"Chris Schumacher" <kensu__ DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns975EDAA60EDF6kensuhotmailcom@207.115.17.102...
> Some time ago we had a discussion comparing Baldur's Gate and Black Gate.
> So I guess this is the sequel:
> Which do you think is a better game: Serpent Isle or Planescape:Torment?
>
> For more than 10 years I've held the belief that Serpent Isle was the best
> RPG ever made, but I think that Planescape really deserves it more.
> It also makes me wonder what would've happened if we'd had Avellone and
> company working on Ultima 9, or even Ultima 8:Part II...
> Or Ultima VIII for that matter. Thinking back to all the stuff with the
> different Factions, and the Dead and Drowned Nations, I think even less of
> Pagan because I realize what it could've truly been...
Without a shadow of a doubt - PS:T. In fact Fallout 1 and 2 are better as
well.
Don't get me wrong - I loved Ultima 7 (parts 1 and 2) and the Underworlds
(which I guess are the forerunners to Deus Ex) - they are in my top 20 (and
up to 1995 top 10) games of all time - but PS:T is a far far superior game.
The fact is that the Ultima 7 games have a great world engine (we all know
the baking bread example) and a brilliant plot.
What they aren't are proper modern day role playing games. In PS:T - if you
have a high intelligence or wisdom then you have different dialogue options
to reflect the intelligence of your character. if you have a high dexterity
then again - dialogue options are present to represent this. You have a
significantly different playing experience - and your character suffers if
you try and concentrate on everything (and thus master nothing).
In the BG or SI a high intelligence means that you can cast more
spells....not exactly role playing is it?
The same goes for the Fallouts.
Basically - in PS:T and Fallouts chosing a thick strong character leads to a
significantly different experience to a smart weaker character. Whereas in
the ultimas you invariably end up as a jack (and normally a master) of all
trades.
Obviously Garriott didn't really pick up on this as it still carries through
to Ultima 9 - despite all the obvious care and attention that went into the
character generation with the gypsy at the beginning - the fact is that it
meant little to the game experience - the avatar is a jack of all trades
from the beginning and starting with 10 higher intelligence if you are a
shepheard does little to mask this.
And of course I haven't even touched on the astonishingly mature plot of
PS:T (with its 750,000 word count). Or the music. Or the graphics. Or the
atmosphere. Or the world. Or the voice acting. Or the...everything
really.
Basically - apart from world interactiveity (which is an overrated concept
to be honest as Morrowind has demonstrated) PS:T beats the Ultimas hands
down and always will.
>
>
>
> -==Kensu==-
>
>
> >> Stay informed about: SI vs P:T 
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