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Ok, checking out my old games yesterday, I fired up an RPG game. Now, I know some of you RPG’ers can get a little scary, so just relax and realise that this is just my opinion.
I hate RPG games with a passion.
I don’t just mean I don’t enjoy them, they make me physically want to punch the next wizard I see.
Who plays these things? Why do they play these things?
Most games are a laugh, puzzle games can be quite involving. However, the thought of spending 3 days walking round a village to get a key from some dusty old fart that wants me to swap it for a sword makes me want to set fire to my head.
What is the appeal of these games?
I bought Final Fantasy something on the PSX on the recommendation of a mate (you will pay for conning me like that), and I gave it a go.
Was ok, strolled about trying to get into fights with children and use bins and stuff, then came to battle a giant scorpion.
Ok, I have to chuck a spell at it…a gun would be easier but ok, I’ll play along.
Right then, spelled him. Only now it’s his turn to attack.
Turn based attacks? Is this some pokey kung-fu flick where the 28 opponents all line up to attack in an orderly fashion instead of piling in and killing our intrepid hero?
Bunch of big old pants mate.
But I persevered and continued on.
Mooched about the woods for a bit and needed some stone to cross the bridge. Don’t ask me why, but the mystical old man said I did. Only to get the stone, I had to change some bird’s dog into a chair using the “morph” spell, that could only be obtained through more poncy item swapping.
Does this never end?
Why don’t these people just meet in the tavern and exchange their unwanted goods with each other?
Why wait for me to come along and traipse about performing chores when all I want to do is cross the dam bridge??
Why? Why do I have to solve the water puzzle for the Mythical Tree People of Sqangorjeepong so they’ll give me a staff to swap for some apples?
What kind of half-assed Wizard people are so good that they need a wandering stranger to go fetch them a scroll from some mook that lives in a ditch and wants to give me riddles?
Rubbish Wizards, don’t want their help if they can’t perform simple tasks without me.
And if I have to go to one more Inn and chat with some Vagabond that will tell me the password for the cave-entrance if I go fetch him someone, I will personally hunt down every D&D fan that ever rolled a D84 and beat them up with a stick.
(After I’ve traded some marbles I got for solving a riddle set by a giant talking tree of course)
Give me the old BBC adventure games where great fun could be had watching the computer come back with “I do not understand that word” and “I cannot open the box with my big stupid face”
Bah, Lylat Wars sucks
I hate RPG games with a passion.
I don’t just mean I don’t enjoy them, they make me physically want to punch the next wizard I see.
Who plays these things? Why do they play these things?
Most games are a laugh, puzzle games can be quite involving. However, the thought of spending 3 days walking round a village to get a key from some dusty old fart that wants me to swap it for a sword makes me want to set fire to my head.
What is the appeal of these games?
I bought Final Fantasy something on the PSX on the recommendation of a mate (you will pay for conning me like that), and I gave it a go.
Was ok, strolled about trying to get into fights with children and use bins and stuff, then came to battle a giant scorpion.
Ok, I have to chuck a spell at it…a gun would be easier but ok, I’ll play along.
Right then, spelled him. Only now it’s his turn to attack.
Turn based attacks? Is this some pokey kung-fu flick where the 28 opponents all line up to attack in an orderly fashion instead of piling in and killing our intrepid hero?
Bunch of big old pants mate.
But I persevered and continued on.
Mooched about the woods for a bit and needed some stone to cross the bridge. Don’t ask me why, but the mystical old man said I did. Only to get the stone, I had to change some bird’s dog into a chair using the “morph” spell, that could only be obtained through more poncy item swapping.
Does this never end?
Why don’t these people just meet in the tavern and exchange their unwanted goods with each other?
Why wait for me to come along and traipse about performing chores when all I want to do is cross the dam bridge??
Why? Why do I have to solve the water puzzle for the Mythical Tree People of Sqangorjeepong so they’ll give me a staff to swap for some apples?
What kind of half-assed Wizard people are so good that they need a wandering stranger to go fetch them a scroll from some mook that lives in a ditch and wants to give me riddles?
Rubbish Wizards, don’t want their help if they can’t perform simple tasks without me.
And if I have to go to one more Inn and chat with some Vagabond that will tell me the password for the cave-entrance if I go fetch him someone, I will personally hunt down every D&D fan that ever rolled a D84 and beat them up with a stick.
(After I’ve traded some marbles I got for solving a riddle set by a giant talking tree of course)
Give me the old BBC adventure games where great fun could be had watching the computer come back with “I do not understand that word” and “I cannot open the box with my big stupid face”
Bah, Lylat Wars sucks
Page:
No, I read PCZone, the best PC games mag out there, IMHO.
But they use beard, it's a kind of generic word that sums up RPG's nicely.
But they use beard, it's a kind of generic word that sums up RPG's nicely.
Oh and there's Diablo too (or two, heh) that's a kind of RPG with character development but it is hack and slash, which means that you are mostly just fighting things rather than going on complex quests.
Also, what's wrong with a good riddle, except that you can generally use process of elimination to get it right if you don't figure it out yourself, but then that's the same with most puzzles in most games.
Also, what's wrong with a good riddle, except that you can generally use process of elimination to get it right if you don't figure it out yourself, but then that's the same with most puzzles in most games.
One word sums up RPG's nicely:
Beard.
Beard.
Ah, yes, I see it clearly now. You have been most foully tricked my friends. It is a common misconception that all RPGs are the same in every way and it is a less common misconception that Final Fantasy is the best representation of RPG gameplay. It is but one of many styles, turn based combat does not have to feature in them all (well it does in most, but it can be invisible). I assume you (both of you) have never played Baldur's Gate or it's sequel because you would not say such stereotypical things about RPGs if you had. Infact you probably never even played Fallout or Fallout 2. Well there's a lot more to RPG games than "to get the staff, kill the wizard".
First off, it's not like playing through a film (though why would this be a bad thing, since most games have a linear plot you play through anyway). Most RPGs give you choices as to how to approach a situation, for example when a wizard has a staff you want you can get him his fungus brew from the witch, you can kill him, you can try and steal the staff or you can threaten him into handing it over. This is just one example of a large number of choices and all these choices are presented to you in the space of a few seconds leaving plenty of time for more choices and living with the consequences of your actions. There are usually several types of endings, though sometimes there are certain things that must be done like saving the world from an evil bad guy but every game has something that you have to do. RPGs tend to give you a lot more freedom than certain other types of games (FPSs for example), though they are not the only games to give freedom.
Another good thing about RPGs is that they are not all based on the same theme. Not all RPGs are about killing an evil wizard or something along those lines. Fallout and Fallout 2 are shining examples of RPG games without any magic or fantastic creatures. You play a character in a post apocalyptic wasteland, with plenty of guns to be obtained, many locations to visit at will and a variety of decisions to be made on how to deal with situations. Other RPGs may have a mixture of guns and magic, allowing you to specialise in one or the other or to divide up between the two but miss out on the best of both. An RPG may even set you as a nano-augmented agent of a anti-terrorist organisation with a conspiracy plot behind you.
Which brings us to another point about RPGs, they are not all played in the same way. Deus Ex, believe it or not, could easily come under the heading of RPG. It is played in first person perspective, there is shooting in it but it also has character development, a choie of skills to use and even choices about how to approach problems in the game. Though it is more restricted in choices than the usual RPG it brings FPS style gameplay and mixes it with RPG to create an excellent orignal idea that works very well. It's the kind of game that everyone would like because it has something for everyone (well maybe not young children or people who play strategy games exclusively). What's more there was not a wizard in sight, no exchanging of obscure items between people and the only key hunting was done in the usual FPS manner which is not complained about. In the future we can hope to see Neverwinter Nights, a game that allows you to create your own dungeons, go online with a party of adventurers or lead a group through your dungeon as the game master. This means that if there's not an RPG story that suits your tastes you can make one up (though I doubt you'll be able to put guns in). As for the turn based elements of RPGs, Fallout and Fallout 2 both have a turn based combat system, but it works very well and makes fighting very stylish especially if you are using a pistol. The follow on game from Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, was a squad based game that allowed you to create a character and then get a squad from the organisation you work for (in the same way as you can get a party) and develop them as a group of specialists. It did have much more restricted choices, being a strategy game but it allowed character development in many areas so that you could specialise in a large selection of things. It also had a choice to play in turn based mode, turn based mode for combat and real time mode. The real time mode used the action points system in the same way that the others did but made action points regenerate over time with varying speed depending on how many action points you would have in turn based mode. This meant that it was an excellent mixture of turn based style with real time gameplay.
So there is a lot more to RPGs than just Final Fantasy, and you should definately try multiple styles. Like many genres, the fact a game is an RPG does not describe it in full detail it just gives an impression of what it might contain. You might be surprised with the contents of an RPG if you believe all RPGs are mindless romps of wizard killing and random item collection. So go out and try another type of RPG, there really is something for everyone and with new releases this is getting more true by the minute.
First off, it's not like playing through a film (though why would this be a bad thing, since most games have a linear plot you play through anyway). Most RPGs give you choices as to how to approach a situation, for example when a wizard has a staff you want you can get him his fungus brew from the witch, you can kill him, you can try and steal the staff or you can threaten him into handing it over. This is just one example of a large number of choices and all these choices are presented to you in the space of a few seconds leaving plenty of time for more choices and living with the consequences of your actions. There are usually several types of endings, though sometimes there are certain things that must be done like saving the world from an evil bad guy but every game has something that you have to do. RPGs tend to give you a lot more freedom than certain other types of games (FPSs for example), though they are not the only games to give freedom.
Another good thing about RPGs is that they are not all based on the same theme. Not all RPGs are about killing an evil wizard or something along those lines. Fallout and Fallout 2 are shining examples of RPG games without any magic or fantastic creatures. You play a character in a post apocalyptic wasteland, with plenty of guns to be obtained, many locations to visit at will and a variety of decisions to be made on how to deal with situations. Other RPGs may have a mixture of guns and magic, allowing you to specialise in one or the other or to divide up between the two but miss out on the best of both. An RPG may even set you as a nano-augmented agent of a anti-terrorist organisation with a conspiracy plot behind you.
Which brings us to another point about RPGs, they are not all played in the same way. Deus Ex, believe it or not, could easily come under the heading of RPG. It is played in first person perspective, there is shooting in it but it also has character development, a choie of skills to use and even choices about how to approach problems in the game. Though it is more restricted in choices than the usual RPG it brings FPS style gameplay and mixes it with RPG to create an excellent orignal idea that works very well. It's the kind of game that everyone would like because it has something for everyone (well maybe not young children or people who play strategy games exclusively). What's more there was not a wizard in sight, no exchanging of obscure items between people and the only key hunting was done in the usual FPS manner which is not complained about. In the future we can hope to see Neverwinter Nights, a game that allows you to create your own dungeons, go online with a party of adventurers or lead a group through your dungeon as the game master. This means that if there's not an RPG story that suits your tastes you can make one up (though I doubt you'll be able to put guns in). As for the turn based elements of RPGs, Fallout and Fallout 2 both have a turn based combat system, but it works very well and makes fighting very stylish especially if you are using a pistol. The follow on game from Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, was a squad based game that allowed you to create a character and then get a squad from the organisation you work for (in the same way as you can get a party) and develop them as a group of specialists. It did have much more restricted choices, being a strategy game but it allowed character development in many areas so that you could specialise in a large selection of things. It also had a choice to play in turn based mode, turn based mode for combat and real time mode. The real time mode used the action points system in the same way that the others did but made action points regenerate over time with varying speed depending on how many action points you would have in turn based mode. This meant that it was an excellent mixture of turn based style with real time gameplay.
So there is a lot more to RPGs than just Final Fantasy, and you should definately try multiple styles. Like many genres, the fact a game is an RPG does not describe it in full detail it just gives an impression of what it might contain. You might be surprised with the contents of an RPG if you believe all RPGs are mindless romps of wizard killing and random item collection. So go out and try another type of RPG, there really is something for everyone and with new releases this is getting more true by the minute.
Lol, Lylat Wars wasn't an RPG you know...
As for RPG's, most don't have proper gameplay. They're more like an interative adventure.
You play through it like it's a film to follow the plot.
The battles add a little skill, fun and excitement but aren't the whole point of the game.
Basically, as a personal quest they're fun and absorbing.
NEVER play one while your friends are round though!
As for RPG's, most don't have proper gameplay. They're more like an interative adventure.
You play through it like it's a film to follow the plot.
The battles add a little skill, fun and excitement but aren't the whole point of the game.
Basically, as a personal quest they're fun and absorbing.
NEVER play one while your friends are round though!
Ok, checking out my old games yesterday, I fired up an RPG game. Now, I know some of you RPG’ers can get a little scary, so just relax and realise that this is just my opinion.
I hate RPG games with a passion.
I don’t just mean I don’t enjoy them, they make me physically want to punch the next wizard I see.
Who plays these things? Why do they play these things?
Most games are a laugh, puzzle games can be quite involving. However, the thought of spending 3 days walking round a village to get a key from some dusty old fart that wants me to swap it for a sword makes me want to set fire to my head.
What is the appeal of these games?
I bought Final Fantasy something on the PSX on the recommendation of a mate (you will pay for conning me like that), and I gave it a go.
Was ok, strolled about trying to get into fights with children and use bins and stuff, then came to battle a giant scorpion.
Ok, I have to chuck a spell at it…a gun would be easier but ok, I’ll play along.
Right then, spelled him. Only now it’s his turn to attack.
Turn based attacks? Is this some pokey kung-fu flick where the 28 opponents all line up to attack in an orderly fashion instead of piling in and killing our intrepid hero?
Bunch of big old pants mate.
But I persevered and continued on.
Mooched about the woods for a bit and needed some stone to cross the bridge. Don’t ask me why, but the mystical old man said I did. Only to get the stone, I had to change some bird’s dog into a chair using the “morph” spell, that could only be obtained through more poncy item swapping.
Does this never end?
Why don’t these people just meet in the tavern and exchange their unwanted goods with each other?
Why wait for me to come along and traipse about performing chores when all I want to do is cross the dam bridge??
Why? Why do I have to solve the water puzzle for the Mythical Tree People of Sqangorjeepong so they’ll give me a staff to swap for some apples?
What kind of half-assed Wizard people are so good that they need a wandering stranger to go fetch them a scroll from some mook that lives in a ditch and wants to give me riddles?
Rubbish Wizards, don’t want their help if they can’t perform simple tasks without me.
And if I have to go to one more Inn and chat with some Vagabond that will tell me the password for the cave-entrance if I go fetch him someone, I will personally hunt down every D&D fan that ever rolled a D84 and beat them up with a stick.
(After I’ve traded some marbles I got for solving a riddle set by a giant talking tree of course)
Give me the old BBC adventure games where great fun could be had watching the computer come back with “I do not understand that word” and “I cannot open the box with my big stupid face”
Bah, Lylat Wars sucks
I hate RPG games with a passion.
I don’t just mean I don’t enjoy them, they make me physically want to punch the next wizard I see.
Who plays these things? Why do they play these things?
Most games are a laugh, puzzle games can be quite involving. However, the thought of spending 3 days walking round a village to get a key from some dusty old fart that wants me to swap it for a sword makes me want to set fire to my head.
What is the appeal of these games?
I bought Final Fantasy something on the PSX on the recommendation of a mate (you will pay for conning me like that), and I gave it a go.
Was ok, strolled about trying to get into fights with children and use bins and stuff, then came to battle a giant scorpion.
Ok, I have to chuck a spell at it…a gun would be easier but ok, I’ll play along.
Right then, spelled him. Only now it’s his turn to attack.
Turn based attacks? Is this some pokey kung-fu flick where the 28 opponents all line up to attack in an orderly fashion instead of piling in and killing our intrepid hero?
Bunch of big old pants mate.
But I persevered and continued on.
Mooched about the woods for a bit and needed some stone to cross the bridge. Don’t ask me why, but the mystical old man said I did. Only to get the stone, I had to change some bird’s dog into a chair using the “morph” spell, that could only be obtained through more poncy item swapping.
Does this never end?
Why don’t these people just meet in the tavern and exchange their unwanted goods with each other?
Why wait for me to come along and traipse about performing chores when all I want to do is cross the dam bridge??
Why? Why do I have to solve the water puzzle for the Mythical Tree People of Sqangorjeepong so they’ll give me a staff to swap for some apples?
What kind of half-assed Wizard people are so good that they need a wandering stranger to go fetch them a scroll from some mook that lives in a ditch and wants to give me riddles?
Rubbish Wizards, don’t want their help if they can’t perform simple tasks without me.
And if I have to go to one more Inn and chat with some Vagabond that will tell me the password for the cave-entrance if I go fetch him someone, I will personally hunt down every D&D fan that ever rolled a D84 and beat them up with a stick.
(After I’ve traded some marbles I got for solving a riddle set by a giant talking tree of course)
Give me the old BBC adventure games where great fun could be had watching the computer come back with “I do not understand that word” and “I cannot open the box with my big stupid face”
Bah, Lylat Wars sucks
Page: