Suggest a Game

bushwhacker2k · Post by **bushwhacker2k** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:25 pm

I have played quite a few games and at the moment I want to play a game (preferably one I haven't played before) in which you at least have the option to play as someone who can use magic to some extent and in said game the magic system is somewhat original.

Can someone suggest such a game?

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:19 pm

bushwhacker2k wrote:(preferably one I haven't played before)

You might want to start by telling us which games you have played then.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:46 am

A rpg where you are playing one character with helpers instead of a party and a somewhat original magic system ? Stonekeep

bushwhacker2k · Post by **bushwhacker2k** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:56 pm

Tricky wrote:You might want to start by telling us which games you have played then.

I considered that, but seeing as how I've played hundreds of games that might take a while... but I'll try to stick to the things I've listed...

Avencast, Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, Deus Ex 1 & 2, Arcanum, Diablo 2... I could list half the games on this site and then I'd just draw a blank, I can't call up the names of specific games I've played that easily : /

Does anything come to mind when I ask for a game with an interesting magic system?

---

Also Stonekeep looks a little old but I'll check it out for the time being, any other ideas?

Lemmus · Post by **Lemmus** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:56 pm

If you haven't looked at Arx Fatalis, you should. The magic system requires you to collect runes to learn them, with each rune being a spell component, then draw the runes with your mouse to cast spells. It's a little clunky to get used to, but for those who get it, it's amazing. Plus, it's only $6 on GoG, so if you don't like it you haven't really lost anything.

Next I'd suggest Risen. The game has some rather odd interface choices, and it is possible to break quest lines and not be told how to proceed, but if you follow one of the magic paths you'll find it different. Risen is the spiritual successor to the Gothic games, but they are much lower magic, you really have to push to learn magic. So you can be a mage, just not at low level.

Drakensang's magic system was also interesting, and had some very unusual effects. I haven't tried the new Rivers of Time yet, but the Dark Age is probably available as a bargain game by now.

You may also want to check out the Witcher. It's a also magic low universe, so he doesn't have a lot of outright spells, but he does have some nifty potions and effects, which is more that most people have.

The key thing which all of these games have in common is that they're from Eastern European studios. The interfaces are unusual compared to North American fare, and some of the design choices are mind-boggling, but they are different.

bushwhacker2k · Post by **bushwhacker2k** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:00 pm

Ah! I've played Arx Fatalis, I remember the interesting magic system

I beat Risen but I never actually used magic, but now that you've mentioned that I'll have to check it out again.

I've heard of Drakansang, I'll check that out. You mention River of Time and Dark Ages in the same paragraph, are they related to Drakansang?

I have been playing the Witcher recently, fun game IMO.

Thanks for the ideas, keep 'em coming

Actually I was trying to find a forum or something dedicated to helping people pick what game to play, and oddly enough(to me anyways) I couldn't find anything.

I ask for this because magic in games has always interested me and often times it is done very poorly or at least very boringly, to the point that you simply get a bunch of spells and they each fall into a generic category and there is no interesting way to cast, etc.

I played a small game called Mage, I believe. It was focused completely on mage duels, in which you pick a class and then fight 1 on 1 against another mage, you increase your power in 4 different categories of spells and then cast the spells until your opponent is dead, but the spells are varied enough that you can't simply win by spamming an attack spell. Actually I tried to find this game again and I have no idea how to

I also played another game called Avencast, in which you are an apprentice mage completing your education to become a full-fleged mage and there are three schools of magic, soul magic, blood magic and summoning. It's a good example of a magic-focused action rpg.

Lemmus · Post by **Lemmus** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:04 pm

Sorry, I should have been more clear with Drakensang. Although many people refer to the first game as "Drakensang", that is actually the name of the series as released in the English speaking world. "The Dark Eye" is the subtitle of the first game released in the series (2008), and River of Time is the recently released prequel. There's a third game in the works, currently titled Demonicon.

Depending on what you're looking for, you may want to check out Academagia: the Making of Mages. It's aimed at a younger audience, and it's more like a choose your own adventure with magic, but it is magic oriented.

The other option is to approach this from the other side. Install a open-world sandbox game like Morrowind or Oblivion and either play as a mage in vanilla, or download a magic overhauld mod, of which there are several. In choosing between the two, Morrowind is older, so the graphics are much more limited, but the RPG system is more involved and the main story is better. With Oblivion, in addition to being a bit streamlined, the monster levelling system is weird, and you'll likely want to mod it out (I wouldn't say it is broken, though many people think it is, but it is definitely difficult depending on character build).

childofbhaal · Post by **childofbhaal** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:47 pm

Lemmus wrote:If you haven't looked at Arx Fatalis, you should. The magic system requires you to collect runes to learn them, with each rune being a spell component, then draw the runes with your mouse to cast spells. It's a little clunky to get used to, but for those who get it, it's amazing. Plus, it's only $6 on GoG, so if you don't like it you haven't really lost anything.

Next I'd suggest Risen. The game has some rather odd interface choices, and it is possible to break quest lines and not be told how to proceed, but if you follow one of the magic paths you'll find it different. Risen is the spiritual successor to the Gothic games, but they are much lower magic, you really have to push to learn magic. So you can be a mage, just not at low level.

Drakensang's magic system was also interesting, and had some very unusual effects. I haven't tried the new Rivers of Time yet, but the Dark Age is probably available as a bargain game by now.

You may also want to check out the Witcher. It's a also magic low universe, so he doesn't have a lot of outright spells, but he does have some nifty potions and effects, which is more that most people have.

The key thing which all of these games have in common is that they're from Eastern European studios. The interfaces are unusual compared to North American fare, and some of the design choices are mind-boggling, but they are different.

Risen is german (western europe),the Witcher is polish(middle europe),Arx Fatalis(France,western europe),Drakensang is german too.

childofbhaal · Post by **childofbhaal** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:05 pm

You probably tried them already but maybe not:

-heroes of might and magic series,disciples 3(heroes clone)
-dungeon keeper 1(that is a really unusual game),2
-nox
-sacred 1-2
-dawn of magic 1-2
-you will find unusual magic in the settlers series too(I tried just settlers 3)
-two worlds 2
-titan quest

This is probably not what you are looking for but I found magic in these games a bit unusual(for me the usual is bioware

) and a few of them are old, I hope thats not a problem.They are not all RPGs.

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:45 pm

The Windows versions of Might & Magic from 6 to 8 have nine schools of magic, and each one will be important various extents.

Olegg · Post by **Olegg** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:26 pm

Soulbringer comes to mind.

The magic system there is quite original indeed

serajones · Post by **serajones** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:37 am

Even I love playing games......
some of my favorites are.....
(1) Mario
(2) Gold Rush
(3) Chains of Fate
(4) Monster hunter

Regards
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