What is your'e Favorite Non rpg game?

[Robnark]

@Fable: that was a part of it, certainly. when you're running around trying to avoid some of the more absurdly challenging fights, I'd prefer more of a view. to be fair, the things I liked least afflict the whole subgenre of those old-style FPRPGs. I tend to be of the opinion that the whole shebang could usually be represented perfectly well in a fairly simple top-down or isometric view. while the atmosphere of exploring in first-person may be lost, there would be less conflict between viewable area and party controls and information.

while these things become less of a problem with long-term play and familiarity with your party, I've always found that the party of faceless characters that is a genre staple really doesn't help me towards that end. so far, I've found very few such games that are especially rewarding considering I spend so much of my trying - often with remarkably little success - to work out controls, how combat works, how I'm supposed to do anything useful outside of combat, where I'm going and, all too often, why?

[fable]

I'm with you, there. I tend to prefer the ease of view in 2D games, where I can spatially imagine targets in 3D, as opposed to 3D games where I have to spin to get a sense of what's going on around me (even though I'm supposedly aware of hits and sounds coming from all sides and my back ). Still, at the Wizardry series were turn-based.

[Faust]

I tend to be a sucker for good strategy and tactics games, particularly ones with RPG-ish elements. One of these days, I'll break down and buy Dragon Pass.

Probably my all-time favorite non-RPG (though it still has RPG elements) is Final Fantasy Tactics. For some reason, I really loved the story, character development and employment of that type of game. Likewise, I enjoy many of the other strategy titles mentioned here. I loved the old Koei games like Romancing the Kingdom and Bandit Kings of Ancient China as well. Though, I haven't played those in years.

[arno_v]

The only game I still play is Unreal Tournament 2004.

[Rudar Dimble]

Originally Posted by arno_v

The only game I still play is Unreal Tournament 2004.

that's not that old...

[fable]

Originally Posted by Faust

I tend to be a sucker for good strategy and tactics games, particularly ones with RPG-ish elements. One of these days, I'll break down and buy Dragon Pass.

I started a thread about it here, and added a revised version of my old published review.

Probably my all-time favorite non-RPG (though it still has RPG elements) is Final Fantasy Tactics. For some reason, I really loved the story, character development and employment of that type of game. Likewise, I enjoy many of the other strategy titles mentioned here. I loved the old Koei games like Romancing the Kingdom and Bandit Kings of Ancient China as well. Though, I haven't played those in years.

I actually played BKoAC recently, and enjoyed it. Don't know that I'll restart any of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Nobunaga's Ambition versions, but I am considering a redo of Balur of the Evil Eye, the last PC title KOEI released.

[The Z]

Favourite? More like favourites.

Halo (Just a damn good FPS)
Unreal Tournament (Just a damn good FPS)
Age of Empires Series (My favourite RTS games)
Deus Ex/System Shock 2 (More like FPS games with RPG elements, but it worked really well)

There's a slew of sports games but I won't get into those.

Regarding 3D vs. 2D: It's too bad that pretty much no RPG's will ever be made in 2D anymore. Doesn't it make you yearn for the Infinity Engine?

[Xandax]

Originally Posted by The Z

<snip>
Regarding 3D vs. 2D: It's too bad that pretty much no RPG's will ever be made in 2D anymore. Doesn't it make you yearn for the Infinity Engine?

No - but I yearn for games with content and debth, and not these "fast action console wannabe games" we see .
I don't care if its 2D or 3D

[The Z]

Originally Posted by Xandax

No - but I yearn for games with content and debth, and not these "fast action console wannabe games" we see .
I don't care if its 2D or 3D

I kind of get tired of the fast-action "RPG" as well. The most recent RPG I played that had a fair bit of depth was KotOR. The only RPG I'm looking forward to is The Fall, when it comes from overseas, simply because it looks a lot like Fallout (God bless that series).

[fable]

Originally Posted by The Z

Regarding 3D vs. 2D: It's too bad that pretty much no RPG's will ever be made in 2D anymore. Doesn't it make you yearn for the Infinity Engine?

Try Ultima VII with the Exult engine, or Divine Divinity, or even Darklands. 2D still has a lot going for it. I just don't think 3D has fulfilled its promise yet in hardcore RPGs, probably due to the amount of resources necessary to design and code huge, non-linear environments and 3D, multi-level combat moves (on top of everything else).

[Robnark]

Originally Posted by fable

Try Ultima VII with the Exult engine, or Divine Divinity, or even Darklands. 2D still has a lot going for it. I just don't think 3D has fulfilled its promise yet in hardcore RPGs, probably due to the amount of resources necessary to design and code huge, non-linear environments and 3D, multi-level combat moves (on top of everything else).

damn straight. I've just started on Arcanum again. there are certainly things in it that make me think 'interesting, but that could be done better', but in, say, morrowind, I don;t think that, but only because there's seldom ambition outside of the shiny graphics. after a recent discussion on a messageboard, I've realised that there is nothing inherently interesting in so many of the 3D SFX-fests. just try having a conversation about it. other than your favourite weapon or armour, nothing.

to be honest, I find many of the games called RPGs seem to have earned that title by parodying a genre with swords, magic, changing stats and generic fantasy creatures. you physically cannot roleplay when your character - not to mention the plot - compares poorly to the original Doom, especially not when the only times you have to even look at the dialogue is when you have a yes/no choice. for years people have been getting away with rent-a-plots and elves and appalling dialogue, but at least there was more to being an elf than having pointy ears (which are admittedly hard to make out on an ASCII character...)

when you are spending vast amounts of money and time making an engine that won't be slated by every major gaming publication going, there is understandably a trend towards making a system that doesn't offer complex new abilities that make demands of the system further than a nice particle effect or a new sword-swing animation, and as many of said abilities as possible open to everybody. at least some of this is down to the fact that there are some things that simply don't work in yer first-person perspective. a sensible way of representing the area of effect of many spells is one example that springs to mind. the problem seems to be that, once you've decided to go 3D, you need a system that works effectively in it. that means being radical or being safe. and once you've spent millions upon millions of your monetary unit of choice, I can guess what most people would go for.

[TheAmazingOopah]

No One Lives Forever. Outstanding game.

[Denethorn]

Favourite non rpg hmmm *rubs chin*

Mafia or Deus Ex. Deus Ex could be labled an RPG but oh well .

Other than that... perhaps an adventure game like Monkey Island or Sam N Max Hit the Road. God bless Lucas Arts.

[avatar_925]

my fav game(s) of all time would have to the Devil May Cry series...I can't wait till athe fourth one comes out

[Red_X]

Devil May Cry series
Half Life 2
Age Of Empires series