Network Game Mini ReviewsHere are a few quick thoughts on a number of network-capable games that we've played. We have added links to the software publisher and, if available, the page where you can download the demo. Few of these demos have network functions enabled, so if you want a free demo with network capability, check out our list here. NASCAR 4 -- If you're a race fan and have a computer with some horsepower (500Mhz or more and a 16- to 64-meg 3D video card), this decision is easy. Buy this game. The graphics are spectacular and the realism of the game is unbelievable. You'll swear your chair is bouncing when you go over the pavement lip between the pit road and race track. http://www.nascar4.com 04/29/01 Quake 3 Team Arena -- OK, so this game is not for the kids. For us "mature folks" though, a little Quake action can help take the edge off a hard week. And, no, none of the folks we've played Quake with show any violent tendencies. Team Arena is actually an "add on" for Quake 3 and, in our estimation, it is fully worth the $20 we paid. http://www.quake3arena.com 04/29/01 Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2 -- Frankly, this is just the type of game we've been waiting for. Great graphics, good network game play and the chance to feel like you're really flying a WWII Navy fighter plane. Unfortunately, the retail game does NOT come with multiplayer cooperative games. That is, where two or more players can join together on the same mission. It's easy enough though to go to one of the third-party web sites to find those types of missions, as well as many other add-ons. Are favorite is http://cfs2.dogfighter.com. You can check out the game at http://www.microsoft.com/Games/combatfs2/ 04/29/01 X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter -- For those of us who were hooked on the original Rebel Assault, we were waiting for a network-capable Star Wars game. This was it and still has a lot going for it even though it's now a year or more old. We had trouble initially getting the network to work, but a patch ultimately fixed it. The only real downside is that this has a steep learning curve and we personally get blown into bits often. Luckily, you can be "reborn" with a couple of keystrokes. http://www.lucasarts.com/static/xvt/xvtframes2.htm 12/22/98 Motoracer -- We received this great motorcycle racing simulation in the bundle that accompanied our STB Velocity video card and we love it. Nearly NO learning curve means you can launch this, get another player via the network setup and zoom around the track in no time. Dare you to play this without sweating a bit. Very real. If you have more horsepower, you'll want to go with the new Motoracer 2. We've tried that demo and the graphics are more impressive. But the exhilaration factor is nearly good in the original. The downloadable demo has been replaced by the Motoracer2 game. http://www.motoracer.com/ 12/22/98 Flying Corp Gold -- This World War I fighter simulation, until recently, was the only network-capable game in this genre. About a month or two ago, the original Red Baron II received an update to add 3D and is now shipping as Red Baron 3D. We heard a lot of bad things about Red Baron II and that led us to Flying Corp. Unfortunately, this game is now past it's prime and we saw it in the discount rack at CompUSA this week. Still, it's a lot of fun and the network features work well. We did have some 3D problems so make sure you have the latest drivers for your video card. http://www.empire-us.com/fcorps/fcindex.htm 12/22/98
All content © 1998-2007 by homePCnetwork, inc.
|