A little rant on modern RPG's...

[f'nar f'nar]

And by RPG I mean role playing game, not the rocket launcher variety.

With all the technological advancements in video game graphics technology one would expect that RPG's would be the kinds of games most likely to benefit.
When you think about it the biggest asset to most role playing games is a compelling story line and a healthy dose of emotion thrown into the mix. Final Fantasy VII for instance had an amazing story line that really caught the players attention and made them want to know how it all ended, couple this with amazing game play and there is little to no doubt why FF7 is a benchmark for all modern RPGs.
One would assume that emotions are portrayed better if one can clearly see the emotion on the characters face and hear it in their voice. Once again, imagine if FF7 (or even 8) had graphics like we see in modern games like FF13, Heavy Rain, FIFA10, GOWIII etc. It's like having a conversation on the phone with someone, you only get half the story because you can't see their face.
Nowadays however RPG's seem to be lacking in... something. It's like the game developers thought that since the graphics are amazing then there's no point working as hard on the story line or other features of the game.
Lets take Final Fantasy XIII, the latest SquareEnix release. Here we see a game that is more or less the pinnacle of modern video game graphics and, for all intents and purposes, SHOULD be amazing. But it's not. It's just not. Why? Because the game designers let themselves down, again, on the story.
Anyone who has played 13 knows that the story is both atrocious and poorly explained. There is little to no in game dialogue that explains what the hell is going on in the plot or what relevance certain events or people have to the story, I didn't even know who the main protagonist was until I actually fought the final boss. The game expects you to read built in notes that are unlocked as you progress through the game... I bought the game to play and to enjoy, not to read endless pages of text. I'm only prepared to read text in games when there are no voice actors, which is acceptable.
Recently I began a new game in the original Wild Arms for PS1, the graphics are shocking the game itself is glitchy and at time just plain broken. But even then it's 10 times the game FF13 ever was or will be, because the story is fun and clearly explained both by the characters and by the narrating voice. Same goes for all the Final Fantasy series before 8, they all had amazing stories and I was enthralled every step of the way.
Sure, you can dazzle me with eye candy all day long, but it doesn't change the fact that I bought the game to become immersed in the world I'm being shown, something that most modern RPGs fail to allow.

tl;dr - Modern RPGs are shocking, old RPG's rule.

/rant

[Mark Latimour]

Get Fallout 3.

/thread.

[santucci218]

best RPG i ever played to date is Dark Cloud 2, anyways, i agree with you.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

For what it's worth, there have been plenty guff RPG's as long as they have been about.

I've seen a lot of slandering of FF13, but to be honest, it's one of my favourite RPG's. (second favourite FF game, as you say, you can't really beat FF7, a re-release with the same gameplay would be awesome).

I wouldn't say it is poorly explained at all either, no more so than any other FF game. I dare say, this one has more stuff for the player to read, so, I dare say if you don't keep up on reading the stuff as it's added, you could get lost.

Also, I'm going to disagree with all the FF games before 8 having great stories. They have all been pretty good games, but quite a few of them have had utterly crud story lines!

It does take more than graphics to make a good game, yes, but you have also fallen into the rut where "everything that is older is better" (the only game series I can think that, without a doubt, that is true, is command and conquer), as opposed to taking a game on it's own merits.

[playinpearls]

you and my dad could talk for years about this...lol

He has every RPG made before 1998... Mostly super nintendo...

Final fantasy 6 rocks

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

It does take more than graphics to make a good game, yes, but you have also fallen into the rut where "everything that is older is better" (the only game series I can think that, without a doubt, that is true, is command and conquer), as opposed to taking a game on it's own merits.

This.

If FF13 had been released under a different title, by someone other than Square Enix, you would have no pre-concieved ideas about the boots it has to fill, and would probably quite enjoy the game

[i hate username]

I agree with a lot of what you say. For me FFXIII was a sore disappointment. Hopefully FFXIII verses will be the game we all want it to be and force me to buy a PS3 . That said there are some modern games that still have the ability to draw you in hook line and sinker. Already mentioned but cannot get enough praise is Fallout 3. Stunning game from beginning to finish. Same can be said for nearly anything that Bioware put out(Mass Effect 1&2, Dragonage, Bioshock)
Another game that isnt an RPG but deserves a mention is Batman Arkham Asylum. Absolute stunner of a game(It was one of those games that you dont notice how long you've been playin it untill you look out and the suns come up and you're alarms going off telling you to get your stupid, sleepy gamer head to work)

Point is there are a lot of modern games that can still entertain you even though you are no longer 12 and have grown into a bitter self hating 20 something who still plays computer games.......Like me who regularly gets destroyed by 11 year olds in Bad company 2

[Relic]

pfffff..... kids these days...

We used to play RPG's with figurines, books, and paper and had the time of our lives.

[Simo98]

Originally Posted by Relic

pfffff..... kids these days...

We used to play RPG's with figurines, books, and paper and had the time of our lives.

I'll bet the graphics were good

[Relic]

Originally Posted by Simo98

I'll bet the graphics were good

Only when one guy stole his dad's Hustler magazines

[XtreO]

Try The Elder Scrolls. More spesifically Morrowind or Oblivion. Morrowind is imo a better game, though I've spent much more time playing Oblivion. Tales of Symphonia too!

[Jonyak]

most old RPG's had a ton more reading than modern ones, so I don't understand that point.

[DudeistMonk]

Originally Posted by Relic

pfffff..... kids these days...

We used to play RPG's with figurines, books, and paper and had the time of our lives.

I still do :P Sad, maybe a little. Fun, yup it is.

As far as modern RPGs go you didn't have any Bioware stuff on your list.

Mass Effect 1 & 2
Dragon Age
Oblivion

and +1 to Fallout III

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Jonyak

most old RPG's had a ton more reading than modern ones, so I don't understand that point.

If that was aimed at me, even if it isn't, I should have elaborated a bit more on my point. A lot of the reading that comes with the older one's (especially the FF games) is as dialogue. In FF13, there are huge amounts that need to be read, but you have to access the menu/data log and read them, they don't just pop up for you to read.

[Buslady7803]

Never considered video games as RPGs...

RPGs are when you create a character and develop them through some form of adventure, for example I write 4 characters in a forum based Potterverse RPG, 2 for a TMNT universe RPG (I'm Raphael, I rule...nuf said). I have played Star Wars and AD&D years ago run by my buddy. RPGs are dice roll run, with weird sided dice.
Them's RPGs....

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by playinpearls

you and my dad could talk for years about this...lol

He has every RPG made before 1998... Mostly super nintendo...

Final fantasy 6 rocks

You mean Japanese 6, American 3? Because yes, that`s the best one in the series!

[CrispyDelicious]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

You mean Japanese 6, American 3? Because yes, that`s the best one in the series!

Agreed. I'm doing a replay of it; started a few days ago. Still fun as hell.

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

I have heard rumors that square is going to remake FF7 with updated graphics. I have heard this just recently, and I'm not referring to crisis core.

The rpg makers are getting lax with their storytelling abilities. They're making cookie cutter characters, and focusing on graphics more. This is why older rpg's are epic... sure the graphics weren't there, but the story was. You liked the characters, and wanted to know what happened to them. The stories were great back then. You commonly see examples of this in earlier FF games, the Phantasy Star series, as well as Lunar.

At this point in the game, the only way to move forward will be to take a step back. The companies need to realize that graphics and fancy menus aren't where its at, and get back to the roots of their storytelling.

[Din Of Win]

Haha,

I've been an avid rpg player since the days of NES (Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior FTW!). Since then i've pretty much bought systems as Final Fantasy games were released on them. I got a SNES when FF4 came out (er.. i guess we called it FF2 then), PS1 when FF7 came out, and a PS2 when FFX came out.

These days my money gets spent more on other things and my videogame time is spent more with replaying games... still play Starcraft and Warcraft 3 on a weekly basis.

I think the discussion here is the old debate between Jrpgs and Wrpgs. I think it's kind of an apples and oranges thing. I personally care most about difficulty. If i want a good story, they have these nifty little things called books. Though, i will say that video games with good stories are things of art unto themselves and should be held in simillar regard as great literature. Graphics are nice... but not a huge factor for me. I also like feeling engrossed with the game.

So, i found my solace in games like Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout, The Witcher, and RTS games. I also know i am week to MMORPGS (thanks to the 3ish years i played city of heroes/villians... i don't plan on doing another MMO).

But, there are just as many people that like flashy graphics and generic stories.

I think what we, as rpg gamers, need to do, is cast away this irrational brand adherance. Yes, i LOVE final fantasy 6. But i don't feel any twinge of guilt when i say i HATE FF8. Even on the same hand, i can say, yes FF12 had a horrible story, but i legitematly liked the gameplay.

I think we need to be more dynamic. There ARE new games being made for everyone. They just might not be the same franchises you grew up with.


Personally, i could care less about FF13... i have games like Demon's Souls and (eventually...) Starcraft 2.

Just do a little research to find games that cater to your liking.

[who_sharted]

I like tetris.