Creating a story isn't really all that hard to do, and lets not pretend as if Bioware sets a new standard for storytelling.
There have been many companies that were able to create games in Unique settings with good storylines that didn't involve a generic fantasy setting or a generic sci fi setting with laser swords and laser guns.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
Hold on Snow Leopard, imma let you finish, but Windows had one of the best operating systems of all time.
If the Powerball lottery was like Lotro, nobody would win for 2 years, and then everyone in Nebraska would win on the same day. And then Nebraska would get nerfed.-pinkwood lotro fourms
AMD 4800 2.4ghz-3GB RAM 533mhz-EVGA 9500GT 512mb-320gb HD
Creating a story isn't really all that hard to do, and lets not pretend as if Bioware sets a new standard for storytelling.
There have been many companies that were able to create games in Unique settings with good storylines that didn't involve a generic fantasy setting or a generic sci fi setting with laser swords and laser guns.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Creating a story isn't really all that hard to do, and lets not pretend as if Bioware sets a new standard for storytelling.
There have been many companies that were able to create games in Unique settings with good storylines that didn't involve a generic fantasy setting or a generic sci fi setting with laser swords and laser guns.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Well as the saying goes friend. "Don't fix something if it is't broken" The old Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, and D&D style worlds are still used because people still enjoy them. I for one still enjoy a good fantasy game/mmo even if it still uses the same old "worlds". To you it may seem dull, but maybe that is because your tastes are moving away from these style games? All i know is while there is a fanbase for said games they will still produce them in these older Scifi/fantasy settings. On a side note, T.W.E.W.Y. is in no way a org world setting, from about 1992 to 2005 there were a number of japanesse games with the same theme (it was a trend), and more then a few made it stateside/global
Creating a story isn't really all that hard to do, and lets not pretend as if Bioware sets a new standard for storytelling.
There have been many companies that were able to create games in Unique settings with good storylines that didn't involve a generic fantasy setting or a generic sci fi setting with laser swords and laser guns.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Well as the saying goes friend. "Don't fix something if it is't broken" The old Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, and D&D style worlds are still used because people still enjoy them. I for one still enjoy a good fantasy game/mmo even if it still uses the same old "worlds". To you it may seem dull, but maybe that is because your tastes are moving away from these style games? All i know is while there is a fanbase for said games they will still produce them in these older Scifi/fantasy settings. On a side note, T.W.E.W.Y. is in no way a org world setting, from about 1992 to 2005 there were a number of japanesse games with the same theme (it was a trend), and more then a few made it stateside/global
{mod edit - tidied it up for you}
Name some games which had a modern day tokyo as a setting.
Creating a story isn't really all that hard to do, and lets not pretend as if Bioware sets a new standard for storytelling.
There have been many companies that were able to create games in Unique settings with good storylines that didn't involve a generic fantasy setting or a generic sci fi setting with laser swords and laser guns.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Well as the saying goes friend. "Don't fix something if it is't broken" The old Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, and D&D style worlds are still used because people still enjoy them. I for one still enjoy a good fantasy game/mmo even if it still uses the same old "worlds". To you it may seem dull, but maybe that is because your tastes are moving away from these style games? All i know is while there is a fanbase for said games they will still produce them in these older Scifi/fantasy settings. On a side note, T.W.E.W.Y. is in no way a org world setting, from about 1992 to 2005 there were a number of japanesse games with the same theme (it was a trend), and more then a few made it stateside/global
{mod edit - tidied it up for you}
Name some games which had a modern day tokyo as a setting.
The World Ends With You
And then Shenmue is close enough. Not quite Japan, but close enough. Modern day China.
Isn't JRPG's are all about some girl looking dude teaming up with a rich chick, a chick from his home village and though guy, then going on about killing the god (or an evil corporation or whatever) itself while having crappy turn based battles in the middle? I mean, yeah of course there are some differences, but it basically comes down to this level if you try hard enough. Which is exactly what some posters are saying about western RPGs.
If you do answer this post with "there is more to it than that you silly little man" cliché, well, there is more than that to western RPG's as well, its just a matter of perspective.
Personally, I liked Black Isle games better, I also liked KotOR II more than the first. Still, I can't think of any Bioware game that I didn't liked loved. If its half as good as Neverwinter Nights 2 (surprise, another Black Isle Obsidian game), I'll be happy.
Comments
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
Hold on Snow Leopard, imma let you finish, but Windows had one of the best operating systems of all time.
If the Powerball lottery was like Lotro, nobody would win for 2 years, and then everyone in Nebraska would win on the same day.
And then Nebraska would get nerfed.-pinkwood lotro fourms
AMD 4800 2.4ghz-3GB RAM 533mhz-EVGA 9500GT 512mb-320gb HD
Got my CE preorder in, I'm confident it'll be as good as I think it will be.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Well as the saying goes friend. "Don't fix something if it is't broken" The old Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, and D&D style worlds are still used because people still enjoy them. I for one still enjoy a good fantasy game/mmo even if it still uses the same old "worlds". To you it may seem dull, but maybe that is because your tastes are moving away from these style games? All i know is while there is a fanbase for said games they will still produce them in these older Scifi/fantasy settings. On a side note, T.W.E.W.Y. is in no way a org world setting, from about 1992 to 2005 there were a number of japanesse games with the same theme (it was a trend), and more then a few made it stateside/global
{mod edit - tidied it up for you}
Sorry for the post within your post, im dead tired. Didnt even notice untill afterwords
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Well as the saying goes friend. "Don't fix something if it is't broken" The old Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, and D&D style worlds are still used because people still enjoy them. I for one still enjoy a good fantasy game/mmo even if it still uses the same old "worlds". To you it may seem dull, but maybe that is because your tastes are moving away from these style games? All i know is while there is a fanbase for said games they will still produce them in these older Scifi/fantasy settings. On a side note, T.W.E.W.Y. is in no way a org world setting, from about 1992 to 2005 there were a number of japanesse games with the same theme (it was a trend), and more then a few made it stateside/global
{mod edit - tidied it up for you}
Name some games which had a modern day tokyo as a setting.
So uhhhh what stories or universes have you created? After all not that hard. How many rpgs have you played recently? For the past few years the only RPG with a story that even came close imo to Bioware was Fallout 3. DId you play and beat ME? When I hit the hidden planet I couldn't stop playing untill I beat the game. Its much like when Im reading a book. I know I hit the point of no return and Ill read through till the end. Can't put the game/book down and Mass Effect was one of those games. The story was well crafted and I enjoyed the universe they created.
What needs to be put in a fantasy setting that makes it unique? A amazing story can't be enough? O look space ships and guns its a "fill in the blank" rip off better not play it. Just because its elves dwarfs and dragons does not mean its your generic game and that Bioware can't craft it into a epic.
I haven't created stories or universes because my job doesn't require me to do it nor is it one my hobbies.
Did I play ME? yes. Beat it? No. I really did not like the game. The combat wasn't nearly as good as other third person shooters and the RPG elements just got in the way and slowed the game down. In my opinion, the game would be much better if they either went with an RPG combat system or a third person combat system instead of this dull hybrid.
What I have experienced of Mass Effect was dull and generic. The space setting was completely generic, the storyline involved your main character becoming a part of an elite group, one of that elite group is a betrayer ofcourse and there is an ancient evil. Been there, done that, It wasn't bad, the writing was pretty good and the characters were decent enough, but I played games with a much better storyline. also, keep in mind that a setting and storyline are two very different things. What i' dislike about Bioware games are their settings.
What I think needs to be put in a fantasy setting is originality. Craft a new world with its own look, people and traditions. If you don't want to do that, then use a subject that isn't used very often. Take The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS as an example. It's an RPG that uses a stylish modern Tokyo pop culture as a setting, I have never seen anything like it. Do we really need another Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars inspired game?
How many RPGs I played recently? I played quite a few but I don't really beat them much anymore. Over the past few years I played Oblivion, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey and a couple more I didn't play for very long.
Out of those, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's storyline the most.
Well as the saying goes friend. "Don't fix something if it is't broken" The old Star Wars, Star Trek, LOTR, and D&D style worlds are still used because people still enjoy them. I for one still enjoy a good fantasy game/mmo even if it still uses the same old "worlds". To you it may seem dull, but maybe that is because your tastes are moving away from these style games? All i know is while there is a fanbase for said games they will still produce them in these older Scifi/fantasy settings. On a side note, T.W.E.W.Y. is in no way a org world setting, from about 1992 to 2005 there were a number of japanesse games with the same theme (it was a trend), and more then a few made it stateside/global
{mod edit - tidied it up for you}
Name some games which had a modern day tokyo as a setting.
The World Ends With You
And then Shenmue is close enough. Not quite Japan, but close enough. Modern day China.
Check out the MUD I'm making!
Isn't JRPG's are all about some girl looking dude teaming up with a rich chick, a chick from his home village and though guy, then going on about killing the god (or an evil corporation or whatever) itself while having crappy turn based battles in the middle? I mean, yeah of course there are some differences, but it basically comes down to this level if you try hard enough. Which is exactly what some posters are saying about western RPGs.
If you do answer this post with "there is more to it than that you silly little man" cliché, well, there is more than that to western RPG's as well, its just a matter of perspective.
Personally, I liked Black Isle games better, I also liked KotOR II more than the first. Still, I can't think of any Bioware game that I didn't liked loved. If its half as good as Neverwinter Nights 2 (surprise, another Black Isle Obsidian game), I'll be happy.