What is the best RPG you have ever played

[skyfire_freckles]

I know this is all about video games, but the best RPG I ever played was tabletop Mage the Gathering waaay back in 1998. We had a great group that was able to meet weekly for most of a year, and a GM that actually had an imagination. It doesn't get better than that.

As for video games: Arcanum. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magicka Obscura. I played the shit out of that game. I've never seen a game since with its depth of story & characters, with better dialogue, and awesome gameplay. Of course, I have seen many with better graphics...but that was back in 2001.

And a lot of the others you all mentioned, TES, Fallout 1-3, KOTOR (but not 2 so much). I played a console adaptation called Jade Empire that I enjoyed as a lark. (Yes, I'm a PC snob)

 

[gaymathman]

Planescape Torment. If you say something else you are wrong.

I did quite enjoy Fallout 3 though.

Totally agree with Torment. There is basically nothing wrong with that game, save for the fact that you need a mod for resolution independence and the interface looks wonky at nonnative resolutions. It's like the anti-Final Fantasy (or other generic JRPG)

 

[gaymathman]

System Shock 2 is probably my second favorite.

 

[NoodleWoman]

Oblivion is nice and all, but I find nothing as fun as good ol' down to earth d&d with a bunch of socially awkward buddies in a friends basement.

 

[veloper]

I cannot pick best RPG.
Many great RPGs I like, but there's always something wrong with them:

baldur's gate 2 - cheesy story and dialogues (but with many good bits too) and fake choices.
fallout - lousy combat (and I love turn based!) and too few locations
fallout 2 - lousy combat again and a terrible early game
fallout 3 - weak FP combat, below average story and dialogue and too little C&C
gothic 2 - weak dialogues and little C&C
kotor 2 - weak, easy combat and the ending is rushed and the quests are broken, unfinished.
morrowind - weak combat, lousy character progression and topic links instead of dialogue
Planescape torment - weak and very easy combat
temple of ee - finally great TB combat for a change, but with a weak story and little choice
ultima 7 - weak chaotic combat + cheese + lord british
VTM Bloodlines - weak FP combat and a poor end game

I'd have to vote a game like Deus Ex then? DE has no big faults, but as a split FPS/RPG it's not very representative of the RPG genre. It may also not be everybody's cup of tea with all the looney conspiracy theories going on.

RPG sucks if I didn't love it so much.

 

[Gashad]

Hmm so many good choices, Diablo 2, Planescape Torment, Neverwinter Nights mask of the betrayer, Arcanum, Baldurs gate 2 would all be worthy(really can't make my mind up between them-all great games)

 

[AlphaOmega]

chrono Trigger

 

[CitizenMac]

If I have to choose one, it'll be Planescape: Torment, because of the hugely original story, the awesome protagonist and the tons of dialogue and text, creating one of the most immersive worlds I've ever played in. I think Baldur's Gate II is the better game of the two, but Torment takes the lead for me personally.

 

[Wayne Insane]

Does Deus Ex count?
If not, then KOTOR and all the main Fallouts.

 

[ForgetRealism09]

Fallout 3 was a real upgrade to Oblivion although I prefer not being utterly destoryed by super mutants. Mass Effect I loved but would be better with 'a little less conversation, a little more action' and not those bloody driving parts either. I sadly admit I've probably played over 24 hours all these combined. RPGs rule.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

either fallout 3 or oblivion

 

[Khazoth]

The best, and infact, only good turn based RPG was Septerra Core.

The best overall? Knights of the Old Republic 2.

 

[Ben Legend]

Gotta be.... to many to name.
Final Fantasy 6 or 9.
Mass effect
The last remnant, just for a challenge and sheer difficulty.

 

[Ghostkai]

Either Pokémon Gold or KOTOR

 

[Ben Jamin]

I liked Titan Quest. Was fun and reminded me of my Age of Mythology days.

 

[konkwastaken]

kingdom hearts anybody?

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Overlord
Fable (original and tlc, in Fable2 the oppenents were too weak)
Oblivion
and not to forget Nox

 

[Anachronism]

Baldurs Gate II

Planescape: Torment could have been a really close call, but unfortunatly for that game, its story wasnt as strongly supported by its gameplay, and it also had some terrible bugs. People tend to overlook those things, but I dont, and only ever place it above BG II when it comes to game storylines only.

Exactly! Torment might have a real trippy story and be awesome for that, but the graphics, combat, sidequests and everything around it are not nearly as good as in BG2.

The only aspect that I find flawed in BG2 is perhaps that the game is simply very confusing at first.....but personally I found even those stumbling first hours mindblowing.

Agreed. Torment does arguably have the better story (although I'm not completely decided on that) but BGII's gameplay was much better overall. As great as Torment was, it simply wasn't as polished as BGII was: there were quite a lot of bugs, while I am yet to find any significant ones in BGII.

I do agree on the first few hours being a bit odd, though. You basically escape from the dungeon, and then are told you can't do anything else in the main story until you've made 20 000gp. It works as a way to get you familiar with the game, and it gives you a good chance to explore Athkatla, but it still seems like a slightly arbitrary game-lengthening device.