I need a new RPG
06-28-09, 01:31 AM
#1
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
I need a new RPG
As much as Left4Dead provides me with plenty of sick, demented glee, my first love in gaming is adventure/RPG games.
The problem is that the genre is almost dead and really sucks. Add to it the ANNOYING habit of game companies to put all art and cut scenes and no actual game shots on their boxes.
The final problem is the Diablo/Elder Scrolls Syndrome. Every game is a total rip of those two games. Some do it well (Titan Quest was such a Diablo rip I'm surprised Blizzard didn't sue the developer), others suck.
But I grew up playing Wizardry, Ultima and Might & Magic, or the old D&D games like Pool of Radiance, where you made a party of adventurers and went on quests. I'm tired of single player games like ES and don't like third-person Diablo rip offs. For the longest time I used EverQuest as my replacement game, since it really came the closest. I just played 4 accounts at once. That became untenable and quite frankly, I'd like to beat some SOE people with a baseball bat for what they've done to this once-great game.
Anyway... can anyone recommend a good sword and sorcery RPG game where you make a party of adventurers? And no, WoW doesn't count. I'm done with MMORPGs.
The problem is that the genre is almost dead and really sucks. Add to it the ANNOYING habit of game companies to put all art and cut scenes and no actual game shots on their boxes.
The final problem is the Diablo/Elder Scrolls Syndrome. Every game is a total rip of those two games. Some do it well (Titan Quest was such a Diablo rip I'm surprised Blizzard didn't sue the developer), others suck.
But I grew up playing Wizardry, Ultima and Might & Magic, or the old D&D games like Pool of Radiance, where you made a party of adventurers and went on quests. I'm tired of single player games like ES and don't like third-person Diablo rip offs. For the longest time I used EverQuest as my replacement game, since it really came the closest. I just played 4 accounts at once. That became untenable and quite frankly, I'd like to beat some SOE people with a baseball bat for what they've done to this once-great game.
Anyway... can anyone recommend a good sword and sorcery RPG game where you make a party of adventurers? And no, WoW doesn't count. I'm done with MMORPGs.
06-28-09, 03:16 AM
#3
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: I need a new RPG
I used to love me some Pool of Radiance. And Hillsfar. And Champions of Krynn. And all those others.
And Quest for Glory.
But I don't know of any modern games that come close to what those were.
And Quest for Glory.
But I don't know of any modern games that come close to what those were.
06-28-09, 10:00 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Re: I need a new RPG
As much as Left4Dead provides me with plenty of sick, demented glee, my first love in gaming is adventure/RPG games.
The problem is that the genre is almost dead and really sucks. Add to it the ANNOYING habit of game companies to put all art and cut scenes and no actual game shots on their boxes.
The final problem is the Diablo/Elder Scrolls Syndrome. Every game is a total rip of those two games. Some do it well (Titan Quest was such a Diablo rip I'm surprised Blizzard didn't sue the developer), others suck.
But I grew up playing Wizardry, Ultima and Might & Magic, or the old D&D games like Pool of Radiance, where you made a party of adventurers and went on quests. I'm tired of single player games like ES and don't like third-person Diablo rip offs. For the longest time I used EverQuest as my replacement game, since it really came the closest. I just played 4 accounts at once. That became untenable and quite frankly, I'd like to beat some SOE people with a baseball bat for what they've done to this once-great game.
Anyway... can anyone recommend a good sword and sorcery RPG game where you make a party of adventurers? And no, WoW doesn't count. I'm done with MMORPGs.
The problem is that the genre is almost dead and really sucks. Add to it the ANNOYING habit of game companies to put all art and cut scenes and no actual game shots on their boxes.
The final problem is the Diablo/Elder Scrolls Syndrome. Every game is a total rip of those two games. Some do it well (Titan Quest was such a Diablo rip I'm surprised Blizzard didn't sue the developer), others suck.
But I grew up playing Wizardry, Ultima and Might & Magic, or the old D&D games like Pool of Radiance, where you made a party of adventurers and went on quests. I'm tired of single player games like ES and don't like third-person Diablo rip offs. For the longest time I used EverQuest as my replacement game, since it really came the closest. I just played 4 accounts at once. That became untenable and quite frankly, I'd like to beat some SOE people with a baseball bat for what they've done to this once-great game.
Anyway... can anyone recommend a good sword and sorcery RPG game where you make a party of adventurers? And no, WoW doesn't count. I'm done with MMORPGs.
Anyway, there's always The Witcher (which is basically ES/Diablo clone but hey)
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9k1902eCXs&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9k1902eCXs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Have you tried Mass Effect? The Last Remnant? Alien Shooter 2 (more action with RPG elements)? Fable? Fallout 3?
Oh and if you never played it, get Planescape: Torment.
Last edited by RichC2; 06-28-09 at 10:04 AM.
06-28-09, 11:13 AM
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Re: I need a new RPG
I just assume everybody has played FO1/2.
06-28-09, 12:49 PM
#7
Suspended
Re: I need a new RPG
The Witcher is a hell of a lot closer to being a Baldur's Gate clone than a Diablo clone. It's not as good as the Baldur's Gate games, mind you, but it's clearly in that tradition, not the Diablo tradition.
By the way, if you haven't played the Baldur's Gate series, do so now.
By the way, if you haven't played the Baldur's Gate series, do so now.
06-28-09, 08:09 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 20,804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06-28-09, 10:10 PM
#11
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: CA
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: I need a new RPG
Assuming you haven't killed every RPG for the PS2, there are great games to be had. Most Atlus titles, Persona, DDS, Nocturne. There is also the Shadow Heart Series and Fallout3, Fable 2, Too Human (Pretty much loot game but fun 2 players.). Im sure there is more.
06-29-09, 12:09 AM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: I need a new RPG
As much as Left4Dead provides me with plenty of sick, demented glee, my first love in gaming is adventure/RPG games.
The problem is that the genre is almost dead and really sucks. Add to it the ANNOYING habit of game companies to put all art and cut scenes and no actual game shots on their boxes.
The final problem is the Diablo/Elder Scrolls Syndrome. Every game is a total rip of those two games. Some do it well (Titan Quest was such a Diablo rip I'm surprised Blizzard didn't sue the developer), others suck.
But I grew up playing Wizardry, Ultima and Might & Magic, or the old D&D games like Pool of Radiance, where you made a party of adventurers and went on quests. I'm tired of single player games like ES and don't like third-person Diablo rip offs. For the longest time I used EverQuest as my replacement game, since it really came the closest. I just played 4 accounts at once. That became untenable and quite frankly, I'd like to beat some SOE people with a baseball bat for what they've done to this once-great game.
Anyway... can anyone recommend a good sword and sorcery RPG game where you make a party of adventurers? And no, WoW doesn't count. I'm done with MMORPGs.
The problem is that the genre is almost dead and really sucks. Add to it the ANNOYING habit of game companies to put all art and cut scenes and no actual game shots on their boxes.
The final problem is the Diablo/Elder Scrolls Syndrome. Every game is a total rip of those two games. Some do it well (Titan Quest was such a Diablo rip I'm surprised Blizzard didn't sue the developer), others suck.
But I grew up playing Wizardry, Ultima and Might & Magic, or the old D&D games like Pool of Radiance, where you made a party of adventurers and went on quests. I'm tired of single player games like ES and don't like third-person Diablo rip offs. For the longest time I used EverQuest as my replacement game, since it really came the closest. I just played 4 accounts at once. That became untenable and quite frankly, I'd like to beat some SOE people with a baseball bat for what they've done to this once-great game.
Anyway... can anyone recommend a good sword and sorcery RPG game where you make a party of adventurers? And no, WoW doesn't count. I'm done with MMORPGs.
If you havent, pick up those games, along with planescape torment.
06-29-09, 11:43 AM
#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
06-29-09, 02:04 PM
#14
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: I need a new RPG
The Baldur's Gate series on PC are my favorite games of all time. They are old school D&D games (they use 2nd edition rules). I posted a few screenshots of these games using the widescreen mod in the "What old games still look good graphically" thread.
I would avoid Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance on the consoles. Dark Alliance is Baldur's Gate in name only. It has nothing in common with the PC games, and in fact does not really even use the D&D rules at all.
I would avoid Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance on the consoles. Dark Alliance is Baldur's Gate in name only. It has nothing in common with the PC games, and in fact does not really even use the D&D rules at all.
06-29-09, 02:35 PM
#15
Re: I need a new RPG
I love computer RPGs too. A lot of my favorites have been mentioned - those older Black Isle games are some of my all-time favorites.
Yeah, the whole "adventuring party" style of gaming has really disappeared recently. Now you have lots of console-style party swapping, and solo-adventurer games (and of course, the ever-present MMORPGs). I liked the Witcher (do a search to see a topic I started some time back about it) - it's a single adventurer though. But it's not a Diablo-clone, by any means. It feels more like an Oblivion style of play. I liked the first two entries in the Gothic series (haven't played the third since I heard it sucked). But again, you just have a single character.
Without going back 5+ years, there just isn't that much. One recent game that does fit the bill is Neverwinter Nights 2. I think it got unfairly crapped on by reviewers at the time of release. I thought it was a huge improvement over the 1st NWN game (which had limited party control and blocky graphics). Free user modules give you a ton of gameplay for your money - and its been out long enough for the bugs to have been worked out.
Also, as mentioned by some, you might want to think about expanding your horizons to non-fantasy RPGs. Mass Effect, Fallout 3, Vampire: The Masquerade, KOTOR I and II, etc.
Yeah, the whole "adventuring party" style of gaming has really disappeared recently. Now you have lots of console-style party swapping, and solo-adventurer games (and of course, the ever-present MMORPGs). I liked the Witcher (do a search to see a topic I started some time back about it) - it's a single adventurer though. But it's not a Diablo-clone, by any means. It feels more like an Oblivion style of play. I liked the first two entries in the Gothic series (haven't played the third since I heard it sucked). But again, you just have a single character.
Without going back 5+ years, there just isn't that much. One recent game that does fit the bill is Neverwinter Nights 2. I think it got unfairly crapped on by reviewers at the time of release. I thought it was a huge improvement over the 1st NWN game (which had limited party control and blocky graphics). Free user modules give you a ton of gameplay for your money - and its been out long enough for the bugs to have been worked out.
Also, as mentioned by some, you might want to think about expanding your horizons to non-fantasy RPGs. Mass Effect, Fallout 3, Vampire: The Masquerade, KOTOR I and II, etc.
06-30-09, 06:27 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: FLA,USA
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: I need a new RPG
For the xbox360 I'd get Fable II, Sacred 2 and I just started playing Two Worlds. Two Worlds got slammed in reviews but so far it just ain't that bad.
Just my $0.02
Just my $0.02
06-30-09, 07:06 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cahuenga Building, Sixth Floor
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: I need a new RPG
Wizardry 8 is an excellent old school style RPG that will actually run on modern PCs without Dosbox, etc. If you have a Nintendo DS, Etrian Odyssey is another good RPG in that vein.
07-01-09, 11:16 AM
#19
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: New York, N.Y.
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
07-01-09, 12:20 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hero
