Are there games that you tried but just couldn’t get into because they feel outdated? Games that, in theory, you would enjoy, but don’t because the controls, graphics, writing, or mechanics just don’t feel good anymore. Games that, compared to today, just don’t hold up to your standards.

I recently tried playing Heroes of Might and Magic III, and I realized that a lot of the invisible language used through game design from that era, I do not understand. There are many things that the game didn’t explain, and I assume they were just understood by players. Not only that, but I imagine there was a lot of crossover between video games and board games back then, so maybe that language was used as well. I ended up downloading a manual and putting it on my second screen and I get it and played it, but it just wasn’t for me.

I also dropped Mirror’s Edge, but this time it was because of the graphics. It looks and feels great, but the graphics give me a headache. There is way too much bloom, and for some reason, there are some parts that look like the imaginary lens has been covered in Vaseline. This didn’t bother me before, but my eyes are not used to it anymore.

There are also games like the first two Tony Hawk Pro Skater games that I can’t fully get into because they’re missing mechanics from the later games. The levels and controls feel great, but they don’t feel complete without those mechanics. It keeps me from enjoying the games as much as the others.

Please share yours!

  • smeg@feddit.ukEnglish
    192·
    10 months ago

    I tried playing the original Deus Ex for the first time a couple of years ago and I sadly had to put it down before I escaped the tutorial. Early 3D graphics have not aged well, the controls were not very intuitive, and it just seemed like it wasn’t worth the effort. I then played and enjoyed Human Revolution though; I know, I’m an absolute peasant.

    • DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      8·
      10 months ago

      Give it a try again with GMDX. It’s a mod that modernizes Deus Ex mechanically and visually without losing the original vision like what “New Vision / Revision,” does

      • smeg@feddit.ukEnglish
        3·
        10 months ago

        Ooh interesting, how easy is it to set up mods for DX? Reckon it’ll work on a Steam Deck?

        • Domi@lemmy.secnd.me
          3·
          10 months ago

          I didn’t do it on the Deck but on Linux, so steps should be something like:

          1. Switch to desktop mode
          2. Download GMDX and place it in the game folder
          3. Install “ProtonUp-QT” from Discover store
          4. In ProtonUp-QT install “SteamTinkerLaunch”
          5. Switch back to game mode
          6. Make sure to launch Deus Ex unmodded once before continuing
          7. Set the compatibility tool for Deus Ex to “SteamTinkerLaunch”
          8. Start Deus Ex
          9. Click “Main menu” in steamtinkerlaunch
          10. Click “One time run” in steamtinkerlaunch
          11. Choose the GMDX exe file in “One time command” and hit “Run command”
          12. Install normally
          13. After installation go back to the main menu and select “Game menu” in steamtinkerlaunch
          14. In “Custom command” select “Play_GMDX.lnk” in the “GMDXv9” folder
          15. Hit “Save and Play” and it should launch modded
      • Domi@lemmy.secnd.me
        3·
        10 months ago

        Thanks for the tip, I started a few weeks ago and barely made any progress. Maybe this will help.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
      81·
      10 months ago

      One thing that’s really interesting is once you get to the headquarters after the first level, the floors and things are super shiny and have actual reflections. Most modern games use screen space reflections now (although raytracing is fixing this), so things not on screen can’t be reflected. Deus Ex, and many games of the time, have better reflections than modern games. The graphics do look dated generally, but it’s funny how technology advancement can cause some things to be worse

    • limeaide@lemmy.mlOP
      7·
      10 months ago

      Yeah most older 3D games I’ve tried I just can’t control that well.

      A couple years ago I tried playing the original Tomb Raider and geez was that difficult to control. It really makes me appreciate how good the Mario 64 controls were

      • PlasticExistence@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        10 months ago

        I can get past ugly early 3D, but bad controls are not something that I can stand. I didn’t like Tomb Raider back when it was new for that reason.

        Similarly, I want to play Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, but the tank controls are just painful.

      • Couldbealeotard@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        10 months ago

        Tomb raider was essentially a 3d Prince of Persia. The level has tiles that dictate when jumps will actually trigger. Once you get the hang of this you can traverse quite smoothly around the level.