The Xbox is often overlooked when it comes to RPGs.
Although the Xbox may lack quantity, for many RPGamers
it more than makes up for it in quality. This year is
no exception, as the Xbox once again shows that a console
can survive even with just a few RPGs.
Coming in first this year is a movie giant turned
into an RPG powerhouse. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
not only has a huge name, but it also has everything an
Xbox RPG needs. With a finely tuned battle system, unique
choice-dependant storyline, and multiple class combinations,
The Sith Lords certain improved off the first game.
Add in the ability to further customize your class, and the great
Republic games are made even more great.
Knights 2 isn't just a rehash of the first game
in new packaging, either. With a story that takes place a few
years after the first, the game keeps the player
involved in a fresh new story. Also, your team of
characters this time around is almost all changed, for
better or worse. The game progresses linearly at
first, but then opens up to the player to be able to
choose where they will go and in what order they do
things. Knights 2 delivers just the kind of RPG
experience that our staff enjoyed.
Following in second is another Xbox exclusive
RPG, the action-packed Sudeki. Sudeki delivers a
battle heavy RPG with beautiful features. The graphics
in Sudeki are really inspiring, showing off what the
Xbox can really do, but it's the battle system that
captured the staff's hearts in this game. Real-time
battles with almost fighting game style controls
dominate this game, and like the fighters it emulates,
the battles can be played by both strategists and
button mashers alike, with varying degrees of success.
While the story can at times feel a bit over the top,
its overall a solid plot, well worth the gamers time.
Fable fills out the top 3 staff picks. While the staff
may have been a bit disappointed with how Fable turned out, that
doesn't mean that the staff disliked the game. On the
contrary, we here at RPGamer enjoyed the Fable we got
to play, even if it was less then what was promised to
us. But with the graphics Fable boasts, its hard to
get angry, or if you are, to stay angry for long. And
graphics aren't the only thing to like about the game.
Fable still gives us the chance to be what we want to
be, either hero or destroyer. savior or tyrant. The
battle system is a nice hack and slash style that
allows you to fight in a melee style, sling spells,
snipe your enemies, or all of the above. Fable is a
solid play, well worth your time and effort.
by Matthew Foster
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