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Role-playing games really owe it all to Dungeons & Dragons. Created by TSR (Tactical Studies Rules), Dungeons & Dragons was a game that allowed people to role play a fantasy character created on paper by rolling dice. Everything from physical and mental statistics to the weapons and armour the character used wre written on this paper. From here the player would create a fantasy persona with its own name, looks, style and even profession. These characters would enter fantasy worlds created by a Dungeon Master, doing battle with mythical creatures to solve fantastical quests. This combination of personal statistics, quests and bizarre creatures has been at the heart of every RPG ever since.
Exactly when this genre first made its appearance on a console is a little sketchy but the contest comes down to two Atari 2600 titles. These are Excalibur and Adventure. Both had RPG elements incorporating a fantasy medieval setting, dungeons, monsters, treasure, dragons, and the scourge of modern day RPGs, random battles. For me console RPGing didn't start until the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which started the whole RPG craze and Japan's dominance of the genre. This is where we start our jaunt through console RPG history.
The NES was where it really started. This machine was, and still is for some, the highlight of RPG gaming with its many classic titles such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. They're still with us now but the originals are still popular with retro gameheads.
The Legend of Zelda was released in 1985. Nintendo genius Shigeru Miyamoto's first effort at this spellbinding series was indeed spectacular. Based on his childhood memories of exploring the fields near his home in Japan the game exudes a feeling of exploration and adventure. The game relied on you finding new items and heart boxes to advance your skills and health. The game was massive, there could be items hidden anywhere and every word the NPCs spoke was full of meaning to help you along your quest. This game was a breath of fresh air and an instant classic.
The Dragon Quest series (published by Enix) made its first appearance in 1986. This title established many of the conventions we see in today's RPGs, upgradeable weapons, mini quests, hit and magic points, incremental spells and turn-based battles. The popularity of this game was alarming and after the launch of Dragon Quest III a law was passed in Japan to have the games released on Sunday to stop kids wagging off school. Dragon Quest recieved three sequels on the NES in 1987, 1989 and 1990.
1987 saw the release of the first in the Final Fantasy (Square) series. Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi claimed it was his "last ditch" attempt to create something great. Final Fantasy evolved RPGs, taking what had been created with Dragon Quest and ironing out the creases to make a polished spectacle. It bought revolutionary features from paper-based gaming to console, the first being the concept of parties. The chance to control four characters through the adventure brought with it new possibilities and a sense of strategy to the proceedings. Secondly came the Class sytem, characters were now Knights or Wizards, and what's more the characters could even cross class later on to give them more abilities.The greatest shift however was the concept of travel; no longer did you have to walk for hours as you could travel by boat or airship for example. The plot itself was refreshing as it strayed away from the saving the princess story from Dragon Quest. Instead you had to defeat the four elemental fiends, re-light the sacred orbs and defeat Chaos to bring law and order to the world. Simple but effective, this game was as engrossing as it was fun to play. NES sequels followed in 1988 & 1990.
The era of the Super Nintendo (SNES) and the Mega Drive was an important time for RPGs. The gameplay improved and we also saw a massive improvement in atmosphere from music and sound effects.
What better place to start than with Phantasy Star II (1989). This title improved on the original in every way possible and continued the storyline without seeming too unbelievable. Its music, graphics and sound made Phantasy Star II one of the most memorable titles ever. It was followed up with two more sequels in 1991 and 1995.
The Mega Drive also had Landstalker (Sega, 1993) memorable for its stunning graphics and exceptionally frustrating puzzles. It revolutionised the way puzzles were designed and implemented. The same year Shining Force was released, it was the first time strategy and RPG were mixed to amazing effect.
A truly magnificent RPG on the Mega Drive was Lunar: The Silver Star and it was perfect in every detail. It exuded feeling and emotion for the characters and you couldn't put it doww for a second. Great characterisations, style and a little something special made this title to remember. Its 1995 sequel, Lunar: Eternal Blue, surpassed the original.
Fasa's pen and paper RPG Shadowrun made an appearance on both the SNES and Mega Drive in 1993 and 1994 respectively. Fans flocked to its futuristic setting, a change to the now familiar conventions of the past. While the SNES version won all the praise the Sega version bombed and was labelled as nothing more than numbers and stats
SNES fans were treated to the wonderful Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995), a game considered by some to be the best RPG ever. Its main selling points were time travel and the multiple endings that were possible because of it. At the end of the game you opened up New Game, which allowed you to replay through the game and at any point fight the big boss Lavos and unlock one of many new endings. This is the first example of multiple endings in RPG.
Another Square title also made a comeback. Final Fantasy IV (1991) stunned fans with its graphics and superb soundtrack by composer Nobuo Uematsu. The big innovation it gave to the industry was the Active Time battle system. It consisted of a bar at the bottom of the screen that filled up at a rate dependent on the character's agility, when it filled you took your turn. This initiative based battle system was revolutionary and is still used now. 1992 bought along Final Fantasy V, its fully customisable job system was a first in RPGs and made it an instant hit with fans.
Zelda III hit the shelves in 1992, returning to its roots with a three-quarter perspective. Its claim to fame was its clever use of two dimensions: the dark and light worlds that required the player to utilise both in conjunction to complete their quest. NES favourite Dragon Quest also made a comeback but failed miserably to ignite gamers interests with either game in 1992 or 1996. The best of the rest came in the forms of Secret of Mana (1993) a firm favourite amongst fans because of its great storyline and weapon advancement system. Add to this the first multi-tap support for an RPG so you could play with friends and it was addictive to play. Super Mario RPG: Secret of the Seven Stars was the ultimate combination of platform Mario addiction and Square's RPG credentials.
The SNES's successor, the N64, was a powerful machine but its contribution to the RPG was little. The main contributions came from The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (1998) and the 2000 release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Both offered excellent graphics, vast landscapes and fully 3D interactive worlds that encouraged exploration. The way it all came together was revolutionary and seemed to flow perfectly, and more importantly remained true to its roots.
Behold the Playstation! Final Fantasy VII arrived on the Playstation in 1997. It was a lavish spectacle. Packed full of pre-rendered environments and high quality FMV sequences it became a firm favourite amongst a new generation of RPG fanatics. This was followed up by the little known Final Fantasy Tactics (1998), a crossbreed of strategy battle and RPG. Its diabolical English translation meant it only saw a limited run in the US. Then came Final Fantasy VIII, a complete disaster after the success of VII. It lacked everything that made Final Fantasy great and is a title best left well alone. In 2000 came Final Fantasy IX, the game to beat all others. Its impressive looks and gameplay were marred for some by over-used random battles and in the eyes of many still isn't as good as FFVII. Sold hugely well though.
1998 gave us Xenogears (Square). Its epic story and risque religious overtones were undermined by its seriously poor game engine and camera angles that made the game virtually unplayable. One of the Playstation's most underrated RPGs, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen (Crystal Dynamics, 1997), was a true classic. Why? Because of its different storyline, a superbly unsettling atmosphere and dark overtones it made a welcome change to the classic RPG. 1997 also brought along possibly the most successful non-Square RPG - Wild Arms (Sony). While it had nothing new it took all the best aspects from existing RPGs and rolled them into one, resulting in an accomplished player-friendly RPG. Following in the path of dark RPGs came Parasite Eve (Square, 1998), while some claimed it was too short others loved its beautiful graphics and stunning CG sequences. It saw a poorly received sequel in 2000.
The best of the rest came in the form of Sony's The Legend of Dragoon, a Final Fantasy clone that offered nothing revolutionary but was still enjoyable. The ongoing Breath of Fire series had parts III and IV released in 1998 and 2001 respectively. They were solid RPGs that were easily accessible to a wide audience. Alundra (Working Designs) in 1998 was insanely difficult and caused many a broken controller. Lastly for all true to heart D&D gamers the dungeon hackling extravaganzas Azure Dreams (Konami) and Diablo (EA BLizzard) were both released in 1998.
Mr Dreamcast! 128 bit machines kicked off with the Dreamcast, however it had no decent RPG titles at first. 2000 brought Shenmue to the UK but this was too much like real life (with all the boring bits) to win over many fans and probably isn't an RPG in the way we understand the genre. Next up came Grandia III (Game Arts, 2001) was cool too. But this year the European Dreamcast saw possibly the most important console RPG yet - Phantasy Star Online. It was the first Massively Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG) ever to be released on a console. It set new standards in communication and episodic gaming as you could download new adventures to take part in. Some consider it the single most important game in modern day RPG gaming, so far at least. Sony fans hope that Final Fantasy XI takes the whole online RPG idea a step further and with broadband coming there's no reason why it shouldn't.
PS2 - And the Quest Continues. So that brings us on to the Playstation 2. Early on mediocre titles such as Orphen (Activision 2000) and Evergrace (UbiSoft, 2001) marred its reputation but then along came Summoner (THQ, 2001) and set the new standard for all that would follow. It had gorgeous graphics, a tidy interface and real time combat but technical flaws such as pop up let it down. Sony's Dark Cloud (2001) has an imaginative storyline based on villages that you had to rebuild. It's been getting a lot of press but some have complained about its resemblance to the N64 Zelda titles.
So what about the future? Final Fantasy X is selling ridiculous amounts in Japan right now and should be in the UK by Christmas. Final Fantasy XI promises much in terms of episodic gaming and online community bonding, but it still leaves the console some way behind the PC which has had MMORPGs for some years now.
But fittingly, the next RPG-influenced title on the PS2 returns to the D&D roots of western RPGs. Although Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Interplay) is described as an action adventure title, the action is underpinned by 3rd Edition D&D rules, marking a return to the source of most modern RPG game systems. The average player won't need to worry about it, but it gives the combat and spells system a strength in depth that games like Gauntlet (fun though it is) just couldn't compete with.
Exactly when this genre first made its appearance on a console is a little sketchy but the contest comes down to two Atari 2600 titles. These are Excalibur and Adventure. Both had RPG elements incorporating a fantasy medieval setting, dungeons, monsters, treasure, dragons, and the scourge of modern day RPGs, random battles. For me console RPGing didn't start until the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which started the whole RPG craze and Japan's dominance of the genre. This is where we start our jaunt through console RPG history.
The NES was where it really started. This machine was, and still is for some, the highlight of RPG gaming with its many classic titles such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. They're still with us now but the originals are still popular with retro gameheads.
The Legend of Zelda was released in 1985. Nintendo genius Shigeru Miyamoto's first effort at this spellbinding series was indeed spectacular. Based on his childhood memories of exploring the fields near his home in Japan the game exudes a feeling of exploration and adventure. The game relied on you finding new items and heart boxes to advance your skills and health. The game was massive, there could be items hidden anywhere and every word the NPCs spoke was full of meaning to help you along your quest. This game was a breath of fresh air and an instant classic.
The Dragon Quest series (published by Enix) made its first appearance in 1986. This title established many of the conventions we see in today's RPGs, upgradeable weapons, mini quests, hit and magic points, incremental spells and turn-based battles. The popularity of this game was alarming and after the launch of Dragon Quest III a law was passed in Japan to have the games released on Sunday to stop kids wagging off school. Dragon Quest recieved three sequels on the NES in 1987, 1989 and 1990.
1987 saw the release of the first in the Final Fantasy (Square) series. Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi claimed it was his "last ditch" attempt to create something great. Final Fantasy evolved RPGs, taking what had been created with Dragon Quest and ironing out the creases to make a polished spectacle. It bought revolutionary features from paper-based gaming to console, the first being the concept of parties. The chance to control four characters through the adventure brought with it new possibilities and a sense of strategy to the proceedings. Secondly came the Class sytem, characters were now Knights or Wizards, and what's more the characters could even cross class later on to give them more abilities.The greatest shift however was the concept of travel; no longer did you have to walk for hours as you could travel by boat or airship for example. The plot itself was refreshing as it strayed away from the saving the princess story from Dragon Quest. Instead you had to defeat the four elemental fiends, re-light the sacred orbs and defeat Chaos to bring law and order to the world. Simple but effective, this game was as engrossing as it was fun to play. NES sequels followed in 1988 & 1990.
The era of the Super Nintendo (SNES) and the Mega Drive was an important time for RPGs. The gameplay improved and we also saw a massive improvement in atmosphere from music and sound effects.
What better place to start than with Phantasy Star II (1989). This title improved on the original in every way possible and continued the storyline without seeming too unbelievable. Its music, graphics and sound made Phantasy Star II one of the most memorable titles ever. It was followed up with two more sequels in 1991 and 1995.
The Mega Drive also had Landstalker (Sega, 1993) memorable for its stunning graphics and exceptionally frustrating puzzles. It revolutionised the way puzzles were designed and implemented. The same year Shining Force was released, it was the first time strategy and RPG were mixed to amazing effect.
A truly magnificent RPG on the Mega Drive was Lunar: The Silver Star and it was perfect in every detail. It exuded feeling and emotion for the characters and you couldn't put it doww for a second. Great characterisations, style and a little something special made this title to remember. Its 1995 sequel, Lunar: Eternal Blue, surpassed the original.
Fasa's pen and paper RPG Shadowrun made an appearance on both the SNES and Mega Drive in 1993 and 1994 respectively. Fans flocked to its futuristic setting, a change to the now familiar conventions of the past. While the SNES version won all the praise the Sega version bombed and was labelled as nothing more than numbers and stats
SNES fans were treated to the wonderful Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995), a game considered by some to be the best RPG ever. Its main selling points were time travel and the multiple endings that were possible because of it. At the end of the game you opened up New Game, which allowed you to replay through the game and at any point fight the big boss Lavos and unlock one of many new endings. This is the first example of multiple endings in RPG.
Another Square title also made a comeback. Final Fantasy IV (1991) stunned fans with its graphics and superb soundtrack by composer Nobuo Uematsu. The big innovation it gave to the industry was the Active Time battle system. It consisted of a bar at the bottom of the screen that filled up at a rate dependent on the character's agility, when it filled you took your turn. This initiative based battle system was revolutionary and is still used now. 1992 bought along Final Fantasy V, its fully customisable job system was a first in RPGs and made it an instant hit with fans.
Zelda III hit the shelves in 1992, returning to its roots with a three-quarter perspective. Its claim to fame was its clever use of two dimensions: the dark and light worlds that required the player to utilise both in conjunction to complete their quest. NES favourite Dragon Quest also made a comeback but failed miserably to ignite gamers interests with either game in 1992 or 1996. The best of the rest came in the forms of Secret of Mana (1993) a firm favourite amongst fans because of its great storyline and weapon advancement system. Add to this the first multi-tap support for an RPG so you could play with friends and it was addictive to play. Super Mario RPG: Secret of the Seven Stars was the ultimate combination of platform Mario addiction and Square's RPG credentials.
The SNES's successor, the N64, was a powerful machine but its contribution to the RPG was little. The main contributions came from The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (1998) and the 2000 release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Both offered excellent graphics, vast landscapes and fully 3D interactive worlds that encouraged exploration. The way it all came together was revolutionary and seemed to flow perfectly, and more importantly remained true to its roots.
Behold the Playstation! Final Fantasy VII arrived on the Playstation in 1997. It was a lavish spectacle. Packed full of pre-rendered environments and high quality FMV sequences it became a firm favourite amongst a new generation of RPG fanatics. This was followed up by the little known Final Fantasy Tactics (1998), a crossbreed of strategy battle and RPG. Its diabolical English translation meant it only saw a limited run in the US. Then came Final Fantasy VIII, a complete disaster after the success of VII. It lacked everything that made Final Fantasy great and is a title best left well alone. In 2000 came Final Fantasy IX, the game to beat all others. Its impressive looks and gameplay were marred for some by over-used random battles and in the eyes of many still isn't as good as FFVII. Sold hugely well though.
1998 gave us Xenogears (Square). Its epic story and risque religious overtones were undermined by its seriously poor game engine and camera angles that made the game virtually unplayable. One of the Playstation's most underrated RPGs, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen (Crystal Dynamics, 1997), was a true classic. Why? Because of its different storyline, a superbly unsettling atmosphere and dark overtones it made a welcome change to the classic RPG. 1997 also brought along possibly the most successful non-Square RPG - Wild Arms (Sony). While it had nothing new it took all the best aspects from existing RPGs and rolled them into one, resulting in an accomplished player-friendly RPG. Following in the path of dark RPGs came Parasite Eve (Square, 1998), while some claimed it was too short others loved its beautiful graphics and stunning CG sequences. It saw a poorly received sequel in 2000.
The best of the rest came in the form of Sony's The Legend of Dragoon, a Final Fantasy clone that offered nothing revolutionary but was still enjoyable. The ongoing Breath of Fire series had parts III and IV released in 1998 and 2001 respectively. They were solid RPGs that were easily accessible to a wide audience. Alundra (Working Designs) in 1998 was insanely difficult and caused many a broken controller. Lastly for all true to heart D&D gamers the dungeon hackling extravaganzas Azure Dreams (Konami) and Diablo (EA BLizzard) were both released in 1998.
Mr Dreamcast! 128 bit machines kicked off with the Dreamcast, however it had no decent RPG titles at first. 2000 brought Shenmue to the UK but this was too much like real life (with all the boring bits) to win over many fans and probably isn't an RPG in the way we understand the genre. Next up came Grandia III (Game Arts, 2001) was cool too. But this year the European Dreamcast saw possibly the most important console RPG yet - Phantasy Star Online. It was the first Massively Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG) ever to be released on a console. It set new standards in communication and episodic gaming as you could download new adventures to take part in. Some consider it the single most important game in modern day RPG gaming, so far at least. Sony fans hope that Final Fantasy XI takes the whole online RPG idea a step further and with broadband coming there's no reason why it shouldn't.
PS2 - And the Quest Continues. So that brings us on to the Playstation 2. Early on mediocre titles such as Orphen (Activision 2000) and Evergrace (UbiSoft, 2001) marred its reputation but then along came Summoner (THQ, 2001) and set the new standard for all that would follow. It had gorgeous graphics, a tidy interface and real time combat but technical flaws such as pop up let it down. Sony's Dark Cloud (2001) has an imaginative storyline based on villages that you had to rebuild. It's been getting a lot of press but some have complained about its resemblance to the N64 Zelda titles.
So what about the future? Final Fantasy X is selling ridiculous amounts in Japan right now and should be in the UK by Christmas. Final Fantasy XI promises much in terms of episodic gaming and online community bonding, but it still leaves the console some way behind the PC which has had MMORPGs for some years now.
But fittingly, the next RPG-influenced title on the PS2 returns to the D&D roots of western RPGs. Although Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Interplay) is described as an action adventure title, the action is underpinned by 3rd Edition D&D rules, marking a return to the source of most modern RPG game systems. The average player won't need to worry about it, but it gives the combat and spells system a strength in depth that games like Gauntlet (fun though it is) just couldn't compete with.
Good post. I would have to say that I think games like the Final Fantasy Series will live on in Consoles due to their well written structures. Although VIII was not a patch on VII, it still had base elements for a success. Shame it was ruined !
I still believe that the console buyer is not generally in the market for the huge open-ended RPGs that PC owners find themselves littered with. Most PS2 owners will admit to owning a Final Fantasy game but this would not have been their reason for buying one. Fact is that GT3, SSX etc. are games that are there for the ability to play for 10 minutes as well as 10 hours. Games are rented, completed and returned. That is not a statement about everyone but I do think that it does apply in a lot of cases.
There is also the element of company. The attraction for me to play D&D, Call of Cthulhu etc. was something to do with my friends. For the really big RPG fans (like myself), it is back to Dice and Paper or PC Online until the console evolves.
I still believe that the console buyer is not generally in the market for the huge open-ended RPGs that PC owners find themselves littered with. Most PS2 owners will admit to owning a Final Fantasy game but this would not have been their reason for buying one. Fact is that GT3, SSX etc. are games that are there for the ability to play for 10 minutes as well as 10 hours. Games are rented, completed and returned. That is not a statement about everyone but I do think that it does apply in a lot of cases.
There is also the element of company. The attraction for me to play D&D, Call of Cthulhu etc. was something to do with my friends. For the really big RPG fans (like myself), it is back to Dice and Paper or PC Online until the console evolves.
Good detailed post.
Too much for me to follow well (I' not big with most RPG's).
So long as you didn't copy it (it certainly doesn't look copied) then keep up the good work.
Too much for me to follow well (I' not big with most RPG's).
So long as you didn't copy it (it certainly doesn't look copied) then keep up the good work.
Role-playing games really owe it all to Dungeons & Dragons. Created by TSR (Tactical Studies Rules), Dungeons & Dragons was a game that allowed people to role play a fantasy character created on paper by rolling dice. Everything from physical and mental statistics to the weapons and armour the character used wre written on this paper. From here the player would create a fantasy persona with its own name, looks, style and even profession. These characters would enter fantasy worlds created by a Dungeon Master, doing battle with mythical creatures to solve fantastical quests. This combination of personal statistics, quests and bizarre creatures has been at the heart of every RPG ever since.
Exactly when this genre first made its appearance on a console is a little sketchy but the contest comes down to two Atari 2600 titles. These are Excalibur and Adventure. Both had RPG elements incorporating a fantasy medieval setting, dungeons, monsters, treasure, dragons, and the scourge of modern day RPGs, random battles. For me console RPGing didn't start until the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which started the whole RPG craze and Japan's dominance of the genre. This is where we start our jaunt through console RPG history.
The NES was where it really started. This machine was, and still is for some, the highlight of RPG gaming with its many classic titles such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. They're still with us now but the originals are still popular with retro gameheads.
The Legend of Zelda was released in 1985. Nintendo genius Shigeru Miyamoto's first effort at this spellbinding series was indeed spectacular. Based on his childhood memories of exploring the fields near his home in Japan the game exudes a feeling of exploration and adventure. The game relied on you finding new items and heart boxes to advance your skills and health. The game was massive, there could be items hidden anywhere and every word the NPCs spoke was full of meaning to help you along your quest. This game was a breath of fresh air and an instant classic.
The Dragon Quest series (published by Enix) made its first appearance in 1986. This title established many of the conventions we see in today's RPGs, upgradeable weapons, mini quests, hit and magic points, incremental spells and turn-based battles. The popularity of this game was alarming and after the launch of Dragon Quest III a law was passed in Japan to have the games released on Sunday to stop kids wagging off school. Dragon Quest recieved three sequels on the NES in 1987, 1989 and 1990.
1987 saw the release of the first in the Final Fantasy (Square) series. Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi claimed it was his "last ditch" attempt to create something great. Final Fantasy evolved RPGs, taking what had been created with Dragon Quest and ironing out the creases to make a polished spectacle. It bought revolutionary features from paper-based gaming to console, the first being the concept of parties. The chance to control four characters through the adventure brought with it new possibilities and a sense of strategy to the proceedings. Secondly came the Class sytem, characters were now Knights or Wizards, and what's more the characters could even cross class later on to give them more abilities.The greatest shift however was the concept of travel; no longer did you have to walk for hours as you could travel by boat or airship for example. The plot itself was refreshing as it strayed away from the saving the princess story from Dragon Quest. Instead you had to defeat the four elemental fiends, re-light the sacred orbs and defeat Chaos to bring law and order to the world. Simple but effective, this game was as engrossing as it was fun to play. NES sequels followed in 1988 & 1990.
The era of the Super Nintendo (SNES) and the Mega Drive was an important time for RPGs. The gameplay improved and we also saw a massive improvement in atmosphere from music and sound effects.
What better place to start than with Phantasy Star II (1989). This title improved on the original in every way possible and continued the storyline without seeming too unbelievable. Its music, graphics and sound made Phantasy Star II one of the most memorable titles ever. It was followed up with two more sequels in 1991 and 1995.
The Mega Drive also had Landstalker (Sega, 1993) memorable for its stunning graphics and exceptionally frustrating puzzles. It revolutionised the way puzzles were designed and implemented. The same year Shining Force was released, it was the first time strategy and RPG were mixed to amazing effect.
A truly magnificent RPG on the Mega Drive was Lunar: The Silver Star and it was perfect in every detail. It exuded feeling and emotion for the characters and you couldn't put it doww for a second. Great characterisations, style and a little something special made this title to remember. Its 1995 sequel, Lunar: Eternal Blue, surpassed the original.
Fasa's pen and paper RPG Shadowrun made an appearance on both the SNES and Mega Drive in 1993 and 1994 respectively. Fans flocked to its futuristic setting, a change to the now familiar conventions of the past. While the SNES version won all the praise the Sega version bombed and was labelled as nothing more than numbers and stats
SNES fans were treated to the wonderful Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995), a game considered by some to be the best RPG ever. Its main selling points were time travel and the multiple endings that were possible because of it. At the end of the game you opened up New Game, which allowed you to replay through the game and at any point fight the big boss Lavos and unlock one of many new endings. This is the first example of multiple endings in RPG.
Another Square title also made a comeback. Final Fantasy IV (1991) stunned fans with its graphics and superb soundtrack by composer Nobuo Uematsu. The big innovation it gave to the industry was the Active Time battle system. It consisted of a bar at the bottom of the screen that filled up at a rate dependent on the character's agility, when it filled you took your turn. This initiative based battle system was revolutionary and is still used now. 1992 bought along Final Fantasy V, its fully customisable job system was a first in RPGs and made it an instant hit with fans.
Zelda III hit the shelves in 1992, returning to its roots with a three-quarter perspective. Its claim to fame was its clever use of two dimensions: the dark and light worlds that required the player to utilise both in conjunction to complete their quest. NES favourite Dragon Quest also made a comeback but failed miserably to ignite gamers interests with either game in 1992 or 1996. The best of the rest came in the forms of Secret of Mana (1993) a firm favourite amongst fans because of its great storyline and weapon advancement system. Add to this the first multi-tap support for an RPG so you could play with friends and it was addictive to play. Super Mario RPG: Secret of the Seven Stars was the ultimate combination of platform Mario addiction and Square's RPG credentials.
The SNES's successor, the N64, was a powerful machine but its contribution to the RPG was little. The main contributions came from The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (1998) and the 2000 release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Both offered excellent graphics, vast landscapes and fully 3D interactive worlds that encouraged exploration. The way it all came together was revolutionary and seemed to flow perfectly, and more importantly remained true to its roots.
Behold the Playstation! Final Fantasy VII arrived on the Playstation in 1997. It was a lavish spectacle. Packed full of pre-rendered environments and high quality FMV sequences it became a firm favourite amongst a new generation of RPG fanatics. This was followed up by the little known Final Fantasy Tactics (1998), a crossbreed of strategy battle and RPG. Its diabolical English translation meant it only saw a limited run in the US. Then came Final Fantasy VIII, a complete disaster after the success of VII. It lacked everything that made Final Fantasy great and is a title best left well alone. In 2000 came Final Fantasy IX, the game to beat all others. Its impressive looks and gameplay were marred for some by over-used random battles and in the eyes of many still isn't as good as FFVII. Sold hugely well though.
1998 gave us Xenogears (Square). Its epic story and risque religious overtones were undermined by its seriously poor game engine and camera angles that made the game virtually unplayable. One of the Playstation's most underrated RPGs, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen (Crystal Dynamics, 1997), was a true classic. Why? Because of its different storyline, a superbly unsettling atmosphere and dark overtones it made a welcome change to the classic RPG. 1997 also brought along possibly the most successful non-Square RPG - Wild Arms (Sony). While it had nothing new it took all the best aspects from existing RPGs and rolled them into one, resulting in an accomplished player-friendly RPG. Following in the path of dark RPGs came Parasite Eve (Square, 1998), while some claimed it was too short others loved its beautiful graphics and stunning CG sequences. It saw a poorly received sequel in 2000.
The best of the rest came in the form of Sony's The Legend of Dragoon, a Final Fantasy clone that offered nothing revolutionary but was still enjoyable. The ongoing Breath of Fire series had parts III and IV released in 1998 and 2001 respectively. They were solid RPGs that were easily accessible to a wide audience. Alundra (Working Designs) in 1998 was insanely difficult and caused many a broken controller. Lastly for all true to heart D&D gamers the dungeon hackling extravaganzas Azure Dreams (Konami) and Diablo (EA BLizzard) were both released in 1998.
Mr Dreamcast! 128 bit machines kicked off with the Dreamcast, however it had no decent RPG titles at first. 2000 brought Shenmue to the UK but this was too much like real life (with all the boring bits) to win over many fans and probably isn't an RPG in the way we understand the genre. Next up came Grandia III (Game Arts, 2001) was cool too. But this year the European Dreamcast saw possibly the most important console RPG yet - Phantasy Star Online. It was the first Massively Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG) ever to be released on a console. It set new standards in communication and episodic gaming as you could download new adventures to take part in. Some consider it the single most important game in modern day RPG gaming, so far at least. Sony fans hope that Final Fantasy XI takes the whole online RPG idea a step further and with broadband coming there's no reason why it shouldn't.
PS2 - And the Quest Continues. So that brings us on to the Playstation 2. Early on mediocre titles such as Orphen (Activision 2000) and Evergrace (UbiSoft, 2001) marred its reputation but then along came Summoner (THQ, 2001) and set the new standard for all that would follow. It had gorgeous graphics, a tidy interface and real time combat but technical flaws such as pop up let it down. Sony's Dark Cloud (2001) has an imaginative storyline based on villages that you had to rebuild. It's been getting a lot of press but some have complained about its resemblance to the N64 Zelda titles.
So what about the future? Final Fantasy X is selling ridiculous amounts in Japan right now and should be in the UK by Christmas. Final Fantasy XI promises much in terms of episodic gaming and online community bonding, but it still leaves the console some way behind the PC which has had MMORPGs for some years now.
But fittingly, the next RPG-influenced title on the PS2 returns to the D&D roots of western RPGs. Although Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Interplay) is described as an action adventure title, the action is underpinned by 3rd Edition D&D rules, marking a return to the source of most modern RPG game systems. The average player won't need to worry about it, but it gives the combat and spells system a strength in depth that games like Gauntlet (fun though it is) just couldn't compete with.
Exactly when this genre first made its appearance on a console is a little sketchy but the contest comes down to two Atari 2600 titles. These are Excalibur and Adventure. Both had RPG elements incorporating a fantasy medieval setting, dungeons, monsters, treasure, dragons, and the scourge of modern day RPGs, random battles. For me console RPGing didn't start until the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which started the whole RPG craze and Japan's dominance of the genre. This is where we start our jaunt through console RPG history.
The NES was where it really started. This machine was, and still is for some, the highlight of RPG gaming with its many classic titles such as Zelda and Final Fantasy. They're still with us now but the originals are still popular with retro gameheads.
The Legend of Zelda was released in 1985. Nintendo genius Shigeru Miyamoto's first effort at this spellbinding series was indeed spectacular. Based on his childhood memories of exploring the fields near his home in Japan the game exudes a feeling of exploration and adventure. The game relied on you finding new items and heart boxes to advance your skills and health. The game was massive, there could be items hidden anywhere and every word the NPCs spoke was full of meaning to help you along your quest. This game was a breath of fresh air and an instant classic.
The Dragon Quest series (published by Enix) made its first appearance in 1986. This title established many of the conventions we see in today's RPGs, upgradeable weapons, mini quests, hit and magic points, incremental spells and turn-based battles. The popularity of this game was alarming and after the launch of Dragon Quest III a law was passed in Japan to have the games released on Sunday to stop kids wagging off school. Dragon Quest recieved three sequels on the NES in 1987, 1989 and 1990.
1987 saw the release of the first in the Final Fantasy (Square) series. Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi claimed it was his "last ditch" attempt to create something great. Final Fantasy evolved RPGs, taking what had been created with Dragon Quest and ironing out the creases to make a polished spectacle. It bought revolutionary features from paper-based gaming to console, the first being the concept of parties. The chance to control four characters through the adventure brought with it new possibilities and a sense of strategy to the proceedings. Secondly came the Class sytem, characters were now Knights or Wizards, and what's more the characters could even cross class later on to give them more abilities.The greatest shift however was the concept of travel; no longer did you have to walk for hours as you could travel by boat or airship for example. The plot itself was refreshing as it strayed away from the saving the princess story from Dragon Quest. Instead you had to defeat the four elemental fiends, re-light the sacred orbs and defeat Chaos to bring law and order to the world. Simple but effective, this game was as engrossing as it was fun to play. NES sequels followed in 1988 & 1990.
The era of the Super Nintendo (SNES) and the Mega Drive was an important time for RPGs. The gameplay improved and we also saw a massive improvement in atmosphere from music and sound effects.
What better place to start than with Phantasy Star II (1989). This title improved on the original in every way possible and continued the storyline without seeming too unbelievable. Its music, graphics and sound made Phantasy Star II one of the most memorable titles ever. It was followed up with two more sequels in 1991 and 1995.
The Mega Drive also had Landstalker (Sega, 1993) memorable for its stunning graphics and exceptionally frustrating puzzles. It revolutionised the way puzzles were designed and implemented. The same year Shining Force was released, it was the first time strategy and RPG were mixed to amazing effect.
A truly magnificent RPG on the Mega Drive was Lunar: The Silver Star and it was perfect in every detail. It exuded feeling and emotion for the characters and you couldn't put it doww for a second. Great characterisations, style and a little something special made this title to remember. Its 1995 sequel, Lunar: Eternal Blue, surpassed the original.
Fasa's pen and paper RPG Shadowrun made an appearance on both the SNES and Mega Drive in 1993 and 1994 respectively. Fans flocked to its futuristic setting, a change to the now familiar conventions of the past. While the SNES version won all the praise the Sega version bombed and was labelled as nothing more than numbers and stats
SNES fans were treated to the wonderful Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995), a game considered by some to be the best RPG ever. Its main selling points were time travel and the multiple endings that were possible because of it. At the end of the game you opened up New Game, which allowed you to replay through the game and at any point fight the big boss Lavos and unlock one of many new endings. This is the first example of multiple endings in RPG.
Another Square title also made a comeback. Final Fantasy IV (1991) stunned fans with its graphics and superb soundtrack by composer Nobuo Uematsu. The big innovation it gave to the industry was the Active Time battle system. It consisted of a bar at the bottom of the screen that filled up at a rate dependent on the character's agility, when it filled you took your turn. This initiative based battle system was revolutionary and is still used now. 1992 bought along Final Fantasy V, its fully customisable job system was a first in RPGs and made it an instant hit with fans.
Zelda III hit the shelves in 1992, returning to its roots with a three-quarter perspective. Its claim to fame was its clever use of two dimensions: the dark and light worlds that required the player to utilise both in conjunction to complete their quest. NES favourite Dragon Quest also made a comeback but failed miserably to ignite gamers interests with either game in 1992 or 1996. The best of the rest came in the forms of Secret of Mana (1993) a firm favourite amongst fans because of its great storyline and weapon advancement system. Add to this the first multi-tap support for an RPG so you could play with friends and it was addictive to play. Super Mario RPG: Secret of the Seven Stars was the ultimate combination of platform Mario addiction and Square's RPG credentials.
The SNES's successor, the N64, was a powerful machine but its contribution to the RPG was little. The main contributions came from The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (1998) and the 2000 release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Both offered excellent graphics, vast landscapes and fully 3D interactive worlds that encouraged exploration. The way it all came together was revolutionary and seemed to flow perfectly, and more importantly remained true to its roots.
Behold the Playstation! Final Fantasy VII arrived on the Playstation in 1997. It was a lavish spectacle. Packed full of pre-rendered environments and high quality FMV sequences it became a firm favourite amongst a new generation of RPG fanatics. This was followed up by the little known Final Fantasy Tactics (1998), a crossbreed of strategy battle and RPG. Its diabolical English translation meant it only saw a limited run in the US. Then came Final Fantasy VIII, a complete disaster after the success of VII. It lacked everything that made Final Fantasy great and is a title best left well alone. In 2000 came Final Fantasy IX, the game to beat all others. Its impressive looks and gameplay were marred for some by over-used random battles and in the eyes of many still isn't as good as FFVII. Sold hugely well though.
1998 gave us Xenogears (Square). Its epic story and risque religious overtones were undermined by its seriously poor game engine and camera angles that made the game virtually unplayable. One of the Playstation's most underrated RPGs, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen (Crystal Dynamics, 1997), was a true classic. Why? Because of its different storyline, a superbly unsettling atmosphere and dark overtones it made a welcome change to the classic RPG. 1997 also brought along possibly the most successful non-Square RPG - Wild Arms (Sony). While it had nothing new it took all the best aspects from existing RPGs and rolled them into one, resulting in an accomplished player-friendly RPG. Following in the path of dark RPGs came Parasite Eve (Square, 1998), while some claimed it was too short others loved its beautiful graphics and stunning CG sequences. It saw a poorly received sequel in 2000.
The best of the rest came in the form of Sony's The Legend of Dragoon, a Final Fantasy clone that offered nothing revolutionary but was still enjoyable. The ongoing Breath of Fire series had parts III and IV released in 1998 and 2001 respectively. They were solid RPGs that were easily accessible to a wide audience. Alundra (Working Designs) in 1998 was insanely difficult and caused many a broken controller. Lastly for all true to heart D&D gamers the dungeon hackling extravaganzas Azure Dreams (Konami) and Diablo (EA BLizzard) were both released in 1998.
Mr Dreamcast! 128 bit machines kicked off with the Dreamcast, however it had no decent RPG titles at first. 2000 brought Shenmue to the UK but this was too much like real life (with all the boring bits) to win over many fans and probably isn't an RPG in the way we understand the genre. Next up came Grandia III (Game Arts, 2001) was cool too. But this year the European Dreamcast saw possibly the most important console RPG yet - Phantasy Star Online. It was the first Massively Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG) ever to be released on a console. It set new standards in communication and episodic gaming as you could download new adventures to take part in. Some consider it the single most important game in modern day RPG gaming, so far at least. Sony fans hope that Final Fantasy XI takes the whole online RPG idea a step further and with broadband coming there's no reason why it shouldn't.
PS2 - And the Quest Continues. So that brings us on to the Playstation 2. Early on mediocre titles such as Orphen (Activision 2000) and Evergrace (UbiSoft, 2001) marred its reputation but then along came Summoner (THQ, 2001) and set the new standard for all that would follow. It had gorgeous graphics, a tidy interface and real time combat but technical flaws such as pop up let it down. Sony's Dark Cloud (2001) has an imaginative storyline based on villages that you had to rebuild. It's been getting a lot of press but some have complained about its resemblance to the N64 Zelda titles.
So what about the future? Final Fantasy X is selling ridiculous amounts in Japan right now and should be in the UK by Christmas. Final Fantasy XI promises much in terms of episodic gaming and online community bonding, but it still leaves the console some way behind the PC which has had MMORPGs for some years now.
But fittingly, the next RPG-influenced title on the PS2 returns to the D&D roots of western RPGs. Although Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (Interplay) is described as an action adventure title, the action is underpinned by 3rd Edition D&D rules, marking a return to the source of most modern RPG game systems. The average player won't need to worry about it, but it gives the combat and spells system a strength in depth that games like Gauntlet (fun though it is) just couldn't compete with.