Role-playing games are more freeform today than ever before, but that's come at a cost. Over the past ten years I've noticed a gentle slide away from character classes, with an emphasis on building whatever character you like.
On paper it's a great solution, but something special gets lost in the process. Here are nine of the best or most memorable RPG classes, excluding more obvious choices like the fun but generic Warriors and Paladins. I've probably forgotten an absolute corker, so feel free to let me know in the comments below.
1. Sorcerer - Dragon's Dogma
Plenty of other games have worn the badge, but only Dragon's Dogma nails this one with style. After many hours of training up your magical skills, the Sorcerer class opens up a whole new world of utterly ridiculous stuff to do. Skyrim's magic is a bit of a laugh, but you can't beat the ability to whip up a whirlwind that's a hundred feet high. Meteor strikes from the sky are a bonus.
10 comments so far...
Clanger67 on 19 Jul '12 said:
Yeah agree with a few of those.The sorcerers in DD are phenominal,especially the higher they Lvl up,saved my Mystic Knights ass quite a few times,lol.Still yet to get into Dark Souls but have heard good things.
OXM ETboy on 19 Jul '12 said:
I'd have gone with the Siren and Mystic Knight myself. And no mention of Dragoons? Bloody kids.
Plamsa wing on 19 Jul '12 said:
We're missing a very important part of player character choice here, the Jack of all Trades. Might not be the best at anything, but I need a little bit of melee in my life,
a little bit of magic at my side,
a little bit of ranged combat's what I need,
a little bit of that, makes it the best.
skellen79 on 19 Jul '12 said:
Was that supposed to be to the tune of Mambo No. 5? lol
I can never be arsed to go with the magic guys though. You normally are so ineffective to start with and that just turns me off.
Plamsa wing on 20 Jul '12 said:
Might have been, had it in my head all bloody day. Haven't heard it in years and still know the words. Get in!
CunningSmile on 20 Jul '12 said:
Without the singing I'm the same. It's one reason I'm not crying about Splinter Cell becoming more action focused and really looking forward to Dishonoured, I've always been a 'whatever works' sort of player and like to have a LOT of options rather than be funnelled down one particular play style.
Grummy on 20 Jul '12 said:
Agreed. It's one reason why I don't get on well with games at higher difficulties and usually never bother playing them. Games on harder difficulties tend towards the 'you do this section THIS WAY' sort of gameplay, and I hate that, completely ruins the experience for me. That's not to say that all free choice games are brilliant, some just don't work, but as a rule it does make for much better gameplay. Although, sometimes, too much freedom can be a bad thing. it's one great failing in the Bethesda games imo, they strive too hard for complete freedom and 'anyone can do absolutely anything', and sometimes they miss great opportunities. In Skyrim for example, they had a great opportunity to let Altmer and Bosmer players join the Thalmor, but didn't. They could have done much more with the Civil War story had they had 3 separate factions for you to join, limited by which race you chose. It's something Bethesda never do, and I understand why, but they lose something in the process. A great example is the different guilds. Being able to complete the fighters guild as a mage for example is fairly poor, being able to be an Assassin in heavy armour and warhammer is slightly ridiculous. They would be better served streamlining a lot of the game and its experiences. i'm not saying completely block things like the guilds off, but require specific skill sets to advance, providing ambient missions to help players increase those required skills, rewarding players greatly for moving through the missions and guild storyline using those skills rather than just doing it as you like. In the end, if you still want to charge through the fighters guild throwing fireballs then go for it, but you need the skill levels required to progress and you lose out on certain rewards for doing so.
CunningSmile on 20 Jul '12 said:
@ Grummy
That's one (of many) reasons Morrowind is my favorite ES game. I really liked the fact the guilds were basically at war and if you joined for instance the Fighters Guild the Thieves kicked you out. Made the whole thing feel like a real world with stuff going on even when you weren't there rather than just a long list of things that needed doing.
CHIEFRAPTOR on 20 Jul '12 said:
Two words for you: Sith Marauder
On KOTOR 2 when you got to a high enough level you could become one of these bad boys. Not much better than dual wielding lightsabers whilst covered head to toe in Heavy Mandalorian battle armour whilst scything through anything that moves. Badass.
Logan316 on 21 Jul '12 said:
Locke was not a thief, he was a TREASURE HUNTER!