Things that need to die in Modern RPGs

[pepharytheworm]

It's not really what needs to die in RPGs, but what needs to die in RPG fans.
W or J RPGS. Stop it. It's ridiculous to categorize a game or other media by where it came from. I know that Japanese RPGs and Western RPGs are (for the most part) different, but what do you do if a Western developer develops an RPG similar to Final Fantasy or Xeno Gears or if a Japanese developer develops an RPG similar to Elder Scrolls or the original Fallout?

How about JSRPG and WSRPG, "S" stands for style, but then people will think its stands for Strategy. I don't like wrpgs so having a quick name so I know to skip it helps. Come up with a better name that isn't long and I will use it.

[JDMThoughts]

There is a lot of points made in here that are excellent. Here is my take on the situation, the biggest thing with JRPGs is that, well they are Japanese made, they are very accustomed and set in their ways about their ideal way to make these games. That's why all these guys and girls are anime/emo nutsacks. It's what the people over there really like, it also happens to be what a lot of other people like around the world. The same thing with western style RPGs, they are all usually about some futuristic space bullshit. Quite frankly I gave up on being mad about stuff like that. I just try and find things I like about the games and go from there. To be honest, I would totally be ok with playing a game that's not post apocalyptic like Borderlands and Fallout, or some shit from a space capade like Mass Effect an Bioshock and yada yada yada. I don't wanna come off like I hate these games, as I really love Mass Effect, Fallout, and Borderlands. Those are great games, and are well made. Partially the biggest thing between them, as the natural course of the game goes by you don't need to level up your character, as he is strong enough to beat enemies by himself, or they scale the enemies down to your level which is cool. I can only take sooo much grinding.

[pepharytheworm]

This isn't something that needs to die but more RPGs should do it. I really love the active battling in the Mario RPG games. Why isn't there more rpgs having this? Turn based rpgs sometimes get boring but the active turn based systems makes it fun to the end. Are there any other game with a similiar turn base style?

[synbiosfan]

My view point is almost 180 degrees from Pephary's. I hate active battles and prefer the turn based ones. That's why I have so many old school titles and nothing from this generation of consoles.

I don't want to see anything die, it's just sad when something is forgotten.

Some see FF13 as advancement but I see it as continuing to abandon it's roots.

[pepharytheworm]

My view point is almost 180 degrees from Pephary's. I hate active battles and prefer the turn based ones. That's why I have so many old school titles and nothing from this generation of consoles.

I don't want to see anything die, it's just sad when something is forgotten.

Some see FF13 as advancement but I see it as continuing to abandon it's roots.

I didn't say I didn't like turn based rpgs, have you played the mario rpg games? I actualy don't prefer Action Rpgs except Tales of series. It seems all they release are Action RPGs now, accept on handhelds.

[synbiosfan]

My view point is almost 180 degrees from Pephary's. I hate active battles and prefer the turn based ones. That's why I have so many old school titles and nothing from this generation of consoles.

I don't want to see anything die, it's just sad when something is forgotten.

Some see FF13 as advancement but I see it as continuing to abandon it's roots.

I didn't say I didn't like turn based rpgs, have you played the mario rpg games? I actualy don't prefer Action Rpgs except Tales of series. It seems all they release are Action RPGs now, accept on handhelds.

Oops, sorry I have played the Mario's but prefer Shining Forces, Lunars, Star Ocean 2nd Story, FF1-7, Dragon Quest/Warrior, etc. Handheld's are all I have this gen, PSP & DS. I'm playing Shining Force Feather on the DS in my freetime. It doesn't have random encounters and is pretty linear but it does have a combat school like feature. Grinding in a fresh looking package It has an interesting combat system, nothing genre changing or anything, but a fun way to get some use out of traditionally lame characters. I really need to start studying Japanese in earnest to get the most out of my collection.

[the7k]

It's not really what needs to die in RPGs, but what needs to die in RPG fans.
W or J RPGS. Stop it. It's ridiculous to categorize a game or other media by where it came from. I know that Japanese RPGs and Western RPGs are (for the most part) different, but what do you do if a Western developer develops an RPG similar to Final Fantasy or Xeno Gears or if a Japanese developer develops an RPG similar to Elder Scrolls or the original Fallout?

It's already happened. Septerra Core was a JRPG made by western developer Valkyrie Studios, and King's Field/Demon's Souls is a WRPG made by Japanese developer From Software.

I really just feel that RPGs need to really focus on "Find the cliche, and throw it away." There are some original RPGs out there, but they are very few and far between. It's mostly just the same crap, over and over again. That might be fine in action games, but in a genre where story is important, it's very bad when you see plot-twists and character arcs coming from MILES away.

Also related to story - skippable cut-scenes. They should all be skippable. Always. I've got a few RPGs which I'll likely never play because they require at least three hours of cut-scenes before I come to any action. Having to deal with this bullshit just to get to the gameplay is bullcrap - just give me the Cliff Notes version so I can have fun.

[MrPopo]

I really just feel that books need to really focus on "Find the cliche, and throw it away." There are some original books out there, but they are very few and far between. It's mostly just the same crap, over and over again. That might be fine in movies, but in a medium where story is important, it's very bad when you see plot-twists and character arcs coming from MILES away.

Wow! I just change a few of the words and it all still applies!

[JokermanJohnny]

Here's a thought: what if some company made an RPG that was just one big parody of the genre. For example, the game takes every cliche in the book, turns the dial up to eleven, and makes a silly and lighthearted story out of it. It can also ran poke fun at the things that people usually "hate" in RPGs, such as the emo stock character, grinding, the "Ye Olde English" setting and style, all that and more could be turned on its head and be made humorous, ridiculous or otherwise silly. Or, to add wishful thinking, what if someone wrote an over-the-top and ridiculous story a la Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann?

[AppleQueso]

It's not really what needs to die in RPGs, but what needs to die in RPG fans.
W or J RPGS. Stop it. It's ridiculous to categorize a game or other media by where it came from. I know that Japanese RPGs and Western RPGs are (for the most part) different, but what do you do if a Western developer develops an RPG similar to Final Fantasy or Xeno Gears or if a Japanese developer develops an RPG similar to Elder Scrolls or the original Fallout?

It's already happened. Septerra Core was a JRPG made by western developer Valkyrie Studios, and King's Field/Demon's Souls is a WRPG made by Japanese developer From Software.

I really just feel that RPGs need to really focus on "Find the cliche, and throw it away." There are some original RPGs out there, but they are very few and far between. It's mostly just the same crap, over and over again. That might be fine in action games, but in a genre where story is important, it's very bad when you see plot-twists and character arcs coming from MILES away.

Also related to story - skippable cut-scenes. They should all be skippable. Always. I've got a few RPGs which I'll likely never play because they require at least three hours of cut-scenes before I come to any action. Having to deal with this bullshit just to get to the gameplay is bullcrap - just give me the Cliff Notes version so I can have fun.

Xenosaga let you pause cutscenes, and when they were paused you had the option of skipping them.

All games should do this.