Vapourware RPGs that can legitimately be called masterpieces

[The_Mask]

If you’re calling JA2 an RPG, then I vote:

Age of Wonders 2 SM, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

AoW 2 - maybe, if you stretch really *really* hard, and without SoM.
And HoMM 3 is a hard no. Maybe HoMM 4, but even that one is a very *very* hard stretch.

Like... this is how it feels debating with Lilura (the following images are SFW, but they are large):

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And this is how it feels like debating with you:

Spoiler

 

[Valky]

Watching Lilura posts makes me feel like this

 

[octavius]

If you’re calling JA2 an RPG, then I vote:

Age of Wonders 2 SM, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

AoE 2 - maybe, if you stretch really *really* hard, and without SoM.
And HoMM 3 is a hard no. Maybe HoMM 4, but even that one is a very *very* hard stretch.

Like... this is how it feels debating with Lilura (the following images are SFW, but they are large):

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And this is how it feels like debating with you:

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A little hatchling is no match for an experienced Dragon Lady.

 

[Viata]

Wizardry 1, 4, 6 and 7.

 

[Desiderius]

I'm there with P:K, tragic flaws and all.

And then there's the GOAT:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5jdVzFFIFow

 

[laclongquan]

The RPG is not even complete.

Also, thoughts on King of Dragon Pass? It's not a standard RPG, but worth considering, and very polished.

I love KoDP, but definitely wouldn't call it a masterpiece (if being a masterpiece requires that the game be near-flawless, as the OP seems to think). For one thing, as far as I can tell, there is really only one viable way to play the game and win: be crazy generous all the time, don't pillage too often, and don't ever piss off the non-human enemies (e.g. trolls). There are other issues, like many of the seemingly-innocuous early-game decisions making the game completely impossible later on (e.g. your initial choice of an ancestral enemy), and it being kinda random whether you succeed at hero quests. Still, despite this stuff, it's a great game.

WRONG!

There is a way to play rich guy, like worship the god of artisan, concentrate on the artisan portion of population, open up trade route etc... In my run it's viable to win second, not Kingship, because the chief was too old. It's a strange and very different way from other plays.

There is also a way expand a clan as big as possible. And the way it ism to raid EVERYONE touching our border. I did it. It's hard because we got retalitation raids every time. It's good because you can use Earthblood ritual thus get rich crop every year. This is also quite different.

Of course, there's also the normal win way everybody can play.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Realms of Arkania HD

edit: whoops wrong account

Good job anyway, wrong account.

 

[RNGsus]

There is no such thing sub specie aeternitatis.

False. The answer is War.

 

[holla_cabezas_de_mierda]

If ToEE hadn't been bug riddled at release then it would be a masterpiece as it is a near perfect computer game adaptation of the D&D 3.5 ruleset and combat, supported by a faithful recreation of a pnp adventure module.

Deus Ex is one of my favorite games but it sure as shit is not a masterpiece if going by the definition that a masterpiece is an as-close-as-possible-to-perfect work. Game is riddled with problems, specifically being far too easy given the amount of options you are given, enemy AI is braindead, which allows stealth to be too easily abused, it was a pretty bad looking game even at release, level design could be inconsistent, and so on. Thief: The Dark Project and Prey 2017 are near to masterpieces of that genre, but both of them have issues as well, especially Prey with, again, being too easy given the amount of options the player is given (common theme with this sub-genre).

I would agree with aweigh as far as a lot of JRPGs being close to masterpieces, simply because they limit themselves far more than western RPGs in terms of how many mechanics they implement, and thereby are able to focus on perfecting what they do choose to implement. Personally I'd put something like Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne.

I could played endless modules in the ToEE engine as my only video game for the rest of my life if someone would just fucking make the damn thing...how hard could it be? ... I think it would sell well too, just copy the damn thing and then paste old DnD modules into it..fuck..maybe if I get enough money someday I will give it a go and fuck it all up and everyone can laugh at me

 

[Excommunicator]

Ultima Underworld is probably the truest masterpiece in RPGs, but it's also a masterpiece beyond the RPG genre which is extremely rare.

Dark Sun is a possible contender as an RPG.

If we venture into RPG hybrids then Sacrifice is definitely a masterpiece

 

[holla_cabezas_de_mierda]

as someone who is EAGERLY awaiting KOTC2... it looks like dogshit. the tokens do not look great.

Says a lot about our society that I'd prefer the first game's graphics. I dunno I just don't dig the board game look, especially when it's not even as aesthetically pleasing as the d20 roll app used by WOTC for running digital campaigns, which is already quite lo-fi.

The game will (probably) still be amazing tho and that's what matters most.

I am hoping someone will eventually upgrade the games visuals to those you find in those type of apps you mention...BTW what is this?



is this similar to KoTC2? seems like maybe, but with better art? Or am I giving it the ability to do more than its capable of..

 

[Gibson]

Masterpiece: A work of outstanding skill, mastery or workmanship. In other words, it isn't enough for an RPG to have great this or great that, but fail elsewhere.

a few moments later:

- Fallout (PC)
- Deus Ex (PC)
- Jagged Alliance 2 (PC)
- Diablo (PC)

the above have great this or that, but they fail elsewhere, so...

Spoiler

 

[RNGsus]

Curious_Tongue

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Sea Dogs City of Abandoned Ships

 

[purpleblob]

Baldur's Gate II
Pathfinder: Kingmaker

 

[Lord_Potato]

Fuck the idea that masterpieces cannot be imperfect. No art is free of some mistake or fault. Here are some examples:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/bright...rpieces-with-hidden-imperfections-352960/amp/

So, my selection of masterpieces:

Arcanum, despite unbalanced combat.

Underrail, despite tedious endgame.

Disco Elysium, despite too much linearity in the later acts.

 

[octavius]

Ultima Underworld is probably the truest masterpiece in RPGs,

Yes, it was the first game that came to my mind.

 

[Lilura]

Baldur's Gate II
Pathfinder: Kingmaker

These are not masterpieces. They are generic works that commonfolk can appreciate, nothing more.

 

[purpleblob]

You asked for people's opinion. I answered. I don't agree with your choices either.

 

[Lilura]

You asked for people's opinion. I answered. I don't agree with your choices either.

This thread calls for a degree of objectivity; it's not about our faves. If BG2 is a masterpiece then that makes Jagged Alliance 2 the work of gods.

 

[jaydee2k]

 

[d1nolore]

If you’re calling JA2 an RPG, then I vote:

Age of Wonders 2 SM, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

AoW 2 - maybe, if you stretch really *really* hard, and without SoM.
And HoMM 3 is a hard no. Maybe HoMM 4, but even that one is a very *very* hard stretch.

Like... this is how it feels debating with Lilura (the following images are SFW, but they are large):

Spoiler

And this is how it feels like debating with you:

Spoiler

HoMM 2 > HoMM 3 > HoMM 4

Heroes of Might and Magic 4 was a shit show. Released buggy and with no multi-player, no physical manual, subpar for the series legacy. The new style with fighting hero's was hit and miss with fans.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

If you’re calling JA2 an RPG, then I vote:

Age of Wonders 2 SM, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

AoW 2 - maybe, if you stretch really *really* hard, and without SoM.
And HoMM 3 is a hard no. Maybe HoMM 4, but even that one is a very *very* hard stretch.

Like... this is how it feels debating with Lilura (the following images are SFW, but they are large):

Spoiler

And this is how it feels like debating with you:

Spoiler

HoMM 2 > HoMM 3 > HoMM 4

Heroes of Might and Magic 4 was a shit show. Released buggy and with no multi-player, no physical manual, subpar for the series legacy. The new style with fighting hero's was hit and miss with fans.

It had barbarians though.

 

[Lilura]

For me personally, Icewind Dale fits the bill. Yes, it is rather limited in quest complexity or reactivity, but it does exactly what it wants to be, has masterfully executed graphics, sound/music and atmosphere and offers huge replayability. I know of no other game that does dungeon romping as well as this one.

Diablo.

Diablo is a masterpiece.

Icewind Dale is a Baldur's Gate mod. Thus, it can never be a masterpiece.

 

[Falksi]

Diablo.

Diablo is a masterpiece.

I'll let you into a little secret duck, you know if you ever meet a guy who has the same taste in games as you? He's just saying that to get into your pants.