RPGs have always stood out because they are immersive and they allow the
player to put himself in the shoes of a different person, at a different time,
in a different place (usually a fantasy world). Nowadays, RPGs have lost all
their flair because the plot and gameplay are no longer fundamental - only the
graphics are. However, retro RPGs still remain classics.
The Ultima series is probably one of the most interesting series of RPGs of all time. Each game provided a world in which you could roam freely, a rich culture and history, and a very clever plot. The games also allowed in-depth interactivity with objects and people in the game world, and NPCs would often have their own story, schedule, and life.
I am an active member of the Ultima community, and have/had the following
responsibilities:
I also enjoyed just about every AD&D game I played. These include the Eye of the Beholder trilogy, Darksun 1 and 2, Menzoberranzan, Ravenloft: The Stone Prophet, and Baldur's Gate.
In my opinion, Blizzard has always
been the king of strategy games. The first strategy game I played was
Warcraft 2, when I was about 10 years old, and which I kept playing for years
and still love to this day. Since then I have also played other strategy
games by Blizzard, including Starcraft (which I played several times in
single player mode and still actively play multiplayer) and Warcraft 3.
Other strategy games I've played include Civilization, Civilization 2, and Red Alert 2. They have also provided a nice gaming experience.
Like with RPGs, strategy games are now relying heavily on graphics and
gameplay is suffering to some extent. In my opinion, the use of 3D is uncalled-for
for these types of games. In fact, I found Starcraft or even Warcraft 2 to be
much more entertaining than Warcraft 3, because they did not have 3D graphics
that slowed down my PC (back when I first played it), did not have an Upkeep
system that limited armies to a size of about 20 units without having to pay
a price, and had much simpler heroes that did not try and force an RPG element.
One of the first games I ever played was Wolfenstein 3D, when I was 7 or 8
years old. Back in its time, shooting games were already great fun. Other
old shooting games I've played include Spear of Destiny, the Ultimate Doom
trilogy, and Catacomb Abyss.
Shooting games seem to be the only genre that just keeps getting better. While they were once linear, repetitive and combat-oriented, many modern shooting games surpass most modern RPGs in terms of plot, immersiveness and interactivity.
Some more modern 3D shooters I've played include: