[The Coggies] Best Role-Playing Game

[DoctorFinger]

Best Role-Playing Game

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/comics/fable2.jpg

Title: Fable II
Available For: 360
Developer: Lionhead Studios
Publisher: Microsoft

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/comics/fallout3.jpg

Title: Fallout 3
Available For: 360, PS3, PC
Developer: Bethesda
Publisher: Bethesda

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/comics/persona4.jpg

Title: Persona 4
Available For: PS2
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/comics/vesperia.jpg

Title: Tales of Vesperia
Available For: 360
Developer: Namco Tales
Publisher: Namco Bandai

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/comics/Witcher.jpg

Title: The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
Available For: PC
Developer: CD Projekt RED
Publisher: Atari

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/comics/TWEWY.jpg

Title: The World Ends With You
Available For: DS
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

[Mike Kelehan]

I can't believe you didn't include...

...

...actually, I think you got the good ones. Chrono Trigger should indeed be ineligible, because if it wasn't, SE could just release it each year and get RPG of the year more often than not.

[JayVe]

I'm choosing Fable II

Not because of some technical feat, or involved battle system. I'm choosing it because I love the charm, humor and wit to the world. It is also the first RPG I got my wife to play, and we could play together. Playing second-fiddle as a gimped henchman in her world, where SHE was the star, really helped her get into the game. How into it did she get? She beat Fable II, one of the few games she's ever seen the credits for, and the ONLY RPG she's ever completed.

Thanks Fable II, for giving my wife and I such quality time together, gaming.

Playing with your significant other is so much more fun that playing with yourself.

[pheriannath]

I'll wager Fallout 3 wins this one easily, but this is a very good list.

(Persona!)

[Wilkz07]

Fallout 3 impressed me moreso than Fable 2. I have been hearing positive things about Persona4 and may pickup a cheap used ps2 to try it out.

[JayVe]

Fallout 3 impressed me moreso than Fable 2.Exactly my point (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showpost.php?p=116540&postcount=3).

Fable II didn't impress me. It charmed me with wit and endearment. It also drew my spouse into the experience, and I love sharing my time with her.

The most impressive movie isn't always the best, and the same applies to games. Fable II made emotional connections with the players. I can understand how a bleak headshot gorefest like Fallout 3 can impress people. I'm also glad Fable II focused more on the emotional aspect of gaming.

[EternalGamer]

I can't believe you didn't include...

...

...actually, I think you got the good ones. Chrono Trigger should indeed be ineligible, because if it wasn't, SE could just release it each year and get RPG of the year more often than not.

No, they didn't. I won't argue that the choices there are good, but my vote once again is NOT there. Lost Odyssey was FAR AND AWAY the best RPG I played this year.

At least TWEWY got a mention this time, though.

[JayVe]

No, they didn't. I won't argue that the choices there are good, but my vote once again is NOT there. Lost Odyssey was FAR AND AWAY the best RPG I played this year.

At least TWEWY got a mention this time, though.

I enjoyed Lost Odyssey a lot more than TWEWY. Did Lost Odyssey come out in 2008? For some reason I have it in my head that it was released last year. If it is a 2008 release, it belongs in the list.

[Wraith]

Because it wouldn't be a Coggies thread without someone complaining about the nominees...

Tales of Vesperia and Persona 4 are both on my To Play list, and after that, possibly Fallout 3, Fable II and/or TWEWY. I knew Fallout 3 and Fable II were both locks to be nominated. Witcher Enhanced is an improved version of an '07 game, but I know it gets a lot of love around here. But I'm a little surprised ToV and Persona both beat out Valkyria Chronicles to make it on the nomination list.

[EternalGamer]

I enjoyed Lost Odyssey a lot more than TWEWY. Did Lost Odyssey come out in 2008? For some reason I have it in my head that it was released last year. If it is a 2008 release, it belongs in the list.

Yes, it came out this past Spring. It was definitely this year.

[Wraith]

Oh, and the Fable cover art isn't showing. (Wrong filename.) (Fixed.)

[Kelegacy]

Ohhh, no Lost Odyssey. Should be mentioned, though it's not my pick for the year.

Fallout 3 hands down. Great, great game. Loved it completely. Can't think of anything bad to say about it other than I don't have enough time to play it enough.

[Doctor Setebos]

What?! No Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World? :mad:

Kidding! :D

[johnperkins21]

Considering I've already got over 75 hours into Fallout 3, and can easily see myself spending another 50 or so, I'd have to give my nod to that game. I enjoyed Fable, but got bored with it rather quickly. The relationship stuff is fun for about 10 minutes, but then it gets old.

I have not played the other games on this list other than a demo for Tales of Vesperia, which I did not like at all.

[Gorvi]

Valkyria Chronicles

[JayVe]

Valkyria Chronicles

You seemingly pick the PS3 version of a lot of stuff in these polls, even if it isn't in the list. You picked Resistance 2 in the shooter thread as well.

[Mike Kelehan]

No, they didn't. I won't argue that the choices there are good, but my vote once again is NOT there. Lost Odyssey was FAR AND AWAY the best RPG I played this year.

At least TWEWY got a mention this time, though.

Good point; I haven't played that. Even though I'm currently borrowing it from my brother.

[opsin]

Easy vote for me. Much as I loved Fable 2, Fallout 3 is still providing me with hours of fun. I love the setting which is so well realised, and still looks so nice when I stumble out of a sojourn through a tunnel or cave. And the gameplay is fantastic. It's the first time in a long time where I feel like I could genuinely decide upon who my character was going to be, and then play the game in character.
I think I'm about 65 hours in, and still have a bunch of side quest stuff to do. I've been taking my time as I enjoy it, and it's still paying off.

[Wolvie]

AAARRRGH! I can't decide between Fable II and Fallout 3! Damn it both games are so awesome. Fuck it, I think I'll just flip a coin.

[Mortis]

You seemingly pick the PS3 version of a lot of stuff in these polls, even if it isn't in the list. You picked Resistance 2 in the shooter thread as well.

This surprises you? ;)

[Gorvi]

You seemingly pick the PS3 version of a lot of stuff in these polls, even if it isn't in the list. You picked Resistance 2 in the shooter thread as well.
I could say the opposite of you. In this case, VC is the best RPG that's come out of Japan (sans the Persona games that I haven't gotten around to) since Final Fantasy XII. It's a great game all around and one more people really should play.

[JayVe]

I could say the opposite of you.

Well, I wouldn't be in the minority, would I? Have any PS3 games won any of these polls yet? NOT voting for a PS3 game isn't nearly as much of an anomaly as voting on PS3 games that aren't even on the list.

[bean]

Valkyria Chronicles

Right. It won't win, of course. Nothing stands a chance against Fallout 3, but if they weren't following the ridiculously retarded "6 choices" policy, then it would be included.

I'd be interested in a poll for second-best RPG with Fallout 3 NOT included as a choice. It would be a difficult choice for me between Tales of Vesparia, Fable 2, and Persona 4. . . . I think Tales would get my vote, but I'm sure there would be votes all over the place.

[Mortis]

I went with Fallout 3, it is one of my top 3 choices for GotY so it wins here. I never finished The Witcher due to the load times that plagued it before the patch, I just never got back to it. Had I finished it my vote may have went there. Now I don't know if I want to get the enhanced edition or wait for the console version.

[MagGnome]

I know that Fallout 3 will win this by a landslide, which is why I voted for The Witcher. :p

The only game on that list that I've played is Fable 2, although I am itching to play The Witcher, Persona 4, and Fallout 3.

[Gorvi]

Well, I wouldn't be in the minority, would I? Have any PS3 games won any of these polls yet? NOT voting for a PS3 game isn't nearly as much of an anomaly as voting on PS3 games that aren't even on the list.
So I should be following popular trends? Since when did that make an opinion any less valid?
Right. It won't win, of course. Nothing stands a chance against Fallout 3, but if they weren't following the ridiculously retarded "6 choices" policy, then it would be included.

I'd be interested in a poll for second-best RPG with Fallout 3 NOT included as a choice. It would be a difficult choice for me between Tales of Vesparia, Fable 2, and Persona 4. . . . I think Tales would get my vote, but I'm sure there would be votes all over the place.
I just can't get myself excited about Fallout. I loved Oblivion, but I never got around to finishing even half the content. I look at Fallout in much the same way.

[Kelegacy]

Well, I wouldn't be in the minority, would I? Have any PS3 games won any of these polls yet? NOT voting for a PS3 game isn't nearly as much of an anomaly as voting on PS3 games that aren't even on the list.

Fallout 3 is also a PS3 game. A PS3 title winning RPG game of the year!

But let's be honest, I doubt any exclusive PS3 title really has a chance to win anything here, even with a critical juggernaut like LittleBigPlanet. We're mostly 360 fans here--we former EvAv guys--but for good reason. I would be curious to see genre awards for individual systems, though that takes a lot more effort (I think some magazines used to break it down that way, back in the day).

My personal picks are always going to skew towards the 360 since that's the only console I play anymore. But I've heard Valkyria Chronicles is phenomenal (and something I'd love to play on the 360 since my PS3 is dead...c'mon SEGA!)

[Kielaran]

TWEWY. There were so many things that made the game unique and there was nothing I thought the game could have done better.

[Wolvie]

I just can't get myself excited about Fallout. I loved Oblivion, but I never got around to finishing even half the content. I look at Fallout in much the same way.

You didn't finish HALF of Oblivion? You fail. :p

Seriously though, I was addicted to that game like crack, I've probably got something like 80% of that game finished myself.

[Gorvi]

You didn't finish HALF of Oblivion? You fail. :p

Seriously though, I was addicted to that game like crack, I've probably got something like 80% of that game finished myself.
I explored the shit out of the game and did a lot of random quests, but I only ever closed the first Oblivion gate and finished the Thieves' Guild quest line (started the Mage's Guild). And that was after 118 hours of gameplay. I'll go back to it one day....

[JayVe]

I'd be interested in a poll for second-best RPG with Fallout 3 NOT included as a choice. It would be a difficult choice for me between Tales of Vesparia, Fable 2, and Persona 4. . . . I think Tales would get my vote, but I'm sure there would be votes all over the place.

I think a runners up contest would be great. A lot of these titles (even the most disappointing) are really popularity contests. Remove the most-sold titles, and you can really start to get into the nitty-gritty details.

[Mr.Green]

I went with Fable 2 without hesitation. That game was a breath of fresh air and I kept wanting to play more. I probably would have answered Fallout 3 after playing it for 2 or 3 hours, but after 20+ it just feels drab, monotonous and repetitive. Much like Oblivion, playing it ends up feeling like work to me.

I thought VATS was fantastic at first but now it just feels tedious, which wouldn't be so bad if the real time combat wasn't so ineffective.

I don't really understand all the praise it receives and I would even be full of shit enough to say that people root for it on principle alone. Also, it puzzles me how Fable 2 was trashed for being too easy and not this one. There's a line on the map that always guides you towards your next objective, combat is easy and you pretty much never die, and if you do it's no big deal since you can save every 30 feet if you feel like it.

[Wolvie]

I explored the shit out of the game and did a lot of random quests, but I only ever closed the first Oblivion gate and finished the Thieves' Guild quest line (started the Mage's Guild). And that was after 118 hours of gameplay. I'll go back to it one day....

I'm just giving you a hard time. I understand why you stopped playing. The game is HUGE, and there's a ton of shit to do. Hell I got 3/4 of the way through the shivering Isles before I got burned out myself.
I guess I just love to sink a ton of time into a huge game world. Games like GTA, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 keep me coming back for more.

[Gorvi]

I'm just giving you a hard time. I understand why you stopped playing. The game is HUGE, and there's a ton of shit to do. Hell I got 3/4 of the way through the shivering Isles before I got burned out myself.
I guess I just love to sink a ton of time into a huge game world. Games like GTA, Oblivion, and Fallout 3 keep me coming back for more.
Oh, I know. :) I used to love that stuff, but I think Oblivion burned me out on that. I have been getting the urge to play GTA4 recently, though, I still haven't done that. Fallout is just daunting right now, I guess.

[Restlessavenger]

I voted begrudgingly for Fallout 3, but I would much rather go with Disgaea 3 or Lost Odyssey.

[Hyperglide]

Voted Fallout 3. Lost Odyssey would be 2nd place surprised it wasn't even nominated.

[Spigot]

Yeah. Where is Lost Odyssey? I don't have a problem with the choices but the lack of Lost Odyssey is criminal. In its absence, I voted for Persona 4 because hot damn, I love Persona 4. And it really came down to me flipping a coin between it and TWEWY. I love Fallout 3 and enjoyed most of the other games too, but Lost Odyssey and TWEWY both really stood out from the pack.

[Variable Gear]

I've gotta go with The World Ends With You. The game could have been a train wreck with all the disparate mechanics and gameplay systems, but instead it was a great success. It has no chance to win, because it isn't popular and shit, but it really deserves to. :)

[Wolvie]

Oh, I know. :) I used to love that stuff, but I think Oblivion burned me out on that. I have been getting the urge to play GTA4 recently, though, I still haven't done that. Fallout is just daunting right now, I guess.

Let's see...

Oblivion: played it too much, need a break. Still love it though.

GTA4: Got burned out on it hunting achievements. Probably won't go back till the DLC comes out.

Fallout 3: I got side tracked during the holiday release rush and haven't played it since. I really need to get back into it though, but can't find the motivation for whatever reason.

[Oblivion]

I finished Fallout 3 and after playing The witcher the story and the whole good evil things felt too forced in the wasteland. The dialog was meh after all the improvement Mass effect brought. VATS was fun the first 100 times then the frequent camera angles in stupid places got in the way. Just felt too artificial...also NOT A SINGLE MEMORABLE CHARACTER!

I chose the witcher: enhanced edition. Engaging and mature story where your choices are never clear cut but always interesting, fun combat (altough with balance problems) and nice graphics.

[pomeroy]

I can't vote as the only one of these I've played is Fallout and that was for like 4 hours (I'll get to it soon enough).

[Hotcod]

if youw ant a subjective way to look at this.. well... there is not a single game that has come out this year that has been more talked about on this forum that fallout3... the main thread is huge and still active and full of people telling stories. It's easily game of the year which is why it wins here.

It's sad that one of it's main strengths is something that can end up with people not liking the game. To get anything at all out of the game you have to go off exploring. You can't just stick to the main story else you are missing 90% of the games content. There is no other game that has made just picking a direction and walking that way as enjoyable. Every place you find has it's own story and so on. It also has some of the best story telling design i've seen in environments.

It took a while for just how good fallout 3 is to sink in for exactly these reasons and i do strongly feel that a lot of people who have dismissed it are missing out.

[slhunter]

Absolutely Fallout 3. Don't get me wrong, Fable 2 was a great game; it's just that Fallout 3 is amazing.

[Disgustipated]

All of these games were awesome, so it was hard voting. RPG of the year was moot, because there was something incredible for everyone.

[Chris_D]

I went for Tales, what other JRPG have I sunk 120 hours into. Probably none since Phantasy Star actually. It's a pity that LO couldn't slip in there, I agree.

[Ravenlock]

Fallout 3 got my vote, but with no 360 or PS3, I didn't play most of the nominees. ;)

Looking forward to Fable II hitting the PC in '09, which, while unannounced, seems certain to occur.

[menage]

All of these games were awesome, so it was hard voting. RPG of the year was moot, because there was something incredible for everyone.

This

It only goes to show that a great traditional game like Lost Oddysey or a game like Disgaea 3 didn't even make the list to see there's quality in abundance.

My vote for Fallout 3 though, it's just impossible to ignore the sheer magnitude of that title for me.

[Talon]

TWEWY is the most fun game I've played all year.

Seriously.

[Variable Gear]

TWEWY is the most fun game I've played all year.

Seriously.
I'm happy that we feel the same way about this. :)

[Variable Gear]

I played it too late to vote for it, but Persona 4 deserves some love as well. What a great step up from P3!

[Spigot]

I played it too late to vote for it, but Persona 4 deserves some love as well. What a great step up from P3!Agreed. It's such a nice tweak of an already great game system with what I concider a better paced story (and much more interesting dungeon design).