this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
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Computer RPGs

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[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I wouldn't call it a "great game" outright. Granted, I played it for the first time back in the beginning of this year so I don't have any nostalgia goggles.

It has a lot of great ideas, and some great parts - like the half ogre conspiracy. But a lot of it feels half baked, clunky and unfinished. Even with fan patches.

And that's not even going into the the absolutely abysmally godawful shitshow of the combat (and there is a lot of combat in Arcanum), which has to be the worst isometric CRPG combat by a Texas mile. The only thing worse than combat in general is the AI. There was a really funny mage companion I wanted to bring along, but instead of using his spells he just ran into melee and started pummelling with his fists each combat. Brilliant!

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I played it before there were a lot of great alternatives, so there's that. I think the novelistic CRPGs of that era deserved to remain more of a trend in the industry than they did. Bethesda made a lot of money turning away from wordsy games in favour of shorter, more simplistic gameplay loops, and it's hard not to be a little bitter about that. Original recipe Fallout, Arcanum, earlier Elder Scrolls entries, and Planescape: Torment left me with a permanent itch that more modern games never really try hard enough to scratch.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I don't know, there is a bit of a revival for it. Pillars of Eternity 1&2, Pathfinder: Kingmaker & Wrath of the Righteous and just now The Necromancer's Tale. There are modern games out there.

And if wordy is all you want don't forget about Pentiment!

[–] Sonor@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I second Pathfinder: Kingmaker. It is an amazing game, even if the Pathfinder game system feels overcomplicated and very hard to get into

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 1 points 3 days ago

I think it has quite a few issues, not least its length (I had a like 230h playthrough I think which is... too much). Its high points are really high, but the lows are pretty low. The encounter design towards the endgame especially leaves a lot to be desired.

It's still worthwhile checking out if you're a fan of the old Infinity Engine CRPGs it clearly draws inspiration from. I've also heard Wrath of the Righteous is much better, but it's still on my backlog.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

All favourited to be gotten ASAP. I can't wait to get into Necromancer's Tale especially. Not for the first time you've brought some hella good recommendations. Thanks!

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I even forgot the pick of the bunch: Disco Elysium! If you like Planescape: Torment especially you just have to play it. It's more of a visual novel than a "game" in my opinion, but if you let it count as a game then it's the best game of all time.

Not for the first time you've brought some hella good recommendations. Thanks!

Oh what other game did I suggest? I do like to rant a lot in the weekly "What are you playing?" threads.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It might have been Disco Elysium before. I loved my time with it, I might just have to watch someone else's play through just to get to an ending. I always get too sad to finish my runs.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Watching other people play it is the only way to relive it, anyway. First time reactions to the Final Dream hit like crack.

By the way I forgot another CRPG recommendation: SKALD: Against the Black Priory. Shorter and more limited in scope than the others, but a really nice tight game with a concise story and no filler. Played it earlier this year and really loved it.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm really feeling smug about having tagged your username as "good taste in video games" right about now. SKALD looks like such a treat!

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I keep forgetting about tags, that makes more sense for you recognising me than me being some sort of household name around here 😂

I'd subscribe to your blog, anyway. Cheers!

[–] criss_cross@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Another game done by the same people that did the Pathfinder ones is Warhammer: Rogue Trader. It’s not perfect by any means (you can tell they rushed at the end) but I had a blast playing it.

EDIT: Also another game worth playing is Tyranny. A bit shorter than the other entries but also very well done.