Kotaku - Last week, they tackled Persona 3. This week's subject: Fantasy lore. Why are some game worlds believable and interesting while others are boring and rote? What makes "dark fantasy" "dark"? When does that moment come in an RPG when you say, "Okay, I'm into this"?
Replaying Skyrim after 13 years is a reminder of the progress made in western RPGs over the last decade, but also what's been lost.
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
A new Partner Spotlight Sale is now live on the Switch eShop, including Skyrim, lowest price ever for Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and more.
Kirk: I have noticed that in Trails in the Sky—every NPC has something to say that makes them seem like a real person, which in turn makes the world feel more real, despite the fact that it's a fairly generic airshippy monstery JRPG world.
Jason: Right—the world itself is nothing particularly special or interesting, but because it's filled with these lovable, charming characters, it feels exciting every step of the way.
All I wanted to do was wander from city to city, hearing what everyone had to say. And, you know, that's something that's lacking in a lot of Western RPGs.
Jason pwned him, show those haters wrong
Mostly down to personal taste.
I for one more often than not cant stand japenese art styles how everyhting has to be skinny, elongated, spidery and weird. I dont find the designs aesthetically appealing but thats me im sure other people love it.
I just prefer the art style of Skyrim as it captures that Nordic, celtic feel perfectly and a dragon looks how I would imagine a dragon to look.
http://skyrim.nexusmods.com...
vs
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m...
I find the streamlined look of the Skyrim dragon to be more appealing to my eye and the same can be said for the worlds.
But i do find these debates over personal preference to be pretty absurd like the my dad is better than your dad argument.
I can't get into Amalur. I just think I haven't given it enough time. I like vikings, LOTR, Game of Thrones, etc., etc. Skyrim fits that model very, very well and yes, it is just a matter of personal taste. Hopefully the Game of Thrones game will be more than just a cash grab. The demo of Dragon's Dogma has me interested though.
Amalur has brilliant gameplay which skyrim couldnt even dream of having. Skyrim tends to become a combination of spell spam, Swish swish and shitty bows for ranged attacks...
Amalur's gameplay is nothing short of awesome while Skyrim tends to just take the piss...
Amalur's was way to easy, the weapons don't have as much meaning than skyrim's.....