Games that are like RPGs but are not

[MeshGearFox]

Vagrant Story pauses when you attack and IIRC your stats determine if blows actually land. It's straight-up RPG.

Anyway, if you feel like it, you could get a Dreamcast. Then you have access to shenmue, elemental gimmick gear, shadowman, maken x, D2, and Deep Fighter, although those are all predominately sci-fi.

I can see Rayman 2 fitting the bill here, by the way. PS2 version is probably the best. Also the original PS2 version of Legend of Kay. A lot of 3D platformers have quite the RPG feel without being RPGs.

Rocket Slime on the DS might be another good choice. Interesting twist on a Zelda-style game.

[Aeolus]

Eh. It's more involved than your usual RPG and that's what counts in my book.

And speaking of my book, any Ratchet and Clank game is usually good, but very science fiction in an almost Futurama-ese sort of way.

[Fyle]

Gotta agree with Yoda.

I back Red Dead Redemption when anyone asks for a recommendation that doesn't have to strictly be an RPG. The game is near perfect imo.

It has many elements of RPGs.

- exploration
- great story and amazing ending (you'll be hard pressed to find a better one anywhere)
- items to collect (including outfits and horses)
- plenty of acheivements to unlock
- nice variety of enemy types
- ablities to learn (not quite like an RPG, but you gain them as you progress all the same)

Can't say enough good things about this game without a rant.

[Darklight]

Way of the Samurai 3 IS on the 360, though I doubt WotS4 will ever show up there.

So aftershopping for wots3 on XB yesterday, I was advised more then once that there wasn't an Australian release, what I did buy was Sh Downpour.

Hey OP, GTA4 Ballad of gay Tony. This is cheap now, good exploration though no historical references