How many people think RPGs were better in the old days?

[Finn]

IMHO, even with little stick figurines on a CGA monitor(16 colours), Ultima 5 beats most of the so called "cutting edge" CRPGs out there today. Like what Paladin2000 said earlier, I do agree that developers just don't pay much attention to gameplay and storyline anymore.

[Paladin2000]

Redblueflare,

I was comparing the newer CRPG games to the ones made in the late 80's and early 90's. Back in those days, the game developers do not have to compete with each other with "stunning graphics and sound FX" because of multimedia devices' limitation. Instead, game developers designed games based on gameplay and storyline.

[Lord Starshadow]

I agree that modern RPGs are not what they used to be. The decline in plot and storyline is most disturbing, with the exception of a few games that have been mentioned. I was (and still am) a fan of early RPGs like the early FFs and Ultima which were plot driven as opposed to being just a bunch of fancy graphics. And the decrease in play time is the worst part. I love to spend many, many hours on a game. I spent well over 200 hours on FF6 leveling up characters and wreaking havoc when it first came out on the SNES. It was a grand time.

DK, I enjoyed FF4 throughly when I played it last year for the first time. I had waited many years to finally get my hands on the game, and it was well worth the wait! And I agree that Tactics had an incredible storyline. I just wish they had better editing as those grammatical errors annoyed the hell out of me.

[Attalus]

I spent well over 200 hours each on BG and BGII. (Just ask my family!) Sorry, I know these were exempted! But, I love(d) them so!

[SpiritWarrior]

By 'in the old days' I take that as meaning more than 5-6 years ago at least.
No, I disagree. The RPG's of present day are finally allowing me to exorcise all my RPing needs, and this has only happend in the last few years. On the D&D side of things, well NWN's is the first kick ass 3d D&D game to kick ass and do it with style.

[ 12-15-2002, 10:55 PM: Message edited by: SpiritWarrior ]

[antryg]

When you said old RPG's I thought you were talking about games like Spacejammer. They didn't have much in the way of story and the graphics were indeed poor. I still enjoyed them though. The "old time" games that I like are things like Colonization, X-Com or the early Civ. games. These were more strategy games. BG2 is actually the only RPG that I keep coming back to and play again and again. I guess that I would vote for the new RPG's being better as a whole.

[Rokenn]

The old infocom games were the bomb. Puzzles that actaully made you think, hell I'd get stuck on some of them for days. And they had better graphics then anything out today, your imagination [img]smile.gif[/img]

[GokuZool]

I think that some of the older RPG's had better storylines. I still think that the RPG's today are better. Just look at BG2 and FFX! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Sir Krustin]

Originally posted by GokuZool: I think that some of the older RPG's had better storylines. I still think that the RPG's today are better. Just look at BG2 and FFX! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Exceptions. The vast majority (Dungeon Siege, NWN, Anachronox, Diablo 2...) rely on whizbang graphics or click-click-click gameplay to succeed. NWN in particular was a vast disappointment, it's saving grace being the tools that come with the game - allowing you to host your own adventures.

[WillowIX]

It´s all a matter of personnal taste. Sometimes I really enjoy a CRPG with bad storyline. It may have great puzzles, a nice feel etc. I can name a lot of older CRPGs with worthless storylines, as well as newer ones. NWN isn´t that good in that department and I feel Morrowind is lacking in it too. Try Arx! It´s somewhat realistic (meaning you start with nothing, no rich uncle donating 200 golds to you or something ) and the storyline evolves as you get further into the game. I also enjoy MM, especially 6 and 7 since they are connected. Those are running a 2D environment so one can´t be accused of buying this game for graphics (although MM6 is exquisite). Dungeon Siege is also a favorite, not for the storyline but for gameplay, beauty and simple fun.