Poll: Battle of the RPGs

[Brodden]

I said Fable because I enjoy a game where the whole point of the game isn't to kill for the sake of killing. Anyone here watch the movie Idiocracy with luke wilson? Friggin' funny because it's running on a half truth the whole time. People who like things for the sake of liking it is a joke. it's like making a Mutant League Hockey or something for xbox 360, sure it was cutesy on the Sega Genensis but to have 3d accelerated blood splashing won't hide the fact that you're playing a baseball game. Gore for the sake of gore is silly that's why Fable gets my vote. and hate gear of wars because it's too busy touching itself on how pretty and gory it is..

 

[Dele]

The usual definition, just add non-real time combat.

 

[Souplex]

Got this from Nuklearpower.com

Partly I think we can blame how choices in these games are presented to the player. You all know the standard joke here, but I'm rolling with it anyway. To wit: Essentially, you are given a situation to which you may respond with an array of dialog choices. These invariably range from A) Inhumanly saint-like, to B) Casual indifference, to C) I will murder everything you ever loved via skullfucking.

The problem is that I, personally, fall somewhere between A and B. Maybe an A.1) Merely saint-like. Y'know, like in real life. So, A comes on a little strong while B is basically rude. And C, well, that's super rude. Some games manage to make their choices more nuanced than others, but you're still basically looking at A, B, and C.

To my mind, Fable 2 comes off the strongest here because there aren't dialog options. Since your actions alone determine your morality, there's no weird disconnect between the professed beliefs of your avatar and your intents as a player. Conversely, half the charm of Fallout 3 is in its dialog. Plus you get to say one thing and do another! Both good and evil pale before the might of the bastard alignment.

 

[Alleged_Alec]

The usual definition, just add non-real time combat.

I'm sorry, but you don't need to have a turn based system to make a game an rpg. Sure, you might label it an action-rpg, but I think it's the same to label the other type turn-based-rpgs.

I don't know though. I only played fable 2 so far. I do want to try out fallout 3, but I'm having a nice time faffing about in Albion so far. And this might be a bad argument, but I thought that the story of Oblivion to be rather bland, and I'm a bit afraid that Fallout would be the same.

 

[Ionait]

Poof

 

[mokes310]

Fable 2, but that's just cuz I'm a huge fan of the Fable series. Fallout 3 was/is really good as well, but they are two very different games in my opinion.

 

[Grampy_bone]

WARNING! Versus thread detected! Flame war imminent!

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'll vote for Fallout 3. Fable 2 is neat-looking game, but the range of activities in it is actually rather limited, none of it ties in well together, and the story and character interaction is pretty lame. I enjoy roleplaying games which actually let you talk to people, rather than just fart at them.

 

[Ionait]

Poof

 

[Susurrus]

Neverwinter Nights 2 (particularly its expansion, Mask of the Betrayer. Hopefully its new expansion).

I've yet to play either Fable 2 or Fallout 3, but any discussion of RPGs that doesn't include a mention of such a behemoth of the genre needs updating.

Whilst story-telling definitely took a downward spiral in NWN1, and NWN2 was far from brilliant, Mask of the Betrayer, despite some potentially annoying game mechanics, created an intelligent, involving and complex story arc, on a par with the Baldur's Gate series, and perhaps even getting close to the level of storytelling that Planescape: Torment managed. I fully recommend it, even if you only play the expansion.. An often overlooked game, an absolute gem in the massive amounts of dross Bioware has managed to spawn via the DnD name..

November sees the release of Storms of Zehir, which I'm very much hoping will be as good as MoTB..

 

[Kenny Doyle]

I have them both and play them both equally.

Neither RPG was trying to compete with eachother so it shouldn't cause a a stupid "Battle of the best game evarr" award. (Eg, Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Gears of War and Halo, etc etc).

If they were to compete, I would say Fallout 3, main reason being is that it draws you in more than Fable 2.

Fallout 3 feels more in the role playing experience; being able to cripple limbs, free roaming environment and a massive array of armour, clothing and weapons. Meanwhile, Fable II seems to lack the ability to sit (E.G: Not being able to sit on the throne in Fairfax Castle), giving a less disappointing feeling on the whole "Role Playing" part of an RPG. That and something kind of feels liniar about the game, seeing that it just consists of telling you to follow the path set, seeing that most of the time the path is the only way to get too the place, other than discovering your own way and path.

Annoying thing about themselves that stabs the travel system in the back is the stupid and obsurd Fast Travel system. It didn't work in Oblivion or Fable so it certinly wouldn't work now. I don't see a point in a "Free Roaming" environment if there's just a two-click solution to it all.

-- I'll break off there before I start yelling at both games.

Point is that I don't think a "Battle of RPGs" is really required in my opinion. They weren't trying to compete in the first place and if they were, both of the games would be simular or exactly alike - which they're not.

 

[sieve5]

okay unlike many here I have actually played both of them (curtousy of blockbuster gamepass, frigging awesome btw) and i think that it is a fairly close race between them, but i have been a lionhead fan since they made the origional black and white, but i friggin love oblivion, id have to say a tie.

Fable 2: fable 2 is a completely awesome game, it has everything i wanted out of it, except its replay value... the replay value is what brought this game down by the buckeloads, after you beat the main storyline you are given a buttload of sidequests, witch isnt bad at first, but after awhile you dont feel like youre playing fable 2 annymore, you feel like youre playing capatain repetitives' monotney adventure. But this game is simply amazing with the main questline, but thats not to say that this game is totally bad, once you beat it with one alignment or skill mastery, you can go and beat it again with a different alignment making the game totaly different --RECOMEND RENTING-- you can beat it in a week if you get it from blockbuster, and if you like it just ask them if you can buy the coppy from them.

Fallout 3: fallout 3 on the other hand has a very long storyline and a great replay value but did not quite give me the experience that fable 2 gave me when i played it. This might just be me, and probably is, but when i was playing I found it rather difficult, the controlls were aquward and the ammo was quite scarse, and i was constantly spending all my money on health items. But this game is quite good comming from the people who have played it and i wouldnt doubt that it is a good game (havent beat it all the way through) though it is a solit rpg game with many little surprises. --RECCOMENDED BUY-- if youre going to get this youd have to buy it because the questline is quite long by my standards (at least 7+ solid hours of gameplay but thats just me *again*)

Favor: FABLE 2
rent it and see witch one you want, or did what i did, ask for 6 months of blockbuster gamepass and dont get either, i liked it a little more than a game cuz i got like 4k gamerscore

 

[Phoenix Arrow]

Not played either yeat but Fallout looks so pretty, in a post-apocalytic way. Gets my vote.

 

[Flying-Emu]

I personally will be picking up Tales of Symphonia 2, over both of those.
From the reviews coming out of Japan, it'll be awesome.
Maybe not as great as Fallout 3 our Fable II, but I'm a Tales fan, so... yeah XD

 

[Altorin]

I personally will be picking up Tales of Symphonia 2, over both of those.
From the reviews coming out of Japan, it'll be awesome.
Maybe not as great as Fallout 3 our Fable II, but I'm a Tales fan, so... yeah XD

if you're a tales fan, there's no reason to consider a western RPG over a tales game

 

[reaper_2k9]

I had to go with Fable 2 haven't gotten my hands on Fallout 3 yet

 

[Same River New Water]

Versus threads 're frowned upon 'round this parts 'ere boy. Can't you just take the games for what you are? What's this "better game" poppycock?

To be fair on the OP, this is a special case: these are two very comparable and high-profile games with similar gameplay released at about the same time. They're more similar than your example of Half-Life and Call of Duty, to my mind, because while the actual shooting in those games is similar, the style and focus of the gameplay is worlds apart, whereas Fable 2 and Fallout 3 are very much in the same Western RPG narrative mode. Heck, they even both co-star a dog!

And this thread will be very relevant to a lot of people right now, especially with Christmas coming up. It certainly is for me.

I haven't voted cos I haven't played either one yet, but I'm itching to vote for Fallout 3 anyway. Fable 2 sounds like just as good a game, but the subject matter and history of the Fallout world is so much richer that, for me, it's no contest.

 

[cainx10a]

Fallout 3, unlike Fable 2, has room for more content, via DLC and Community-made content. But then again, I haven't played Fable 2 (until it is released for the PC).

 

[TsunamiWombat]

you forgot option 4: This question is stupid, they're nothing alike.

 

[Same River New Water]

Ionait: thanks, your wall of text was actually very informative. And I hear you about the lack of co-op in some games - what the hell? It's not like it would be difficult to implement! There's no excuse for games which allow online co-op to not allow split-screen; that's just lazy, or maybe greedy.

 

[santaandy]

I still like my 16 bit RPGs more than anything. Final Fantasy IV-VI, Chrono Trigger, best games ever.