Short list of my favorite RPG's

[IR_Efrem]

Lets start at the beginning..

Zork 1/2/3 - My first intro to a game (well besides Pong or Atari/Colleco type joystick only games which I never really cared for), but was it an RPG? Probably not, it was a completely text based game that initially caught my interest in gaming.

Telenguard - My first real RPG, it was a ton of fun on the ole C64. Super basic graphics but I got to level up and get better armor/items and I played the shit of this game. Save games were sent directly to a Cassette drive, well until I edited the source code so that it would save to Floppy.

Dungeon Master 2 (great game, and I still have it loaded up in DOS Box. Any character could be a master at everything if you took the time to do it; which I did.)

Fallout 1/2 (also still loaded up in DOS Box, The story line in both are truly awesome, in a "tongue in cheek" kind of way, plus character development was/is a detailed process.)

Elder Scrolls IV and V (I only just started SKYRIM but it is indeed a ton of fun so far and IV was a great deal of fun to play through with very good character development + story line)

Fallout 3 (Not as fun as the originals, but still good to go through, they kinda fumbled on the "tongue and cheekness" of the originals and the game play is all FPS with the Vats system. The originals were completely based on the skill of the character, not the player.)

MMORPG's

Everquest (I played this for a long time back in the day, but upper levels got a bit to arduous to continue with my limited time)

World of Warcraft (Lots of kids online but the game itself has so many features now, if you enjoy character development as much as I do then this is a lot of fun. Keep in mind that I enjoy the process of creating/leveling a character and getting new items more than the story line..)

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I also tried Asheron's Call but it was missing something that I couldn't get into the game; the same can be said about Guild Wars. I know I am likely missing 1 or 2 but the above listed games I have put more time into than I care to count. Now I am stepping away from WoW and trying out Star Wars The Old Republic; recommended by friends. I will update as I play it more.

 

[Leimboy]

A good list!
I didn't play the first three entries you mention but Fallout 1/2 stands out as the absolute masterpieces of the time. I still fire them up from time to time. I think they got the humor and grittiness just right and the post apocalyptic setting made for a nice change back then.

I really got into Elder Scrolls III (Morrowind) and it's huge world and many characters. Very tough in the beginning but the end-game was somewhat lacking in challenges as you were usually too powerful (but the road to that point was amazing).
I didn't care much for IV (Oblivion) as their system of 'everyone levels when you do' takes away much of the sense of progress and growth of your character.
Also, simplifying the skill tree as much as they did also felt a bit meh (Morrowind was much more detailed).

Fallout 3 felt too much like 'post apocalyptic Oblivion' so I passed on that one.
From what I've heard it's a very solid game though.

From time to time I reinstall old pearls like Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment and Neverwinter Nights 2.
If you want a new take on old-school RPGs, take a look at Eschalon Book I/II (http://basiliskgames.com/eschalon-book-ii)

 

[Wotan]

I like role playing games, too. And played all the great rpgs from then until now, with the exception of Ultima.

My very first rpg was Bard's Tale on the C64. Now I play Skyrim. But my best RPG experience was Neverwinter Nights 2 + expansions in coop mode with my daughter. Mask of the Betrayer was the highlight of that series.

 

[Leimboy]

Ultima Underworld 1/2 is by far my most enjoyable experience in any RPG. Thanks for reminding me Wotan. UU was also my first meet with 1st person role-playing games. The good use of sounds and lighting was soooo good (for it's time).
My absolute favorite of any RPGs I played. A shame that you missed it in it's heyday Wotan.
The other Ultima series never grabbed me like Underworld did.

 

[Wotan]

I was very conversative back in those days. A rpg without a party to manage? Unthinkable! I think Vampire: Blood Lines made me change my mind - that was not so long ago, was it?

 

[Leimboy]

Early 2000 I think? Maybe 2001?
Everyone praises that game and I'm starting to feel that I missed out since I didn't click with that game. They say it has a slow start and maybe it was that that threw me off.

I also likes the RPGs with just one character to manage as well. It feels more 'pure', but I can relate to the likes of BG after having played some games of old fashioned pen and paper RPG

At the time I'm into The Witcher (and The Witcher 2). Maybe not as RPG'ish as one would want but it has some elements and quite some interesting choices along the way.

 

[IR_Efrem]

How can I forget the entire Baldurs Gate line.... Man that was a shit load of fun. NWN2 also had a great Co-op mode. NWN3, they dropped the ball...

And yes The Witcher was also a lot of fun, haven't tried the sequel yet. I never tried Morrowind so I cannot compare Oblivion to it. I just know I had a bunch of fun being bad in Oblivion.

 

[Leimboy]

Bad is always good!

I never got around to test any Co-op in NWN2 though. Most of my friends are shooters or simmers.

 

[mondo]

No Planescape Torment? That was an epic RPG.

Icewind Dale was also pretty epic. Especially if you've read the source books to that.

Leimboy, we have similar tastes! I must admit though, I loved Fallout 3. I think it captured the feel of the originals if nothing else.

Fallout New Vegas was also very good. Will pick up all the DLC for it and play it again once I've done my second play through of Skyrim.

My absolute favourite is Baldurs Gate though. Nothing has come close. Well, maybe Skyrim.

 

[Leimboy]

I just recently bought Planescape Torment on GOG.com (it was dirt cheap and I've lost my original CD)
If you like the old classics you really have to visit GOG.com because they're all there

I've been following Fallout 3 from the sideline and I'm certainly going to buy it when the GOTY or megapack version is released with all the addons in one nice pack. And hopefully without a DRM attached to it. I still have the originals on my HD but something new would be nice now.

I'm also watching Skyrim....literally I'm following Jesse's adventures in Skyrim to get a feel for the game and what it has to offer. Quite enjoyable! First episode here: [video=youtube;pzoLjjAQMS0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzoLjjAQMS0[/video]
edit: I tried to only post the link but it insisted on showing the video. Well, it's all good)

 

[Kenadian]

I've never much been into RPG's until lately. I never found the immersion factor worked for me being as most RPG's that I knew of were always either 3rd person or God view.

I have to admit though that Grand Theft Auto 1V kind of made me change my mind just due to the sheer scale of what could be done in that game. From GTA 1V I went to the Witcher which was truly epic, then the Assassins Creed series and now onto Skyrim.

 

[Leimboy]

One of us! One of us! One of us!