yes the Witcher is exactly precisely why I didn't include PC in the equation.
I also would give the nod to the PC Fallout 3 which was substantially better then the console versions (the controls, the graphics...everything is just vastly superior on the PC version, the console versions are both so so, the PS3 version in particular).
Like oblivion though, Fallout 3 is more action then anything else. It is really a FPS game with RPG elements more then anything else.
I found it VASTLY superior to Fable 2 which was a warmed over version of the also overrated Fable 1. After 4 more years can they STILL not add a friggin voice to the main character? I don't know who decided maintaining the non talking character thing which was kind of interesting when it was novel and new (say...around the time of Crono Trigger) is a good idea to keep even in social games, but its just crap. I don't want to befriend people by farting, acting excited and making laughing noises. Is it too much to ask for Fable to add some dialogue options or something similar ala the vastly superior Western RPGs like Jade Empire, Mass Effect, KOTOR (1 not 2), the Witcher and others?
Choice is good, a character too stupid to talk is bad. I also REALLY didn't expect the game to be over as fast as it was. I finished it in 2 nights playing only a few hour each night. That was good for returning it in a timely manner, but I mean come on, for the supposed "best game ever" that certain studio folks kept playing it up as, it should certainly be more then a dozen hours. I haven't even finished Fallout 3 and I've logged over 40 hours in that.
As to mass effect, like I said, hard choice, I just like Valk Chronicles better because it didn't drag like Mass Effect did sometimes. I mean the 4 main planets in Mass Effect were GREAT but I REALLY hated grinding around hundreds of meaningless planets to check them for resources, explore to find 1 downed satalite and 2 bits of ore and the like. The game could really have used more actual content (more real developed planets) and less drive around in that god awful buggy filler. KOTOR was a better game in that respect, it had at least 7 or 8 fully developed planets going on.
As to the 360 Tales is close but Lost Odyssey is just a horrible game. Everything I said about JRPGs having badly translated stilted dialogue and weird characters I just don't give a rats ass about, that was in reference to Lost Odyssey in particular. The character animation alone was just unforgivably bad (my wife watching me play laughed out loud and asked what the hell was wrong with the characters during the first leadership counsel meeting scene for instance). Lost Odyssey was just a sorry excuse for a Final Fantasy Rip off with good ideas from Legend of Dragoon and Shadow hearts (the active battle elements) poorly executed.
As to Disgaea 3, which I did REALLY like, I have to say I appreciated Valks more adult take on things and its decided lack of grind (as opposed to Disgaea where most of the cool stuff is very grind centric). It was really a taste thing though, it only took a few minutes to start to really like Valk, while Disgaea needs at least a few hours to grow on you (the first time you play any of the three Disgaea games).
Fire Emblem though? After all the hype I finally tried two of those games (Dawn on Wii, another on DS) and was really underwhelmed. I mean maybe it wasn't fair to compare it to FFT directly (which I was also playing for the 2nd time, this time on the PSP) but still...
I still don't get the big deal between SRPG and JRPG though. I mean they seem pretty similar to me, just that in an SRPG you have 9 people at once instead of 3 as in most traditional JRPGs (or 4 as it used to be). I made the reference to Suikoden because that was another genre bending game (it had RPG elements along with strategy sections).
As to your other point about the setting, I'm really into European History and early 20th century Europe in particular, so it was quite refreshing to have a World War Two style setting to me. It was also why I liked Shadow Hearts a lot (it took place from the end of the 19th century to just before World War 1 , same time period more or less), I find that period in history to be a fascinating and highly underused. Lost Odyssey made pseudo medieval setting game number what....500? It was cool and original when Final Fantasy 4 and 6 did it, but that is really wearing thin...
Even better then more European setting games, I would LOVE another Jade Empire type game, Jade Empire 2 would easily take the best RPG of the gen crown, yes even if it was 360 only.
PSN ID: ChosenOne feel free to add me
