what is a good RPG to start with?

I have always liked FPS games the most, and never played RPGs.
Now I would like to try an offline single-player RPG, to see what its like.

* I don't like strategy games (I tried Warcraft, SimCity, Age of Empires, and other "build your empire" games, and didn't like them...)

* Something that will run at medium-high specs on my laptop.

* Offline, single-player only.

any recommendations to start with?

thanks in advance.

 

Mass Effect should be good. A nice mix of FPS and RPG. Then there is KOTOR which is a must.

 

There are a variety of RPGs, but if there was one I could recommend, right of the top of my head, which will definitely run on your laptop (or at least I think it would on Vista) is Icewind Dale. Now, you actually have to be interested in gameplay, not fancy graphics, but this game is pretty amazing.

Another good RPG is the original Dungeon Siege, and Titan Quest.

Last, but not least by far, is the Diablo series, and you'll probably be able to play Diablo III when it comes out sometime next year!

 

As much as I enjoyed Diablo II, I wouldn't really call it a pure RPG, although it might serve as a decent gateway game. The Witcher is a more recent recommendation along those lines with modern graphics. I second the motion for KOTOR, it's the most engaging story line I've ever played through. Oblivion is another good RPG that would be friendly to fans of shooters. The Neverwinter Nights series has some good storylines (I especially liked the frist expansion to NWN1), but they tend to play a little slow. Bioshock is another hybrid that would be good, but you may have already played it.

 

I think I played some "Star Wars: Jedi Academy" game on a friend's house... is KOTOR similar to that one?

 

Icewind Dale is very a good pick. So is Planescape: Torment which is another one worth seeking out.

Here are some other recommendations:

Neverwinter Nights series
The Witcher
Baldur's Gate series

For the record, I do not consider Dungeon Siege or the Diablo series 'RPGs'. More like an action hack 'n' slash hybrid. But they are definitely fun and worth getting.

 

Fallout 3 is a great bridge for the FPS/RPG fan.

 

planescape: torment? it's probably not a good place to start, but it's an incredible game.

 

Mass Effect to ease into RPG/FPS

Then, Baldur's Gate Series is a must

 

Fallout 3!!!!!!!!

 

Id think about morrowind as a nice starting point and also neverwinternights is a fantastic game if you have trouble getting your hands on baldarsgate.

 

+1 for the Witcher and Mass Effect! Both are A+ games.

 

Its old, but its good. Fable!

+1 for Mass Effect. And btw, Mass Effect 2 is comming eventually.

 

It's going to be out same day as the 360/PS3 version. WOOT!

 

Beyond Good and Evil is RPG-lite, but probably a good way to break into RPGs...decent graphics, original setting, and the story and voice acting isn't bad...

Fallout 3 and Oblivion most resemble an FPS...

Of the slightly older, classic RPGs, as someone else has already said, I would recommend Icewind Dale (if you like Icewind, then you can buy its sequel, Baldur's Gate series, Planescape: Torment, etc) and the original Fallout...

Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect are in the same class to me...one has a D&D setting, one has a Star Wars setting and one has an original sci-fi setting...Mass Effect and Neverwinter Nights 2 are the most sophisticated...

A little further back than Icewind Dale/Baldur's Gate/Fallout and you have the classic Ultima VII and both Ultima Underworlds...

I wouldn't go further back than that since gameplay/graphics will seem a bit simplistic, but you can run the SSI AD&D stuff under DosBox...it's just a little cryptic if you're not used to RPG conventions...

Fallout 3, Oblivion and Mass Effect are the best at hiding the fact that they're RPGs...

 

I usually only played FPS's,but the last few years have been trying most RPG's and RTS....the only RPG I've liked [a lot] is the witcher.

 

Try Fallout 3 or Mass Effect to ease into the RPG genre, then pick up a straight RPG game, like Morrowind.

 

Witcher, Mass Effect and of course, don´t miss out on the new game from square enix, The Last Remnant, looks like the good ol´ rpg games.

This just made me remember Chronno Trigger, FFIV...NICE!!!!

 

Id say try Kotor It is a little old but you can get it for really cheap and it will be a good way for you to find out if you will truly like RPG games.

 

Baldur's gate 1 & 2 were both great
planescape torment was nice.
Oblivion
I like the Krondor games, but have no idea if they would work on today's OS

 

I'd recommend Fallout 1 & 2 for the start. The best game ever released in terms of the plot and freedom. Planescape Torment comes next for its storyline.

There is also one game that I enjoyed playing called Arcanum.

 

Oh yes I liked Arcanum. So much you could do in the game.

 

NWN1 started off my enjoyment of traditional RPGs, I'll also recommend the Witcher for a more modern spin on the "good vs evil" themes in games.

 

I'm starting to become very curious about this game. I've never seen much about it, but then again I've been out of PC gaming for a bit.

 

RPG die-hard here. Just finished Mass Effect, which is essentially KOTOR with new make-up. I'd say , as far as breaking into RPG's , for the first time, either one of these "Watered-downed" RPG's would be fine.
If you want a real RPG experience, the latest and greatest is "The Witcher" !

And Biowares, "Dragon Age:Origins" is just around the corner !

Cut my pc gaming teeth on Fallout 1.

Other recommendations:

Planescape:Torment
Dues Ex
Bauldar Gates
Icewind Dale
Fallout 2
NWN series

 

For PC?? Phantay Star Universe its the most traditional RPG game I have found.

For other systems there are lots of good games. Id start with the classics if you had not played them yet.

Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 5, 6
Secret of Mana
things like that.

 

Secret of Mana very good

 

You can find the not so known about sequel to it also Seiken Densetsu 3 with an english patch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiken_Densetsu_3

Its one of the 16mb cartridges like Chrono Trigger meaning really good graphics and a lot of data for its time.

 

I really enjoyed the Seiken Denetsu series it truly is fun thats definitely one to check out as well.

 

Like you, I was stuck with FPS, it was hard to get used to RPGs.
However, Oblivion did it for me. It did because it often has FPS type scenes. Same with Fallout 3, which actually is even closer to an FPS than Oblivion is.
Personally, I don't think mass effect has a good FPS interface. I sugest First person FPS, that offers you a good shooter experience.
On thing: If you are used to shooters, do not try KOTOR. That is too much of an RPG, you'll get disapointed with the genera.
Also, RPGs require a bit more patience than shooters but they are worthy. Take your time. Start with Fallout 3 or Oblivion.

 

Mass Effect is a third person shooter...
Oblivion is quite nice too.

 

I'd recommend the remake of Quest for Glory I and Quest for Glory II. There's more Adventure to them than RPG I suppose, but they're pretty awesome (if dated).

 

Its for PS2 but I am going to try to start playing ar tonelico 1 & 2. Its made by squaresoft so that usually means its good

It was recommended in our off topic anime thread.

Id imagine ebay has them cheap, and then you can play it on your pc with an emulator.

 

Actually Ar Tonelico is made by Gust. Both are translated to English by NIS America. Really amazing games though.

Best RPGs out there would likely be Japanese and on the PS2 platform. Should be able to run on PCSX2 with your specs.

 

Oops yeah I was thinking valkyrie profile! thats the other game I want and its by square.

I will probably lose some power for PCSX2 my G50V has a 2.8ghz dual and my W90 will have a 2.3ghz quad. Last I checked its still only dual/single core and no plans for multi core are in the works correct?

 

The first one I played was Oblivion and it got me into RPGs.
Also recommend The Witcher.

 

I never could quite call games like oblivion an rpg. I know it is, but for me rpg will always carry the meaning of a game like say final fantasy.

Not necessarily turn based combat as there are also good rpg games like zelda, but just a game that has a deep story with character development, multiple and unique dungeons, and lots of items.

If placed on that scale, Oblivion really did not pass, the dungeons where random and the plot & character development just is not there.

Fallout 3 also is not an RPG IMO.

I think most of these "pc rpg's" are little more than fps games with a sandbox environment and add some armor & some magic spells instead of machine guns and call it a rpg.

pc rpg's need to get back to the basics and the foundation of rpg games.

Phantasy Star Universe has done this, and Dead Space is pretty darn close.

 

Agreed i also consider games like Dragon quest, breath of fire, and phantasy star as "true" RPG's Oblivion feels more live and adventure game then anything but hey its still good though.

 

The Witcher

 

I can't wait to play Dead Space.

 

Guess it's all what your into. Personally Japanese Anime doesn't cut it for me !

As far as what a "REAL" RPG is, Fallouts 1 and 2, Planescape: Torment, Wasteland and The Witcher, just to name a few !

And the latest, So-called RPG's , Fallout 3, Mass Effect are hybrids, with minimal RPG elements , that try to please the FPS crowd !

And sorry, hardcore RPGer here, but Oblivion..................sucked !

 

i second that

 

I don't see Dead Space as an RPG, apart from the weapons customisation there's little to describe it as one of the RPG genre.

JRPGs and their western counterparts have totally different emphasis on their presentations and gameplay, but it's worth seeing both sides of the coin to enjoy the whole genre.

 

Icewind Dale should definitely, DEFINITELY wait. Same for PS:T and Baldur's Gate. What you want is a combat-oriented, preferably single-character RPG.

Yep, The Witcher does sound about right. Morrowind and Oblivion - at least in their vanilla, un-modded forms - might have too steep a learning curve for now. They have some of the most messed up levelling systems ever. With The Witcher, however... you really can't go wrong playing The Witcher on Normal

 

Thanks for all the replies.

I chose to start with Fallout 3, since seems as a good FPS-->RPG bridge.

I am enjoying it so far, it seems as if it will take me years to complete all possible quests... and I am still getting used to NOT shooting everything that moves....

I've been adjusting the display settings for the best graphical experience with good frames per sec... its hard to keep it stable specially when outdoors...

 

Good luck with Fallout 3! If you get a chance, go check out http://www.gog.com for some of the older RPGs out there. Some of those older games may not work on current hardware, and the guys on that site are working on porting older games onto newer hardware.

 

While Fallout 3 is what I consider a semi-hybrid-FPS-vanilla-RPG, it's an O.K. game and not a bad one to start with. About halfway through it I got tired of every shot I took, would remove the bad guys head from his torso !
The humor was also "MUCH" better in Fallouts 1 and 2 ! Problem is a lot of people won't get past the limited graphics to see how truly great these two games are !

 

I believe what you like is typically called JRPG; console based rpg games designed by companies like Square and Working Designs.

The RPG genre has its roots in early PC games, like the Gold Box series games from TSR (Azure Bonds, Pools of Radience, etc)

For a traditional American fantasy based rpg, start with NWN1. Baldurs Gate 1 and 2 are both great games, but the graphics did not age well and they are hard to get up and running on newer PCs

 

Anyone mentioned Titan Quest yet?

 

Wouldn't that be in the same vein of games such as the Diablo series and Dungeon Siege?