3321

Like malkav said - it’s better with a controller for sure, but it looks a ton better on PC and almost all of the games have extra content (stuff that was DLC on Xbox is included for free on the PC versions).

For example: AC Brotherhood (sequel to AC2) has a PC exclusive mode where the economies of everyone playing it interact.

3322

Thanks for the mini-reviews, guys. :)

3323

Any recommendations for the might and magic series on the gog sale?Any particular game I should avoid? Thanks in advance

3324

I would rank them as follows: IV & V > III >> IX & VII > Swords > VI & VIII >> I & II

IV & V: World of Xeen are easily the series high point, pretty much perfecting the turn-based, step-based, 2D dungeon crawl.

III is similar, and almost as good, but with a nastier edge to the difficulty and no qualms about killing you off in the first town with a couple of bad rolls.

Swords of Xeen is a fan-made game in the Xeen engine, later given official sanction. It’s alright, but the level design and balancing is pretty haphazard compared to the official releases.

VI, VIII, and VIII all use the same engine, and all are pretty good, though they make some missteps in the shift to free-roaming 3D environments, and lower the party size, which has a negative effect on balance and variety.

IX completes the transition into 3D and brings the party size back up. It was rushed out the door as the company was going under, and was very buggy at release, but has mostly been rehabilitated.

I and II are of only historical interest at this point. Very primitive, and surpassed in every regard by later games.

So the 6-pack is clearly the place to start, since it includes both Xeen and VI.

Not sure if you’re looking just at the main RPG series or including spin-offs. If the latter, then Heroes of Might & Magic III is essential – one of the best strategy games of all time. As much as I love the RPGs, HoMM3 is the best thing to ever carry the Might & Magic name.

Heroes II is almost as good. A bit less refined mechanically, but superior in visuals and music. Chronicles is a bunch of extra campaigns in III’s engine. Both would be easy recommendations in a vacuum, but the content in III (GOG’s version includes two lengthy expansions) will already keep you busy for a LONG time.

I have a lot of fond memories of Heroes I, but its sequels have surpassed it in every way. Heroes IV made a nice effort to experiment with the series’ mechanics, but the results were mixed. I’d classify it as an interesting but flawed experiment, though almost worth buying just for the soundtrack. Heroes V is a mostly-successful reversion to the classic gameplay concepts, but is seriously dragged down by very constrictive map design in the campaigns (and terrible story sequences).

Crusader of Might & Magic is a completely skippable action game.

Hope that helps!

3325

Boojum’s got good advice. :)

I own them all except 9 & Crusaders, but the only ones I actually finished was MM 4 & 5. I definitely got my moneys worth out of most of the others though - they just eventually became too boring (not short games!) or difficult for my tastes. Haven’t touched HoMM5 yet.

I’m going to second the Might & Magic 6 pack. 4 & 5 also combine, with a teleport between the worlds - letting you play them both at the same time and a second ending.

You can probably get hundreds of gameplay hours out of the 6 pack if you enjoy them. MM6 would let you know if you’d like 7 & 8.

On the HOMM side, have you ever played games like this before?

If you haven’t, I’d recommend starting with IV. It might not be the best of the series, but it’s the easiest to get into IMO. The single player campaign is also ridiculously long, with something like 400 hours of gameplay if you enjoy it.

If you already know you like them, another might be a better bet. Also check out the first Age of Wonders game next time it’s on sale - great similar type of game.

3326

Use code

OS3874XVC

to get any $20 or cheaper EA game free from Origin. NA only, sorry TurinTur.

3327

Not outside NA :(

3328

Looks to be used up, but thank you for posting!

3329

Huh, I used it 1/2 an hour ago… maybe it stopped at 11am EST?

Too bad.

3330

It works, just used it. It has to be for an EA game though, not just any game. After all that I picked the wrong game (FIFA Manager instead of FIFA!).

3331

Groupee’s Be Mine 5 had some new games added into it if you paid more than the minimum.

$5:
Dreamscape

$8:
Earth 2150 trilogy
Septerra Core
(They don’t give GOG keys, just for game info)

3332

If that code is still valid, does anyone have any recommendations on $20 EA games from Origin? I’m having a hard time cycling through the store for some reason.

3333

Command and Conquer, Dead Space, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Mirror’s Edge, The Saboteur…?

3334

Saboteur it is then! Thanks.

3335

Hah, the code totally worked for me! Got Saboteur! Thanks guys!

3336

Coupon worked for me too… Thanks!

3337

Ditto. Dead Space 2 /score!

3338

For reference, this is a code that’s supposed to be rewarded for a survey, and there’s a list of games it works with here:
http://slickdeals.net/f/5325376-Still-alive-Get-your-free-games-from-Origin-Store-EA-Store?

3339

I hate the 21st century sometimes. I went to EA’s page and chose “simulations” and the first four pages are almost all The Sims stuff, along one one NFS game and a soccer manager.

Think of what an EA online store would have shown in a “Simulations” category around 1998… And what “Origin games” would have meant. :sigh:

3340

Rock on, didn’t realize what I was trying to grab weren’t EA games and didn’t make the connection - just had two i tried that didn’t work. Tried to get on and try again and their store is being crushed and isn’t working now :(