Your Favourite RPG/ARPG/Adventure Games? “Rest here, ye weary traveller"

Bit of downtime at work so I'd thought I'd do another one of these threads.

Dungeon Master (Amiga)

One of my fondest memories of being an Amiga owner. D&D was still very much a keen pastime of mine back then and so with its splendid visuals and incredibly atmospheric environment Dungeon Master proved to be the perfect companion between the table-top gaming. That was until...

Ishar 2: Messengers of Doom (Amiga)

This took the formula of DM and expanded upon it with not just better visuals but huge outdoor environments with NPCs to banter with, cities to visit, taverns to hire adventurers for your party and so forth. Last year I picked up the Ishar bundle via GoG and on returning to Ishar 2 I was not only hit with a pleasant sense of nostalgia, but surprise at how well the series still holds up. Forgot how bastard difficult it could be though!

Might & Magic VII: For Blood & Honor (PC)

My wife is a huge fan of this particular series and it was she that introduced it to me when we were first dating. We're both in agreement that M&M 7 is the best. It's also home to one of the greatest mini games ever in "Acromage".

Wizards & Warriors (PC)

Played this again more recently having bought it via GoG. While not quite as good as M&M, Wzards is still immensely enjoyable considering it's now nearly 20 years old.

Legend of Grimrock 2 (PC)

A new game with an old school approach. The first is the excellent, but number 2 not only takes things outside of the dungeon it also improves on the first in many areas.

TES V: Skyrim (PC)

Arguably not the best in the series but thanks to a thriving mod scene Skyrim is easily my most played.

Fallout 3 (PC)

If I had to choose then Fallout 3 is probably my favourite Bethesda title. I loved it on console, then again on PC backed by yet another thriving modding community.

Diablo 3 (PS4)

Are there people who don't actually like this? Personally I've lost count of how many hours of poured into Diablo 3. Marvellous game.

That'll do for now. There are others, but a job has just come up.

Planescape Torment

Still the high bar when it comes to narrative in gaming, no other title of any genre has, imo, spun a better tale.

I should really get around to finishing it at some point...

Mass Effect 1

The highpoint of the series that, unfortunately, hasn't aged all that well. The plot and characters are the best in the series, the non-combat gameplay the most interesting, and the final third perhaps the greatest final third of any game ever.

KOTORs I and II

As discussed in the Star Wars thread.

The Witcher 3

Probably my second or third favourite game ever. CDPR took the Bioware formula of exploration, conversation and combat and perfected it. It's not without its flaws, the combat is largely average, but it's still the best ARPG ever made as far as I'm concerned.

Fallout 3

A narrative step back for the series but for this iteration, Bethesda's formula worked. The combat was interesting, the side characters whacky and the world a dream to explore. A shame it's also the last good game Bethesda made.

Neverwinter Nights: KoToR gets a lot of love but that game was very close to being Neverwinter Nights in space, the plot was even quite similar with the Bastilla plot twist being lifted straight from Neverwinter Nights.

I never got round to playing any of the expansions or the sequel, this is perhaps a series I will revisit via Steam.

Tafdolphin wrote:Mass Effect 1

The highpoint of the series that, unfortunately, hasn't aged all that well. The plot and characters are the best in the series, the non-combat gameplay the most interesting, and the final third perhaps the greatest final third of any game ever.

Completely agree with this. Although it would have benefited from the engine improvements and combat of the 2nd game.

I absolutely love a good RPG, though I haven't actually played many of them due to the consoles I've owned being mainly Nintendo ones (though I've loved every Zelda game to bits).

Breath of Fire 1 and 2 were the first 2 RPGs I ever played that wasn't a Nintendo game. Capcom did well with them in my opinion, I played them both to death and loved every minute of them. Bravely default/second took up a lot of my time too, the second one especially.

What are you counting for this genre? Everything posted so far seems to be western RPGs

Gemini73 wrote:Might & Magic VII: For Blood & Honor (PC)

My wife is a huge fan of this particular series and it was she that introduced it to me when we were first dating. We're both in agreement that M&M 7 is the best. It's also home to one of the greatest mini games ever in "Acromage".

As I think I've said before, the one time my stupid child self got out from the starting island I spent most my time exploring the world and, unable to progress in any other way, playing cards

Gemini73 wrote:Diablo 3 (PS4)

Are there people who don't actually like this?

hi

ARPG generally denotes Western RPGs as far as I'm aware so I assumed we were talking purely those.

Tafdolphin wrote:ARPG generally denotes Western RPGs as far as I'm aware so I assumed we were talking purely those.

Really? I always took it as Action RPG. I.e stuff like Diablo.

Oh aye you're bang on there. My mistake!

Probably not coming as a massive surprise but:

Pokemon (All mainline games):
Pokemon is the reason why I've become a gamer. Starting off as a 9 year old getting Red and a GBC for Christmas and my mind being blown by the scale and scope of the adventure ahead, all the way up to ultra sun/moon and Let's Go. Sure there are some games I prefer over others. But playing anyone of them makes me happy.

Diablo 2 + LoD expansion:
My first taste of online gaming, a friend put me onto this game during early high-school years and fell in love with it. Sank many hours with my mate, always pushing for bigger and better gear.

Diablo 3:
A great game but still prefer D2. Have sank many hours into the grind. Always very tempted to buy it on Switch but haven't quite pulled that trigger yet.

Sea of Thieves:
Hopfully this counts! Honestly one of the best games I've ever played. I love this game so much and for me, is the game that's defined this generation. Must be around the 300 hour mark easy on this. A game that is so horribly underrated but just keeps getting better.

You all need a dose of vitamin Ys in your lives.

I've only played Memories of Celceta (Vita), Origin (consoles and PC) and Lacrimosa of Dana (consoles and PC). But if you like smashing the crap out of enemies, and an amazing soundtrack, then I cannot recommend Origin and Dana enough. Celceta is probably worth it too, but I played it so long ago that I cannot recall much about it. Seriously. Play these games!

Ys Origin thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40747&p=4163147&hilit=Ys+Origin#p4163147

The Doom Spoon wrote:
Sea of Thieves:
Hopfully this counts! Honestly one of the best games I've ever played. I love this game so much and for me, is the game that's defined this generation. Must be around the 300 hour mark easy on this. A game that is so horribly underrated but just keeps getting better.

Adventure on the high seas? Absolutely counts.

Only for a bit of fun this thread.

Anyway, I'm also putting forward Grim Dawn. Must get back to it as it's a fabulous ARPG and has had some new areas/expansions added since I last played the game.

OrangeRKN wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:Diablo 3 (PS4)

Are there people who don't actually like this?

hi

Second. Just found the whole thing immensely boring, even with the co-op! Shame, really.

Love me some RPGs though, so will add to this thread properly tomorrow

Gemini73 wrote:
Anyway, I'm also putting forward Grim Dawn. Must get back to it as it's a fabulous ARPG and has had some new areas/expansions added since I last played the game.

Fair play this looks awesome! Is it available for xbox? Is so ill check it out! I've heard a guy in work sing the praises of Path of Exile. It's a F2P ARPG with no pay to win mechanics. Apparently made by some of the deva for Diablo 2 some of have its the true spiritual successor to D2.

Morrowind, Fallout 3, New Vegas, Undertale, mainline Pokemon, Persona series.

Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga, Nier Automata.

Too many to mention

Final Fantasy’s 6-10, Kingdom Hearts, Witcher 3, Skyrim, Tales of Vesperia, Tales of Symphonia, KOTOR, Mass Effect

Fallout 3 and Mad Max... hugely enjoyed both of these, playing them to completion. Also enjoyed Oblivion, New Vegas and Fallout 4, though I've played less of them.

If I can include MMORPGs, then Final Fantasy XIV is taking up all of my gaming time at the mo' - it's ace! - and Elder Scrolls Online is neat, too.

The Doom Spoon wrote:

Gemini73 wrote:
Anyway, I'm also putting forward Grim Dawn. Must get back to it as it's a fabulous ARPG and has had some new areas/expansions added since I last played the game.

Fair play this looks awesome! Is it available for xbox? Is so ill check it out! I've heard a guy in work sing the praises of Path of Exile. It's a F2P ARPG with no pay to win mechanics. Apparently made by some of the deva for Diablo 2 some of have its the true spiritual successor to D2.

As far I'm aware it's still only available for PC. There was talk of an Xbox version with the expansions spring/summer this year, but it's gone quiet since.

Fallout: New Vegas
Perhaps the best RPG of the last decade. I know it got pasted for its bugs but I was fortunate enough to rarely encounter them. Obsidian knew how to bring fresh ideas to the IP and present returning elements in a new light, and the writing is brilliant. When conversations regarding which faction is capable of creating the most prosperous future remain interesting after all these years, it's clear how much thought was put into the world-building and sociopolitical factors. I enjoyed it from a gameplay perspective too; you're incentivised to specialise your character build and not attempt to become a jack of all trades, making repeat playthroughs just as entertaining as the first. I usually try to avoid praising a game by bashing another, but the fact that New Vegas is so often overlooked in favour of Fallout 3 when they're not even in the same league (despite the fact you probably couldn't tell them apart in a side-by-side screenshot comparison) actually irritates me.

Mass Effect
The Lost of gaming. An amazing journey filled with some of the most memorable moments and character arcs I've experienced in a game, but a series that also squanders its potential in just enough places to be infuriating. I find it difficult to choose a favourite of the trilogy as I believe each of them succeeds and falters in a fairly balanced number of ways. ME1 is a masterclass in establishing a universe, has the strongest core plot, and its atmosphere is unmatched by its successors (although I thought ME3's wartime ambience was wonderfully executed in its own right) but the combat is a chore and there are ideas present that were clearly not able to be fully explored before release. The introduction of ME2, while undeniably an exciting and shocking spectacle, is the first big misstep in the trilogy's narrative to me. ME1 concludes in a way that satisfies as a self-contained story yet perfectly positions itself to be seamlessly continued in a sequel; instead a massive reset button is hit, presumably to create a more effective entry point for newcomers, and the result is the weakest main plot of the trilogy. Playability is drastically improved from the first game but I think it's actually aged worse overall. ME1's combat is sloppy with a unique approach that at least makes it stand out whereas ME2 is simply a serviceable shooter from beginning to end with poor encounter design. The second game's biggest asset is its cast and arguably giving us the franchise's greatest gift in the form of Mordin. These characters are set up extremely well and serve the foundation for numerous fun payoffs in ME3. The last game certainly has the lowest lows of the trilogy and the quality dips are more frequent than its predecessors too but in terms of sheer volume it also probably contains the highest number of memorable scenes, even if some of them are pretty contrived. I genuinely think ME3 has some of the best third-person action in any game as well, I'd put it up there with Gears and Vanquish for that era. The enemy variety, weapon weight system and power combinations are all so much fun to play with, it's no surprise to me that the multiplayer managed to grow a dedicated playerbase. I will never not be impressed that BioWare committed to completing a connected trilogy from day one and saw it through while maintaining a mostly consistent quality. I loved these games and still do, but that's not to say there isn't also a whole lot of "what could have been" under the surface.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Experiencing this after reading the novels was an absolute treat, it is one of those rare games where I am so consciously aware of how much I'm loving it all the way through. It combines the production values of a blockbuster with the kind of nuanced storytelling usually reserved for smaller titles, and while the combat definitely falls short of being anything truly excellent, I've never understood the disdain many people seem to have for it. Hearts of Stone is one of my favourite story threads in all of gaming.

Alpha Protocol
The definition of flawed gem. I totally understand why some people aren't able to overlook the moment-to-moment gameplay but if you can persevere, the dialogue is some of the most entertaining to be found in a RPG. Playing Michael Thorton as a prick is hilarious.

Planescape: Torment
Played through this for the first time last year and it lives up to its reputation as one of the best written games ever. I completed it on the easiest difficulty as I'm a little intimidated by older PC RPGs, so I won't claim to know the depth of its combat etc. (although I commonly hear even its biggest fans say the gameplay is nothing special) but in terms of narrative, it's a fantastic personal journey that's capabable of tackling complex subjects and making you think, achieving both without disappearing up its own arse and sacrificing moments of levity. It's a game that manages to make finally finding out your own name more impactful than all the cumulative epic moments found elsewhere.

SugarDave wrote:Fallout: New Vegas
Perhaps the best RPG of the last decade. I know it got pasted for its bugs but I was fortunate enough to rarely encounter them. Obsidian knew how to bring fresh ideas to the IP and present returning elements in a new light, and the writing is brilliant. When conversations regarding which faction is capable of creating the most prosperous future remain interesting after all these years, it's clear how much thought was put into the world-building and sociopolitical factors. I enjoyed it from a gameplay perspective too; you're incentivised to specialise your character build and not attempt to become a jack of all trades, making repeat playthroughs just as entertaining as the first. I usually try to avoid praising a game by bashing another, but the fact that New Vegas is so often overlooked in favour of Fallout 3 when they're not even in the same league (despite the fact you probably couldn't tell them apart in a side-by-side screenshot comparison) actually irritates me.

Spot on, it really is fantastic and so much better than Fallout 3. There are only two things 3 does better - the actual map, as the Mojave desert sans its factions and political landscape is not the most interesting of locales, and the radio, because Three Dog in 3 is fantastic. Everything else New Vefas does is, as you say, in a league of its own, and more than makes up for any shortcomings in physical setting. (If you're judging the Bethesda Fallouts by their maps, 76 easily comes out on top, but I'm not sure the different design approach is really relevant to ARPGs. New Vegas and 76 feel like they are in completely different genres.)

SugarDave wrote:Alpha Protocol
The definition of flawed gem. I totally understand why some people aren't able to overlook the moment-to-moment gameplay but if you can persevere, the dialogue is some of the most entertaining to be found in a RPG. Playing Michael Thorton as a prick is hilarious.

[ punch ]

I really need to finish the game, it is undoubtedly hilarious. The combat really can be trivialised with the broken pistol perks though, and its hard to have good stealth mechanics when you can have yourself automatically turn invisible if an enemy spots you.

I'll add some games of my own here in a bit, I need to tell you all how Mount and Blade: Warband is one of the best games ever made