Need an RPG to get lost in

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

NoSoup4You

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2007
1,253
6
81
Good lord, go get The Witcher 2 already. I tried to play the first Witcher game three different times and each time I wanted to vomit from the awful combat. And despite those three separate attempts over the years, I have never actually gotten past that initial level where you're defending a castle from invaders. It's the damn opening sequence, that's how pathetic the combat. I hate it with a passion!

And yet The Witcher 2 is among my all-time favorite games, RPG or not. Man, Witcher 2 is something else, I thought the combat was outstanding and the graphics and animations are all among the best you'll see in any game. Outstanding atmosphere, and generally good voice acting. But it's the adult theme of the game, the way it's clearly not trying to appeal to 12 year olds... you don't see this in many other AAA title, at least none in recent memory.

Get it, and don't look back.
 
Last edited:

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Good lord, go get The Witcher 2 already. I tried to play the first Witcher game three different times and each time I wanted to vomit from the awful combat. And despite those three separate attempts over the years, I have never actually gotten past that initial level where you're defending a castle from invaders. It's the damn opening sequence, that's how pathetic the combat. I hate it with a passion!

And yet The Witcher 2 is among my all-time favorite games, RPG or not. Man, Witcher 2 is something else, I thought the combat was outstanding and the graphics and animations are all among the best you'll see in any game. Outstanding atmosphere, and generally good voice acting. But it's the adult theme of the game, the way it's clearly not trying to appeal to 12 year olds... you don't see this in many other AAA title, at least none in recent memory.

Get it, and don't look back.

Useful post - two minutes left to get it on this sale.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
Skyrim up again $29.79 50% off.

Edit: wrong thread, but kind of appropriate.
 
Last edited:

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Good lord, go get The Witcher 2 already. I tried to play the first Witcher game three different times and each time I wanted to vomit from the awful combat. And despite those three separate attempts over the years, I have never actually gotten past that initial level where you're defending a castle from invaders. It's the damn opening sequence, that's how pathetic the combat. I hate it with a passion!
Mods, man, mods. In particular, you want Flash's mod, which massively changes combat. Still odd, but usable. Like you, I could never get the hang of stock combat, and so couldn't get past the opening, without mods.
 

thespyder

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2006
1,979
0
0
Good lord, go get The Witcher 2 already. I tried to play the first Witcher game three different times and each time I wanted to vomit from the awful combat. And despite those three separate attempts over the years, I have never actually gotten past that initial level where you're defending a castle from invaders. It's the damn opening sequence, that's how pathetic the combat. I hate it with a passion!

And yet The Witcher 2 is among my all-time favorite games, RPG or not. Man, Witcher 2 is something else, I thought the combat was outstanding and the graphics and animations are all among the best you'll see in any game. Outstanding atmosphere, and generally good voice acting. But it's the adult theme of the game, the way it's clearly not trying to appeal to 12 year olds... you don't see this in many other AAA title, at least none in recent memory.

Get it, and don't look back.

glad to hear that The Witcher 2 combat is Significantly better than the first game. I experienced the same thing with 'The Witcher 1' that you did. Tried it several times and never got past the intro level where you have to defend the castle. Only got that far because of the chesty wizard.

Question for you. Can you play a Wizard character in TW2? Just curious. It isn't a deal breaker, but I know that there are paths in TW1 that lead that direction.
 

kyrax12

Platinum Member
May 21, 2010
2,416
2
81
The witcher 2 is very heavy on the spec side.

Much heavier than DA:Origins or Mass effect 3.
 

Martimus

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2007
4,490
157
106
glad to hear that The Witcher 2 combat is Significantly better than the first game. I experienced the same thing with 'The Witcher 1' that you did. Tried it several times and never got past the intro level where you have to defend the castle. Only got that far because of the chesty wizard.

Question for you. Can you play a Wizard character in TW2? Just curious. It isn't a deal breaker, but I know that there are paths in TW1 that lead that direction.

The Witcher knows magic, but he is not a mage. His character is similar to say a Paladin in D&D because he is primarily a fighter who has some knowledge of combat magic. In fact it is this combination (along with alchemy) that makes him so powerful. Non-witchers are either one or the other (fighter or wizzard).

You can specialize your skills in the Magic you know though (I speciallized in the magic tree) so that your magic skills improve. However, you are going to have to rely on all three things to get through the game (fighting, alchemy, and magic). Since the Witcher isn't that much stronger than anyone else, you need to utilize all the skills you have available to win fights against groups of enemies (divide and conquer is the best way of dealing with groups).

EDIT: You know, the funny thing about this game is that I felt like a total Bad-Ass fighting in the Witcher 2, even though literally any enemy could have killed me if I messed up or got unlucky (backed into a corner or something), while I could walk away from my keyboard for minutes while getting attacked by a Dragon in Skyrim and survive and I don't really feel bad-ass at all in that game. Perhaps it is just a better feeling beating enemies who aren't completely overmatched by your power.
 
Last edited:

clok1966

Golden Member
Jul 6, 2004
1,395
13
76
Divinity II (been said a few times).. but I havent seen Amalur the reckoning, alot of action for a RPG but its quit big, plays well and isnt to bad.. I also suggest teh Genforge games and AVurum Black temple, all indy, all very 90's but deep, complex and long lasting.
Drakensang, Risin.. Somebody meniton Drakensang was combat heavy.. it is.. but most RPG's are built on combat are they not? plenty of story to if you read it. personally I found Drankensang quite cool for not being well known, liked it so much i bought um both on steam and played um both throuhg a couple times.. but.. TOEE is on his "loved" list.. i hated the 2 hours fo meaningless BS at start (basicly the tutorial) it lasted to long.. and the game does allow you into the "real" game right away.. which is pretty dang brutal if you didnt go throuhg all that boring stuff to level up a time or two.. that put me off the whole game.. not to mention it was about as buggy as an ant nest when it was released...

Best old school rpg to revisit Wizardry 7!!!!
 

thespyder

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2006
1,979
0
0
The Witcher knows magic, but he is not a mage. His character is similar to say a Paladin in D&D because he is primarily a fighter who has some knowledge of combat magic. In fact it is this combination (along with alchemy) that makes him so powerful. Non-witchers are either one or the other (fighter or wizzard).

You can specialize your skills in the Magic you know though (I speciallized in the magic tree) so that your magic skills improve. However, you are going to have to rely on all three things to get through the game (fighting, alchemy, and magic). Since the Witcher isn't that much stronger than anyone else, you need to utilize all the skills you have available to win fights against groups of enemies (divide and conquer is the best way of dealing with groups).

EDIT: You know, the funny thing about this game is that I felt like a total Bad-Ass fighting in the Witcher 2, even though literally any enemy could have killed me if I messed up or got unlucky (backed into a corner or something), while I could walk away from my keyboard for minutes while getting attacked by a Dragon in Skyrim and survive and I don't really feel bad-ass at all in that game. Perhaps it is just a better feeling beating enemies who aren't completely overmatched by your power.

Maybe it is just the way I am reading that, but doesn't sound like quite my thing after all. Still, might give it a try. Thanks for the info.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,352
1,860
126
I can suggest Mount and Blade:Warband as it is very addicting. It is more of a true RPG than most games though. You really do have to pick out a role and play it, and it is quite openended.

I second this. And, just to be clear, WARBAND is the one you want.
There is a sequel after called "With fire and steel" it is missing much of the gameplay that made Warband awesome. Also, Warband has a strong modding community with several "total conversion" mods as well as several very nice mods for changing the gameplay.

Warband is essentially a medieval RPG, rather hardcore, and it doesn't have much fantasy stuff in it. (though mods can change that.)
 

thespyder

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2006
1,979
0
0
Try torchlight. It is really good, play on easy mode for most fun.

LOL. thanks. Played Torchlight. I guess I didn't include it. But then I don't really consider that an RPG. More an Action RPG- lite.

Also played Diablo 1-3 and Titan Quest. I keep on trying to go back to Diablo 3, but it is not as good a game as Diablo 2 was. but that is a subject for another thread.