Company of Heroes plus second expansion

Civilization 4 and 5

Silent Storm Gold

CIV 3 and 4 are actually quite different in many ways. 99% is not accurate at all. Each CIV game was great for its time but obviously CIV4 is graphically superior and CIV5 even more so, of course. The thing about CIV4 though is it will hold up graphically for a very long time whereas I can't really play CIV3 anymore - just too hard to look at.

Anyway, regarding 3 and 4, CIV3 was all about expanding as fast as you can to grab land. Land is important in CIV4 but you can't expand as fast due to the maintenance costs, so everything you do has a purpose and needs to be well thought out. CIV4 is very complex but if you can get some basic strategies down you will do fine at normal levels. The game gets ridiculous challenging at higher levels, but it is a fun process trying to improve to win on those levels. CIV4 by no means does everything for you. Micro-managing is the key to winning. Automation is a major no-no.

If you haven't been able to really get into CIV4, it's likely do to not understanding the finer aspects of the game and, thusly, just going through the motions. I recommend checking out the forums at "civfanatics.com" to learn strategies on how to play the game, it's civs and leaders.

yep, psychonauts is da bomb and I'm not really into platformers. Love it

Also, try Braid.

The Longest Journey is the best and we are still all waiting for the series to continue

Silent Storm Gold

But I've logged the most hours into CIV4 by far over any other game

Hey OP - I agree!!!

For guys who keep saying "I don't like platformers", well neither do I. Only reason I played it was because it was free for a while on GameTap (sorry OP - I didn't pay for it but blame Gametap) I had no expectations going in and figured I just try out a few minutes since it was free. I was immediately sucked in. Great game all around and a true classic. It's a shame it did not do better in sales. I would have paid for it. Psychonauts is a lot more than just a platformer and certainly not one in the traditional sense. I liken more to an adventure game with lots of action and a twisted sense of humor.

Actually CIV 4 might be an interesting call. It's turn-based strategy and can be played by network (LAN), email or online server. CIV 5 should be the same, but CIV4 is one of the best games ever and can be had for cheap now. Infinite amount of different games you can setup with CIV. You can connect via LAN and setup Duel games against each other or play together as teams (different civs) against the AI civs. You can do the above with the online server (gamespy) and just create private games. ( check civfanatics.com to learn the game fast)

Keep an eye out for the new Lara Croft game too...I believe it is co-op play.

I don't buy the whole "I enjoyed it because of the price" argument at all. Granted there are games I just look at and say "I wouldn't buy that at full price", but that is usually because I feel it is overpriced anyway. I'll pay 50 buck for CIV 5 but may wait a year to buy Starcraft II. Reason is CIV is more my type of game although I do like some RTS games. The point though is that a good game is a good game regardless of price. Haven't you played a game you got on the cheap and surprisingly enjoyed it it, thinking "I would have paid more for it". An example for me would be "Silent Storm" which is actually my favorite game ever - paid a nickel for it but would paid 50 if I'd known. Conversely, I bought games for the heck of it like "Bioshock" for $5 - hated it. The fact I spent basically nothing on a top game did nothing to make me like the game more. Spending $5 instead of the $50 I spend on Ass Creed 1 would not make me like it even more - I simply will never finish that suckfest not will I buy AC II.

I will say that paying very little for a game that you surprisingly enjoy a lot is a wonderful feeling though.

In regards to the OP, I may check out Saboteur. I recall when it came out and it did look interesting.

Wasn't the first Mafia a bomb? So we can look forward to the sequel of a subpar game?chuck_hamburger

Wow...chuck...just wow...where do you get your information. Mafia I is practically in the pantheon of all-time great PC games. If you need more info check here:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/mafia/index.html?tag=result%3Btitle%3B0

On another note, glad to see you are enjoying CIV4. If not already, check out the forums at civfanatics.com to learn more about how to enjoy the game and get better. Lots of info on CIV V as well.

TBS is actually my favorite genre

Silent Storm and Sentinels (expansion to SS is awesome) - SS is my favorite game of all time

CIV IV (soon hopefully CIV V)

Total War

King's Bounty