Eventually, I got into Diablo, then The 4th Coming and then Diablo 2 and Ultima Online, or the "RPG Lites". They were fun, but became tedious after a while (namely the click-fest gameplay of the Diablos).
It was only a week ago that I went out and bought Baldur's Gate II. This is probably my first true CRPG...I haven't been able to stop playing the game. It's incredible. I now want to get Throne of Bhaal.
BG2 is, in my opinion, an ultimate gaming experience. There are only a few games that I have played as good as BG2, namely DOOM (the original, baby), Unreal (atmospheric SP), Deus Ex (talk about freedom...) TIE Fighter and Jedi Knight (Ah, classic Star Wars gaming).
What makes BG2 so good? What makes any game create that ultimate gaming experience? Here are some points that I think developers should focus on to create a Gaming Utopia:
-Freedom. This is a huge one. One thing I love about BG2 is, although it has a semi-linear plot, You can do any quest in any order. There is a giant world to explore. One game I am DEFINITELY looking forward to is Freelancer...the days of Elite are returning.
-Storyline. If you're going to have a storyline, whether it be linear or non-linear, make sure it is engrossing, full of twists and turns. Perfect example - Half-Life. Starcraft was also fantastic in this sense. Who can forget that heart-rending moment (*MINOR SPOILER*) when you discover that Kerrigan has become one of the Zerg. Gimme more o' that Shakespearean tragedy
-Gameplay. Can't forget this one. No point in having an awesome storyline and/or all the freedom you want if the gameplay is crap. BG2's combat system is quite good, and a player really has to use strategy to win those harder battles. Fallout was another game that demonstrated this well.
-A smooth interface. Ever come across one of those games that has a great storyline, great gameplay, all the goods, but an abysmal interface? A bad interface can detract a lot from a game. Who wants to spend your time battling buttons and menus instead of monsters???
-Character development. This is very important. Only RPGs or semi-RPGs can deliver this. It gives the player the feeling that they are controlling their destiny, building up their character however they wish. Whether it is the allocation of stars to the dark side or the light side in Jedi Knight or building up character stats in The Sims, this is essential.
-NPC interaction. BG2 is good in this sense, although I don't think many games have actually perfected this. By NPC interaction, I mean the ability to "chat" with NPCs. Whether you are romancing a character in your party or arguing with some ruffian on the streets, BG2 NPC interaction is everywhere. This is probably the hardest to put in a game, as it takes time to script responses, emotions and the like.
Of course, Massive Online Games (MOGs) need not focus on many of the above points. With a good role-playing community (hard to find), NPC interaction is hardly needed. Storylines don't really come into the equation either, but freedom is a huge factor.
If you look at the above points, you'll probably realise that only RPGs can really deliver all this. Sure, DOOM was fun and scary as Hell (bad joke
), but where was the immersive storyline?Neverwinter Nights looks like a really promising title, though I remain cautious. With NWN, players will be able to create worlds and with a good DM, the above points can be achieved (as long as the interface and gameplay are good).
Hopefully, we'll see developers start to realise what players really want, and start making games along those lines. I'm sick of developers releasing half-finished games that are buggier than Starship Troopers and then releasing a bunch of pathches to try and rectify it, ala Pool of Radiance 2.
Anyways, that's my rant for today. One more thing though...I'm looking for a good CRPG to get...I am definitely getting ToB, but how do Planescape: Torment and Arcanum fare? I am chiefly looking for a good storyline, NPC interaction, char development and most importantly, FREEDOM. Apparently, Arcanum has heaps of freedom, cause the world is so big. This true? Anyways, suggestions for some good games are all welcome.
Regards,
Andaar Amberfire
Lawful Good Cavalier
