The Forgotten PC Games 06.05.08: Role-Playing Gems

Posted by Chris Vicari on 06.05.2008

Looking for some of the greatest RPGs ever made? The Forgotten PC Games column reveals some of the best games to have come out in recent memory. Strap yourself in and prepare to enter RPG heaven.

We can thank Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson for role-playing games (RPG) because without Dungeons & Dragons, the entire genre probably wouldn't even exist. RPGs are the perfect blend of fantasy, story, atmosphere, magic, monsters and combat. The unique draw of the genre is the ability to assume the identity of a character you create from scratch allowing you to transform them into anything you desire. The genre is all about making choices and any well-crafted RPG will have plenty of them from tackling situations in a different ways to customizing your character's appearance and skills.

While the face of RPGs has changed dramatically over the years, they really aren't all that different under the hood. Core gameplay has remained nearly unchanged since the genre's inception and many developers still follow the approach of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," which still works just fine. The genre's popularity has only increased since MMOs jumped onto the scene starting with Meridian 59, Ultima Online and eventually World of Warcraft and you'll find that many games from completely different genres are attempting to incorporate RPG elements as well. The RPG genre has a bright future ahead of itself and I am eager to see what's in store for it next.

The Epitome of Awesome



The other kingpin of RPGs is none other than Baldur's Gate 2 (BG2) and this game is awesome. Released in 2000 by BioWare and winner of an obscene amount of awards most notably ranking sixth on Metacritic's all-time best PC game list, Gamespot's Greatest Games of All Time list and earning a maximum 100% rating at Rottentomatoes, BG2 and of course its predecessor is seriously everything you could possibly want out of an RPG. With excellent quests, stories, lore, intuitive combat, fantastic party interaction and a great dialogue system, BG2 is a must-have title. I can't really spell it out any better than that. If you don't already own BG2 or have never played it, get up off your ass and pick up this classic. For only 10 bucks you can enjoy the masterpiece along with its expansion buying purchasing the Ultimate Collection on Amazon.

Synopsis

BG2 takes place in the Forgotten Realms which is the most popular D&D setting and you play the role of a character you created who is held captive by an evil sorcerer named Irenicus. Also trapped with you are some of your former party members who may have adventured with you in the first Baldur's Gate game which include Imoen, Jaheria and Minsc. Eventually the dungeon is under siege by the notorious Shadow Thieves and you manage to escape while Irenicus diverts his attention to these unwelcome guests. Without spoiling the plot, you search out Irenicus after your escape to find out why you were imprisoned and tortured while distributing some pain in return.

BG2 is based on the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons rule set so you'll see the same classes like Mage, Thief, and Warrior along with their subclass counterparts as well. Combat is fought similarly with dice rolls although the game handles this in real time and the action can be paused on the fly to strategize or pre-cast specific spells. As your character adventures you can recruit a multitude of heroes to help you out and party interaction is simply stunning. Party members can bicker, form romances, fight or what have you and as your party quests and gains reputation either good or ill, your party members, based on their alignment, will either love you or love to hate you.

A beautiful and brilliantly crafted land of magic, monsters and lore awaits you.

Like Fallout, BG2 is all about choice and because of this many times the game is never played the same way twice. Certain decisions can change the course of the entire game and it could be caused by a simple dialogue selection. NPCs approach you at different intervals and quests can be completed in a variety of ways. Vendors can be stolen from or killed, demons summoned to raid entire towns, your party can amass enough wealth to attract the attention of thieves and even vampires making BG2 feel like a living, breathing world because of it.

Get it

Please do yourself a favor and get this game. Once you sample one of the greatest RPGs ever made you'll be hard-pressed to find anything else that can compare. Except for maybe the other games listed here or perhaps Icewind Dale and a few others as well.


War never changes



Pure RPG excellence is the name of the game for Fallout 2 and its predecessor. Developed by Black Isle Studios and released in 1999, Fallout 2 is probably one of the greatest RPGs out there. While the sequel didn't receive as many awards as its predecessor, Fallout 2 is typically selected by the community as being the better of the two because there is no mission time limit, but more importantly there is more to do and see. Dripping with an excellent plot, setting and superb character creation/interaction, Fallout 2 can easily be recommended to any fan of the RPG genre.

Synopsis

Fresh off the heels of a nuclear holocaust, both games take place in a post-apocalyptic America where its population, like the rest of the world, is fighting to survive. Most fled underground into places called Vaults but due to the events in the first game, Fallout 2 takes place in a village called Arroyo, a town created by the Vault Dweller who was the protagonist in the original. Eighty years have passed since then and you play the role of the Chosen One, a direct descendant of the Vault Dweller. You are tasked to save your village and to do this you must located the Garden of Eden Creation Kit which is believed to create thriving communities out of a wasteland.

Where Fallout 2 lacks in graphical prowess, it more than makes up for it in gameplay and content.

Fallout 2 contains an absolutely phenomenal character creation system. Called SPECIAL, which is an acronym naming all the attributes, you can make your character in any way you see fit. With 18 skills all of which are extremely useful along with various traits and perks gives Fallout 2 a level of customization rarely seen in RPGs. Having trouble with a specific quest? Just recruit yourself a little help and wage some good ol' fashioned destruction on your enemies.

What makes Fallout simply great is that player decisions are an integral part of the game and the open-area environments provides absolute freedom. You can practically do whatever you want in this game like slaughter entire towns, kill children (sweet), steal, loot, you name it and this game lets you do it. Depending on your method of play, you can complete the game and not fire a single shot or finish the game without stopping to reload. It's all up to you and the game's freedom is unparalleled.

One of the best

Fallout 2 is easily one of the best RPGs out there and the game, like the original, screams quality. With content, choices and environments rarely surpassed by its peers, Fallout 2 is a shining example of the genre. While it may need some Dosbox tweakage to work it's well worth the hassle OR you can wait a little while for Gametap to load it up on their site so you can play it for FREE.


Before there was Oblivion



Before the ultra-popular Oblivion charged onto the scene just a few years ago, it was preceded by the RPG success that is Morrowind in 2002. Despite being somewhat overshadowed by the Neverwinter Nights release, the third installment of the critically acclaimed Elder Scrolls series boasts over 60 awards several of which were Game of the Year and the game retains a very faithful fan base. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios like all the others, Morrowind is a land rife with adventure, monsters, people and danger. Coupled with open-ended gameplay, an in-depth skill system and heavily-detailed lands, towns and various other locales, Morrowind admirably captures the magic of the genre. The game boasts some pretty graphics and even though it may show its age these days, they shouldn't put too many people off. While the game does have some flaws, mainly its combat system as numerous reviewers have commented upon, Morrowind still successfully provides an engaging and immersive experience.

Since the developers in all their wisdom decided to release the Elder Scrolls Construction Set with the game, people can mod or change the game any way they see fit. Because of this, Morrowind has a bustling modding community working to better the game in every aspect be it quests, locations, graphics, UI or what have you. There are literally thousands of mods for this game but even though they aren't necessary, unlike Vanilla Oblivion, they improve the game's quality immensely.

Synopsis

When the game first opens up, you are on a small ship landing on the shores of Vvardenfell, an island in the province of Morrowind. As you make your way onto the island, you are asked a series of questions from various NPCs, this sequence is cleverly disguised as an in-game tutorial and character creation session. You can choose your race, appearance, skill set, etc. Morrowind even incorporates the moral questionnaire which is a nod to the Ultima series, the first games to introduce this well-received aspect.

The main story is that of the Demigod Dagoth Ur who attained immortality through a magical artifact. Living in the volcanic Red Mountain, Dagoth Ur does all that is within his power to rid Vvardenfell of the Imperial "invaders" and it's up to you to stop him. Thanks to Morrowind's intuitive open-ended design though, players don't even have to complete the main plot line if they don't want to. Players are free to explore, plunder, quest or interact anytime and anywhere they desire giving Morrowind obscene amounts of playability.

As players progress through the game completing quests or slaying monsters, characters will inevitably level up. Unlike typical RPGs however, skills are raised not through XP but use and for a character to level, they must use the major skills they selected. Once a new level is attained, only attributes are augmented.

What sets Morrowind apart from many of the other RPGs out there is the history and lore of the land and its denizens. Cleverly revealed through books and NPC conversation, Morrowind really feels like a living, breathing world with a very rich history and unique culture. Some books are even written in a series and have a long over-arching storyline. Oftentimes I would find myself spending a lot of time reading the books rather than go out and kill stuff, it was all pretty engaging.

Even though the graphics may not hold up to today's standards, the modding community has helped move it along as best as possible.

Time to spare? Here's a time sink.

According to Bethesda, Morrorwind boasts thousands of hours of potential gameplay content and while that may seem like an oversight, there are still hundreds of hours to lose in this game. Morrowind also has two expansion packs, Tribunal and Bloodmoon, which adds even more content to this game. If you're looking for a quality RPG with plenty to see and do, Morrowind is definitely a wise decision to make. With only a $12 fee at Amazon for the Game of the Year edition which contains the main game and its expansions, you seriously can't go wrong with a price like that.