|  |
|
 |
Welcome to Game Collector, where GameSpot hunts for great deals on games so that you don't have to. This week's installment features 10 outstanding online multiplayer games--games whose replay value has stood the test of time--and then some. If you like the spirit of competition, or just want to get your hands on a game that will last you a good long time, then any and all of the following will more than suffice.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (1999)
Street Price: $39
Check Latest Prices »
History has proven that Age of Empires II is one of the all-time greatest real-time strategy games, on account of its remarkable depth, its robust set of gameplay options, and its intense pacing. The game features a wide variety of historically authentic military units, and allows for many different paths to victory. It is still widely played online and promises to remain so for the foreseeable future.
Quake III Arena (1999)
Street Price: $29
Check Latest Prices »
This graphically striking first-person shooter lends itself to fiercely competitive all-out deathmatches. In fact, Quake III's deathmatch mode remains unsurpassed even two years after the game's release. It's an extremely enjoyable shooter out of the box, and combined with all the dozens of user-created downloadable mods available on the Internet, Quake III Arena's value is as great as it looks.
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 (2000)
Street Price: $39
Check Latest Prices »
Westwood's classic Command & Conquer series reached a boiling point with last year's Red Alert 2, the most fast-paced, frenetic, fun-filled game to date in the real-time strategy series. Featuring dozens of distinctly powerful units, Red Alert 2 matches tend to be quick and brutal--and exciting. The game offers great campaign and skirmish options, as well as an excellent online multiplayer mode.
Half-Life: Counter-Strike (2000)
Street Price: $29
Check Latest Prices »
Counter-Strike must be the most widely played, most successful mod ever made. Originally designed for Half-Life (and still available as a free download for owners of the game), Counter-Strike's extremely realistic first-person gun battles force you to collaborate with your team to survive. Counter-Strike servers remain overly abundant, though cheaters abound on many of them.
Unreal Tournament (1999)
Street Price: $19
Check Latest Prices »
Epic Games' answer to the Quake series in many ways proved to be even more successful. Boasting colorful, attractive graphics, a slew of interesting and powerful weapons, and a number of original, enjoyable multiplayer game modes, Unreal Tournament is nearly perfect as a multiplayer-focused shooter. Its gradual learning curve makes it more accessible to new players than Quake III Arena's.
Starcraft Battle Chest (1998)
Street Price: $29
Check Latest Prices »
No matter what kind of game player you are, you ought to own Starcraft--and Blizzard's Battle Chest bundle includes both the original game and also the official Brood War expansion pack. Brood War pushed Starcraft over the top--the game's three playable races are so different and so well designed that the game seems to offer truly limitless possibilities and truly indefinite replay value.
Myth II: Soulblighter (1998)
Street Price: $15
Check Latest Prices »
This tactical combat game still commands a fiercely loyal following of online gamers, and by now you can even find a slew of professional-quality downloadable mods that lend the game nearly infinite replay value. On its own, Myth II still looks great and weaves an epic fantasy tale. Its refreshing combination of action and strategy, with none of the busywork associated with real-time strategy games, makes it truly excellent.
Tribes 2 (2001)
Street Price: $29
Check Latest Prices »
Earlier this year, Sierra's recently shut-down Dynamix studio produced the successful sequel to its extraordinary 1998 team-based shooter. Its deliberate pacing and huge, wide-open arenas--as well as its good graphics and varying modes of play--make it uniquely popular among action gamers. It has a devoted, growing player base, and most of the problems that plagued the game at launch have been smoothed out.
Asheron's Call (1999)
Street Price: $19
Check Latest Prices »
Asheron's Call bears the notable distinction of being the only mainstream massively multiplayer online role-playing game that didn't suffer through extremely serious growing pains when it was first released. The game has drawn a dedicated following of players and features a constantly changing fantasy world that's more alien than that of most other fantasy-themed games.
You Don't Know Jack: 5th Dementia (2000)
Street Price: $19
Check Latest Prices »
It's not a shooter, it's not a real-time strategy game, but You Don't Know Jack: 5th Dementia is still an addictively fun online game. Like all of its predecessors in the series, this You Don't Know Jack defies you to answer a wide variety of hilarious trivia questions. The game's online multiplayer option couldn't be easier to use, making 5th Dementia tons of fun with or without other people in the room.
Be sure to visit GameBuyer to find more great deals on both classic and recently released computer games.
|
|
