Whether it is shooting down some alien miscreants or slashing and hacking through hordes of Orcs and Goblins role-playing video games entraps us in deep narratives. We get to be the hero or villain saving the world or dooming it. Here is our list of the best role-playing video games of 2012:
3. Diablo III:
The third installment in the Diablo series is so grand in size that after 30-40 hours there still so much more to do. It is more approachable than previous games in the series and features an interesting quest system and engrossing battles. The environment looks gorgeous and the colors are vibrant. The story is reasonable good, but nowhere near the best of the industry. The game also features and encourages co-op play and it is very easy to jump into the game with a buddy.
2. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning:
Reckoning awards gamers with a world that is finely developed and beautiful with accessible and action oriented gameplay. There is treasure to collect and battle to wage everywhere in the game. While not as large as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 38 Studios' Reckoning is large enough to keep you engaged and small enough to not overwhelm the average gamer. It is a deep and new fantasy world with plenty of character customizations to keep gamers busy.
1. Mass Effect 3:
Bioware completes a journey that was five years in the making. In the finale it feels as if everything is doomed. Around the galaxy planets are burning and millions of civilizations are on the run from the Reapers, but your trusty version of Commander Shepard is ready to finish the fight. The disappointing conclusion aside, the game is magnificent and one of the few games that I am still playing nine months later thanks to several post-release expansions and a surprisingly fun multiplayer component. The cinematic sequences are well done and the downtime between missions is filled with weapon customizations, fun moments between squadmates and plenty of side missions. Every decision you ever made in the series carries weight in the finale. On the battlefield the game has improved as the action takes place at a neck-breaking speed. New enemies provide variety and force gamers to use strategy to achieve their goal. The final sequence may not be the most beloved ending in video games, but everything else is almost perfect.
What was your favorite RPG of the year? Tell us in the comment section below...
