Poll: Where did Traditional Western Fantasy RPGs reach their creative zenith?

[Susurrus]

(This was originally a Black Isle/Bioware thread, but I had to change it for complicated reasons that are brilliantly summed up by the following sentence: I fail). Yes, there's no Elder Scrolls, etc. Blame poll limitations.

So Bioware, as many may have noticed, have been receiving a lot of hate for DA2. In those threads, I've noticed that people have an incredibly disparate set of opinions on which Bioware/Black Isle game was the best. Some plump for the original Baldur's Gate, whilst others suggest Neverwinter Nights I. Still others think DA2 is the best game ever. I'd just be interested to see how it breaks down, in terms of numbers, so get voting!

(Also, I just realized I left out Mass Effect, so I've included them with DA:O and DA2. Not perfect, but in timeline they're similar, and DA2 has been an extension of the principals in ME1).

 

[Joshica Huracane]

You know what? I've only played Dragon Age: Origins and DA2 out of all those games. And you know what? I preferred Dragon Age 2 for the most part. It didn't look like a last gen game for one, the controls are more suited towards my preferred machine (console).

The story was really entertaining for me, and while it didn't have the world spanning epicness of Origins, it gave us a more personal story, with a generally likeable cast of characters. Not that it didn't have its flaws, but when I see so much good in a game, I tend to forget the less awesome bits.

 

[TheAbominableDan]

Bioware only provided the engine for Planescape: Torment. Which was the finest of Black Isle's games. So they don't really get the credit for that.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

The only game you mention that I didn't care for was Mass Effect 2. ME 1 was fun, but ME 2 was just... sooo.... booooorrriiiiinnnnng.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

There is a disturbing lack of Jade Empire... you know, the last good title Bioware developed before they started ressurectng previous titles for a new audience.

Strictly talking about Black Isle, Fallout 2.

 

[Sleepingzombie]

I´d say mass effect 1. I think that was their most creative game but the following titles were more polished.

 

[TheAbominableDan]

This will be my second post but I should also point out that Bioware was never Black Isle. That was Obsidian. Black Isle published for them but they're not the same company.

 

[AlternatePFG]

BioWare didn't make Planescape nor did they make Neverwinter Nights 2. Black Isle is not BioWare, many people from Black Isle work at Obsidian now however.

Anyway, I feel like KOTOR was their last really good game. I'm not a huge fan of Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, while enjoyable, isn't really unique.

 

[JediMB]

I would like to think that at least BioWare have not yet reached their creative zenith.

That said, you have to take the good with the bad when developers choose to experiment with their franchises. Especially when they're under pressure from a publisher to crank out new income-generating products at a regular basis.

Two steps forward, one step back, and another step sideways.

 

[Susurrus]

I know Black Isle and Bioware were never the same company - but Origins was supposed to hark back to Baldur's Gate, etc. etc. etc.

Damn it, I missed out fallout. How did I manage that? I never played Jade Empire, but I thought the general opinion was that it was terrible?

 

[TheAbominableDan]

Damn it, I missed out fallout. How did I manage that?

Maybe because they didn't make Fallout. As I've said, Bioware and Black Isle are two different companies.

 

[Susurrus]

I've cunningly changed the topic title, to reflect that Bioware and Black Isle are two different companies (I did know this, but their fates were tied together for a long time).

 

[Susurrus]

You know what? I've only played Dragon Age: Origins and DA2 out of all those games. And you know what? I preferred Dragon Age 2 for the most part. It didn't look like a last gen game for one, the controls are more suited towards my preferred machine (console).

The story was really entertaining for me, and while it didn't have the world spanning epicness of Origins, it gave us a more personal story, with a generally likeable cast of characters. Not that it didn't have its flaws, but when I see so much good in a game, I tend to forget the less awesome bits.

Then you've missed out on some EPIC games. Games that I wish I could play again for the first time, and which I would throw out almost any modern game in my collection for...

 

[Eponet]

Well, Bioware/Black Isle would definately be Baldur's Gate II

Bioware would also probably be Neverwinter Nights, not because the main campaign was good (It was terrible) but because of the innovation they created with the easily accessible toolset and multiplayer services.

Black Isle's is either Fallout or Planescape: Torment. Fallout's setting was origional, but Planescape's characters were far more varied. It's a difficult decision between them.

 

[Joshica Huracane]

You know what? I've only played Dragon Age: Origins and DA2 out of all those games. And you know what? I preferred Dragon Age 2 for the most part. It didn't look like a last gen game for one, the controls are more suited towards my preferred machine (console).

The story was really entertaining for me, and while it didn't have the world spanning epicness of Origins, it gave us a more personal story, with a generally likeable cast of characters. Not that it didn't have its flaws, but when I see so much good in a game, I tend to forget the less awesome bits.

Then you've missed out on some EPIC games. Games that I wish I could play again for the first time, and which I would throw out almost any modern game in my collection for...

You are indeed correct, I've missed out on a lot of great games. It makes me sad.
But I intend to rectify these problems as soon as I have the time and money to invest in them. Excuse my ignorance, but are they all PC games?... aside from Mass Effect 1/2 and the Dragon Ages?

 

[Trolldor]

Ahh man.. Bioware/Black Isle. Those were the good days.

That fucking dialogue wheel. The moment they made it standard was the moment it went to shit.

 

[darth.pixie]

Black Isle ones, Planescape Torment. Not Bioware though. You might wanna change that or this whole thread will get hyjacked.

Planescape had the best story, dialogue, characters...honestly, there is nothing I didn't love in that game. Better than any game any company has done and, if things continued as they did, will ever do.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I know Black Isle and Bioware were never the same company - but Origins was supposed to hark back to Baldur's Gate, etc. etc. etc.

Damn it, I missed out fallout. How did I manage that? I never played Jade Empire, but I thought the general opinion was that it was terrible?

Eh, you're forgetting that a personal opinion isn't always reflected by the general opinion. Haha, I really liked Jade Empire, other people didn't. I can just as well say that I didn't mesh with Dragon Age: Origins/2 but others did. Thanks for adding Fallout! *goes to vote*

 

[Vault101]

ageis ago because everything now sucks DA2 suck Bioware you ruined my life!!!!!!!!!

sorry couldnt help myself