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RPGDot Game Rating Machine |
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Kirati Laisathit
has rated the following games:
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Arcanum - Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura: 7/10 points |
The premise has had almost enough oomph to lift this one to greatness, but not quite. Arcanum is marred from poorly balanced skill system (technologist just can't compete against magic-user). The production is also low, which is rather surprising. It took some doing to make Arcanum look WORSE than Fallout which predate the former by more than 3 years. |
Baldur's Gate: 9/10 points |
The game that reignited the AD&D RPG flame that burnt out long ago. Not rated highly by many. Personally, BG has more down-to-earth feel than its later and more highly rated sequel. While the story is a bit tired, being in the basic kill-the-foozle vein, it is paced really well. BG also has more of the feel of being in the real place. In contrast, BGII feels a bit more like taking a week-long Europe tour, spending maybe 4 hours each in London, Paris, and all the major continental cities. You get to see all the sights, but don't really feel like being there. |
Betrayal at Krondor: 7/10 points |
I might have rated this one higher, had I picked this game up all those years ago. No, it's not about production value. But the writing quality makes me cringe. Put it side by side with PS:T, and you'll know what I mean. At any rate, credit where credit is due. The segmented story into chapters is also copied in many later releases. Betrayal at Krondor broke new ground in the story department when it first came out. It's strange that a collaboration with well-known fantasy writer couldn't produce better quality writing than amateur effort (i.e. PS:T). |
Darklands: 10/10 points |
One of the most controversial RPG of its time. People tend to either like it a lot or hate it. Not much of a back story, aside from three connected dungeon romps. But everything about the game simple exudes class, if the bugs hadn't got in the way. It's rated 10 simply because it is a singular effort that shows how imagination works wonder in putting RPG down in a setting where you wouldn't think it possible, medieval Germany. |
Diablo: 6/10 points |
As a game Diablo should have been rated 10, but as an RPG Diablo is a 6. Not much of an opportunity to interact with the environment aside from blasting the baddies to hell (literally) and back. No denying though, Diablo is a genre-defying game. A great deal of recent releases owe a great deal to this 1997 classic. |
Elder Scrolls 2 - Daggerfall: 7/10 points |
A game you'd love to hate. Huge game world and wonderful back story to boot. The game is handicapped by the amount of bugs and the practically unplayable random dungeons. The latter could have been avoided if you stick with the main story. But then again, the whole idea of having a huge game world is so that you have lots of play area. What is the point if that extra play area is simply too exasperating to be fun? |
Fallout 2: 9/10 points |
In some ways, FO2 is a better games than FO1. In others, it is not. The game certainly feels more expansive. That does come at the expense of having a bit more winding narrative compared with its predecessor. Still, it's difficult to go wrong with recommending Fallout franchise. |
Jagged Alliance 2: 9/10 points |
The only reason it's not a 10 is because it's not really an RPG. The gameplay bogged down somewhat toward the end, but otherwise this is a brilliant tactical/RPG hybird. |
Lionheart - Legacy of the Crusader: 4/10 points |
A missed opportunity to be sure. As far as premise goes, this one ranks right up there with Arcanum. But then again, I'm a sucker for historical/alternate history RPG buff. The game is badly balanced while the story degenerates quickly into a straight kill-the-foozle past the beginning area. A damned shame really, given how promising the game starts. |
Planescape: Torment: 10/10 points |
The look takes getting some used to, despite PS:T using the by then familiar Infinity engine. The reading requirement is also quite hefty. It was alleged that the total amount of textual information in the game will fill a good-sized novel. I'm inclined to believe the allegation. But if you're into immersing yourself into a well-crafted story, there has never been a better choice than PS:T. |
Sea Dogs: 8/10 points |
You wouldn't think this is an RPG, would you? There is a surprising depth in the story narrative of Sea Dogs, especially when you compared with its spiritual predecessor, Pirates!. Being put aboard a ship without land action does limit the nature of the action somewhat. |
Wizardry 7 - Crusader of the Dark Savant: 7/10 points |
Huge game that despite its billing as a non-linear dungeon romps must be tackled in a few correct orders. In the end, there is such thing as too-much-of-a-good-thing. IMHO, W7 is simply too long for its own good. This is a game that took me 7 years to finish. Not much of a replay value either. |
Wizardry 8: 8/10 points |
Old-timer greatness. W8 is the last of the dying breed of old-school RPG, where combats & puzzles are the cornerstones of RPG. It's a fun game the way Diablo is a great game. Not quite good enough to put in the top though. |
