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Sci-Fi RPG ideas (video games, not table top)
Nightslyr
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I have a hankering for a good sci-fi RPG experience, but I don't know what titles I should look at. I figured the collective wisdom of the PA forums could help me add to my anemic collection.
Systems I Own:
PC
iPad
XBox 360
PS3 (non-BC)
PSP
3DS XL
Wii
I tend to go for console games over the PC due to the way my hands work, but will do a Steam thing if it's good/easy on the hands
Games I Already Own/Have Beaten:
Mass Effect 1-3
Mass Effect: Infiltrator (iPad controls kinda suck for me)
Xenogears
Xenosaga 1-3
Phantasy Star IV (need to finish it)
Deus Ex
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Shadowrun (Genesis)
Game I Tried But Hated:
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (yeesh...)
Fallout: New Vegas (too slow, too dependent on Speech, boring setting)
Bioshock (love that art deco aesthetic, but too repetitive)
Titles On My Buy List Due To Suggestions Below:
Infinite Space
FTL
Xenoblade Chronicles
XCOM: Enemy Unknown (played demo)
I'm open to just about anything. I tend to aim more towards classic RPGs with a party, and inventory, and separate battle screens, and all that jazz, but won't turn down a more hybrid experience. I just want spaceships, and lasers, and maybe a giant robot or two.
Note: I'm a wuss, so no horror games.
Systems I Own:
PC
iPad
XBox 360
PS3 (non-BC)
PSP
3DS XL
Wii
I tend to go for console games over the PC due to the way my hands work, but will do a Steam thing if it's good/easy on the hands
Games I Already Own/Have Beaten:
Mass Effect 1-3
Mass Effect: Infiltrator (iPad controls kinda suck for me)
Xenogears
Xenosaga 1-3
Phantasy Star IV (need to finish it)
Deus Ex
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Shadowrun (Genesis)
Game I Tried But Hated:
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (yeesh...)
Fallout: New Vegas (too slow, too dependent on Speech, boring setting)
Bioshock (love that art deco aesthetic, but too repetitive)
Titles On My Buy List Due To Suggestions Below:
Infinite Space
FTL
Xenoblade Chronicles
XCOM: Enemy Unknown (played demo)
I'm open to just about anything. I tend to aim more towards classic RPGs with a party, and inventory, and separate battle screens, and all that jazz, but won't turn down a more hybrid experience. I just want spaceships, and lasers, and maybe a giant robot or two.
Note: I'm a wuss, so no horror games.
Nightslyr on
0
Posts
Its more or less the best jrpg of recent years along with Radiant Historia (which isn't scifi, but is still fantastic). And its sci-fi. It takes place on the body of a absolutely giant 'mecha'!
For your DS, Contact should qualify I believe. It feels kind of Earthboundish, and I definitely liked it.
Lost Odyssey (360) counts, I guess? I think it's a bit more steampunk than sci-fi. Regardless, it's cheap to pick up and is a fantastic RPG, so you should probably pick it up someday regardless.
And yeah, seriously, Xenoblade, when you get the chance. Every RPG fan should play it, and in my opinion so should pretty much anyone interested in video games and good stories. If I didn't already have a Wii, I swear I would've bought one just for that. Probably my favorite game of all time now.
Also try: Faster Than Light.
Fallout 3 is a good game, but I just can't recommend it in good faith. It didn't keep my interest, there are too many bugs, and none of it's mechanics seem tight enough (the UI is too clunky, the shooting feels weak/floaty, VATs is awkward at best when using melee combat or heavy weapons).
Now "back in the day" sounds like a big hassle, fiddling with DOSBox and all that stuff, right? But it's not. There's a free, legal open-source update of the game called The Ur-Quan Masters that will play on pretty much any PC and features the snazzy graphics, sound, and voice acting of the 3DO version of the game. Just download and install.
Seconding that one too.
I think I should also recommend Planescape: Torment. I'm not sure if it runs well on modern systems, though, and... well, it's pretty buggy. And the combat in that game is a joke.
In my defense, the OP seems to prefer controller games over mouse games. That's really why I mentioned the Bethesda version.
I seem to remember that all the FO3 bugs were eventually patched; I'd assume he'd get the GOTY version.
EDIT: I don't use VATS, so I can't comment on how it works in Fallout 3. Was it fixed in later games?
Also, X-COM!
There are a lot of X-COM games, but I'd only recommend two:
X-COM UFO Defense by Microprose and X-COM Enemy Unknown by Firaxis. The old Microprose game is a bit of a hassle to get running on modern systems, but I personally prefer it to the new title. The new title is much more user-friendly, though, and looks gorgeous (and I think it's available on consoles?)
They're a little light on the RPG side, but that's because the focus is fully on turn-based strategy. They've got spaceships, lasers, and robots (sadly, not of the giant variety... some are pretty large though!). Given that it's about an alien invasion, it might not tick the boxes the way you're hoping for.
Fuck it, I'll recommend it anyway. There are no giant robots, but there is some of the best writing you'll ever hear in a game.
Right, yeah, I was going to mention this in my own reply but I apparently forgot to. It's been released on Virtual Console in its original form, as well as updated versions on DS and PSN, so it should be easy to find. The PSN version is the one from the PSX Final Fantasy Chronicles, so it has animated cutscenes and a little bit of bonus content... Everyone complains about the load times on that version, but I played through it that way for the first time (on PSX) and it never bothered me much to be honest. The DS version is portable (but the PSN one can be put on your PSP too), has the same extra content from the PSX version (but no load times), a totally revamped translation (which makes it much closer to the Japanese game but apparently drops some of the fun bits from the original translation, like Frog's dialogue), and apparently also adds a monster arena, two extra dungeons, and an extra ending. So it's up to you which one you pick, but the DS version is probably gonna be best unless you want it on the big screen.
Looking into the others....
Best of both worlds for you.
In its favor, it has Pipeline.
So Warhammer 40k is not Sci-fi? That game is 90% demons and bad Latin.
I though Bioshock had a nice retro-sci fi look and feel to it, but it takes a lot of cues from survival horror genres as well (monsters popping out of shadows, limited ammo at first, body horror up the orifice of your choice).
Might try DeadSpace as well, it's more of a shooter with RPG elements, but it might work out for you.
Another vote for Chrono Trigger, probably one of my favorite games. Also, another vote for KotOR. Good times with that one.
If fallout and bioshock fit within what the OP wants, I would totally second/third/whatever those.
What about Dishonored? I haven't snagged a copy yet, but it looked good, and Sci-Fiey, and like an RPG...
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Fallout is very soft sci-fi and it starts jumping the shark at around Fallout 2 and circles around to do a double flip over the shark at Fallout 3. Personally I'd just skip FO3 and go straight to New Vegas for Chris Avellone goodness. (Where he jumps the shark, because, hey what-the-fuck, it's pretty much Bethesda canon to jump the shark.)
That's a good question. To be honest, I'm not sure. I guess I'm trying to get a broad view of the quality titles out there so I can choose some based on my mood. Right now I'm in a "return to JRPG" phase, but that doesn't mean I won't change gears and go for something Western or hard sci-fi. So, something like Infinite Space is on my list at the moment. But so is FTL. I'm not a big fan of earth based sci-fi, aside from cyberpunk. Give me aliens, space travel, that sort of thing.
I have to add that I'm looking for non-horror sci-fi. I'm a wuss when it comes to jump scares. So, no Dead Space for me.
Ideally, I'd find something that was in the mold of Another World with RPG trappings. I loved the mysteriousness and look and feel of that game, and want something that will spark that sense of wonder again. The beginning segment of Final Fantasy X (of all things), from when Tidus is first sucked away until he meets Wakka and the others, is as close as I've come to that. I want that fish out of water suddenly immersed in a new place feeling.
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I tried New Vegas and hated it. It was just too slow, too dependent on Speech, and the setting just never captured my interest. Should've added it to my list, but it was so forgettable for me.
I watched my brother play through Bioshock. I liked the setting and aesthetic, but that's about it. It just seemed too long and repetitive to me. Enter new area, fight assholes, kill Big Daddy, rescue girl, repeat.
I'll update my OP to clarify things.
EDIT: Whoops, just read that last post.
Rogue Galaxy. Its a PS2 jrpg by Level-5. Its basically Treasure Planet the JRPG. Personally I thought it was a lot of fun, but I also never quite got past midgame.
Also along those lines; Syndicate.