"...
Re:Nethack (Score:5, Funny)
You've done it! It's the holy grail of Nethack addicts everywhere! Please tell us how you manage to get up!
Yours faithfully,
Vladimir
P.S. I think you're lying.
Be seeing you...
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Final Attributes:
You were fervently aligned.
You had infravision.
You were lucky.
You are dead.
--More--
What a game... if I can figure out how to change the controls or learn the "hjkl" it looks like a good game, thanks for spreading the joy
My 5 (Score:2)
Puzzle Pirates [puzzlepirates.com] - Time to bilge your life. Yarr.
Ikaruga [wikipedia.org] - My nethack. Just play. You're dead. Ouch.
Sim Golf [ea.com] - I don't actually like playing golf, but for some reason running a golf course is really relaxing.
Ore No Ryouri [pandora.be] - No matter how panicked things might get in real life, nothing can compare to running a japanese ramen house in a video game.
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Adventure for the Atari 2600 (Score:5, Insightful)
Maybe I can see now why my mom is nostalgic over some mundane useless activity like shucking vegetables. Or my dad recalls how great it was to kill wasps. Weird activities from when we were young and not concerned about politics, relationships, or investment portfolios. Maybe I should have learned something else besides how to beat Adventure though.
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Livin' the dream, baby!
Aww, damn.
Zonk... (Score:2)
Any form of Tetris (Score:2)
For me... (Score:2)
One of the best anti-stress games I have is Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. All the colors and lights are quite soothing to me.
Halo 2 works because it makes me forget whatever I was stressed about and focus on those damn Legendary Elites. Refocusing stress is fun!
And who can forget nethack? Nothing like comparing your bad day to someone who's pet kitty died due to a falling rock and who is stuck in a dark dank dungeon with only a shield and a sword. Of course, this game is a double-e
oldschool stuff (Score:2)
-Super Mario World
-Starcraft
-Donkey Kong Country for SNES. Any of the 3.
-Heroes III
-Unreal Tournament, the original.
Notice a pattern?
#1- Most of these games are old.
#2- Most of these games have had sequels made to them, and in my humble opinion, none of the sequels have been better than these ones. Game developers should REALLY look at this article and look at the games listed when they wonder why their game isn't selling amazing. You'll notice most people here haven't put like Unrea
Top 5 Games for "Comfort" (Score:2)
2. Gran Turismo 1
3. Ms. Pacman - arcade
4. Lierati
5. We Love Katamari
Re:Top 5 Games for "Comfort" (Score:4, Funny)
I'm assuming you played off of someone else's 'T'...
Five? (Score:2, Interesting)
Minesweeper (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Minesweeper (Score:4, Funny)
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My top five... (Score:3, Informative)
2) Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
3) F.E.A.R.
4) Quake 3 Arena
5) Black & White 2
my best (Score:2)
Homeworld 1 - best story ever
NBA Jam TE - all my favorite players, with MONSTER JAMS
Pac man - enough said.
Tie Fighter - all time best space shooter, my fav.
Solitaire on boring phone calls (Score:2)
My top 5 (Score:2)
Castlevania: SotN - I'm pretty sure most console gamers will list this or Super Metroid in their top 5. The thing that bumps Castlevania in the lead is the the insane amount of replay trying to get all the rare items.
Final Fantasy Tactics - Still my favorite SRPG of
5 List (Score:2)
2) Battlefield 1942
3) Tai Pan
4) Sonic the Hedgehog (1-3 really)
5) Everquest
Falcon! (Score:2)
Falcon 4:Allied Force - (used to be Falcon 4) is simply the best "game" ever. Infinite replayability, a learning experience and a way of life. It's great if you have 10 minutes of free time, or 10 hours.
Alpha Centauri - I think it's the best of the Civ series of games, and I've played them all. Much replay in this one.
C&C Red Alert 2 (including Yuri's revenge) - great multi-player fun on a LAN or stand-alone.
Wolfenstein:ET - for multi-player fun
Q3 Arena w/bots - for when you just
OT: Tags (Score:2, Offtopic)
All (well, most) glory to MAME! (Score:3, Interesting)
Time Pilot
Mr. Do!
Q*Bert
Kung-Fu Master
As for non-MAME: GTA3, GTA:VC or GTA:SA (when I'm in the mood to just run/drive/fly around and blow off steam by commiting acts of mayhem).
~Philly
"New Old" games (Score:2)
To my utter delight, when I switched to the Mac four years ago, two "obsolete" games came back and revealed themselves to be utterly playable under Classic. They are Oregon Trail II and a piece of obscure insanity called Marco Polo, which I don't ever recall winning. Each is well over ten years old, and I'm so glad their CD's managed not to be thrown
Cloud (Score:4, Interesting)
One of the most relaxing games ever.
In no particular order (Score:2)
Lugaru The graphics aren't great, but there's something nice about murderous bunnies. The ragdoll physics can be quite amusing. Kicking dead enemies into still alive ones can be quite satisfying.
One Must Fall Ancient, but very good. It lacks the complexity of newer games, but that makes it very easy to play. The lack of complexity also makes it quite relaxing, as it doesn't have the frustrat
Here goes... (Score:5, Funny)
- Colin McRae Rally (the first one)
- Gran Turismo 3
- Nethack
- Commander Keen (any one of the series)
- SSX (the first one)
Colin McRae Rally actually has a lot deeper meaning for me than just being a comfort game. I have developed a habit that every christmas I buy some crackers, different sorts of cheese and I dedicate a day just for playing this racing classic. I eat nothing but cheese and crackers and play and I'll have this Zen-like experience. This ritual gives me the peace some people seek form churches or other spiritual christmas activities.Bad day, a bad week (Score:2)
Manhunt
F.E.A.R.
Postal (all of them)
and of course, DEFCON.
I didn't think of FEAR until I saw another poster mention it, but now I realize how satisfying it actually was to grab the shotgun and blast the fucking clones away.
I don't want to think... (Score:2)
LucasArts and Sierra Games (Score:3, Insightful)
2) Day of the Tentacle
3) Secret of Monkey Island 1
4) Secret of Monkey Island 2
5) Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father
They're classics!
Mine (Score:3, Insightful)
2. Alice
3. Civ III
4. Thief
5. Any of the numberous Mahjong games floating around.
heh... (Score:2)
old school games (Score:2)
Talk of playing blindfolded.... if you beat Montezuma's Revenge enough the light would start being removed from the lower levels. Beat it enough times in a row and the first room was dark!
If you want a little fun with those games, play Ultima V and ask the water what he forgot. (to tell you in Ultima
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Mine (Score:2)
Only one (Score:2)
That game amazed me when it was released. Absolutely wonderful, and all on a single floppy disk! I still play it now on my XP machine.
Speaking of which... I'll be back after I upgrade my ship.
top 5 (Score:2)
Team fortress classic : I can play a guy in a basement.. except with a sentry gun. What's not to like? Whenever I feel emo I just play TFC and my head clears and I can think things through as I play.
Pokemon games : Don't matter which one, it's all the same TBH. Either way they're great to chill out with and just go for a wander while it doesn't feel like you're just wasting your time.
Mario kart DS : It's Mario kart, what more needs to be said? It's care free and even if you arn't at yo
My top 5... (Score:2)
Asshole [webtender.com]
State of the Union Address Drinking Game [drinkinggame.us]
Quarters [webtender.com]
Sixes [webtender.com]
Vice City/San Andreas (Score:2)
Nothing like blowing off steam enaging in some inconsequential mayhem. It's also funny to see how many stupid things you can get the cops to do while they're chasing you (nothing against cops, just the sometimes funny AI in the game). The only other "comfort" game for me would be Warcraft 3's DoTA.
Mine (Score:2)
1) Rogue. The PC version, copyright 1984. Accept no substitutes.
2) Bubble Bobble, via MAME or the PS2 port named "Taito Classics"
3) I Katamari - that game just *cannot* be stressful.
4) Space Cadet Pinball. You know the one.
5) Freecell
The other games I play (these days, primarily Gran Turismo 4 and Day of Defeat) have a tendency towards stressing me out more than I already am. If I just want to calm down and play something to distract me before going to bed, the above are sure to do jus
Retro (Score:2)
Final Lap Twin (Turbografx/Duo)
Final Fantasy (NES)
Heroes of Might and Magic (PC)
Zelda II: The Adventures of Link (NES)
The Oregon Trail (Apple IIe)
Uniracers (SNES)
Killer Instinct (SNES)
Twinkle Star Sprites (Neo Geo and now the PS2)
my favorite five to relax (Score:2)
My favorite comfort games are just games that I can pick up, play a bit until I'm bored, and then return. This means games that have no real "conclusion" or plot, or else just simple time wasters.
Never Gets Old (Score:2)
Quest for Glory (Score:2)
Another one of my favorite things to do is to go back and play old Fi
Comfort is memories... (Score:2)
Tribes 2 - reinstalling this game after a few months of inactivity allows me to make a pot of coffee while the updates download and install. Then by the time my brew is done, and I've had a cup - I've found something else to do and uninstall the game.
NES - Zelda. The original RPG... in the gold cart. Just because I remembered which bush I can burn for the 100 rupees
Myst Series (Score:2)
I'm not a big gamer (nor an especially good one) but for a relaxing, immersive experience nothing beats the Myst games.
Reasons aren't difficult to list: No worries about perfect timing or tense edge-of-your seat action; you can navigate around using nothing more than a mouse in one hand leaving the other free for a warm/cold drink (or a newborn, which has been the case for me recently). You can pick up and play for 5 minutes or 5 hours, and the game isn't at all diminished by not having human opponents to
Just one (Score:2)
By means of the Doomsday engine of course.
StarCraft!!! (Score:5, Insightful)
In my opinion it must be one of the most balanced games ever made. I always found it much more playable than Warcraft or Ages of Empires... Perhaps becuase of the simple graphics or lack of 'hero' characters, which always seem to just make battles harder to orchestrate.
Mario Karts x 5 (Score:3, Interesting)
- Mario Karts on my trusty 10 year old N64
- World of Warcraft on my new 24" iMac
- Wizardry - Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord on Virtual ][ on any of my macs
- Spaceward Ho! on my powerbook
- Golden Eye on the N64
I bought Doom 3 recently just to try out the graphoics card in my new iMac but it's not really a fave - yet...Old Mac games (Score:3, Insightful)
2. Exile series
3. Maelstrom
4. Escape Velocity series
5. and the "new" one, Alpha Centauri.
I've been getting into Neverwinter Nights lately, but that required "bitching out" my ancient Mac with slightly less ancient hardware. 3D games just don't feel so snuggly to me, so this is not a comfort game.
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Plus it is always fun to find new ways of killing Larry(which is why I didn't like 7, half the fun in the other games was finding out new ways to die!)
Ze Zonk? (Score:2, Funny)
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That is going to seriously impede my productivity. Along similar lines I recommend Gunroar [wikipedia.org].