# Looking for a good, older computer RPG **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 13, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824 "2008-08-13T06:38:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/1 "2008-08-13T06:38:24Z")
I’m in the mood for a new RPG, but my computer can’t really handle any of the new-fangled programs coming out (even Morrowind can’t run on it). PC RPGs that I’ve played and liked over the years, in rough order of preference: Fallout I & II Baldurs Gate I & II Planescape: Torment Arcanum Icewind Dale I & II Divine Divinity & Beyond Divinity Diablo II I’m looking for a game that’s not just a pure hack & slash like Diablo. Ideally, it would have a good combat system AND good non-combat gameplay. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/2 "2008-08-13T06:58:05Z")
Knights of the Old Republic wasn’t bad, and I seem to remember hearing reasonable things about the sequel. The combat system is a somewhat disguised turn-based system, which gives you a fair amount of tactical plotting. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/3 "2008-08-13T07:06:24Z")
If he can’t run Morrowind, he’s not going to be able to run KOTOR. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/4 "2008-08-13T07:48:57Z")
You seem to have already played most of the Bioware and Black Isle library. What about the original Neverwinter Knights, does that fall within your system specs? ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/5 "2008-08-13T08:36:38Z")
Dungeon Siege? It’s a pretty fun combat system. Granted, the story isn’t much, but it should get you by until you find something better. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/6 "2008-08-13T11:49:08Z")
_ **Deus Ex** _ The only two words you’ll ever need to know. (Since you’ve already played the Fallouts.) Oh, and Wasteland for real old-school (c. 1987), though, you’ll have to search around to find a copy of it either standalone (emulation?) or one of the anthologies it was later packaged in. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/7 "2008-08-13T12:41:53Z")
It doesn’t matter if you play a role, it’s not a **role-playing game**. By your definition any game short of Tetris is a role-playing game. Hmm? Oh, sorry. That post is about twelve hours early. Copy and paste it when you need to. As for a recommendation, you haven’t touched the Ultima series. 6 through 7 (which actually encompasses five games and two expansion packs) are the peak of the games while 8 and 9 are to be avoided. ---
**Author:** ![Erasmus\_Darwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Erasmus\_Darwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erasmus_Darwin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/8 "2008-08-13T13:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=Hoopy Frood] Oh, and Wasteland for real old-school (c. 1987), though, you’ll have to search around to find a copy of it either standalone (emulation?) or one of the anthologies it was later packaged in. [/QUOTE] Underdogs has it: [http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?gameid=2425](http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?gameid=2425) Make sure you grab the manual since lengthier portions of in-game text are replaced with notes telling you to read specific paragraphs in the book. Also, keep in mind that it hasn’t aged the best. It’s still an all-time classic, but someone who doesn’t have the nostalgia of playing it originally might not be as understanding. Even so, it’s worth checking out as it’s the game that helped spawn the Fallout series. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/9 "2008-08-13T13:24:58Z")
Bah. Who needs the paragraphs book? Everyone should have it memorize. I’m not the only one who has it memorized, right? ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/10 "2008-08-13T14:22:21Z")
[QUOTE=Just Some Guy] Bah. Who needs the paragraphs book? Everyone should have it memorize. I’m not the only one who has it memorized, right? [/QUOTE] I only memorized the parts with the Martians… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/11 "2008-08-13T14:27:59Z")
I’ll second the original Neverwinter Nights. It’s been optimized over the last 60 + patches so that it should run on a machine that can’t handle morrowind. I remember being able to playing NWN1 with most setting turned on, and running morrowind at like 10 FPS. It would help to know your system specs, however. NWN also just got it’s last patch and the compilation version (I think it’s called NWN diamond) offers you some 200+ hours of gaming. The 200+ top rated (there are thousands actually but just sticking to the top few hundred) community created adventure mods should extend than pretty much indefinitely, or at least until you get sick and tired of the game. All this for under $20: [http://www.amazon.com/Neverwinter-Nights-Diamond-Compilation-DVD-ROM-Pc/dp/B000B8K7RC/ref=pd\_bbs\_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1218637907&sr=8-1](http://www.amazon.com/Neverwinter-Nights-Diamond-Compilation-DVD-ROM-Pc/dp/B000B8K7RC/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1218637907&sr=8-1) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/12 "2008-08-13T14:49:12Z")
What are your system specs? I can run KOTORs I & II and my machine is relatively ancient- six years old- and wasn’t even top-of-the line when I built it (Athlon 2600+; I think they’d just hit some number in the mid-thirties). ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/13 "2008-08-13T17:48:04Z")
[Temple of Elemental Evil](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atari-Temple-of-Elemental-Evil/dp/B0000AHOA5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1218649616&sr=1-1) runs under Windows 98. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/14 "2008-08-13T20:47:17Z")
[QUOTE=glee] [Temple of Elemental Evil](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atari-Temple-of-Elemental-Evil/dp/B0000AHOA5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1218649616&sr=1-1) runs under Windows 98. [/QUOTE] _Temple of Elemental Evil_ doesn’t run under _any_ operating system. Buggiest piece of shit I’ve played since _Daggerfall_. Even with the patches. Even with the _fan-made_ patches, after the developer dropped it like a hot potato. Stay the hell away from this one. Instead, check out [Eschalon: Book 1](http://www.playgreenhouse.com/featuredGame). It’s a new game, but done in a traditional isometric perspective, with graphics that are very processor friendly. It’s a very cool game, and cheap, to boot. The demo is pretty extensive, and gives you a good idea of what the full game is like. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/15 "2008-08-13T20:49:29Z")
The Quest for Glory Anthology, and Quest for Glory V, if you can still find them, is the best adventure/RPG combination ever. I second the first Knights of the Old Republic, and the second one too, if the Sith Lord Restoration project ever comes out of beta. Titan Quest is a good filler while you wait for Diablo 3. Getting it with Immortal Throne is a must - the Dream Mastery is worth it as it allows you to create enjoyable builds (FYI: You choose 2 ‘classes’ for a character build. Some build are useless, some are overpowered - but darned fun). You can get it off Steam. There are fan patch and mods for it too. The demo of Sacred was fun for me. Somehow I never did get the game; think my PC was too slow for it back then. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/16 "2008-08-13T21:04:18Z")
[QUOTE=CrazyChop] The Quest for Glory Anthology, and Quest for Glory V, if you can still find them, is the best adventure/RPG combination ever. [/QUOTE] There is no way you’d be able to run these unless you also install DOSBox and run them under that (it’s a DOS system emulator.) The graphics and sound get way too messed up and crash the game under even Windows 98, let alone XP/2000 or Vista. Well…I guess QFG V will run under Windows, but I never played it. It was a huge departure from the rest of the series. I tried the demo that came with the QFG Anthology and it was not my cup of tea. QFG IV is one of my favorite games of all time. It has a great dark atmosphere to it, and with three classes (four if you import someone from an earlier game and play as a Paladin,) you have good replay value since a lot of puzzles are different. ETA: I should also add that these are adventure/RPGs, not straight RPGs. You have stats like strength, agility, etc… that go up as you adventure, but not “levels,” and you don’t really upgrade equipment or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/17 "2008-08-13T21:31:00Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] There is no way you’d be able to run these unless you also install DOSBox and run them under that (it’s a DOS system emulator.) The graphics and sound get way too messed up and crash the game under even Windows 98, let alone XP/2000 or Vista. [/QUOTE] Gametap, man. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/18 "2008-08-13T21:42:52Z")
_Might & Magic VI_ has an excellent character development system, a large world that you can explore without being in the least bit railroaded (many places are just too durn dangerous, but that’s your lookout) and a combat system that allows you to play either turn-based or real-time at your discretion. The plot is quite good and there is lots to do. I have a Vista machine that it runs perfectly well on, a little to my surprise as it’s about Windows 98 vintage. Graphics are what you’d expect for a late 1990s game, viewpoint is first-person and you control a party of four, each chosen from six character classes with lots of room for customisation. (You can also recruit a couple of henchman but they don’t _do_ anything for the most part, just bias the dice-rolls a bit.) You start out fighting goblins and similar things that resemble low-level D&D monsters, and you finish by taking on a _pack_ of dragons with four-figure hit points and even nastier critters, and if all has been going to plan the last fights should be about as tough as the first ones were. Tolerably few games handle that sort of power spread. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/19 "2008-08-13T21:43:41Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] _Temple of Elemental Evil_ doesn’t run under _any_ operating system. Buggiest piece of shit I’ve played since _Daggerfall_. Even with the patches. Even with the _fan-made_ patches, after the developer dropped it like a hot potato. Stay the hell away from this one. [/QUOTE] 😕 I’ve run it successfully under Windows 98, Windows NT and Vista. Yes, it needed a patch - but so do other games (e.g. Civ 4). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824/20 "2008-08-13T22:29:04Z")
> [@Windwalker](#): > > Fallout I & II > Baldurs Gate I & II > Planescape: Torment > Arcanum > Icewind Dale I & II > Divine Divinity & Beyond Divinity > Diablo II Well, most of the games you’ve cited are on my “Don’t bother to ask what to play next if you haven’t played these” list. But there are some good items on my Also Ran list. First of all, have you played The Ur-Quan Masters? It’s only not an RPG by the technicality that you’re building a space ship rather than a person. But the story, the interaction with NPCs, and the exploration and combat all feel like a damn good RPG. It has been released in freeware: > **[The Ur-Quan Masters - News](https://sc2.sourceforge.net/)** > > Multi-platform Open Source port of the classic sci-fi game > Star Control 2, based on the original source code of the 3DO version, with new features > including network play and remixed music. Have you played System Shock 2? It’s a 3D shooter-style RPG, and overall not like any of the ones on your list, but it is immersive, atmospheric and it’s a classic that should not be missed. **Hoopy Frood** mentioned Deus Ex. It’s also fps-style, but built with a world that gives you a lot of options on how to achieve mission goals. It’s being given away for free on GameTap, apparently. I have no idea with the catch is: [http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/000459050](http://www.gametap.com/play/gameDetails/000459050) Anachronox is a JRPG-style game that is basically a parody of computer games. It has been woefully underappreciated. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-good-older-computer-rpg/459824.md?page=2)