Poll: Who Do You Think is Best RPGs Between Bioware, Square Enix, and Bethesda?

[Skoldpadda]

These days that's like choosing between aids, cancer or explosive diarhoea.

But considering older games, Bioware ( <3 KotOR, Jade Empire, Baldur's Gate) just manages to win over Square Enix (<3 Final Fantasy IX, Terranigma, Chrono Trigger). Mass Effect 2 was in many ways a kick in the balls, but it still had some good things going for it.

I've never particularly loved Bethesda's games, and they flat out took the piss out of Fallout, so fuck them.

 

[Skoosh]

I don't like Bethesda at all, I tried Morrowind and Oblivion, both were incredibly boring to me. I played Fallout 3 a couple years ago and it was fun, but I don't think I'd replay it.

I just finished playing Final Fantasy 13 and Dragon Age 2 this month. Dragon Age is a good series, but I don't like Mass Effect as much for Bioware. Still, had a lot of fun with them. Baulder's Gate was very fun back in the day. Kotor I never really got into, but for whatever reason I do remember Jade Empire some, not bad.

Square Enix, I've enjoyed the recent games, loved the older and middle-aged ones (FF6, FF10, etc) Stories are fun, music is great, love the battles, aesthetics are always lovely, they just make some good games. FF Tactics and Kingdom Hearts are also a lot of fun. I've never liked Dragon Quest though, maybe it's the art style or the spell names, I dunno, just not a fan. Chrono Trigger more than makes up for it though, love it.

It's really close between Bioware and Square Enix. Square has probably given me more games that I loved, and I'm more familiar with them, so they get the vote. Bethesda was way behind though, only game I played of theirs that I liked was Fallout 3 and it wasn't the bee's knees.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

Bioware has good stories (and as of late, prebuilt characters that you can't edit a little and take minor liberties with their actions). That counts as a lot.

But when I think of an RPG, I think more customization, a blank slate character and a big, open world. While you don't have many liberties in quests and the story in Bethesda games, the exploration, taking it all at your own pace, sprawling world and actual stats that affect gameplay (something that bioware doesn't use all that much anymore) counts for a lot to me.
Bethesda won in my book.

 

[Defense]

I enjoyed Squaresoft games, I enjoyed Enix games, and I enjoyed Square Enix games. I frankly don't care about either of the other two companies, because my experience with Mass Effect 2 was so average, and I frankly never cared for any Bethesda titles(although I'm willing to try TES I & II once I get Boot Camp).

Squeenix is on my Shit List since they created FF12 (Please Versus XIII, prove me wrong!) and Bioware is starting to slow down a little bit and learn bad habits (Such as the constant pushbacks, but I will defend that by saying they are hard working people and they stand up for quality gaming; bless them). Right now I am most excited for Skyrim, a Bethesda product, so I will have to vote Bethesda. Sorry Bioware, I still love your games above most other games, but Skyrim takes the gold this year and im measuring whats to come, not what has come (Otherwise it would be a 50/50 and I would be stuck here for a few hours thinking it over).

It's made by Nomura and it has Kingdom Hearts combat. While it's looking to be deeper and better than KH, you probably won't like Versus XIII either if you don't like KH, and chances are you probably don't since it's on your shit list.

NOW FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0; that's a game that will prove you wrong. Even better, it has a release date!

Square Enix, I've enjoyed the recent games, loved the older and middle-aged ones (FF6, FF10, etc) Stories are fun, music is great, love the battles, aesthetics are always lovely, they just make some good games. FF Tactics and Kingdom Hearts are also a lot of fun. I've never liked Dragon Quest though, maybe it's the art style or the spell names, I dunno, just not a fan. Chrono Trigger more than makes up for it though, love it.

Oh god, I know that feel. I hated Kazap, Buff, and Kasizzle when I first saw them. It's actually a pretty great series once you get past the stale gameplay and minimal grinding.

 

[EGtodd09]

CD Projekt RED you imbeciles. The Witcher 2 is the best RPG I've ever played in my life, and I've played Mass Effect 2, Fallout 3 and New Vegas. It looks like a lot of people are voting Bethesda because of Skyrim, but it's not even out yet, it could be shit.

 

[StBishop]

Easiest choice I've ever made.

Bioware.

Bethesda games are not immersive. It's just too "uncanny valley". I'm constantly aware that I'm in a game. I just can't enjoy their games. Sure I'll play the fuck out of them, but they aren't fun they're time killers.

Bioware make amazing games. Jade Empire, Dragon Age Series, to a lesser extent Mass Effect series.

Bioware games have very little character customization so they are barely RPGs. Can't be tough to beat that.

Colour me confused. I think you mean Mass Effect has very little character customisation, so they're barely RPG's. I agree with Mass Effect being a little more ThPS with RPG elements than RPG that uses ThPS combat.

Which games by them do you find to be lacking?

 

[Antidrall]

Well, seeing as how Dragon Age 2 was as bad as FF13 and Mass Effect 3 is going to be dumbed down even harder than ever, Bethesda wins.

 

[Talydia]

Can I have one game made by all three?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/stolen-pixels/8286-Stolen-Pixels-241-The-Gaming-Afterlife

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

-snip-

I liked Kingdom Hearts, and knew that Versus had its combat system, and also saw it as an upgrade from the shit gameplay that Final Fantasy has had since X-2 IMO (And since the original production team was replaced). I still look forward to Versus.

And Type-0 has a release date? I haven't been keeping tabs on it, but from what I have seen so far I have been extremely impressed (They even have a pretty good abbreviation for MOOGLE, I was impressed!). I will definitely have to study up on it more!

Squeenix is on my Shit List because they do nothing but fuck up lately (Ever since X-2). They have been releasing horrible games lately and I have not been forgiving them (Mind Jack for example) I only hope Deus Ex lives up to the expectation as well as the newer Final Fantasy titles (FFXIII-2 can die in a hole no matter what anyone sais. I will say nothing more until I see positive results after release).

 

[Active Schizophrenic]

I really love all of square's semi-older games. but since I havent played any square games recently I voted for beth

 

[Thaius]

Too tough to say, really; they all make very different kinds of RPGs. Square Enix makes epic story-based RPGs with linear but extremely detailed and developed stories. Bioware makes games in which the story and characters are still very well-developed, but also allow the player to have immense amounts of sway with exactly how it goes. Bethesda makes games where the story takes backseat entirely to atmosphere and immersion in a highly developed world. They're very, very different approaches to RPGs, and all very good in their own right. I honestly can't say which is better.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

granted i've played and loved bioware games the most in quantity, i still love all the companies for their respective strengths, not one of them is similar on how they go about "rpg's", so i can't really say one is worse than the other, as at some point or another i've loved/love their styles and strengths in game developing.

 

[Nickompoop]

Mass Effect has stolen my heart, despite its flaws. Bioware gets my vote. Though, I don't like how you have to buy the Redemption comic to find out why Liara's character changed so much during the 2 years between ME1 and ME2

 

[Blunderboy]

Well seeing as Bioware created some of my all time favourite games, (I'm looking at you Baldur's Gate series, and I am drooling) I'm going to side with them.
Bethesda do make great game worlds though, but it's the characters in Bioware that keep me coming back to a game that's a decade old.

 

[Defense]

I liked Kingdom Hearts, and knew that Versus had its combat system, and also saw it as an upgrade from the shit gameplay that Final Fantasy has had since X-2 IMO (And since the original production team was replaced). I still look forward to Versus.

You're a more optimistic man than me then. I've been excited for the game for a while but I just decided to treat it as vaporware until real information came out, instead of tiny tidbits on Famitsu.

And Type-0 has a release date? I haven't been keeping tabs on it, but from what I have seen so far I have been extremely impressed (They even have a pretty good abbreviation for MOOGLE, I was impressed!). I will definitely have to study up on it more!

Yep-yep. It was confirmed for Summer 2011 but it was moved to Autumn 2011 because they had to work on it a little more. It's 80% complete and it looks like it'll be a wonderful game, from the big parts like the battle system to the little touches where ranged weapons have lower accuracy in harsh weather conditions.

Squeenix is on my Shit List because they do nothing but fuck up lately (Ever since X-2). They have been releasing horrible games lately and I have not been forgiving them (Mind Jack for example) I only hope Deus Ex lives up to the expectation as well as the newer Final Fantasy titles (FFXIII-2 can die in a hole no matter what anyone sais. I will say nothing more until I see positive results after release).

B-but Mindjack was only published by Square Enix, and the Deus Ex leak had glowing reviews from what I've seen.

 

[Rapamaha]

Bioware and its simple, Bioware has made alot of more games wich I enjoyed alot than Square / Bethesda has + the Star Wars MMO thats coming up has very good chances finally to put my WoW to rest.

Fallout 3 from Beth. was awesome but one game isnt gona get my vote for the company, Skyrim seems promising but cant really say yet.

From Square Enix I have only completed FF8 % FF13 and even those didnt really hold anything special for me and I wouldnt personally call FF series RPG's, basically becose you cant really customize your characters / make your own choices, to me RPG means more than just filling some exp bar.

 

[surg3n]

Bethesda all the way. I never liked Squarenecks or Biodome games, just not the sort of RPG I like to play. Oblivion and Fallout are the only RPG's that I can get into and am good at. I think Oblivion had a great balance of story and sandbox gameplay.

One thing that solidifies my vote for Bethesda, is that bloody Mass Effect 2 advert that takes up half the screen. That's desperation.

 

[Krinku]

Hmm... Square did release one of my all time favorites Chrono Trigger and FF6...but I haven't been seeing too much greatness from 'em lately, Bethesda does have TES and Fallout 3 though, and Bioware does have ME(I've only played ME donno about their other RPGs)... I say Squeenix just because I haven't touched base with Bioware and Bethesda games more.

 

[Signa]

Bethesda by default. I don't think that either SE or Bioware can make a real RPG to save their lives these days.

 

[mjc0961]

*looks at Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2*

*looks at Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas*

*looks at FF13 and FF14*

...

Well, I know it sure as fuck isn't Square Enix, but beyond that... Tie? :/

Can I have one game made by all three?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/stolen-pixels/8286-Stolen-Pixels-241-The-Gaming-Afterlife

...Except if Unskippable has taught us anything, it's that Square Enix can't design a cutscene to save their lives, so that's actually a horrible idea either way.