LF Video Game Recommendations

[Kzach]

I'm currently game starved. I'm starting to get worn out on Mass Effect and everything I try I end up comparing it to and find it falls short. ME1 & 2 have a decent blend of RPG, action, story and gameplay that I can't seem to find anywhere else.

I've tried Crysis, Half Life, Dead Space, Dragon Age, Far Cry, Left 4 Dead, Portal and The Witcher. I've already played through other RPG's that I can think of like Baldur's Gate (1, 2 & ToB), Temple of Elemental Evil, Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights (all of them), Diablo (all) and KotoR (all).

What I'm looking for mainly is the immersion into the story. Choices aren't as important if the story is really good. The gameplay doesn't have to be awesome but it has to be at least fun. Crysis, for instance, is apparently a really awesome FPS but I got bored of it very quickly. The Witcher is apparently a great story, but the gameplay was so tedious and cumbersome that I gave up soon after the interminably long first half a dozen cut scenes.

Mass Effect 1 & 2 are the primary example of what I'm looking for in a game.

I've heard good things about the Morrowind series but I wouldn't know where to start. I've also considered the Fable series but I can't seem to find a demo and I don't trust reviews. Deus Ex interests me but I'm worried that it's more of a shooter with a weak story tacked on than an interactive story experience.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Welverin]

I'm currently game starved. I'm starting to get worn out on Mass Effect and everything I try I end up comparing it to and find it falls short. ME1 & 2 have a decent blend of RPG, action, story and gameplay that I can't seem to find anywhere else.

Well, they are rather unique. The only other game I can think of that's remotely similar is Alpha Protocol and Obsidian failed to execute on that resulting in a lackluster game.

What I'm looking for mainly is the immersion into the story. Choices aren't as important if the story is really good. The gameplay doesn't have to be awesome but it has to be at least fun. Crysis, for instance, is apparently a really awesome FPS but I got bored of it very quickly.

It is, but it's a straight up FPS with an oft criticized story, so you really missed the boat on that one.

I've heard good things about the Morrowind series but I wouldn't know where to start.

Technically that would be the Elder Scrolls series and Morrowind or Oblivion would probably be the ones to start with. Morrowind is a bit on the old old side, but still fairly modern. Arena and Daggerfall are much older and less likely to meet you expectations.

I've also considered the Fable series but I can't seem to find a demo and I don't trust reviews.

You should, you just need to read them, and more than one. If they do a good job you get a sense of what the gameplay is actually like and whether it's something you'll enjoy. Do not simply look at the scores, summaries, or meta rating.

Deus Ex interests me but I'm worried that it's more of a shooter with a weak story tacked on than an interactive story experience.

It's often considered the greatest PC game of all time, I'd be hard for to get such accolades if it had such a glaring weakness.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

The only things I can think to recommend would be some other Bioware games: Jade Empire (PC and Xbox) and Dargon Age 2 if you didn't try it already (much more of an action rpg).

 

[Quickleaf]

The Witcher is apparently a great story, but the gameplay was so tedious and cumbersome that I gave up soon after the interminably long first half a dozen cut scenes.

Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings comes out on Tuesday I believe, and it looks amazing, though just as many cutscenes if that's not your thing. Totally awesome engine, and you choose how "cumbersome" you want interface to be. I saw a plot diagram from afar illustrating choices you can make, and it looked like a circuit board! I'd say give this one a try.

 

[Gulla]

And you could look into the Drakansang games. Both the latest (The Dark Eye and The River of Time) should be available now, and they are classics in the BG style using a German PNP system as the underlying rule set.

They have rather standard stories, but I liked them very well. They do more or less require that you like BG-style combat, though. And you should enjoy the traditional party building and management.

 

[Rhun]

What about the Assassin's Creed series? Also, my buddy swears by a game called Borderlands. I just ordered it, but haven't received it yet.

Also, I've played through Fable I and II and loved both of them. I'll be picking up III here soon.

 

[Welverin]

What about the Assassin's Creed series? Also, my buddy swears by a game called Borderlands. I just ordered it, but haven't received it yet.

AC1 is a solid game, but has some issues. AC2 is a great game that fixed the problems the first game and improved the pats that were good already.

Borderlands is a really good game as well. Think of it as FPS that takes it's structure from Daiablo (get missions from a hub area, run out into the world, kill stuff, and collect loot).

 

[masshysteria]

Alpha Protocol is worth a look. The gameplay is similar to Mass Effect and the decisions you make in the game actually matter. The story is interesting enough to keep you going and the conversation system, I think, is better than BioWare's wheel system. If you enjoy action-espionage, all the better.

Deus Ex is definitely worth the look. It is one of my all-time favorites. The first mission can be insanely difficult, especially when a modern gamer jumps into it expecting to be prompted and lead through the level to learn how to play. But make it through that level and the gameplay and story grips you.

Check out Jade Empire. Its a BioWare gem with a fun fantasy kung-fu theme. The combat is a bit button mashy, but they tried to give it a fighter feel.

 

[Welverin]

Check out Jade Empire. Its a BioWare gem with a fun fantasy kung-fu theme. The combat is a bit button mashy, but they tried to give it a fighter feel.

Well it was originally an Xbox game, so they were going somewhere a little different with it.

 

[Rhun]

Alpha Protocol is worth a look. The gameplay is similar to Mass Effect and the decisions you make in the game actually matter. The story is interesting enough to keep you going and the conversation system, I think, is better than BioWare's wheel system. If you enjoy action-espionage, all the better.

Deus Ex is definitely worth the look. It is one of my all-time favorites. The first mission can be insanely difficult, especially when a modern gamer jumps into it expecting to be prompted and lead through the level to learn how to play. But make it through that level and the gameplay and story grips you.

Check out Jade Empire. Its a BioWare gem with a fun fantasy kung-fu theme. The combat is a bit button mashy, but they tried to give it a fighter feel.

I haven't played Alpha Protocol, but I loved both Deus Ex and Jade Empire.

 

[Kzach]

Interesting. I've been warned away from Alpha Protocol, lol.