Am I the Only One? RPGs?

[genesisguy]

Since I'm currently only working part time I spend far too much time online, and one good way to waste time is by reading through forums about the video games of my youth.

The thing I keep coming across is all this love for RPG games. Now, I have to say that I've never played one for very long, and somehow I must be the only guy into retro games that owned a NES SNES and Genesis during their heydays that never owned a RPG. The SNES guys are REALLY bad about the RPGs and I do remember when Super Mario RPG was released but I was more into it because the graphics were unbelievable, not the actual play of the game. But, back to the SNES guys, I got lambasted for saying Link to the Past was my favorite RPG. Hell, I didn't even know what RPG meant back then, and when I found it it made the love for these games even more creepy to me for some reason. I even find it creepy when I hear about adults who get off "adult" role playing themes.

The thing that REALLY drives me nuts about these RPGs is all the text, I'm one of those guys that when I pop a cartridge in I'm mashing start and whatever buttons I can to get through all the intros and texts.

I'm sure there are some here who love RPGs so please don't take offense to this. IF anything point me into the direction of some games I may like.

[Bablefish]

I love RPGs as well...but I am picky. Meaning I even rejected most of the Final Fantasy series simply because they are just toooooo long before you get where you are suppose to be. What I like console wise is Phantasy Star series on the Genesis, and Beyond the Beyond PS1.

[ott0bot]

Sounds like you are moe of an action/rpg or adventure fan. Zelda series is a great example of coarse. On the genesis I'd recomend Beyond Oasis, Crusader of Centy and Wonder Boy in Monster World. Maybe even Valis III or Blaster Master 2. You could also give Popful Mail for sega cd or Shining Wisdom on the Saturn a go. They all have a good blend of action, item collection, and rpg elements like leveling up or gaining powers.


Personally I love old school rpg's....even dialog heavy one's like Lufia. But they definately aren't for everyone. It requires patience and alot of time, and I really don't have either right now. I mostly stick to shmups and action games these days. I'm still trying to finish Shining Force 2...but haven't had the time. The last good rpg I played all the way through was Tales of the Abyss. Great rpg with a beat 'em up battle system. Definately worth the 90 hours I put into it.

[phanboy_iv]

Don't feel bad about it. I personally love RPG's, but I've never been able to stay with RTS games, and I feel a bit guilty about it. By all means, try some of the Genesis greats, and some good CRPG's, but if you just don't dig the genre, don't feel bad about it.

[Iron Lizard]

Everyone likes different things. I tend to think of Rpgs like a good book. It is usually the story line that keeps me playing. Others love the battle systems. It is whatever floats your boat. I love Rpgs but usually don't have the time to get involved with them anymore. I can play a shooter for 15 minutes and not feel bad because I can't save it.

[Christuserloeser]

RPGs aren't good games. RPGs are RPGs: You don't have much control over your party/characters, so you don't actually "play" that much, but, a bit like in Tetris, you can get obsessed with managing your things (weapons, inventory, spells, etc.pp.), and collecting experience points (like hearts in Zelda, and weapon upgrades in shmups). You'll still have to deal with lots of text tho. - The good thing about the better Genesis RPGs is that story isn't that important, again much like in Zelda, and again that's what a good RPG has in common with a good game.

My recommendation would be to try Shining Force. It mixes RPG with strategy, and it's very addictive. Otherwise I'd say that Story of Thor/Beyond Oasis and Wonder in Monsterworld or Monsterworld 4 should be games that you could enjoy.

[tomaitheous]

RPGs aren't good games. RPGs are RPGs: You don't have much control over your party/characters, so you don't actually "play" that much, but, a bit like in Tetris, you can get obsessed with managing your things (weapons, inventory, spells, etc.pp.), and collecting experience points (like hearts in Zelda, and weapon upgrades in shmups). You'll still have to deal with lots of text tho. - The good thing about the better Genesis RPGs is that story isn't that important, again much like in Zelda, and again that's what a good RPG has in common with a good game.

There's just something really wrong with that statement, CL. :cool:

[Christuserloeser]

It's CE (for "Christus Erlöser" - Klaus Kinski 1971 I think), but what ? The thing about the good story ? I am not sure if I came across a good story yet (like REALLY good), but then again I remember that when I started playing RPGs, my English was barely good enough to understand the basic commands.

Anyway, I stand by my statement: A good RPG has many important aspects, a good story might be among them but many others are more or equally important.

[108 Stars]

The story is THE most important aspect in an RPG to me. I have no problems spending 30 minutes straight reading dialogues and so on. That´s why I love modern RPGs like the FF-games from VII on, because they are more story-focused.
If an RPG has no good story and no characters with personalities but only silent reflections of their character class it is nothing for me.

[tomaitheous]

It's CE (for "Christus Erlöser" - Klaus Kinski 1971 I think), but what ? The thing about the good story ? I am not sure if I came across a good story yet (like REALLY good), but then again I remember that when I started playing RPGs, my English was barely good enough to understand the basic commands.



No,no. I mean comparing the gameplay experience of RPGs with that of Tetris and what not. For shame... :o

[johnnyb]

Having all the text and story lines (even if they are average) are what draw you into a game even more. I find that is what makes some of the most addictive games, the whole wanting to know more about what`s happening, it can keep you playing even if it`s crap! But at the end of the day, to each his own.

[thedaemon]

The only part about most RPG's I don't like is random encounters. I mean, I would be just walking along a path and boom 4 giant trolls pop out of nowhere and start attacking me. WTF? Do you mean to tell me that my character nor I could see 4 giant trolls stomping down the path? Plus it eats up so much time, that's why some RPGs seem to have 100s of hours of gameplay, because have the time you are in a random encounter. Some games I can put up with it because everything else is so damn good. Chrono Trigger, I'm looking at you.

[Iron Lizard]

Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast was horrible for that. So many battles. It drove me nuts. I heard they fixed it on the Gamecube version.

[Pulstar]

The only part about most RPG's I don't like is random encounters. I mean, I would be just walking along a path and boom 4 giant trolls pop out of nowhere and start attacking me. WTF? Do you mean to tell me that my character nor I could see 4 giant trolls stomping down the path? Plus it eats up so much time, that's why some RPGs seem to have 100s of hours of gameplay, because have the time you are in a random encounter. Some games I can put up with it because everything else is so damn good. Chrono Trigger, I'm looking at you.

You've echoed my sentiments exactly. I did enjoy Mass Effect (not a JRPG, I know) because the main quest was not long, but the fact the side ones were bland was detrimental to the experience. Yakuza is also a modern example of a hybrid action rpg (in this case a brawler) and it's fantastic. Chrono Trigger is probably the best old-school title for non-hardened JRPG gamers. I want to get into the Story of Thor (Beyond Oasis) as well since it's not turn-based.

[Christuserloeser]

No,no. I mean comparing the gameplay experience of RPGs with that of Tetris and what not. For shame... :o

I wasn't referring to the gameplay expierence. I think I meant that you can sort the items and weapons you've collected, or your party members. That's the same mechanism that makes Tetris so addictive: Sorting your stuff.

[cj iwakura]

Well, as Genesis goes, Langrisser/Warsong is excellent, has minimal text, and lots of epic battles.

It's also a Strategy RPG. Whether or not that's a good thing may vary, but that's a huge benefit for me.

I finally played it recently, and it lived up to the hype.

I hope the recently patched sequel(never released in the US) is just as good.