| |
Site Navigation
Main
News
Forums
Games
Games Database
Top 100
Release List
Support Files
Features
Reviews
Previews
Interviews
Editorials
Diaries
Misc
Download
Gallery
Music
Screenshots
Videos
Miscellaneous
Staff Members
Privacy Statement
|
|
|
|
Ashera
Village Dweller
Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 4
|
There are two kinds of games I'm looking for.
The first is that I've recently been in the mood for a game with a lot of crafting. (It doesn't necessarily have to be an RPG, but I don't want a pure economic management sim.) I think the ideal would be something like A Tale in the Desert (trials, different disciplines, experiments develop new techniques, research, etc.), except single-player. I've had Arcanum recommended to me, but while I'm tracking down a copy, I figured I might as well ask for other recommendations.
The other kind of game I'm looking for is just a PCRPG that I can actually play. I prefer strong storyline to extreme open-endedness. (Morrowind was too much for me.) I want something which keeps really good track of what you've done and are meant to be doing, and where you've been. (I get lost really, really easily, and I can also forget where I'm supposed to be going if I leave the game for a day.) Labels on important NPCs and locations would be appreciated, if only on a map view. 2D is preferred by a lot; 3D makes me motion-sick. I prefer puzzles to combat, although I'd rather have both in moderation. Ideally I want something where it's hard to get stuck.
As a reference, I've never finished Planescape: Torment, because I managed to get stuck. (Yes, I know it's hard to get stuck. Call it a talent.) Talking to other people who've played the game, I'm severely under-powered, under-equipped, and under-manned; I'm stuck beneath Sigil and I can't go forward because I keep getting killed, and I can't go back to Sigil because, guess what, I keep getting killed. This was on my second try; the first time I managed to get mazed and started over from an earlier save point.
As another reference, I mostly play console RPGs, although I haven't played any recent ones. I'm sick of save points. They tend to be easier, more linear, and correspondingly harder to get stuck in than most PC RPGs. Most problems can also be solved by running around in circles waiting for random encounters, although I really prefer not to do that. (In PS:T, I'm probably under-levelled as well, but the fights are too hard for me and don't give enough experience to fix the problem.) |
Mon May 24, 2004 10:58 am |
|
|
Kayla
High Emperor
Joined: 26 Nov 2002
Posts: 2114
Location: Australia |
Some of the best games I have ever played were:
Planescape Torment (I would persevere with this- it is a brilliant game)
Baldurs Gate (original- didn't enjoy 2 as much)
Divine Divinity
Beyond Divinity
Sacred
Icewind Dale
If you like building games play Majesty. It was a game I purchased when the due date for a couple of games I was waiting for were pushed back. I got it only as a filler, but it is very fun and years later I am still playing with it. Do not laugh, but I also like Zoo Tycoon- the baby white tigers and the okapi are really cute.
Divine Divinity would be the one with the most skills, with the least limitations. Whereas in the standard D&D rules it is difficult to create a well rounded dual class character at times, I found DD's lack of classes refreshing. It was great to be able to decide to have a bit of everything, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I know these games are basically older games (except Sacred and Beyond Divinity) but you didn't give an indication of the other games you'd played- and often the oldies are overlooked.
Divine Divinity had a very good quest journal, and it is very easy to keep track of where you have been and what to do next. DD is more story based that Sacred, and there is a lot of character and humour throughout the game.
Sacred has a pointer to show where the quests are. You literally go into the quest menu- pick the side quest you want to do and a little arrow comes up to show where you need to go. The quests are also marked on the map, and the main quest has a big arrow- the side quest has a little arrow on the game screen in a compass at the bottom (so it is out of the way). I get lost easily too, and found it great to know where I was meant to be going.
I hope this helps a little. Enjoy playing.
_________________
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
Robert A. Heinlein |
|
Mon May 24, 2004 12:47 pm |
|
|
Cm
Sentinel of Light
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 5209
Location: Missouri USA |
I think you and I are related, or at least have the same get lost all the time gene. Divine Divinity is a good one. I am beating away at that one right now. I also loved Arx Fatalis, as it is somewhat enclosed and hard to get lost that way. Bad part about it was no in game directions. If you are not adversed to using a walkthrough, it is great fun, and the walkthrough is what the journal should have been. There was still lots in the game to learn and find on your own. And the PDF with the walkthrough has all the maps. 
_________________
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Member of Worshippers of the Written Word=
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.
Mark Twain
|
|
Mon May 24, 2004 3:19 pm |
|
|
Kayla
High Emperor
Joined: 26 Nov 2002
Posts: 2114
Location: Australia |
@cm. Maybe it's a female thing getting lost... hence the book Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Road Maps.
I'd forgetton about Arx. Excellent game.
_________________
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
Robert A. Heinlein |
|
Mon May 24, 2004 3:23 pm |
|
|
Cm
Sentinel of Light
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 5209
Location: Missouri USA |
@Kalya  I will have to buy that one, sounds like my house for sure. lol
_________________
=Member of the Nonflamers Guild=
=Member of Worshippers of the Written Word=
A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.
Mark Twain
|
|
Mon May 24, 2004 3:27 pm |
|
|
Val
Risen From Ashes
Joined: 18 Feb 2002
Posts: 14724
Location: Utah, USA |
Try KOTOR. It was originally made for the XBox and is fairly linear, so it's hard to get lost too easily.
Evil Islands is pretty good at directing you on where you need to go and it's got a good crafting system.
Also, if you are having problems with PS:T, then there are trainer programs you can use to boost your characters a little or teleport them out of the area so you can get out of the pickle you're in currently.
_________________
Freeeeeeedom! Thank heavens it's summer!
What do I have to show for my hard work? A piece of paper! Wee!
=Guardian, Moderator, UltimaDot Newshound=  |
|
Mon May 24, 2004 4:11 pm |
|
|
the mighty stamar
High Emperor
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Posts: 602
Location: arcata ca, humboldt county |
Those were my favorite games recently, um...
Kotor, gothic 2 and Divine divinity.
You can get divine divinity for free with beyond divinity ( which I havent finished yet to give an impression of yet) In the US at most places.
I think you will like kotor even though it is science fiction. It will suprise you. |
|
Wed May 26, 2004 4:08 am |
|
|
Ashera
Village Dweller
Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 4
|
Hrm, maybe I should have said "Definitely not 3D" instead of "2D Preferred". I don't have anything against science fiction per se, but I watched someone playing KOTOR and started getting vertigo...
I'll look into Divine Divinity.
The survival sim mentioned in another post actually answers my wish for a crafting-heavy game fairly well. I could do without the survival bits, though, since I seem to keep dying of starvation or getting killed and tortured by wolves. 
It actually kinda inspired me to start solidifying the design for the idea I had for a jeweler sim game... |
|
Thu May 27, 2004 1:39 am |
|
|
Val
Risen From Ashes
Joined: 18 Feb 2002
Posts: 14724
Location: Utah, USA |
If you are having trouble starting out, I suggest starting with the survival mission near a town in spring. Also, try out a different race, like one that excels at hunting or fishing.
_________________
Freeeeeeedom! Thank heavens it's summer!
What do I have to show for my hard work? A piece of paper! Wee!
=Guardian, Moderator, UltimaDot Newshound= |
|
Thu May 27, 2004 2:24 pm |
|
|
Ashera
Village Dweller
Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 4
|
The Kaumolainen seem to get the most survival skills, so I've been using them pretty exclusively. (I tried one of the city-folk at first. That did not go so well...) I just seem to have really bad luck... Basically, I keep encountering things that are way above my ability to fight, and either I die trying or starve to death. :-/ For some reason I seem to get friendlier encounters with the Hunting mission, although I restart if I don't find an axe. |
|
Sun May 30, 2004 4:24 am |
|
|
Val
Risen From Ashes
Joined: 18 Feb 2002
Posts: 14724
Location: Utah, USA |
Well, the game is meant to be difficult. I do have a character that has lived for a few months now and appears to be doing well. You just have to live on a little luck and educated guesses.
_________________
Freeeeeeedom! Thank heavens it's summer!
What do I have to show for my hard work? A piece of paper! Wee!
=Guardian, Moderator, UltimaDot Newshound= |
|
Tue Jun 01, 2004 10:33 pm |
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:16 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
