[QUOTE="P01nt-blank"]Guys I'm pretty much asking for your recommendations about an RPG (always on the PC). I've been playing games of almost every kind on the PC for the last 12 years, but I've never played an RPG - neither MMO nor single player. I've played every FPS since HL1, every popular RTS game since Age of Empires 2, most 3d person action-stealth-shooters and a handful of sims and adventures (does anybody remember Riven?).
So here is where I need your help: About a decade ago I was sharing a(n ancient by todays standards) computer with my brother and I used to spend hours watching him play diablo 2, while waiting for my turn to play. A few years later he switched to WoW. Once he told me to try Diablo myself but I couldn't play it longer than the first two missions. Frantically clicking on endless hordes of creatures, accumulating xp, increasing my stats and acquiring new skills just isn't my cup of tea.
I just fail to see the fun when you just click on a monster and it loses an amount of health depending on a statistical probability which in turn is calculated from several numerical attributes of your character, weapons, artifacts, magic resistance and who knows what else. I don't find anything fun in picking up loot and managing an inventory and having an emergency stash of potions in hand or waiting for health and magic to regenerate. I don't want to have to deal with elaborate character building and hunting for unique items. This was my first and only experience yet with an RPG and I just couldn't see what all the fuss was about, even though almost everyone considers Diablo a classic game. To me, it just felt aimless and boring but most importantly it turned me completely away from RPGs.
Only recently I thought about giving RPGs another try, since they should have evolved in the past 11 years but I don't want to be disappointed with the genre again. Over the years I have enjoyed counless games but I think I'd get bored quickly just hacking-slashing-stashing and grinding. And something else: is there any RPG where combat is more like a fighting game with a 3rd person view and not a mindless clickfest with a stupid fixed camera like diablo? One example would be Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed or Prototype. Any suggestions? System specs aren't an issue - my pc is a beast.Whiteblade999
Ok before I help you, break up walls of text.
The games you won't like are isometric action RPGs. Diablo spawned an entire sub-genre of RPGs and as you saw it is indeed quite mindless.
Try these:
Mass Effect 1 & 2: Plays like a cover shooter and if you hit the the enemy they take damage. Has an extreme emphasis on 'cinematic' gameplay where you feel like the game is less of a game and more of an interactive action movie. Best game of its type but don't bother with some of the other 'cinematic' games.
Mount & Blade Warband: Medieval combat simulator that also happens to be an RPG. Just play the demo, that will explain it 100 times better then I could because the game is unlike anything you have played before.
The Witcher 2: More of an epic political story that has an extreme emphasis on making choices. In fact the game branches into 1 of 2 paths about 1/3 of the way through for totally unique experiences.
Deus Ex Human Revolution: Mass Effect but more open and more about uncovering a conspiracy. Starts off slow and really gets going a bit in.
Guild Wars: Read my blog entry on it for a very detailed explanation of why it is great. The only online game you will find where grinding (killing enemies over and over for loot) is discouraged and the emphasis is on following the story and experiencing the world.
Witcher: It has the roll to hit but the chance to miss is very low and you need to time the clicks. Like the sequel it encourages choices that will actually carry over into the sequel.
Thanks Whiteblade, I think I'll begin with Mass Effect and the Witcher. Timing during combat is something I consider very important, because ultimately it is what gets you involved. After all combat is the reason why many people play games, otherwise FPSs wouldn't be as popular as they are.
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