Iconic superhero RPG with fun and flavor
585392
Oddly enough, although this game is going on 30 years old, it still has a strong following and one that is now engaging the newer generation of players.  Why?  Because it's fun!  The rules are actually quite easy to learn, the writing is breezy and full of flavor, even while still being open-ended in the campaign setting.

You have your five basic characteristics:  Strength, Endurance, Agility, Intelligence and Charisma.  Charisma fills in for willpower as well as force of personality.  Your typical character has three powers, or four powers and a weakness.  A key here is that a "power" can actually be a grouped set of powers, such as Lightning Control, which provides an offensive energy blast, a defensive force field, and the ability to short-out or manipulate electrical devices.  The ultimate balancing factor is how much Power (like an energy reserve) a character has.  Powers, such as Lightning Control, which offer more options, cost more Power to use, so you make your trade-offs.

Combat is the iconic "roll a twenty-sided die to hit," and the damage-absorbing properties of attacks are built into the attack roll.  This is handled by an attack-vs-defense table that changes the number you need to roll.  For example, a hero trying to punch a villain has a much harder time "hitting" if that villain has Lightning Control defense active. If he does "hit," then he rolls his damage dice normally and causes that much damage.  This is very familiar to D&D/d20 gamers, probably since both games originated in the early 1980s.  However, this is not a d20 game, and many of the mechanics introduced remain largely unique.

There is a section on character background, and a quick-and-dirty random adventure generator.  There is also a section on how the legal system might apply to people with superpowers, and what happens when they go around beating on each other and causing massive property damage.

The skill system is largely non-existent, with generic backgrounds like "Broadcasting/Journalism" and "Science/Research" standing in for anything more complicated.  This encourages role-playing, but can be frustrating for people who like good clear rules for skill usage, or that really want to play Sherlock Holmes.  There is a nice rule for Inventing Points, which is easily adapted to both creating new equipment, or coming up with new power stunts for existing powers (e.g. "My Magnetic Powers hero wants to spend an inventing point to learn how to ride the Earth's magnetic fields and fly.").

The core game is unattached from any particular campaign setting, making it extremely easy to adapt to any setting, or even other genres.  Do a quick search for "Villains & Vigilantes" in your favorite search engine, and find a staggering number of fan sites that offer new rules, campaign ideas, books, characters, conversions of your favorite comic book heroes, etc.  In fact, the publisher has dozens of products in the V&V line, and only a few of them relate to each other, but all can be knit easily into one consistent home game.

With deference to the used-copy sellers here on Amazon, you can buy an original from Fantasy Games Unlimited for the original 1982 price.  Apparently, they have a lot of back-stock.

Jeff Dee and Jack Herman (V&V's authors) are currently publishing their new game - Living Legends - under the UNIgames imprint.
1585708
I absolutely love this game. I purchased it the other day on a whim because I had always been a fan of the Might and Magic series, and since then I find myself not being able to put it down. Although the game is "part of the series" it has nothing to do with any of the previous games other than the fact battles are turn-based and it's in a fantasy world setting. It does have a few unit and building references, but apart from that it pretty much stands apart from the series.

Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is an RPG with strategy and puzzle elements. The thing that's made this game unique and such a joy to play is the battle system. This isn't your average run-of-the-mill RPG battle where you choose fight, magic, special ability, or run. You essentially are presented with a randomized battlefield of various units with different colors that you have to match up to create attack and defense formations. You're given a certain amount of moves per turn and by using a bit of forethought and strategy you can pull off some pretty cool combos for added bonuses. The battle system is just so awesomely fun and tactically challenging that you are left feeling very satisfied after every victory. Some of the battles I've had have been pretty epic taking upwards of 20-30 minutes to complete and me barely winning by a single turn.

The only gripe I have is that Quick Battle and Multiplayer seem a tad limited. I think I'm about halfway through the Campaign and like every other RPG I don't see it having a huge amount of replay value.

Other than that, I really can't complain. The gameplay is awesome and the visuals are very good as well. I'm definitely happy with the purchase and would recommend this game to anyone who is a fan of tactical strategy and puzzle. I also heard it can be compared to Puzzle Quest. I've never played Puzzle Quest, but I'm definitely going to check it out because I certainly do enjoy this RPG/Puzzle hybrid genre!
503205
This is probably the first X-box game that I ever got into.  I played Halo a couple of times with a friend but this was the first game that I really enjoyed.  I guess I am more of an rpg man than an action gamer.  There is so much depth to this game that I can't do it justice with words but I will dig in and make the effort.  First off you can choose from many different races and character classes with different emphasis on skills.  A lizardman warrior?  Check.  How about a catman Acrobat?  They got you covered.  Big barbarian with a penchant for magic. Yep although he might have a rough time of it.  You could even make a high elf with crazy eyes and an even crazier name like Sweet Ghandi McGillicuddy(I hate rpgs that only let you have five or six letters in your dude's name)  And if you can't find a class that you think suits you you can just make up a custom class of your own. (I actually think this is the only way to go.  Half the fun of making a custom class is making up a goofy class title for your character.  Underpants king for example.)

  Once your new hero gets out into the wide open world and finds his way to the town of Balmora he will discover just how many roads he can travel down.  There are least four or five different factions he or she can join up with right away and even more that become avaialbe in other towns. Warriors, assasins, thieves, mages and not one but two types of clergy mean you will never run out of things to do. That's where the fun of the game comes from,rising to the head of this guild or that.  Sometimes you completley forget about the main quest because you are so keen on the various sidequests that are scattered like glittery diamonds all over the world.

  The only bad thing about the game is that if you play it too long it kind of takes on a drudging worklike quality after awhile.  Go into dungeon at nine, find yet another artifact, leave dungeon, head back to stronghold, put your precious booty in treasure chests and barrels, go to bed.  Wake up and repeat.  There's a rather noticible lack of Final Fantasy-esque Cinematic pomp and circumstance throughout the game.  But for the ability to do almost anything and develop my character in whatever way I want I am willing to lose a few of the more theatrical moments.

  Another minor problem is the lack of mulitple characters.  No, I don't mean mulitplayer.  No real rpg has ever had a multiplayer option to my knowledge.  I mean you literally go through the game with only one character.  Occasionally you have to have people travel with you to complete certain quests but they are not with you for long.  This lack of a traditional rpg party forces your character to be more flexible than he might be if he had more people with him.  For example in a normal rpg if you had a big warrior character you wouldn't bother to learn magic to unlock a door because you could just have the nerdy wizard in your party cast the spell but here you would be screwed unless you had a magic item that accomplished the same thing.  But these are minor things not worth taking away a star for.

  Anyway, this is easily the best rpg I have ever played.  I have spent more time on this game than any other rpg, the only game I have played as much is the romance of the three kingdoms series which is a different style of game altogether.
2844264
This game is great. Everything you come to expect within the Marvel Universe is set within this game. As Spider-Man you have the ability to roam the city of New York, stopping various crimes from occurring and saving the people of New York.

I love how the different aspects of the Marvel universe are combined in this game. You interact with Shield, Wolverine and other countless characters within this game. You can also switch your suit from the red to black and vice versa. This allows the player to unleash some deadly combos on your enemies. If you side with the black suit path, bad guys will side with you. With the red side the good guys will side with you. The game, if you decide to skip all the side missions, is short but if you complete all the side missions, the game is quite fun.

So if you're on the fence pick this game up! I was able to secure a copy at Blockbuster for 25 bucks! If you're a true Spiderman fan, this a game for you!
2540988
Arcanis is simply my favorite fantasy role-playing game setting. It has a basis in "real world" history, using the era of the Roman Empire as its basis, but then shapes its own very memorable world. The setting has just about a perfect balance of detailed history and open setting for a gamemaster or player to enjoy. In particular, the way it handles religion is probably the most realistic I've seen in an RPG, capturing the criticality of its role in culture (and the power of divine "magic"), the sense of mystery inherent in religion, the social and political ties that come with it, and probably most importantly the importance of mortals' free will in its practice. One can approach the game from many different perspectives or world-views and still find it engaging.

The game system itself is intriguing. It has the most deliberate character creation system I've ever seen, helping the player think through archetype, background and skillset, and shaping skills and character abilities based on those backgrounds while still allowing customization through notions of Talents (similar to Feats in d20 or Edges in Savage Worlds) and other elements. It's a lot like the Traveler character generation in some ways, except with more character building decisions and a LOT more world background buit in. "Rules-lite" players may quail at this process, but one emerges with a far better picture of your character than in most game systems.

One of the most unique features of the system is the ability to be able to perform "weapon tricks" if you are proficient with a weapon, you can perform special actions with that weapon, and combine those tricks with each other or with "martial techniques" that a player learns at creation or over time. This has the feel of a "heroic action" like one gets in Savage Worlds or the White Wolf systems while providing a variety of choices of actions for martial characters. Martial characters are definitely not short-changed in this system, which is a pet peeve of mine with some systems.

Gameplay revolves around a 2d10 roll, which drives rolls more towards the mean than on a wide distribution, adding a dice roll for attribute that can explode. As a result, optimized characters are more powerful on average than in some systems--small modifier differences can throw the distribution considerably in favor of those players--but luck plays a role in equalizing things for characters.

Combat is interesting but long. It plays like a combination of d20 and Savage Worlds, in many ways, which is hard to conceptualize in theory but interesting in practice. Combat is run on a White Wolf-style clock instead of formal initiative, which is a fantastic dynamic if a bit hard for the gamemaster. Combats tend to drag out--in general terms, it is really hard to get a one- (or even two-) shot kill in the system on anything but the "minion" NPCs which means that neither the players nor their foes go down quickly or easily. While not approaching the complexity of a Hero System combat, it is a bit of work to run one of these combats.

I could say a lot more, but I mostly recommend that people buy the book and read through on their own. The world setting alone is worth it, but the game system is fantastic and a worthy addition. Adherents of an existing system will find something to like in the system. My biggest complaint is that the system is too tied to the setting at the moment--if I were younger and had more time, I'd adapt it to other settings for those who don't want to play in this world.

Great stuff!
4034473
I found this game to be more fun that any other RPG I've played.  While the story doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat, it is interesting and takes many unforseen and amusing turns.  The items system is the best thing about this game.  It is based off of the use of alchemy, where you create items as Visse using components.  Once you have unlocked an item by creating it once, you can make more of them wherever you are using elements which are found across the world.  The result is that you are not afraid to use items, which makes the game far more enjoyable. At the same time, money is still important as you need it to buy recipies so you can create armor, accessories, and more expendable items.  I suppose the item system makes the game less challenging, but I was too busy having fun to notice.

The battle system is innovative, and still remains simple.  You can use a break attack, which delays the enemies turn and can allow you to do critical damage if you keep the enemy broken.  You can use a charge attack which increases your skill bar, allowing your team to use powerful special attacks or healing magic.  Or you can a skill or item.  Simply breaking an enemy is not a path to victory, as bosses will not stay broken for long and will just bash you while you are doing small amounts of damage because you are not using skills.  Against normal enemies, they show up in groups so it is rare you can keep them all broken unless they are so weak they die in one or two hits anyway.  A combination of breaking, charging, and skills is required to effectively defeat enemies.

A large part of the game is spent playing as Viesse on Eden where there are no battles.  However, even this part is surprisingly fun.  As Viesse you go around Eden making pacts with Mana spirits to increase your alchemy abilities and to help the people who live there.  Her part of the game is primarily character development as you learn about those who live on Eden and what Felt, the other main character, is up against.

The characters are an amusing group of rebels freeing a Kingdom that has been conquered by a foreign empire.  The graphics are not amasing, but suit the world very well.  The voiceovers add alot to that characters, giving them a great deal of personality.  Between the item system and the skill bar systems, I never found myself worried that I'm running low on mana and items deep into the dungeon.  Overall, I would describe this game as easy and convenient.  It's the kind of game that doesn't challenge you too much, but also doesn't have any of those frustrating moments that  usually accompany a more challenging title.
3432080
Classic game and a superhero? What could be a better combination?!?! Young children will love this game and it makes a great gift as well!
1266283
I have  been playing Arcanum for a week or so.  Its a lot of fun, and there is so much to do.  I love being able to make a character with a real person's set of skills and "interests".  Its a huge open-ended and enjoyable world.  The sheer variety of quests and twists and turns is fabulous.  I love it.
The downsides are some issues with it slowing down, and some places where you just cannot see what is happening.  The graphics are somewhat dated, but I don't really worry about those, and the voice acting is great.
This a huge step up from games like Diablo where you hack monsters and open chests for hours.  There is real thinking and problem solving.  A great RPG, for all its lack of polish.
4738016
This RPG was one of the many games that were on my "wish list" for quite some time.  The moment that I started playing this game, I simply couldn't put it down!  I've only logged in a few hours so far, so I can't wait to finish the rest of it!

Luminous Arc 1 & 2 are another take on a turn-based, chess-piece game -- it's you against your foes.  If you are familiar with the Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, or Shining Force series, then you should have no problem with Luminous Arc 1 & 2.  There are some slight differences between the 2 games, yet I don't really prefer one over the other.

The meat of this game is the lush soundtrack, graphics, and the engaging battle sequences.  The storyline is soap opera, as is with many other RPG's, but it leaves you wanting more, as if you were reading a novel or waiting on a cliffhanger.  You will eventually understand the logistics of Luminous Arc 1 & 2 once you've gotten through the first few chapters.  There's also a guild for side quests (as in the Final Fantasy Tactics series) if you want to gain more experience.  The controls and the menu selections are very easy to navigate too.  I especially enjoy the battle music.

I strongly recommend that you order both Luminous Arc 1 & 2 from Amazon.  It is worth every single penny and every minute of your time.
1215533
Although I haven't owned this game (I've rented it countless times), I love it and would recommend it to anyone who loves RPG's.  I like the fact that you can pick from one of seven characters, each of which has different strengths and weaknesses.  It's really cool too that you can meet up with the other six characters throughout the game.
3845703
This is one of the funest superhero games i have played. It includes 5 great and popular superheros. Captain America, Iron Man,Spider-Man, The Hulk & None other than Wolverine from the X-Men. The heroes have sworn to protect earth no matter what and thats what they uttend to do in this action packed video game presented from supernintendo.

If you liked this game check out the sequel to it Marvel Superheros figting edition
2592955
This game is addictive and incredibly fun.  The dragon riding is a one of kind thing for video games and it's awesome!  There are several levels with side quests that keep you occupied for a long, enjoyable time.  You choose from a variety of weapons and magic spells and cool things happen when you use them in battle against an array of assailants.  I definately consider this a must have game if you own a PS2.
2320114
Dungeon Defenders is a shining example of why the indie game revolution has been so great for gaming.  A few short years ago, a game like this would have probably been too risky for a big publisher to take a chance on, but thanks to rise of the downloadable space and all the creativity it has unleashed, we are able to get gems like Dungeon Defenders beamed to our hard drives that provide hours of fun for a great price.

Dungeon Defenders takes two genres that have been mainstays on PCs for years, tower defense and action RPG, and fuses them together brilliantly.  After creating your character from a choice of 4 classes, you are thrust into an area where you have to protect a centrally-located crystal from waves of enemies.  In addition to setting up your defenses (which are unique to each class), you are involved in real time combat against the invading enemies.  Many enemies drop loot once they're killed, whether it be new weapons, armor, or equipment.  The brilliant move here is that you will eventually accumulate weapons and gear for all the game's classes of heroes, including the ones that you are playing as in your current game.  These items can be managed in-game, or from a tavern that serves as your hub world in between battles (the tavern also has a merchant and the helpful added feature of practice dummies to experiment with your new battle moves and abilities).  Since all this loot can be stored in a huge item box, it encourages you to create new characters and experiment with the different loadouts using the loot you've gained in your battles.  In addition to the loot system, each character class has skill trees that you can develop over time to boost character skills, tower attributes and special abilities.  The option to purchase via DLC many other classes of heroes aside from the original 4 adds lots of gameplay potential, and the developers do a marvelous job supporting the game via downloadable updates and patches.  Dungeon Defenders is a great bang for your buck, and given its vast content and addictive gameplay, it's a game that you'll likely spend lots of time with.

Dungeon Defenders is also a great-looking game that utilizes the Unreal 3 engine to bring a very attractive, cartoonish, almost cel-shaded art style to vivid life.  Character animations are great, and the game has a good sense of humor to it.  Also worth mentioning is that Dungeon Defenders is a game that really comes to life when you play it cooperatively.  Not only does the game get quite difficult when playing solo, but it also feels kind of incomplete.  Playing with other defenders of different classes allows you to utilize all the different types of class-specific defenses to create numerous strategic traps that are delightful to see in action.  Also, with the different combat styles available in a multi-class cooperative game, you'll have much better chances of surviving and getting that all important XP and loot while protecting your territory from the evil hordes.  My only complaint about the game is that it can be quite overwhelming to the new player.  There are lots of numbers, meters and icons on the screen, and most of it is not explained very well, particularly when you are comparing different stats of equipment pieces you come across.  Also, managing your inventory chest can be a convoluted process, as the menus can get quite messy.  But it's a learning curve that can be overcome, and it gives you another reason to play the game with some friends, as you can learn faster together, or a more seasoned player can always get you up to speed much more quickly.

Overall, I've found Dungeon Defenders to be one of the most surprising, enjoyable indie games that I've played, and I always look forward to playing the game on Steam with friends.  The hours will fly by as you strategize together to defend your crystal, slay monsters, and collect loot.  Don't miss this joyful game, especially if you enjoy tower defense and action RPGs with lots of loot and leveling.
1786115
Here is the short version of why you should by this game, assuming you want to run a superhero RPG.  YOU CAN MAKE AN ABERRANT CHARACTER WITHOUT A CALCULATOR!!!  Seriously, you MIGHT need a extra sheet of paper to check off your points... maybe your character sheets margin.  But for a superhero game this has GREAT character creation.  Just try to name a serious superhero RPG that you don't need a Calculator for.  While the rules are execltent.  The world leaves a little to be desired.  White Wolf is famous for having an "offical" storyline going on in the background of all their games.  Hell it makes sure that fans will keep buying books, just so they can figure out what the heck is going on.  Thus, they cannot tell you everything going on in the world.  What I have seen of the world, it is very interesting and dynamic.  Leading up to where Aberrant ends, and the "Trinity" story begins.  But honestly a good superhero system is more than worth the price of admission.
1165647
I was a little surprised how good this superhero sandbox game was. The controls were perfect and graphics gorgeous, the mission variety were better than most sandbox clone. The story was well written, albeit a bit cliche and bland at some part but voice acting well-done overall. The story has a few good twists and turns and a pretty surprising ending. Choosing Morality is a big part of the game, like any Bioware RPG. My only complain was that the powers of either good or evil didn't make too much of a difference and the fact that 1 decision in the game could change your alignment somewhat rubs me the wrong way (though perhaps realistic). I recommend this to sandbox lovers who enjoys a strong narrative and entertaining gameplay.
749703
One of the best games I've played in a long time. A friend introduced me to it, and I enjoyed it so much that I had to get my own copy. I went ahead and got all of the expansions at the same time, and don't regret it in the least. They do a great job capturing the feel of classic comics and dragging players along into the theme.
1583712
Radiant Historia is a terrific game with traditional RPG features such as leveling up and turn based game-play, but mixes in innovative strategy in the form of a grid-based field, positioning of enemies, combos, and the switching of turns between player and enemy characters. The story is incredibly complex and involves traveling back and forth between alternate storylines where decisions in one will affect another. The music and story combine for an emotionally deep experience that belies its cartoonish animation style. There are also a wealth of side-quests that are worked into the main story in ways that are challenging and surprising; side quests in this game, unlike those in many others, are often unique and not just the straightforward "kill something" or "bring something" fare that most games offer. If you want a deep and emotionally impactful story with characters that are well developed and gameplay that is challenging and creative, then this is the game for you.