Offline singleplayer fantasy RPGs that play like MMORPGs

[Menegrothx]

I'm looking for a singleplayer offline game that plays and looks like a traditional fantasy MMORPG. I remember playing Warhammer Online on a deserted ghost realm and while leveling alone, I enjoyed the scenery and athmosphere so I'd like to find an offline RPG where I can have a similiar gameplay experience. Running around in lush green forests killing wolves and so on
My current computer is a shitty old laptop, so I cant play any new MMORPG games like WAR, Age of Conan, Rift, Lord of the Rings Online etc. There's nothing wrong with older Ultima Online type of MMORPGs, but what I'm looking for is World of Warcraft-type of 3D gameplay, so isometric RPGs like Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale are out of the question.

I've seen Ultima IX only in Spoony's review so far and I know it sucks, but I do like the visual look and style of the game. Are there any decent singleplayer RPGs made in similiar fashion? Neverwinter Nights? Never tried that one myself but I've heard great things about it. I have no experience of the Elder Scrolls series either. From what I've gathered, Skyrim and Oblivion are pretty bad compared to the older games. What are the older games like then? Atleast Daggerfall looks too much like a dungeon crawler to me because of the 1st person view and no 1-9+hot keys type of spell selection like in MMORPGs

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So I guess what I'm looking for is a third person* 3D CRPG released between 199x and 2003-2004. Since I want to emulate that MMORPG experience, I need a mouse and keyboard.
*although being able to switch between 1st and 3rd person view is nice

[GameMasterGuy]

If you have a 3DS then Heroes of Ruin is pretty good, albeit bogged down with cheesy dialog.

[Menegrothx]

If you have a 3DS then Heroes of Ruin is pretty good, albeit bogged down with cheesy dialog.

"Since I want to emulate that MMORPG experience, I need a mouse and keyboard.". Besides, I think the game looks a tad bit too cartooney (judging by the screenshots in google picture search).
Oh, and I'm not looking for an action RPG, it has to be a legit RPG

[Zing]

You are asking for PC games, but it must be said that Xenoblade Chronicles is the epitome of offline MMORPGs. It is everything you are asking for, minus the keyboard and mouse.

[Menegrothx]

Xenoblade Chronicles is definitely on my list of games I need to buy, but even if it it could be played with a keyboard and mouse, I doubt it would be what I'm looking for (despite the gorgeous scenery). That is traditional Lord of the rings/Dungeons and Dragons type of orcs, elves and dwarves fantasy. Judging by the gameplay videos and screenshots I've seen so far, the game looks way too high tech and scifi, like the new Final Fantasy games. I just cant immerse myself into a game world full of spiky haired people with huge colorful weapons and impractical armor the same way I do with more traditional medieval fantasy games.

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Isn't XC also fairly cutscene heavy?

[isiolia]

If you aren't dead-set on the offline angle, you might consider Guild Wars, assuming you haven't already played it. Everything outside of town is instanced - there are a couple missions where you'll get thrown in with another group of players if they happen to be entering at the same time, otherwise you can just flesh out your party with NPCs and solo.

Neverwinter Nights wouldn't really qualify I think. It's trying to be more like the Baldur's Gate/Icewind Dale style, just with 3D. NWN2 is a clear predecessor to Dragon Age Origins. They aren't bad games, just not what you seem to be looking for.

Bethesda games aren't bad per se. They're a different style, to be sure, but they aren't bad. To me, the relative openness is MMO-like in a way.

You might look into the Gothic series though.

[MrPopo]

Neverwinter Nights? Never tried that one myself but I've heard great things about it.[/quote[
Neverwinter Nights is a top down RPG that plays similarly to Baldur's Gate, albiet with the D&D 3rd rules. It really isn't MMO style, it's still isometric, you just get a bit more of a free camera due to it being fully 3D.

I have no experience of the Elder Scrolls series either. From what I've gathered, Skyrim and Oblivion are pretty bad compared to the older games. What are the older games like then? Atleast Daggerfall looks too much like a dungeon crawler to me because of the 1st person view and no 1-9+hot keys type of spell selection like in MMORPGs

They all play similar to Daggerfall, though starting with Morrowind you could get to a third person view. They all play as action RPGs, so you don't have the 1-0 spell selection like an MMO's bar. Skyrim and Oblivion are both awesome; the vitriol you see is people who fall into the "They changed it, now it sucks" camp. Everyone's favorite Elder Scrolls entry is the first one they played. When I first played Morrowind it really felt like a single player MMO (I had previously played a week of Everquest). There is a lot of exploration in the three most recent Elder Scrolls games with a ton of stuff to discover.

[Menegrothx]

If you aren't dead-set on the offline angle, you might consider Guild Wars, assuming you haven't already played it.

Yeah, I dont mind playing an actual MMORPG, that's what I would do if I could, naturally. It's just that my current laptop cant most likely handle games like that, so I want to find an offline game that can emulate the sort of experience I had while exploring in World of Wacraft and leveling alone in Warhammer Online and Lord of the Rings Online.

Skyrim and Oblivion are both awesome; the vitriol you see is people who fall into the "They changed it, now it sucks" camp. Everyone's favorite Elder Scrolls entry is the first one they played. When I first played Morrowind it really felt like a single player MMO (I had previously played a week of Everquest). There is a lot of exploration in the three most recent Elder Scrolls games with a ton of stuff to discover.

Well I am only basing this on what I've read from RPG forums and such, but from what I've heard, Oblivion and Skyrim are "dumbed down" as they were intended for a larger audience, so they had less customization options and the sort of stuff that pen and paper people are into. I dont know if it's a fact as I havent played these games, but I'll rather have more depth in terms of gameplay/RPG mechanics than prettier graphics. I've only got an Xbox 360 for playing those good looking current generation games anyways

[J T]

I suggest you try Gothic 2. It has all kinds of customization options. You can fight, make potions, craft items, pick pockets, collect herbs, and all kinds of other stuff. You can even join guilds that will shape your character's development. The graphics even look a little Everquest-ish. It's a vast virtual world for exploring with lots of room for character customization. I think it's the kind of thing you're looking for. It's sold on gog.com, so that's convenient.

[Menegrothx]

Gothic 2 looks really promising, I think I'll try that one. A new boxed copy doesnt seem to cost much more than the game does in GOG, great

Oh and how's Wizardry 8? I think it's has 1st person view, but that game seems to be really legendary among RPG gamers so I feel like I should try it out