DnD computer games, which to buy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

DnD computer games, which to buy? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Damior
11-27-06, 11:23 AM Which one would you guys suggest? I am looking for one that would have a high replay value and stick to the rules as closely as possible. I was looking at a review of Baldur's Gate in an old gaming magazine and it soundd pretty good. but thats in 2nd edition. Is there any game of similar quality out in 3.5 edition?
PolasKasDorion
11-27-06, 11:34 AM Hard to beat the NeverWinter Nights series. Haven't played the new one, but it looks amazing! Even the original is really cool... and has tons of expansions ( I think you can buy them all together in one pack now.)
razorboy
11-27-06, 11:51 AM Planescape Torment if you can find it is hands down the best CRPG, not just a D&D game, out there, in all respects. Baldur's Gate series (1&2 in a cheap bundle with all the expansions) is also an excellent D&D game. Icewind Dale series are also easy to find and good for an enjoyable dungeon crawl, hack-and-slash game. The first Neverwinter Nights and expansions for it is very good too, the second NWN is not as good IMO (even if the graphics are better) but still fun.

Generally, stay away from Pool of Radiance and Temple of Elemental Evil. Both of them are among the least enjoyable games ever produced.
Rafe_113
11-27-06, 12:29 PM I'd go with the Neverwinter Nights series. The core games are both great (though NwN2 is a bit of a system hog) but the real replay value is in the user-made adventures that seem to come out on an almost weekly basis. You can get NwN 1 and 2, two expasions for NwN1, Kingmaker, and various other user-made adventures all for about 80-90 bucks. That's not bad for roughly 250 hours of original gameplay. Plus, if you have a creative streak, they both come with software that allows you to make adventures of your own.

But the Baulders Gate series is also a must have IMO. And you can get the whole series for about $20 at wall mart....Or as I call it, the 8th layer of Hell.
Lunar_Shadow
11-27-06, 12:41 PM Stay away from Temple of Elemental Evil, it blows. Thank god I got it for free. The closest thing I have seen that gets close to the D&D experience is the Elder Scrolls series. But as for D&D games, get Neverwinter Nights or the Baldurs gate series.
Daiben
11-27-06, 12:58 PM just to offer a different view, I enjoyed Temple of Elemental Evil just as much as I did Planescape and Baldurs Gate 2 and I've played pretty much every PC D&D game since 1988. The problem was that it was released bugged and unfinished (due to corporate pressure) but even in this state it still has the most fun and tactical combat and teambuilding of any of the D&D games so far.

The problem is that it feels rushed in parts and that the NPCs were not fleshed out as much as they could have been. Even after finishing it your left with the feeling of having done part 1 of a much bigger game. It would have been great if it went all the way from the temple series to the slave lords and then finished with the Llolth campaign with much more detailed NPCs. Had Troika had the time to finish their work or at the very least expand on it then it could have been the best D&D game so far but unfortunetly Atari made sure that would never happen.

If you are not an oldschooler (eg played and enjoyed the older turn based games) then Baldurs Gate 2 and Planescape are probably the best choices. They are by far the best in terms of interesting characters and stories. NWN2 could also turn out to be great depending on how the patches go and if the modding community takes to it in the same way they did NWN1. Icewind dale 1 and 2 are also fun, if only for the team building and combat.
TheAngryFish
11-27-06, 05:28 PM But the Baulders Gate series is also a must have IMO. And you can get the whole series for about $20 at wall mart....Or as I call it, the 8th layer of Hell.
ROTFLMAOOL
Rafe_113
11-27-06, 06:04 PM ROTFLMAOOL

Not to get off topic, but it is. That place is a prime example of how far off some people are knocking the bell curve. I'm generally not one to judge, but holy hells. You gotta draw a line in the sand people. I don't even want to get started. I'll prolly just end up makin' someone mad.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Damior 11-27-06, 11:23 AM	Which one would you guys suggest? I am looking for one that would have a high replay value and stick to the rules as closely as possible. I was looking at a review of Baldur's Gate in an old gaming magazine and it soundd pretty good. but thats in 2nd edition. Is there any game of similar quality out in 3.5 edition?
PolasKasDorion 11-27-06, 11:34 AM	Hard to beat the NeverWinter Nights series. Haven't played the new one, but it looks amazing! Even the original is really cool... and has tons of expansions ( I think you can buy them all together in one pack now.)
razorboy 11-27-06, 11:51 AM	Planescape Torment if you can find it is hands down the best CRPG, not just a D&D game, out there, in all respects. Baldur's Gate series (1&2 in a cheap bundle with all the expansions) is also an excellent D&D game. Icewind Dale series are also easy to find and good for an enjoyable dungeon crawl, hack-and-slash game. The first Neverwinter Nights and expansions for it is very good too, the second NWN is not as good IMO (even if the graphics are better) but still fun. Generally, stay away from Pool of Radiance and Temple of Elemental Evil. Both of them are among the least enjoyable games ever produced.
Rafe_113 11-27-06, 12:29 PM	I'd go with the Neverwinter Nights series. The core games are both great (though NwN2 is a bit of a system hog) but the real replay value is in the user-made adventures that seem to come out on an almost weekly basis. You can get NwN 1 and 2, two expasions for NwN1, Kingmaker, and various other user-made adventures all for about 80-90 bucks. That's not bad for roughly 250 hours of original gameplay. Plus, if you have a creative streak, they both come with software that allows you to make adventures of your own. But the Baulders Gate series is also a must have IMO. And you can get the whole series for about $20 at wall mart....Or as I call it, the 8th layer of Hell.
Lunar_Shadow 11-27-06, 12:41 PM	Stay away from Temple of Elemental Evil, it blows. Thank god I got it for free. The closest thing I have seen that gets close to the D&D experience is the Elder Scrolls series. But as for D&D games, get Neverwinter Nights or the Baldurs gate series.
Daiben 11-27-06, 12:58 PM	just to offer a different view, I enjoyed Temple of Elemental Evil just as much as I did Planescape and Baldurs Gate 2 and I've played pretty much every PC D&D game since 1988. The problem was that it was released bugged and unfinished (due to corporate pressure) but even in this state it still has the most fun and tactical combat and teambuilding of any of the D&D games so far. The problem is that it feels rushed in parts and that the NPCs were not fleshed out as much as they could have been. Even after finishing it your left with the feeling of having done part 1 of a much bigger game. It would have been great if it went all the way from the temple series to the slave lords and then finished with the Llolth campaign with much more detailed NPCs. Had Troika had the time to finish their work or at the very least expand on it then it could have been the best D&D game so far but unfortunetly Atari made sure that would never happen. If you are not an oldschooler (eg played and enjoyed the older turn based games) then Baldurs Gate 2 and Planescape are probably the best choices. They are by far the best in terms of interesting characters and stories. NWN2 could also turn out to be great depending on how the patches go and if the modding community takes to it in the same way they did NWN1. Icewind dale 1 and 2 are also fun, if only for the team building and combat.
TheAngryFish 11-27-06, 05:28 PM	But the Baulders Gate series is also a must have IMO. And you can get the whole series for about $20 at wall mart....Or as I call it, the 8th layer of Hell. ROTFLMAOOL
Rafe_113 11-27-06, 06:04 PM	ROTFLMAOOL Not to get off topic, but it is. That place is a prime example of how far off some people are knocking the bell curve. I'm generally not one to judge, but holy hells. You gotta draw a line in the sand people. I don't even want to get started. I'll prolly just end up makin' someone mad.