Together RPG - Western RPG - Planescape: Torment

[BoneSnapDeez]

It would be a good choiche but I doubt most people are willing to play through difficult oldschool RPGs with primitive graphics

We're playing Phantasy Star II, right? Give us some credit

Wasteland is a level beyond PS2 in terms of obtuseness.

Haha yes.

Whenever someone complains about a difficult JRPG I immediately ask, "Have you ever played a Western RPG?"

[Retrogamer0001]

Not much quality among this quanitity

Ultima 5
Planescape: Torment
Vampire: The Masqureade - Bloodlines
Fallout
Besides those you've got Ultima 4 and Wizardry (one of the most influental and important oldschool RPGs) and some solid dungeon crawlers (Grimrock and Eye of the Beholder). Can't comment on Buck Rogers and Avadon though.

...not much quality? Do you know anything about RPGs?

Yes actually, a fair bit...but I suppose the fact that the majority of the list are PC games that are 10-15 years old has a lot to do with me being unfamiliar with them. Even the games that have console ports, I've heard of maybe two of them. My fault for being ignorant, I suppose...

[Menegrothx]

This is a retro gaming site Mid 1990s-early 2000s=best time for RPGs (SNES, PS1, Isometric PC games)
If you're unfamiliar with the games and like to know more about them, here's some info. Of course a wikipedia article doesn't really do justice to some of those games, all you need to know is that all of them are highly regarded amongst oldschool RPG gamers for being innovative, well written and having very well implemented RPG mechanics. I think Spoony's review of Ultma 5 (despite the AVGN-esque humorous tone) explains well why U5 is so sophisticated and intelligent for a RPG made in the 1980s.
Ultima 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_V:_ ... of_Destiny

Fallout and Planescape: Torment
http://www.rpgfan.com/features/Top_20_R ... 90s/3.html
http://www.rpgfan.com/features/Top_20_R ... 15-11.html
http://www.rpgfan.com/features/Top_10_B ... tten_RPGs/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planescape:_Torment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallout_%28video_game%29

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:_T ... Bloodlines
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/retro ... bloodlines


Most reviews of this game will mention that the last part of the game (about 20-30% of it's overall length) is bad, and it's true. The development team ran out of time&money so the last quests are very linear and filled with combat. Anyways the actual roleplaying and the whole gameplay experience up to that point is just excellent. One of the best examples of roleplaying in a 3D game. So it's still worth playing this game even if you don't intend on finishing the journey.

[Hatta]

Phantasy Star II is only difficult because of the tedium of the mazes coupled with frequent random encounters. And they made the save item almost impossible to find without a hint. Otherwise it's a very straightforward game.

Wasteland is a much more open game with more opportunity to screw up. It's entirely possible to build a party that sucks because you chose skills that aren't useful. Battle strategy is very important, where PSII practically plays itself.

They're both good games, and good examples of how different jRPGs and wRPGs are. I have to say I far perfer Wasteland though.

And Retrogamer0001, don't feel bad about being ignorant. The whole point of TR is to introduce people to classic games they missed. There's really not a bad game in the bunch. Although, it's probably a good thing Wizardry isn't getting any votes. It's rather hardcore.

[MrPopo]

Although, it's probably a good thing Wizardry isn't getting any votes. It's rather hardcore.

The only thing more hardcore than Wizardry is trying to play Wizardry II and III on the PC without backing up your saves.

[Menegrothx]

Although, it's probably a good thing Wizardry isn't getting any votes. It's rather hardcore.

How appropriate that the full title of the game is "Proving Grounds of Mad Overlord"

[Stark]

Although, it's probably a good thing Wizardry isn't getting any votes. It's rather hardcore.

How appropriate that the full title of the game is "Proving Grounds of Mad Overlord"

Yeah, I think I might do this for my summer challenge instead of for Together RPG.

[Hatta]

The only thing more hardcore than Wizardry is trying to play Wizardry II and III on the PC without backing up your saves.

I hear Wizardry IV is the hardest of the series. That's the one where you play as Werdna, the villian from the earlier games. Having just been defeated, you start with nothing at the bottom of a dungeon. I haven't played it myself, but the CRPG Addict had some choice words about the game.

Might & Magic I on the other hand is one of his highest ranking games. If we want to play one of the big foundational PC RPGs, I'd suggest that one over Wizardry or Ultima. But that's a whole other discussion.

[Ack]

The only thing more hardcore than Wizardry is trying to play Wizardry II and III on the PC without backing up your saves.

I hear Wizardry IV is the hardest of the series. That's the one where you play as Werdna, the villian from the earlier games. Having just been defeated, you start with nothing at the bottom of a dungeon. I haven't played it myself, but the CRPG Addict had some choice words about the game.

Might & Magic I on the other hand is one of his highest ranking games. If we want to play one of the big foundational PC RPGs, I'd suggest that one over Wizardry or Ultima. But that's a whole other discussion.

Thank you for that, Hatta. That article was hilarious!

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Moar Fallout plz.