Is any RPG truly Bad?

[Dylan]

The biggest problem I have with sub-par RPGs though is that they still consume large amounts of time (like what brunoafh was saying), so I generally find myself just dropping them for a better experience. I do believe though that it's possible to make an RPG with such badly broken mechanics that it becomes thoroughly unenjoyable. A good example of this would be the original Final Fantasy II. The horrifyingly ass-backwards stat progression system, infuriating dungeon design, and completely useless allies made actually playing through that game seem genuinely infeasible to me.

This makes me wonder though, does breakability fit into this idea? Despite FFII's extreme shortcomings, its leveling system is exploitable and that makes the game notably less agonizing than it would be in its natural state.

[noiseredux]

I enjoyed accomplishing anything when I was younger, so mq at least satisfied that.

Looking at it now, and the 3 other ffs to come out in th era, I don't think it offers much. I would recommend super mario rpg to a beginner over mq.

when it came out -- you couldn't just go to eBay, Amazon, BestBuy, etc and get any game you were after. So unfortunately for me, I never saw the SNES FFII or III at my local toy store. I was stuck with Mystic Quest. And got enjoyment out of it.

[dunpeal2064]

^ I totally understand. There are a lot of games that I played as a kid because it was what I had, and even if those games aren't great, nostalgia still makes them awesome.

That was smrpg for me, and then ff7. I would not argue that ff7 is the best, or even 2nd best ff game, but purely from nostalgia, its my favorite.

[Soldier Blue]

[nightrnr]

dammit, I love yr posts! Why don't you post more often man?

Thanks Noise. I like you posts too.
I'm just quiet. But this is definitely the most consistently interesting forum on the web. I'll always stick around.

Anyways, I guess you could apply this to ANY genre. Even bad racing games can be fun, and that's as simple a game as you can get IMO (Ug, me want to go fast).

I singled out RPGs because I usually play them when I want a whole WORLD to escape to. I may tire of that world and that might indeed depend on it's quality. But it's the whole principle of being in a different realm than I'm used to.
And yet it's familiar too. I love seeing the infinite variations on slimes, bats, dragons, and the undead.

I do admit to being overly generous and lenient, like brunoafh, though. I always think that I probably couldn't do much better if I tried to make a game.

Of the games mentioned so far:
I do plan on tackling Phantasy Star III at some point, probably after I complete the 1st game (I've beaten the other 2).
Mystic Quest was overly simple and got boring, but I liked that the monsters changed graphics as they approached defeat. I played a little over halfway before I quit (although I made a friend play through to completion I'm evil )
I've never played Evergrace.
But as far as ARPGs (which I usually adore), I stopped playing Alundra 2. I'm wouldn't say it was dull exactly (actually it's quirky), but I wouldn't call it a good game though.

So yeah, I guess we can call things "BAD", but still find value in it.

But with emulation and/or cheap used options, the scenario has really changed nowadays. We can play things with a more disposable attitude towards it.
Newer games will always be held up to a higher standard.

This makes me wonder though, does breakability fit into this idea? Despite FFII's extreme shortcomings, its leveling system is exploitable and that makes the game notably less agonizing than it would be in its natural state.

Hey, it's their world. If there's flaws, you, the hero, get to exploit them. That's what NEO would do.
And for the record, I enjoyed FF2 (Origins PS1).

[RyaNtheSlayA]

^ I totally understand. There are a lot of games that I played as a kid because it was what I had, and even if those games aren't great, nostalgia still makes them awesome.

That was smrpg for me, and then ff7. I would not argue that ff7 is the best, or even 2nd best ff game, but purely from nostalgia, its my favorite.

Not to totally derail the topic, but I have a special place in my heart for FF9. I don't even like JRPGs very much, but, I had it as a kid and I still like it despite the genre didn't really grow on me.

[nightrnr]

Oooh, Aidyn Chronicles, I used to watch a friend play that.
It wasn't so much bad, as an unfinished game IMO (okay, so maybe that's WHY it's bad).

My favorite review of that game was by the "RPG Critic" (I liked alll his revs).
http://web.archive.org/web/200602020055 ... signs.com/
You'll have to find it on that archived site, but it's great. He calls it his "crap game" .

[Dylan]

And for the record, I enjoyed FF2 (Origins PS1).

FFII had its mechanics overhauled after its original debut on the Famicom, and was made much more playable. I still haven't played all the way through the remade version, but I can agree that it's a worthwhile gaming experience.

[o.pwuaioc]

Looking at it now, and the 3 other ffs to come out in th era, I don't think it offers much. I would recommend super mario rpg to a beginner over mq.

Although I don't like Super Mario RPG, the difference for me between that and Mystic Quest is that I can see value in SMRPG, although I personally don't like it, but I really think I would have been better off never playing MQ. I only kept playing because I had nothing else to play, FFII, SoM, and LttP, my other "RPGs" (since I'm adding LttP) having already been beaten.

[dunpeal2064]

^ I totally understand. There are a lot of games that I played as a kid because it was what I had, and even if those games aren't great, nostalgia still makes them awesome.

That was smrpg for me, and then ff7. I would not argue that ff7 is the best, or even 2nd best ff game, but purely from nostalgia, its my favorite.

Not to totally derail the topic, but I have a special place in my heart for FF9. I don't even like JRPGs very much, but, I had it as a kid and I still like it despite the genre didn't really grow on me.

That would be the ff I would argue to be the best, and for me personally, one of the best games ever made. The music is soooo good, and fits the environment perfectly. ok, I have to stop. I could go on about that game for hours