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Incline Most underrated RPGs on the Codex

AArmanFV

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Aug 28, 2015
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Arauco
Codex 2016 - The Age of Grimoire
I might get slated by proud white gamers white knighting their 'proper rpg' here but I find Trails of Cold Steel 1-3 one of the most underrated rpg series ever made in Japan.

Cold-Steel-3-Switch_03-26-20.jpg

F2ln8KZ.jpg
 

Ysaye

Arbiter
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
771
Location
Australia
I might get slated by proud white gamers white knighting their 'proper rpg' here but I find Trails of Cold Steel 1-3 one of the most underrated rpg series ever made in Japan.

Cold-Steel-3-Switch_03-26-20.jpg

I can understand why Codexers on the main board choose not to play this series (even though the tropes that people think they would be getting into are often inverted and/or self parodied in this game series); after all there is all of the following in it which Codexers hate:

(1) There be anime graphics;
(2) There be robots;
(3) There be school girls in short skirts;
(4) Matt Mercer is a voice actor in the english versions;
(5) There is no/little player C&C in terms of the plot line; and
(6) There is fishing, cooking, actual multiple book series and newspapers to collect in game and worst of all an in-game card game.

but I find equally funny when they complain about:

(1) There are no modern RPGs that try to add new innovative features into turn based, spatial based RPGs or try to address the issue of long drawn out encounters or the number of encounters;
(2) There are no modern RPGs put any effort into creating a deep lore based world with grey politics and motives by different groups within that world;
(3) There are no modern RPGs set in Steam-punk settings;
(4) There are no modern RPGs which put the main player character "in their place" (ie. they don't let the main character become a god, or show the downsides or relativeness of being a "hero"); and
(5) There are no modern RPGs where the majority of the NPCs have a life and get on with their daily activities despite whatever the main character is doing.

Anyway - I agree with Zed's statement that most of the games on the Codex Top 100 list that are pre-1998 are underrated.
 
Self-Ejected

Lilura

RPG Codex Dragon Lady
Joined
Feb 13, 2013
Messages
5,274
Anyway - I agree with Zed's statement that most of the games on the Codex Top 100 list that are pre-1998 are underrated.

Zed didn't say pre-1998, did he? I thought he would have said pre-1996 or thereabouts.

I mean, 1996-1997 had Fallout, Diablo and Daggerfall. Not underrated.

I'm going to deal with pre-1995. Don't know why others have RPGs from that era in their iggy bin, but here's why I mostly do: they are PRE-API ERA RPGs.

I appreciate a few, but not many. Certainly the ones I appreciate no one on the Codex does. Pre-1995s are badly coded and have shit garphix as a rule (not all). No hardware scrolling outside Amiga (for smooth tactical viewpoints that don't make us go cross-eyed) and not enough good 3D ones to take advantage of + MHz instead. Many played like garbage even for the day: awful UIs, low res, blocky unreadable text, icky colorschemes, tiny sprites etc.
 

CyberWhale

Arcane
Glory to Ukraine
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Mar 26, 2013
Messages
6,058
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Fortress of Solitude
220px-Technomage_cover.jpg

Technomage (2000)
Console-like RPG adventure developed by the publishers of the Anno series. Released on both PC and the original PlayStation, I know it wasn't what either of the two crowds wanted to see back in the day, and that is disregarding the pretty basic and dated visuals.
Still, I've always found it charming to look at, even if I didn't actually play it more than 5 minutes (something I will have to fix in the near future). Why am I putting it on the underrated list then? Because it's never even mentioned 99,99% of the time, not even in a negative light.
 

octavius

Arcane
Patron
Joined
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Bjørgvin
I can understand why Codexers on the main board choose not to play this series (even though the tropes that people think they would be getting into are often inverted and/or self parodied in this game series); after all there is all of the following in it which Codexers hate:

...

(3) There be school girls in short skirts;

There's a time and place for everything.
 

Baron Dupek

Arcane
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
1,870,765
Dragon's Dogma - more RPGy japanese attempt with the genre, without "j-" inclusion.
Messy, hectic and spectacular, especially high level magic that almost looks like old VHS fantasy movies.

And agree on Inquisitor, most RPGs have some tedious segments but this game is made out of tedious segment
Best character - priest with bow, melee is out of question.
For some reason he's more profficient with bows than ex-noble thief?
This game have a lot of weird stuff, like Identify skill that doesn't work at all but you get low level spell that works better.
Or convoluted spell system where you need to boost your magic with skillpoints and other spells to make cure poison/disease spell work.

Wizards&Warriors - good for what is it, then you reach some moments like grinding crabs for shells and give up.

Divinity 2 - Dragon Knight Saga, average Larian product with little to no balance but still better than most stuff spitted out with the RPG label back then.
 

Zlaja

Arcane
Joined
Aug 17, 2006
Messages
5,682
Location
Swedex
Divine Divinity - Yeah, the combat is kinda shit, but unlike Larian's more recent efforts, this was a serious RPG with an interesting world and cool gameplay, and none of the stupidity of D:OS's

I don't think I agree. Granted, the game isn't talked about much currently but during my first few years on the codex I did hear a fair amount of people talking about this game. I hadn't played the game before stumbling over codex so this site helped me discover this gem.

OK, could you name the best dungeon crawler "RPG" ever

Daggerfall, of course.

Dragon's Dogma - more RPGy japanese attempt with the genre, without "j-" inclusion.
Messy, hectic and spectacular, especially high level magic that almost looks like old VHS fantasy movies.

Have to disagree. Everyone and their mom have been mentioning this game ever since it was first released. Especially in the jrpg section. To the point where I actually think it's somewhat overrated. Still pretty good, tho.
 

Ialda

Learned
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
124
Not much love on the codex for Prince of Qin (we need more RPGs set in ancient China) and King of Dragon Pass (we need more... tribe building sim ? cow thief simulator ? RPGs ? set on Glorantha).
 

vazha

Arcane
Joined
Aug 24, 2013
Messages
2,063
There is plenty of love on Codex for KODP, as for Qin... No, we don't need more RPGs set in ancient China, especially diablo clones. Let the Chinese make them if they want it so bad. What we need is a rpg set in Byzantine, preferably Constantinople. Or ancient Babylon.
 

Falksi

Arcane
Joined
Feb 14, 2017
Messages
10,537
Location
Nottingham
Inquisitor was made by a grim Eastern Europeans for a decade, just like The Age Of Decadence, features a several books worth of text, just like The Age Of Decadence, have even better (though outdated) 2D isometric sprite graphics, yet virtually no one ever heard of it, even on Codex. Probably because there is no COOL TURN-BASED COMBAT, only stupid Diablo-like clicking. Or maybe because it is not that good in the end.

Anyway, it's on eternal sale for a $1 on Steam, lol.

P.S. If I remember correctly Vault Dweller wanted to do the inquisition-themed game after Colony Ship. This is the only existing example of this afaik.

ss_11f0f61c39d4aa23baa392a03d809ffa558b3d36.1920x1080.jpg

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I really, really liked the look of this, so had a look in to it further and I'm glad I did, as it seems to fall foul of the shit which really puts me off these games.

The combat doesn't look particularly exciting, but this is what put me off the most.........

VJX72Xu.png


Walls of bollocks text. Seriously, has anyone got a mate who talks to them like that? Because you'd fall asleep around them if they did.

Trim it down and involve the player more, not hard........

NPC
I marched with King Bert of Tenericks & a thousand others, across the realm to the holy mountain Estropped. There Pope Pius the Sixth performed a mass blessing, and pronounced us Knights of God.

Player
1) Cool Story Brah - Ends conversation
2) What happened after they made you a Knight?

NPC
2) We travelled a wretched jouney across the Empire and it's desert wastelands, to the boarders of the pagan Empire, Jaf - Habaal. We were starved, and the journey destroyed half the army before we made contact with the first Pagan bastards. I survived though, and saw.....true Hell.

Player
1) Cool Story Brah - Ends conversation
2) What was the wasteland like? -

NPC
2) Sand & heat, with little shade anywhere. The Pagan bastards were familiar with it and knew how to survive, but we didn't. "Hell" is probably too kind a word or it.


Way easier to digest, way more stimulating IMO.
 
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Harthwain

Magister
Joined
Dec 13, 2019
Messages
4,688
Walls of bollocks text. Seriously, has anyone got a mate who talks to them like that? Because you'd fall asleep around them if they did.
I've seen it. People like that tend to monologue. It's super annoying. You have to cut in to remind them to be short and on point.
 

Butter

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,521
Walls of bollocks text. Seriously, has anyone got a mate who talks to them like that? Because you'd fall asleep around them if they did.
Yeah I've been out for drinks with MCA a few times and he really gets going. He also kept asking me if I was married, which was kind of weird.
 

vazha

Arcane
Joined
Aug 24, 2013
Messages
2,063
Also to be fair the whole point of that text is that the old geezer is long-winded, recounts to you the tales of his youth and IF you listen patiently to the end you'll get a precious artifact as a reward. Granted, there are other wall of text monologues in this, but you really get used to it as you play. Most of it is flavor anyway. And still better than say, POE Lore dumps.

p.s. Also, better-educated among us might notice that this text is a delightful little nod towards Umberto Eco's Baudolino.
 

overly excitable young man

Guest
but I find equally funny when they complain about:

(1) There are no modern RPGs that try to add new innovative features into turn based, spatial based RPGs or try to address the issue of long drawn out encounters or the number of encounters;
(2) There are no modern RPGs put any effort into creating a deep lore based world with grey politics and motives by different groups within that world;
(3) There are no modern RPGs set in Steam-punk settings;
(4) There are no modern RPGs which put the main player character "in their place" (ie. they don't let the main character become a god, or show the downsides or relativeness of being a "hero"); and
(5) There are no modern RPGs where the majority of the NPCs have a life and get on with their daily activities despite whatever the main character is doing.
I don't get it.
How are these statements again connected to said cartoon porn game?
 

KeighnMcDeath

RPG Codex Boomer
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
12,859
$2.99 for Inquisitor Deluxe... eh why not. I had old steam cash sitting there anyways.
 

jackofshadows

Magister
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
4,485
Yes! It's quite good RPG, actually. I have no idea about translation though, probably lots of folk charm were lost but it's decent even combat wise.

Also haven't seen anyone talking about Rage of Mages or its sequel. Both are pretty good RPGs with strategic elements.
 
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Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Messages
4,189
RPG Wokedex Strap Yourselves In
I wouldn't include any game that is on the top 100 lists. If it's there then people obviously remember about it.
My titles:
Jade Empire - the only post BG2 Bioware game I've beaten more than once. Fresh setting, surprisingly fun combat and great light-hearted story. Bioware never really shined so much for me after that. Their whimsical approach to characters often clashed with setting and the story. I'm blasting my way out of weird dungeon where I was tortured by mad wizard but Minsc has silly-billy line to say. But in Jade Empire it worked perfectly. Also probably my favourite obligatory Bioware story-twist. Definitely deserves the spot over Dragon Age or Mass Effect.
Freedom Force (and it's sequel) - Completely forgotten by Codexers nowadays. One of the few good superhero RPGs. The best RTWP system I've seen to this very day. Lots of different skills and powers, fully destructible terrain, you can throw cars at your enemies or tear a street-light and smack everyone. RTWP probably wouldn't get so much bad rep if people made an effort to see what it's like when devs actually try.
Shin Megami Tensei (series) - JRPG classic. Widely known for great party management system, original setting and great atmopshere. I wouldn't complain if this place was completely biased against all forms of JRPGs but I can see Trials and Rance in there.
 

octavius

Arcane
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Messages
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Bjørgvin
It was released after, and is visibly newer, but storywise it may have been a prequel (I don't know).
 

jackofshadows

Magister
Joined
Oct 21, 2019
Messages
4,485
Also haven't seen anyone talking about Rage of Mages or its sequel. Both are pretty good RPGs with strategic elements.
How do you compare them with Evil Islands?
It's hard to compare tbh because despite being technically within one series, Evil Islands is vastly different game and not only graphic wise. EI mostly revolves around main character and his build.

Both Rage of Mages games, on the other hand, are full-fledged party-oriented RPGs with optional mercenaries as a support (or main force even) on top of that which are represent interesting trade-off since char development based on learn by doing system - if player would request their help too often, his party will turn out to be too weak at the end. Their services are also quite expensive and much more wise is to spend it on gear, spells and even training in the city instead.

Exploration is better than in EI as far as I remember but first games are mostly shine at full scale battles where positioning matters a lot and where powerful magic such toxic clouds is usually turning the tide and making possible to actually discard additional recruitment.

First games do not have crafting system unfortunately but its cool armor's metal progression was there already. I remember dialogues from the first games as well written but it's been too long. Anyway, plot and story is fine and not the game's focus in both cases.
 
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