Holiday Gift Guide – RPGs
To be honest, not a lot of RPGs caught my attention this year. There have been a couple of stand-outs along with one RPG/FPS hybrid, but that’s about it. If you’re unfamiliar with the term “RPG”, it’s short for Role Playing Game. These games, which originate from table-top games like Dungeons & Dragons, allow for the player to immerse themselves in a role they create. With the focus on story driven character development, RPGs typically have robust character creators to allow you to choose anything & everything, from eye color to character class to the even characters attitude & moral standing. Role Playing Games usually have a ton of dialog & carry a story that can last anywhere from 40 to 80 hours. They aren’t for everyone, but you’ll most certainly find some of the best writing of any genre buried within. Even though this guide is focused on console games, I had to throw in Torchlight. I put it in the “honorable mentions” since it’s Windows only, but really, it was one of my favorite games of the year & was a huge surprise. I knew nothing about it & just happened to stumble on it at E3. Now, on to my gift pics…
Developer: Bioware
Publisher: Electronic Arts
MSRP: $59.99
Release Date: 11/03/2009
Platforms: Xbox 360/Playstation 3/Windows
Any year Bioware launches a new game, it’s sure to become a top pick for any RPG fan. These guys have it down to a science now. In fact, ask any one who the top RPG developer is. You’ll be hard pressed to get any answer other than Bioware. For their latest opus, they take us back to the fantasy setting. Described as the “spiritual successor” to Baldur’s Gate, their first major RPG hit. The story will take the player through the process of fulfilling their destiny by becoming a Grey Warden. Their trials will take them through political unrest, family tragedy, & ultimately a face off against the Archdemon. Throughout their journey, they’ll be faced with many different moral decisions that will impact how the story unfolds. With 3 different classes (each of which can then specialize into 2 other classes), many different weapons, armor, & magic and a story that will rival most novels, Dragon Age: Origins should be number one on every RPG players list.
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2k Games
MSRP: $59.99
Release Date: 10/20/2009
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows
Borderlands is a tough one to categorize. It’s a first-person-shooter with elements of role-playing sprinkled in. Since I kept all the shooters together, first-person or otherwise, I decided to put this one here. Regardless of what you call it, Borderlands is a solid title with hours & hours of gameplay to keep people busy. The story will lead the player through a massive journey in search of the 3 keys to the Vault, which only opens once every 200 years. Opposing you is the mercenary force Crimson Steel, who also want to get a hold of the keys for their own presumably evil purpose. Featuring the ability to create your own character along with creating your own weapons through the various parts & pieces available (Gearbox says there’s “87 Bazillion combinations”), this will will sate the hunger of both FPS & RPG fans alike.
Developer: Ascaron
Publisher: cdv Software Entertainment
MSRP: $39.99 (Consoles), $19.99 (Windows)
Release Date: 05/12/2009 (Consoles), 11/08/2008 (Windows)
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows
Basically, Sacred 2 is the closest you’ll get to playing Diablo on this generation of consoles (as of today). Storywise, it picks up 2000 years before the PC-only first game. The player treks through the fantasy land of Ancaria, seeking out T-Energy, the source of all life & magic in the land. Now, whether they’ll use it for good or evil is up to them. Six playable classes, each with their own type of mount, full day/night cycles, & up to 4-players co-op action (on the consoles) fleshes out the in-depth experience. While this wasn’t my favorite RPG of the year (I loved the first game much more than I loved this one), you could do much, much worse. It’s perfect for the gamer who’s already done with Dragon Age: Origins.
Other honorable mentions:
- Torchlight
(Windows) – $19.99 (The link is for the retail copy that will not launch until after the first of the year. It is available digitally direct from the Torchlight website…)
- Magna Carta II
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope
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Xbox 360 Gamercard
