Anything remotely similar to KotOR, Jade Empire?

[PepperBreath]

I'm generally not into RPG games, Eastern or Western but there are a few that really grabbed my attention. The Knights of the Old Republic series (I played both) and Jade Empire were both fantastic games.

I know Bioware has made older RPGs like the Balder's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series. Are these games similar to the above mentioned newer RPGs outside of graphics and perspective? If that's the only difference, I might check them out.

I've actually avoided them previously because I assumed they were like Diablo clones which is a game I didn't really care for.

 

[aCynic2]

Originally posted by: PepperBreath
I'm generally not into RPG games, Eastern or Western but there are a few that really grabbed my attention. The Knights of the Old Republic series (I played both) and Jade Empire were both fantastic games.

I know Bioware has made older RPGs like the Balder's Gate and Neverwinter Nights series. Are these games similar to the above mentioned newer RPGs outside of graphics and perspective? If that's the only difference, I might check them out.

Baldur's Gate is heavily story driven and considered at present to be the one they broke the mold after making. Be aware, the BG is 2D, using sprites, but nothing comes close in terms of an engaging story. It's strictly single player.

There is also "Planescape: Torment," made using the same engine, that is also good, highly story driven, very engaging, but rather surreal.

NWN is fully 3D, but is highly customizable. You can design your own dungeons and it is this aspect that makes it highly desirable. If you don't plan to play in a multi-user co-op or run one, don't bother. It doesn't do well as a campaign game.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I've actually avoided them previously because I assumed they were like Diablo clones which is a game I didn't really care for.

No, they are not like diablo. Diablo is a hack and slash pseudoRPG (third person shooter with stats). The Baldur's Gate series focuses on dialog, plot and character development. There are mods (BG TuTu and the BG1 NPC Project) that make Baldur's Gate 1 a Baldur's Gate 2 like experience.

Baldurs Gate 2 is probably the best RPG ever made (main rival being PlaneScape Torment). I highly suggest that you pick up. BG2 is much better than KotOR (although KotOR is a great game). Here is a collection that has all of them together (and I put some links to great mods in the OP).

Forgotten Realms Collection, includes the entier Baldurs Gate series, Icewind Dale, and Neverwinter Nights (with all of the expansion packs for all three).,

I issue this word of warning about NeverWinter Nights to anyone that wants to play it:
Dont even play the original campaign of neverwinter nights, it is garbage by Bioware standards. Chapter 1 of the expansion pack Shadows of Undertide is tolerable (2nd chapter sucked) and the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Hordes of the Underdark are good (1st chapter was a hack and slash grindfest)

Download and play this module and its sequel if you want a great story driven game with focus on plot / character development, but action RPG lovers beware, there are only about 3 "forced" combat encounters in the entire first module.

The module
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.ph...modules.Detail&id=4046

It's sequel (and a better game)
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.ph...etail&id=29643&id=4047


A more action oriented game (that still has great story / roleplaying) would be:
http://nwvault.ign.com/View.ph...Modules.Detail&id=4290

But, I highly suggest the first two modules that I linked.

See The NeverWinter Nights Module Thread for more:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...y&keyword1=neverwinter

 

[shortylickens]

Just do a search in the Software forums and you'll find plenty of people like me lamenting about the good old days of Baldurs Gate and Knights of the Old Republic.

KOTOR 2 is a decent game. The story isnt nearly as good as the first one (and its actually broken), but the gameplay is solid and after playing number 1 you'll be impressed by all the new feats, powers, and toys.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
KOTOR 2 is a decent game. The story isnt nearly as good as the first one (and its actually broken), but the gameplay is solid and after playing number 1 you'll be impressed by all the new feats, powers, and toys.

Lucas Arts forced the game to ship way too early, Obsidian was forced to cut an entire chapter from the game in order to reach the deadline. They were kind enough to leave what they had done on the shipping CDs (dialog lines, voice acting, the droid planet) unimplemented so that others might finish it.

This is where the KotOR Restoration Project comes in.

 

[manko]

If you can wait a few months:

Mass Effect

 

[mundane]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: shortylickens
KOTOR 2 is a decent game. The story isnt nearly as good as the first one (and its actually broken), but the gameplay is solid and after playing number 1 you'll be impressed by all the new feats, powers, and toys.

Lucas Arts forced the game to ship way too early, Obsidian was forced to cut an entire chapter from the game in order to reach the deadline. They were kind enough to leave what they had done on the shipping CDs (dialog lines, voice acting, the droid planet) unimplemented so that others might finish it.

This is where the KotOR Restoration Project comes in.

I hadn't realized they were that close to completion. I will need to dust off my KOTOR2 discs soon.

 

[PepperBreath]

Thanks guys. I read all your posts and based on your advise, I think I'll check out the Baldur's Gate series as well as Planetscape: Torment. I'll probably pass on Neverwinter Nights since I'm primarily looking for a single player game that I can play without an internet connection.

That collection that has the Bioware collection also includes Icewind Dale. How is that game series?

Originally posted by: manko
If you can wait a few months:

Mass Effect

Unfortunately I don't have an Xbox 360 and don't plan on buying one. Probably the only reason I would though since the game looks great.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I'll probably pass on Neverwinter Nights since I'm primarily looking for a single player game that I can play without an internet connection.

The three modules that I linked for NWN1 are all single player modules and are truly excellent. If you have a friend that has high speed internet, then it would be well worth the download. They (and Hordes of the Underdark) are worth the cost of NWN1.

That collection that has the Bioware collection also includes Icewind Dale. How is that game series?

Icewind Dale uses the same (infinity) engine as the Baldur's Gate games and PlaneScape: Torment. I have yet to play through them, but the series gets positive reviews and seems to be well liked by gamers that I have talked to that have played them. It focuses more on action than dialog (when compared to Baldur's Gate).

It should be noted that Icewind Dale is not a Bioware game, but a Black Isle Studios game (makers of PlaneScape: Torment) using a Bioware engine.


If you get the bundle, I suggest playing those three NWN modules that I linked above (if you have a friend with high speed internet that can download them for you) and The Hordes of the Underdark first, then working your way back (as to slowly ween you off of good graphics).

 

[Fenixgoon]

baldur's gate 2 is the best RPG ever made.

icewind dale is the diablo of bioware D&D games (all hack and slash. not NEARLY as fun as bg2)

 

[Shadowknight]

The original Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment are stuck at 640x480 resolution, but don't let that deter you from Torment. FANTASTIC game. It's more of a story than a real "game" since combat is very little of the game-experienc.e I find the combat to be a bit kludgy, though I like how when they implemented (on purpose) area effect spells so when you cast them they don't hurt your own party. I got ZERO use out of spells like Fireball in the Baldurs Gate games because the enemy ran up so fast.

Icewind Dale is light on plot, but it DOES have one. I thought it was great fun though. The expansion pack Heart of Winter (and the downloadable expansion for the HoW expansion pack, oddly enough) were so-so. I didn't like the sequal.

If you're willing to consider real-time combat and only a single character (instead of a party), I'm playing Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines right now and it's pretty damn good. Deus Ex, while done in first person style, is another good rpg game.

I hadn't realized they were that close to completion. I will need to dust off my KOTOR2 discs soon.

I've been wanting to replay it for months, but I've sworn to wait till the restore pack is done. It seems like now that they've narrowed it down to only a few minor odds and ends, they're dragging their feet.

 

[Schadenfroh]

The original Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment are stuck at 640x480 resolution

If you have BG2, you can use EasyTuTu to port the entire BG1 (and Tales of the Sword Coast) game to the BG2 engine, that means 1024x768 graphics with OpenGL in Baldur's Gate 1. Add the BG1 NPC Project into the mix and you will have lively party members that interact with you, each other, and NPCs outside the party much like BG2.

 

[BladeVenom]

I liked Vampire Bloodlines. It was a bit buggy when it came out, but there are both official and a couple different fan made patches now for the game.

 

[aCynic2]

Originally posted by: manko
If you can wait a few months:

Mass Effect

That looks incredibly cool, but it doesn't look like an RPG. Looks like a 3rd person shooter. Not everything Bioware puts out is an RPG. The MDK's were TPS.

 

[Shadowknight]

Look at some of the video previews of Mass Effect... it's an RPG with real-time combat. One of the major selling points they've repeated in on-air interviews is the ability to interrupt someone in a conversation.