Is New Vegas the most amazing RPG ever? If not, why does it fall short?

Planescape still holds top rank with the Baldur's gate series in second place.

I think NV was up there in this new age of action RPGs however.

Nope, I still play Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 after a decade, New Vegas, it's wearing on me, even with mods.

[edit]

Oh wait, you asked for reasons why.
Well, why I liked Fallout 1/2 in comparison to other isometric games is not just the turn-based combat or the art style but SPECIAL and it's skills.
Sure, Planescape is also a damn fine RPG, but it has that yucky stat system that doesn't feel like it's very... RPG'ish...
Let me explain, a character with 5 in STR in Fallout means it's average, I can picture the character being a average person in terms of muscles.
A person with 7 in STR I am going to perceive differently.
Not just in how I imagine them looking like, but also how they place. 5 and 7 in STR is a big difference.

But in an RPG like Planescape, what does it's stats actually "mean"?
I don't mean the effects of the stats, but rather what each number really "means".
Let me explain, in Dragon Age Origins and 2 I can raise my STR each level right.
But raising it for a rouge and mage does nothing good, it isn't a worthful investment and doesn't feel very RPG'ish.
I can choose to be a buff mage if I want to but it comes at the sacrifice of being crap at magic.
And what does 16 in STR and 78 in STR actually mean?
I know the characters doesn't change their models but still, what does 1 in STR mean and what does 100 in STR mean?
Does it mean that by the start of the game I'm like a starving child in a third world country?
Same goes for other things.

I have no idea what each stat point really "mean".

But in Fallout's SPECIAL it's simple and effective, I love that.
Each point means something, 5 is average, <4 is below average and 6> is above average.
I can even use SPECIAL on myself.

S 5
P 7
E 4
C 4
I 6
A L
L 3

That is my SPECIAL.
That is why I love SPECIAL, I can picture a character I want to have and create it with the stat system to fit said character throughout the game.

But in a game where each level my stats fluctuate I fail to see the importance of each stat point beyond a mere +3 in melee attack or +5 in mana.

So yeah, I love Fallout games, the earlier ones, especially because of SPECIAL.

Not the best ever but certainly better than Fallout 3

Why is it wearing on you?

I don't even know what an RPG is anymore.

Play Skyrim then.

Oh just everything.
The lack of Legion content.
That reputation doesn't really matter much beyond NCR, Great Khans and Powder Gangers.
That SPECIAL is still such a lackluster.
That the combat is so repetitive.
The barren wasteland.

I think I just need a break from it.
So I'm playing Fallout Tactics instead.

In my opinion, yes. I haven't played one that I've enjoyed more.

The barren wasteland? There's tons of locations.

I wanted to know, is a dinosaur a person who played Fallout 1&2 before Fallout 3?

Technically, yes.
But it's a bit more than just that.
You have to appreciate the former games as Fallout, not flavour material, but Fallout, the originals, the root of the franchise.
And you need to value the way they were designed.

That's the best I can explain it.
But basically, it's someone who loves the older games and see what is flawed with the newer ones and wishes for Fallout 4 and beyond to return to it's roots somewhat or at the very least make a compromise of old gameplay and new.

Of course it's not THE BEST. EVER.


I did play them far before I played Fallout 3 but I don't regard myself a dinosaur. It's essentially video game conservatism, clinging to the past and comparing all things new to the "good old days". From what I've seen in my years as a gamer I don't think I ever saw a sequel-hater who has eventually come to like the new sequels no matter how good they are. Still some take a more sensible approach to it and genuinely consider the old games superior for whatever reason, but looking at the Fallout fansite No Mutants Allowed I would say majority just harbor irrational, nostalgia-fueled hatred for the new generation, feeling intellectually superior in doing so.

Gab Planescape is based in AD&D second edition rule set. 78 str doesn't exist BTW they go from 1-25.

http://www.ancientscrossroads.com/adnd_tools/str_table.htm

so as you see a str 16 can lift 195 lbs over his head at max while the maximum str level could lift 1750 lbs.....

So it just looks like you not informed of the Ad&D rule set as much as you are the SPECIAL one.

Best RPG is the one you make yourself.

In general rule of thumb. Tabletop RPGs are superior when you have campaign you are enjoying.

The most amazing RPG ever is subjective. For me the most amazing RPG is a modded Morrowind. I am sure that other people would feel differently.

I would even say Might and Magic 7 is my favorite unmodded RPG. I doubt many would agree either.

The most amazing RPG ever? That title goes to Planescape: Torment. But Fallout: NV is up there on the list. It's definitely a great game.

Well I can guess what OP's favorite "RPG" is..
Like others stated.. the question and it's answer are highly subjective. For one: RPG's come in different flavors and thus should be viewed as such..
As modern action RPG's go I would rank FO:NV pretty highly..
My favorite RPG would be Dragon Quest VIII though.. but I do realize that that is not everyone's cup of tea...
As for western RPG's: Planescape and FO2 rank highest for me.
As for modern RPG's: Mass Effect 1 and FO:NV
But I can see where Schnakers stands.. pure RPG's are becoming a thing of the past..
(Glaring example: Skyrim has imho gotten so far away from its roots, nerfing its RPG elements, that it is justifyable to call it an action game with RPG elements..)

there is no game that is the best/most amazing ever. there are games that do certain things better (and i might consider some the best at it) however. i love FNV, i can't count how many playthroughs i have. it has some of the best writing i've ever had the joy of experiencing. it also has great weapons. i would classify FNV as an RPG, as it is possible to, you know, actually RP a character. i can't say that for FO3 and definitely not skyrim. mass effect is considered an rpg, but it really isn't; it merely has rpg elements (though i do enjoy the ME series).

what it lacks: combat is solid, not great, not bad. i overlook because the weapons are so good.

environment: overall, i like the game world. some locations are rather weak and enemy numbers are on the low side. all locations associated with quests are done quite well and have tons of stuff. i definitely don't want skyrim type locations (where every time you turn around there's 3 dungeons) but FNV would have benefited greatly from another 6 months dev time to tighten and polish the game world.

planescape torment is a good game, i hated the combat though. would've preferred a turn based system but writing and story is top notch. of course FO1 and FO2 are great and FNV is much closer to being a sequel to those games than FO3 could ever dream of being.

dragon quest series is really good, i played tons of DQVII, i quite enjoy the traditional approach to rpg's.

the original final fantasy on NES is one of my all time favorites. dragon warrior gets a nod too.

no one wants to mention chrono trigger or the ultima series?

the list can go on and on. i love all these games but i could never say one is better than the others. due to tech advances, it can be hard to go back and play the classics. in the current generation of gaming, one character spews more dialogue than final fantasy gives you in an entire game. you simply can't compare, but have to judge each one in their era. but i can safely say, FNV is the best game i've played in many years.

Well I have to say Baldur's Gate(s), because I find myself playing and finishing them almost every year. But other than that, FO 1 and 2, Mount&Blades(though I don't remember are they advertised as RPG's, but statistics and a blank character is enough for me), I'd say Planescape as well but it's been a while since I played it so it's hard to say. As far as newer RPGs go, NV is the only one I like 'that' much.

Neverwinter Nights

WoW

TES 3, 4, 5.

Diablo 2 + LOD

There is no best rpg nor game. But there are those that steal so much time that you cant bring yourself to stop playin them.

My favs are:

Fallout 2
Planescape torment
Deus Ex (original one)
Fallout: New Vegas

Fonv is the most complete rpg ever imo I have played fo1 and fo2 and I do like em' but they just don't compete with fonv it has the best of everything.FF is too fantastical dao is just meh tes lacks certain rpg elements mass effect is. Barely an rpg.

FONV certainly takes the Top of current RPGs for me! It's the BEST game I've played, since Oblivion and Neverwinter Nights and the Half Life Series... oh and of course Fallout 3

Tough to say as the genre has had so many different types of RPG's in it's history. Chrono Trigger was/is a great game. Original Pokeman was great. All-time great is subject to each individual's own opinion. My rankings go

1. Morrowind
2. Final Fantasy 10
3. Fallout: 2
4. Fallout: N/V
5. Zelda:Orcarina of Time