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PC RPGs for the console Jrpg lover
Toma
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I've neglected RPGs on the PC for so long. There aren't really any new big console RPGs coming out any time soon, or at least, on my particular platform, so I want to go back and try some odd RPGs on the PC I may have missed, and thanks to sites like Good Old Games... I can do this much easier.
So other than Fallour 1 and 2, Summoner which I played ages ago, and when I got an import copy of Ys III remake for the PC, I really don't know where to start with looking for one... so here are some things I'd want to look for:
1. A more turn based RPG, sorta like JRPGs, but I'm not afraid to try out some more western takes. Exploration is great, but I guess I'd want to try both simple and involved combat.
2. Not hack and slash such as Diablo, or tactical like Fallout Tactics and others.
3. Older games, not heavy in the system requirements or even DOS based would be cool. I'll wait for the Witcher to come to console before I give that a go, and I don't think I'll update my system too far any time soon.
Again, this is coming from someone who loves JRPGs, but I'd want to hear what PC rpgs I could try out. Sort of trying to switch things up a bit.
So other than Fallour 1 and 2, Summoner which I played ages ago, and when I got an import copy of Ys III remake for the PC, I really don't know where to start with looking for one... so here are some things I'd want to look for:
1. A more turn based RPG, sorta like JRPGs, but I'm not afraid to try out some more western takes. Exploration is great, but I guess I'd want to try both simple and involved combat.
2. Not hack and slash such as Diablo, or tactical like Fallout Tactics and others.
3. Older games, not heavy in the system requirements or even DOS based would be cool. I'll wait for the Witcher to come to console before I give that a go, and I don't think I'll update my system too far any time soon.
Again, this is coming from someone who loves JRPGs, but I'd want to hear what PC rpgs I could try out. Sort of trying to switch things up a bit.
PSN: Toma84
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That sounds familiar... I remember one RPG I wanted to try for the PC that came out around the same time as FF7, a similiar story as Anachronox it seems with a multi-leveled world around a central tower or something? I can't think of its name though.
PSN: Toma84
If no, that should be near top of your list. It is available on Gametap, which is probably the easiest way to find it.
The closest game I can think of for that is Septerra Core.
You take that back!
Icewind Dale and Neverwinter nights weren't that good but they were decent, but Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment are two of the best RPGs ever made in my book.
EDIT: Wtf? Neverwind nights?
Or just a whole lot older.
http://www.teamdarkland.com/
Fallout 1 and 2 are unnecessary to go through to enjoy 3, but it'll be nice. Fallout 3 is really good in my honest opinion. KotoR is excellent, even if you don't like Star Wars lore. Mass Effect isn't as exciting as KotoR, but it's still a great game.
(Of course, all the above has graced consoles one time or another, so if you've already done these, ignore this pitiful post and go find your Planescape [which really isn't that good])
EDIT: You said OLDER games, my bad. Ignore Mass Effect and Fallout 3, effectively leaving you with not many options worthy in my book. You're a lot like a fish out of water, since you love JRPGs.
The Witcher is also fantastic.
I play RPGs - Japanese or western (mostly Japanese I admit) - because of the story and if you're looking for and epic PC RPG Planescape: Torment just can't be beat IMO.
I own Fallout 3, which has it's set of charms, but at the moment I'm unable to play it more, not to mention my roommates' eternal love for it has burned me out of it for a month or two. Mass Effect ended up not being for me.
Also, I loved games like Wasteland and Ultima back in the days of the Commodore 64... short of digging out the childhood computer (it was a hand me down) I think there are still quite a few games to try. Though I do enjoy JRPGs, it's time I give their western cousins more of a try. JRPGs may be a good springboard for references though...
PSN: Toma84
I think that goes in the "your unpopular opinions" thread.
I usually don't like RPGs that much at all, but the story that Planescape presented just transcended the gameplay. If they had told that story in a pacman clone I would have loved it. I am, of course, exaggerating to show that the story in Planescape is so great and one of the few that I find a true roleplaying experience.
The Nameless One sez "What can change the nature of a man?"
But really, you owe it to yourself to at least see if it's for you. I can imagine that if it is, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 would be as well.
I, however, never...uh.. played those. *ducks*
I even own that boxset with all of them. Picked it up for like five pounds. *runs*
EDIT: Also, just thinking out of the box a little bit here, but did you hear about Elona? It's free.. try digging up the old thread. It's basically an unforgiving sorta graphical Roguelike/JRPG.
Then Baldur's Gate 2 (The first wasn't that great, at least not compared to the second one), then Fallout 1.
I'm not sure what you mean by "hack n' slash," though. When a lot of people say that, they secretly mean they don't like games with medieval-style crap in them, and if that's the case, you should stay away from the BG games.
I can't think of a lot of WRPGS that are turn-based the same way that JRPGs are turned based, though.
You might go for some RPG-maker games, though most of them suck because they're made by fanboys of the genre, who it turns out, can't make games to save their goddamn lives. There are probably a few decent ones, though, and they all use the tried and true (well, tried) Dragon Warrior style combat.
But yeah, PS:T is way up there, maybe the best I can think of. Including all the recent games, too, like Mass Effect, KOTOR, FO3, etc. That's not nostalgia, either... I didn't play it before 2002 or 2003 (I think). For swords and magic type stuff, I'd boil it down to either that or BG2.
Oh, there's also Arcanum. Decent.
I couldn't get into the Baldur's Gate series at all, though; not having played the system as a kid the mechanics feel about as intuitive as EVE, and just about as much fun. The story intrigued me, but walking to town and having to reload half a dozen times because the first scripted encounter rapes me (olol, I'm gonna AoE fear everone, then make myself impossible to hit whilst guard NPCs do fuck-all as I rape you), then walking three screens north and getting equally raped by Dune worms just doesn't spell fun for me.
I guess if one is a JRPG lover sure. You'll get better graphics out of Doom in DOS mode though.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Knights of the old republic + the 2nd one.
Titan Quest
Diablo II
Sacred
Guild Wars is okay.
Baulders Gate II
Icewind Dale II
Planescape: Torment
Mass Effect
DUngeon Siege I/II
Thats all I can think of off the top of my head.
GM: Rusty Chains (DH Ongoing)
Turn-based, plus not hack n' slash.
Note that all the D&D based games, including KotOR, use a turn based mechanic, they just don't animate this as clearly as in JRPGs. And if you want to surivive in the more tactically involved ones (Icewind Dale and modified Baldur's Gate 2) you'll need to turn on the "autopause on turn start" option, so the only difference to a JRPG will be that your characters are next to their enemies.
Most CRPGS are kinda a hybrid of these styles, so maybe the Might and Magic series would be your best bet.
That said the convoluted story and steampunk-y visual style of Planescape: Torment are the closest thing on the PC to a JRPG, most of the others are straight fantasy or scifi, though Baldur's Gate 2 gets more cosmic as it goes on. If you play any of the Black Isle games (BG2, KotOR2, Planescape) pick up the unfinished business packs from spellhold studios, Black Isle are terrible at cutting quests and dialogue but leaving them in the game files.
There isn't a lot of that on a PC, as most people who own PC's dont want to play turn-based RPG's.
GM: Rusty Chains (DH Ongoing)
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
It's on Steam, and it's one of the best RPGs on the PC. Branching dialogue paths, lots of replay value, great story and atmosphere. The best parts of the gameplay are in the dialogue segments, but the battle system's fine too. Mostly action based.
As for strictly turn-based, I guess Wizardry's the best bet.
Plus it has a minigame as addictive as Triple Triad.
http://www.download.com/Last-Scenario/3000-7420_4-10815388.html
And Elona. As I like to call it, a JRPG+Nethack+Morrowind.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=64095
Read the thread and the insane things that happen.
Fans have made all kinds of mods and things for the PC version, though. You can swap out character models for good looking ones, for example.
Amazon has copies and so does half.com
Here's the Wiki
:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcanum:_Of_Steamworks_and_Magick_Obscura
The Gothic series is not a bad romp and I know that Best Buy and places like that are sometimes carrying the boxed set for those.
A decent PC JRPGish game is also Septerra Core:
http://www.amazon.com/Septerra-Core-Legacy-Creator-Pc/dp/B00001QEPV
I say play Fallout 1 and 2 again because they are amazing games.
Torment has some glaring flaws in on the action side but when people are saying that it is written well they aren't bullshitting. The game is really the only game I have ever played that actually has nuanced dialogue and characters that you give a damn about. Also its humor doesn't make you cringe or make you feel insulted.
The neat thing about Western RPG's is that they were written and developed with an English speaking audience in mind by English speakers. Since W-RPG's are the bulk of PC RPG-age you will find basically all these games to be better translated with fewer glaring awkward slips in word choice. In Western Role Playing, Men look like men and the women all wear Bikini Armour-- just like real life.
To ease into it, Anachronox is a good start. Very JRPG style play, but with a western tilt. The wrting is quite good as well.
Planescape, while my favorite game of all time, is a very drastic departure from what you're used to. The combat is iffy, but everything else is fantastic, also hands down the best writing to ever grace a game. Make sure to get the mods that let it run in high-res and the mods that add back in the missing content. I'm sure some folks around here can help you find them.
Fallout 1&2 are turnbased so that would be an easy place to start as well. Again, get the mods that make it work for newer systems. NMA is actually your best bet for finding that stuff, but folks here can save you from having to go to that hellhole. Just tossing that in. I know you said you used to have them, I just didn't know if you played them.
Arcanum is another turnbased game with some really cool quirks. Again, modern mods etc etc.
Since the says hack&slash as in Diablo-esque, avoid Titan Quest, which is essentially greek myth Diablo.
Baldurs Gate 2 is widely regarded as the best CRPG to date. Gameplay, story, art, it excels at everything. However it is not a good choice for you first western style rpg. Too big and too different, most likely.
Hope this helps.
And yes, the mods and fan patches make a wrold of difference. The stupid and or gamebreaking ones are easily avoided, just stick with essentials IE high res, bug fixes and missing content.