Jamaal Ryan writes: "Within the past year, where appropriate representation has become a hot button topic, there has been more and more attention and criticism drawn to games that withhold misogynistic and racially insensitive undertones. Unfortunately however, this growing trend of commentary has occasionally come at the expense of recognizing what some games get right. I’m afraid that in this case The Witcher 3 – in some discussions – has become a target of partially merited slander.
During my 90+ hours with Geralt of Rivia, I was taken aback by the stark juxtaposition of damsels and sex objects – and various combinations of the two – next to some truly powerful, provocative, and inspiring women seen in the game (in many cases, this juxtaposition is all rolled into individual characters). Yennefer of Vengerberg, Triss Merigold, and Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon (a.k.a. Ciri) are three prominent female leads in The Witcher 3, though many players take issue with their high heels, exposed cleavage, and fornicating dialogue options. So here, I would like to take the opportunity to direct attention to The Witcher 3’s un-sexualized women, female characters that captivate without the need of physical attributes."
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
Given the medium's wild diversity, this primer of the essential video games everyone should try is a good place to start.
I can't fk with this list. They missed on alot of games probably before the writers times. Also I know people loved some portal but I was never a fan.
Tomb Raider 1
Driver 1
Abe’s Odyssey
FF6
King of Fighters 94
Mortal Kombat OG
LINK 2 the past
Street Fighter 2
Resident Evil 1
Infinite but not the first two games? Witcher 3 but not the first two games?? GTA V but not literally any of the games before it??? Portal 2 but not the first? Also if you're going to play Shadow of The Colossus play the remaster and not the remake. Can't say I disagree with the list but my man it's all over the place.
I mean some sequels are objectively better and you don’t need to play the whole series.
But most of these games have a story to follow, sure you can catch up with a YouTube vid but where's the fun in that?
A list like this isn't telling you not to play the previous games if you want to. It's just giving you legendary games to play.
But tbh, you don't always have to force yourself to play every entry in a franchise to get to the better ones.
- The vast majority of Witcher 3 players never played the first 2 and had a great time. The first 2 games aren't in the same league.
- The GTA games are self-contained with the odd fun reference. You can easily jump into any of them.
- The Shadow Of The Colossus remake looks and controls better than the original (plus it has a 60fps option while the remaster is just 30fps). New players will enjoy it more.
- Portal 2 is a lot better than Portal 1 and takes the concept much further gameplay-wise. Storywise, Portal 1 is fairly light too. Not that you shouldn't play it but realistically ... you'd love Portal 2 whether you play it or not (at lot of Portal 2 players have never played 1).
Bioshock 1 is the only one I agree with you on simply because it's one the best games of all time and arguably better than Infinite. No other setting like Rapture.
Looking at the list, I'd recommend playing Uncharted 1 before 2 but no doubt, 2 is the legendary one you have to play.
I get it, but that's just my opinion on his opinion. I just think that before you play a sequel you should still play what came before it. Maybe it's just me but i find it fascinating playing through the first game in a series and seeing how it has evolved through its sequels. Like I said I don't disagree with the list, other than SoTC which I strongly believe the remaster of the original should be played above the remake.
Awesome list! Hot take on Fear (and it's hard af expansion Persaus Mandate!) Bioshock Infinite is stellar, so is the Witcher 3 and you nailed it by having Ocarina of Time. So many fantastic games! Gotta play 'em all! Next one on my list is Prey after I beat Dead Space 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction.
Wealth of Geeks explores some of the best gaming romances that have stolen our hearts over the years.
Looking back the Witcher really did have a great cast. CDPR really went above and beyond in this respect, even a lot of the side quest characters felt really fleshed out.
The women in The Witcher are frighteningly powerful. They can easily wield magic from the mundane to destructive WMD level stuff while the men are limited to feeble imitations. The women held significant influence over the fates of nations with their own version of the UN/Jedi Counsel while the largest men only magic organization in the game is the peaceful druid.
I thought the men in the Witcher are the typical brutes but some of the women were no different. Sure, The Bloody Baron was a drunkard and a wife beater but Yennefer had no problem ripping the life of a holy place just to know the answer whether the love between her and Geralt is real or not. Even to this day I still remember that little herbalist who cast a horrible death curse on kid just to get the father to return to her arms.
Cerys was cool. Too bad I couldn't have sex with her even if I threw babies in the oven. =P