I have found the RPG I was looking for. Turn-based, grid-based, level-up with experience, find cool gear.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Perfect!

A Nintendo GameCube title I am now playing on my Wii console.

So, Jim. It took you two years to get in touch with your RPG side?

I like RPG type games, but don't get into the massive multiplayer online thingies. I can waste more than enough time all by myself.

Lately I've focused on Epic Mickey (or is that considered a platformer?).

My phone has opened a whole new world of stupid resource management games to me.

My second favorite is one where I'm trying to build a drug dealing empire. It's called BT (Big time) Gangsta. In order to earn in-game money, I met my first favorite, Contract Killer, in which I get to shoot people in the head. Both of these are way better than Bug Village, which is very cute, but I have to pay too much attention to it. The damn bugs want tending multiple times a day. My Homeys are cool with me checking in once or twice a day.

So right now I'm downloading Oblivion again. I haven't played in years, should be fun to revisit.

What I've been doing for the last month or so is playing Elder Scrolls III, Morrowind-- arguably the best game in the series for immersion and storytelling. And with a few mods*, totally playable by modern standards.

I tried to get into Daggerfall (part II), but it's a tough sell. The music/atmosphere and retro graphics are charming, and the size/scope of the world is impressive (albeit procedurally generated), and the level of actual ROLE PLAYING is supposed to be higher than any subsequent title, but an even worse version of Morrowind's "dice-roll" attacks make it a chore to play, even with the Unity Engine's addition of WASD movement. Oh, and you can CLIMB.

*Morrowind Graphics Extender, Code Patch, Optimization Patch, Patch for Purists, Animation Compilation, Enhanced Overhaul, Better Heads/Bodies/Clothes/Armor/Dialogue Font, Remiros Groundcover, Darknut's Creatures and Weapons re-textures, Glow in the Dahrk, Enlightened Flames, Idle Talk, Improved Inns, RUN FASTER, Visible Persuasion Chance, Apel's Rain Replacer, Encumbrance Increaser, More Barter Gold, Accurate Attack, Skyrim UI, .... . . .

I beat Daggerfall, despite the bugs. Impressive game, but they definitely bit off more than they could chew.

I know someone who worked on it; the development process sounded insane.

interesting observation
 

if you turn the 'tree distance' slider in Oblivion down to zero, the trees and bushes act just like sprites in Daggerfall-- 'carboard cutouts' that pivot to face towards your pov

I recently started Wasteland 3, a callback to the old Fallout 1 and 2 games.

I started Oblivion last night with Alternative Start Arrive by Ship-- your game begins in the quarters of a traveling ship, on the desk are your immigration papers. The immigration papers initiate your character creation-- race, class, appearance, AND a 'background' which grants you some possessions. You have an option of where the ship will take you. While waiting, you sleep in the bed, and have a dream about the Emperor which gently nudges you towards the main quest.

It avoids the confusion of you being a prophesied "chosen one" when the protagonist and "chosen one" of the game is actually Martin Septim.

It feels pretty good to step off that boat and begin your new life with a back story that doesn't involve you being in jail for whatever reason.

I love the moddability of Bethesda games. Hope it continues after the Microsoft purchase.

What has distinguished Bethesda to this point has been Bethesda the publishing entity being formed by a group of Morrowind-era Bethesda developers. I'd like to think that their consistent ability to produce lightning-in-a-bottle has earned them the right to be free of editorial oversight.

Like Neil Peart said, after Rush made 2112 as a sprawling sci-fi epic, against the advice of literally everyone, and their fans loved it-- that experience was a "skeleton key" which opened a door they could enter, and close behind them. From that point, every work they produced was handed to the record company as a FINISHED set of master tapes. Masters of their own destiny.