Crid's Favourite Games
Last updated: 3rd February 2002
Single Player
Myst 2 - Riven
My all-time favourite adventure game.  The puzzles actually have a legitimate reason for being there (rather than just being puzzles which are there to slow you down).  The graphics are beautiful.  And when you first use a "maglev" to travel from one island to another, you'll sit there and say "wow!".

Myst 3 - Exile
This game was a bit of a disappointment compared to Riven, but the graphics are almost as good and the game engine is brilliant, allowing the user to look around while standing in one place.  Somehow the puzzles feel a little too much like puzzles, which is a real shame.  Perhaps this is a result of Cyan not developing the game themselves, or perhaps it is a result of the developers trying to make the game more like the original Myst, rather than Riven.  Now, if we could just have the Riven game with the Exile engine...

Day of the Tentacle
OK, it's an old adventure game.  In fact, I can't even get the talkie version to run on my computer - I have to turn the sound off.  But if you have an older machine (or don't mind playing without the sound), it's still a great game.  Lots of silly humour and cartoon-style animation.

Journeyman 3 - Legacy of Time
Developed by the team who went on to give us Myst 3 - Exile.  Personally I think Legacy of Time is a better game in terms of gameplay.  The graphics engine is similar to Exile, but blocky compared to its decendant.  The DVD version adds to the enjoyment by eliminating the need to keep swapping disks.

Grim Fandango
Yet another LucasArts adventure game.  This was their first departure from 2D for adventure games, and it really paid off.  If you're running on a machine faster than a P300, make sure you have the latest version (or the patch), otherwise you won't get past the puzzle with the elevator and the forklift truck.

The "Monkey Island" series
It's hard for me to chose a favourite Monkey Island game.  Obviously the earlier games look dated, but in their day they were helping to define what adventure games should be like.  Monkey Island 3 was, in some ways, one of the weaker games in the series.  Having said that, my favourite part from all four games is in Monkey Island 3, when Guybrush tries to stop the pirates' song.

Colin McRae Rally I & II
At last - a game which isn't an adventure game!  Perhaps this belongs under the Computer section, since it's almost a simulation.  I've left it here because it's competitive, whereas Microsoft Flight Simulator isn't.

Rollercoaster Tycoon
I remember when I first played Rollercoaster Tycoon.  I sat down at around 8pm on Friday to start playing.  I finally managed to drag myself away from the computer at about 6am the next morning.  I think the last game that hooked me as badly as that was the original Railroad Tycoon.

The Sims
This is one of those fascinating games which, when you read about it, you think wouldn't be at all addictive.  Running somebody's life for them.  Telling them when to go to bed, when to do the housework, when to read a book.  Yet it's strangely compelling, and has been a huge hit for Maxis.

Multi Player
Atomic Bomberman
Whenever my friends and I have a LAN party, Atomic Bomberman is always played.  Drop bombs and try to blow up your opponents without blowing yourself up.  Collect powerups to be able to drop more bombs, or have a longer flame on your bombs, or be able to throw bombs over walls or kick them down corridors.  Don't be fooled by the £4.99 budget price - this game is hilarious fun.

Re-Volt
This game seems to be very difficult to get hold of these days, yet it remains one of my favourite racing games.  You drive a radio controlled car against either computer-controlled opponents or (preferably) your friends.  Throw water bombs.  Shoot fire crackers.  Leave oil slicks.  It's all a lot of fun.

Tetrinet
Multi-player Tetris.  Collect the icons and use them against your opponents.  Last surviving player is the winner.  As with Atomic Bomberman, this is best played with your friends over a LAN (so you can hurl abuse at each other during the game).

Tribes 2
Team-based warfare.  In my opinion this is much more fun than playing deathmatches.  Some people like to be flag runners.  Some people like to attack the enemy.  I prefer to play defence and look after the base's resources.  This is the kind of game where it helps to people who want to do different things.  (You wouldn't get anywhere if nobody wanted to go and get the enemy flag).

Board Games
Absolute Baulderdash
In some ways this game is similar to the TV show "Call My Bluff".  The players are given a piece of information from a particular category and have to come up with a bogus answer.  These answers are then mixed up, along with the correct answer.  Then everybody has to guess which is the correct answer.  Points are awarded for guessing the correct answer, or for having other people pick your answer.  Whoever thought that telling lies could be this much fun?