Summary
Western RPGs continue to be one of the most dominant genres in the video games industry, with players loving the idea of either controlling a solo hero or giving orders to a party. Dictating the growth of the main heroes is important for players to be strong enough to tackle mid and late-game enemies, especially in the case ofRPGs that boast intricate class systems.
It becomes important for players to make a decision on the class they want to control, compelling them to invest points in a manner that helps them make the most of their abilities. It can be overwhelming at times, but players will love the idea of controlling heroes with unique classes as they lay waste to the many hapless enemies that stand in their way.
Baldur’s Gate 3isone of the greatest CRPGs ever made, accomplishing the impossible goal of living up to the legacy of its predecessors — and even surpassing it, in the eyes of many. This beautiful CRPG is full to the brim with meaningful role-playing options and a class system that helps every party member feel interesting and unique to use in combat.
Players don’t have to worry about being stuck to a class, since they can always revert their choices and start from the beginning to dictate each party member’s progression. Players will love using a wealth of unique class abilities to lay waste to their foes in style, teaming up to take on the toughest foes without breaking a sweat.
To this day, none oftheDragon Agegameshave featured the same amount of gameplay depth and variety as the title that started it all.Dragon Age: Originswas special, and it catapulted the series to the very top as one of the most riveting video game IPs of all time.
It helped that the game was jam-packed with replayability and gameplay variety, with players getting to choose one of three classes that they can further specialize in to gain access to unique movesets. This — coupled with several distinct origin stories customized to race, class, or caste — ensures that players can clock in multiple playthroughs inDragon Age: Originswithout getting bored.
BeforeBaldur’s Gate 3, Larian Entertainment wowed CRPG veterans withDivinity: Original Sin 2, one of the deepest and most complex games in the genre to release at that point. The addition of Physical and Magical Armor meant that specializing in certain builds was more important than ever before, which made multiclassing less viable in the eyes of many.
However, this was a small price to pay for players who could take on the role of unique classes and beat down their opposition in style. Given how the difficulty of this game peaks in both the early and late game, it’simportant to quickly learn how these classes workand retain this information until the very end of a memorable adventure.
For an action RPG that focuses on frenetic combat scenarios, it’s amazing to see just how varied the classes inMass Effect 2are. A player’s approach in combat varies based on the build they pursue, with Shepard being a joy to control no matter what players decide for their class.
Players can specialize into one of six main classes, each of which is a joy to control. Vanguards can jump into the fray of combat and use shotguns to obliterate enemies up close, while Engineers hack enemy tech and use special abilities to support the crew in battle.
It’s a shame thatVampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlineswas released in a broken state on the same day as one of the most revolutionary video games of all time (Half-Life 2). This prevented a lot of players from enjoying the magic of this unique Western RPG where every vampire type felt unique.
Two notable highlights here are the Nosferatu and Malkavian clans. The latter is so grotesque that merely being seen in public is enough to violate the Masquerade, while the latter is insane and talks in riddles. It’s a great way to enhance the game’s variety, ensuring that players will have a great time controlling the player character as they navigate the seedy underbelly of this game and get roped into a struggle betweendifferent vampiric factions.
At a glance,Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoningmay not seem like a deep Western RPG for players who want to mess around with different classes. However, it takes a few hours before players get to see the variety of gameplay options at a player’s behest based on the choices they make.
The three class trees of Might, Finesse, and Sorcery are pretty unique, and most people agree that the optimal way to build upthe Fateless One’s skills. However, there’s nothing wrong with multiclassing and enjoying the best of every class tree, especially since the game can become a bit too easy for players who only level up a single tree instead of diversifying.
Dragon’s Dogma 2might have been developed in Japan, but it’s clear that this title channels the energy of Western RPGs in its gameplay and aesthetic. The sequel may have launched on a sour note due to some performance issues, but it has slowly won over players as a great sequel that expands on the core gameplay mechanics of the first game.
The best thing aboutDragon’s Dogma 2is thatevery Vocation is a joy to control in battle, finally addressing the struggles of fans who felt that a magic-heavy playthrough in such games felt a bit too passive for their liking. Once players get to mess around with Advanced Vocations, the gameplay ofDragon’s Dogma 2opens up even further and makes every boss encounter a joy to experience.
The firstPillars of Eternitygame is a great modern CRPG that made the most of its Kickstarter backing, and fans expected more from its sequel. While the narrative itself may not have been its strongest point,Pillars of Eternity 2more than made up for it with its enhanced gameplay options.
Players could finally multiclass and make the best of both worlds, able to build up Focus as a Barbarian before unleashing a powerful Cipher ability to obliterate their enemies in no time. These amazing combinations helped the class system ofPillars of Eternity 2stand out as the very best that this genre has to offer.
