Any good RPG games?

[acid_fairy]

I've played WoW before, and whilst I liked it, I gave up when I had to kill spiders. I hate games where there is a huge fighting element which involves half of the time you running away! (Also, they were some scary virtual spiders!)

So what RPG games do you recommend that don't revolve entirely around fighting/killing/running away? I don't mind a bit of it, just not a lot.

Dragon Age and Fable look good, do any of you recommend them?

[ChaoticNeutral]

Dragon Age is made of pure Awesome. No, actually, it's more of a concentrated mix of both Awesome and Win. I've seen Dragon Age II being described on this forums as a major "soul rape", and, having played the first one, I must agree that's to be expected. If you're up for a great story with lots of emotion (including depressing ones), companions that make picking up your party take longer than raiding dungeons, and feeling as genuinelly joyful/sad/betrayed/surprised as your character is... give it a try - if you ever played Baldur's Gate, then you know what I'm talking about.

I haven't played Fable yet, but I've heard good things about it.

Have you tried the older games, like Jade Empire and Planescape: Torment?

[Onsimsnow]

super mario rpg legend of the seven stars
best snes game ever.

[Oaktree]

Dragon Age II can't really compare with Dragon Age: Origins because Origins had a much longer development time, which lead to a much deeper, longer, story with better character interaction. DA2 is entertaining and addictive (at least, I think so), nonetheless, but if you're coming in expecting another DA:O, you're going to be disappointed. Also, it has a lot of fighting/killing (though not so much running away, as battles keep you from leaving the area until everything is dead).

I would say that Origins is what you are looking for if you want a really good story-driven game. You can talk to your characters anytime you want and there is quite a bit of dialogue to go through, there is banter between/among your party members as you walk around the map, your choices do have some impact on the flow of the story (though, as a story-driven game, it isn't entirely flexible, but I think it makes sense to have some structure), there is a ton and a half of world lore (you get entries into your codex all the time, and there are lots of short passages from in-game books lying around), the music is beautiful, the story can be emotionally moving at points, and it does a great job of combining familiar elements of RPGs with a few relatively new elements. It is a long game, but I wouldn't count that against it. I should point out that both Dragon Age games are very gory. I'm not sure based on your post if that is something that would bother you or not. It's really fake and ridiculous gore, but there's tons of blood in those games.

I haven't gotten around to playing Fable yet, so I couldn't tell you anything about that.

I haven't played it, but I've also heard good things about The Witcher. I plan to play it sooner or later. Also, if we're talking about older RPGs, Baldur's Gate II is excellent as well. I would suggest playing Baldur's Gate (the first one) first, which is also a very good game, but I think this is one case where the sequel is better than the original. I've heard good things about The Longest Journey and I've just started playing that, which looks interesting so far, but I couldn't give you a well-considered opinion yet. Again, heard good things about Planescape: Torment, and I enjoyed the brief bit of it I played as a kid, but I haven't gotten through it, so I couldn't give you a considered opinion (I know, it's, like, gamer sacrilege that I haven't finished it yet).

[pinketamine]

Dragon Age: Origins is really a must, in my opinion. You should also try Oblivion and Fallout 3 and New Vegas, both are by the same company and I enjoyed them so much.

[Oaktree]

You will be fighting a huge spider in Dragon Age II. I had to cover my eyes with my hand which was extra frustrating because they were dwelling in my pants.

I forgot about that! When I saw that thing lung right into the 'camera', I just thought, "Awesome!", but I guess the OP doesn't like that sort of thing. :P

[nhayes17]

I agee, both Dragon Ages, Fall Out and the Elder Scrolls series, if you start Oblivion now you will be ready for Skyrim when it is launched in November

[ElPresidente]

My pick of the very best RPGs:

-- From the era when men were men and RPGs were RPGs --

Arcanum - one of the most reactive worlds in gaming. Every decision you make has impact even down to your gender, race and attributes. Also my favourite RPG of all time.
Planescape: Torment - Still the best writing in a computer game ever.
Fallout 1 & 2 - Classics for good reason (a complete different reason to why Fallout 3 is popular though ;))
Ultima VII - Remember how Bethesda kept going on about their revolutionary Radiant AI for Oblivion? Yeah, well, Origin did it better and 14 years earlier.
Ultima Underworld & Ultima Underworld 2 - Giant 3D dungeons replete with compelling narrative, clever quest design and brilliant combat and magic.
Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 - So they are a little more RPG-lite than the other aged games listed here but with such an epic story told seamlessly over four chapters (inc expansions) you'd be foolish to miss this one.

-- From today when RPGs are action games with some illusion of player agency ;) --

Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines - Dark adult story and wonderful choice and consequence from the team who brought you Fallout, Fallout 2 and Arcanum.
The Witcher - Ignore the action based combat and you have a game that comes closer to the ideal of fully realised player agency than many RPGs released in the past 10 years. Wonderful story with fantastic 'grey' morality.
Fallout: New Vegas - Fallout 3 was good, if something of a Fallout for Dummies. New Vegas, with Chris Avellone (from Fallout 2) at the helm, is a different and better beast.
Morrowind - Oblivion may have the sexier engine but it represents Bethesda tearing down their own franchise. Morrowind is the game you should be playing as it is the last good Elder Scrolls. Hopefully Skyrim will change that though I'm not holding my breath. Seriously, skip Oblivion, don't encourage Bethesda to keep massacring their own franchise.
Dragon Age: Origins - A wonderful throwback to Bioware's Baldur's Gate days. Thoroughly involving even if the sequel disappoints for all its stepping away from the original.
The Mass Effect series - Space operas have never been about the science but the people. Bioware show their recognition of this in one of the best CG space operas I've had the joy of experiencing.


That should give you a lot. ;)

[rcranger9]

i have played fable and i think it is very fun. i would recommend this to play. i also have oblivion and i love it. it's hailed as one of the greatest games ever created.

[Shoosh Malooka]

I loved the Witcher, until it veered into that cosmic stuff.

I wouldn't know if it belongs in your list, but perhaps I should try Deus Ex, or is it not an rpg?

Would you call Heavy Rain an rpg? It seems that the story would have heavy reign over the situation no matter what you do.

[ElPresidente]

Deus Ex isn't an RPG but it does borrow heavily from the genre and is one of the best games ever made. Buy it, play it, love it.

http://www.gpforums.co.nz/attachment.php?s=&postid=6483966

And no, Heavy Rain isn't an RPG as the narrative is too structured I'd consider it an adventure game. An exceptionally good one if you can avoid the deus ex machina (funnily enough, the phrase from which the game Deus Ex gets its name) that resolves the plot spoiling your experience. Alas I couldn't... I loved and hated Heavy Rain in equal measure as a result.

[maxon]

My personal newer favourites are The Witcher (new one due out this year, fans), Mass Effect (new one due out this year, fans) and Dragon Age (new one out already, fans). In that order probably. It's going to a great year for RPGs.

Older ones: Baldur's Gate series, Neverwinter Nights series, Vampire: The Masquerade, KOTOR, Planescape: Torment (possibly the best ever) ummmm ... That's all I can think of for now. I never got into Morrowind/Oblivion. I guess that's a personal preference because lots of people seem to like those games.

Edit
Oh, and on a slightly different game type I am SO looking forward to LA Noire in May.

[Zela]

I always loved Neverwinter nights. I never tried Neverwinter nights 2, but the first series is amazing and I especially like downloading and playing other people's modules. You sometimes fight spiders, but only in some quests.

[Nekowolf]

Get some friends and go old-school paper-and-pencil RPG :P I've been bukkaked by imps disguised as gingerbread men (the gumdrops... so many gumdrops...); seen a dwarf almost killed by the hot cheesy juices of a calzone golem; been turned into a weresheep (as which I not only managed to twist my sheep body in an impossible way, but also took a dump so mighty that it stunned a frost worm); twice gave a lobotomy to a paladin using a fork (the first time, his intelligence dropped to just above vegetative, so to correct it, gave another lobotomy, and turned him into a blackguard); sacrificed a party member to be the boy-toy of a gay dragon by majority vote; got attacked by dire chickens; seen a crocodile (or maybe it was an alligator) jump from the water, do a somersault in midair, and land on the other side of a bridge; seen a barbarian being possessed by the soul of a familiar, temporarily becoming the familiar himself; and seen the dwarf slide on ice only to smash into a stone kiosk, have a orc pour acid on him, got shrapnel'd after said orc blew up by a grenade, get up then fall back over into a pool of said acid then vomit over himself, and had been forcibly dragged, by me, near death, so that he wouldn't completely die when the wizard set off a warehouse full of explosives and gunpowder into what would be a massive explosion of awesome.

But seriously, I played Mass Effect 1 and 2, and Dragon Age: Origins, and I really liked both. I have to say, one of my favorite things about Dragon Age was actually the side conversations your party members could randomly have. Some of them are so damn funny!

[Oaktree]

Neverwinter Nights was quite good, and the toolset is pretty amazing if you have the patience to design your own adventure.

I also agree with Nekowolf about PnP gaming, though I've had difficulties finding a group in the past, so I understand that that can be a problem. I've never played a game quite as silly as what he describes, but a little silliness tends to get injected into any game. Plus, if you're lucky and you get a good storyteller for your DM, PnP can be so much more immersive than any other type of gaming.

[Nekowolf]

It was actually a couple of games, but the people who I do it with are, yes, quite silly. But yeah, even if it's quite serious, it's still really something if you can find a good group. But if you find a not so good group, then, ehhhh... it's not so good.

[balletroxmysox123]

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon!!! It's so cute, and not at all involving spiders. Apart from perhaps some Spider Pokemon...

[Bianyx]

Deus Ex isn't an RPG but it does borrow heavily from the genre and is one of the best games ever made. Buy it, play it, love it.

One of my favourite games of all time.

I've always loved Final Fantasy games although I must admit I'm not really loving the latest one. Another RPG I love is Star Ocean: Last hope. Its a mix of sci-fi and fantasy.
Lost Odyssey is another one worth a play imo.

[ElPresidente]

If you enjoy the Final Fantasy games but are losing interest in their more recent additions then it is time to switch over to the Shin Megami Tensei series. Persona 3 or 4 are probably the best introductions to the wider series.

[Shoosh Malooka]

Witcher 2 is coming up, May 17th I think.

The Witcher: Enhanced Edition tolled a colossal bite out of my summer last year. The story succeeded in underlining the idea that I was not a sovereign entity. They jolted me out of a comfortable seat that other games would have chained me to. Liberation from this was frightening when I realized that I must live with consequences. Really, I don't remember feeling certain that "I did the right thing." This world was out of control with no guilt-free way out. Sobering, fresh and rotten all at once.

The other thing was that cosmic story. I was already invested in the fantasy racism and had my whole human, for the greater cause propaganda. I wanted to have my doomsday victory over those selfish elves and break their spirit. My hate was just beginning and I had already pictured the color scheme for my water boarding room. That dream was shattered when I realized it was time to look up the words to Circle of Life from the Lion King. Ah well, here's hoping I get another chance in the next game.

[Bianyx]

If you enjoy the Final Fantasy games but are losing interest in their more recent additions then it is time to switch over to the Shin Megami Tensei series. Persona 3 or 4 are probably the best introductions to the wider series.

Just had a look on Wikipedia about them and they sound really interesting. I'll definitely give them a play, thanks! :)

[Bodhie]

I would recommand as someone else did Baldur's Gate 1&2 + the many romances mods outta there . The community is alive and kicking and still making romances mods :D

And also , Knights of the old republic & Sith Lord (also called Kotor 1 &2 but watch out for Kotor 2 :Sith Lord it is buggy game as hell) .

[mepwn]

you could try minecraft
It's a sandbox/adventure/RPG game
your goal is to survive the nights and caves filed with undead
you can build your own stuff and explore an endless worlds :)

you can also play it online (still a bit buggy)