RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I've been looking for a good PC RPG for awhile now. I want something that has modern, good-looking graphics, a solid storyline, lots of freedom, and a wide variety of character and equipment options. I would prefer that it not be first-person (a la "Oblivion" or "Bioshock"). I also do not want a Diablo-clone (like "Loki" or "Titan Quest"). What are my options now? Does anyone know of any really good RPGs to come out in the last year or two for the PC? WoW does not adequately fill my RPGing needs.
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The pickings are much slimmer than they used to be for plot-driven PC RPGs these days.
The Witcher is out, but I've heard very mixed reviews. I would strongly recommend Mass Effect if it wasn't for the SecuROM copy protection that caused such a fuss when it was announced. I don't know what the situation with that is right now, but if it's been sorted out, it's well worth looking into if you haven't been overhyped for it.
Honestly I'd really suggest Planescape: Torment, but that's by no means modern graphically at this point.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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The pickings are much slimmer than they used to be for plot-driven PC RPGs these days.
The Witcher is out, but I've heard very mixed reviews. I would strongly recommend Mass Effect if it wasn't for the SecuROM copy protection that caused such a fuss when it was announced. I don't know what the situation with that is right now, but if it's been sorted out, it's well worth looking into if you haven't been overhyped for it.
Honestly I'd really suggest Planescape: Torment, but that's by no means modern graphically at this point.
I have Mass Effect, actually. It's... okay. It lacks the freedom I want, though. The game is one of the biggest railroads I've ever seen. The only freedom you get is the order in which you handle "quests."
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I recommend the Witcher heartily myself. Action RPG, but not in the Diablo sense. Loved the story in it, though going through Wikipedia, and other sources for Andrezj Sapkowski's world helps a bit. The Last Wish, out in the States by Orbit Books, is the collection of stories he first did for the world.
I'd say there is freedom, though your choices change some bits of the story so you can't complete every single thing ever, and the game's take on the Adult Themes mentioned on the box is decidedly tongue in cheek, or as one reviewer put it: "Hah hah! Adult themes!"
If freedom in the game is your big deal, then I can't really recommend anything, seeing as I felt that Mass Effect was open, although that may have been the story pulling me along, which I enjoyed thoroughly. If what you want is a game that doesn't have you do specific things to advance the storyline, then...I can't really help besides recommend Planescape: Torment, as was done above, and that still isn't completely open. Amazing story though, and I still play the game for the voice work done in it. That and talking to a man named 'O' in a bar with a continually flaming corpse...
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I'll put in a word for the Witcher as well. The storyline is chunked, but each chunk is BIG and you can approach it with a pretty open style. Many play 'attitudes' are supported, which is good, too.
They also recently added an open toolset like Neverwinter Nights, so new material appears to be on the horizon.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Have you tried KOTOR or KOTOR II?
I know these are pretty "old", but they fit your criteria in my mind.
Pretty cool to choose between all of the Star Wars RPG classes, plus choose what kind of Jedi/Dark Jedi/Sith you are going to be.
I have actually tried those. For some reason or another, they adamantly refuse to function correctly on my computer. Quite upsetting.
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Hi
As a 3.5 addict I'd have to recommend Neverwinter Nights2. First time I've ever been able to play a Warlock. Not so sure of Mask of the Betrayer, though. Had problems with that 'vampiric' thing & quests later in the game. (Otherwise it would be excellent).
Still love the old Might & Magic series - got MM6, MM7, MM8, & MM9, though not all work with Vista. :(
Cheers
Paul H
You could always try the X-Box versions. I've never bothered, so I can't commment on their translations, but the games themselves might be worth it.
I personally prefer gaming on a PC platform - I guess it is just old habits of keymapping Tie Fighter to be the perfect weapon.
Both are backwards compatible on the Xbox 360 and play just fine.
Also in the MMO vein you might like Lord of the Rings Online. Big world, lots of stuff to do and see, fun little cameo appearances by LotR characters both famous and obscure.
And the Old Forest is creepy as all get-out. 0.o
-The Gneech
How about a sci-fi RPG? Fallout 3 is coming out at the end of the month, but I think it will be first person.
You guys remember Arcannum? The game had an interesting concept, but ultimately it was released WAY too soon before working all tha major bugs out.
I guess what I loved most about the game was how open it was to do whatever you wanted. You could even join a brothel! lol I remember being offered a job when I put some barbarian gear on (as a female), everyone in town were wierded out (put some clothes on woman!) except the mistress hehe!
Arcanum is awesome. I love the steampunk feel to it.
You guys remember Arcannum? The game had an interesting concept, but ultimately it was released WAY too soon before working all tha major bugs out.
I guess what I loved most about the game was how open it was to do whatever you wanted. You could even join a brothel! lol I remember being offered a job when I put some barbarian gear on (as a female), everyone in town were wierded out (put some clothes on woman!) except the mistress hehe!
Still my favorite CRPG by a long shot, though and open ended like no other game except possibly Morrowind. Loved loved loved it.
I enjoyed being able to have a PC that was a demolition expert/diplomacy maven. I would make bombs just from stuff I found in trash cans and talking my way out of encounters or into places I wasn't supposed to be was always rewarding. The only thing I found vaguely annoying about it was the repetitive violin music.
I have a similar need for story-driven, non-first-person, PC RPGs, but I don't see anything on the market that meets those criteria. The upcoming Dragon Age from Bioware may be what we're looking for, but it's a way from being finished.
No one mentioned two worlds.
It.s story driven, it's free roam, and it's third person.
Ok. so storywise it's perhaps just a 5/10 but the OP is asking alot from todays game designers.
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Two World's O.K. - you could also get Gothic 3 (or better, any compilation with all three games, since the third one looks best but is the weakest) but it is still (after the community patch) bugged and wolves and boars can still kill a high level character pretty quick - otherwise I liked it better then Two Worlds. Gothic 2 is one of the best computer rpgs outside bioware standarts that I played, yet its look can't keep up to modern standarts.