I must be missing something: Volume 2

Let's call this post on Dead Space the first "I must be missing something" post, because everyone seems to love that game but I really don't get it.  To me it just seems like an endless exercise in going from A to B.  Just follow the line on the ground and wait for the monsters to pop out of the vents.  Spoiler: there's always a monster in the vent.  


I'm sure we all have games like that, and my shelf seems full of them these days.  Maybe as we get older we get more particular, or grumpy or something.  But, I don't get the appeal of dead space.  


Until very recently, I thought I was missing something huge in Half Life Episode 2.  Everyone says that game is just the most incredible thing since Tetris.  But, I played it on xbox and it was a total chore to finish.   It just seemed like endless sewers, followed by an endless boat part, followed by a long driving part.  I got to the end but I couldn't even finish episode 1 and never touched episode 2.  Add Portal to that list as well, although I eventually finished it on my xbox after a long hiatus.



Gordon, don't hit me.  I'm just being honest...


After finishing the Witcher this summer (play it!), I tried HL2 Episode 1 again on my PC and I realized what I was missing.  These games are made for PC, and finally I got what everyone loves!  It wasn't slow, or dull anymore.  It played fluidly, I loved the characters, the environments and the puzzles.  I got IT! Finally.  Episode 2 was just completely awesome.  I'm looking forward to replaying Portal on my PC just to finally enjoy it.  


I've found this with all my valve games: they play way better on PC.  I'm putting off getting Portal 2 until I upgrade my PC, so that I can experience it the proper way.  It also helps that valve gives away their products on Steam for next to nothing all the time, and they support them so well.  Its PC all the way for me on those titles.


Plus, the Half Life episodes are so good.  Episode 2 is probably still better than 95% of all FPSs out there and its many many design cycles old now.  Its incredible how developers won't even try to approximate it, when they will gladly copy COD4 over and over.


Anyway, as I said at the beginning, we all have our things that we just can't understand the appeal. I bet those things say more about us than any list of favourite games ever would.


Here's a challenge to review sites - put up a list of games you just don't understand why people like.  I would love to read that, but - leave Dark Souls alone.


J