Setzer

I don't know why Epiphany is making such a big deal over which system has the better hardware(PS3 does btw). It sure didn't help Microsoft and its more technologically advanced Xbox out sell the PS2. People want games, lots of good games and the PS2 had the largest selection of quality games. Sure the Xbox had a few good titles(Halo, KoTOR, and 1 or 2 more) but its not all about the visuals, ok Epiphany? So, you go ahead and continue to wear that "Official MS Fanboy" jersey and talk **** about Sony and the PS3 and do whatever makes you feel good inside. Fact of the matter is, the next gen console war is not going to be decided by which system is more powerful than the other, its going to be which system has the better games.

What of Might & Magic VII ... that was the first I played and I loved it. I tried 9 and tossed it to the recycle bin. One thing I liked about VII was the whole 'we own a castle' deal... but the gameplay in it was good too as was the story and most other aspects. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> M&M VII was the best in the series, imo. As for HoMM V, it looks freakin sweet! Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Strongly disagree with that statement.

Ok after I finish IWD2, which I'm presently in Chapter 4, I think I'm going to jump to playing JE or KOTOR 2. Despite the fact they're both easy games it seems they both have good stories which is something I like in an RPG. Question is, before playing KOTOR 2 should I wait on this Restoration project to finish and then play it or just go ahead and play it as it is now? I mean, if you were me and you hadn't played the game yet, would you wait? I only play through a game once so if I play KOTOR 2 on the Xbox I don't plan on playing it again. Just not enough time on my hands.

Not surprising. Why spend $50 on a game you can rent for $5 and beat it within a week or less?

Your wife? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes my Wife. A female who I entered into slavery..errr marriage with about 12 years ago. Amazing huh? A gamer has a life outside of just playing games. And if she wasn't around to control my spending money on games and other crap, we'd probably be broke right now. So she's at least good for something.

As far as hardware goes, PS3 will be slightly more powerful than the 360 but hardware alone shouldn't be the deciding factor in which console you buy.

Ok, so I read right then, both KOTOR 2 and Jade Empire are fairly easy games?

The less time spent developing a game means the faster they can start working on the next one and the next one. It's all about making money. I don't think this has anything to do with what the 'average' gamer wants as it is more games = more money. Yet, quality games can still be made this way just don't expect to see another 100+ hour game like the BG2. Now I haven't played JE yet, but I went out and bought it before reading ANY reviews on it. Why? Because Bioware has a reputation for making good, long RPG's with a good story. Now to read people say they finished it in 10-15 hrs was a big let down for me. Yes, the game is good, or at least its been receiving a lot of praise, but the one common, major drawback is its length and to me spending $50 on a game, especially an RPG, that will provide me with 10-15 hrs of entertainment isn't worth it, in my opinion. I don't care how good the story is. I may spend $5 and go to my local video store and rent it for 5 days but that's about it.

Well....ummmm...errr...I kinda made those pantaloons needed from BG1 appear in my inventory so I was able to construct the Big Metal Unit. :D

No, I didn't read wrong but it's your opinion that the endings aren't terrible.

Well, from what I understand, if you do *everything* instead of going straight through, only following the main storyline, the game can take you upwards of 20hrs to finish. I don't know this to be fact because I have not played JE but this seems to be the consensus from all the reviews I've read. This also brings up something else I've read about JE as well as KOTOR 2 that is dissapointing. It seems in both of these games your character can become ridiculously powerful and the game becomes too easy. Not sure if this is true or not but one reviewer stated he beat the last boss in JE in less than 30sec....a couple of moves and the game was over. Personally, I like games that present a challenge to the player, not to a point where you want to smash the monitor or throw your controller at the TV but challenging enough where it actually requires you to strategize how you're going to beat your enemy. I also read that both of these games have terrible endings but that doesn't bother me as much as the lack of challenge these games supposedly offer.

That's a nice way of looking at it.

So Volourn, do you have the same opinion as most people here that the OC in NWN sucks? I know NWN can be an enjoyable game if you take advantage of the other features the game has to offer, like creating modules, playing fan made modules and doing multi-player. I however am looking for a good single player RPG, one that involves a good story and good gameplay. I did start NWN at one time and didn't make it very far. Think I made a Sorcerer and got him lvl 10 before I stopped playing. And I would have to agree with most people here that the OC isn't all that great. If you get beyond the OC and into SoTU and HoTU does the story get better? If that's the case then I may either try and play through the OC again or download some modules, like the Pirates of the Sword Coast mod, that would get my character up high enough to enter into the OC of SoTU and HoTU.

Thanks for your input all!! I re-installed IWD2 and loaded up my saved game from over a year ago. I've been reading through my journal, which I wish BI would have done better , to get me refreshed on where I was in the game when I stopped playing it. I plan on finishing up IWD2 and then jumping into KOTOR 2 or BG...haven't decided yet. As for NWN, looks like I'll just wait and see what NWN 2 brings and avoid the NWN OC like the plague.

So once you get past the game's OC the game gets better? I heard the story got better in the expansions? My main gripe with NWN was the graphics. Every building I walked into looked practically the same. Their was a lack of creativity with the game's setting. It was a let down because the BG series in 2D looked alot better than NWN did. I enjoyed the gameplay and the story was 'ok' or at least up to the point where I stopped playing. ... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The OC isn't that bad. (Alright, the ending third of SoU is pretty meh, but the HotU third expansion is not terrible.) The main complaint is the munkinism; there are ludicrous magic items in the epic levels, like Bastard Sword of Global Thermo-Nuclear Warfare +36 to hit / +40 dmg / Critical Range 2-20 (okay, I'm exaggerating a little). The main thing to remember is that the community modules are even better than the OC. Rick Burton has already been given a job at Bioware, based on his terrific work (look for it at the Hall of Fame: there are some cracking mods here. The Community have put together a bunch of common items (like new weapons, e.g. all the Japanese martial types, extra scenery tiles, and even monsters). <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks for the link and your input on NWN!

If you had read through this thread then you would know why I haven't played it yet.

So other than using Tutu mod to use BG2 graphics with BG1 are there any other mods you all recommend? As for NWN do any of you know if NWN 2 will be a continuing story or has that not yet been revealed?

When you say BG1 will be a 'pretty big step back' are you just referring to the graphics or what? The Infinity engine isn't as polished as it was in BG2 but I was considering using the Tutu mod to play BG1. So, graphically it should look about the same. They both use the 2nd Ed. rules, correct? I'm leaning towards starting this one up and finishing it. H&S is not my thing but they called IWD a H&S game and I actually thought the story was good. IWD2's story is average at best but thats to be expected. So once you get past the game's OC the game gets better? I heard the story got better in the expansions? My main gripe with NWN was the graphics. Every building I walked into looked practically the same. Their was a lack of creativity with the game's setting. It was a let down because the BG series in 2D looked alot better than NWN did. I enjoyed the gameplay and the story was 'ok' or at least up to the point where I stopped playing. I listed KOTOR 2 and at some point I will play through it but I heard the Xbox version, which I own, has some bugs it and that the PC version fixes those and there's also a Restoration mod in the works to restore some of the missing content. With the little amount of time I have to play games I only play through them once so I would like to play through KOTOR 2 and it be a worthwhile experience.

That's probably the reason its still sitting on my shelf, unopened, collecting dust. Given Bioware's history of making 40+ hour RPG's I was surprised how short I hear the game is. For me, spending $50 on a game that's maybe 10 hours or so long is a waste. So, I may end up taking JE back.

Thank you.

I own both games and I don't mind the 2D graphics.

You're an ass. None of the games I listed have made me 'mad'. Don't know where you got that from. Yah, they've me soooo mad and thats why I want to play them. Please, think before you say something stupid.

So I'm getting a little bored of WoW lately and got the craving to play a single player RPG. There are a few I already own and have even started but just never finished. So, I thought I'd get the advice from all of you, who have played the following games, on which one you would recommend playing. Baldur's Gate Icewind Dale II Neverwinter Nights Jade Empire Knights of the Old Republic II BG, NWN, and IWD2 I've all started at one time and just never finished. Funny that I actually took the time and played through BG2 + ToB but never finished the first one. IWD2 -- I still have on my HD and I think I where I left off was about 1/2 way through the game. NWN -- I've started that game over countless times. I don't know what it is about it but the game didn't draw me in like other RPG's I've played. Maybe its because I got sick of how every building or area I walked into looked all the same. The Character graphics were nice but the world graphics left little to be desired, imo. The story was ok but nothing I haven't seen before. Why I would actually want to start playing this again? Because Obsidian is working on NWN2 and I think I better get a grasp on what's going on before playing the sequel. Learned my lesson with the BG series. Jade Empire and KOTOR 2 I have yet to start playing. Of course, there are probably other games I'm missing out on but the ones I listed are the ones I own and my Wife has cut off my gaming fund for the time being. Damn WoW to hell!