Rockstar is pretty shitty to devs, but okay, the Midtown Madness devs did have a glow up because they were under new management
I just recenly learned about Oni 2s leaked prototype existence and I'm salty that they piecemealed that IP into oblivion.... HOWEVER...Oni's engine would become the RAGE engine that powers and gave life to GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 (...and perhaps GTA VI..?)
I absolutely loved Oni. I didn't own a copy for a while but I'd play it round a friends house once a week.. Those fighting mechanics just felt so tight (for the time) and the gun play was weighty and responsive.
Shame to hear about the fate of Oni 2 from here, I had no idea
Bungie’s Oni was really good for the era. Right before halo and when they were still releasing games for Mac. Think I still have that disc in storage somewhere alongside my Mac copy of Halo CE.
Some classics in there for sure. For those that haven't played it, Oni was a quiet favorite of mine from around then. I don't think it got a lot of attention at the time, or even today. This was Bungie near the end of its Mac-first pre-Halo era.
I remember the levels being copy/paste rooms, but things like bathrooms and break rooms were absent. It didn't really feel like a real world people live in.
I remember them boasting that an architect contributed to the level design. Turns out, real world environment design didn’t map to early 2000’s game design very well.
Now designing a modern VR game or something, that might be a different story.
Gunman Chronicles is unironically great. Granted, I love games with ludicrous numbers of weapons, but the fact that the weapons have a bazillion firing modes is fun.
I seriously don't think this game gets enough credit. It basically invented the combat system used in a bunch of AAA titles today. Like the Batman games. Sure they have been refined and improved it, but it was revolutionary at the time.
I recently went through getting it to run on Linux. It’s one of the only Bungie games I haven’t played. Shockingly in depth combat, I’m enjoying it, but I’m bad at combo based fighting games, so I’m playing it in very bite sized pieces.
There were quite a few games using the same formula (and improving on it), to the point where I feel Desperados would be my favorite in that genre, not Commandos itself.
I still remember having to reparation my drive and reinstall windows, upgrading from fat16, because commandos wouldn’t fit on either partition.
Their logos and packaging were designed by focus2 in Dallas, TX. I used to work there. Fun fact: The lead designer for Return to Wolfenstein project was flying back from Hong Kong, from a press check/approval of the metal tin packaging, on 9/11. He was stuck out of the country for a while. Really cool guy. But I’m not sure focus2 was involved in Rage. They were decimated by the economy after 9/11, never did really recover from that. I think they had gone under by then.
I can imagine they dragged that influence for a while, retouching old logos and keeping this style. I singled Rage out because it's different and aim to be edgy in comparison to classic games, yet it standed out on a shelf.
I used to play one of those demo disc games where you get to fly an aircraft and do missiona, but back then i had bo clue what the mission was i was just happy being able to fly.
I never stopped playing games, i was always taught that you can't pilot when you're colorblind so i was convinced video games would allow me to do things real life would never let me.
Skyrim really caught me and after that cyberpunk took it's place, i just love being rewarded for your work and getting to do cool shit with that money.
Real life barely feels like you're being rewarded anymore imo.
Oni was a slapper. Would love to see it done justice. Not by Bungie though.
Rockstar acquired Oni to get its proprietary engine and killed its sequel, Oni 2 because they got what they wanted
Or, Angel Studios became Rockstar San Diego and they made Red Dead Revolver instead.
But I admire your hate version.
Rockstar is pretty shitty to devs, but okay, the Midtown Madness devs did have a glow up because they were under new management
I just recenly learned about Oni 2s leaked prototype existence and I'm salty that they piecemealed that IP into oblivion.... HOWEVER...Oni's engine would become the RAGE engine that powers and gave life to GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption, GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 (...and perhaps GTA VI..?)
That's interesting, I didn't know it was the basis for the Rage engine. Thanks.
Oni still had better hand to hand combat gameplay than all of those games though 😅
Boo rockstar. That game’s mechanics were some of the most fun I ever experienced. It was absolutely crying out for a sequel.
I absolutely loved Oni. I didn't own a copy for a while but I'd play it round a friends house once a week.. Those fighting mechanics just felt so tight (for the time) and the gun play was weighty and responsive.
Shame to hear about the fate of Oni 2 from here, I had no idea
Bungie’s Oni was really good for the era. Right before halo and when they were still releasing games for Mac. Think I still have that disc in storage somewhere alongside my Mac copy of Halo CE.
One day I will pick that game up for the 8th time and actually finish it.
It was one of the early games I got for the PS2.
I didn't really like it tbh. Ammo was way too sparse. Don't think I ever finished it.
Neverhood was a fantastic experience. If you like puzzlers.
And that soundtrack was so good
Bandcamp link here - one of my all-time favourite VG soundtracks. Never heard anything like it before or since!
Whoa! it really is awesome!
https://youtu.be/Xo6WBR_cFXQ
I laughed so hard the first time I saw this.
I thought neverhood was just a fever dream I had as a child
That game is so good, one of my early gaming memories
Klaymens Theme is an all time banger
https://youtu.be/Wh4WnHlsbvM?si=kxNAjDeptR402suX
I still sometimes hear music from the game used in videos
The Neverhood is deeply underrated. It got a spiritual sequel a few years back.
There is also a platformer set in the same world, using the same main character, on PS1 called Skullmonkeys.
Yup skullmonkeys is great. It’s in a box with my Game sharked PS1 for playing a copy of Bushido Blade once a decade.
Ahh the paperboard case for Deus Ex. That brings back some memories. It's amazing that it is in such good condition.
Some classics in there for sure. For those that haven't played it, Oni was a quiet favorite of mine from around then. I don't think it got a lot of attention at the time, or even today. This was Bungie near the end of its Mac-first pre-Halo era.
Heard it felt unfinished
I remember the levels being copy/paste rooms, but things like bathrooms and break rooms were absent. It didn't really feel like a real world people live in.
I remember them boasting that an architect contributed to the level design. Turns out, real world environment design didn’t map to early 2000’s game design very well.
Now designing a modern VR game or something, that might be a different story.
I didn't know there was a jewel case version. Mine is in a DVD case.
omg the Neverhood.
I still use the song "Operator Plays a Little Ping Pong" from the Neverhood OST as my ringtone. Never fails to amuse.
My favorite was always "dum da dum doi doi."
Everybody waaaaiiill
5-ball, corner pocket.
Potaties, love
My gravy, love
Potaties, love
My gravy, love
Potaties and my gravies and pa-peas...
absolutely loved Oni, still one of my favorites ever.
Gunman Chronicles is unironically great. Granted, I love games with ludicrous numbers of weapons, but the fact that the weapons have a bazillion firing modes is fun.
Fuck yeah Neverhood!
I remember playing Project IGI, that one was hard. Die and you have to redo the entire mission, brutal.
Was the same with the first Hitman
But it was a cool game
Sharing your cd key, are you now?
I never thought I would see blade of darkness again. Thank you for sharing.
One of my favorite games. One time I was able to dismember a guy completely before his body hit the ground.
Oni is so good.
I seriously don't think this game gets enough credit. It basically invented the combat system used in a bunch of AAA titles today. Like the Batman games. Sure they have been refined and improved it, but it was revolutionary at the time.
Now I can finally activate my RtCW
Yoink
Came here to leave the same comment! I have such distinct memories of Gunman, but could never remember the name of the game.
Man, my brother and I were obsessed with the Neverhood back in the day. That game was so weirdly satisfying
I swear one day I'll beat it.
The day I figured out the mouse cheese puzzle was a major milestone of my childhood
I didnt know oni was on pc. Ive been playing it recently on ps2 and let me say the movement in that game is amazing.
I recently went through getting it to run on Linux. It’s one of the only Bungie games I haven’t played. Shockingly in depth combat, I’m enjoying it, but I’m bad at combo based fighting games, so I’m playing it in very bite sized pieces.
If it's on a cd, it ain't old yet.
Your computer still has a CD drive. How retro
I didn't know for like six months that mine has a cd/dvd drive. It's practically hidden.
Exactly.
Old games come in large cardboard boxes to accommodate the manual, with disks rattling around inside.
And in one case, a vacuum packed t-shirt too!
Ahhh the manuals... and the mail order hint guides. Those were the days.
Did anyone ever fill out those registration cards?
Okay grandpa
Not yet, but I am old enough... lol
Oni! <3
Eidos, I know that name.. Anyone remember commandos?
There were quite a few games using the same formula (and improving on it), to the point where I feel Desperados would be my favorite in that genre, not Commandos itself.
I still remember having to reparation my drive and reinstall windows, upgrading from fat16, because commandos wouldn’t fit on either partition.
Going through Desperados 3 after wastelands myself. Shadow tactic up next.
For me Xcom mechanics is goat. For all my life I'd been into RTS, rise of nations kind.
Commandos remaster is on the way. Maybe I'll pick it up to remind myself of childhood horrors
Alarm! Alarm!
I don't remember that Oni game by Bungie. That cover art looks nice.
Agent 47 looks like he's seen some shit.
Igi, Deus ex, NASCAR 2, there's a lot of milestone games there
Looove Dues Ex. I just looked up The Neverhood, and it looks so interesting. Definitely going to need to watch a long play of that.
The Never Hood is so good.
Blade of Darkness was kickass
Is kickass
Wolf's logo rocks. I believe all id games have that touch, even Rage.
Their logos and packaging were designed by focus2 in Dallas, TX. I used to work there. Fun fact: The lead designer for Return to Wolfenstein project was flying back from Hong Kong, from a press check/approval of the metal tin packaging, on 9/11. He was stuck out of the country for a while. Really cool guy. But I’m not sure focus2 was involved in Rage. They were decimated by the economy after 9/11, never did really recover from that. I think they had gone under by then.
I can imagine they dragged that influence for a while, retouching old logos and keeping this style. I singled Rage out because it's different and aim to be edgy in comparison to classic games, yet it standed out on a shelf.
Based
I should start collecting physical PC games
Wait, those games came on CD? I thought they came as ISOs with a nocd_patch.exe
I used to play one of those demo disc games where you get to fly an aircraft and do missiona, but back then i had bo clue what the mission was i was just happy being able to fly.
I never stopped playing games, i was always taught that you can't pilot when you're colorblind so i was convinced video games would allow me to do things real life would never let me.
Skyrim really caught me and after that cyberpunk took it's place, i just love being rewarded for your work and getting to do cool shit with that money.
Real life barely feels like you're being rewarded anymore imo.
Everybody way oh!
Can’t believe that woke garbage Wolfenstein is in there. /s
I can't believe someone else got gunman chronicles. Although mine looks more like a half life cover than yours.
Rtcw is also my goto memory whenever someone mentions Wolfenstein. The modded 64 player servers were a blast despite the lag.
These games are so old i can almost hear the clack-clack of the CRT monitor changing resolution as the game launches.
I dont't think I've ever played an eidos game that actually worked and ran out of the box. Such a bad experience.
FF7 was hot garbage