There are more reasons wherefore RPGs are considered some of the best games ever made. With massive worlds that feel like they’ll never end, flashy graphics, all kinds of graphics and quests and realistic adventures, modern RPGs take the gaming industry to another level.
But then, you don’t necessarily need the newest releases on the market to enjoy the real power of the genre. Here are some of the classic RPGs that refined the industry and still hold up today, drawing players from all over the world.
Baldur’s Gate is likely to be mentioned in every article listing classic RPGs. The original game, released in 1998, revamped the industry and brought in a fantasy feel that everyone was instantly drawn to. At the same time, old school players will also remember struggling with the size of the game.
And that makes it pretty clear. It could offer days and even weeks of entertainment with the countless quests kicking in one after another. Even for today’s standards, Baldur’s Gate is still considered huge.
The game was also impressed with the so-called Infinity Engine for superior graphics. And while it did have a series of sequels including Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn and its expansion Throne of Bhaal, and some successful ports, the original release is still the shining one that everyone should try out.
There are plenty of Final Fantasy games out there and it’s alright if you haven’t tried all of them. Yes, Tactics may not be the most famous one, especially when compared to titles like Final Fantasy VI or VII. But with all these, it’s one of the classic RPGs that pushed the series to a completely different level.
Final Fantasy Tactics relies on a unique system for battles, so you’ll be completely surprised by it. The action takes place on a 3D field that can be rotated throughout the battle. It gives you the option to explore the battle from different angles and adapt on the way.
Besides, as a player, you’ll have many options to upgrade classes or even recruit characters throughout the game. You’ll be able to control the battlefield in a natural manner and that’s what makes the game play so special. The ability to customize your team to your playstyle adds to its strategic depth.
Suikoden II wasn’t really received the right way. The gaming world took it with a pinch of salt, so it took it a bit of time to reach its desired popularity. A year or so! But once it kicked in, it became a hit. These days, it’s considered one of the best-rated RPGs in the 32-bit industry.
When it first came out, most of its competition was already miles ahead in terms of graphics. Every developer was boosting beautiful 3D graphics, taking things further. But Suikoden II had a different approach and focused on nothing but pixel art.
Some say it was a bit ahead of its time. Once the fans got used to how it works, it became a masterpiece. The game featured three types of battles which include a 6-party member turn-based battle system, an army-based massive battle and a fun Duel system. On top of all these, it was entirely focused on strategy and tactics, so it did cause some headaches trying to complete some of its quests.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Ask a young gamer about Mario games and all they can imagine is racing. They have no clue about the old school struggle of classic Mario, let alone the RPG adventure. Today, it’s one of the craziest adventures to take the plumber through. However, for the franchise, it was nothing but an experiment.
Mostly seen as a different approach to the classic Mario game, the RPG is based on characters most fans were already familiar with. The idea was pretty much the same, defeating everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom, only to end up facing Smithy.
The game wasn’t appreciated for its great graphics only, but also for its humor, causing it to become an inspiration for further entries to the Mario series. It was the first game in Mario franchise to have gameplay within an isometric 3D environment.
Neverwinter Nights was an influential release for the genre, mainly because of the mechanics. Heavily based on the Dungeons & Dragons system, the game allowed you to create and personalize your character, but also to fight using die rolls, not to mention a bit of magic here and there.
Bioware had a dream and that dream became known as Neverwinter Nights. The game has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary which highlights its lasting impact and enduring popularity.
The idea was to turn the game into a digital alternative to the classic pen and paper game. Surprisingly for some, the developer did a fairly good job at achieving this. Today, Neverwinter Nights still has a solid fan base, with players from all over the world giving its unique quests a try.
In the end, the world of classic RPGs is filled with timeless gems that prove that great gameplay, compelling narratives and memorable characters never go out of style. If you decide to give any of them a shot for the first time, then you might just find your new game hiding in the past.
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