Okay, I have a whole new outlook on games, and I just need to share some thoughts!
I have a whole new respect for adventure games AND for action games!
My hubby likes action, I like adventure! We ran across a copy of Beyond Good and Evil (PS2 version) and got it thinking we could "play together"
Sheesh! This is NOT adventure! My heart pounds, I'm all agitated, my mind boggles!
So, here I am, aaaaahhhhhh,, lovely adventure games...look around! Solve the door opener (etc)...aaaahhhhh...
Gosh, the action IS fun! But I don't know how it's done without nearly having a heartattack!
Does this topic belong here or in Action??
Sorry, just got done with a 3 hour run of BG&E and I feel like I drank 4 pots of coffee!

And a fun time to all!

Looney, I can relate--when I first started playing action games my heart would pound, my palms would sweat, and I would feel like I worked all day! I still get a little jazzed, but nothing like at first---but still can't play them and then just hare off to bed---

My first real adventure game was 'Myst'. I got it propably about a year after I got my first computer in the mid 90's. Wow wasn't even half the excitement I felt even though I discovered I was TERRIBLE at adventure games. I needed
required a good pit of luck to play.

I've remained a big fan of adventure games, just picked up Syberia and am way impressed so far.

to Gameboomers, sugargypsy! Umm no, I'm not even going to ask!
I love a good game from most genres. As for the heart pounding,loony, I guess I can feel that way in adventures too - I know I sure did in the Gabriel Knight games! I do find that if I play an action RPG right before I go to sleep, I dream about it, which makes for an even looonger game.

Nickie )but BG&E is really something!

sugargypsy !
My heart pounds and my hands sweat in adventure games during timed sequences mostly.
I only dreamed about a game once - Syberia 2 - I think it was how real it looked to me! I LOVED that game! <img border="0" alt="[StPat]" title="" src="graemlins/StPatricksday.gif" />

Sandy

Ladies, just remember, practice makes perfect. I was horrible at action games but determined to get half way decent with them. Play your first one using the cheats. This lets you screw up without getting killed and you get the practice you need without all the frustration. I have gotten pretty good with action and shooters, and Ill admit I still have to occasionally use cheats to get me through some of the tougher parts of a game. But it by no means takes away from the fun. I have a friend who is a pro at FPS and plays all the best shooters on line. And ocassionally I noticed he has to use a cheat. But he always goes back and eventually does it without the cheat. I am satisified getting it done with the cheat.

I've decided to take your advice for a different sort of game, Johnboy! I am going to use cheats to play Dracula Unleashed. I've been frustrated by the game because you have to get things done within a certain time, so I'm going to find cheats and play it through!!

Oh looney, Ingie and I are playing BG+E right now, and it is an amazing game! We're having such fun. It really has so much to it, and such a pretty game too.
I loved Zanzarah too, but I only played it three times! A rank amateur

The games I get most into while playing (& especially Myst games) inspire dreams for me too.

I don't like being tense or frightened as a rule. Zelda titles are about as much action as I want. Zork:Nemesis marks the edge of how much gore I can tolerate (pushed it to the level discomfort a few times) though the humor and depth of the game still made it a favorite. The Darkfalls didnt bother me at all that way though. I loved those games & rather enjoyed the spook factor in them.

Susan <img border="0" alt="[StPat]" title="" src="graemlins/StPatricksday.gif" />

That's exactly how I felt about the first Tomb Raider when I started gaming. I would get sick to my stomache when Lara had to jump from one cliff to another because we (we, right) were so high up. She was programmed to make those jumps flawlessly but I had trembling fingers so she slipped sometimes

I always thought I was an adventure games only type player until I played Auryn Quest. I enjoyed that game so much that it's still on the computer and it helped to spark my interest in playing Zanzarah. I enjoyed Zanzarah so much that I've again left it installed so I can poke around some more. Now I'm starting to wonder what else have I missed? It actually felt good to take a break from brain burners and now that I feel refreshed I'm diving into The Neverhood.

I generally hate heights and when I started playing Auryn Quest I got that "crawling out of your skin" feeling as though I was actually going to fall. Oddly enough I have noticed recently that real heights are not having the same effect on me physically that they were and I am okay with them more often than not.

happy trails,

Carolyn

Carolyn, that's so interesting that you would say that about the heights thing - I saw a program recently where people with phobias were helped to get rid of them by watching video and interacting with the situations pictured. What a great thing!

As for missing something fun, you might like Beyond Good and Evil, that Popcorneater and I are playing right now. It's a riot! And if you want to embark on an RPG, Divine Divinity is solid gold.

Does Auryn Quest have a lot of fighting? I've wondered about it in the past.

I started playing games back when all of the Sierra games like King's Quest had a little action in them, so I don't mind it so much. I'm proud of you guys for expanding your interests and trying something new!! I have considered trying a Sims game or a RPG game recently, but I'm not sure which to start with, or what they require as far as the Internet. I don't think I would want to start out in any sort of Internet thing where I had to play with other people. Any advice?

Thanks,
Beth

Re Auryn Quest -- no fighting at all. Lots of jumping though.

Those King's Quest games were fantastic, weren't they? I still remember that wonderful garden in KQ4, and wish I could go there!
The worst thing about Auryn Quest is that you have save points, rather than being able to save at will.
Bryansmom, are you saying you want to try one of the games on the internet, or are you just wanting to try those genres? The internet ones I found to be very competitive, and maybe not the best way to introduce yourself to the genre. They're not my cup of tea at all, but I don't like becoming immersed in a fantasy world, only to have someone trying to talk to me, or trying to beat me up! If you haven't played an RPG before, I think Divine Divinity is a wonderful experience with a gentle learning curve. But I thought you had already played that!

No, I haven't played Divine Divinity. Actually, I have never played anything that would be labeled as something other than adventure, except for Zoo Tycoon.

I was saying that I definitely do not want to be on the Internet playing a RPG game or SIMs game. I have this perception (that is probably wrong) that SIMs and RPG's require the Internet. I read the back of a box of a SIM and they were talking about needing to get on the Internet to play, so that confused me.

So you think Divine Divinity would be the one to start with, so that there wouldn't be too much action and you could learn how to play that type of game? Auryn Quest doesn't sound so bad, then. I don't mind jumping so much, but I prefer not to fight. I remember playing the Hero Quest games, and I always chose to be either a thief or to cast spells instead of fighting.

Do you have to use the keyboard instead of the mouse for Auryn Quest and Divine Divinity?

Yes, I understand now, and no, you sure don't have to be on the internet to play them, or I wouldn't ever!
DD is a point and click RPG. I wish I had a dime for every time I've recommended it - almost all the people who have never played an RPG before have loved it! Plus, an additional bonus, the RPG forum is full of people who have played it, loved it, and are eager to answer any questions! However, there is a lot of fighting. There are a few RPGs where the fighting is minimal - you've already played the KQ games. A couple others are Anachronox and Dragonriders of Pern. A week ago I finished The Fifth Disciple, and it's half adventure. But when you say fighting - are you saying you don't like to have any battle, or that you just don't want to fight with a sword or whatever? I usually play as a mage, and use magic on my enemies. Or running, that can work too!

You've played Zoo Tycoon, so you know about Sims. They have one for just about everything under the sun. Rollercoaster Tycoon is fun - you build your own amusement park. I very much enjoyed Ghost Master, where you use a squad of ghosts to frighten humans.

Divine Divinity uses mouse and/or hotkeys.
Zanzarah is another game you might try, if you can find it anywhere.

Thank you, Nickie!! I will look up all of these games. I have probably passed over some of them at Half Priced Books before, so I will keep an eye out for them now.

I loved Zanzarah, but it's keyboard, as is Auryn Quest. I spent the first half hour of playing Zanzarah running the main character into the wall, but after that it was a snap - easier than playing that adventure game - oops, mental block, was it called Shadows of Memories?

It's Shadow of Destiny, and I actually have it. I have tried to play it before, but I have had a hard time moving the character around, and a harder time understanding how to use the time thing.
I also don't like trying to get everything done so that everyone is at a certain corner at a certain time. I will probably end up playing it with a walkthrough eventually.

For Zanzarah I used the up arrow to move forward and the mouse for everything else. You even scroll through your fairies with the scroll wheel on the mouse, so that isn't hard to coordinate after a few minutes. I did bump into walls and spin around alot till I got used to moving the fairies, but I am so glad that I kept trying. What a charming game.

Auryn Quest just made you want to go further just to see what spectacular scenery was up ahead. I still love to take that game for a spin now and then. Jumping wasn't that tough to get used to.

Nickie, I think you've convinced me to look for a copy of DD! Beth let's play it together!

I didn't know they were using video for the heights thing but in a way it makes sense. It took me a while to even realize that I wasn't experiencing the physical sensations in real life. I know that Auryn Quest helped me with that one.

happy trails,

Carolyn

Zanzarah? DId I hear someone mention Zanzarah??

I was reading the reviews of Silent Hill 2 (I think it was the second one) and someone mentioned a game that is scary and similar to it that is a Japanese game, and I think it is called Final Frame. Anyway, instead of actually killing and fighting, you fight these ghosts by taking photos of them. I thought that was a great idea (one of the few Nintendo games I have successfully played is one where you go around taking photos of Pokemon). I wish that game was available for PC, because I think it would be a great game to play.