[King Bear]

They just don't make RPGs like those any more. Sure there was Dragon Age:Origins, a great game, but in terms of tactical combat and the magic system, it just wasn't the same. I was hoping DA2 would be even more faithful to it's ancestors, but instead it eschewed the IE template even more, and Bioware have made it clear that they don't intend to return to it with that series. Probably they'll never try to again.

I miss the days of the IE. Baldur's Gate II and Torment were my favourites, and remain amongst my favourite RPGs ever - alongside Ultima VII and Morrowind. I loved the original BG too, and although the IWDs were lighter fare I enjoyed them almost as much just because I was so into the combat system.

I'll have to pull them out again one day.

- Quickie Ben: waxing nostalgic.

[POOPOO MCBUMFACE]

I have to confess, Infinity Engine combat never grabbed me - there's something about real-time with pause that I really don't like. Give me a good turn-based system like Dark Sun, Temple of Elemental Evil, the Gold Box games or Knights of the Chalice.

It's a testament to the sheer quality of these games that I enjoyed them regardless, though. Torment in particular is one of my favourite games just for the sheer quality of the setting, dialogue, story and characters (and, of course, Tony Jay as the villain); it managed to pack more words than the average novel without ever feeling like you were just "playing a book", because it integrated it with the story so damn well. Your reward for high stats, thorough exploration and careful dialogue choices wasn't just material - everything led you to find out more and more about your character, your companions and their history, building up to an utterly unforgettable finish. I'm not usually one for playing games for the story at all, but Torment was just so damn good and interactive about it that it's one of my few exceptions. Fantastic game.

I have a real soft spot for Baldur's Gate, and can't pin down exactly why; like I said, I'm not too keen on IE combat and the BGs aren't exactly lite on that aspect. I think the sheer quality of the encounter design, the wonderful atmosphere and gorgeous graphics won out; they're great games just to kick back with a beer and relax to while you wander around some incredibly pretty jpegs and have some good old fashioned high adventure with fairly clever quest design.

[King Bear]

POOPOO MCBUMFACE, on 24 April 2011 - 05:04 PM, said:

I have to confess, Infinity Engine combat never grabbed me - there's something about real-time with pause that I really don't like. Give me a good turn-based system like Dark Sun, Temple of Elemental Evil, the Gold Box games or Knights of the Chalice.

It's a testament to the sheer quality of these games that I enjoyed them regardless, though. Torment in particular is one of my favourite games just for the sheer quality of the setting, dialogue, story and characters (and, of course, Tony Jay as the villain); it managed to pack more words than the average novel without ever feeling like you were just "playing a book", because it integrated it with the story so damn well. Your reward for high stats, thorough exploration and careful dialogue choices wasn't just material - everything led you to find out more and more about your character, your companions and their history, building up to an utterly unforgettable finish. I'm not usually one for playing games for the story at all, but Torment was just so damn good and interactive about it that it's one of my few exceptions. Fantastic game.

I have a real soft spot for Baldur's Gate, and can't pin down exactly why; like I said, I'm not too keen on IE combat and the BGs aren't exactly lite on that aspect. I think the sheer quality of the encounter design, the wonderful atmosphere and gorgeous graphics won out; they're great games just to kick back with a beer and relax to while you wander around some incredibly pretty jpegs and have some good old fashioned high adventure with fairly clever quest design.

I hated the combat system when I first played BG, but it just grew on me by leaps and bounds until I loved it before I knew it - the depth of strategy, the intensity, the array of spell and creative use of them. By BG2, to me, it felt comfortably familiar, an interesting challenge, and simply incredibly fun.

You nailed why I like Torment so much.

[SpectreofEschaton]

I tried getting back into Icewind Dale 2 the other day, but the 3.0 rules just feel terribly implemented and extremely restricting. Neverwinter Nights did it so much better, which is a shame, since I really like both the IE and the 3.x rules.

[Illuyankas]

You can replicate the Icewind Dale 2 experience via the gift of Let's Play! URGGZOB IS TEN WORTHWHILE REASONS TO READ IT

[Adjutant Stormy~]

That is spectacular.

[Stalker]

I agree. I loved all the BG games and just played Torment for the first time during my last Christmas break (thanks in no small part to that being one of the games that Silencer frequently mentions). It was awesome, graphics are dated but I don't even care with games like BG, Torment, etc. Add some great stories and it is absolutely true that RPGs aren't made quite the same.

I think that I have played a total of 3 or less hours on DA:2 so far. Not sure how much the new style of play appeals to me, but eventually I'll get around to it.

[Gothos]

I can't see any more games with that specific feel being released anymore, not with the swarms of console players craving action.
Now, I absolutely loved both Baldur's Gate games, and Torment even more (IWD never drew me in though), but personally I just can't go back to them, mainly due to AD&D, as I really got used to D&D3.5 since then.
Even though games like that aren't made anymore, I can't agree that it means they are worse because of that. Mass Effect (as a series) is perhaps the first game since Torment that drew me into it's world and made me care for it's characters to such an extreme level, even if it's more Hollywood Blockbuster style than a psych thriller.

(Also, I'd like to note that I'm the type of person that likes both to play games for the story and real time with pause combat )

[Macros]

playin through by again at the minute, although time limitations means my progess is brutally slow. Only into the sewers at the minute.
Still great games
Go for the eyes boo!!