Battle of the computer games (Round 2: Role-Playing Games)

[Dantares]

Our first winner is announced. From the beat-em-up category we have Tekken, perhaps a surprise winner.

1) Tekken
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)


So on to round 2 of the battle, and we move to Role-Playing Games.


Baldur's Gate - Set upon the western coast of Faerûn from the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons and Dragons and using the 2nd Edition set of rules. The game was the first game to successfully translate a pencil and paper in to a computer game. The game simulated well the turn-based game as if you were truly rolling the dice.

Diablo - A hack and slasher and considered by some not to be an RPG. The original Diablo told the tale of a hero entering Tristan and descending into a set of catacombs to face the demon lord. Diablo 2 expanded on the original by removing the original classes and introducing 5 original classes with lots of options to customise.

Final Fantasy - Considered the quintessential RPG series to be made. So far the game has made it to it's 12th outing along with a spin off called Final Fantasy Tactics. A heavy debate centres on the best, but the most influential of the series is Final Fantasy 7 that brought RPG's to the masses.

Legend of Zelda - Very few gaming characters reach the popularity as those found in The Legend of Zelda series. Up until "Ocarina of Time" the game had a sort of top-down view with simple graphics. The player guided Link through dungeons to obtain mystical relics on the way to, usually, rescuing Princess Zelda.

Phantasy Star - Another game that is pretty much standard fare for the RPG genre, but this is one of the few games that is set in a futuristic world. In fact, Phantasy Star normally places you in a multiple planet solar system which could be traveled between to advance the storyline.

Pokemon - You may love it or hate it, but Pokemon is one of the biggest names ever devised in the computer game industry. Standing for Pocket Monsters, the aim of the game was to travel around the game world catching strange monsters that you could later use in battle.

Secret of Mana - Played in a similar way to The Legend of Zelda, this game added a new and unusual twist in to the gaming style. The unusual thing about Mana was there were 3 characters in the game and by adding in a special piece of equipment called a multi-tap you and two friends could go on the same adventure.

Shadow Hearts - While never a big seller, "Shadow Hearts" has picked up a kind of cult status with its fans. The original and unique feature of this game was the Judgement Ring, a circle that affected almost every action in the game. A line would spin around the ring and an action would be deemed successful or not by hitting highlighted areas at the right time.

Shining Force - The "Shining" name has been around for many years and initially started with "Shining In the Darkness" which was a minor hit. The "Shining" name however did not truly become famous until "Shining Force." The game played like a game of chess with your men (Maximum of 12) being placed on a large grid. You had different kinds of classes which, when reaching a certain level, could be promoted to better and stronger classes.

Ultima - Perhaps the biggest name in the field of home computers, "Ultima" has been ported to many different gaming systems. The games themselves were initially considered standard fare, but later episodes added in a spiritual kind of quest as you had to pick up eight different virtues. The game is considered to have three seperate parts that are split in to three different chapters.

[Thorwyn]

Planescape Torment

[Zegas]

Most of them that I played was poop, so I voted pokemon, though I hated it, it did well selling wise and made for countless funny parody type cartoons and jokes etc, so made some fun times for those who hated it xD

[Chap]

where is vampire the mascaurade bloodlines or redemption? :<

[Cirandi]

And where are the real classics, the ones who started the genre for many ppl... Like Eye of the Beholder and Dungeon Master :/ They were pretty much the only ones when they came and as such pretty much defined the genre for the games to come.

And why the hell is Pokémon in your list?

[Naffets]

Where are fallout and elder scrolls on that list? :|

[Levin]

Originally Posted by Cirandi

And where are the real classics, the ones who started the genre for many ppl... Like Eye of the Beholder and Dungeon Master :/ They were pretty much the only ones when they came and as such pretty much defined the genre for the games to come.

And why the hell is Pokémon in your list?

Agreed, and Pool of Radiance (SSI's original version) should really be on that list too. That was the first computer rpg i ever played and it just rocked. Dungeon Master was very important too.

[Cozak]

Seeings there is a huge amount of excellent RPG's missing from the list Im not going to vote

[old.Tohtori]

Wohoo! Tekken won.

Now let's get that Final Fantasy up there.

[Marc]

If FF doesnt win this I will show my arse in Burtons window.

[Marc]

Doh, its miles behind.

[WiZe^]

Diablo I or II ? (guess its I] anyway both are kickass games :]

[Dantares]

Pretty much both Diablo games.

[Bubble]

XENOGEARS
CHRONOTRIGGER
PLANESCAPE TORMENT


Guess someones not up to date with the best of them
I guess it didn't help Chronotrigger and Xenogears only being released in America.

[Haggus]

Diablo for me, revalutionised my gameing life !