Need a new game?

[Aric Flowers]

Just finished ME3 and was more than disappointed with the ending. But I'
m not gonna beat that dead horse. I'm just looking for another great game like that with decisions and good character development. I would rather get the opinion of actual gamers rather than a top 10 list online. The ME series really brought me on to RPG's, so I'd really like to keep playing them, I just only really know of the Triple A titles. Feel free to shout out any favorites old or new because I just had knee surgery and will be bed-ridden for the next 5 days.

Already Have:
Skyrim
Heavy Rain
Dragon age 1&2

 

[Asita]

Haven't played it myself, but I have heard good things about the Witcher series.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Fallout New Vegas is probably the best open world RPG around at the moment (yes, even better than Skyrim).

The world just feels so much more alive than Skyrim.

 

[dyre]

Witcher 2 really does the "decision" part right. Plus it has much better storytelling than the ME series. In terms of character development, you're given someone who already has a personality. However, the game goes to great lengths to show that the more difficult choice is not between "I'm a good guy" and "I'm a bad guy" (as in most Bioware game choices), but between realistic choices in a terrible (realistic) world in which doing the right thing isn't nearly as black and white, and innocent people will suffer, bad guys will get away with bad things, etc regardless of what you do. It's probably the best modern RPG you can get your hands on.

Deus Ex Human Revolution does an okay job on decisions (and incorporates them pretty well into gameplay, with a few exceptions), but it concentrates a lot more on storytelling and finding out truths in a world where everyone has their own goals and are perfectly willing to lie to you to further those goals (this includes governments and mega corporations). It's a game with some flaws, but imo it makes up for them with some fantastic storytelling and world creation.

Besides that, you could try some older games, which are harder to get into for someone used to AAA titles but often offer more roleplaying opportunities and cooler stories than newer games (though, I'd say Witcher 2 is just as good as the older RPGs).

Baldur's Gate 2 - awesome storytelling, awesome companion interaction / character romances (best romances in any Bioware game, I'd say), good gameplay (based on D&D).
Arcanum - awesome storytelling, cool Victorian setting, but pretty mediocre gameplay
Planescape Torment - might be harder to get into and more confusing than the previous two games, but it probably has the best story out of all of them and a bunch of really awesome, memorable characters.

All of those games have plenty of decisions, but only Planescape Torment really shines in terms of character development. Seriously, that game makes Mass Effect's "I'm a good person" vs "I'm a bad person" development look like a joke.

I'd recommend Witcher 2 first. It's a fantastic game made by a great company that never charges for DLC, and it's fairly easy to get into for people new to RPGs.

 

[smearyllama]

As dyre said, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is really good. I haven't gotten to play much of it yet, thanks to this hot summer weather (my Xbox does not like the heat), but it's really cool.

 

[daveman247]

Just finished ME3 and was more than disappointed with the ending. But I'
m not gonna beat that dead horse. I'm just looking for another great game like that with decisions and good character development. I would rather get the opinion of actual gamers rather than a top 10 list online. The ME series really brought me on to RPG's, so I'd really like to keep playing them, I just only really know of the Triple A titles. Feel free to shout out any favorites old or new because I just had knee surgery and will be bed-ridden for the next 5 days.

Already Have:
Skyrim
Heavy Rain
Dragon age 1&2

I'll just echo others.
-Human revolution does quite well with the "choices" thing, but its down to how you play rather than through characters.
-Fallout new vegas can vary wildly depending on your decisions - if you can put up with the average gameplay.

-PC players say the witcher 2 is quite good choices/ character wise. Not sure what platform you play on but the 360 version has just came out ^_^

 

[Mr.Mattress]

... World of Warcraft? Yeah, that's really the only RPG I play with (Although I too have Skyrim, I don't really RP with it). My advice is, get all the WoW Games, buy a ton of cards, and wait for the upcoming Expansion Pack (Complete with PANDAS!)

 

[distortedreality]

Second Witcher 2, DXHR, New Vegas and Alpha Protocol.

Great games.

 

[Strain42]

Why not Zoidberg? (sorry, couldn't resist)

Um...I would recommend the Saints Row games. SR3 even has a bit of a level up system so it's slightly closer to an RPG.

I dunno, I'm not really the best source for this kinda thing.

 

[Baralak]

If you want RPGs, The Witcher 2, definitely. It's out on PC, and just came out on Xbox 360. Alpha Protocol is also really amazing with the roleplaying, but it's pretty buggy.

 

[Aric Flowers]

Thanks you guys this was extremely helpful. Gonna start off with Deus: Ex HR because I just watched the 5min trailer and it looks like nothing I've played before. Then definitely the Witcher.

 

[mysecondlife]

Just finished ME3 and was more than disappointed with the ending. But I'
m not gonna beat that dead horse. I'm just looking for another great game like that with decisions and good character development. I would rather get the opinion of actual gamers rather than a top 10 list online. The ME series really brought me on to RPG's, so I'd really like to keep playing them, I just only really know of the Triple A titles. Feel free to shout out any favorites old or new because I just had knee surgery and will be bed-ridden for the next 5 days.

Already Have:
Skyrim
Heavy Rain
Dragon age 1&2

Oh pfft. From the title of the thread, I thought you were offering.

KOTOR is my favorite RPG and perhaps my favorite game ever. Get it for PC.

 

[dimensional]

Well theres always Ar Tonelico 2 that has impactful decisions in the way the story flows and good character development (for the mains) honestly I wished they would shut the hell up sometimes, but I cant recommend that game in good faith I dont think it is for you.

As a few others have suggested trying an old school isometric RPG may be worth a go just bear in mind they are not particularly easy (actually most start really hard then swing to really easy later) the character development is not usually great but the personality of some companions is good you can also make a fair few decisions on how you play and level up but it is possible to make the wrong decisions and make life very difficult for yourself.

Just want 2 classic RPGs from the past then try Baldurs Gate 2 and FFVII you may dislike one or both but you could also do a lot worse than try them.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

I'd suggest Fallout, it'll keep you entertained!

 

[spartandude]

Witcher 2 really does the "decision" part right. Plus it has much better storytelling than the ME series. In terms of character development, you're given someone who already has a personality. However, the game goes to great lengths to show that the more difficult choice is not between "I'm a good guy" and "I'm a bad guy" (as in most Bioware game choices), but between realistic choices in a terrible (realistic) world in which doing the right thing isn't nearly as black and white, and innocent people will suffer, bad guys will get away with bad things, etc regardless of what you do. It's probably the best modern RPG you can get your hands on.

could not have put it better myself
and with amazing gameplay and gorgeous visuals if you own a PC or Xbox i cannot stress how much you need to get this game

 

[Aric Flowers]

@"mysecondlife"
Oh pfft. From the title of the thread, I thought you were offering.

I just noticed I ended it with a question mark rather than a period. That's my bad. In my head it sounded like a question.

 

[CrustyOatmeal]

fallout new vegas will give you choices, RPG mechanics, guns, an ok story, and +100 hours of gameplay. this is my highest recomendation of the bunch

fallout 3 is also a great game (predicessor to new vegas) but the morality system is a bit weird and everybody in the game feels like they are either entirely good or entirely bad and there is little middle ground. i think fallout 3 has a better atmosphere than new vegas and a better story but lacks any real depth

Kingdom of amalar is a single player MMO style RPG that has a ton of quests (it took over 200 hours for a speed run through all the quests and the main storyline clocks in at around 20-30 hours) it also has good combat, and the ability to switch all of you skill points at given locations (go from a mage to a warrior), and the game allows you to mix and match classes in any way you like

borderlands is a fun RPG shooter and is similar to diablo in many respects (its all about the loot) but i think the online community (where most of the fun is) has shrunk

fable 1 is a great game (dont get 2 or 3) and is heavily about choice (although they all boild down to good or evil) but has an interesting story if you pick up the expansion

the witcher is great (havent played the witcher 2) and is all about choice with no black and white moral choices, good combat (once you get useto it), and very interesting lore and characters

since you are going to be kooped up for five days i think a game with tons of play time is best and since you have skyrim i think one of the fallout games would be best since they have the same feel to them but with different mechanics

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

I can't possibly suggest the Fallout series enough. If you aren't into the slower paced old-school adventure RPG, then I'd suggest going straight into Fallout 3 or New Vegas. If you like open world RPGs, then you can't possibly find a better one. Everything about Fallout 3 and New Vegas is better than Skyrim, the character (more like there ARE characters), the presence of an actual story (although Fallout 3 has a better one), combat that doesn't put you to sleep, and combat AI that isn't just "run at the protagonist". The quests are actually dynamic in how you can finish and interact with them and not just "do it or don't do it", and the setting and landscape, while decidedly brown, make you really appreciate finding a settlement when you come across. I can't tell you how relieved you'll feel when you're out of Stimpaks and have two crippled legs, a busted arm, and your guns are all smashed to shit, then you find a blip on your compass that turns our to be a city that can get you patched up and reequipped and ready to face the Wasteland again. Not to mention the settlements always have their own style and flavor. No two look the same. In Skyrim, all the cities just look like any other medieval city you'd see anywhere else.

 

[SajuukKhar]

snip

Wait... did you seriously just say Fallout 3 has a better story then New vegas?

 

[Launcelot111]

Persona 3 just came out on the Playstation store for 10 bucks. It's a PS2 port, but it's fantastic (graphics were never its selling point), and it's incredibly original, and it will last you ages, as in one run through the story could easily edge on 100 hours. Give it a look.

As people have said, the Fallouts are worth a look. Both the new ones are great, but the old ones are very much worth a look as well. The older computer RPGs that above people have mentioned are also great and can be found as super cheap downloads online. Planescape is my personal favorite

For more PS3 recommendations, Valkyria Chronicles is fun, it's an RPG/military strategy hybrid. Tales of Graces F just came out, haven't played it yet but the Tales series is usually fun because it has a fast paced fighting game style battle system. Disgaea 4 is fun, but for a newcomer to RPGs, that game would very much be diving right into the deep end.

If your PS3 is one of the old backwards compatible ones, the PS2 had massive amounts of good JRPGS: Final Fantasy X and XII, Dragon Quest 8, Xenosaga, Shin Megami Tensei, Shadow Hearts, Grandia 3, Suikoden, Kingdom Hearts among others I'm sure I'm forgetting. Again, the Playstation store has tons of solid RPGs from the PS1 as well.