Let's Talk About Other RPG Sword & Sorcery Games

The entire point of this thread is to discuss other "Skyrim Like" games and how we may use them in our beloved "Skyrim" context:

At this point I, personally have experienced:

Dragon Age, Dragon Age II and Dragon Age Inquisition
Dragon's Dogma / Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen
Shadows of Mordor
Bound by Flame

Any thoughts y'all have or any discussion you may want to have (I'm very, very familiar with all of the Dragon Age games!) feel free to post.

Looking forward to the experience!

(And no, this isn't a place to discuss any RPG that is a shooter. If guns are involved, can we keep it elsewhere?)

I know next to nothing about the Dark Souls series or Witcher, but am looking forward to Witcher being released on PS4 so I can give it a shot.

As much as I like Dark Souls I feel it's hardcore challenging ways can be off putting to the average and even hardcore gamers. I can suggest you go back further to Demon's Souls. A bit easier but still offering up that challenge of Dark Souls but also having a bit more balance to help coax and ease you into the drivers seat. I return to Demon's Souls more often cause it's just the better game IMO and is still as hardcore as Dark Souls but easier to get into. Another great game that may have been missed by most is Lord Of The Rings War In The North. This B-list game is full of that cheesy charm and it also has action packed game play. Not an open world but the linear areas offer a bit of exploration and the amount of detail can even make Behtesda games blush. It's a fun romp with some great voice acting and cheesy but intriguing dialogue that should be picked up by LOTR fans and fantasy fans alike.

It's not quite "Skyrim like" but since you mentioned it, the Souls series is where I 'lived' for years. Demon's Souls especially was such a magical experience. You haven't lived until you've gone into the Tower of Latria, not knowing what horrors you'd find. That level was so tense and frightful, that I quickly developed a headache which gave way to nausea as I died, many, many times. Or when you see the Flamelurker for the first time, and you just think, "Oh no.." Or when King Allant gives you the throttling of a lifetime, over an over again! Or the first time you get the "You've been invaded!" message flashing red and ominous on the screen.

Sorry to say, I've not played the other games you've mentioned, because I tend to stay exclusive with one game. But I have played the first Dragon Warrior for NES, and Sword of Vermillion for Genesis. Memorable games of my youth.

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

As much as I like Dark Souls I feel it's hardcore challenging ways can be off putting to the average and even hardcore gamers. I can suggest you go back further to Demon's Souls. A bit easier but still offering up that challenge of Dark Souls but also having a bit more balance to help coax and ease you into the drivers seat. I return to Demon's Souls more often cause it's just the better game IMO and is still as hardcore as Dark Souls but easier to get into. Another great game that may have been missed by most is Lord Of The Rings War In The North. This B-list game is full of that cheesy charm and it also has action packed game play. Not an open world but the linear areas offer a bit of exploration and the amount of detail can even make Behtesda games blush. It's a fun romp with some great voice acting and cheesy but intriguing dialogue that should be picked up by LOTR fans and fantasy fans alike.

Click to expand...

Oh, we love, love love War in the North! My other 1/2 is playing through it right now and it's a great return journey. I am amazed at how great the graphics are for such an old game. We always play through all 4 times as it gets progressively harder. Legendary is a real challenge. I like that we can both play with local LAN on our own TV's and still have a blast. We can even bring in a 3rd if we want.

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

As much as I like Dark Souls I feel it's hardcore challenging ways can be off putting to the average and even hardcore gamers. I can suggest you go back further to Demon's Souls. A bit easier but still offering up that challenge of Dark Souls but also having a bit more balance to help coax and ease you into the drivers seat. I return to Demon's Souls more often cause it's just the better game IMO and is still as hardcore as Dark Souls but easier to get into. Another great game that may have been missed by most is Lord Of The Rings War In The North. This B-list game is full of that cheesy charm and it also has action packed game play. Not an open world but the linear areas offer a bit of exploration and the amount of detail can even make Behtesda games blush. It's a fun romp with some great voice acting and cheesy but intriguing dialogue that should be picked up by LOTR fans and fantasy fans alike.

Click to expand...

Oh, we love, love love War in the North! My other 1/2 is playing through it right now and it's a great return journey. I am amazed at how great the graphics are for such an old game. We always play through all 4 times as it gets progressively harder. Legendary is a real challenge. I like that we can both play with local LAN on our own TV's and still have a blast. We can even bring in a 3rd if we want.

Click to expand...

WHY WASN'T I TOLD!?

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

As much as I like Dark Souls I feel it's hardcore challenging ways can be off putting to the average and even hardcore gamers. I can suggest you go back further to Demon's Souls. A bit easier but still offering up that challenge of Dark Souls but also having a bit more balance to help coax and ease you into the drivers seat. I return to Demon's Souls more often cause it's just the better game IMO and is still as hardcore as Dark Souls but easier to get into. Another great game that may have been missed by most is Lord Of The Rings War In The North. This B-list game is full of that cheesy charm and it also has action packed game play. Not an open world but the linear areas offer a bit of exploration and the amount of detail can even make Behtesda games blush. It's a fun romp with some great voice acting and cheesy but intriguing dialogue that should be picked up by LOTR fans and fantasy fans alike.

Click to expand...

Oh, we love, love love War in the North! My other 1/2 is playing through it right now and it's a great return journey. I am amazed at how great the graphics are for such an old game. We always play through all 4 times as it gets progressively harder. Legendary is a real challenge. I like that we can both play with local LAN on our own TV's and still have a blast. We can even bring in a 3rd if we want.

Click to expand...

WHY WASN'T I TOLD!?

Click to expand...

Hey! Join us on PSN and we'll include you in the party! I like to play the mage, Misha likes to play the dwarf and we can always use someone to play that dern Ranger. Warning though. OP is the way to go by the time you get to Legendary. Sure Hard is a breeze, but you REALLY! REALLY! need the OP to make it through Legendary unscathed.

Anybody done the multi-player for DA-I yet?

I ran through with 3 folks I met on the DD-DA forum and it was a hoot. Sure it's a dungeon crawl, but you can wack the heck out of a lot of stuff!

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Oh, we love, love love War in the North! My other 1/2 is playing through it right now and it's a great return journey. I am amazed at how great the graphics are for such an old game. We always play through all 4 times as it gets progressively harder. Legendary is a real challenge. I like that we can both play with local LAN on our own TV's and still have a blast. We can even bring in a 3rd if we want.

Click to expand...

WHY WASN'T I TOLD!?

Click to expand...

Hey! Join us on PSN and we'll include you in the party! I like to play the mage, Misha likes to play the dwarf and we can always use someone to play that dern Ranger. Warning though. OP is the way to go by the time you get to Legendary. Sure Hard is a breeze, but you REALLY! REALLY! need the OP to make it through Legendary unscathed.

Click to expand...

Send me an invite when you guys are on. Also I like the ranger the most anyway cause fits my playstyle like a glove. Also are you guys max level?

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

WHY WASN'T I TOLD!?

Click to expand...

Hey! Join us on PSN and we'll include you in the party! I like to play the mage, Misha likes to play the dwarf and we can always use someone to play that dern Ranger. Warning though. OP is the way to go by the time you get to Legendary. Sure Hard is a breeze, but you REALLY! REALLY! need the OP to make it through Legendary unscathed.

Click to expand...

Send me an invite when you guys are on. Also I like the ranger the most anyway cause fits my playstyle like a glove. Also are you guys max level?

Click to expand...

Not at the moment, but it's easy to get there. I figure we can always start at the bottom and work our way up. I'm at PSN: sonny062699 if you want to send a message. Are you on PS4 yet? You should give Dragon Age Inquisition a shot. The multiplayer can be pretty good as long as you don't mind having your butt handed to you from the beginning. Combat is different from SR or even War in the North, but you can certainly do some awesome stuff.

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Hey! Join us on PSN and we'll include you in the party! I like to play the mage, Misha likes to play the dwarf and we can always use someone to play that dern Ranger. Warning though. OP is the way to go by the time you get to Legendary. Sure Hard is a breeze, but you REALLY! REALLY! need the OP to make it through Legendary unscathed.

Click to expand...

Send me an invite when you guys are on. Also I like the ranger the most anyway cause fits my playstyle like a glove. Also are you guys max level?

Click to expand...

Not at the moment, but it's easy to get there. I figure we can always start at the bottom and work our way up. I'm at PSN: sonny062699 if you want to send a message. Are you on PS4 yet? You should give Dragon Age Inquisition a shot. The multiplayer can be pretty good as long as you don't mind having your butt handed to you from the beginning. Combat is different from SR or even War in the North, but you can certainly do some awesome stuff.

Click to expand...

We're already PSN friends. Okay cynical bastard coming out of me why would I buy a new console (that's a bit to much for me to afford at the moment) just to play a game (that doesn't have all the DLC out) that is also on the PS3?

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Send me an invite when you guys are on. Also I like the ranger the most anyway cause fits my playstyle like a glove. Also are you guys max level?

Click to expand...

Not at the moment, but it's easy to get there. I figure we can always start at the bottom and work our way up. I'm at PSN: sonny062699 if you want to send a message. Are you on PS4 yet? You should give Dragon Age Inquisition a shot. The multiplayer can be pretty good as long as you don't mind having your butt handed to you from the beginning. Combat is different from SR or even War in the North, but you can certainly do some awesome stuff.

Click to expand...

We're already PSN friends. Okay cynical bastard coming out of me why would I buy a new console (that's a bit to much for me to afford at the moment) just to play a game (that doesn't have all the DLC out) that is also on the PS3?

Click to expand...

Pfffft.... Because it's better. I don't know. Because most of the people that play the multi-player are on PS4. Aww shucks. Ya got me. SoM and BiB are just better on PS4. I don't know about DA-I though. Never played it on PS3.

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Not at the moment, but it's easy to get there. I figure we can always start at the bottom and work our way up. I'm at PSN: sonny062699 if you want to send a message. Are you on PS4 yet? You should give Dragon Age Inquisition a shot. The multiplayer can be pretty good as long as you don't mind having your butt handed to you from the beginning. Combat is different from SR or even War in the North, but you can certainly do some awesome stuff.

Click to expand...

We're already PSN friends. Okay cynical bastard coming out of me why would I buy a new console (that's a bit to much for me to afford at the moment) just to play a game (that doesn't have all the DLC out) that is also on the PS3?

Click to expand...

Pfffft.... Because it's better. I don't know. Because most of the people that play the multi-player are on PS4. Aww shucks. Ya got me. SoM and BiB are just better on PS4. I don't know about DA-I though. Never played it on PS3.

Click to expand...

My enthusiasm for the next/current gen has been sapped due to awful selfish business practices and games that I wanted to play are already on the PS3. Also no backwards compatibility is also another blow along with slightly better graphics and to top it off I'm not a huge multiplayer in games anyhow so that's a bit of a waste IMO.

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

Daelon DuLac said:

Nephor The Shadow Stalker said:

We're already PSN friends. Okay cynical bastard coming out of me why would I buy a new console (that's a bit to much for me to afford at the moment) just to play a game (that doesn't have all the DLC out) that is also on the PS3?

Click to expand...

Pfffft.... Because it's better. I don't know. Because most of the people that play the multi-player are on PS4. Aww shucks. Ya got me. SoM and BiB are just better on PS4. I don't know about DA-I though. Never played it on PS3.

Click to expand...

My enthusiasm for the next/current gen has been sapped due to awful selfish business practices and games that I wanted to play are already on the PS3. Also no backwards compatibility is also another blow along with slightly better graphics and to top it off I'm not a huge multiplayer in games anyhow so that's a bit of a waste IMO.

Click to expand...

I do agree with you, but, since I'm an awful, selfish, non-backwards compatible person, I kind of like the abuse... Fortunately 90% of our games will be available via streaming in the future, but, you are right. I keep my PS3 around anyhow since I still love my Oblivion, Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma and the original Dragon Ages.

I just got the PS4 'cause I'm a whore for new gaming systems. Besides, NetFlix runs better.

Getting off topic here. Let me re-enter the topic. Long before Playstation and Xbox were even thought of there was PC gaming. When I was a wee lad I got the best RPGs and still play them today. There was Baldur's Gate and Icewindale. Made by Forgotten Realms and following the D&D structure of table top gaming I instantly fell in love with these classics. If you got a decent PC you should get the Enhanced Edition's of these classic hardcore titles and experience RPG nerdom in a classic whole new way.

...Skyrim-like... ? ...Well, I seen a game called Two Worlds in my neighborhood game store a while back. Reminded me a lot of Oblivion from the packaging. Decided not to nab it because... I wanted to buy Far Cry 2 instead.

I have played Dragon Age and maybe the first two minutes of the one that came after. I enjoyed Dragon Age to an extent, but feel Baldur's Gate is more up my alley. Dark Alliance for PS2-- Oh, the memories!

I have Dark Souls. My buddy bought it for me, but I haven't been able to play it because I can't read anything in the character creation screen on my CRT... Which is lame...

I probably have one other fairly relevant thing to say: For a long time... like, a long time, I've been trying to track down a game I'd played way back when. What I rememberr are there being characters you choose, one of them being a mage/witch in green (...maybe); when you turn left around this small building/shelter there's a chest-- and then if you continue on oppositie the chest, you'll be attacked by an enemy or enemies or something... The graphics were either 8-bit or 16-bit, and it was definitely played on the computer; not Atari (or similar platform). The closest I've come to a match is Might & Magic... But... like which one? There are like 20 of them!

If anyone is playing Dragon Age Inquisition, be sure to use the Dragon Age Keep to set up your prior worlds to run in to your current game. It's pretty amazing.

Even if you haven't played before, there is one option you just have to choose. Make sure that Connor lived and was not possessed.

Meeting him again is one of the most touching and poignant things you will ever experience. If you actually knew the kid and the situation, you may actually have tears well up.

Poor Conner. His life is so screwed up.

Daelon DuLac said:

If anyone is playing Dragon Age Inquisition, be sure to use the Dragon Age Keep to set up your prior worlds to run in to your current game. It's pretty amazing.

Even if you haven't played before, there is one option you just have to choose. Make sure that Connor lived and was not possessed.

Meeting him again is one of the most touching and poignant things you will ever experience. If you actually knew the kid and the situation, you may actually have tears well up.

Poor Conner. His life is so screwed up.

Click to expand...

I was glad we at least had some way of bringing in your decisions to Inquisition. Was somewhat tough to remember every single decision I made in Origins and DA 2. My biggest disappointment with Inquisition is the limited hairstyle choices in the character creator. Still best one they've had in the series.

Well since no one's talked about I'll go ahead and throw it up here. Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning. Yeah that's a mouthful still the game is pretty solid and entertaining. Don't let the EA label turn you off. If you liked Mass Effect and Dragon Age chances are this one will appeal to you as well. Sadly it under sold and there will be no sequel. Even so the game is worth checking out if you got that adventure itch that needs a good scratching and craving something different than Skyrim.

Kingdom of Amalur reckoning was nice...I really liked and had hoped it would have had more to the storyline but oh well...what do you guys think of Darksiders 2? I mean it does in a way get a similar feel slightly...

Jybrael said:

Kingdom of Amalur reckoning was nice...I really liked and had hoped it would have had more to the storyline but oh well...what do you guys think of Darksiders 2? I mean it does in a way get a similar feel slightly...

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Yeah. Though the extra padding was a bit much. Still I love the puzzles and the voice acting.