The Best PC RPGs of the Past
I was slow to get started playing PC RPGs. For a time, it seemed they were all first person dungeon crawls. I couldn't stand the thought of even trying them, because I knew that I hated games like the original doom and couldn't imagine it being much better in rpg form. Thankfully, a little gem known as Diablo showed up on my desk one day, and I was truly impressed. I played it for hours, ran through many times and had a blast. I had finally found a type of PC RPG I could stand.
Baldur's Gate and Morrowind were my next big favorites. Morrowind really changed a lot for me in terms of what type of RPG I was willing to digest. I loved the open-ended gameplay. Baldur's Gate offered hundreds of hours of gameplay and and an epic story. These games inspired dozens of others, and should be played by self-respecting rpg players. Many of these games have to be bought used now, as they are out of production.
Imagine a place of wonder, where magic and technology hold equal sway, and an adventurer might just as easily wield a flintlock pistol as a flaming sword. A place where great industrial cities house castle keeps and factories, and home to dwarves, humans, orcs, and elves alike. A place of ancient ruins and steam works, of magic and machines, of sorcery and science. Welcome to the land of Arcanum.
Click here to buy Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Baldur's Gate is a near-perfect adaptation of the classic tabletop, role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. Six separate races and eight core character classes, from which the player can create a completely original character, are available. The game world is well painted, and players are free to explore this wonderfully textured game environment in any way they see fit, all against the backdrop of a thoughtfully conceived and versatile plot.
You begin the game as a young orphan living with your stepfather within the safe confines of a scholarly community. It is a happy and idyllic life until your stepfather is killed and it becomes clear that you are intended to be next. You, as the young protagonist, then set out to discover just what kind of a mess you're in. During the adventure, you recruit a number of personable allies, battle foes, delve into dungeons, trek across wilderness, solve puzzles, and complete a plethora of epic quests that are seamlessly sown into the fabric of the overall plot. The story line unfolds in response to your choices to reveal your character's true identity as well as the nature and motive of your enemies.
,br> If the Lord himself were to ask me what games he should have in his home game collection, the first two words out of my mouth would be Baldur's Gate. This 1998 Role-Playing Game of the Year is a masterpiece and the standard by which all such games will be judged for the foreseeable future. Groundbreaking 32-bit graphics, 3-D sound, multiplayer options, and a friendly real-time game engine are blended with a depth of plot in a way that redefines the genre. --Joshua B. Coombs
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
A new chapter in the popular adventure game, based on the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, which, in turn, is based on the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons game system. Essentially an add-on to the original version of the game, this chapter asks you to continue with the character you created in the original.
Click here to buy Tales of the Sword Coast Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
In Baldur's Gate 2: Shadow of Amn, you face an uncertain future, with a lineage that tempts the unscrupulous to use you and the ignorant to fear you. You will face a foe that views you as no more than chattel and that toys with you at every turn; a villain whose goals go beyond a quest for power and who threatens to use a lost companion as a tool for unparalleled destruction. The choices to be made will not be easy, and you may have to align with the lesser of evils, even though all evils cannot help but seem equal. In the end you will have mourned lost loves, celebrated new ones, and had adventures that profoundly shaped the Realms.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate II Official Perfect Guide.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the add-on pack to Baldur's Gate II, expands and enriches the gameplay experience by adding several new locations, high-level spells, and powerful new characters to the Baldur's Gate II game. Set in the Forgotten Realms campaign world of Dungeons & Dragons, Throne of Bhaal is the ultimate conclusion of the Baldur's Gate legend, as gamers fulfill their destiny as the child of Bhaal, god of murder.
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal takes players through an all-new story line, rich with intrigue and treachery, as they unravel the mysteries of the Dungeon of Watcher's Keep and explore other new areas, such as the City of Saradush, the Fortified Monastery of Amkethran, Sendai's Underdark Fortress, and the player's own Abyssal Stronghold. Throughout their journey, characters may reach up to level 40, made possible with a raised experience cap of 8 million points, quite possibly the highest level ever achieved by characters in any Advanced Dungeons & Dragons computer game. Also included in the quest are more than 40 powerful high-level spells and abilities. The Wild Mage Character Kit will also be added to the already extensive class list, allowing gamers to create a powerful new character able to cast spells, with very unpredictable results.
Baldur's Gate II players will be pleased to hear that Throne of Bhaal is fully playable either while questing through their BG II adventure or after they have completed BG II.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate II Throne of Bhaal Official Perfect Guide.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate II Official Perfect Guide.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate II Throne of Bhaal Official Perfect Guide.
Click here to buy Baldur's Gate 2 The Ultimate Collection for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Realize your comic book dreams in this massively multiplayer online role-playing game that is home to an entire universe of super-powered heroes and villains. Build your own unique hero from millions of possible character combinations and venture into Paragon City to discover all the danger, wonder, and excitement that await you!
In the rich 3D backdrop of Paragon City, gamers take on the roles of heroes, using their supernatural abilities to fight evildoers. Go up against villains and ne’er-do-wells, alien invaders, evil gangs, and organized crime rings to bring peace and justice to the good people of Paragon City.
Create your character, choosing from many hero types and powers. Then personalize your character’s appearance with the game’s extensive Costume Creation system. This incredibly versatile tool allows you to mix and match clothing pieces, hair, facial features, costume details, colors, textures, and patterns. There are literally trillions of different combinations to choose from, allowing you to create a totally unique character.
Click here to buy prepaid 60 day subscription card for City of Heroes.
Click here to buy City of Heroes Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy City of Heroes for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy prepaid 60 day subscription card for City of Heroes.
Click here to buy the City of Heroes Collector's DVD Edition for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
- The Diablo Battle Chest is the complete Diablo saga in one box
- Includes Diablo, Diablo II, the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion pack, and the official Diablo II game guide from BradyGames
- Combined retail value of over $70
- Fantasy role-playing game
- Assume the role of a hero fighting against the three prime evils of Hell
The Diablo Battle Chest is the complete Diablo saga in one box. It includes Diablo, Diablo II (the fastest-selling PC game of all time), the Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion pack, and the official Diablo II game guide from BradyGames. The combined retail value of everything in the Diablo Battle Chest is more than $70.
The Diablo Battle Chest makes the perfect gift for someone new to the action-RPG phenomenon, or for the hard-core Diablo fan that wants the complete series in one big collectible box.
Click here to buy The Diablo Battle Chest for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Diablo Battle Chest
EverQuest: Platinum is the most comprehensive collection of EQ multiplayer games yet! Join over 400,000 players in a land with no limits to the imagination; where excitement and myth reign supreme. The ultimate collection of EverQuest Multiplayer Games, including EverQuest Classic and the first seven Expansion Packs: Ruins of Kunark, The Shadows of Luclin, The Legacy of Ykesha, The Scars of Velious, Planes of Power, Lost Dungeons of Norrath, Gates of Discord.
Click here to buy Everquest: Platinum for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
- Next great expansion pack for the fantasy saga, EverQuest
- New lands with enhanced graphics; bold storylines; updated creatures
- Interactive world map; quickly swap between weapon sets
- Automated trading system with player barter system
- New adventures and intense battles for players of all levels
Click here to buy Everquest: Dragons of Norrath for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Everquest: Dragons of Norrath
With this prepaid, 90-day subscription to EverQuest, players have a whole new, easy way to savor the world of Norrath. Players simply enter the game card registration code on the EverQuest account setup screen and enjoy 90 days of adventure. This alternative form of payment provides players with a new way to pay for EverQuest without using a credit card, and is the perfect gift for current EverQuest players.
Click here to buy the EverQuest Prepaid Game Card from Amazon.com
This is where the story of Final Fantasy 7 begins. It seems that an evil power company called Shinra has found a way to mine the planet's life energy, draining it from the planet and using it to control the universe. Fortunately, a resistance organization known as AVALANCHE has vowed to put an end to Shinra's destructive practices. The story focuses on Cloud, an ex-soldier of Shinra, who teams up with AVALANCHE, and along the way encounters some very mysterious and powerful allies who help him fight against the deadly creatures Shinra has created to protect its empire. You, as the game player, will decide their fate.
Featuring seamless 3-D gameplay and animation, Final Fantasy VII contains hundreds of prerendered, computer-generated backgrounds and features real-time battles, vast map screens, and a complex and engrossing storyline. Published on three CDs, Final Fantasy 7 is one of the largest and most richly detailed gaming experiences ever created.
Click here to buy Final Fantasy 7 for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy the Final Fantasy XI Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy Final Fantasy XI Online for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
From a distant corner of the galaxy, the sinister plans of an alien race threaten Earth. Mankind's only hope rests in the world's most powerful superheroes--Freedom Force. Take control of a squad of comic-book heroes, each with unique powers including flight, energy beams, and super strength. Then duke it out with the forces of evil through the fully interactive and destructible streets of 1960s New York. Pick up and throw cars and tear down entire buildings on top of evildoers (just be sure to protect the innocent). Build up the powers of your heroes using a detailed role-playing system, and recruit new heroes as you complete successful missions. You can even create your own superhero team and battle your best friend/archnemesis online. Comic-book heroes come to life in the first action-packed tactical RPG for the PC. Are you hero enough?
Click here to buy Freedom Force for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy Freedom Force vs the Third Reich for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy Guild Wars Collector's Edition for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Nox is a dark and creepy Action/RPG, set in a bucolic world corrupted by Hecubah, a wicked queen of the undead. In solo play, choose from three different adventures. Follow the path of a warrior, and you will forge your skills and master powerful weapons in the Fortress of Horrendous. Join the ranks of the conjurers in the village of Ix and learn to summon the creatures of the land and control the forces of nature. Or lead the life of a wizard, and use combat magic, stealth, and traps to foil the undead legions.
Click here to buy Nox Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy Nox for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Explore Sigil, the City of Doors. The doors serve as the town's gateway to everything and everywhere that matters. Step through one door and enter the halls of Ysgard, or turn down a particular alley and discover the Abyss. There are more gateways in Sigil than can be imagined. But there's a lot more out there than just Sigil. Get outside the city and there's the planes themselves: the throne of the gods, the battleground of the eternal Blood War, and home to more horrors and wonders than ever existed on any prime world. There's enough crusades, exploits, treasures, and mysteries to keep a band of adventurers busy for centuries to come. All it takes is the right door, so step right through.
Click here to buy Planescape: Torment Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy Planescape: Torment for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is an epic, open-ended single-player game where you create and play any kind of character you can imagine. Be the hero embarking on an epic quest or a thief rising to leadership of his guild. Be a sorcerer developing the ultimate spell of destruction or a healer searching for the cure to a plague. Your actions define your character, and your gameplay changes and evolves in response to your actions. Confront the assassins' guild, and they take out a contract on you; impress them, and they try to recruit you instead. No two sagas are the same in the world of Morrowind.
Players can choose to follow the intriguing main story line or set off to explore the province of Morrowind and the many interesting people and exotic locations it contains. Vast cities and remote villages dot the landscape, each with its own unique look and feel. Hundreds of quests and adventures await as you interact with characters and learn more. Regardless of whether you play a murdering assassin or a noble knight, the game holds endless possibilities and allows you to revisit the main story line at any time.
With Morrowind, the Elder Scrolls character system is coupled with an increase in the world's richness of detail. Utilizing advanced 3-D technology, Morrowind features hyperrealistic textures and polygon counts, real-time shadows, vast landscapes, skeletal-based animation, and a complete weather system. Gameplay is further extended with the inclusion of The Elder Scrolls Construction Set, which allows players to modify and add to Morrowind in any way they see fit. Change character or creature attributes and skills, introduce new weapons or dungeons into the game, or create entire new worlds to explore.
Click here to buy Morrowind for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Neverwinter Nights Platinum includes the Hordes of the Underdark and Shadow of Undrentide expansions.
Click here to buy Neverwinter Nights Platinum for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
Click here to buy Neverwinter Nights for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
This is an expansion pack and requires the full version of Neverwinter Nights to play.
Click here to buy the Neverwinter Nights expansion pack: Hordes of the Underdark for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.
This is an expansion pack and requires the full version of Neverwinter Nights to play.
For the first time, players can experience the lands of WarCraft's Azeroth from a new, in-depth perspective. As heroes, they explore familiar battlefields, discover new lands, and take on epic quests and challenges in Blizzard's massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Blizzard has taken care to make the game accessible and fun both for hard-core 60-hour-a-week players and for more casual adventurers.
Click here to buy World of Warcraft Official Strategy Guide.
Click here to buy World Of Warcraft 60 Day Pre-Paid Game Card from Amazon.com
Click here to buy World of Warcraft for PC from Amazon.com or see the system requirements.