Is there a game similar to this where your choices actually matter?
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Nov 8, 2012 4:16 pm GMT
I've heard Alpha Protocol did well in this regard, but I can't get through the first couple missions without being bored out of my mind. Even when I try the run and gun approach it still manages to be really boring.
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Nov 8, 2012 4:19 pm GMT
It isn't an RPG, but XCOM: Enemy Unknown when played with Ironman on makes you realize just how much your actions matter.
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Nov 8, 2012 4:55 pm GMT
PraetorianGhost posted...It isn't an RPG, but XCOM: Enemy Unknown when played with Ironman on makes you realize just how much your actions matter.
Love that game. Been trying it on Classic difficulty with Ironman. Beating the game just doesn't seem possible like this and there's a HIGHER difficulty! D:
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Nov 8, 2012 6:51 pm GMT
thehelpfulgamer posted...I've heard Alpha Protocol did well in this regard, but I can't get through the first couple missions without being bored out of my mind. Even when I try the run and gun approach it still manages to be really boring.
What do you mean by "the first couple of missions?" Because Saudi Arabia sucks, but it gets much better after that. So if it's that, I'd suggest just powering through it, because it's worth it.
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Nov 8, 2012 7:30 pm GMT
The Witcher does a decent job with choices. There aren't a lot, but choosing different sides does effect the story you get.
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Nov 9, 2012 1:28 am GMT
The original Deus Ex was quite good at this, with extra dialogue for sequence breaking etc. (the classic is your boss chewing you out if you go in the girls' toilets while exploring your base). You don't have a lot of control over the plot but the world is incredibly well developed (with extra details hidden in books, newspapers, conversations hackable emails etc.) and gameplay is great because levels are designed to allow multiple approaches (gunning, stealth, hacking, talking your way through etc.). Get past the lousy graphics and you'll find arguably the best shooter/RPG of all time.
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DF: So why can a Marauder roll but a multiplayer Turian can't?
Delta1-9: You are fighting female turian husks. You have reach but they have flexibility.
Nov 11, 2012 11:17 pm GMT
In the sense of consequence Dark souls and without a guide or prior knowledge you wouldn't be aware of it half the time in people popping up here rather than there and such....though they don't much matter story wise as its one of those dig for bits of story if you care to.
In terms of story old bioware titles (dragon age origins, kotor 1/2 have the branched end game thing)
Nothing I know of really does a good job carrying over into sequels. Even bioware titles. You can expect cameos and thats about it. They always tend to default you into something new and barely connected. DA2 for example. Exciting warden witch baby architect plot and...oh yeah the warden became A,B,C welcome to kirkwall mages and templar rebellion or in mass effect series..reapers-->cerberus merc play time ---> war resources and brief intel with little acknowledgement to choices. Gets too hard to write out I suppose and only the old fans appreciate it and they always seek the new growth so why bother?
Nov 12, 2012 3:57 am GMT
Alpha Protocol and the two Witcher games are my best examples of games where choices have actual impact on both the gameplay and story.
AP got a lot of flak from reviewers because it was so rough around the edges but once you learn to deal with the somewhat buggy shooting, the game ends up being a blast and you stop caring Mike Thorton has stupid looking crouch movement.
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Nov 12, 2012 7:56 am GMT
Dragon Age 1. And this cannot be stressed enough -- the first DA game. Ignore the herp derp sequel.
No fancy cinematics or anything of the sort for the ending, and yet manages to be satisfying. Every single major decision that you made during the game matters.
Nov 12, 2012 8:25 am GMT
All the Fallout games, not counting Tactics, could also be said to have different endings for the various factions, towns and characters depending on your actions. Arcanum is also like this and if anything have a stronger roleplay aspect to it as you can beat the game however way you want. You can kill everyone you meet and still beat the game.
As Insane_Shark mentioned, Dragon Age Origins also have different endings to the various cities and factions depending on your decisions.
Other games that comes to mind for me also includes Alpha Protool, Planescape Torment.
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Nov 13, 2012 1:33 am GMT
Delta123456789 posted...The original Deus Ex was quite good at this, with extra dialogue for sequence breaking etc. (the classic is your boss chewing you out if you go in the girls' toilets while exploring your base). You don't have a lot of control over the plot but the world is incredibly well developed (with extra details hidden in books, newspapers, conversations hackable emails etc.) and gameplay is great because levels are designed to allow multiple approaches (gunning, stealth, hacking, talking your way through etc.). Get past the lousy graphics and you'll find arguably the best shooter/RPG of all time.
If he didn't like Alpha Protocol, he probably isn't going to like Deus Ex as the gameplay is very similar across each title
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http://batmanonanelephant.blogspot.com/ Nov 13, 2012 1:42 am GMT
wedgeskywalker9 posted...
If he didn't like Alpha Protocol, he probably isn't going to like Deus Ex as the gameplay is very similar across each title
Fair enough, but it is a classic I don't think people should miss. There are also some really good mods for it like the superb The Nameless Mod (which actually is pretty good at the consequences thing) and 2027.
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DF: So why can a Marauder roll but a multiplayer Turian can't?
Delta1-9: You are fighting female turian husks. You have reach but they have flexibility.
Nov 13, 2012 7:35 am GMT
The Witcher, Alpha Protocol and Fallout: New Vegas, if we're talking about relatively new titles. Note that Fallout 3 is really bad as far as choices and writing go, but New Vegas was made by a different team and it shows. It has the most non-linear main story I've ever seen in a SP RPG.


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Nov 13, 2012 9:41 am GMT
Yeah, New Vegas is pretty stellar from that perspective. The main story has I believe 4 main factions, and they all give very different endings. There's one case that I know of where you can skip a substantial chunk of running around - basically, a whole leg of the main quest - if you just pass a skill check in a certain scene, which is definitely something that most games would never allow.
I would say that it's absolutely the best combination of open world Elder scrolls style and tight plot and quests Bioware style that I've played since Baldur's Gate 2.
Nov 14, 2012 10:54 am GMT
The Walking Dead Series is PHENOMENAL if you want choices that matter and cross over to the next game.
The other games mentioned here are also very good.
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Nov 15, 2012 8:08 am GMT
The problem is most of the games meeting this criteria are old. It was much easier to write reams of text then get all of this voiced. That said, try these for story effect:
Arcanum
Chrono Cross
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Witcher Series
Baldur's Gate 2
Dragon Age: Origins
Neverwinter Nights 2
Fallout series
Silent Hill 2 and Homecoming (choices are few but impactful)
Deus Ex
Jade Empire
Unfortunately, you'll findthis that most of these don't play like ME at all.
Nov 15, 2012 5:23 pm GMT
Gears of War.

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Nov 18, 2012 10:03 am GMT
Telletale's The Walking Dead series.
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Nov 18, 2012 8:23 pm GMT
The Walking Dead gives you the illusion that your choices matter. But they most definitely do not.
It is not a game, it is a semi-interactive mini series. If you're a fan of the show/comics then I recommend it, otherwise, pass.
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Nov 18, 2012 9:05 pm GMT
From: Planescaped | #019The Walking Dead gives you the illusion that your choices matter. But they most definitely do not.
It is not a game, it is a semi-interactive mini series. If you're a fan of the show/comics then I recommend it, otherwise, pass.
But... It's a game... It's a point and click game... >.>
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"Troy, we have to rise to the occasion like Ripley and kick monster butt in our undies" - Abed Nadir
Steam/Origin - NoizeSeeker