turn based isometric view sci-fi crpg?

[Alex Mars]

Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

[chainbreaker]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction
crpg? I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

The only thing I can think of that remotely comes close is Jagged Alliance
2, if you turn the "science fiction" option on--but it's not all that
"science fictiony" even if you do, and it's not what you'd call a "pure"
RPG, either. It's more of a turn-based combat simulation/RPG hybrid.

But what it is is a damned good game and one I can recommend to any
turn-based RPG fan regardless.

[Olaf]

Post by chainbreaker

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction
crpg? I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

The only thing I can think of that remotely comes close is Jagged Alliance
2, if you turn the "science fiction" option on--but it's not all that
"science fictiony" even if you do, and it's not what you'd call a "pure"
RPG, either. It's more of a turn-based combat simulation/RPG hybrid.
But what it is is a damned good game and one I can recommend to any
turn-based RPG fan regardless.

Yes Jagged Alliance 2. Awesome game, awesome franchise. /mourn Sir-Tech

[Justisaur]

Post by chainbreaker

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction
crpg? I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

The only thing I can think of that remotely comes close is Jagged Alliance
2, if you turn the "science fiction" option on--but it's not all that
"science fictiony" even if you do, and it's not what you'd call a "pure"
RPG, either. It's more of a turn-based combat simulation/RPG hybrid.
But what it is is a damned good game and one I can recommend to any
turn-based RPG fan regardless.

I guess you didn't see the JA2 up there in the OP, old man. Use a
larger font!

- Justisaur

[chainbreaker]

Post by Justisaur
I guess you didn't see the JA2 up there in the OP, old man. Use a
larger font!
- Justisaur

uh . . . what's a font? <oops>

[Joachim Andersson]

One game that I liked a lot was Odium aka Gorky 17, a polish horror/scifiish
game with some good graphics and sound. Its more of an adventure with
turnbased battles though, and the replayability is fairly low. Its worth
playing once though.

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

[Ross Ridge]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

Well, there's the obvious Fallout: Tactics and Jagged Alliance 1.
Anything else I can think of is pretty old: Martian Dreams, the Buck
Roger's "Gold Box" games, the MegaTraveller games, Sentinel Worlds:
Future Magic, Wasteland and streching a bit Syndicate.

Ross Ridge

[chainbreaker]

Post by Ross Ridge

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction
crpg? I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

Well, there's the obvious Fallout: Tactics and Jagged Alliance 1.
Anything else I can think of is pretty old: Martian Dreams, the Buck
Future Magic, Wasteland and streching a bit Syndicate.
Ross Ridge

I don't know that I've come across anyone who played Future Magic before, or
if I have I've forgotten--which is getting to be more and more common with
me. It was my favorite game for a long time, but as you say, that game goes
back a loooonnnggg way. It's the only game from that era whose box is still
out on one of my shelves instead of packed away somewhere.

Sadly, I suspect that like most games from that era, the memory far
outstrips the reality, were one to play it now.

[Ross Ridge]

Post by Ross Ridge
Well, there's the obvious Fallout: Tactics and Jagged Alliance 1.
Anything else I can think of is pretty old: Martian Dreams, the Buck
Future Magic, Wasteland and streching a bit Syndicate.
I don't know that I've come across anyone who played Future Magic before, or
if I have I've forgotten--which is getting to be more and more common with
me.

I've played all the games I listed except the Buck Roger's game and the
second MegaTraveller game. If I remember correctly, Xocyll has
recommended the Buck Roger's games in the past.

Post by Ross Ridge
It was my favorite game for a long time, but as you say, that game goes
back a loooonnnggg way.

I checked my installation disk, which suprisingly for a game this old
is a 3 1/2" floppy, and the copyright date is 1988.

Post by Ross Ridge
Sadly, I suspect that like most games from that era, the memory far
outstrips the reality, were one to play it now.

I remember the spaceship mode being a bit clunky, and you'll probably
need to find some way to slow the game down. Otherwise it shouldn't be
to bad, if you don't mind the 320x200 16-colour graphics.

Ross Ridge

[Xocyll]

"Ross Ridge" <***@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> looked up from reading the
entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs

Post by Ross Ridge

Post by Ross Ridge
Well, there's the obvious Fallout: Tactics and Jagged Alliance 1.
Anything else I can think of is pretty old: Martian Dreams, the Buck
Future Magic, Wasteland and streching a bit Syndicate.
I don't know that I've come across anyone who played Future Magic before, or
if I have I've forgotten--which is getting to be more and more common with
me.

I've played all the games I listed except the Buck Roger's game and the
second MegaTraveller game. If I remember correctly, Xocyll has
recommended the Buck Roger's games in the past.

You remember wrongly - I don't think i've even heard of a Buck ROgers
game much less recommended one.
The only space games I really played were the Wing Commanders,
culminating in my absolute favorite, Privateer.

Post by Ross Ridge

Post by Ross Ridge
It was my favorite game for a long time, but as you say, that game goes
back a loooonnnggg way.

I checked my installation disk, which suprisingly for a game this old
is a 3 1/2" floppy, and the copyright date is 1988.

Post by Ross Ridge
Sadly, I suspect that like most games from that era, the memory far
outstrips the reality, were one to play it now.

I remember the spaceship mode being a bit clunky, and you'll probably
need to find some way to slow the game down. Otherwise it shouldn't be
to bad, if you don't mind the 320x200 16-colour graphics.

<shudder>

I've loaded up a few oldies and I for one just can't stand 320x200
anymore.

Xocyll

[Ross Ridge]

Post by Xocyll
You remember wrongly - I don't think i've even heard of a Buck ROgers
game much less recommended one.

Dang. Hmm... there was some regular here who mentioned the Buck Rogers
games a couple of times when this topic came up.

Post by Xocyll
I've loaded up a few oldies and I for one just can't stand 320x200
anymore.

I loaded it up and it wasn't too bad. As it turns out it doesn't need
to be slowed down, and since it's interface is more iconic than
realistic the graphics aren't much of a problem. While the spaceship
interface isn't quite a clunky as I remembered, the "walking around"
interface is just bizarre. It has a round radar display showing a map
of the building you're in with your characters and other NPCs displayed
as dots. This is super-imposed over a pretty much pointless Wizardry I
wireframe rendering of where you are. The "driving around" interface
was decent, though, pretty much what you'd expect from a game of the
era.

Ross Ridge

[Justisaur]

Post by Xocyll
entrails of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs

Post by Ross Ridge

Post by Ross Ridge
Well, there's the obvious Fallout: Tactics and Jagged Alliance 1.
Anything else I can think of is pretty old: Martian Dreams, the Buck
Future Magic, Wasteland and streching a bit Syndicate.
I don't know that I've come across anyone who played Future Magic before, or
if I have I've forgotten--which is getting to be more and more common with
me.

I've played all the games I listed except the Buck Roger's game and the
second MegaTraveller game. If I remember correctly, Xocyll has
recommended the Buck Roger's games in the past.

You remember wrongly - I don't think i've even heard of a Buck ROgers
game much less recommended one.
The only space games I really played were the Wing Commanders,
culminating in my absolute favorite, Privateer.

Post by Ross Ridge

Post by Ross Ridge
It was my favorite game for a long time, but as you say, that game goes
back a loooonnnggg way.

I checked my installation disk, which suprisingly for a game this old
is a 3 1/2" floppy, and the copyright date is 1988.

Post by Ross Ridge
Sadly, I suspect that like most games from that era, the memory far
outstrips the reality, were one to play it now.

I remember the spaceship mode being a bit clunky, and you'll probably
need to find some way to slow the game down. Otherwise it shouldn't be
to bad, if you don't mind the 320x200 16-colour graphics.

<shudder>
I've loaded up a few oldies and I for one just can't stand 320x200
anymore.

I just got Syndicate Wars to run on my system again after years and
years of no luck. It even runs at 640x480, but it looks awful. I mean
really really really bad. It was like looking at mud... on mud. and
the scrolling around you had to do on screen, I just couldn't stand it.

It's strange as some of the old games don't bother me much. I played
Telengard for a week recently and I had no problems with the ancient
graphics. Captive not too bad either, but just didn't have the same
grip on me I remember in the old days.

- Justisaur

[MinorStreamer]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

Septerra Core meets all your requirements but wasn't that great a game
IIRC, and it's the closest thing to a Final Fantasy game ever to come
out for the PC (which could be a good or a bad thing depending on where
you stand). Of course there's also the FF VII and FF VIII ports to
PC which can be difficult to find nowadays.

Troika's Arcanum is a really good and fun title but not exactly sci-fi,
more like steam punkish (which i love).

Odium was an interesting, off beat game with some RPG elements
(adventure type exploration with turn based tactical combat).

There's more I'm sure but who am I to say, maybe you should ask one of
the MainStreamers.

[Nostromo]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

Albion is an older (1996?) hybrid sci-fi rpg (not sure if it's entirely
TB): www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/albion/review.html

More recently, Nightwatch (from the Russian film), though not sure if TB
either (or pausable): http://www.nival.com/nightwatch/

The others have mentioned anything else I can think of.

[Peter Huebner]

In article <enups5$rpb$***@registered.motzarella.org>, ***@nospam.org
says...

Post by Nostromo
Albion is an older (1996?) hybrid sci-fi rpg (not sure if it's entirely
TB): www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/albion/review.html

That game gave me the worst case of motion sickness, ever. I had to stop
playing it after 5 minutes, the 3 or 4 times I tried. Doh.

-Peter

[Gabriele Neukam]

Post by Nostromo
www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/albion/review.html

Problem is, this DOS based game has turn based combat, 2D map movement
and (because this was hip in those times) a 3D dungeon interface, which
was based on the PC's clock time.

And there was that "touch three switches and run through the open door
in time" scene, that I could only do on a 100 MHz machine.

I am afraid this game is unplayable by now, although it was set in a
fascinating scenery.

You crash land on a planet which is supposed to be surveyed.
Authorities say, it is not inhabited by intelligent life, but you and
your companion are picked up by a feline race, which nurses you back
into life. They live as a kind of tribe, and you learn their language.

After some time, you begin to accept quests, learn to fight, and can
have other beings join your party. Some can even do magic. As the story
develops, you meet human beings - yes, people of your own species,
which had left planet earth for good, several centuries ago. They are
the ones who call this world Avalon.

Back on the main ship, the commander insists that there is no important
life form on this planet; the results of all researches are proving it
(points to the main computer on board).

You realize that someone or something is obviously fiddling with the
data that is fed to the machine, and that the company, the space ship
is working for, *wants* the crew to believe that they don't interfere
with an aboriginal civilisation, when they start utilizing the planet's
resources...


Gabriele Neukam

***@t-online.de

[Nostromo]

Post by Gabriele Neukam

Post by Nostromo
Albion is an older (1996?) hybrid sci-fi rpg (not sure if it's
entirely TB): www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/albion/review.html

Problem is, this DOS based game has turn based combat, 2D map movement
and (because this was hip in those times) a 3D dungeon interface, which
was based on the PC's clock time.
And there was that "touch three switches and run through the open door
in time" scene, that I could only do on a 100 MHz machine.
I am afraid this game is unplayable by now, although it was set in a
fascinating scenery.
You crash land on a planet which is supposed to be surveyed. Authorities
say, it is not inhabited by intelligent life, but you and your companion
are picked up by a feline race, which nurses you back into life. They
live as a kind of tribe, and you learn their language.
After some time, you begin to accept quests, learn to fight, and can
have other beings join your party. Some can even do magic. As the story
develops, you meet human beings - yes, people of your own species, which
had left planet earth for good, several centuries ago. They are the ones
who call this world Avalon.
Back on the main ship, the commander insists that there is no important
life form on this planet; the results of all researches are proving it
(points to the main computer on board).
You realize that someone or something is obviously fiddling with the
data that is fed to the machine, and that the company, the space ship is
working for, *wants* the crew to believe that they don't interfere with
an aboriginal civilisation, when they start utilizing the planet's
resources...

Sounds cool Gabe - tx for the rundown. It's probably abandonware now -
may have to see if I can get it to run decently on XP with a DOS emulator.

[Omnibot]

Post by Nostromo
Sounds cool Gabe - tx for the rundown. It's probably abandonware now -
may have to see if I can get it to run decently on XP with a >DOS emulator.

Sure would be nice if a company supported a MODERN turn-based iso sci-fi
rpg idea.Piddly graphics tend to make retro-gaming unappealing to most (even
though those classic games are great foundationally).With all the star wars,
star trek, battlestar galactica, etc. movies released over the last 30 years,
a high-quality new release without stringent system requirements would likely
sell big time.

KOTOR (which sold very well) could have incorporated a mouse-wheel zoom scroll
to make it's perspective configurable, and therefore appealing to a wider
audience.Many just hate the zoom-esqe tunnel vision perspective induced by
the MMO/FPS/ACTION realm of shallow repetitive hype.Nice to zoom out and
see the scenery.If I want tunnel vision, I can take a lampshade, tape it
to may head, and play.


Eg. Take the Traveller tabletop rpg concept, and design a massive game with
100+ systems, and 1000's of planets, 100's of races.Fuse & incorporate the
X-Com, Fallout and Baldur's Gate engines, and release a massive, highly configurable,
open-ended
turn-based iso-view sci-fi rpg (TBISFCRPG).Call it Star Explorer, Mega-Traveller,
Cosmic Cadence, Space Opera or something.

Until then, one can dive into Jagged Alliance 2, Freelancer, Starcraft, Space
Rangers, Starlancer, Freespace, KOTOR and await
the release of Ufo : Extra-Terrestrials (EB says within 2 months) for some
kinda fix, though none are true TBISFCRPG's.


(vent over, and I thank y'all for yer tolerance and attention...

PEP !)

[Michael Romes]

Nostromo schrieb:
...

Post by Nostromo
Sounds cool Gabe - tx for the rundown. It's probably abandonware now -
may have to see if I can get it to run decently on XP with a DOS emulator.
http://www.bluebyte.net/ger/products/albion/index.htm

[Static Void]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?

Harbinger is all of the above except I could not recommend the game
because I havent played it myself

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/harbinger/index.html

[Static Void]

Post by Static Void
Harbinger is all of the above except I could not recommend the game
because I havent played it myself

Er, I forgot, there's also Paradise Cracked <ducks>

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/paradisecracked/review.html

[chainbreaker]

Post by Static Void

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?

Harbinger is all of the above except I could not recommend the game
because I havent played it myself
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/harbinger/index.html

Not many people who played it would recommend it--I know I wouldn't.
Calling Harbinger awful is giving it too much credit. It's a terrrible,
terrible game, in my all-time bottom 15 at least. I'd rank it lower but for
the fact that as long as I could tolerate playing it I at least didn't find
any bugs.

It's iso, but it's not turn-based, it's along the lines of Diablo.

[Matti Kujala]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

I still haven't played JA2, but I've understood it's very light on rpg elements? If
you liked it, how about some tactical turn based game? I would recommend the
original X-COM. More retro but IMO worth checking out is also Laser Squad. I think
the C64-version is the best one (Amiga-version was missing autofire-sweep and had
some bugs, PC-version just looked awful. Of course, C64-version doesn't support
mouse so it's a bit clunky). To those who like games like this with fantasy theme I
would recommend Lords of Chaos (Amiga version).

[chainbreaker]

Post by Matti Kujala

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction
crpg? I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

I still haven't played JA2, but I've understood it's very light on
rpg elements? If you liked it, how about some tactical turn based
game?

<snip>

Tactical combat is JA2's "feature", I guess, but it's still a lot more of a
RPG than a lot of games I've played that specifically billed themselves as
such.

Hmm, let's see what the JA2 box says about itself, since I have it right
here--

-The Best of Strategy:
Non-linear gameplay
Dozens of realistically modeled weapons
Unique blend of real-time exploration and turn-based combat

and further--

-The Best of Role-Playing
Interact with more than 150 in-game characters
Recruit your own team of unique mercenaries (and they are unique--they're
perhaps the highlight of the game)
Create your own custom mercenary
Conflicting mercenary personalities affect gameplay

And I can vouch that none of that is hype.

[Michael Bonfils]

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science fiction crpg?
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

You can try Silent Storm, a good turn based.. but it is in 3D.

I've really loved this game

Michael

[broadcast]

bit late, but try Planet’s Edge, it’s probably the ONLY good sci-fi
RPG that was and ever will be made... for DOS, but works beautifully
under dosbox. semi-isometric view (you’ll see what I mean)... turn
based ground combat, lots of challenging puzzles (not the stupid find
key A to open door B kind), realtime starship combat, lots of
exploration, oodles of items, dozens of planets to explore, ship
customization, trading with other races, mini-quests, LONG overall
epic quest, GREAT stor

Post by Alex Mars

Post by Alex Mars
Can anyone recommend an turn based isometric view science

fiction crpg?

Post by Alex Mars
I've already done FO 1 & 2, JA2, etc.

You can try Silent Storm, a good turn based.. but it is in 3D.
I've really loved this game
Michael