Help Me Choose My RPG

[Woodruff]

Ok, I think I've finally avoiding diving into another computer-based
role-playing game long enough...it's time to start another up. So I've
got this bloody huge stack of games sitting here on my desk, and I'd
like some input as to the pros and cons of each from those of you who
have played them (also tell me if I'm mistaken and one isn't actually
an RPG):

Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale
Drakensang, the Complete Saga
Reckoning
Mass Effect
Legendary
The Witcher
Two Worlds
Myst V: End of Ages (I did like Myst and Riven)
Morrowind
Oblivion
Skyrim
Dragon Age: Origins (which comes first?)
Dragon Age: Awakening (which comes first?)
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Jade Empire: Special Edition
Fable: The Lost Chapters
Rift
Battle Slots (it claims to be an RPG...weird)
Call of Juarez
Assassin's Creed
The Godfather II
Trine
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Lords
Fate

[john9blue]

trine is a puzzle platformer. it's a pretty decent game though

have you really not played any of those games?? why do you buy so many and then not play them?

[frankiebee]

Skyrim is amusing

[AndyDufresne]

A good question to ask...do you want to play the RPG for the developer's story, or do you just want to muck around in an RPG setting? I sometimes go back and forth between the two, and that usually has an impact on which RPG game I fire up.


--Andy

[Dukasaur]

Ok, I think I've finally avoiding diving into another computer-based
role-playing game long enough...it's time to start another up. So I've
got this bloody huge stack of games sitting here on my desk, and I'd
like some input as to the pros and cons of each from those of you who
have played them (also tell me if I'm mistaken and one isn't actually
an RPG):

Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale
Drakensang, the Complete Saga
Reckoning
Mass Effect
Legendary
The Witcher
Two Worlds
Myst V: End of Ages (I did like Myst and Riven)
Morrowind
Oblivion
Skyrim
Dragon Age: Origins (which comes first?)
Dragon Age: Awakening (which comes first?)
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Jade Empire: Special Edition
Fable: The Lost Chapters
Rift
Battle Slots (it claims to be an RPG...weird)
Call of Juarez
Assassin's Creed
The Godfather II
Trine
Dungeon Siege
Dungeon Lords
Fate

That whole long list, and the only one on it that I've played is Morrowind. Shows you how often I get out to a game store...

Anyway, I did think Morrowind was very good. Definitely worth a shot, if you haven't yet.

[Symmetry]

Baldur's Gate 2.

[rdsrds2120]

Dragon Age: Origins is the first, then comes Awakening.

I really enjoyed playing through them. Mass Effect also gets great appraisal.

-rd

[Army of GOD]

The only game I've played in that list is Fable but it's a spectacular game.

[mviola]

Assassin's Creed isn't an RPG. It's more of an adventure game.

Entertaining, but really repetitive.

[MeDeFe]

I haven't played all of those, so from those I have any experience with...

If you want role-playing, go with Morrowind.

If you want an open world where you can kill tons of monsters and occasionally make choices that have some form of consequences for the world and/or your character, Oblivion or Skyrim are good choices.
(Tip: If you play a Khajiit in Skyrim, make sure to install Khajiit Speak. It changes all dialogue options to reflect their speech pattern.)

show: Click the images for the full resolution

The Witcher offers a huge amount of choices, but most of those end up affecting the world more than your character, and iirc it all comes down to basically the same thing in the end anyway.

If you want a game where you fight things in between cinematic scenes that tell a story, Mass Effect, Dragon Age (either one), Fable, or Jade Empire are the way to go. Those games are basically broad one-way streets, you drive on the left or on the right or swerve wildly between the two, it doesn't matter, in the end you reach the same goal. Jade Empire and Fable are especially bad offenders since you can get any ending you want no matter what you did before.

And then what was already said, Assassins Creed is not really role-playing even by the low standard applied to Jade Empire, and Trine is a puzzle platformer. The latter is still a very good game, though.

[Lootifer]

Guild Wars 2. Not on your desk currently but should be.

[Woodruff]

trine is a puzzle platformer. it's a pretty decent game though

Now, when I think "platformer", I think of old-school Mario Brothers (as in the arcade game). Is that what you mean, or are you using the term differently?

have you really not played any of those games?? why do you buy so many and then not play them?

I have a problem, ok?!?!?!??! <laughing>

Actually, I buy any RPG that I see coming down the pike, because I figure I'll get to them eventually. It's a very slow process, because I like to one-at-a-time them as far as playing...but I fear they'll be "out of print" by the time I'd get to them otherwise.

[Woodruff]

A good question to ask...do you want to play the RPG for the developer's story, or do you just want to muck around in an RPG setting? I sometimes go back and forth between the two, and that usually has an impact on which RPG game I fire up.

Excellent question. Primarily, the "most fun" I get from the games is leveling-up...I like watching my characters grow. So the process for leveling-up is an important one to me. I tend to like the AD&D style, but that's not a requirement, of course.

I do prefer combat to be turn-based, but that's also not a requirement by any means (after all, Neverwinter Nights is not, and I just recently finished it).

I do like a good story too...so that does have a lot of value. I'm definitely not just a "hack and slash" guy.

[Woodruff]

Baldur's Gate 2.

I have played both Baldur's Gates and both Icewind Dale's, and enjoyed both greatly (though the Icewind Dale's were rather buggy.

[Woodruff]

I haven't played all of those, so from those I have any experience with...

If you want role-playing, go with Morrowind.

If you want an open world where you can kill tons of monsters and occasionally make choices that have some form of consequences for the world and/or your character, Oblivion or Skyrim are good choices.
(Tip: If you play a Khajiit in Skyrim, make sure to install Khajiit Speak. It changes all dialogue options to reflect their speech pattern.)

show: Click the images for the full resolution

The Witcher offers a huge amount of choices, but most of those end up affecting the world more than your character, and iirc it all comes down to basically the same thing in the end anyway.

If you want a game where you fight things in between cinematic scenes that tell a story, Mass Effect, Dragon Age (either one), Fable, or Jade Empire are the way to go. Those games are basically broad one-way streets, you drive on the left or on the right or swerve wildly between the two, it doesn't matter, in the end you reach the same goal. Jade Empire and Fable are especially bad offenders since you can get any ending you want no matter what you did before.

And then what was already said, Assassins Creed is not really role-playing even by the low standard applied to Jade Empire, and Trine is a puzzle platformer. The latter is still a very good game, though.

Thanks! Great, very helpful post.

[Woodruff]

Guild Wars 2. Not on your desk currently but should be.

What about Guild Wars?

(Oh, and I forgot to mention in my original post...no damn online-only games. I bought
Final Fantasy XI Online Ultimate Collection and it pissed me off that I had to play it online
(the "online" was in little tiny print on the package).

[Army of GOD]

trine is a puzzle platformer. it's a pretty decent game though

Now, when I think "platformer", I think of old-school Mario Brothers (as in the arcade game). Is that what you mean, or are you using the term differently?

have you really not played any of those games?? why do you buy so many and then not play them?

I have a problem, ok?!?!?!??! <laughing>

Actually, I buy any RPG that I see coming down the pike, because I figure I'll get to them eventually. It's a very slow process, because I like to one-at-a-time them as far as playing...but I fear they'll be "out of print" by the time I'd get to them otherwise.

You really are like...seven years old, aren't you?

[Woodruff]

trine is a puzzle platformer. it's a pretty decent game though

Now, when I think "platformer", I think of old-school Mario Brothers (as in the arcade game). Is that what you mean, or are you using the term differently?

have you really not played any of those games?? why do you buy so many and then not play them?

I have a problem, ok?!?!?!??! <laughing>

Actually, I buy any RPG that I see coming down the pike, because I figure I'll get to them eventually. It's a very slow process, because I like to one-at-a-time them as far as playing...but I fear they'll be "out of print" by the time I'd get to them otherwise.

You really are like...seven years old, aren't you?

Please stop trolling this thread. Thanks.

[MeDeFe]

trine is a puzzle platformer. it's a pretty decent game though

Now, when I think "platformer", I think of old-school Mario Brothers (as in the arcade game). Is that what you mean, or are you using the term differently?

have you really not played any of those games?? why do you buy so many and then not play them?

I have a problem, ok?!?!?!??! <laughing>

Actually, I buy any RPG that I see coming down the pike, because I figure I'll get to them eventually. It's a very slow process, because I like to one-at-a-time them as far as playing...but I fear they'll be "out of print" by the time I'd get to them otherwise.

You really are like...seven years old, aren't you?

Are you looking for a playmate?

[pancakemix]

Mass Effect is really really good, but not traditionally RPGish.

Apparently Skyrim is a dumbed down sort of the earlier Elder Scrolls games, but it's what I'd recommend.

[MoB Deadly]

I've put over 150+ hours into Oblivion and Skyrim, both are worth the time and $$$

I think Oblivion is a slightly better game between the two.

Edit:

Actually I think no contest, Oblivion has better gameplay, and a better story

Skyrim is a bit easier and better for the more casual gamer. And the graphics are very nice

[thegreekdog]

I hate to do this Woodruff, but given what I know of your proclivities, I don't think any of those games are up your alley. The Elder Scrolls are the only ones I can think of; most of the are other ones are more arcadey type games (e.g. Mass Effect).

[Symmetry]

There's always the Baldur's Gate remake if you like the classics.

[Woodruff]

I hate to do this Woodruff, but given what I know of your proclivities, I don't think any of those games are up your alley. The Elder Scrolls are the only ones I can think of; most of the are other ones are more arcadey type games (e.g. Mass Effect).

NOOOOOooooooooo!!!!! (My greatest fear.)

I'm definitely not into the arcadey types, as you surmise. But surely you're not including Myst V in that, at least?

[Woodruff]

There's always the Baldur's Gate remake if you like the classics.

Wha?!?!?