Looking for Game Recommendations

[Eudaemonian]

To put it simply, I am absolutely and abysmally bored. I have a pretty wide interest in games and an equally wide collection, but at the moment nothing seems to strike me. I've got a lot of free time on my hands and need something to fill it up.

I am utterly fed up with anything multiplayer (especially if it is massively so). I just want something that I can close myself in a room and play for long periods of time. I'd specifically prefer an RPG simply because that genre lends itself most readily to the goal. It needn't be anything new (though it might help if I haven't already played it a hundred times).

It needn't be something innovative, either. I'm not one of those people for whom turn based RPG battling has lost its allure. I've already considered re-playing the Final Fantasies and various other similar things.

So in sum:
RPG
Longish
Traditional/Linear not a problem
Attainable: Very important, some obscure game that does not exist anymore doesn't help, this is a question in practice rather than a review in theory


Thoughts?

 

[Whoracle]

Adventures ok?
If so, go find a copy of The Longest Journey or it's sequel, Dreamfall.

Alternatives:
- Baldur's Gate Series, look for the Black Isle Compendium, it has both Baldurs plus Addons as well as Both Icewinds as a package for one price.
- The Witcher is nice, too, although not the Be-All-And-End-All
- Look out for Blade Runner, The Pandora Directive, under A Killing Moon, one of the old FMV-Adventures. They may not be sold anymore, but you can readily attain them at eBay

 

[Eudaemonian]

I've heard good things about The Longest Journey, that's definately worth considering.

Unfortunately, BG is virtually impossible to find in my experience, though perhaps I am just not looking hard enough.

Because of some complications, I'd ideally not like to order anything off the internet because then I'm bored for two more weeks

 

[ChrisP.Lettuce]

On top of the ones that other people have said, I would recommend Odin Sphere. It's not too hard to find, I have seen them here and there used for the PS2. It's fairly long, with beautifully animated sprites on a sidescrolling action RPG. It's just a nice change from the 'norm'.

 

[SubtleMockery]

You know what's a Hella fun game? Bullet Witch.
Suprised the hell out of me.

But hmmm... as for long games?
Morrowind will keep you entertained for hours upon hours upon hours.
Try Star Ocean: The Second Story...although, don't know how easy that will be to obtain.
....hmmm....Deus Ex: Invisible War?
OOH. Tenchu! Tenchu Z specifically. That game kept me entertained for DAYS.

 

[tendo82]

Dragon Warrior VII.

 

[Eudaemonian]

Final Fantasy XII ~ Beat it, considering re-playing it, but even the MMOish feeling of it is offputting enough to me at this point. Still, it's a contender, mostly because it's sitting in the other room.

KotoR/NWN ~ KotoR 2 I'd love to play right now but I've misplaced it and have a hard time justifying buying it again. Also, I believe I was a fair ways into it. The first one I beat. Same with Neverwinter. Has a million expansions, played most of em. NWN 2 was really awful, I thought... it just didn't have the same feel because of the different developer. Though I did like that they included the Warlock class.

Morrowind/Oblivion ~ Just a little too open for me at the moment. Not to mention I've played them a lot before. I dunno what it is right now but as much as I generally love open-ended games, I'm just kind of in a slump where I don't want to make my own fun. I want the game to be like "Here is fun, enjoy it."

Witcher ~ I am extremely leery of based on some reviews of it (not speaking specifically of ZP which I view more as comedy than serious criticism). Also, it's at full retail price atm, and I feel like I might be able to get something sufficiently entertaining for less.

Star Ocean sounds somewhat promising... I own it, it's somewhere in a box about an hour's drive from here, but that would just kill extra time and not necessarily be a bad thing. Only bad part is I don't really remember liking it all that much. Though it's entirely possible that I just got distracted from it...


I'm appreciating the ideas, I hope I don't sound overly dismissive, it's just the nature of the beast, as I'm sure anyone who's ever been bored (everyone) knows.

 

[SubtleMockery]

Star Ocean 2 can be frustrating, but playing as Claude or Ashton is just too fun.
"Burst KNUCKLE!"

"....dead triangle...."

 

[Copter400]

Maybe try Eternal Sonata, one of the few RPG's available on the Xbox. It's made by the same people who made Star Ocean. What I liked about them was that they were trying to mix things up a bit with boring old turn-based combat.

 

[Terramax]

If you've got a PS2 or PSP - Disgaea: Hour of Darkness/ Afternoon of the Darkness

Not only will this Japanese RPG eat up at your time, but the grinding of characters is actually 'F.U.N.' due to the creature creation mode, very clever battle stages and some of the most original, witty dialog in a game ever.

And you will find out close to the end, this has one of the best storylines in an RPG ever too.

Highly recommended.

 

[Eudaemonian]

Maybe try Eternal Sonata, one of the few RPG's available on the Xbox. It's made by the same people who made Star Ocean. What I liked about them was that they were trying to mix things up a bit with boring old turn-based combat.

My roommate has that, I may need to give it a shot.

I have Disgaea as well and I've fiended out on it a bit too recently to enjoy it again. I ended up starting an FFX game, then getting drunk (which I am in the middle of now), and going out to see Meet the Spartans...

yeah... not the best decisions I would imagine. We'll see how it all goes.

 

[Yerocha]

I also recommend Disgaea. If that can't be found, I also reccomend Disgaea 2, La Pucelle: Tactics, Phantom Brave, Makai Kingdom, and Soul Nomad. Find any of these and you'll be good for a while.

Alternately, you could try Shadow Hearts: Covenant or Eternal Sonata. They're good too.

 

[alexhayter86]

I think you're too easily bored. I have the same problem, which can easily lead to game-buying addiction: constantly after your next 'fix' without ever getting satisfaction from your last one.
Seriously, put some time into Morrowind and Oblivion. Soon enough, you'll be hooked and eager to beat them to completion.

 

[Romag]

Oblivion. If you are desperate for something to do, you'll find it there. I wish the main quest was harder though... Also I wish shit didn't level up with you, but there are mods for that (for pc users)

 

[sapient]

Final Fantasy Tactics if you don't mind the trad RPG story with an turn based strategy feel.

Star Ocean 3 is good, but kinda cliched.

If you can find it, Arc the Lad is a traditional RPG, and it doesn't really stray away from that route. It was quite fun, look for Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits. Complex character development and rich but linear story.

Tales of Eternia for the PSP (you can probably pick up a ROM) is a more action-RPG kinda thing.

Baten Kaitos and Baten Kaitos Origins are JRPGs in the truest sense of the word, and the combat is sheer balls-to-the-wall thinking and planning ahead. I seriously recommend it if you have a GameCube.

 

[Terramax]

Disgaea 2, Phantom Brave, Makai Kingdom

No, no, no. I wouldn't recommend those games to anyone. At least not before they've played the more newbie friendly games.

La Pucelle would be a great choice if not the first Disgaea, but that's about it. Disgaea 2 is quite possibly the worst sequel to a game, ever (disregarding all EA games).

I think you're too easily bored. I have the same problem, which can easily lead to game-buying addiction: constantly after your next 'fix' without ever getting satisfaction from your last one.

Oh yes, I whole-heartedly agree with that. I've bought about 8 games in the past 2 weeks from Ebay in search of a great game. So far only Sanitarium has lived up to the recommendations.

 

[Whoracle]

Regarding the Baldurs gate Games: Try googling for "Black Isle Compilation II" and you might just get lucky. Here in good ol' krautland it's on Amazon.de, but Amazon.com did'nt turn up results for my whopping 5 minutes' worth of search...

Edit: A thought just occured... Plug a Gamepad, fire up ye olde SNES9x and go through Secret Of Mana, Terranigma, Chrono Trigger, Super Metroid and the other Gems.

 

[NATO.Caliber]

Kingdom Hearts, and the better sequel for the PS2.