Poll: Which Bioware RPG to start with?
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Mass Effect is a good casual RPG/shooter hybrid to get you started. It has the best storyline and characters from the Bioware games I've played, though I must admit I haven't played an older BioWare game than KotOR yet.
Dragon Age II is also a casual RPG but a lot of the design is very lazy and it's definitely not BioWare's high point. I like the characters and story more than the original (I don't understand why people like Morrigan so much. The best characters in the party are the dog and the talking rock), but there's also a lack of choice in DA2 that is uncharacteristic for BioWare.
Dragon Age II is also a casual RPG but a lot of the design is very lazy and it's definitely not BioWare's high point. I like the characters and story more than the original (I don't understand why people like Morrigan so much. The best characters in the party are the dog and the talking rock), but there's also a lack of choice in DA2 that is uncharacteristic for BioWare.
Baldur Gates 2. Yeah, not the first one. Start with 2, if you like it, THEN play trough the rest of the series.
And all of you talking about "difficulty curves" and "not being friendly to new players" - grow a pair. The games are not hard if your brain is not located in your ass, so I think new players will be fine as long as they remember to not make stupid mistakes.
As for not knowning anything about DnD...well, about time they learn, ain't it?
And all of you talking about "difficulty curves" and "not being friendly to new players" - grow a pair. The games are not hard if your brain is not located in your ass, so I think new players will be fine as long as they remember to not make stupid mistakes.
As for not knowning anything about DnD...well, about time they learn, ain't it?
Your poll is inherently stupid, in that it doesn't take into account the two BEST RPG/Bioware-related RPG series - Baldur's Gate and Planescape (Icewind Dale is also not bad).leet_x1337 said:
The gfx for Baldur's Gate aren't horrible, so it's not an unplayable monstrosity that a 2000-era FPS would be, being mostly pretty-art backgrounds. To play Dragon Age without having played these is to fundamentally misunderstand:
a) What DA:O is shooting for
b) That it misses, by quite a margin.
I played KotOR first and absolutely loved it. I would advise it as the first one because the gameplay is great, and the story is also great.
Led me onto play Dragon Age Origins + Awakening multiple times afterwards, and then Mass Effect 2, so I'd say it had significant impact.
Led me onto play Dragon Age Origins + Awakening multiple times afterwards, and then Mass Effect 2, so I'd say it had significant impact.
If you thought KotOR was too hard, you probably want to stay away from the Baldur's Gate series as its combat system is far more challenging; while both are based on a pseudo-realtime D&D system, KotOR uses a more streamlined version and tries to put as much of it as possible "under the hood"; Baldur's Gate 2, on the other hand, requires you to memorize dozens of spells and their status effects, familiarize yourself with a complex/convoluted rule set, and learn to effectively coordinate a 6-character-party if you want to stand a chance in a boss fight.leet_x1337 said:
If you're hyped for Skyrim and it's out of your price range, I'd say the most obvious solution would be to just get the GOTY edition of Oblivion - for just ~20$, you're easily looking at more than a hundred hours of gameplay (depending on your playing style).
OK, so this is my first post ever. I love Bioware, so
I haven't read all of what is posted above, but here is my take:
Mass Effect has a *great* story, but it really isn't an RPG in the number-crunchy sense of the word. That being said, it is totally worth your time.
Dragon Age Origins... I thought was meh. The first time, I did not get past the introduction, the second, I gave up after about 10 hours. I've heard great things about the story, but could not get past the initial slog to get to it.
KOTOR is *amazing*, but you are right, it is buggy. I have played it 4 times through on XBox and loved every moment every time. There was one time where I almost lost my entire game due to a freeze, which was frustrating for a half hour or so. But then I found a way to make the game not freeze (involved switching out characters) and all was well.
A lot of people are recommending Baldur's Gate above, but also how about Planescape:Torment? Amazing game. Developed by Black Isle Studios (who published Baldur's Gate).
I haven't read all of what is posted above, but here is my take:
Mass Effect has a *great* story, but it really isn't an RPG in the number-crunchy sense of the word. That being said, it is totally worth your time.
Dragon Age Origins... I thought was meh. The first time, I did not get past the introduction, the second, I gave up after about 10 hours. I've heard great things about the story, but could not get past the initial slog to get to it.
KOTOR is *amazing*, but you are right, it is buggy. I have played it 4 times through on XBox and loved every moment every time. There was one time where I almost lost my entire game due to a freeze, which was frustrating for a half hour or so. But then I found a way to make the game not freeze (involved switching out characters) and all was well.
A lot of people are recommending Baldur's Gate above, but also how about Planescape:Torment? Amazing game. Developed by Black Isle Studios (who published Baldur's Gate).
Well if you want a low entry point to RPG's then ME2 is the one for you, you can't really get more casual then that.
And if you want to see the full scope of what an RPG can do you go for the Baldur's Gate series, be warned that series is longer then all the others put together.
And if you want to see the full scope of what an RPG can do you go for the Baldur's Gate series, be warned that series is longer then all the others put together.
Play them in order so you can appreciate innovation and graphical evolution.
Baldur's Gate 1 and 2
Neverwinter Nights
Knights of the Old Republic
Jade Empire
Mass Effect
Dragon Age Origins
Mass Effect 2
Dragon Age 2
All the games are either good or great so you definitely can't go wrong.
Baldur's Gate 1 and 2
Neverwinter Nights
Knights of the Old Republic
Jade Empire
Mass Effect
Dragon Age Origins
Mass Effect 2
Dragon Age 2
All the games are either good or great so you definitely can't go wrong.
They're all good. I voted Dragon Age for no particular reason. If you've got kotor 1 though, definitely play that (mostly so you can go on and play kotor 2 which is excellent). I hope Jade Empire goes on steam sale soon though b/c I havne't played it in forever. I have a craving.
You misquoted me. I was quoting someone else saying that. I was pointing out exactly what you did, and giving my own "good morality system" counter-example.Imbechile said:
Yeah, but as for the rest of the original Deus Ex...Maybe I was just born in the wrong era.008Zulu said:
Guess what? Neither of those games are easily available on Steam, which I stated outright at the top. Besides, both of them are pretty hardcore for someone who doesn't usually play this genre...Susurrus said:
I'm not hyped for Skyrim, though - that's everyone else's thing. Like I said, I played one Bethesda RPG for about three hours and I have no desire to play any more of their games. (It was Fallout 3, for the record.)KingHodor said:
Mass Effect is my first vote. Start with the first game since it feels like a nice mix of the best of KOTOR and a good hit of Star Trek/Star Wars.
The world is vibrant, the equipment is snazzy, the chicks are green (and blue), and you get to do some real exploring in vastly different environments. It has its hard moments, but there is nothing an average gamer can't handle. Your crew is memorable, and your companions are often capable with little supervision.
If you want to play a more fantasy oriented RPG go with Dragons Age Origins.
I would also recommend sticking with KOTOR since it has some real gems in it that are still remembered today. It's also a nice intro if you want to get into The Old Republic MMO when it's release next month.
The world is vibrant, the equipment is snazzy, the chicks are green (and blue), and you get to do some real exploring in vastly different environments. It has its hard moments, but there is nothing an average gamer can't handle. Your crew is memorable, and your companions are often capable with little supervision.
Add explosive ammo to your sniper rifle for a good time.
If you want to play a more fantasy oriented RPG go with Dragons Age Origins.
I would also recommend sticking with KOTOR since it has some real gems in it that are still remembered today. It's also a nice intro if you want to get into The Old Republic MMO when it's release next month.
HK-47 makes the game.
Out of Bioware's games, I have played Mass effect 1 and a bit of the sequel, Kotor 1 and 2, Dragon age: Origins and Baldur's gate 2 about half-way through.
I'd say Mass effect is the best choice as first game, simply becuase it is the most user-friendly. Sure, much of the combat boils down to little more then click-at-target-to-kill, but the story is what really drives the game.
Oh yeah, and one more thing. Whatever everyone else tells you; Don't. Play. Baldur's gate. As. Your. First. Bioware. Game!!!!!
Yeah, yeah, it's a great one and all, but it is also one of the least accessible games you are ever going to find becuase the mechanics of the game is so insanely illogical. For example, in order to have as good armor as possible, your armor stats is supposed to be as LOW as possible. What on earth is up with that??
I'd say Mass effect is the best choice as first game, simply becuase it is the most user-friendly. Sure, much of the combat boils down to little more then click-at-target-to-kill, but the story is what really drives the game.
Oh yeah, and one more thing. Whatever everyone else tells you; Don't. Play. Baldur's gate. As. Your. First. Bioware. Game!!!!!
Yeah, yeah, it's a great one and all, but it is also one of the least accessible games you are ever going to find becuase the mechanics of the game is so insanely illogical. For example, in order to have as good armor as possible, your armor stats is supposed to be as LOW as possible. What on earth is up with that??
