What CRPGs are most like cRPGs?

[Josh7289]

Can anyone tell me of any CRPGs (Computer role-playing games) that are like cRPGs (Console role-playing games)? I would prefer to know about online games, but offline ones are fine, too.

I'm not really a fan of CRPGs, so I was wondering if there are any PC RPGs that are like cRPGs. Thanks.

 

[natep]

Not really sure what the difference is. Are you looking for a Final Fantasy type of game, Phantasy Star Online, or what? I have no idea what you mean when you say console RPG.

The only online RPGs are MMOs and the occaisional Diablo clone. Turn based RPGs with linear stories are usually left to the consoles. I think there are just a couple floating around, theres an older one called Septerra Core that was alright.

 

[rivan]

Fable was pretty cool, if that's the sort of thing you're after.

 

[manko]

Well, this is an older one...

Septerra Core

The best console-style RPG on the PC since Final Fantasy VII.

It's not surprising that, after the success of Final Fantasy VII, PC gamers would start seeing more console-styled RPGs being released. What is surprising is that we'd start seeing console RPGs (CRPG) that were never on any console. Recently games like Silver and Septerra Core have given CRPG fans something to make their console cousins jealous -- especially in Septerra Core's case. It's one part fantasy, one part cyberpunk; one part Fallout 2, one part Final Fantasy VII. But however you classify it, Septerra Core is one heck of a lot of fun.

 

[Josh7289]

Well, the difference isn't clear-cut, but I'm pretty much not looking for games like Oblivion, which is very Western, and very à la Dungeons & Dragons, you know?

And about the turn based and linear story thing, I can't imagine a turn based online RPG (to which I have turned my main interest for this topic in the last hour), but I want something unlike Oblivion. Is there anything popular that is not all...traditional? I can't really describe it. I mean, not like D&D...

EDIT: Oh, and that Septerra Core thing is not what I'm looking for. Mainly, it's too old and it's not online, even though I said to suggest offline games, too. That game, anyway, looks to be the style that I do not want to play, anyway. It looks too Western. I think using the word "Western" might clear things up.

At the same time, however, I do not want a complete clone of a console RPG, but a computer RPG that uses lots of console RPG elements. (Wiki the terms.)

 

[shortylickens]

I loved Septerra Core.

But to answer the OP's question, unless the exact same game is made for both sides of the fence (Elder Scrolls 3&4 Final Fantasy 7&8) then no, console and computer RPG's are not the same.

For some of use elitist snobs (myself included) its one of the reasons we think computers are better for gaming. Really good, deep RPG's never get put on consoles. The console versions of Baldurs Gate and Deus Ex sucked balls. They were practically not the same game at all.
And it seems that Deus Ex 2 was dumbed down to make it more accesible to the console crowd.

However, if you are moving from the console to Windows, you have some good simple choices for you.
Fable. Knights of the Old Republic 1&2. (Those actually seemed to be identical to the console versions.)
The aforementioned Septerra Core.
Fate. (Internet game, you cant buy it on CD.)
Dungeon Siege 1 and 2. Diablo 1&2. (Though I consider those to be more like
action games with stats than actual RPG's.)
Anacronox. Evil Islands.
Grandia 2 (which is, again, just like the console version).
Might and Magic 1-9. You will probably only find 9 nowadays.
Neverwinter Nights. Sacred. Spellbound.

Thats just a small list but a good start.

Once you beat Neverwinter Nights and KOTOR 1&2, you will probably be familiar enough with the D&D system to tackle Baldurs Gate 1&2.

EDIT:
Also, there are the Massively Multiplayer Online Games, but I hear those are like crack. Many a good man has lost wife, kids and house to those demons. I would avoid them unless you have LOTS of free time.

 

[Josh7289]

Okay, shortylickens is starting to get me somewhere

I'm not "moving" from consoles to Windows, however, but the PC is my secondary platform. Anyway, I'm glad that you can see the difference between the two different archtypes of RPGs, so I don't have to try to explain them to you.

Now, since you seem to regard cRPGs as "simpler" than CRPGs, than what I am looking for on the PC are these "simple" games, not the ones like, as you mentioned, Baldur's Gate or whatever. I thank you for that "small" list, but let's just say that I have 24 hours a day to play games and I do not have to sleep, eat, drink, or whatever. Assuming this is true, could you recommend some MMOs to me? Like, how do WoW and Guild Wars (not an MMO, but at least it's online) compare, among many many others that you could list?

Thanks again.

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: Josh7289
EDIT: Oh, and that Septerra Core thing is not what I'm looking for. Mainly, it's too old and it's not online, even though I said to suggest offline games, too. That game, anyway, looks to be the style that I do not want to play, anyway. It looks too Western. I think using the word "Western" might clear things up.

Well, to be honest, I don't think what you're looking for exists. Septerra Core is the most "Asian" style PC RPG that I can think of that's not actually from an Asian developer.

Everything shortylickens listed above would fall even further into the "Western" category.

The only other thing I can think of is for you to look into MMORPGs like FFXI, Silkroad Online, Rose Online or maybe even Dofus (turn based combat), but I don't think those are exactly what you're looking for.


I think I sort of have a feel for what you're looking for, but I just don't think there are any recent PC games like that.

 

[Josh7289]

Hmmm...Even though those games are Western, they are not "as Western" as something like Bladur's Gate, and other D&D-like games, like The Elder Scrolls, with millions of stats and such.

Anyway, I think I'm looking for something not so dark and evil, too, unlike Baldur's Gate, etc.

Again, how do WoW, GW, and others compare to what I am looking for?

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

There is a old game on the pc thats turn based... I don't remember what its called, but I think it plays around the time of pirates... I really wish I new what it was called.

 

[shortylickens]

I dont wanna sound like a smart-ass but this was the first hit from Google.
http://www.mmorpg.com/
If you want to play one, then play it. All the info is right here. Research a little while before you pick a paid game though. Some of them do allow free trials for a week or so.


As for your "Western/Eastern" issue:
You may not have notced but the US is the driving force behind computers and consequently, computer games. So most games you find are going to have a western theme.

Consoles are driven from the east, which is why most console games are of an eastern style.
Sad to say thats just the way it is. Aside from Grandia 2 and the FF7 and 8, you wont find much for the computer.

And if you think Septerra Core is too western styled, well CRAP SON! You are sh1t out of luck!
Those guys went out of their way to research anime and stuff in the design of the game. Thats as good as it gets on Windows.

The best thing for you is to find a Playstation Emulator and a USB gamepad that you like.

 

[Josh7289]

Even using mmorpg.com, which I have before, nothing becomes clearer, as I cannot possibly play test every single one of those games. I'm just looking for something that doesn't have the complicated design and over abundance of stats that "D&D based" games have, preferrably being an online game. Again, how do WoW, GW, etc. fit into this category of games?

 

[pontifex]

i don't think anyone makes a game like what you want.

you want a rpg like the console final fantasy games with turn based combat but you want it online?

so you want an MMORPG? i don't think any of the morpgs except eve use stats anymore. its all based on your weapons and armor. none of them are turn based or anything like final fantasy console rpgs.

there are several anime-ish mmos made by korean companies but they all suck.

could your descriptions be any more vague?

 

[Josh7289]

I already said not turn-based, because that's pretty much impossible. I just want to know some online PC RPGs (since I now know some single-player ones) that are not (basically) based on the D&D system (i.e. They are very complicated, I guess). That's all.

 

[shortylickens]

Ummm, with the exception of D&D online, NONE of them are based on D&D, basically or advancedly.

 

[TheVrolok]

I'm with pontifex here .. The description of what you want is somewhat vague. You're saying you want a non-turn based RPG that's not based on D&D? And by not based on D&D you mean not complicated? So are you really looking for adventure games - ie the old Sierra quest game style (King's Quest, Space Quest, Quest For Glory, etc.) or Monkey Island? Those types of games?

 

[BenSkywalker]

I can't imagine a turn based online RPG

Why not? There is FFXI if you want a console style online computer RPG- it appears to match your description almost perfectly. It has different job classes, different skills you can have, ways you can barter those skills with other players, obviously heavy console influence(it is FinalFantasy), different races, but doesn't overburden the less geeky with a mountain of statistcial analysis to decipher how to open a treasure chest

 

[pontifex]

wow is probably the simplest mmorpg out there. would be a great start

 

[hans030390]

Guild wars? It's fun and free to play online. Why not Oblivion? Have you played it? It's really quite an amazing game...really nothing like D&D.

 

[Josh7289]

Ah, Oblivion is exactly what I don't want. I don't like games like that. Does that help?

 

[Tom]

What do you mean by western ? It sounds like you want Japanese style games with characters with big eyes, is that what you mean ?

 

[natep]

It's important to note that almost every MMORPG has major elements taken from D&D, and Eastern games use them too. There is always the fighter, mage, healer, and rogue. I suggest trying any popular MMO, because they're all going to use stats. None of them will be complicated like D&D, because they're computer games and you don't actually have to know how the stats work like you do when you play a real D&D game.

-WoW is the simplest, quickest MMO, but will still take up a lot of time. Also good if you want to hear people talk about Chuck Norris all day.
-FFXI is one of the slowest, but has that Eastern style you seem to really desire.
-EverQuest 2 is somewhere in between, and is quickly losing subscriptions. Best avoid it now. Not necessarily bad though.
-D&D online is actually one of the furthest from "complicated D&D". It's a hack-n-slash style MMO.
-City of Villains is very simple, no confusing stats, only HP and a mana type pool, just pick your powers and beat guys up. They actually have a lot of anime character options. There are no items, so it loses its appeal quickly after you grind for a while.
-Ultima has a large free server community that hasn't been shut down by EA yet, and probably won't be. It's about as far away from Final Fantasies as you can get though.

I really think you're out of luck if you're looking for an MMO that has an Eastern game feel and doesn't use stats. D&D is like the source where all of these games slowly amassed from.

 

[skace]

Ok, I have to ask, what the heck are you trying to accomplish here. The suggestions so far haven't been wholely accurate to you.

Online RPGs for the computer are very few and far between outside of the MMORPG genre. Diablo and it's ilk are a very monty haule western style RPGs. Japaneese style online non-MMO RPGs are pretty much limited to the Gamecube with games such as crystal chronicles and others that are 2-4 player experiences.

When we get into the MMORPG arena, Phantasy Star Online was the most JRPG experience to ever exist. It is available for the PC but is also very old. Phantasy Star Universe is the sequel to watch for but not currently available. Next up would be FF11, it is more of a western style MMORPG with Japaneese content thrown it. The end result is decent, with a massive grind. There is an absolute ton of Korean style MMORPGs, but these are really a genre of their own, all dating back to Lineage and whatever it's predecessor was. These games are all known for being huge ungodly grinds where players just mash away on a group of monsters for days / weeks / months.

WoW and Guild Wars are very Western style MMORPGs. Balanced groups, heavy dependencies on healers / tanks and quests. A lot of their gameplay mechanics hailing back to Everquest.

Having said all this, the question becomes abundandtly clear, what are you trying to accomplish? Do you have a PS2? Are you totally bored of PS2 RPGs and the ungodly number of them that exist? Are you trying to find PS2 RPGs online? The closest existance of which is the Gamecube (Albeit the games aren't online, they are simply multiple player experiences.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Josh7289
Ah, Oblivion is exactly what I don't want. I don't like games like that. Does that help?

We've already given you a butt-load of suggestions BESIDES Oblivion.

W
T
F
?

 

[Josh7289]

Originally posted by: Tom
What do you mean by western ? It sounds like you want Japanese style games with characters with big eyes, is that what you mean ?

No, not at all.

Most of the suggestions that I've gotten have helped so far, really. I guess what I don't want is a huge grind, because console RPGs never have a grind. As you progress through the game from town to town or whatever, fighting monsters just naturally levels you up.

So, I already tried FFXI a while back, which didn't seem too good. Really, though, I never liked MMORPGs, so that is mostly why I am asking for suggestions of MMOs (or any online games besides FPSs, pretty much) with elements from other games that I do like.

WoW seems like it might be a good start, but I hear that it is childish. Guild Wars looks like it has not much grinding, and I'm willing to try that out. If EQII is dying, then screw it. I don't like comics and stuff like City of [blank]. Ultima is old, so it is "outdated". As for Korean MMOs, I don't have all day to spend in an Internet cafe, if I even knew where one might be around me.

I am anticipating PSU, though, as offline PSO multiplayer was very very fun. I don't like the D&D "universe", though, so that's out of the question. Diablo might be fun, but it's kind of old now.

And since you asked, I do not have a PS2, and of the current/last generation of consoles, I only have a GameCube, but the RPGs on that I love, like Skies of Arcadia Legends and Tales of Symphonia, not to mention the Phantasy Star Online series being pretty fun. I always thought an online Skies of Arcadia would totally pwn.../rambling...