Looking back on all my New Years' celebrations, I have realized something. I miss the New Year's parties of my youth; one in particular. Since starting college, they have all been the same, drinks and party games. Don't get me wrong. I love playing boardgames and card games, but back in the day, I use to accomplish something on New Years. I use to beat a video game.
Starting early in the evening on New Year's Eve, I would pick a video game and play it into the New Year. My goal was to play it straight through. I remember
Warcraft,
Civilization II, and
Iron Sword, but the game that I remember the most was
Realms of the Haunting.
My buddy Willy brought this over one year, and we played it until very early in the morning. This games was great. It was a first person shooter unlike anything I had ever played at the time. It took place (mostly) in this old house where your character's father had mysteriously died. Your goal was to get to the bottom of the mystery, but soon you found out that there was much more going on.
From your father's study, you find a secret passage that leads to some occult temple right under the house. Creepy stuff! You would pick up books or ancient relics to aid in your search. Enemies would not simply be around the corner, but rather get summoned out of thin air, typically right in front of you. You would hear children laughing when you opened certain doors. Strange people would pretend to help you, but later betray you.
This game had everything. Action, horror, suspense, great cut scenes, many places to explore. Willy and I never beat the game that night (most likely because of the 40+ hours of content this game packed), but we had a blast playing it. I think next year, I'm going to try to beat a game, not the typical drinking and party games. I don't play too many video games anymore, so maybe it will have to be me versus
Cthulhu.
Happy New Year!
