Sci-fi or modern (fantasy) CRPGs?

[Fnord]

I'm having an itch to play a CRPG that takes place in a sci-fi or modern setting (with or without fantasy elements) (more so for the later, but I don't suspect to find many of those). The problem is that I can't really think of many that fits the bill.

To make it clear, I'm not looking for a trading sim like the X-series or Elite, nor am I looking for an SRPG or a JRPG, but a fully fledged western style PC CRPG.

I have played both Vampire the masquerade games, Fallout (all of them), Mass Effect (both), Septera core, Anachronox, Deus Ex 1-2 , System shock 1-2, Hellgate, Shadowrun (both SNES & Megadrive), Alpha protocol, Knights of the old republic 1-2 and I'm preferably looking for a game that is not so old that it is hard to find. I have tried to play the old Battletech: Crescent Hawk's inception, but I could not get into it. I'm also not looking for a fantasy game with a sci-fi twist (Might & magic, Wizardry, early Ultimas) or an MMO. Are there any more sci-fi or modern day CRPGs (worth playing) out there?

[Drithius]

I have yet to get around to playing it, but have you considered Space Rangers? (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/space_rangers_2_dominators) Good sci-fi games are definitely rare diamonds in the rough.

I'm assuming you've played the KOTORs?

[Fnord]

Yep, edited my original post to add Kotor to the list, and I've probably forgot a few others as well.

I was under the impression that Space rangers were a bit like spellforce but in space, i.e. an RTS with RPG elements. Is this incorrect?

[JDR13]

There's not much I can think of that you haven't already named. You might try checking out Neuro Hunter (http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-NEURO/neuro-hunter) though. It's reminiscent of System Shock 2.

[Fnord]

Ah, that sounds really interesting. System shock 2 is one of my all time favourite first person games, and anything along that line would be interesting to play. Thanks for the advice.

[Menigal]

I second Space Rangers. It's good fun and a bit different.

Modern/sci-fi RPGs aren't very common, sadly. It's like developers don't think an RPG can exist without pointy ears and swords. I'd love to have a good, open-world (or galaxy) game, kind of a mix between classic Elder Scrolls and Freelancer.

[Fnord]

Ah, nice. Then I have two games to check out. I just bought Nero Hunter, and I'm awaiting the download to finish.

And yes, a that would be a dream come true. I don't understand why developers are so afraid of sci-fi CRPGs. Most of the time it feels like anything that is called a CRPG and that is sci-fi is a shooter with some character development (like Deus Ex and System shock 2. Both games are great, but they lean more towards the shooter part than the CRPG part. Mass effect is not much better in this regard). I for one think that sci-fi is more interesting than fantasy (there are of course examples of stellar fantasy settings as well, but there seem to be a higher % of interesting sci-fi settings).

[badmofo]

Have you checked out The Precursors?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40vtzJ5IjPE

http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45

[shaf]

What about Space Siege - Dungeon Siege in Space? Not a very long game , not much replay and no mods but otherwise an OK Space RPG.

[hishadow]

I remember playing a scifi/cyberpunk game around the time when Septera Core was released. It was similar in graphical style and developed by an eastern-european company, I think. It was a mix of jungle/high-tech etc. Cannot remember the name of it. Sound familiar? Cannot remember if it was an rpg or adventure game.

[Shagnak]

Gorky 17?
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/gorky_17

[hishadow]

Gorky 17?
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/gorky_17
No, I'm pretty sure it wasn't squad-based. My memory of it is very fuzzy, so it probably wasn't a particularly good game. Hehe.

[Pessimeister]

They might be a little bit too old judging by your lists and criteria, but two of the greatest science fiction cRPG's that I've played were made with the AD&D goldbox engine:

Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/buck-rogers-countdown-to-doomsday
(I've played and beaten it twice - on C64 and PC - great game!)

Buck Rogers: The Matrix Cubed
http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/buck-rogers-matrix-cubed
(I don't remember the end of this game! I might have to try it again someday.
I do recall it being nice and challenging though, containing a higher level cap than the first game).

I only wish they made more of this great series. :)

[DArtagnan]

I was madly in love with the Buck Rogers games back in the day - but they're probably way too old now.

The same can be said of the MegaTraveller games I suppose?

Hmm, other than that I love Xenomorph - and consider it a System Shock inspiration. Captive/Captive 2? Whale's Voyage? Exodus?

They certainly have that sci-fi thing going, but they're all pretty ancient.

As for modern sci-fi CRPGs - it's a genre that's starved to the point of extinction.

Can't think of a single modern one that you didn't already mention.

Wait until August for DE:HR - and I promise you won't be disappointed.

[Fnord]

I had not even heard of The Precursors, it looks very, ehm, Russian in its style. Nothing wrong with that though, I'll check it out, and I'll do the same with Space rangers.

As for Buck Rogers, it looks incredibly cheesy ;) It would be hard to track down though.

I sadly never liked Dungeon Siege, the gameplay never appealed to me. What little I've heard of space siege seem to indicate that it is "like dungeon siege, in space, but worse". I'm not a big fan of hack & slash games, so games like Diablo & Torchlight never appealed to me either.

I don't think my old machine will be able to handle Deus Ex 3 :( Darn shame, I've been looking forward to that game. I've heard from people who have managed to play the leaked beta build that the game is excellent though (all 3 of them have said that they will buy the game on its release day).

I just started Neuro Hunter, and it feels like a slightly awkward System Shock 2/Deus ex mix. Far too early to say anything more about it, and it does not seem bad.

[vidder]

You could try the UFO:After*-series (Aftermath, Aftershock and Afterlight). They are no pure RPGs, but you have individual party members which can level up and be trained, and squad-management (+ management of the whole base, research and so on). The RTwP combat is also really nice, the next best thing to pure turn based, because you have lots of possibilities to micromanage your squad there. (queued commands and so on).

I can only recommend the second two (Aftershock and Afterlight), because Aftermath doesn´t have all features and is generally less polished.

I think gog has them all.

[Fnord]

The UFO: After* series falls under the SRPG category, leaning more towards the strategy/tactics part. I liked the games though, they were for the most part rather entertaining, but it is not what I'm looking for right now. And I found a collection of all 3 for less than the price of a single gog game ;)

[Jaz]

Have you tried Jagged Alliance 2 in SF mode yet? It may be elderly but it sure is sexy. The SF mode doesn't change most parts of the game (luckily) but it adds a nice little side story.
Another game (definitely a shooter but with RGP elements) I really loved was Origin's Cybermage. Interesting concept, even gameplay-wise, but hardly playable on any system back then ... and I guess it would be totally unplayable nowadays. But still.

[Fnord]

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I have not actually played Jagged Alliance 2. I should probably remedy that soon...
Cybermage looks a lot like SystemShock, judging by the screenshots. As it is DOS based, I don't think it will be very hard to run.

[Jaz]

JA2 is great if you love tactical combat and a very intriguing NPC system. Try to learn as much as you can about the people you hire so they won't walk out on you in the middle of a firefight. - Nah, that won't happen,do whatever you wish, but people WILL quit if you don't take care.

Cybermage was not overly System Shock-y (though I admit loving SysShock as well): SF with furries, aliens, cyborgs, magic, gods and stuff, so it's more Dark Science Fantasy. Fun system (especially magic ...), but as I said it was buggy, or rather, prone to CTD. Especially the CTDs connected to touching the ground in certain places were aggravating, but as there was a (in-game) workaround for every single one it was okay, more or less, especially later in the game once you had access to a jet pack.
It was difficult to get Cybermage to run properly under DOS back then, so I doubt it'll be easier today, DOSBox or not.

[DArtagnan]

Cybermage is nothing like System Shock.

IIRC, it's just a dumb shooter with an (for its time) interesting setting.

[crpgnut]

What about Albion? It's pretty long in the tooth, but it's a turn-based crpg set in a sci-fi type world.

[JDR13]

What about Albion? It's pretty long in the tooth, but it's a turn-based crpg set in a sci-fi type world.

Aw man.. I want someone to remake that game in a bad way. I love the setting and story in Albion, but it's seriously dated.

[Necrosis]

No, I'm pretty sure it wasn't squad-based. My memory of it is very fuzzy, so it probably wasn't a particularly good game. Hehe.
Space Hack?

Harbinger?

[Fnord]

JA2 is great if you love tactical combat and a very intriguing NPC system. Try to learn as much as you can about the people you hire so they won't walk out on you in the middle of a firefight. - Nah, that won't happen,do whatever you wish, but people WILL quit if you don't take care.
I do love tactical gameplay, in particular if it is turnbased. It is not exactly what I'm looking for right now, but I'll make sure to play Jagged Alliance at some point in the near future.

With those two reports of Cybermage, I don't think I'll prioritize the game. If I find it for <5€ I'll pick it up, but I won't buy it for much more.


I'll have to see if I can find Albion though, it looks interesting.

[zakhal]

Theres lots of rpgs based on scifi or modern setting on playstation 1/2/3.

[Fnord]

I know of a handful, but they are all JRPGs. The Xeno* games (I've heard talk about a spiritual successor to that "series" that will be released on Wii in Europe/Japan soon), Star Ocean, Final fantasy and a few others. I don't own a PS1/2/3 though, and I'm not a big fan of JRPGs (Xenogears being the only real exception that I have played, Anachronox is a borderline JRPG, and that was also entertaining)

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Theres lots of rpgs based on scifi or modern setting on playstation 1/2/3.

Interesting.

Any why not on the PC platform, then ?

[JDR13]

I know of a handful, but they are all JRPGs. The Xeno* games (I've heard talk about a spiritual successor to that "series" that will be released on Wii in Europe/Japan soon)

That's sort of strange considering that the Xenosaga series itself was a spiritual successor.

I've got that entire series, as well as most of the Star Ocean games, and Rogue Galaxy. Haven't played much of any of them though.

[Fnord]

Xenoblade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenoblade_Chronicles) is the xeno* successor. If it is as interesting as Xenogears, I might end up picking it up, but probably after a price drop. I have yet to play the Xenosaga games though.

[JDR13]

Hmm interesting. Doesn't seem very similar at all to any of the Xeno games imo. I'm also a little surprised by the choice of platform. I'll keep an eye on it, although I think my days of buying anymore JRPGs are just about over.

[Couchpotato]

Hmm interesting. Doesn't seem very similar at all to any of the Xeno games imo. I'm also a little surprised by the choice of platform. I'll keep an eye on it, although I think my days of buying anymore JRPGs are just about over.

Sad as it is I agree with you. They had there golden days on the ps1 and ps2. This generation its mostly on handhelds because they bitch about how its to expensive to make console rpgs. That and the west seems to hate jrpgs lately just look at the reviews.

[hishadow]

Space Hack? Harbinger?
None of those. I'm beginning to doubt the cyberpunk aspect. My memory is really really fuzzy on this game. This game called Alien Earth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpPOepCTy84) seems similar to the one I remember (and might actually be it :)).

[JDR13]

Sad as it is I agree with you. They had there golden days on the ps1 and ps2. This generation its mostly on handhelds because they bitch about how its to expensive to make console rpgs. That and the west seems to hate jrpgs lately just look at the reviews.

For me those golden days were mostly on the earlier cartridge-based systems. I was already starting to grow out of my liking for JRPGs by the time the PS1 came around, although I still played quite a few on that system. I barely played any on the PS2, despite purchasing some of the more popular titles.

[DArtagnan]

Dropping JRPGs is a sign of maturity ;)

[Couchpotato]

Dropping JRPGs is a sign of maturity ;)

Yeah cause we all just want Bethesda and Bioware games dont we. There nothing but cliches as well.

[swaaye]

Keep an eyeball on this one. ;)
http://eye.streumon-studio.com/

The new Deus Ex is about a month away now too.

Precursors is interesting as said but it's not exactly a complex CRPG. It's an RPG in the mostly the same way as STALKER is. But it has ground and space vehicles, large areas, multiple planets to visit. It's very ambitious, and very buggy unfortunately. It has a sister game called White Gold that is very similar but in a Far Cry / Just Cause tropical setting.

Cybermage is indeed effectively a shooter but with an extremely '90s cyberpunk setting. The colorful variety of cyberpunk that Origin was known for. I like it but the levels are pretty maze-like as was typical of the day. It has vehicles and some impressive city areas however.