I recently had a custom PC built. It’s a monster – and I mean, it breezes through any game on the market, even the newest releases, in highest graphics modes without a single problem. This is a dream PC. (Thank you, NewEgg, for making a machine that would’ve cost thousands cost far, far less by buying individual parts.)
Now this is all very flashy and impressive with first person shooters, because FPS are pretty much what’s hot in new releases these days. So, the litmus test for a gaming machine would have to be how well it performs in FPS action.
But I’m not such a big fan of FPS. I can tolerate them. Heck, I even loved them once upon a time. But nowadays I find myself pining more and more for the golden era of RPGs – when compelling stories were told without the need to go all MMORPG instead of a plain old, good clean fun single player campaign.
It truly is increasingly difficult to find a good single player RPG because of the jungle of MMORPGs one must hack a path through along the way. There are some pretty MMORPG worlds out there, and indeed, some have quite addicting gameplay. But if you’re looking for the RPG aspect one would expect to find in most massively multiplayer roleplaying games, you’re more or less stuffed. MMORPGs are more about bashing NPCs and randomly engaging in mindless PK than actually roleplaying, or making roleplay-oriented, strategic decisions.
So what am I doing? I’m moving backwards in time. Beginning with Oblivion, and traveling all the way back to the Might and Magic days, I’m actually stepping so far back in time that my machine’s amazing specs are completely wasted. All because I can’t find a decent RPG that’s not overrun with 12 year old hack n’ slash aficionados, as too many MMORPGs seem to be.
Thus I am posing a question to you, as someone who’s more than likely been around the gaming block. What good quality RPGs do you recommend? What’s the most eye-catching? What has a gripping story? What will simultaneously take advantage of my machine’s 100% pure grade A win and provide an old fashioned RPG thrill? Is there such thing as a freshly-released RPG that’s not a MMORPG?
Suggestions will be deeply appreciated. Please, help give my gaming machine a reason to live.
Hello!
Oblivion, Two worlds for medieval type ones.
I loved Oblivion a lot.
Fall out 3 and New Vegas for new ones. Fall Out 3 was probably one of my favorite single player RPG’s ever. I spent about 60 hours in total playing it.
Enjoy!
Vance, I agree. The whole TES series Oblivion definitely. If Jowood hadn’t ruined the fun with Gothic 3, definitely also Gothic 2.
Additionally I liked the Spellforce RPG-Strategy mix.
I still have to start with Fall out but then again, I have no PC anymore jsut a Mac and sadly not enough time for PS3, I still have Assassin’s Creed II and Arkham Asylum waiting for me to even get started.
As Vance said, Fallout is good. It also depends on what you consider to be an RPG. If you’ve never played Mass Effect, it is awesome, with one of the best storylines ever in a video game.
As far as the most recent that I’d recommend, Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 (both by the same folks) both have excellent stories and character development, though Dragon Age lacks slightly when it comes to actual combat and gameplay, though the story more than makes up for it (This is not the case with Mass Effect, which has really fun combat). If story is what you primarily look for, I’d highly recommend both and their expansions/DLC. As far as setting, Dragon Age would be the fantasy version, while Mass Effect is sci-fi.
Fallout 3 is also *awesome*, as all of the Fallout games have been. I haven’t been able to pick up New Vegas yet, but am looking forward to it. I’ve never been disappointed in a Fallout game.
its about 2 years old but one of my favorite rpgs with a great story is lost odyssey great game good story great characters
I’ll second those votes for Fallout 3 / New Vegas, and the Mass Effect games. Dragon Age is nice for showing off a system too. I’m also rather fond of The Witcher. It looks very nice. Borderlands has a nice look to it as well. There’s a decent number of good RPGs that have came out in the last year or two that will keep you occupied, and show off your rig quite well. =)