what is a good RPG to start with?

KOTOR!

and Mass Effect

 

The RPG genre actually has its roots in the table top RPG games...

But I believe that Rogue was the foundation of RPGs on the personal computer (there were RPGs prior to that on college mainframes)...or you could make the argument for Akalabeth (Richard Gariott's first project) or maybe even Wizardry...

The Ultima and Wizardry series solidified the popularity of RPGs on the computer...and led to the Bard's Tale and Might and Magic and then the 'Gold Box' series along with the Krynn games...Questron series, Warrior of Ras series and Wasteland (precursor to Fallout) were other notables in the 80's...

Then you get into the games mentioned in this thread...

And just as SUVs killed the 'affordable' supercar (Nissan 300Z, Mazda RX7, Toyota Supra, Acura NSX, Mitsu 3000GT), the very popular FPS and Action RPG (which is how I think of World of Warcraft...it feels like Diablo to me with lots more stuff) genres have almost killed the 'traditional' RPG...I like Fallout 3, but not nearly as much as Fallout...maybe I have a terminal case of nostalgia...

On the console front, I think Dragon Warrior on the NES was one of the first RPGs and very popular...Phantasy Star may have preceded it...and then you had the underdog Final Fantasy that no one ever would have predicted would become the juggernaut it is today...after seeing the more recent Final Fantasy titles on the PS2, it's hard to believe it shares that name with the first couple of efforts on the NES or Gameboy...

 

I very much wish there were turn based options around - sadly, the RTS and FPS markets have crushed us, for the most part. Even turn-based tactical games have pretty much died out in favor of 'twitchies' and mouse clicks. Too bad, as with the computing and graphics power available, i think it'd be wonderful to see what could be done with a complicated turn based game, either in sci fi (like the old xcom series) or in fantasy.

But, then again, I think my taste is probably far in the minority. Though:

I didn't know my mistu 3000GT(SL) was dead, either... Like me, it's certainly got a lot of hard miles and has perhaps lost a step - and, also like me, it doesn't look nearly as good as it did ten years ago, but both of us can occasionally surprise you...

 

You and me both...

I loved my VR4 (I upgraded to a Civic (fuel economy, and yes, I'm being very sarcastic about upgrade) and an Interceptor for fun...old age is setting in)...and I still dream of owning a VR4 Spyder...by the time the mrs. gives her approval, you won't even be able to find VR4 Spyders (the most awesomest convertibles ever) on eBay...

And sorry about hijacking the thread...I'll take it to motortrend.com...

 

The KotOR series had the "pause" option for queueing character abilities, but that's about the closest I've seen "modern" games implementing a turn-based element.

It's still a leap from XCom, though.

 

Going to put a vote here for Drakensang. I've never heard of this game or the developer (German made) until recently but if you like BG, IcewindDale, NWN you will like Drakensang-old school turn-based rpg.

For a $30 game it's a no brainer.

 

Baldurs gate, Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2, Morrowind, Oblivion, Sacred 2, Gothic 2 & 3, KOTOR, Mass Effect, Dungeon Siege 1 & 2, Temple of elemental evil... Oh so many, and there's more... Ah yes, The Witcher

 

Fallout 3 sucks bigtime in the RPG department (story is short, game is not open-ended etc).

Fallout 1 and 2, on the other hand, are very good RPGs, and a good break away from the typical sword and magic settings...

 

Some posts in this thread are, i think, some of the first on these forums regarding RPG's (and games) i can agree with. Games now days are so FPS oriented. even the ones called RPG's i don't really recognize as RPG's. FPS's are fun but usually short and not very involved IMO...

Dragon Warrior for NES is probably my all time favorite RPG!!!

 

Mormegil: I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised by Dragon Age: Origins. I have a lot of faith in Bioware. I saw the trailer playing on one of the PCs at the local electronics store, and practically creamed my panties. Well, except I don't wear them, but anyway...

 

Dragon Age: Origins looks indeed very promising. Hopefully it won't disappoint us.

 

MASS EFFECT

i also recommend fallout 3 but it aint for newbies

 

Are you joking? F3 is SO for newbies! Whichever character you build will be able to win the game easily, even on Hard mode! If F3 is not for newbies, F1 and F2 must have been the hardest RPGs of the history of gaming... (which is not true BTW).

I am glad I could return F3 and get my money back, it felt real good returning that piece of c***.