Games with awesome stories/atmosphere/characters/concept

[Scully]

Graphics don't matter and gameplay could be virtually non existent.
I do have a thing for plots involving time travel and/or amnesia of the main character.
Games I've already played and loved: Planescape Torment, Shadow of Memories/destiny, Arcanum, Fallout 1 2 & 3, The Longest Journey 1 & 2, Syberia 1 & 2, Baldurs Gate 1 & 2, Divine Divinity 1 & 2, Call of Cthulhu Dark Corners of the Earth, Vampire the masquerade bloodlines, Cryostasis, KOTOR 1 & 2.

Now these games are all great, but only a couple of them focus more on story/mood/etc than gameplay, those two are Planescape Torment and Shadow of Memories. I want more games like this.

Thanks in advance.

Ps. Not too old. Preferably not older than the games on my list. Also, no live action video. No actors in the game, that includes character portraits as well.

[fable]

...but only a couple of them focus more on story/mood/etc than gameplay, those two are Planescape Torment and Shadow of Memories...

Can't agree about PS:T. Story is vital, mood is great, but gameplay is excellent, too. I think it's the best computerized RPG ever made.

I want more games like this.

You will definitely want to check out the following:

Ultima V, VI, Ultima VII (get the last, a really dark game, with Exult, so it can run on WinXP)

Betrayal at Krondor (the ending will tear out your heart ; , and it's abandonware--check up at abandonia.com) )

King of Dragon Pass (not as dark as the others, but a fantastic strategy/RPG hybrid with 500 or so mini-plots)

Obsidian (not the company, but a fantastic graphical adventure with Esher-like graphics, tough logic puzzles, and worlds with their own rules)

[Scully]

I lied, graphics do matter to me unfortunately. I'm no graphics junkie, but I don't like to leave that much up to imagination. Of all the games listed Baldurs Gate probably has the most outdated graphics, and I don't like to go below that. It's necessary for the mood/atmosphere as well as characters in my opinion.

I'll check out a couple of them out. But I never did get into Ultima nor do I want to and I'm afraid most of them are a little too old for me (as in made before I was born. Not really but almost )

[Loki[D.d.G]]

Consider Bioshock too. It has wonderful atmosphere, a solid enough story and interesting characters to boot. Just keep in mind the protagonist himself is the most boring person you could come across.

[Scully]

Played it. Pretty good for a new game. But not enough focus on characters or story. Cool concept though, underwater city and very nice atmosphere underwater with those graphics.

I also forgot to mention System Shock 2 and Deus Ex. Quite good.

[fable]

The Exult Ultima VII allows for pretty high resolution. And Betrayal at Krondor was relatively good looking, too. King of Dragon Pass is a special case, since it operates off a series of very artistically rendered menus. But you can try it before you consider buying it.

[Scully]

Maybe so, but no matter the hight of resolution, you still can't make out much facial features. To see the face is very important for me to actually care about an NPC. It has to look human (or whatever race it is), not just resemble one.

[fable]

Maybe so, but no matter the hight of resolution, you still can't make out much facial features. To see the face is very important for me to actually care about an NPC. It has to look human (or whatever race it is), not just resemble one.

Then I'm surprised you mentioned PS:T. But fair enough: Ultima VII just has so much flavor, but if you have to see faces, rather than just in dialog boxes, forget that. Betrayal at Krondor is 1st person, and King of Dragon Pass does show you faces. Try those.

[Scully]

Yeah, I'll try those. And about PsT. It has better graphics, plus there are plenty of cinematics as well as the stats screen has an image of the NPC. Not that PsT is a perfect example of it no. Shadow of Destiny is better at that.

Anyways, more suggestions are welcome.

Edit: I've edited the first post. Sadly none of the games you suggested fable fit those criteria now

[Scully]

I'm leaving tomorrow, so this is my last chance. Any games that fit the updated criteria in the OP?

[dragon wench]

It's a newer game, but if you are looking for atmosphere and story you could always try The Witcher. It has a dark grittiness reminiscent of PS:T, plus it uses the amnesia theme.

[Scully]

Seems to me there's a lot of focus on combat, and I didn't like the combat system.

[dragon wench]

Seems to me there's a lot of focus on combat, and I didn't like the combat system.

Seems to me you're awfully hard to please

Seriously, I didn't find Witcher all that more combat-heavy than many other games, and the system isn't that bad once you get used to it. But, obviously, your call

[DesR85]

On the RPG side, I can recommend Final Fantasy VII and the Last Remnant (provided that you have a controller). Fable: The Lost Chapters would be another recommendation, unless you can stomach the rather easy nature of the game.

Outside the RPG field, I can recommend Beyond Good & Evil, the Prince of Persia series (Sands of Times onwards) and Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy) to name a few.

By the way, can you tell me what genre of games do you like or you don't mind playing games from any genre?

[Loki[D.d.G]]

Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy) to name a few.

I second the Fahrenheit recommendation. Its confusing enough to be interesting. Though, you can expect some downright silly parts too.

[dragon wench]

Des makes a good point, I just get so used to making RPG recommendations here. But, I notice by your list that you also seems to like the Adventure genre..
Made around the same time as Longest Journey:
[url="http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/greatestgames/p-19.html"]Grim Fandango[/url]
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_McGee's_Alice"]American McGee's Alice[/url] (actually, Alice is probably more of a Adventure/Shooter cross in some respects )

Anyway, both games are highly atmospheric, story-based and immersive. Also, for their time, the graphics were very good.



I hear you when it comes to PS:T... In my view it is one of the finest games ever made, if not the finest. Unfortunately though... there's really nothing else out there that compares.. *sigh*

[Scully]

Seems to me you're awfully hard to please

Seriously, I didn't find Witcher all that more combat-heavy than many other games, and the system isn't that bad once you get used to it. But, obviously, your call

That's the thing though. I'm not looking for any other game, but one that focuses on the things I listed instead of gameplay.

About the other suggestions. I've played most of them I'm afraid. It would seem there aren't any newer (as in 1996+) games left for me to play.

[dragon wench]

That's the thing though. I'm not looking for any other game, but one that focuses on the things I listed instead of gameplay.

Yes, I know, and sadly... there's not a wide field out there, especially if you are being highly selective.
Trust me, I do feel your pain, as do many other people here, the reality is that the number of good games out there has severely declined over the last decade.

OK, don't know if this would at all interest you, it didn't get the greatest reviews ever, but if you can even find a copy, you might consider giving [url="http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/spqr"]SPQR: The Empire's Darkest Hour[/url] a shot. It's a lot like Myst, a graphical, puzzle-based adventure and no other people. I quite enjoyed it at the time, but you need to be in a patient kind of mood.

[Loki[D.d.G]]

How about Psychonauts? Its an adventure game, very colorful, but dark at its core.

[DesR85]

How about Psychonauts? Its an adventure game, very colorful, but dark at its core.

I'd second that. Played it before a year back and enjoyed it a lot. But I'd call it a mix between an adventure game and a platformer, given that there are lots of platforming levels in it.