Default What should I play? Massive backlog of RPGs

[Syvere]

I have pretty much been buying all released RPGs for years, but never had time to finish most of them. Time to start playing them. Which one should I do first? I prefer to play longer, better RPGs first.

List:
Neverwinter Nights 2 (finally performs well after upgrading my PC)
Neverwinter Nights 2 Mask of the Betrayer
Neverwinter Nights 2 Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 1 + Expansions
The Witcher Enhanced Edition
Drakensang
Titan Quest
Titan Quest Immortal Throne
Mass Effect
Oblivion
Dungeon Siege 2 + Expansion
Sacred 2
Anachronox
The Last Remnant

Got to buy at some point:
Arcanum
Icewind Dales
KOTOR2

Finished:
Fallout 3 (and 1, 2, Tactics)
Jade Empire
Fable The Lost Chapters
Vampire Bloodlines
Torment
KOTOR1

I'm probably missing something, so I'll update the list if needed.

[Kostaz]

Did you love Fallout 3? If yes then you're probably gonna like Oblivion
Witcher would be my #1 choice followed either DrakenSang or some NWN game.

Titan Quest and Dungeon Siege would fall down to the bottom of my list cause they're extremely boring aRPGs.

Mass Effect would be #3.

[Rithrandil]

I loved Anachronox. But no one else did.

[Prime Junta]

Since you didn't say anything about your personal preferences, I just sorted your list into my personal order of preference. I omitted games I haven't played, and drew a few lines between "awesome," "pretty good," and "don't bother."

----- Awesome -----
The Witcher Enhanced Edition
Neverwinter Nights 2 Mask of the Betrayer
----- Pretty good -----
Neverwinter Nights 2 OC
Neverwinter Nights Darkness over Daggerford
Neverwinter Nights Hordes of the Underdark
Neverwinter Nights Wyvern Crown of Cormyr
Neverwinter Nights 2 Storm of Zehir
Mass Effect
----- Don't bother -----
Oblivion
Neverwinter Nights Shadows of Undrentide
Neverwinter Nights OC

Note, though, that you should play NWN2:OC before MotB -- MotB is an epic-level campaign, and will almost certainly be too much to handle if you jump in head-first.

[Konjad]

Start with The Witcher, after that play Mask of the Betrayer.

[Sir Markus]

Out of that list, my favorites are The Witcher, Icewind Dale, Drakensang.

[Dark Savant]

Anachronox with unofficial patch

look here for patches
http://www.patches-scrolls.de/

[aries100]

There is no doubt in my mind; you should play the EE version of The Witcher first. The combat can be a little difficult to figure out, but it can be done. The story and setting are very unique; the choices seems real, the consequences likewise.

[DeepO]

Just adding a voice for Mask of the Betrayer and The Witcher.

[dteowner]

I'll give DS2 a little love. If you're in the mood for what it offers (adequate story, endless mindless action combat, "deeper than it seems" character development, obsessive loot collection), it's a very fun game. If you're not in the mood for that sort of game, you'll hate it. I didn't really like the expansion and never finished it, but some of that was burnout on my part.

I've spent a lot of time with the NWN2 OC, but haven't finished it and never got truly sucked in. As much as I enjoyed NWN1 (even the OC!), this qualifies as a disappointment.

I'm playing Drakensang right now, and it seems like a solid game.

[JDR13]

The Witcher....nuff said!

Don't bother with the Titan Quest, Dungeon Siege, or Sacred games unless you really like hack & slash action.

Why is Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 not on your list?

[Syvere]

The Witcher....nuff said!

Don't bother with the Titan Quest, Dungeon Siege, or Sacred games unless you really like hack & slash action.

Why is Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 not on your list?

Because it's just a list of games I have finished recently or not at all. Games like BG 1 and 2, ToEE, Pool of Radiance, Diablos, Morrowind and such I finished years ago.

[JDR13]

Because it's just a list of games I have finished recently or not at all. Games like BG 1 and 2, ToEE, Pool of Radiance, Diablos, Morrowind and such I finished years ago.


Ok, good. You had me worried there for a second...;)

[Syvere]

Did you love Fallout 3? If yes then you're probably gonna like Oblivion
Witcher would be my #1 choice followed either DrakenSang or some NWN game.

Titan Quest and Dungeon Siege would fall down to the bottom of my list cause they're extremely boring aRPGs.

Mass Effect would be #3.

I did like FO3 yes, I think it'll explain well what kind of games I like if I describe my IDEAL game: Torment quality script and world, Bloodlines quality voice acting, combat system and camera from severance the blade of darkness and finally oblivion/fo3 style freeroaming.

I spent around 20 hours last week modding Oblivion. It's now easily better than Morrowind. I just haven't started it yet.

My gripe with The Witcher now is its very medieval and depressing world and story, thanks to which I don't feel like playing it for more than an hour at a time. I much prefer lighter fantasy like in King's Bounty, Drakensang and Oblivion.

[bkrueger]

If you want to play a party based cRPG, give Drakensang a try. After the slow tutorial section it gets really good, with meaningful character development (based on TDE - The Dark Eye).

I love the autopause option, which reminds me of the Infinity engine games. I like Drakensang much more than NWN 2 for this reason alone, but also for its overall approach to quests, story and others.

By the way I found Mass Effect ok but consider it as a shooter with good story and some RPG elements - not as an RPG.

[Kostaz]

My gripe with The Witcher now is its very medieval and depressing world and story, thanks to which I don't feel like playing it for more than an hour at a time. I much prefer lighter fantasy like in King's Bounty, Drakensang and Oblivion.Another Alrik case... :P

You may be interested in Gothics.

[Syvere]

Another Alrik case... :P

You may be interested in Gothics.

Gothic interests me even less and I have no desire ever to play that series.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

@Syvere: I'd say, play first what fits better to your own playstyle/taste.

[Syvere]

@Syvere: I'd say, play first what fits better to your own playstyle/taste.

Well, they all fit my playstyle. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought them :D

[crpgnut]

I'd probably play Oblivion first and then The Witcher. Oblivion is the creme de la creme when it comes to exploration and wanderlust. It's main storyline is forgettable though, so you can just choose to skip it. Witcher gives a much better storyline, but it's linear to the max and the areas you can wander in are boring. Add me to the short list of those who found Dungeon Siege II to be a fun game.

[azraelck]

Having played Oblivion, I'd rather be blasted to oblivion rather than play that. But, your call. I'd go with whatever looks most interesting to you at the moment. For me, it'd be Witcher first. Then Drakensang. Then Icewind Dale 1 - 2. Out of that list.

Then I'd probably mix in some classics like World of Xeen or Wizardry 7.

My personal list is currently playing Divine Divinity, since it actually works on this computer somewhat (random CTDs but otherwise fine). I'm also waiting on my new copy of Might and Magic 6 & 7, which I lost my originals. That's next on the list. I also intend to try and get Realms of Arkania III working. I found it yesterday digging through boxes.

[JDR13]

Gothic interests me even less and I have no desire ever to play that series.

Shame that you're so close-minded, because the Gothics are far better than many of the games on your list....

[Syvere]

Shame that you're so close-minded, because the Gothics are far better than many of the games on your list....

They just aren't my cup of tea. I'll keeping a close look on the Risen though. Saying I'm close-minded just because I don't like some of the games you do is a bit too harsh, don't you think?

[JDR13]

Saying I'm close-minded just because I don't like some of the games you do is a bit too harsh, don't you think?

Well I thought - "Gothic interests me even less and I have no desire ever to play that series." sounded a bit harsh to be honest. You might want to at least try it before passing final judgment.

[shaf]

I voted Sacred 2, With the current patches and a fast enough CPU and Nvidia Graphics Card it runs quite well. I recommend at least a 2.2Ghz processor for Minimum Performance.
The Witcher EE is also quite good, as is Titan Quest and Oblivion.

Shaf

[Gorath]

It's perfectly fine if he doesn't like Gothic. The games aren't everybody's cup of tea.

[JDR13]

It's perfectly fine if he doesn't like Gothic..


No....it's not!! ;)

[Syvere]

Well I thought - "Gothic interests me even less and I have no desire ever to play that series." sounded a bit harsh to be honest. You might want to at least try it before passing final judgment.

Oh, I have played Gothic 2 years ago. I have played a little most of the game I'm listing too when I bought them initially.

Witcher - end of act 1
DS2 - finished tutorial
Mass Effect - finished 2 planets
Drakensang - got to chapter 3
Oblivion - played it when the original vanilla version came out. just wandering around the world
Sacred 2 - around 10 hours online with a buddy
Titan Quest - finished the main campaign before Immortal Throne was released. Started again but never got to the new areas.
NWN2 - finished tutorial
NWN2 SoZ - got a little bit further in Samarach
NWN2 MotB - never played
The Last Remnant - around 13 hours in.
Anachronox - played till I encountered bug when I was supposed to follow one guy through zones. Apparently it was caused by too fast CPU and there's a workaround for it.

[JDR13]

Witcher - end of act 1
DS2 - finished tutorial
Mass Effect - finished 2 planets
Drakensang - got to chapter 3
Oblivion - played it when the original vanilla version came out. just wandering around the world
Sacred 2 - around 10 hours online with a buddy
Titan Quest - finished the main campaign before Immortal Throne was released. Started again but never got to the new areas.
NWN2 - finished tutorial
NWN2 SoZ - got a little bit further in Samarach
NWN2 MotB - never played
The Last Remnant - around 13 hours in.
Anachronox - played till I encountered bug when I was supposed to follow one guy through zones. Apparently it was caused by too fast CPU and there's a workaround for it.


Do you have Attention Deficit Disorder or something?... jk ;)

Again, I strongly recommend The Witcher. Act 2 is when it really takes off.

[Prime Junta]

I'm also a chronic non-finisher of games. My list isn't quite as long, but it's nevertheless... pretty long. Oblivion, FO3, SoZ, MoW, Overlord, DOOM 3, Crysis, BG...

[Zaleukos]

List:
Neverwinter Nights 2 with expansions
Neverwinter Nights 1 + Expansions
The Witcher Enhanced Edition
Drakensang
Mass Effect
Oblivion

Got to buy at some point:
Arcanum
Icewind Dales
KOTOR2


I can only comment on some of the titles and will focus on the ones I enjoyed.

For me The Witcher (IMHO the most enjoyable game on the list), NWN/NWN2 with expanisons, and all three games on your "to buy at some point" list were great experiences, while I hated Oblivion and havent tried the others (only ME is of any interest to me). I'm however a fan of slightly darker settings. Havent tried Drakensang (it's on my "got to buy" list:)) but it is supposed to have a lighter setting to the point where some players actually complain about that. Oblivion is also on the lighter side, demonic invasion or not:). KOTOR2 is dark and gritty by starwars standards (which is one reason I like that game much more than its predecessor in spite of its lack of polish), but you might as well hold that one off until the restoration project (TSLRP by team Gizka) finally is released, whenever that may be.

The only item on your list I wouldnt recommend to anyone is the Neverwinter Nights 1 OC which simply stinks (unlike PJ I find the Undrentide expansion fine). The expansions are pretty decent though. A significant caveat is that the game looks very ugly today, especially if you've adjusted to the later Aurora games (Jade, KOTOR, NWN2). If you want to play around with the expansions I suggest that you play this game before NWN2/KOTOR2/ME just to avoid the unpleasant experience of having to downgrade your visual expectations.

Another caveat: Arcanum also has ugly graphics, a very clunky interface, crappy combat (worse than Fallout 1&2), and no NPC control, but great setting and many alternative paths through the gameworld and quests. Great if you are into the latter and can live with the former, but not for everyone. The game is also relatively gloomy.

Icewind Dale plays like Baldurs Gate but is only focused on the combat. Consider it a series of tactical battles with the BG engine rather than a RPG. IWD2 has 3rd edition rules and some more skill checks in conversations, otherwise there isnt much to tell them apart. Great games for cooperative multiplayer which is how I finished them.

[txa1265]

My Last Remnant review is here. (http://www.vgblogger.com/?p=4882)

I personally love NWN and the expansions, but it is a load of time required ...

I can't see how someone would like Oblivion but not Gothic, unless they don't care about story or characters or choices and consequences or NPC AI or ... ;)

[Prime Junta]

I think the biggest hurdle to liking Gothic is the combat. It's frankly pretty bad -- simplistic, illogical, with poor haptic feel, and either stupidly hard or absurdly easy. Oblivion has much better haptic feel to the combat, and it's significantly less simplistic and illogical. Also it's just absurdly easy, not absurdly easy *or* stupidly hard. ;)

Put another way, hitting things is fun in Oblivion, whereas in Gothic it's a bit of a chore. Since hitting things is such a major feature in both, this does count for something.

(Still, Morrowind is a good deal worse than Gothic in this respect, AND it has cliff racers, so everything's relative, I suppose.)

[Konjad]

I think the biggest hurdle to liking Gothic is the combat. It's frankly pretty bad -- simplistic, illogical, with poor haptic feel, and either stupidly hard or absurdly easy. Oblivion has much better haptic feel to the combat, and it's significantly less simplistic and illogical. Also it's just absurdly easy, not absurdly easy *or* stupidly hard
I always thought it's other way around - oblivion has stupid, illogical and easy combat while Gothic has much better one. In Gothic I have to watch for timing to make combos and have 3 different ways of attack every time + block, while oblivion's fight is clicking - and the more you hold button the more damage you'll do, though fast random clicking is always easy-win. Oh, there is also block, but even if your enemy or you hit the shield you deliver damage (WTF?) but just less.

[DArtagnan]

Gothic (1+2) has far superior combat to Oblivion, in my opinion.

Perhaps not quite as visceral - but a lot more interesting in terms of challenge and reward, which ties in directly with the infinitely more appealing character/system mechanics.

That said, I think Oblivion appeals more to casual gamers - because it doesn't really challenge you. You basically just hack away until the guy is dead. But I will say it's an improvement over Morrowind, which was just abysmally bad. At least Oblivion has a more visceral feel and requires you to step back and block a bit.

[Maylander]

Voted NWN2 + Expansions. If you have the patience to get through the first 5-10 hours, NWN2:OC through Mask of the Betrayer is a fantastic adventure (esp. the final third, being MotB).

[Prime Junta]

I always thought it's other way around - oblivion has stupid, illogical and easy combat while Gothic has much better one. In Gothic I have to watch for timing to make combos and have 3 different ways of attack every time + block, while oblivion's fight is clicking - and the more you hold button the more damage you'll do, though fast random clicking is always easy-win. Oh, there is also block, but even if your enemy or you hit the shield you deliver damage (WTF?) but just less.

Oblivion's combat feels much more kinetic: when blows land, they feel "weighty" in a way that Gothic's blows don't. Shields also "feel" much more massive and "real."

OTOH Gothic has various types of stun-locks, and click-spamming gets the job done even better than in Oblivion. Shields are also pretty much useless since it's possible to click-spam through them. (Gothic 3 with the Community Patch does mitigate this problem greatly, to be sure.)

The biggest problem with Oblivion is its total lack of balance; as you say, it's absurdly easy to win fights by fast random clicking.

IOW, it would be entirely possible to turn Oblivion's fighting mechanics into an exciting and interesting part of the game simply by rebalancing weapon and character stats; Gothic's, OTOH, can at best be something that gets the job done and doesn't actually make the game *less* enjoyable to play.

(Of course, the Gothics -- even G3 in its current state -- are far superior to Oblivion in just about every other way.)

[Syvere]

Do you have Attention Deficit Disorder or something?... jk ;)

Again, I strongly recommend The Witcher. Act 2 is when it really takes off.

I usually buy a new game and start that before finishing previous one which is why I'm in this situation.

[Konjad]

OTOH Gothic has various types of stun-locks, and click-spamming gets the job done even better than in Oblivion. Shields are also pretty much useless since it's possible to click-spam through them. (Gothic 3 with the Community Patch does mitigate this problem greatly, to be sure.)
When I'm talking about Gothics I'm talking about Gothic 1 and 2, not 3 ;)

even G3 in its current state -- are far superior to Oblivion in just about every other way.)
I'd say both games totally fails but Oblivion at least has mods.

[Rithrandil]

I have ADHD. Sometimes I play a computer game and a console game at the same time. :\

[Konjad]

I have ADHD. Sometimes I play a computer game and a console game at the same time. :\

Me too. You're just average game freak.

[Prime Junta]

When I'm talking about Gothics I'm talking about Gothic 1 and 2, not 3 ;)

The combat is really pretty similar in all three IMO.

I'd say both games totally fails but Oblivion at least has mods.

Have you played G3 with the latest Community Patch, with alternative balancing and combat AI enabled?

[DArtagnan]

When I'm talking about Gothics I'm talking about Gothic 1 and 2, not 3 ;)

Yup!

Gothic 3 had horrible combat, which is pretty well known.

Completely different from Gothic 1+2 - and though the CP helped a bit, it's still broken - and in my opinion, beyond repair.

Too bad really, because G3 is pretty damn good in most other respects.

[wolfing]

It's ok you don't like the Gothics, because I don't either :) (I bought the compilation box just to maybe one day give it another try, but I really don't find myself wanting to).
My recommendation is Drakensang, it's not dark/gritty/mature (which is a big plus to me), it's party based, and even though you're "the chosen one", I really liked it.

[Kostaz]

It's ok you don't like the Gothics"No....it's not!! ;)"

[Benedict]

I loved Anachronox. But no one else did.

I did play the demo and wasn't sure whether or not to crack on with it, I really loved the first bit of the demo running around with the camera etc but then the next bit just sort of threw me into a different point with lots of fights that my characters were all too wussy for.

Is the actual game like that?

[Benedict]

Gothic interests me even less and I have no desire ever to play that series.

I'd have thought that ticked a lot of your requirements . . .

the script might not quite be Torment quality and the world might not be as interesting, but I'm kind of reminded of that great interview with Joseph Heller when the interviewer said that he'd never written anything else as good as Catch 22 and he said something like "Well no, but in fairness who has?". Torment's a ridiculously high standard, and the scripts in Gothics 1 & 2 are solid, the stories are good and every bit of the worlds is hand crafted.

Can't remember the voice acting but I always skip through conversations myself and don't remember it being bad.

The combat systems from Gothics 1 & 2 were fine as well, quite challenging and perhaps not hugely intricate but better than a lot of action games.

And as for free roaming, they were always hugely free roaming (so long as you didn't mind getting killed). Nothing quite like the gameplay thrill of sneaking around, picking up some cool, well above level loot and running back to town with a shadowbeast in hot pursuit, shits all over Oblivions free roaming IMO.

[Benedict]

I'm also a chronic non-finisher of games. My list isn't quite as long, but it's nevertheless... pretty long. Oblivion, FO3, SoZ, MoW, Overlord, DOOM 3, Crysis, BG...

Barring a handful of games with decent story, and a few more where the timing of release dates means there's just nothing else, I rarely actually properly finish games.

I hit that bit where I'm about 90% through and I just realise that my characters are already excessively powerful, I've got more stuff than I'll ever conceivably use and I can no longer ignore the fact that everything I'm doing doesn't actually matter. The minute I no longer care enough to even bother looking through the loot picked up or upgrading my characters once they gain some levels I realise that I just don't care any more.

Not helped by a lot of games just dragging out the end with repetitive grind, once you know that it's basically all over they should pick up the pace and restrict things to major fights & a strong narrative arc.

[wolfing]

Barring a handful of games with decent story, and a few more where the timing of release dates means there's just nothing else, I rarely actually properly finish games.

I hit that bit where I'm about 90% through and I just realise that my characters are already excessively powerful, I've got more stuff than I'll ever conceivably use and I can no longer ignore the fact that everything I'm doing doesn't actually matter. The minute I no longer care enough to even bother looking through the loot picked up or upgrading my characters once they gain some levels I realise that I just don't care any more.

<snip>
Funny you mention that, in my case is the contrary. I find in many games that 90% through I'm excessively *underpowered* lol. That's mainly because I always stick to the storyline without 'exploring', so if the game doesn't have some sort of level scaling, I'm usually screwed (same aspect that many people hate about Oblivion is one I actually liked)

[Thrasher]

None of the above. :p

I'd go with Arcanum. Free exploration, party based, amazing character development, both tech and magic skills, great atmosphere, cool story and quests and world / history design.

Just play it in turn-based combat mode.

[Rithrandil]

I have to agree with Thrasher. I need to get into Arcanum again. I forget when I stopped playing it.

[Thrasher]

I actually want to replay it (unlike most games), because the character builds and play-style are so different between magic and technology.

And because there is pretty big story difference between playing good and playing evil.

[Rithrandil]

Are there any handy mods/updates/etc I should look into if I replay it?

I heard something about some sort of widescreen update but it's been a long time since I looked into Arcanum.

[dteowner]

It's been years, but I remember what I used. It's very rare for me to use mods, so this should highlight some real pains, me thinks. I had one that killed the level cap and I had one that eliminated the tremendously annoying sound effects of a couple buff spells I liked to keep active. I've still got them in a directory somewhere.

[Thrasher]

There is a widescreen mod available, but..... it doesn't scale the UI and text so unless you have a huge monitor (which I don't) then it's myopic inducing.

I too used the level cap remover mod, but it did make the finale rather easy....

Drog has since developed a HUGE fixpack that sounds like it fixes a lot of minor bugs. Next time I'll try his fixes. They sound great!

[Rithrandil]

Thanks for the advice, gang. I'll probably try this as my Last Hurrah of gaming before school/internship in a few weeks.

[magerette]

I played Arcanum plain vanilla twice through years ago and liked it, but then it was average in terms of performance and graphics--now it's a bit aged. Still a fun game (as always I went the magic route--I hear the techno one is less fun) and great plot, skill system, writing and npcs. A lot of people hate the combat but honestly I can't remember it, which means I didn't.

Of the list above as presented, I voted for The Witcher as it sounds most like what the OP seems to be looking for, though for me the depressing medieval world was a plus. :)

NWN plus expansions is playable--skip the OC if you want, I liked Shadows of Undrentide better than Hordes, but I like lower level D&D characters best. NWN2 OC was pretty decent but still haven't played MotB and not likely to at this point.

Of the rest, if you're also wanting some arpg action, for pure state-of-the-art hack-n-slash, the best is Titan Quest + Immortal Throne. If you want something with a semblance of rpg elements, Dungeon Siege 2 would be better. ( minus Sacred 2 which I haven't played.)

Icewind Dale is a classic and worth checking out as well. The rest I haven't played.

[JDR13]

I played Arcanum plain vanilla twice through years ago and liked it, but then it was average in terms of performance and graphics--now it's a bit aged. Still a fun game (as always I went the magic route--I hear the techno one is less fun) and great plot, skill system, writing and npcs. A lot of people hate the combat but honestly I can't remember it, which means I didn't.

I still have my original big box copy of Arcanum, but I've never started a serious game of it.

About the techno route- I heard it was simply a lot harder than the magic route due to poor game balancing. I think that's one of the reasons why I never made it a priority to play Arcanum. I bought the game because I thought it would be fun to play a gunslinger in a world of steampunk-fantasy.

[magerette]

My son went that route and he enjoyed it, but yes, there are some huge balance problems--one way you implement your techno skills is through blueprints, and you have to have several in increasing levels of complexity for each final thing you create, plus raw materials and plus someone to make them, IIRC, and also your character 'meter' has to be all techno.--that is, no using any kind of magic, even herbal cures or potions. Someone who's played that way can probably tell you more. But it has a really interesting skill system and reeks of Troika--worth a play for you JDR, I would think.

[Thrasher]

Yep, it's a lot more complicated than the magic system, but also a lot more interesting than spamming harm spells, and completely viable.

There are some super powerful guns near the endgame, but along the way you have to rely on the other techno skills. Explosives are particularly fun with a good throwing skill. ;)

[txa1265]

Are there any handy mods/updates/etc I should look into if I replay it?

I heard something about some sort of widescreen update but it's been a long time since I looked into Arcanum.

I was playing Arcanum for many, many hours during my older son's basketball season, but then stopped for other games ... really need to finish. I played (as usual) straight up with only standard patches. Still a thing of beauty ... and netbook friendly.

[Syvere]

Thanks guys! Looks like I'm going to start with The Witcher along with Drakensang and then work my way through NWN2 and Oblivion. Mass Effect and some ARPG after that I think. Well, unless I end up buying yet another game before I've finished these (which seems likely as Dragon Age, Divinity 2 and Alpha Protocol all are released in a few months).

[Phonix]

I loved Anachronox. But no one else did.

Wrong, I love that game :)

[txa1265]

Wrong, I love that game :)

I think many of us like it ... but not necessarily better than all of the others.

[JDR13]

I played the demo of Anachronox years ago. I like the characters and the humorous dialogue, but I didn't care for the JRPG style combat.

[Benedict]

So anachronox is worth buying then? I loved the first half of the demo but then seemed to get chucked into a load of combats I wasn't ready for, is the game a bit more consistent?

[txa1265]

Chances are you can get it really cheap through GoGamer or something like that ... for $5 it is definitely worth a try, but more than that I'd say the fact that you didn't even finish the demo kills it ...

[JDR13]

There's a few stores on Amazon that still carry Anachronox.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dvideogames&field-keywords=Anachronox&x=19&y=15

[Benedict]

Chances are you can get it really cheap through GoGamer or something like that ... for $5 it is definitely worth a try, but more than that I'd say the fact that you didn't even finish the demo kills it ...

I was trying to work out whether or not the demo was really a good showcase for the game, the first part running around taking photos was really good then suddenly it took me to a cave with a couple of other characters I'd not seen to have a fight with a mix of abilities I didn't know how to use and equipment I wasn't familiar with etc

Just seemed like a bit of a shock, does the game itself suddenly jump around like that or is there more of a consistent plot?

[leth]

@benedict: If you don't feel like playing Anachronox, I HIGHLY recommend the Anachronox Movie (http://www.archive.org/details/JakeHughesAnachronoxTheMovie).

It is a Machinima made from a run through of the game.

Hopefully, this will help you narrow down your choices.

Aside: I originally intended to just watch the movie and skip playing the game, but the movie made me play the game anyway... So it may, in fact, not have helped with narrowing down your choices. :P