Poll: Which RPG Series Should I Get?

[Nooners]

So, I just got an account on GoG recently, and am looking to pick up an old classic CRPG series to fill my hours. Problem is, I have very little money to spend. So, of the three series listed above, which would you recommend? Please also explain why it's the best option over the others.

 

[Blunderboy]

Baldur's Gate.
Icewind Dale is a good story, but you create the whole party, whereas BG let's you collect a rag tag group with characters who will argue and fight with each other.
I just find it much more absorbing.

 

[Mojo]

Baldur's Gate.
No question.
Simply the best RPG ever made!
(I reccomend to google for some mods too btw.)

 

[Simon Pettersson]

Both Baldurs Gate and Ice Wind Dale is awsome. But Baldurs Gate has more interesting party characters as Blunderboy said

 

[Tanakh]

For me? IWD, for you? BG.

BG is just a better RPG, IWD however has better combat IMO and I love D&D combat.

 

[Axolotl]

If you can handle the old graphics and controls then Ultima outdoes the others by a mile. The first three are kinda clunky and not really worth it except to see how the series evolved and 8 is deeply flaws. However 4 to 7 are the best Fantasy RPGs ever. Massive gameworlds, more complex stories than almost anything save Planescape and the the height of interactivity.

Baldur's Gate series is worth checking out yes but it can't compete with Ultima 7 overall. Oh and if you haven't played Planescape yet then you should play it as well.

Oh and never play Ultima 9, no matter what. It just isn't worth it.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

It's a tie between Baldur's Gate and Ultima.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Voting Ultima because very few people here will be old enough to remember it or understand why it's the most essential/landmark series in CRPG history.

However, Baldur's Gate is newer, and being newer, is likely a little more accessible. And as someone in here already mentioned, if you're getting up on Baldurs Gate, Planescape is also essential.

Icewind Dale is alright, but utter rubbish compared to the other two.

 

[The Last Nomad]

Only one i've put a lot of time into is the Baldur's Gate series. And I have put a helllotta time into it. Those games are soo deep its almost too much. They just don't make games like that anymore. As well as having characters as good as any modern games and gameplay thats simple but at the same time very deep and with many different ways to play.
Basically what every RPG should be like.

 

[MammothBlade]

Definitely Baldur's Gate, from what I've heard. It's not called a classic out of sheer nostalgia blindness. That thing is the real deal. I intend to play it eventually.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Take Baldur's Gate man !

IWD is more combat oriented. Well, scrap that. It is simple hack and slash with some dialogues that have very small impact on anything.

BG is much more then that. There are plenty of very challenging battles, but also interesting characters, scenarios, side-quests, dialogues... Also, it can be further expanded with very good unofficial mods. Ultimately, with application of "Big Picture" BG becomes equal in content to biggest crpgs available.

Edit :

Googled "Big Picture" for you.
http://blog.fileplanet.com/2011/06/20/monday-mod-baldurs-gate-big-world-project/
http://www.shsforums.net/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=963

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

Baldur's Gate, definitely. Once you finish that you can then port your character into Baldur's Gate 2 and carry on with the same character. Knowledge of (or at least a passing acquaintance with) the Forgotten Realms setting and DnD 2nd Ed rules will enhance the experience, but by no means are either of these things necessary.

 

[Estelindis]

IWD is fun combat-wise, is extraordinarily pretty (not advanced graphics-wise, of course, but has a great unified aesthetic), and has exceptional music. That said, BG has a much better story and more involving characters. On balance, I'd vote for BG.

 

[KingHodor]

Icewind Dale isn't really so much an RPG as it is a squad-based tactics game with strong RPG elements. In fact, I thought even Baldur's Gate 2 put way too much emphasis on its fights (not that they weren't enjoyable) and rarely put you into tricky situations where you were actually thinking about how your character would act, or gave you extended non-combat parts to allow you to immerse yourself in the world and breathe in the atmosphere.

If it seems like I'm being harsh on Baldur's Gate 2, I'd like to clarify that I still thought it was an amazingly enjoyable and atmospheric experience; I just don't see it as the crowning achievement of what an "Are-Pee-Gee" should be like (and yes, I know that many campaigns in the D&D source material are indeed mostly about "killing stuff and disarming traps with "rolls" and stats")

So yeah - if you like D&D and RPGs in general AND you're prepared to get into the at times convoluted AD&D rules then by all means, get the Baldur's Gate series.

If you want "roleplaying" though, I'd suggest getting Planescape:Torment or Fallout.

 

[haruvister]

Baldur's Gate should keep you going until the next Elder Scrolls is released. Elder Scrolls 6, that is.

 

[Pearwood]

I'd say Ultima. My real recommendation would be to get all three so really get the longest one to last until you've got a bit of extra money to spend on the others. All three are better by miles than any game I know of that's coming in the next couple of months.

 

[kyogen]

If you want to consider a one-off gem, have a look at Arcanum.

 

[JesterRaiin]

If you want to consider a one-off gem, have a look at Arcanum.

Danger ! Very unique setting, unorthodox approach to gui (keybinds) and such. I hated it at first. It took me years before changing my mind.

 

[Amnestic]

A lot of it is nostalgia and a lot of it isnt. The biggest thing that people seem to forget is that the game is based on advanced 2nd edition d&d rules which for your average person are more complicated then your countries income tax act. If you can get over that slight little tiny issue then its good.

Meh, Baldur's Gate helped to streamline it. As long as you understand that Low AC=Good then you're fine to complete the game. Might be challenging at parts, especially if you choose to fill your spellcaster slots with only offensive spells instead of things like Glitterdust, Colour Spray et al., but it's certainly doable with only a cursory understanding of the ruleset.

That's not to say I don't recommend it of course. I do. Very much so in fact.

 

[kyogen]

If you want to consider a one-off gem, have a look at Arcanum.

Danger ! Very unique setting, unorthodox approach to gui (keybinds) and such. I hated it at first. It took me years before changing my mind.

That's fair. It's definitely quirky. Bring a very large and very flexible sense of humor.