Western RPGs

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08 Dec 2004, 12:32 AM
NeoZeedeater

Western RPGs

While I didn't really appreciate them as much in my younger gaming days, I am growing increasingly fond of Western RPGs. As a genre it has a lot of depth and a rich history. This thread is a tribute to Western RPGs. I'm certainly not going to attempt and list everything but here are some of the more important developers and games.

Company - Origin Systems

The saga begins here. Richard Garriott was the first to bring the pen and paper concept of role playing to video game form with his Apple II game Akalabeth in 1979 published by California Pacific. Despite the name, this game is pretty much the first game in the Ultima series.
http://www.sircabirus.com/ultimaexpl.../akalabeth.gif

Early Ultima games were published by Sierra. Garriott founded Origin Systems in 1983 and began publishing his own games. Ultima remained Origin's flagship RPG series throughout the years although they did produce other ones like Moebius, 2400 A.D., Space Rogue, Tangled Tales and Knights of Legend.

Ultima VII
http://www.rolemaker.dk/documents/Re...tima7/pic2.jpg

Origin oversaw the production of Looking Glass Technologies' spin off game Ultima Underworld in 1992 which featured a 3d engine more advanced than its more popular action rival Wolfenstein 3D by id Software.
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare...100/under3.jpg

Since Sierra was mentioned, another RPG to note of theirs is Betrayal at Krondor(1993). I don't remember much about it except that it had an impressive 3d world to explore and some bad live actors. It's not a pretty game today, that's for sure.
http://www.rolemaker.dk/documents/Re...ondor/pic2.jpg

Company - Mattel

It's a common misconception that consoles didn't have RPGs in the pre-NES era but that wasn't the case. The most notable console RPG of that time was Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin for the Intellivision in 1982. Like so many first-party InTV games it was developed by APh Technology Consultants.
http://rz-home.de/~mluenzer/intelliv...sonst/tot3.jpg

Blizzard

RPGs have had their popularity ups and downs on PCs and heading into the mid '90s wasn't a peak period. Blizzard's Action/RPG Diablo did a lot to repopularize the genre in 1996. It was a lot more mainstream friendly and addcitive than the average RPG and it probably brought in new players. I'm not going to mention this subgenre anymore except for its origin.

Diablo II
http://www.5star-shareware.com/Games...ts/diablo2.jpg

Company - Automated Simulations/Epyx

Pretty much every ARPG dungeon crawler can be traced back to The Temple of Apshai which is almost as old as Akalabeth. These games are sometimes called Roguelikes after Epyx's Rogue.

Temple of Apshai Trilogy
http://druidhk.no-ip.com:8081/images..._trilogy_2.gif

Company - Bethesda

The Elder Scrolls series is known for taking open-endedness to the extreme. While Arena and Daggerfall remained cult favorites on PC, the third game in the main series Morrowind hit it big on Xbox as well as PC. For the longest time there was the belief that console gamers didn't want complex games and that PC ports needed to be dumbed down. Morrowind proved this theory wrong as it made it to console with all its depth intact. I was blown away by the sheer ambition, freedom and scope of the game.
http://membres.lycos.fr/svvjeuxpc/mo...iltstrider.jpg

Daggerfall
http://www.gamenavigator.ru/pub/demo...l_demo.exe.jpg

Company - Datasoft

This company was better known for releasing action games like Bruce Lee but they did release Philip Price's revered Alternate Reality: the City for the Atari 800 in 1985(later ported to other computers). It was one of the earliest games to feature a character's morality defined by the player's actions as to being pre-chosen D&D style.
http://www.qlam.com/atari/altreality_p4.gif

Company - Sir-Tech

Sir-Tech's Wizardry was one of computer gaming's longest running RPG series beginning in 1981 and ending in 2001. It's probably the only game series to originate in Canada that managed to achieve some following in Japan.
http://www.links.net/dox/warez/games...x/mazeshot.gif

Wizardy 8
http://www.iosphere.net/~eric/wizardry/w8pic77.jpg

Company - FTL Software

No, it's not Fruit of the Loom; it's Faster Than Light. FTL made a few big contributions to RPGs. Sundog: Frozen Legacy was ahead of its time, mixing in roleplaying and space combat with detail unheard of for its time. It was originally released for the Apple II but it really shined in 16-bit form on the Atari ST in 1985.
http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n3/Sundog.JPG

A couple years later they released the first-person fantasy RPG Dungeon Master which was considerably more successful.
http://www.retro-games.co.uk/atari/st/dmast2.jpg

Company - Strategic Simulations Inc.

SSI began as a strategy/wargame developer in the late '70s but they gained a lot of popularity branching out into RPGs based on the D&D license. SSI's "Gold Box" games are considered classics by many although they were never my kind of thing.

Death Knights of Krynn
http://www.dungeony.cz/hoborg/amiga/..._krynn_006.png

Buck Rogers: Matrix Cubed
http://koti.mbnet.fi/ktalo/kapseli/p...s/Buckctd4.gif

Company - BioWare

Bioware hit it big in 1998 with their D&D based Baldur's Gate.
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010502/bg_01.jpg

Since the Baldur's games they have moved onto 3d games like Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Star Wars: KotOR is especially significant in that it was released on Xbox first and achieved mainstream success.
http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/na/arch...OR_113578a.jpg

Currently BioWare is developing the ancient China inspired ARPG Jade Empire.
http://www.bigkid.com.au/media/2/20031007-Jade.jpg

KotOR 2's development was given to Obsidian Entertainment and the game just came out. Here's a bit on who Obsidian are taken from their website:

Quote:

The five founders are: Feargus Urquhart, Chris Parker, Darren Monahan, Chris Avellone and Chris Jones. Many of Obsidian's talented employees have worked on award winning products for companies such as Black Isle Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Neversoft, and others.

. They are also currently making Neverwinter Nights 2.

Company - Interplay

The Bard's Tale
http://www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/p...ga_screen3.gif

Also published by EA in Interplay's pre-publishing days was the post-apocalyptic themed Wasteland was a nice change of pace from the more cliche RPG themes.
http://www.christoud.com/Jeux/Wasteland/Wasteland.gif

1997's Fallout is unofficial sequel to Wasteland.

Fallout 2
http://www.applelinks.com/reviews/gifs/fallout2b.jpg

Planescape: Torment is considered by many to be the darker, cooler, more well-written Baldur's Gate. Sadly, I think the box art probably turned away potential buyers as it's ugly and doesn't represent how nicely animated the game actually is.
http://www.designersnotebook.com/Col...h/torment2.jpg

Interplay's RPG division Black Isle Studios was shut down earlier this year. People often get BioWare and Black Isle mixed up so
if anyone's still confused about them they should read this GameSpy article - http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/...le/index2.shtm

The Bard's Tale creator Michael Cranford has a few notable RPG contributions outside of Interplay. Maze Master for the C64 was his first original game in 1983. His sci-fi creation Centauri Alliance is considered by many RPG enthusiasts to be his greatest contribution despite having nowhere near the level of recognition of The Bard's Tale.

Company - Troika Games

Troika was formed from former members of the Fallout development team. They created Arcanum and The Temple of Elemental Evil.

Arcanum
http://www.netzwerkcafe.de/pics/spiele/l/arcanum-3g.gif

Their latest game is very morbid Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines based on the White Wolf license. Games like this are what personally interest me in the future of Western RPGs. It strays from the norm in that it has real-time action-ish gameplay and a mixture of classic adventure elements. The influence of Ion Storm's FPS/RPG Deus Ex can be seen here.
http://www.consolegold.com/screenshots/PC//12464.jpg

Development of Fallout 3 has been handed to Bethesda.

Company - Blue Sky

The Genesis certainly isn't known for Western RPGs but one game stands out, Shadowrun. Unlike Beam's SNES game based on the same FASA license this one is considered to be much truer to its RPG roots.
http://newff.playphoria.com/bestof/g.../shadowrun.jpg

MMORPGs and text-based RPGs were omitted for space reasons but I would encourage adding them along with anything else that relates to the topic. I have a lot to learn about this genre myself so I'm hoping for a good discussion.
08 Dec 2004, 12:34 AM
Roufuss

I'm proud in the fact I own a big chunk of games off of that list.

No love for Icewind Dale though?
08 Dec 2004, 12:37 AM
animegirl

The only western RPGs I played and actually liked were Ultima: Quest of the Avatar and Knights of the Old Republic. I really tried to like Morrowind, but it was just too damn boring. I thought Fallout had a really cool story and setting, but the combat was not that exciting. Jade Empire looks awesome, it's pretty close to the top of my wish list.
08 Dec 2004, 12:38 AM
NeoZeedeater

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roufuss

I'm proud in the fact I own a big chunk of games off of that list.

No love for Icewind Dale though?

I was under the impression that Icewind is a Diablo-ish game(although more complex) and I decided not to list many of those. It's not that I don't like them as I do. Having them in the discussion is cool. I just left them out of the initial post.
08 Dec 2004, 12:41 AM
Roufuss

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I was under the impression that Icewind is a Diablo-ish game(although more complex) and I decided not to list many of those. It's not that I don't like them as I do. Having them in the discussion is cool. I just left them out of the initial post.

Icewind Dale is Baldur's Gate, basacially, but with just not an involved story and a different environment. Alot of people did call it a "Baldur's Gate style dungeon crawler", but it still had a story, it still had all the choices in the dialogue, it just focused more on combat.

It was still really really good, and if you're a fan of the BG / Planescape games, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

I'm pretty sure you can get Icewind Dale + expansion / Icewind Dale 2 packs cheap at EB still, around 20 bucks.
08 Dec 2004, 12:43 AM
Eightbitbreaks

Is Arcanum good? If it's half as good as Fallout, then I'd love it.
08 Dec 2004, 12:43 AM
AstroBlue

Another awesome thread from NeoZ.

:tu:

Was the Star Trek for the NES made by a western company? It had a lot of RPG elements.
08 Dec 2004, 12:45 AM
Roufuss

Quote:

Originally Posted by SXA

Is Arcanum good? If it's half as good as Fallout, then I'd love it.

Arcanum was awesome, but it had it's share of problems.

I'd mainly buy it for the brilliant setting and atmosphere. It's magic meets old western technology. If you're a big time mage, you won't be able to ride the train since your magical energies will mess it up. It's little touches to the world like that, that are really cool.

The combat was blah, and I don't remember the story, but it was decent.
08 Dec 2004, 12:45 AM
rectal_area

Icewind Dale is basically Baldur's Gate but without pre-made characters. More depth I suppose, but alot harder to become involved in. Icewind Dale 2 is based on third edition rules, same as NWN. Both run on the same engine as Baldur's Gate.
08 Dec 2004, 12:48 AM
Eightbitbreaks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roufuss

I'd mainly buy it for the brilliant setting and atmosphere. It's magic meets old western technology. If you're a big time mage, you won't be able to ride the train since your magical energies will mess it up. It's little touches to the world like that, that are really cool.

That sounds awesome. I can handle blah gameplay over good atmosphere. I'd imagine this shit is pretty cheap nowadays?
08 Dec 2004, 12:49 AM
Roufuss

Quote:

Originally Posted by SXA

That sounds awesome. I can handle blah gameplay over good atmosphere. I'd imagine this shit is pretty cheap nowadays?

I've seen used copies at EB extremely cheap, and I think new ones run around 20 bucks, maybe less.
08 Dec 2004, 12:50 AM
LOL

Icewind uses the same Infinity Engine as the Baldur's Gate games, but yeah, it's more action oriented and doesn't have much of a story. It's the non-stop fighting and questing version of Baldur's Gate like Torment is the more story-intensive version. I actually like Icewind Dale the best of all of them because the fighting is the focus so it's more balanced and well-paced. It's more rewarding to be able to completely customize all the characters and build them up. It's Diablo with a party of six.

Bioware/Black Isle is really saving the RPG genre. Before KOTOR hit it big with the mainstream, the genre was getting even further down the cliched, by-the-numbers hole that it had fallen into. I really thought Bioware was getting the same way by using the same fighting engine over and over again, but I'm glad Jade Empire has a whole new system.
08 Dec 2004, 01:10 AM
dog$

This thread definitely needs some mention of New World Computing.

Sorry that I'm too lazy to do so myself at this writing, I'll (try to) do so later if nobody else takes it up.
08 Dec 2004, 01:17 AM
NeoZeedeater

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroBlue

Was the Star Trek for the NES made by a western company? It had a lot of RPG elements.

Yes, it was by Interplay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dog$

This thread definitely needs some mention of New World Computing.

Good call. I don't have much to say on them but I was impressed when I first played Might & Magic.
08 Dec 2004, 01:20 AM
Rocca

This really shows that Neo has always been one of the top tier posters here. Great thread man, I'm reminiscing already. ;)
08 Dec 2004, 01:33 AM
gamevet

1 Attachment(s)

I loved Interplay's The Bard's Tale series. I played the first and Thief of Fate on the C-64. They also tried their hand at another RPG called Dragon Wars. It borrowed some of it's design from The Bard's Tale, but was a little off target in gameplay. One cool feature however, was the automap. No more graph paper needed.
08 Dec 2004, 01:34 AM
rezo

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjRocca

This really shows that Neo has always been one of the top tier posters here. Great thread man, I'm reminiscing already. ;)

Neozeedeater is the top tier. TNL is broken.
08 Dec 2004, 01:37 AM
toxic

Great post Neo. It really brings back alot of fond memories. I have played all of those except for the few early ones .. a couple more I would like to add...

Both are similar playstyles and actually made by some of the same people, but under different companies.

Both games were single person RPGs. The overworld featured a top down look, while the dungeons were from the first person perspective ("3d"). Legacy had pretty incredible graphics for its time. While Questron II had some difficult puzzles to solve, but was pretty straight forward besides that.

Legacy of the Ancients (EA)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...e_Ancients.gif

LotA is pretty funny. Your character starts off protecting a pretty powerful artifact .. and within about 20 minutes of playing, you randomly get mugged, and it is stolen away. From there, the chase is on. For its time .. the graphics were pretty astounding (especially in the dungeons).

Questron II (SSI)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../questron2.bmp

Questron II was close to being a great game. It was a little too rough around the edges. But was still a great game in its day. The ending promised for a Questron III ... but that never came to pass.
08 Dec 2004, 01:46 AM
gamevet

I remember giving Questron II a try on the good old Amiga. I really couldn't get into it. Maybe I should drag out the old beast and give it another shot?
08 Dec 2004, 01:49 AM
Survival Kid

Everday I like Western RPGs more and more than Japanese ones. Japanese RPGs are just too constricting.

Good thread, but a little more Fallout coverage would have been nice.
08 Dec 2004, 01:52 AM
The_Meach

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxic

Questron II (SSI)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../questron2.bmp

That title rules.

And great thread, NZD.
08 Dec 2004, 02:07 AM
toxic

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamevet

I remember giving Questron II a try on the good old Amiga. I really couldn't get into it. Maybe I should drag out the old beast and give it another shot?

It was a pretty straightforward game. Besides a few puzzles, there wasn't much of a story (Stop evil man from using the powerful book), I doubt the game still holds up.
08 Dec 2004, 02:37 AM
Compass

I love these games. Given how far behind I am though I'm only just now playing Icewind Dale. It's not as good as Torment (but so what, almost nothing is) but *much* better than the dry and boring Baldur's Gate (though I'm expecting good things from BGII). The art is astounding in 1600x1200 and the music and sound effects are equally as impressive. Non-stop fighting is the only thing "wrong" with it (if you see it that way). Love this game.

Might & Magic VII was one of the most fun and addicting games I've ever played, RPG or otherwise. It won't run on my current machine or I'd have finished it by now. So rough with huge flaws but so damn great regardless.

Great thread.
08 Dec 2004, 02:44 AM
Victrix

More depressing/interesting is that all of the old big starters are dead - Ultima, Might & Magic and Wizardry are all toast :( There are new series to carry on the tradition, but not nearly as many.

Needs more love for Roguelikes too! Nethack/Adom/Angband
08 Dec 2004, 02:56 AM
Compass

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

People often get BioWare and Black Isle mixed up so
if anyone's still confused about them they should read this GameSpy article - http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/...le/index2.shtm

I read that article. It's nice to know that they realize just how great Torment was:

Quote:

Game wise, I think our greatest accomplishment is Planescape: Torment. It was a revolutionary idea rather than just more of the same high fantasy. It had beauty, scope, and story. It was a wonderful project to work on and help bring to life. It was "art."
08 Dec 2004, 03:04 AM
epmode

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxic

Legacy of the Ancients (EA)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...e_Ancients.gif

LotA is pretty funny. Your character starts off protecting a pretty powerful artifact .. and within about 20 minutes of playing, you randomly get mugged, and it is stolen away. From there, the chase is on. For its time .. the graphics were pretty astounding (especially in the dungeons).

woah, i thought i was the only one that remembered that game. had it for the c64, and couldn't do a damn thing in it.

my game always ended in one of three ways:
got hopelessly lost in a first person dungeon.
died of hunger.
killed by the first overworld monster.

still, being able to walk into the paintings was pretty cool..
08 Dec 2004, 03:10 AM
AstroBlue

Quote:

Originally Posted by Compass

I read that article. It's nice to know that they realize just how great Torment was:

Quote:

Game wise, I think our greatest accomplishment is Planescape: Torment. It was a revolutionary idea rather than just more of the same high fantasy. It had beauty, scope, and story. It was a wonderful project to work on and help bring to life. It was "art."

Yeah, it's amazing when a developer understands, spot-on, what they have accomplished. Most of them don't have any idea, they either overcompensate (Itagaki) or are overly modest.

Apart from the ones mentioned, what are some western RPGs without a fantasy/medieval theme?
08 Dec 2004, 03:36 AM
Compass

Lionheart but everybody seems to hate it.
08 Dec 2004, 04:16 AM
LOL

Torment and Fallout are way overrated.

Still awesome, but really overrated.
08 Dec 2004, 04:42 AM
George

Image intensive and informative as ever, Neo. Great read.
08 Dec 2004, 06:57 AM
Victrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by omfgninjas

Torment and Fallout are way overrated.

Still awesome, but really overrated.

Torment is slightly overrated in that the *game* is only decent, not great. And for those that don't enjoy dense story, I can't see it being an enjoyable experience. Otherwise though... goddamn it was some good writing and an amazing setting.

Fallout on the other hand, isn't overrated in the slightest. Great game, great story, great replayability. One of the few rpgs I've played through multiple times over the years, it holds up well, even today. Chunky smg death animation will probably never get old either :evil:
08 Dec 2004, 10:09 AM
Frogacuda

I was really turned off by Fallout's battle system.
08 Dec 2004, 10:13 AM
Mzo

Really?

I enjoyed powerfisting people right in the eye.
08 Dec 2004, 10:29 AM
Bacon McShig

Hm, aren't the Zork titles considered RPGs? Seems like they should have a place in here. You also may want to check out Anachoronox, a westernized take on the JRPG formula by Ion Storm.

For the most part I enjoy the artistic design of JRPGs more, but I agree that Western RPGs are much more fun gameplay-wise, in that they are not turn-based menu-fests. Still, though, I'd rather it take a turn towards more reactionary, skill-based combat than the die rolls it currently uses, something akin to the Mario RPGs where your skill in timing can be more of a factor than your level and equipped items.
08 Dec 2004, 10:35 AM
Mzo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bacon McShig

Hm, aren't the Zork titles considered RPGs?

Adventure games.
08 Dec 2004, 11:19 AM
raystorm

No love for Anachronox? It was a great and humorous rpg that had Final Fantasy style battles. It was fun and had a nice story. Plus what other RPG out there can you have party members that include a mexican luchadore and a shrunken planet?

http://img24.exs.cx/img24/173/0016jw.jpg
http://img75.exs.cx/img75/3416/0258fe.jpg
http://img75.exs.cx/img75/7707/0376vd.jpg
08 Dec 2004, 01:04 PM
NeoZeedeater

I was really hyped for Anachronox but the demo didn't do much for me so I didn't buy it. I didn't get to try the combat as the part I tried was all exploring in a town.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroBlue

Apart from the ones mentioned, what are some western RPGs without a fantasy/medieval theme?

There's more sci-fi stuff like EA's Sentinel Worlds 1 and its sequel Hard Nova, New World Computing's Planet's Edge, Flair's Whale's Voyage series, Mindscape's Captive 1, DMA's Hired Guns(this had some cool split-screen multiplayer back in the early '90s). I should have mentioned some of these before.

Oddly, it seems like almost every game with a more historical theme ,like Pirates! or Sword of the Samurai for example, falls closer to the strategy genre.
08 Dec 2004, 01:42 PM
JefmcC

Am I the only person that hates the perspective from the Ultima games?
08 Dec 2004, 01:51 PM
toxic

Top down viewpoint? Wasn't 70% of all RPG's (console and PC) from that era the same way? I preferred Ultima's look to something like Wizardry or Bard's Tale.

I wasn't crazy about the combat system for Ultima .. but loved the stories.
08 Dec 2004, 01:52 PM
rezo

Quote:

Am I the only person that hates the perspective from the Ultima games?

No.

.
08 Dec 2004, 01:55 PM
NeoZeedeater

I think he's referring to the weird look some of them have like in the Ultima VII pic shown. It's oddly elongated or something. My favorite Ultima perspective was actually the fully 3d Ultima IX but the game seemed so damn buggy that I didn't risk buying it.
08 Dec 2004, 02:03 PM
raystorm

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I think he's referring to the weird look some of them have like in the Ultima VII pic shown. It's oddly elongated or something. My favorite Ultima perspective was actually the fully 3d Ultima IX but the game seemed so damn buggy that I didn't risk buying it.

Ultima 9 was the only Ultima game I've played and beaten. It wasn't THAT bad and I didn't run into any bugs. I did have the patched version and I used a voodoo 3 at the time which worked best with the game. I got into pc gaming around '99 so I never tried out the older stuff. Not sure if I should even bother now. Do they stand the test of time? I hear U7 is the best. Worth trying these days?
08 Dec 2004, 02:21 PM
Victrix

U7 stands up from a story standpoint, and if you download Exult and play it with that, no real technical problems (heck, you can even run it in high res for what its worth)

I wouldn't bother messing with the others, but U7 (in all its many parts) is quite a game.

Ultima Underworld was also pretty amazing, but its rather raw now. Then again, I have a thing for first person rpgs. Try Arx Fatalis instead. Very similar feel, modern game. Heck, I think its even on the Xbox (though I have no idea how it'd control on there)
08 Dec 2004, 02:26 PM
raystorm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victrix

Try Arx Fatalis instead. Very similar feel, modern game. Heck, I think its even on the Xbox (though I have no idea how it'd control on there)

I finished Arx Fatalis and look forward to the sequel (if it shows up). I liked it though trying to do magic while fighting gets hectic (since you need to use your mouse to do those spell motions).
08 Dec 2004, 02:41 PM
Tsubaki

Quote:

Originally Posted by Survival Kid

Everday I like Western RPGs more and more than Japanese ones. Japanese RPGs are just too constricting.

No intent to hijack thread, but...

Does anyone else think that constrictions can be a plus?

It's almost the difference between Western and Japanese games in general. Freedom vs a focused experience.

I'm keeping an open mind... I bought KOTOR and I'll eventually get Morrowind GOTY, Baldur's Gate 1+2, Fallout 1+2. I hear great things about Fallout's gameplay, so I think it'll suit me fine. The others, I'm not that optimistic about.
08 Dec 2004, 02:48 PM
epmode

if you're looking for a more focused western rpg, give torment a go. while it's still nowhere near linear, its emphasis on a well-written story over the wander anywhere feel of the other games you listed is refreshing. it's my favorite black isle/bioware game so far.
08 Dec 2004, 02:54 PM
Mzo

Planescape has Morte, who is one of the best goddamned RPG characters in the history of the Universe.

Morte > HK47, believe it.
08 Dec 2004, 02:55 PM
dog$

I'm very ill-equipped to speak of New World Computing, seeing as how I've only really played Might & Magic 3-5.

Here is a decent listing of some of their more prominent titles. I guess I might have to give MM6 a try one of these days, because it seems like the game had a lot of initial glitches. I bought 6 the first day it came out and wouldn't play it after a few hours.

I think MM4 & 5 might be noteable as the first attempt at a serialized RPG.
08 Dec 2004, 02:59 PM
epmode

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mzo

Morte > HK47, believe it.

i do not belive it. i might if torment was fully voiced. hk47's actor is perfect.
08 Dec 2004, 03:14 PM
Mzo

Quote:

Originally Posted by epmode

i do not belive it. i might if torment was fully voiced. hk47's actor is perfect.

Observation: You are a tool.
08 Dec 2004, 03:26 PM
NeoZeedeater

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

No intent to hijack thread, but...

Does anyone else think that constrictions can be a plus?

Constrictions can be a plus and so can freedom. It depends what the game's maker sets out to create. Xenogears, for example, works perfectly as an extremely linear story focused game while Morrowind works doing the opposite.

Quote:

It's almost the difference between Western and Japanese games in general. Freedom vs a focused experience.

While it's true that the Japanese rarely tread into open-ended territory, Western development certainly isn't dominated by it either. The majority of Western games are linear too, especially outside of RPGs. Linear, focused game design is just as much Western as it is Eastern. It's only recently that open-ended stuff is becoming more mainstream thanks to games like GTA.
08 Dec 2004, 05:39 PM
Gohron

Nice thread Neo, awesome infact. Reminded me of some of the older (but still new, as in late 90's) Rpg's I've been meaning to play but forgot they existed.

Keep on making threads like this, they're always enjoyable to read.