Western RPGs

[Alex The Rat]

I think it's difficult to lump all WRPG's in a single category as they so often are. You probably should avoid Bethesda games, which in general have very little in the way of character development and are more about exploring and (occasionally) interacting with the world around you. Depending on how far you're willing to go back, Black Isle Studios (RIP) created some of the greatest PC games of all time with Baldur's Gate I and II, later Fallout I and II. More recently I enjoyed Neverwinter Nights 2 quite a bit, actually (the first one just bored me...)
If you're looking for console games though, you're pretty much stuck with the previously mentioned Bioware titles, not that that's a bad thing.

 

[archvile93]

If you are into JRPG's then Bioware games would be a good place to start. They have decent storytelling and decent characters. I really would not advise the Elder Scolls games to you, they are very much for fans of the genre. They have a habit of not giving you any help at all.

They also have a habit of not being beta tested.

OT: I also have to agree with just about anything Bioware shits out.

 

[Snotnarok]

inb4 Dragon Age: Origins.

But yeah, expect to hear a LOT of that. If you can get past the incredibly cliched story, give that a shot?

Don't forget the cliched (and clusterf*cky) combat system.
The cliched character types. The cliched enemies... well, let's just say DA:O is completely generic. It's not a bad game, just completely generic.

OP: My experience is similar to yours. I do enjoy some WRPGs though (Fallout, Oblivion) and as much as I think DA:O is a generic game (that is WAY too short), it's probably worth a play through. It's short enough to rent it for week, beat and return. if you like it enough afterward, purchase.

And jrpgs aren't cliche? I think we're at the point where both are fairly cliche'd to the max.

My answer to you is simple: Demon's Souls.

I've been meaning to try that game out, but again, so many are cliche like wrpgs haha. I'm honestly playing Brave Fencer Musashi again. Now THAT's a good game.

 

[Hugh Mann]

It's a bit old but morrowind is a great mix of interesting world, fun (I THOUGHT) combat, and an original story.

 

[blindthrall]

My list.
Old-School RPGs
1.

If it's a story you're after, try Planescape:Torment. yeah, it's old but a few simple 'click-to-install' mods brings the graphics up-to-date and fix whatever few bugs the original official patch didn't cover.

Planescape: Torment is primarily story-driven; combat is given less prominence than in most role-playing games. The protagonist, known as The Nameless One, is an immortal who has lived many lives but has forgotten all about them, even forgetting his own name. The game focuses on his journey throughout the city of Sigil ( located atop an infinitely tall spire at the center of the multiverse, that connects the planes with each other via a series of portals. The city is overseen by the powerful Lady of Pain) and other planes to reclaim his memories of these previous lives. Some of which he lived as perfect saints, and some of which he was the worst bastard imaginable. But none of those compare to his first incarnation.

Because the protagonis is immortal, dying is at most an inconvenience. In fact, the Nameless One can use killing himself and then returning several times troughout the game simply to make a point Some of his past incarnations have even left helpful clues (to what he at the time considered important) and on some incarnations he did everytihng possible to destroy these clues.

And considering your first companion is Morte the floating, talking skull who wants to 'get it on' with the female zombies nearby, this game is as much about fun as it is about deep story and on some level even philosophy. And everty single party member has some kind of troubled past: the best-case of which includes a female who became a thief out of necessity and has lived on the gutters for most of her life.

Oh, and you can wield your own broken off arm as a weapon and your equipment screen has a slot for an eye. Which you can pluck out and replace with something better. Whoever said immortality isn't without it's perks?

Only things that really need to be added to this is that combat sucks a bag of rocks, but the story is so good, you won't care. And this game has some of the most unique characters you'll ever see. Ignus, baby.

2. As has been said, KOTOR. Don't play the second one, the ending will make you cry...in rage. But the first one is great storytelling mixed with pseudo-turnbased combat that can get pretty challenging. Especially that one room on Korriban...Just stick with it until you're a Jedi, as the beginning is slow.

3. Arcanum never got the love it deserved. The game is basically Middle Earth has an Industrial Revolution. Ever want to bust up an orc labor strike? Ever want to terrorize dark elves with a tesla cannon? This game mashes steampunk and fantasy to awesome effect. Also, it takes twelve playthroughs to get all the spells, abilities, and schematics. I did it. Can either be played turn-based or Diablo-style.

4. Fallout 1+2. 1 has better story, but two is more freeform and humorous. You'll figure out real quick if you like these games or not. Strictly turn-based.

RPG-Shooters

1. System Shock 2- Fucking great. If you can get past really old graphics, or get it to run. This is the creepiest, if not the best, game I've ever played.

2. Deus Ex- Probably best conspiracy based game. This is why they never bothered to make an X-Files game. Graphics aren't as bad as System Shock, and the last third of the game is a wild ride.

3. Vampire Masquerade: Bloodlines- It's more of a shooter, but a good story still gets it on the list. Also, the graphics are nice considering how old it is. The game really conveys a sense of evil well.

4. Fallout 3. It may not be as good story or character wise as the originals, but this is still open world, first person Fallout. If a sense of purpose while gaming isn't important to you, you'll love this.

5. Mass Effect. Don't really think I have to elaborate on it, other than wait until you get out of the Citadel to judge it.

 

[gustcq]

inb4 Dragon Age: Origins.

But yeah, expect to hear a LOT of that. If you can get past the incredibly cliched story, give that a shot?

Don't forget the cliched (and clusterf*cky) combat system.
The cliched character types. The cliched enemies... well, let's just say DA:O is completely generic. It's not a bad game, just completely generic.

OP: My experience is similar to yours. I do enjoy some WRPGs though (Fallout, Oblivion) and as much as I think DA:O is a generic game (that is WAY too short), it's probably worth a play through. It's short enough to rent it for week, beat and return. if you like it enough afterward, purchase.

DAO fun game, cool story, but then a lot of emo characters and bull*** dialogues.
Tal about the dowload game content stuff.

but overall worth playing.

 

[Zedzero]

Mass Effect 2 it's a hybrid of casual hardcore WRPG with a great combat system and deep story that is 10x more rewarding if you play the ME 1 and learn a lot of backstory fOR ME 2 then you can really feel enthralled to the story and wish to see the outcomes for your action from the original.

 

[Bilbo536]

I may get shit for this but I actually enjoyed the Lord of The Rings on Gamecube.


And it plays a bit more like a JRPG in terms of combat.

If you like LotR you may like it!

Otherwise, umm, Mass Effect?

EDIT: Also to everyone suggesting KOTOR, do not get me wrong I loved that game storywise but the combat is the frakking most boring thing ever. So tedious and barely involves you as a player. It's essentially a point and click combat system, and it doesn't even have pretty animations to make up for it. Seems the OP specifically stated he wants something with a better combat system than that.

haha you're probably gonna get hate for bashing KOTOR's combat.
So I'm gonna give you support. Cuz I agree. I hated the combat as well. (Ever get into a situation where you tell your guy to melee open a crate and hee misses it like, 99 times?)

 

[CalabusDabus]

The Diablo series are quite nice, and if you don't want a PC game, you could try playing Fable. (I would skip Fable 2, it was so damn glitchy it was about unplayable at times.)

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I may get shit for this but I actually enjoyed the Lord of The Rings on Gamecube.


And it plays a bit more like a JRPG in terms of combat.

If you like LotR you may like it!

Otherwise, umm, Mass Effect?

EDIT: Also to everyone suggesting KOTOR, do not get me wrong I loved that game storywise but the combat is the frakking most boring thing ever. So tedious and barely involves you as a player. It's essentially a point and click combat system, and it doesn't even have pretty animations to make up for it. Seems the OP specifically stated he wants something with a better combat system than that.

haha you're probably gonna get hate for bashing KOTOR's combat.
So I'm gonna give you support. Cuz I agree. I hated the combat as well. (Ever get into a situation where you tell your guy to melee open a crate and hee misses it like, 99 times?)

Yeah, I know but I can't unsaid it now!
And yes that has happened to me numerous times. I love bioware but I look at KOTOR as the first in a long series of improvements. Their games have gotten better over time.
I do hope they'll just quit the whole turn based combat system they have and make all their RPG's have realtime. It just works much better.
Gods know if Mass Effect had been modeled after KOTOR's battle system it would have been very annoying...

now...
*equips +2 Flame Shield

 

[Jenova65]

I have played (and loved) a few of the games you mentioned, Shadow Hearts is a great game (although 3, meh..) And all of the Star Ocean games.
I first started playing WRPG's when my son 'forced', me to play Jade Empire, saying 'Trust me mum, you will love it', he was right, it remains one of my favourite games he then said ''If you like Jade Empire mum, you should play this (KOTOR) It is by the people who made JE''
So I was coming from the same place as you from a gameplay perspective and I play lots of WRPG's as well as JRPG's.
Mass Effect is great, as is Mass Effect 2 (although the more shooter based combat takes just a bit of a mental adjustment, but is great) Dragon Age is a really enjoyable game, a lot of fun. The conversations are good and the random banter between party members as you wander round towns is often hilarious, enough to stop what you are doing just to listen to them. Dragon Age gets a bit of criticism for the graphics, but that is a shallow complaint when you consider everything the game gives.

 

[paragon1]

Any suggestions for a good western RPG with an actual story and an original combat system?

Jade Empire, if you can find it.

 

[GonzoGamer]

inb4 Dragon Age: Origins.

But yeah, expect to hear a LOT of that. If you can get past the incredibly cliched story, give that a shot?

Don't forget the cliched (and clusterf*cky) combat system.
The cliched character types. The cliched enemies... well, let's just say DA:O is completely generic. It's not a bad game, just completely generic.

OP: My experience is similar to yours. I do enjoy some WRPGs though (Fallout, Oblivion) and as much as I think DA:O is a generic game (that is WAY too short), it's probably worth a play through. It's short enough to rent it for week, beat and return. if you like it enough afterward, purchase.

I have heard good things about Fallout III and Knights Of The Old Republic and will probably get those soon, The thing that really bugs me is the games that consider the MMO brand of point and click combat to be a good idea. Not to mention first person sword swinging...

Even though many of my friends also didn't like Oblivion, they loved Fallout 3. The combat is completely overhauled and the environment is far more immersive.

 

[antidonkey]

For classic style WRPGs.....anything made by Black Isle Studios.

For modern style...Anything Bioware puts out....and to a lesser extent, anything made by Obsidian Stuios. They consist mainly of former Black Isle people and mainly get Bioware's scraps. They still turn out good games though.

 

[Ranorak]

Some of the better WRPGs:

Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (if you learn how to play Elder Scrolls games, then they're the best by far)
Diablo II
S.T.A.L.K.E.R

Did you just call Zelda a Western RPG?
The Zelda from Nintendo?
The big Japanese company?

 

[Baby Tea]

I really have not found a single western RPG that I have liked.

You know, it's funny, but I feel the exact same way about JRPGs!
Cliche stories, tired character archetypes, dull combat systems, just awful dialog and writing.

But you know, not every genre is going to appeal to everyone.
Don't force yourself to find a WRPG you like. You don't have to! If you hate all the WRPGs you've played, don't think you're missing anything. Whenever people go on about how great Final Fantasy is, or some other JRPG series that I couldn't care less about, I just let them have their enjoyment of it. Obviously we have different tastes in what makes a fun game, and I know I'm not missing anything when I don't rush out to try them all.


That being said, I will say that Eternal Sonata's lush graphics (Loved the colors), and fun combat system got me to play that all the way through, despite the horrible characters and just awful and pretentious storyline.
And the Baldur's Gate saga (On the PC) is, to me, the pinnacle of WRPGs. Unbeatable in terms of story, characters, and over-all bad-assery. I still play that game over 10 years later. Just awesome.

 

[Sakurazaki1023]

I really have not found a single western RPG that I have liked.

You know, it's funny, but I feel the exact same way about JRPGs!
Cliche stories, tired character archetypes, dull combat systems, just awful dialog and writing.

But you know, not every genre is going to appeal to everyone.
Don't force yourself to find a WRPG you like. You don't have to! If you hate all the WRPGs you've played, don't think you're missing anything. Whenever people go on about how great Final Fantasy is, or some other JRPG series that I couldn't care less about, I just let them have their enjoyment of it. Obviously we have different tastes in what makes a fun game, and I know I'm not missing anything when I don't rush out to try them all.


That being said, I will say that Eternal Sonata's lush graphics (Loved the colors), and fun combat system got me to play that all the way through, despite the horrible characters and just awful and pretentious storyline.
And the Baldur's Gate saga (On the PC) is, to me, the pinnacle of WRPGs. Unbeatable in terms of story, characters, and over-all bad-assery. I still play that game over 10 years later. Just awesome.

For the most part, a lot of JRPGs do have pretty cliche-ridden stories and way too much reliance on the same battle system. Probably the worst offenders are Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Needless to say, I have never really enjoyed either of those series. Most of the stuff I have enjoyed are the more obscure titles (many published by Atlus). What little of Dragon Quest 8 I played was a stereotypical mess with a bad storyline and bad voice acting and I have very little interest in the rest of the series. Although, if you were a fan of Eternal Sonata than you may want to try giving some of Tri-Ace/Tri-Crescendo's games a chance (Baten Kaitos was a great game simply for the gorgeous art and unique battle system, but the voice acting sucked bad).