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Ok, I'm not much of a video game player, but I'd like to find some games for my wife.
Here's the parameters.

For Hardware I have:
-A computer that is about 4 years out of date
-A Playstation 2

My wife likes the games:
-Portal (played at a friend's house)
-Banjo and Kazoie (from N64)
-Tetris (we have Tetris Worlds already)

Other details:
-If they have 2 player capability that's even better but not essential
- If you have suggestions on places to buy them in addition to the "game stop" I visit now and then I would appreciate it.
-We're on a rather tight budget so the cheaper the better.

Please make suggestions of games for the PS2 (possibly computer also, but she prefers the ease of a console) that she might enjoy. I just picked up Jax2 at a shopkeepers suggestion, but haven't tried it yet.

Playstation 2 I would recommend Champions of Norrath and CoN: Call to Arms for some good 2 player co-op fun.

If you want to avoid Fantasy, X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends II are also both fun co-op games.

I think all of these are fairly cheap.

How about a LEGO game for the PS2?
They're co-op multiplayer, platformers with puzzles.

Maybe Minecraft on the pc?

Minecraft and Bastion for PC. Shadow of Collossus and Battlefront 2 for PS2.

Good places to start I guess.

Thanks for the suggestions so far folks. I should mention that she's not into anything war or combat related. The closer you can get to Banjo or Portal the better.

I'll check into all the games you've suggested.

Please keep the suggestions coming!

Eilif wrote:

-Banjo and Kazoie (from N64)

Your wife has some serious class! Even my mum used to play this game it was that awesome!
As for recommendation, something that is slightly similar in adventure and looks is herdy gerdy (I think) and you herd this cute little things into their pens in different lands and they make parts into puzzles of how to get them home and stuff, dunno if that sounds relevant to what you wife would like? Oh and it is PS2

 Brother-Captain Scotti wrote:

Your wife has some serious class! Even my mum used to play this game it was that awesome!
As for recommendation, something that is slightly similar in adventure and looks is herdy gerdy (I think) and you herd this cute little things into their pens in different lands and they make parts into puzzles of how to get them home and stuff, dunno if that sounds relevant to what you wife would like? Oh and it is PS2

Thanks! That's exactly the kind of game that she would like. Whimsical, with puzzles! I'll try and hunt that one down .

I don't remember a whole lot about Banjo Kazooie, but you may want to look into the Sly Cooper, Ratchet and Clank, and Crash Bandicoot games for some fun platforming on the PS/PS2.

ETA: Oh, and Kingdom Hearts for PS2. More of an action RPG, but lots of puzzles.

I always had an Xbox, so I don't know an awful lot, but ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are 2 good bets.

Some of the Final Fantasy games for the PS2 are pretty good (from what I'm aware) and the combat focuses on strategy rather than "press X as fast as you can and make blood fly and heads roll".

For the PC, Spore is great fun, especially with the expansion packs.

Super
Puzzle
Fighter
II
Turbo

 streamdragon wrote:
Super
Puzzle
Fighter
II
Turbo

Are you trying to encourage a divorce? If they avoid multiplayer I suppose they should be fine.

Hey folks,
I picked up Jak and Dakster Precursor ( had gotten sequel just after starting this thread) LEGO star wars original trillogy. and Herdy Gerdy.. She said that Jakc and Daxter looked just like Banjo, and Herdy looked cute. She's on a Guitar Hero kick now, so she hasn't tried them, but I think she will enjoy them. Also grabbed a bunch of other games as it looks like gamestop is clearing out most of their PS2 back stock. I got Final Fantasy (12 I think...) for myself per the suggestion above and it is really cool!

Suffice to say Thanks for all your help, it was much appreciated!

If you have other suggestions, feel free to add them, though it looks like she has no interest in computer games so it would have to be games for the playstation 2 (or playstation 1).

Try Beyond Good and Evil - it is available on PS2. A puzzle action/adventure game. It is pretty cool with plenty of little bits and pieces.

The Odd World series would fit with what she likes. They are a bit dated but they are still very interesting puzzle games and have some fantastic artwork. I think all of them are available on Steam now for a few dollars each.

Youtube video of Abe's Exodus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00BDk_P83As

Minecraft has already been suggested but it can be rage-inducing thanks to creepers and occasionally starving to death.

Guitar Hero series is good with friends. The game gets old once everyone starts playing on hard/expert and not having trouble though.

Crash Bandicoot series is a good platformer. Also dated (PS1 games).

Unfortunately, the only other games I can think of for the PS2 are Sports, Survival Horror, RPG, Fighting and FPS. Nothing really puzzle-based and light-hearted at the same time.

She may like Darwinia. It is a very surreal game focusing on something roughly akin to lemmings. There is a demo available on steam also. My only problem with this game is it can be beaten in just a few hours and has little in the way of replay value.

I've heard good things about Limbo though I've never played it myself. It is regarded as a fairly unforgiving platformer/puzzle game.

Braid is along the same lines as limbo but I've actually played it. It is a simple but confusing platformer where you play some random suit-guy whos only abilities are to jump, open doors, read books, and control time. The art of this game is all done in "brushstrokes" making it very surreal/colorful. Again, this is a short game.

Terraria is a 2d more arcade-like version of minecraft. Instead of building in 3d, worring about food supplies and getting attacked by creepers, you have to deal with nightly zombie raids, flying eyeballs and the occasional event like "Eye of Cthulhu" or a Goblin Raid.

World of Goo is absolutely amazing. It defines itself as an "architexture puzzle game". The game can be finished over a day of very dedicated playing though. The artwork in it is quite good with its industrial-grime/whimsical approach.

Super Meat Boy may work for her though it may be a bit too unforgiving. Typically regarded as a "hard-as-nails" platformer.

Can't think of any more. At the very least a few of these will keep her gaming habits occupied for a few days.

 thenoobbomb wrote:
How about a LEGO game for the PS2?

Seconded. LEGO Star Wars is the only game my sis will play with me.

Thanks Hanith, I'll keep an eye out for those.

I've got LEGO Star Wars Original Trilogy for PS2 last week. Looking for ward to giving it a go, but haven't yet as her Guitar Hero obsession is still in full swing....

There is always Plants vs. Zombies!

Okami and Viewtiful Joe 1 and 2, these are amazing games that that take unique and original stances on the Action-Adventure and Platformer genre.

Super Mario Sunshine (hardest Super Mario game ever imo, but, if she's played Banjo-Kazooie, she should be fine!)

 Henners91 wrote:

 thenoobbomb wrote:
How about a LEGO game for the PS2?

Seconded. LEGO Star Wars is the only game my sis will play with me.

Also the only game that doesn't make my mom 'dizzy'.
Too bad I sold my ps2 xD

Zelda CDI games Don't actually do that.

Jak and Daxter
(Best game series ever (mostly))

Lessee...

PC titles to check out (all of these are pretty low impact, you should have no trouble running them, even on that museum piece of yours):

Audiosurf: kind of like a racing game, except it makes tracks out of your music. Pretty cool.

Braid: Simple, well made platformer with some very cool time-manipulation based puzzles. One hell of a story to boot.

Limbo: Dark and atmospheric indie platformer. Pretty cool.

Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP: Kind of a slower paced, more adventure than action, but it's easily one of the coolest games I've ever played. The artstyle, music, and narrative come together so perfectly. Totally worth checking out.

Portal 2: Duh

For adventure/action Hammumu's DR Lunatic, and Supreme with cheese. Both revolve around the PC just having fun, lots of puzzle and some horror, but throwing hammers at stuff. Non-violent though, no gore or anything

I'd also push the wonderful end of the world. Revolves around consuming items to get to the next level, sort of like Katamari, but without the weird stuff.

If you can, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, just for the CO-OP