The Never can finish an RPG syndrome

[TheRev]

Yes I can never EVER no matter what I do finish an RPG I start. This probably came up before but I thought it warrents it's own thread.

Currently and for the last few years I have been in the following places for the following RPGs

Xenogears- The 2nd part of the caves, and I'm running out of Fuel.
Chrono Trigger- Just before the Mangus battle
Final Fantasy VI- When Sabin FIRST shows up.
Final Fantasy VII- Shinra Building
Parasite Eve- First hall way of the game (2 hasn't even graced by PS2 in the year I've had it)
Persona 4- 2nd set of Dungeons in the Spings
Persona 3- I don't even know
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne- Subway with NO party just an Action replay enhanced character that still takes forever to beat bosses.

SO YEAH, as you can see I have a real problem completing RPGs. Does anybody else have this issue? Every listed RPG here represents a save at least 1 year old, In the case of others 4-5 years.

[TheSSNintendo]

I stopped playing The Last Story about halfway through the game, mainly because I wanted to play some of my Gamecube games in the event that I get around to buying a Wii U. Haven't played Xenoblade in a while either. I got lazy with Legend of Dragoon and Legend of Legaia as well. Never finished Final Fantasy IX, and I got that for Christmas back in 2000!

[AppleQueso]

Finish RPGs before starting new ones? Games like this require a lot of attention so it's generally not a great idea to try and juggle them. I think that's what leads to not getting them done.

I've got a couple of RPGs sitting with untouched save files I'm trying to wrap up myself.

[TheRev]

I once remarked to an Anime group (which once there was a regime change led to me getting kicked out) That "I don't play RPGs I want to have a life." Stuck the person who would move on to the head postion as elitist. But it's true. RPGs are so time consuming that's why I have so much trouble finishing them.

[samsonlonghair]

I never finish an RPG. I just don't have the attention span. Arcade games are more my style. I like to press start and get into the action immediately. If I have to go through a long introduction before I fight my first opponent, The game isn't for me. I was already bored of Fire Emblem before I finished the intro. I've never been past the first disc of Legend of Dragoon. This also applies to non-rpg games. For instance, I have never played a Metal Gear Solid game. I just don't have the patience.

It's a shame because I really enjoy Legend of Zelda games. They let me start playing relatively quickly, but they're still too long. I get bored and eventually quit. I have played nearly every Zelda game, but never finished a single one.

Genres like platformers, side-scrolling beat 'em ups, run-n-guns, vertical shoot 'em ups, or VS fighting games are my favorites. The instant gratification of constant action keeps me playing late into the night. Sometimes I'll beat these games then start over again to keep playing.

Conclusion: RPGs just aren't for everyone.

[TheRev]

Yeah I think that's the boat I'm in. All the games I listed, they're masterpieces amazing games BUT like you I prefer Arcade style games and Action games. I'm going to at least TRY to play through Parasite Eve But I don't know how far I'll actually get

[Xeogred]

I thought this was going to be a bit more serious... but your list cracks me up, it's like you didn't even really play the games at all.

If it's not for you it's not for you. I wouldn't "try" to finish a game ever, forcing yourself will only make the experience worse.

[ZenErik]

I can't finish RPGs on home consoles anymore. The last one I managed was Tales of Graces f, and that was a struggle.

But RPGs on portables are working out very well. I can pick it up whenever and almost instantly start playing. And I can put the system to sleep whenever without worrying about save points. If I play for only 10 min? No problem.

[brukner1129]

Recently I've actually been able to finish quite a few rpgs, but when I was younger, I could NEVER finish one. Even now, though, I find that my limit is roughly 30-35 hours. Any games longer than that have to be like AMAZING to keep my attention. The only rpgs I've played longer than that to date are Final Fantasy XIII, Dark Souls, and TES IV Oblivion.

[Anapan]

I finish a fair ammount of them, but the ones I enjoy the most I stop before the last battle, or last dungeon, and start over again knowing how to do it better but sometimes never completing them fully - often once I've had enough I blow through them to see the ending.
I played through Final Fantasy 7 twice before defeating Sephiroth, and started Final Fantasy 8 - 4 times before doing a complete playthrough (final time involved heavy grinding-like drawing & carding everything and fully exploiting the card game & card crafting).
That was many years ago tho (just finished a couple of comission jobs and had no goals or responsibilities). I don't even have much time to play my Action RPGs, let alone a full blown turn based game. Sad but true, no matter what I do, I have more pressing matters. I have a pile of NIB RPGs for 360 and PS3 that are in plastic not because I'm planning to sell them. I gave some to my friend a couple of months ago. Glad to hear they're enjoying them.
I have a list like OP on Turn-based tactical RPGs tho. I really want to get into them, but I always seem to get stuck, and cannot proceed further. I know what I'm doing, or did wrong, but I just can't go further. Except for X-Com 1&2 I've never been able to finish a TRPG. Too bad because I really want to enjoy Disgaea. I know my limitations tho, the best I can do is play Prinny: Can I Really be the Hero?