HoloDust said:
Witcher 3 is a good game from my POV, it's just not very good as RPG - you're playing predefined character, with mostly predefined history, relationships, profession and with very limited moral bounds, and how you progress Geralt mechanically through the game doesn't make much difference in how he behaves and interacts with the world and world with him. Sure, you make narrative choices, but that is not exclusive to RPGs. Strip away its RPG mechanics and not much is really lost. This is why a lot of RPG enthusiast don't consider it RPG at all. I always tend to say that for me it sits right on the fence between action-RPG and action-adventure, with very thin RPG mechanics, but fairly good narrative choices - from my POV, it's the game against which all these new breed of pseudo RPGs can be tested to decide on which side of the fence they sit at (or at least lean more toward). Though, ultimately, I think, just like there are Rouge-lites, which borrow some mechanics from Rouge, maybe it's about time for Narrative RPG-lites to get their official label. Because, if you view something like Witcher, it will always be under heavy scrutiny from strictly RPG point of view, although it's great as narrative action-adventure with some of RPG mechanics. As for DOS 1/2, yes, they are RPGs - they're just not as good as actual macrocosmic world CRPGs (like Utlimas, Fallout 1/2, Arcanum or Age of Decadence), but pretty great as microcosmic theme park mega-dungeon crawlers (just like BG3). P.S. As Witcher aficionado, you should really play The Dawn of Bloodwalker - looking it strictly mechanically as an action RPG it's better than Witcher 3 (though nowhere near as good as proper action RPGs), but it suffers from undercooked world and not as strong writing, areas in which Witcher 3 is really great. |
I thought this on one playthrough. I have four now, the differences are profound. There are whole YouTube channels dedicated to the differences cause they are that nuanced between choices.
I too am and was an RPG enthusiast and I thought the same my first two playthroughs bagk to back, then I decided to play completely differently my third playthrough and I was shocked by how diverse the choices are and how long in the game they span.
And Jesus, DoS not being as good as 90's RPG's. Blasphemy. Lol. They and BG3 are way beyond anything in the 90's apart from perhaps the more dialogue heavy games but the choices were in your imagination, not in the game. These games change the actual game instead of predenting they do.
But the above is all based on choice. By your definition Cyberpunk 2077 should be the greatest RPG of all time but it certainly doesn't feel it and it's not.
And yes, Dawnwalker is on my list, I'm just poor atm. However, I done the same shtick in Metaphor refantazio and it did not hit. If they were to pull this off, and I'm not doubting they have, it needs to be really strict and from what I seen it is not at all. I do suspect I would love it though, despite as you mentioned the writing being lesser.
May I ask what your favourite RPG is? And also, do you consider Skyrim an RPG?
