Game recommendations for CRPGs

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OK, I'm looking to try something new and am looking for some opinions/help on finding. Games I like are listed below. I prefer CRPGs, Medieval/Magical settings and like the Infinity engine game view, though I will play anytype really. I prefer games that allow you to create a party or add members to your party.

Games I play/own...

Any CRPG D&D game
Wizardry Series
Ultima Series
Daggerfall/Morrowind
Wizards & Warriors

 

You can play Dragon Age from a top down perspective if you want. Some people don't like the game (and the hype was certainly to blame). It has a few flaws but I like it a lot.

Seeing that you're an old pnp D&D/Rolemaster enthusiast you may enjoy it.

After all it does have quite a few things in common with the old IE games (probably more than most would give it credit for).

 

Tried it briefly, the neighbor's kid has it. Looks kinda cool, but I usually avoid flashy graphics. It's the "old-school" in me I guess. Though I know down the road I will probably play it.

 

I can't honestly think of anything else. The last few years have been rather uneventful as far as fantasy CRPGs are concerned...

 

I haven't played this game myself, but perhaps Drakensang is something you would like to try?

 

I've played Drakensang and it's not bad. It's refreshing in some aspects, but rather dull in others and has rather modern graphics too. If you're not familiar with the PnP system the game was based on, it might take a bit to work it out and the character tends to travel rather slow (not sure if that was patch fixed). (Also, a lot of actions in game take "realistic" times to complete - skinning animals for example. Crafting skills are useful.)

Pre-created NPCs join your party. You can learn more about them but there isn't much emphasis on party interaction.

It's a fun game, overall. Not breathtaking, but good. Few locations, world map plot travel only, no exploration.
Has a rather nice optional rat dungeon... with a twist.



You might want to take a look at Spiderweb software games.

Not Medieval (well, there is magic and swords...) but the Geneforge series is rather snazzy (good story). Same company did Avernum series and Nethergate.

 

Drakensang is based on Das Schwarze Auge the German pnp RPG!!! I used to play that game when I was a kid. I loved it. It was simple in comparison to D&D but really fun.

I think I may have to get it now. Thanks for the tip Lore!

 

Have you tried the Might and Magic series? Those games are quite dated graphically, but they're still great games. Kinda like the old Elder Scrolls games.

 

But with a party!

The M&M games are great if you don't mind first-person party games. 1 and 2 may be a bit hard to get into, but UI and graphics are much improved starting with 3. 3-6 are my personal favourites.

When you say "any CRPG D&D game" I assume that includes both all the oldies (Gold Box and so on) and newies (NWN2 and expansions)?

 

Might and Magic is awesome. Enough said.

 

Take a look at Eschalon: Book I and II by Basilisk Games. They are proper classic CRPGs with an isometric view and turn based combat. You have to play solo, so no party unfortunately, but in the second game you can choose your gender!

 

Yeah, check out that gog.com deal on the front page. Arx Fatalis is included in that deal. This lesser known RPG plays alot like Morrowind. It's shorter than Morrowind, but it's got a nice story in there. It's pretty cool. The only problem I have with the game is that it suffers graphical errors on newer PCs but a quick google search should clear those up.

 

Betrayal at Krondor comes to mind. Since you like old-school games. Looks abit like might and magic, when you travel around, but when fighting you get a battlemap, and the fights are turn based. The game is pretty free form, and its HUGE. Takes well over 100 hours to complete. You don`t get to create your own party in it though. You have 3 characters in your party, wich ones you have depends on wich chapter of the game you are currently at.

Small trivia about the game: Betrayal at Krondor was the first game to have a quick save function (aparantly).

 

Not a fantasy setting but Mass Effect 1 and 2 were some of the most awesome games I've played in a while. Excellent voice acting and it almost felt like a "choose your own adventure" movie. And I usually hate space/scifi stuff.

 

Knights of the old republic might be ok for you as well. Star Wars technically being space-fantasy, and not sci-fi. Plays alot like dragon age though.

 

I have played the Realms of Arkania series, lots of fun. Tried Divine Divintiy once, didn't care for it.

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KOTOR is something I haven't tried? What engine is it similar to?

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I will have to check those out as well. Thanks Erod!

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The enitre M&M series has been conqureed by Blades. Great games going back about 23 years to part I for me. Wish they would make more games like those.

 

Kotor uses the D20 ruleset in a Star Wars setting (IMO this ruleset is not really suited for Star Wars) and you move around with the keyboard and look around with the mouse (basically the opposite of NWN but there are similarities) in many ways Jade Empire and Dragon Age are similar to Kotor (as far as controls are concerned).

Kotor itself is a nice game (just make sure you avoid spoilers). The Star Wars atmosphere makes for a nice diversion. Some quests are a bit lame though (a few look recycled from BG and don't make much use of the Star Wars setting but most are ok).

It's a fun game (probably overrated among CRPG fans) but it's definitely worth playing. It's not fantasy though, but as Rawgrim pointed out, Star Wars is not a pure scifi setting either.

 

Carad - Is KOTOR a single player, non-party game? Or like BG, make a character and find others to tag along?

 

Single player, you have a party which waits on your ship that you can talk to at any time, when leaving the ship you can pick two to travel with you.