Pc Rpg

[Lehesu]

I need a good SP RPG, one that will suck me in. I have played Diablo II to death, as well as both KOTORs. I already own Morrowind. I tried NWN, didn't really like it. I have Deus Ex II on X-Box. Any suggestions?

Sometimes I wish there was an Ogre Battle game for PC. That would be swell.

I have heard that Final Fantasy is good, but I have never played it and have no working knowledge of the series whatsoever. In fact, I tend to avoid it because of its popularity.

I played the Divine Divinity demo, liked it, and was all set to buy Beyond Divinity before I played the demo. Then I changed my mind.

The Dungeon Siege demo bored me to death - a mindless hack without the Diablo effect that kept me playing for hours on end.

Sacred is just a poorly made Diablo clone.

As you can see, it has been rather difficult. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Try Pirates of the Carribean, but install the Build Mod from piratesahoy.net. Yes, it's pirates, but it can be entertaining with the right modifications (just dont play it unmodded, it sucks).

[AggonyDuck]

My suggestion would be Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn. Pretty much the best RPG I've ever played and will propably be that for a while longer.
Although it's age is starting to show, but that's offset by the great story and the wonderful dialogue.

[AntiochusIII]

My suggestion would be Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn. Pretty much the best RPG I've ever played and will propably be that for a while longer.
Although it's age is starting to show, but that's offset by the great story and the wonderful dialogue.

If you buy it don't forget the expansion too. The best expansion ever.

[Efrem]

Vampires the Masquarade: Bloodlines


If you've never played this game you don't deserve to call yourself a pc gamer.

[Meneldil]

BG II is indeed the best PC RPG ever. If you're willing to try this one, you might want to try Bladur's Gate 1 first, since the 2 games are linked (basically, that's the same story, with the same character, and if you finish BG I, you'll be able to import your character to BG II)
If you have a PS one or PS2, try out Final Fantasy 7 (my favorite game ever) or 9, they are well worth it, if you don't dislike japanese games. FF 8 and 10 are kinda sucky IMHO, but I know some people enjoyed them aswell.

[doc_bean]

I second VTM: Bloodlines.

I've been playing Anachronox lately (it's on budget) and it's okay if you don't mind a lot of running around to find the right item/switch/character. I've been meaning to write a full review once I finish it (mostly for myself, i don't think anyone really cares about this old game )

Baldur's Gate II is really hard to find these days, at least in the shops.

IIRC the last Final Fantasy game on the PC was FF7 (except the online one, FF11 I think) and it's fantastic, although the game itself is nearly ten years old and probably won't look to good by today's standards.
You can play older Final Fantasy's on emulators, but I'm not sure how legal that is where you live, and therefor, I won't recommend it. Although ff6 is also quite good. (For the record, downloading iis still legal in Belgium, at least for now.)

Another console style rpg converted to the pC is Grandia 2 (again, quite old, 2000 on the DC iirc), which has one of the best combat systems in a console rpg that I've seen. I didn't really care for the story, and if you're a die hard christian (or Muslim of Jew) it might really rub you the wrong way.

[econ21]

The best recent CRPG is Vampire: Bloodlines. I was initially put off by being a Vampire, but it is brilliantly done - at least in my case, you end up feeling and behaving like a vampire. Some of the NPCs are very well characterised - one, Jack, is more vividly drawn in just the tutorial than most NPCs are in entire CRPGs. The side-plots are innovative and far from hack n slash (although the end game does degenerate into that).

Of the older games, the two series that stand out as all time greats are Baldur's Gate and Fallout. They also have interesting NPCs and sideplots, but better combat (especially BG, where the combat is so rich it is like a good squad tactics game) and a more epic, free-form world to roam in. In both cases, the second in the series is the better but there are strong plot reasons to play them in order (plus the improvements in the second will spoil it for you if you have to subsequently play the first).

[Sjakihata]

Gothic II is a great singleplayer only game. Set in a medieval fantasy world - but still very realistic. It's better than morrowind in my opinion, as the world seems much more alive. And it WILL suck you in - after you learned to control the battle system.

[Conqueror]

Baldur's Gate series is good but Planescape: Torment is better. It has amazing story & characters and excellent dialogue. Mind you, it is not a traditional pseudo-medieval fantasy setting, but a much more "fantastical" one. And you better be willing to spend a *lot* of time just having conversations with NPCs.

[SwordsMaster]

In addition to VTM:Bloodlines I suggest you to try The Bard's Tale. It's Baldur's Gate 2 style but funnier....

[Lehesu]

Neg on Vampires. Computer isn't up to snuff. 'Tis a low-end shopping list for me.

[econ21]

Lehesu, you mentioned Deus Ex 2 - I assume you've played the original? If not, it's a very fine RPG - haven't tried the second, but heard it's smaller with less RPG elements.

On a similar vein, System Shock 2 is an amazing RPG. Both games are sometimes described as RPG/action hybrids, but have excellent plots and atmosphere, plus stats n stuff.

[Sjakihata]

I wouldnt class system shock as a rpg. Stats are present, however, it is more a horror/action game with limited RPG elements. Very good game though and I definately recommend it!

[Crandaeolon]

Second for Torment. Great game, especially if one has become a bit bored of the more mainstream fantasy stuff. Snippets from Wikipedia:

"Planescape: Torment differs from similar CRPGs like those in the Baldur's Gate series by placing an emphasis on conversation and storyline, as opposed to an emphasis on combat. ... The game's main themes include guilt, redemption, the significance of names and the importance of knowing oneself."

"Planescape: Torment is notable for the quantity of dialogue (in text form) which it contains. An estimate by the creators of the game places it at almost 1 million words. This is comparable to one volume of the Encyclopædia Britannica. It has been argued that the wordy nature of the game may have turned off potential players, having realized that gameplay often focuses on resolution of quest and story objectives through selection from available dialogue choices, rather than through combat encounters."

There's still quite a bit of combat, though. Less than in BG, and some of it is avoidable, but expect to fight a plenty of odd critters in the course of the game.

[screwtype]

Gah. I hate the Baldur's Gate series. IMO, D&D rules are inherently unsuited to computer play. They weren't designed for it, and it shows.

I have Baldur's Gate I + Tales of the Sword Coast, and the characters in that and their endlessly repeated little comments are also really annoying.

[screwtype]

Gothic II is a great singleplayer only game. Set in a medieval fantasy world - but still very realistic. It's better than morrowind in my opinion, as the world seems much more alive. And it WILL suck you in - after you learned to control the battle system.

Oh that's a very timely recommendation Sjakitha - I just happened to be offered a budget version of that game for about $10 earlier today, and was tempted but since I never heard of the game, decided against. Maybe I'll reconsider...

[econ21]

Gah. I hate the Baldur's Gate series. IMO, D&D rules are inherently unsuited to computer play. They weren't designed for it, and it shows.

I have Baldur's Gate I + Tales of the Sword Coast, and the characters in that and their endlessly repeated little comments are also really annoying.

Ah, blasphemy! BG1 was great fun - I think the DnD rules are fine for computer play[1]. With a party, the class system makes the combat very tactical - Icewind Dale 1 & 2 were essentially squad level tactical combat games. You have a front line of 3 fighters, a mage providing a wide selection of artillery, a thief scouting and backstabbing, a cleric healing and buffing - it's fun coordinating it all. (Where DnD falls down in computer games is when they make it essentially for a sole protaganist, as in NWN SP - it needs a party). At it's best, BG1 was similar, but added a lot of freedom and interesting story/quests.

But BG2 took the engine to a higher level - the characters in it are very well drawn. For example, Imoen transforms from a really annoying repeater of little comments in BG1 into a tragic vulnerable sister in BG2 who is to die for. The combat evolves from the uber-bows of BG1 into epic mage duels of spell protection and counter-protection in BG2. Plus the story switches pace from the leisurely meandering through the wilderness or city of BG1 into a gripping story arc in BG2 that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and does not let go (at least until you get out of the Underdark). If you have only tried BG1, you probably can't conceive of how good BG2 is.

[1]Another example of DnD working in a computer game might be KOTOR - it's not exactly DnD but uses common D20 rules and provides a pretty solid set of rules for both character development and combat.

[Sjakihata]

Oh that's a very timely recommendation Sjakitha - I just happened to be offered a budget version of that game for about $10 earlier today, and was tempted but since I never heard of the game, decided against. Maybe I'll reconsider...

For $10 it is certainly worth it.

[Lehesu]

I want to try maybe BG or Icewind Dale but I have one issue that needs to be cleared up.

I did not like NWN. Didn't like the item system, didn't like the boring hordes of similar monsters, didn't like the skill implementation.

I did like KOTOR. Despite being D20 based, it gelled in all the ways NWN didn't for me.

My question for those who suggested BG (or Icewind Dale): Does BG differ significantly from NWN? What qualities do these games have that NWN does not, and are these qualities significant enough that I will enjoy the game, even if I disliked NWN?


Edit: Just finished perusing Game FAQs. In the user reviews, many gamers who loved Baldur's Gate absolutely hated NWN, some for the same reasons that I did. There is hope!

[AntiochusIII]

NWN is notorious for its lackluster single-player, and that angers many Baldur's Gate fans. After all, the older game(s) has probably one of the greatest, most detailed, engrossing, complete (in an ending-satisfying sense) storyline out there.

However, if you hate level-up mainly by hunting monsters, Torment would be better. It has a lot of dialogue and much less fight.

[Kekvit Irae]

NWN's lackluster singleplayer was redeemed with Hordes of the Underdark expansion, the sequal to Shadows of Undrentide expansion. Unlike SoU and NWN, HotU has multiple endings. I especially like buying the True Names of the companions just to see what I can do with them.

[doc_bean]

There are demo's out for BG and BGII, so you can try the games yourself. You should be able to find them at Actiontrip, expect pretty big downloads though.

About Planescape Torment: I remember buying that game when it first came out after reading a rave review in PC Gamer. I never got out of the first (?) city, I didn't even complete the first quest. After playing it for a while I just quit and never started it again. I remember thinking that if I just wanted to read stuff I would have gotten a book.

About KOTOR: no shop seems to carry the original one these days. I really want to try it after all the praise it's gotten here, and I'm hesitant to try KOTORII before playing the first one. However it seems like I should hurry and buy KOTORII before it is sold out too

[econ21]

I want to try maybe BG or Icewind Dale but I have one issue that needs to be cleared up.

I did not like NWN. Didn't like the item system, didn't like the boring hordes of similar monsters, didn't like the skill implementation.

I did like KOTOR. Despite being D20 based, it gelled in all the ways NWN didn't for me.

My question for those who suggested BG (or Icewind Dale): Does BG differ significantly from NWN? What qualities do these games have that NWN does not, and are these qualities significant enough that I will enjoy the game, even if I disliked NWN?

Be careful to distinguish BG and Icewind Dale. Although the rules, graphics and engines are essentially the same, they are very different games. Icewind Dale 1 and 2 are both linear, hack n slash dungeon crawls. Their best qualities are the freedom to create a powerful party of your own design and seemingly endless tactical combats driven by a semblance of a story (in the latter respect, imagine a thinking person's Dungeon Siege). I got bored of them pretty quickly, although, in their defence, the combats were very well designed to be continually challenging despite your characters dramatically increasing in power.

The BG games have many of the virtues of Icewind Dale - the combat is pretty good (ie tactical and challenging), perhaps especially in BG2 (bows are uber in BG1). What they add is a fairly epic story in the KOTOR mold, plus memorable NPC characters and interesting side quests. Both give you a lot of freedom to go where you want and do what you want (more than KOTOR does).

Both IWD and BG differ from NWN in having a party that you control. This makes the game much more tactical, with more options etc, than either NWN or KOTOR. The combat is also much better balanced - in the NWN OC, for some reason, they made the combat just too easy and repetitive for much of the game.

The mechanics of skills etc are very similar in all these games - they share a fairly faithful adaptation of DnD rules. Again, I find these more fun when working with a full party - as in IWD or BG - rather than a sole protaganist - as in NWN. (KOTOR was rather imbetween, as you could actually level up over half a dozen party members even if only two accompanied you at any one time.) It's not a bad skills system, but a little one dimensional compared to say the SPECIAL system in Fallout or the free form system used in Morrowind. It gets the job done - being tried and tested it makes the characters and combat fairly balanced.

Not sure what you had against the item system in NWN. Items are pretty well distributed in all these games, with better loot etc so you gradually get more powerful as the game progresses.

My personal recommendation would be to buy both BG and BG2. But beware they are both around 100 hours each to finish! See if you like BG and get as far with it as you can (I burnt out by Chapter 5). Then use a level up program (Gatekeeper or something) to boost your character up and import them into BG2. The story and characters in BG2 feel much better if you have gotten into character in BG1. But if you are in a hurry, you could just go with BG2 - it is much better than BG1 (has more of the cinematic and character elements you probably enjoyed in KOTOR); definitely a contender for best CRPG ever.

[Bob the Insane]

I remember both BG and BG2 with fond memories... My Human, Male, Fighter raised from 1st level all the way through the 2 games...

Firing them up now is a little disapointing though, I just remember them as being way prettier. Now it is like, eugh... The games simply were not built to be run at todays standard resolutions...

While BG2 is the better story it really does pay dividends to work through BG first. One you get to practice with the system and two you get very attached to your character and can transfer them into BG2...

Personally I enjoyed the Fallout series more and again this benefits from playing the games in order (simply to get the full story)...

But BG2 is simply one of the best stories to have occured in a PC game (but it is still DnD)...

VTM:Bloodlines was great fun with some fantastic set pieces but a pretty linear story for an RPG...

Deus Ex, [simply] amazing alot like VTM:Bloodlines in the options you have(aged though, v1.5 of the Unreal engine).. Deus Ex 2, nice FPS+ but no RPG (you get to choose who you want to fight and run some erands)...

System shock 2, again RPG may be a litle strong as there is not really anyone to talk to or factions to be involved with. More like DOOM with charater development...

Morrowind should be perfect, but personally I could not get into the world as it was just too fantasy for me... (I mean, glass armour!! Come on!!!)

Might pick up Gothic 2 if I can find it and I am regliously awaiting Gothic 3 and Stalker...

[Kekvit Irae]

I loved playing BGII with my Mage, going solo. No party members whatsoever. How did I do this? Four words: Staff Of The Archmagi.

[Meneldil]

Actually, some classes in BGII are so overpowered that it's easier to go solo and rack up the XP (Monks, Kensai, Mage, Paladin)

[Somebody Else]

BG2 was fun, and my dual-wielding (Equalizer and Celestial Fury) kensai/rogue in white-dragon armour was well-nigh unstoppable. Especially with traps...

[AntiochusIII]

Morrowind should be perfect, but personally I could not get into the world as it was just too fantasy for me... (I mean, glass armour!! Come on!!!

Actually Morrowind's "Glass" is more like Obsidian rocks (though bright emerald green rather than black) than "traditional" glass. It's an equivalent of ebony in the game; came from the same source, Red Mountain, but lighter, more exotice, and less destructive than its black cousin.

Admit it, you hate Fargoth!

Anyway, the original poster also posted that he already has Morrowind. So this is not really one of the choices.

[Bob the Insane]

After reading through this and some other sites, I got hold of a copy of Gothic 2... Wow...

Doulbe wow because with my rig (and the age of the gfx engine) I have it on high rez, max setting with drw distance at like 200% so you can see very far...

Good story too, much more focused and standard fantasy, humans vs. the monsters(a.k.a. the forces of darkness)...