Interesting poll on GameSlop-- what is the best game of 2001 so far?

Here's the list they give, which we can use as a starting point.

Black & White
Clive Barkerīs Undying
Tribes 2
Fallout Tactics
Serious Sam
Kohan
High Heat Baseball 2001
Tropico
Majesty: The Northern Expansion
Europa Universalis

Black and White: The no-brainer vote. It's arguably the most INTERESTING game released so far, but is is the best gameplay experience? I think not.

Undying: Of the available choices, this is my vote. The first good horror FPS I've played since.. uhh.. well, ever, I guess!

Tribes 2: 1998 called, and it wants its game back. Heck, that version ran faster in 1998 anyway. No way.

Fallout Tactics: Loved it, but far too flawed.

Serious Sam: C'mon. Fun, but also the primitive reptile brain of FPS gaming. Not something I want to encourage.

Kohan: Love it, but after 12 hours of multiplayer, I think it boils down to whoever masses the largest army first. And the singleplayer was a rather boring dungeon crawl. Can't make this my vote.

HH Baseball: never played it.

Tropico: not my cup of tea. I do own it though. Could it take longer to build stuff in this game? Christ, I could build it myself faster. Anyone want a copy? Awesome soundtrack, though they are forcing us to buy it by encrypting it on the CD. Bastards.

Majesty Northern Expansion: you had your chance! How can a mere expansion for a cult title be GOTYSF?

Europa Universalis: (exaggeratedly stifling a yawn) not my cup of tea.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/features/0,12059,2704918,00.html

Here's the original URL. Click the "next page" link to read the 8 different editors' opinions on the poll. It's kind of interesting to read (HIDE YOUR EYES, TOM!) other people's opinions on this. I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who thought Undying was a remarkably great FPS game.

wumpus http://www.gamebasement.com

For me I'd have to say B & W is up there for my top 2k1 game so far, at least based on how much and how long i've played it. Other games I liked alot so far this year are Summoner, Evil Islands and HH2002 IF they get a patch out for it (its been almost 2 months since release, still no patch...).

Games for 2k1 I have but haven't played enough are FoT, Europa Universalis, Tropico ...

Kohan I'm kind of hohum about... I dont think its anything that great imo, though it has nice concepts with its merge of rts with warlords gameplay...

Undying was ok, but just another shooter.

Tribes 2 haven't played, won't buy, since i'm on dialup and have an older (p2 450) pc...

So I guess I'd say B & W has been the best pc game for me this year...

OTOH, Phantasy Star Online has been the best console game this year... PSO is close to what the future of console games will be imo. It's not exactly perfect (short gameplay, except v.2 is coming out), but it blends Diablo with 3d better than Darkstone, Summoner and Evil Islands has and still being very good multiplayer. great game with potential for a blockbuster sequel!

etc

also for me, games to watch for 2k1 are all rpgs, and a few fps games and a few mmrpgs...

NWN
Arcanum
Morrowind (doubting it will make it by xmas 2k1 though)
Dark Age of Camelot
Anarchy Online

and the Operation Flashpoint demo has made me a believer (and convinced me to build a new pc)...this game feels like combat mission 3d...this looks to be my surprise game this year.
playing the demo feels like playing Saving Private Ryan (1985). Although the demo is only one mission its open ended enough to have (from my experience) 3 different endings. try it out, its a nice game with aspects of fps games, and Delta Force meets squad combat meets real world mechanics. also, the graphics for the demo were nice and "realistic", they have a feel of a Tribes/Delta Force engine meets a flight sim engine... i mean you can actually fly and drive vehicles in this game...

etc

Well, I haven't played any game on that list -- I don't think that I've played any game released in 2001 yet -- so, my opinion is only halfway valid.

Only two of them even hold any interest for me: Black and White and Tropico. Black and White really sounds like it required more time per session than I have to invest, so I'll probably not buy that one, and it probably won't get my vote, though it may be the most superior title on that list.

Tropico looks interesting to me. I've always loved the Caesar/Pharaoh/Zeus line, and so I think I'd like Tropico, too. (I'd probably buy your copy, Wumpus!) And so, it probably gets my vote.

>also for me, games to watch for 2k1 are all rpgs, and a few fps games and a few mmrpgs...
NWN
Arcanum
Morrowind (doubting it will make it by xmas 2k1 though)
Dark Age of Camelot
Anarchy Online

Neither NWN nor Morrowind will make it out this year. I've heard (but I'm sure other people here are better experts) that Dark Age of Camelot is far, far away from release as well.

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Majesty Northern Expansion: you had your chance! How can a mere expansion for a cult title be GOTYSF?

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I would have to go with Black and White. So far it has gotten the most newly released game time out of me and has been the most fun. Out of the rest of that group I have played: FO:T, Tribes 2, and Serious Sam. I have played the demo of Kohan and have the Undying Demo sitting on my server but haven't played it yet.

-- Xaroc

I'm really enjoying Tropico.
I liked Undying in spite of its flaws.

I hope the Gamespot editors realize that High Heat 2001 came out last year. Sadly, 2002 has a couple horrible bugs and still, after 60 days, no patch. 3D0's third strike.

There is a superb game there though, I'd call it game of the year so far if it was patched.

-Andrew

Quote: I've heard (but I'm sure other people here are better experts) that Dark Age of Camelot is far, far away from release as well.
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We have quite a few Dark Age of Camelot beta people at my office (there's a developer's spouse working here). From all the talking I'm hearing in the background, it's not too close. In my opinion, the window of opportunity could be closing for this title.

Earth and Beyond is continuing to intrigue me more and more. It's in the not quite as competitive Sci-Fi MMORPG field, so I see it as having a much better chance of survival than the fantasy stuff.

Nascar 4. This is the game to beat this year.

I know all the jokes about turning left, but if you haven't tried a few laps you don't know. It's hair-raising trying to edge past someone at ~190 MPH+.

I setup a championship season with the AI at %70, which is the equivlant to using god mode in FPS. No one has more power than me and I basically just have to be able to navigate through traffic. You have to combine quick thinking with deft movements on the wheel and pedals.

Not even a quarter way through god mode season when I start another--this one at %100. Now, in addition to navigating through traffic, the added challenge is to keep the same high speed line throughout the race.

Once I get a little better, I plan on making races long enough that at least one pit stop is necessary.

The cool thing about this sim is that--unlike other games like it--you don't need to know much about NASCAR to enjoy it. I sure don't! I know what drafting is, but that's about it. Everything else I've been pretty much able to pick up from trying the game out and listening to my spotter.

PC Tic Tac Toe. It has everything game magazines are hot for in their awards:
* Intuitive interface!
* Easy to learn, hard to master!
* Deep strategy!
* Real-time fun with turn-based depth!
* Low system requirements!
* low hard drive space requirements!
* No gore, so easy sell to parents!

C'mon Geo, it's turn based... it'll never sell.
Wait! It's also multiplayer!

So far my best game of 2001 is the 2000 Age of Kings/Conquerors. The only "new" game I've gotten around to this year has been Black & White, and it just didn't hold my attention that well.
Now, if Civ III makes it out this year....drool.

GameSlop? Good catch about High Heat, Mr.Bub. We'll get that fixed. As they often say on Usenet, "Opps."

I really liked Undying. I think I ended up giving it a rating slightly higher than average, but nearly 700 reader-submitted scored averaged out to practically the same rating overall--so I was happy about that. There've been several significant action games this year (Tribes 2 and Serious Sam), and many more are scheduled to ship, but I plan to make sure that Undying is on the ballot for action game of the year in December. Although, if the developers don't come through on the planned multiplayer patch, I'll be really disappointed. I wouldn't have minded, but they did promise one--or at least EA did.

--Greg

'Good catch about High Heat, Mr.Bub. We'll get that fixed. As they often say on Usenet, "Opps."'

Haha!
Don't worry about it. I can't imagine a more common mistake. I have friend who just bought 2001 thinking it was new.

The season begins in 2001 and ends in 2001. Unlike Football that begins in 2001 and ends in 2002, so Madden 2002 in 2001 makes sense. Great, now my brain hurts.

Wait a second Greg, you mean none of your readers pointed this out to you? Ugh, poor High Heat, you are so neglected. It really is a great game, even if you don't like baseball. It just feel like baseball...

-Andrew

I'm waiting for NHL2K1, damnit... I realize it's not a PC game, but if Sega could make it as good as their basketball and football titles, it could easily be the best hockey game out there.

As for PC games, I'm gonna have to go with B&W. I got bored with it pretty quickly, but it still provided me with more pure enjoyment than any other game so far... I think it's been a pretty bad year for games so far :\

Just a quick question...Geryk gave Majesty a thumbs up on the 2001 reveiw at Gamespot put is trashing it here. quote .."This is a very significant breakthrough in hard-core simulation, and I like this game very much also." What gives?

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I'm waiting for NHL2K1, damnit...

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Now they also have Floigan Brothers and Ooga Booga coming later in 2001. They've quickly become one of the most respected US dev houses on consoles.

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I think I've gotten pretty equal enjoyment out of B&W, Tropico, and Kohan so far. All three, I feel, are very good games overall but a bit shy of "game of the year material." They've all got their share of annoyances (B&W more than the other too, but that's somewhat made up for by how it also does more intersting and "amazing" things as well).

I'm in the Diablo 2 expansion beta, and it has me in its icy grip of death. I tell ya, at 800x600, it's an entirely different game. It's just SO much better at that resolution, that it caused me actual PHYSICAL PAIN to go back to 640x480.

Along with all the new items, balance adjustments, and tweaks like a double-sized stash and a "repair all" button at the blacksmith, it's really really addictive. As if the game needed to BE more addictive.

Favorite feature so far? Besides the 800x600 res, of course... The hirelings are actually really useful now. They gain levels (faster than you do!), and you can give them a weapon/shield, armor, and helmet. So you can upgrade their equipment with stuff you don't use, and they really hold their own in a fight. And when they die you can resurrect them in town.

I would intentionally try to get that damn free amazon hireling killed off ASAP in the Diablo2, but in the expansion, I've had the same guy with me for like all of act 2.

Good info, Jason. Sounds like the D2 expansion is going to be right up my alley.

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Just a quick question...Geryk gave Majesty a thumbs up on the 2001 reveiw at Gamespot put
is trashing it here. What gives?

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Maybe you should start making all your sarcastic comments in a different color, Bruce. You know, color-code your columns...

Of course, that whole article still would have been in one color, I think...