Poll: Favorite Type of WRPG from this gen

[The Madman]

Eh, I don't blame you - the D&D rules are rather horrid, to be honest. They are designed with PnP in mind, not a video game and even then, they often fail at being convenient for humans. Or sane in some respects. KOTOR has a lot looser take on the rules which is ultimately beneficial. While NWN is a lot closer and there is some appeal in its interpretation of the rules (i.e., rather literal) it's not really "video game-y". Even VtM: Redemption which was sort of Vampire's analogue to NWN (that is to say - a toolbox with which to play a tabletop-like rendition of the PnP game) did a better job of being a video game because it wasn't a straight copy.

Personal preferences and all that. I don't think the DnD rules are bad for video games, I just think they're often implemented badly into game. Plus I very much enjoy games like Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate not only for the stories they can tell, but the gameplay as well. And ideally you've got modules like Wizards Apprentice 2 for NWN2 that use the DnD ruleset for all their worth, making it an asset rather than a liability and building a story around those mechanics.

Plus Temple of Elemental Evil is as DnD as it gets and the tactical combat in that game is amazing, some of the best out there really. Shame the rest of the game isn't nearly as good, but the DnD gameplay for ToEE is fantastic for those like me that are into that tactical stuff.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Fallout 3 is my favourite this gen. I think I put at least a 1000 hours into that game. Also Demon's Souls and Dark Souls are my other favourite WRPG style games this gen.

 

[Xdeser2]

I love me my Bioware RPGs, but my vote goes to Bethesda.

Bethesda is able to craft a convincing world that just feels believable enough to have existed in some alternate dimension. (Thats not to knock Mass Effect's obviously great world design though) Their game worlds are just filled to the brim with shittons of structured content that can last you dozens and dozens and dozens of hours, but they never forget about the little things that make the world come alive.

Sure, say what you want about them, they're not perfect. You can argue that mechanically their RPG's aren't as complex as others, or that bugs can creep up now and again, but in the end their games achieve what they set out to do; Place you in a large world with a deep history, and give you the chance to make your own story.

 

[Lunar Templar]

I picked Bacon because Dark/Demon's Souls was not on the list

 

[GonzoGamer]

While not a true RPG, Mass Effect is the first game that came to mind. Deus Ex: Human Revolution, The Witcher and Skyrim were also very good. Each of them was superb in its own different way.

Closer to PnP? Previous game generations had much more P&P like games. Games like Fallout 1&2, Planescape: Toremnt, and Baldur's Gate 1&2 were much closer to PnP than anything this generation has to offer.

It depends on how you play. Yes those games were closer to PnP RPGs in the sense that they were like playing a video game of playing a PnP game; one with a DM who has a very elaborate table with sets, miniatures and everything. I get what you're saying. Perhaps this point should've been a choice in the poll.

However, while I see the characters on Big bang theory play D&D like that, most of the PnP RPG campaigns I took part in relied less on props and more on imagining the worlds & scenarios the GM/DM was detailing. Sure there were always dice and stats and looking stuff up but they just become a background noise once you get into the story. They were more free flowing where you had choices of what side to take and which way to go. You weren't railroaded into specific "adventure modules." Not saying it's better, just the way I liked to play.

 

[Tayh]

None of the above?
Most of those games are Action-RPG's or shooters-with-incremental-stats.
Closest games to tabletop D&D, which I've played, are NWN 1+2.
If anything, consoles have brought RPG's further away from tabletop gaming than they have ever been.