So, I’m going to have some free time coming up (yay, summer!) and I want to buy a new XBOX 360 game. Since I own exactly two, this is a momentous occasion.
I basically like RPGs, not shooting-type games so much (I’m a girly-girl when it comes to my console gaming.) Any recommendations for games similar to Oblivion and Fable II? I like an immersive world and a story of some kind.
Thanks!
Look no further than Fallout 3. Made by the same people as Oblivion.
If you haven’t played very many games at all, (as is so with me!) you may find Lara Croft, Underworld stretches your skills in a good way.
I also found Quantum of Solace quite hard as well (I know it’s not the type you specified but it has quite an involved story … Have fun 
If you don’t mind first person games like Oblivion you might like Bioshock. It is a shooter but it is more about the story and the great atmosphere.
I’ll probably try Fallout, thanks for the suggestion.
Still not sure if I am really a FPS kinda person (they make me too jumpy, and, well, I just don’t like the gameplay of most of them.) Are there any RPGs made for XBOX360 that have a traditional fantasy-type atmosphere, that are similar to Oblivion or Fable II?
To be honest, typical western RPG fare is rare on the 360, and on consoles in general. JRPGs tend to rule the day and you have your pick if you like those. You’ve pretty much already played the two really good ones.
There’s Fallout of course, which is an excellent RPG, but is definitely built on a shooter style premise. It’s not as twitchy as something like Halo, you can just point and shoot if you want to but it also has the VATS system which allows for a more tactical play style. When you hit one of the shoulder buttons the game freezes and you can target nearby enemies and shoot at them. Success/Failure is determined by a combination of your stats and skills and the type of weapon you’re using. The only caveat is that it’s based on points which deplete as you take actions, and when you run out you have to wait a few seconds for your pool to regenerate. If you’re in the middle of a firefight and you run out of points and there’s three enemies standing right next to you, (and this WILL happen), things can get difficult if you’re not used to shooter controls.
For someone who likes RPG’s but hates shooters, I’d recommend it but only grudgingly. Understand what you’re getting into.
For typical fantasy fare the only other games I can think of are Two Worlds and Overlord. I haven’t actually played either one, but here’s what I know about them…
Overlord isn’t strictly an RPG, more of action/adventure with RPG elements. You play and evil Overlord and have to manage your goblin minions to achieve your goals. Probably most similar to Fable. It’s supposed to be good, if a bit on the short side. Supposedly gets a lot mileage out of it’s unusual premise and good execution.
Two Worlds I know next to nothing about. It’s received low to mediocre reviews and is generally regarded as bad or at least disappointing. It’s a large, open ended RPG set in a standard fantasy realm, and has been described as an inferior version of Oblivion. I can’t recommend this in good faith, so I’ll simply say if you invest in it, don’t blame me. 
Both titles are older and can probably be had fairly cheaply these days.
Actually, I don’t think there are. There are plenty of great action RPGs, like Oblivion or Fable II, but they’re PC only. This is a good list of Xbox 360 RPGs. Most of them are probably more fantasy oriented than scifi or distopian but they’re also turn based.
For a great action RPG, try Mass Effect. It’s a SciFi game, but it has a great story that actually changes depending on the choices you make and is very replayable. It has plenty of guns and no melee, being in the future and all, but it also has plenty of magic (the science-y kind) so you don’t have to be a heavy gun user.
The game is made by Bioware. Everything they make is good, and they only make action RPGs.
/// See?
And I can’t believe I forgot about it but you should definitely keep an eye out for a game coming out in October called Dragon Age: Origins. It’s a fantasy RPG from a company called Bioware. I recommend this as a day one purchase. I have no doubts that it will be excellent.
Two Worlds is a game you have to play with the right mind set to enjoy. It’s not a good game per se but the horrible dialogue and cringe-worthy acting coupled with the fact that it takes itself so seriously gives it a certain charm. You can also create stupidly powerful weapons fairly early in the game and run around one-shotting things.
As for games that are actually quality RPGs, there are quite a few. You say you’re not into shooters but Fallout 3 will definitely be worth a look. You can pause the action at anytime and use the automatic targeting system to fire at your enemy. It’s very RPGish when played that way.
Mass Effect is another excellent choice. It’s kind of shooterish too but heavily RPG influenced. If you’re familiar with the Knights of the Old Republic RPG series, you’ll kind of have an idea what it’s like.
Have you already tried Fable 1 and Morrowind? They’re original Xbox titles but both will play on an Xbox 360.
Sacred 2 was just released. It’s essentially a Diablo-clone with a huge open world to poke through. It features a fairly complex character development system which is very poorly documented but building up your character is something that can take many paths.
Mass Effect is a great game and I absolutely loved the story. The only warning I would issue is that it’s most definitely a shooter and is even more twitch based than Fallout.
Mass Effect was awesome, coming from an RPG lover. I also liked Eternal Sonata - bizarre story but pretty cool battles and ramping battle tactics. Also lots and lots of characters, weapons, and equipment.
Yes, it’s definitely a shooter, but you do have access to weapons-savvy companions and the game does have a squad-command system; You don’t have to be a grunt. Unless you’re really just turned off by firearms completely, I’d still recommend it.
I would also strongly recommend Saint’s Row 2. It’s more of an action game, but it incorporates open-world gameplay, dozens of different missions and stuff, and a lot of room to improve your character (as you complete said missions, you get more bonuses). You don’t really define your character’s, well, character, but there’s still a lot of open-world fun.
I want to second Eternal Sonata. One of the more bizarre stories without a doubt with an interesting battle system that I’m having problems thinking of ways to describe. It’s sort a hybrid real time/turn based system with a time limit applied to each characters turn. Certainly one of the more unique systems out there.
The characters though are absolutely charming in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. Highly recommended.
If you could abide with JRPGs, you should definitely give The Last Remnant a go. It’s not grind-heavy, the story-line is decent, the acting is alright, the gameplay is great and there’s a solid good chunk of perfectionist material in there. While the main character is something of a git, there are some truly good supporting actors. And a few very, very powerful moments in the story.
However, and this has to be said, the PC release was a vast improvement on the console, due to far better controls, less bugs and faster loading times. If you have a PC, I’d recommend getting that version.
Lost Odyssey is in the same vein, another JRPG, but the story and main character is far better developed and executed, at the price of some blowback to the gameplay.
Mass Effect is, however, the quintessential Xbox 360 RPG. If you haven’t played it, you are missing out. And the sequel (Q4 2009/Q1 2010) is shaping up very nicely.
I definitely enjoyed Overlord. While it’s quite simplistic, story-wise, compared to Fable II, it’s also a lot more simply funny. And Overlord II is coming in about three weeks.
Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled for the fall. Definitely one to keep two eyes on, when you can spare them.
Bioshock is far more of an RPG than most people would think. Yes, the combat is FPS, and sometimes a bit twitchy, but features the best and best-told story in Xbox 360 history.
The Witcher, a very underrated RPG based on the books of Andrzej Sapkowski, was supposedly coming to the Xbox 360 in a reworked form. The project is currently on hold because of quality assurance problems; the developer, CD Projekt, is known to have issued public apologies on radio and television, in Poland, regarding the state The Witcher was in when first released on PCs back in 2007. It’s development is, as said above, currently in suspension, but the fans maintain good hopes that it will be back on track shortly.
Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I’ve narrowed it down to Eternal Sonata and Two Worlds. I’d buy more but I don’t want to flunk out of school next year, so I think I’d better only purchase what can be completed in a summer of not-too-heavy gaming.
Not to derail the thread, but what exactly is the difference between JRPGs and non-JRPGs? Aside from the fact that one is translated from Japanese, of course.
Not a 360 game per se, but Jade Empire is a pretty fun RPG inspired by kung fu flicks. Action packed combat, fun characters, interesting story with some downright devious twists. The only downside is the “scroller shoot’em up” minigame, but thankfully you’re only forced to play it twice, the rest is optional.
It’s available for sale/download on the Xbox Live marketplace thingy
JRPGs tend to have androgynous main characters with gigantic sword/guns, racial stereotype sidekicks, lots of non-interactive cutscenes, and combat that usually involves two parties taking turns throwing mega-ultra-nuclear-fireballs-of-doom at one another until someone dies.
Not the same gameplay mechanics.
As a general rule, a “regular” RPG will be open ended, and will offer the player many ways to create and tweak his character(s), different paths to do the quests, as well as choose the order in which he does them. Also, the combats tend to be with creatures/enemies one can see, avoid, talk to etc…
By contrast, you don’t have much choice in JRPGs : the story is on rails, the dialogue and characters are pre-written, and you’re pretty much forced to go from point A to point B for 90% of the game (and there’s usually a dungeon between point A and point B). Also, the combats are usually random (except for bosses), they just happen as you walk around, at which point the game pauses and turn-based combat mode starts.
Note that these are of course just general guidelines, not all RPGs or JRPGs will be like that, but I think that’ll give you a good idea. In essence, an RPG plays like you’re playing a role you choose*, a JRPG plays like you’re watching a movie. Not that one is better than the other, it’s just a different feel.