RPG Video Games

Air out the tights, slip on the mask, don the cape, and prepare to flex some muscles in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, an action role-playing game featuring the largest cast of costumed crusaders and mutant messiahs in a video game to date. Twenty Marvel superheroes have joined forces to combat the diabolical Dr. Doom and his Masters of Evil. The action will take players to Atlantis, the Skrull home world, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier, and more as they guide a four-person party through 17 comic book-inspired locales. Moves include a flurry of air and ground strikes, from grapples and blocks to chargeable powers and deadly combos. Objects within the environment can also cause damage, and a choice of one- and two-handed weapons can help less extraordinary heroes mete out justice against throngs of enemies.

As players decide on which heroes to enlist in their super group, including such iconic characters as Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Thing, Captain America, Elektra, and Thor, they can customize their team's name, icon, and vehicle. The party's reputation will increase over time through heroic deeds and by successfully completing mission objectives, allowing players the opportunity to further enhance the team's or a specific character's attributes. The cast includes more than 140 comic book characters in total, many of which are available in the single-player storyline and can be unlocked for multiplayer action. The latter supports both cooperative and competitive battles, with in-game statistics tracked for each team as they earn experience points and receive powerful new equipment. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance also features unlockable bonus content, such as alternate costumes that modify a character's base statistics in the areas of defense, melee damage, and so forth. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Since the foundation of the Justice League in the late '50s, many have joined the ranks of these global do-gooders to combat evil in all forms. Now these Justice League Heroes must save the day again by mobilizing such personalities as Wonder Woman, Batman, Aquaman, the Green Lantern, Superman, and more against enemies including giant Guerillas, Martians, and assault bots. Take control of each character and their special abilities in solo or multiplayer cooperative action that relies heavily on teamwork.

In a single-player game you control two characters -- one mandatory and one of your choosing -- and then attempt to complete each level by defeating enemies with a combination of each hero's special power. For example, Green Lantern can lock enemies in a force field, making it easier for a companion to inflict damage with his or her own ability. As you progress through the game, your characters will gain experience points that you can distribute among your group to increase speed, power, and range of attack. A "heroic meter" will rise and fall during combat, depending on your success in landing blows and the damage you sustain. As the meter rises and you continue to pound your foe, your hits will become noticeably more powerful. There are also a number of unlockable characters to play including Green Arrow and Hawkgirl. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Fable is designed to offer pure, concentrated role-playing, with a primary emphasis on open character development and influential interaction with the game world. The game begins as the player's character enters the fantasy land of Albion, a growing, interactive environment that develops and changes with each new event. The character grows and changes as well, beginning the adventure as a youth but slowly aging as he or she lives life in Albion, gaining wrinkled skin, graying hair, and (hopefully) becoming quite elderly by the end of the story.

The game is designed such that every choice and action the character makes can have an effect on his or her development. Physically active characters become more fit, while those who spend their time studying the arcane arts may develop receding hairlines. Characters who spend time working in the hot sun will get a tan and individual wounds heal into distinct, telling scars. Less tangible characteristics mature according to behavior as well. Players are free to commit nearly any conceivable action, but acts of cruelty will lead to vilification by NPC townsfolk, while noble and altruistic deeds may inspire loyalty and adulation from the masses.

Instead of focusing on a limited number of scripted "good versus evil" plot points, character development in this game occurs mostly through hundreds of minor day-to-day decisions that gradually come to define and refine the character's place in the game world. In short, role-playing gamers are offered a virtual lifetime of choices to play through. Fable is developed by Big Blue Box, an affiliate of Lionhead Studios, whose Black & White games share the theme of free-form, consequential character development over a broad span of time.

As hinted by the "Lost Chapters" subtitle, this "Platinum Hits" re-release of Fable includes additional material, such as quests, characters, regions, weapons, armor, and enemies, which were originally featured in the PC port of the original Xbox game. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Professor Xavier's team of misunderstood mutants battles on in this sequel RPG from Raven and Activision, creators of the original. Once again, players control small squads of X-Men in a series of action-oriented, combat-intensive missions that lead them through the game's comics-inspired storyline. Between missions, heroes can rest, recover, and re-supply, at Professor's X academy headquarters, or one of four other game world hubs. Each of the game's 16 playable characters has ten personalized powers, which can be customized and upgraded with experience and power-ups.

In addition to Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and other characters playable in the first Legends, the sequel also lets fans of the series choose lesser-known X-Men, such as the energy-absorbing Bishop, or even the team's nemesis, Magento, and members of his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants such as Toad and Juggernaut. It seems that past rivalries may be forgotten -- at least temporarily -- in the face of a universal threat posed by the ancient, megalomaniacal, Egyptian super-mutant known as Apocalypse.

As did the original releases, the Xbox version of X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse features a same-screen cooperative multiplayer mode. Online co-op play, and competitive Danger Room and Skirmish missions are also available, for Internet-connected gamers. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Canadian developer BioWare's first role-playing game after Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is set in a mythic version of ancient China, at a time when a parallel world of darkness and chaos threatens to cross over into the realm of the living. Players initially choose from a selection of predefined characters, each with a name, background, and distinct skill set. They will then be able to gradually shape their character's fighting style from over 30 different types, from martial arts to weapons-based combat to even magic. Combat is performed in real-time from a third-person perspective, with players able to pause the game to execute specific commands during the fighting sequences.

Body, mind, and spirit are the three primary attributes inherent in each character, and over time mastery over these guiding forces allows players to transform into a terra-cotta warrior, fox, or ghoul, respectively. No matter which character is selected at the onset, players will be able to hold court in a base of operations called the stronghold, where they can practice specific techniques, store acquired relics or mementos, and even build a flying ship in the shape of a dragonfly. Though the game follows the path of one character instead of a party, players can earn "followers" to their cause who will remain at the stronghold to be assigned tasks that will help influence the story. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

This sequel to one of the most widely acclaimed console releases of 2003 returns players to a galaxy far, far away, and an especially long time ago. Set about 4,000 years before the events of the Star Wars: Episode I film, this second role-playing adventure takes place five years after the original Knights of the Old Republic. Players take the role of an exiled Jedi, who is believed to be the last of the noble order and is being actively hunted by the Sith. Beginning the game as a Jedi, players can choose which Jedi class their character will be, but as they start off as a beleaguered fugitive, they'll have no light saber, and they'll need to work to develop their special skills and powers.

This sequel refines the interface for easier navigation, and offers many new force powers for characters to learn, but the gameplay's third-person exploration and turn-based combat should feel familiar to fans of the original. Once again, through their decisions and actions, players will develop their characters toward the Light or Dark side of the Force, and the way that they progress down the path of Good or Evil will have great influence over the story and will determine which characters are willing to join their party. The game follows its own original storyline, but a number of characters and events from the first game are referenced.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II -- The Sith Lords is the first game developed by Obsidian Entertainment, a studio founded by former Black Isle and Blizzard designers. The sub-series' original creator, BioWare, has ties to Obsidian and its team of veteran developers, and was also involved in the design of this sequel. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

In this adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved stories, players embark on a quest that will lead them through the events of all three films, in the roles of custom characters they create. Developed by EA's Redwood Shores studio, Lord of the Rings: The Third Age separates itself from its predecessors with its turn-based RPG format -- it has been noted by designers that those who have played Final Fantasy should find the system familiar. Also notable is the ability to ride a horse or a warg in combat, both of which demand special skills.

Visiting locations from all three movies, such as Khazad Dum, Helm's Deep, Osgiliath, and Minas Tirith, players will interact with both heroes and villains as they travel across Middle-earth. At times, they will encounter scenarios that may tempt them to cross over from the side of Good, and join the forces of the evil Sauron. Aside from the main storyline, optional side quests are included, designed to allow players a more personalized experience with the game. ~ Damian Francis, All Game Guide

Forget chivalry. Never mind saving the world. Just say "no" to noblesse oblige. Players enter 2004's The Bard's Tale with refreshingly simple motivations that the often underrepresented everyman adventurer can really relate to -- "coins and cleavage." In the role of the opportunistic, smart-mouthed, somewhat pompously disaffected Bard himself, players embark on a humorous, action-oriented misadventure through a classic medieval fantasy realm, based on the fondly remembered 1985 home computer game of the same title. Like the landmark original, this latter-day Bard's Tale was produced by RPG luminary Brian Fargo, and it is the first release from his inXile Entertainment studio.

The 3D game world is viewed from a top-down perspective, reminiscent of NeverWinter Nights, Dungeon Siege, or in particular, Snowblind Studios' Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest; Bard's Tale was built on the Champions of Norrath engine. Players guide the Bard through the large world, exploring new areas and always on the lookout for a free meal or a "soft place to rest his head." While he is skilled enough with his sword, the Bard's true talent is in his voice. He can learn to use his special musical powers to summon a variety of able-bodied creatures that will follow along and help him in combat.

In spite of all the hacking and slashing that ensues, there is a considerable amount of real role-playing in The Bard's Tale -- not just stat-maxing and attribute improvements, but truly player-directed character development that influences the story being told. The game features a "Snarky/Nice" conversation system that allows players to choose the tone the Bard takes when speaking to different NPCs. Obviously, this can have a significant effect on their responses. Because the plot offers so many choices, with so many possible results, players will have to adventure through the game multiple times to unlock all its secrets and see everything it has to offer. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

X-Men Legends is a real-time role-playing game where players put together their own team of X-Men heroes to combat such legendary foes as the Morlocks, Brotherhood of Mutants, and Sentinels. In true role-playing game fashion, players control their group of X-Men characters to take advantage of each individual's special powers and abilities while in combat. As each character becomes more experienced in battle, his or her powers will grow over time and new fighting moves become available to help the character develop into a more formidable opponent.

Players will assemble their party from a lineup of more than 15 characters, including popular favorites Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Gambit, and Beast. Certain locales may require stealth to avoid alarm systems or traps, making Wolverine or Nightcrawler more valuable team members, while multiple enemies may be more quickly dealt with using the crushing power of Colossus or the Beast. Players will have to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each superhero before forming the party and beginning a mission.

Once a mission begins, players can switch control between the mutants at any time and can even implement combo moves between specific characters such as Wolverine's and Colossus' "fastball special" maneuver, which has Colossus picking up Wolverine and tossing him at a foe to dole out heavy damage. Up to four players can join in the adventuring together, working as a team or honing their superhero skills from within the Danger Room training ground. Man of Action, a four-man production company of veteran comic book authors, wrote the game's storyline. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Fable is designed to offer pure, concentrated role-playing, with a primary emphasis on open character development and influential interaction with the game world. The game begins as the player's character enters the fantasy land of Albion, a growing, interactive environment that develops and changes with each new event. The character grows and changes as well, beginning the adventure as a youth but slowly aging as he or she lives life in Albion, gaining wrinkled skin, graying hair, and (hopefully) becoming quite elderly by the end of the story.

The game is designed such that every choice and action the character makes can have an effect on his or her development. Physically active characters become more fit, while those who spend their time studying the arcane arts may develop receding hairlines. Characters who spend time working in the hot sun will get a tan and individual wounds heal into distinct, telling scars. Less tangible characteristics mature according to behavior as well. Players are free to commit nearly any conceivable action, but acts of cruelty will lead to vilification by NPC townsfolk, while noble and altruistic deeds may inspire loyalty and adulation from the masses.

It is important to note that instead of focusing on a limited number of scripted "good versus evil" plot points, character development in this game occurs mostly through hundreds of minor day-to-day decisions that gradually come to define and refine the player's place in the game world. In short, Xbox gamers are offered a virtual lifetime of choices to play through. Fable is developed by Big Blue Box, an affiliate of Lionhead Studios, whose popular Black & White shares the theme of free-form, consequential character development over a broad span of time. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide