Thi is my list of games that (I think) have added something original or unique to the body of role-playing knowledge.
Alter Ego - my idea of pure roleplaying, every action has consequence, in fact the whole gameplay is ruled by making choices.
Space 1889 - a game that succeeded purely on the originality of the game world and its massive array of skills. Martian Dreams had a similar setting and Arcanum was released ten years later, but other than that, its an extremely rich and largely unexplored theme.
Pirates! - huge world that responds to the player choices with lots of actions within the world, politic-ing, treasure hunts, re-uniting your family, marriage - basically, The Spanish Main becomes a giant toybox to live out your buccaneer fantasies.
Shadowrun (MegaDrive) - I mention this game because it has RT combat that works. The simple device of having your player slow down when there were enemies nearby allows the player to move speedily through the world, and also at a more sensible, combat orientated pace, without break in continuity. I haven't played the Lionheart demo, but reading the criticism makes me wonder whether a slow-down option would help.
A special mention to Hound of the Shadow and the Elvira RPG's, because I enjoyed these games even though they weren't really that good. I like horror and I like RPG's, its a shame the two very rarely meet.
Voss said:
Thinking about this drove home how little there actually is to choose from.
The problem is that new games fail to incorporate the good ideas of the previous iterations. That's how you build up a body of work, you reinforce the good ideas, you throw away the bad.
]
A considerable part of the active members here have found their way via Fallout fansites...
