Game-Series that revolutionized RPGs?

[Breetai]

Hm, I was thinking I might appreciate the genre more if I started with what everyone started with/liked back in the day, then have the later games "blow my mind"... or is it really that bad.

Why not start with what so many of us who grew up in the Atari/NES age did? Go with the original Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest). Even if you get bored with it, it will give you a good idea of what we had to play back then for an RPG.

[Gnashvar]

Fallout

It really changed the way I looked at RPGs.

[isiolia]

I can't decide which RPG to try out first... my experience with RPGs so far have been:

1. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
2. Pokemon

...so yeah. I really need to get going on that.

I'm looking to play from the "beginning" basically; with either Ultima, Dragon Warrior/Quest, or Wizardry. I would like to know what is the Racketboy community's suggestion on what I start out with? I'm tempted to go with any of the remakes of these, but I would think that defeats the purpose of starting with a RPG that revolutionized things from a historical perspective... but then again, gameplay flaws are fixed with better graphics etc. THEN though, I might as well play Final Fantasy VII. Decisions!

My initial plan was to play the original Dragon Quest in some form, then eventually go back to Ultima and Wizardry to see where it derives it's elements from. Any ideas?

IMO...as with other games, go with what you'd enjoy.

There's certainly merit to wanting to explore the origins of a genre, but to me what's more important is that you play something that appeals to you. Seeing things from the beginning may well help you appreciate advances over the years - but, to me, it's also important to find the games that grab you, in order to generate lasting interest in the genre.

To that end, I'd suggest looking more at the high points for RPGs on systems you have/like. If you have an itch to play VII, then play VII, don't feel like you need to slog through a bunch of ancient PC titles to put it in context first (though again, nothing wrong with that if you'd find it fun).

[dogman91]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations... tried the Apple II version of Ultima for a bit, went through a town and a dungeon, and it unfortunately seems like I'm already too spoiled to really enjoy the game. It was mostly the sense of not easily knowing what options you have as well as the keyboard commands... I do appreciate the game mechanics and the ideas that it introduces though; it was very helpful to my understanding of RPGs overall to play it.

The next thing I'll try is Dragon Warrior; hopefully for the whole thing this time. Would you all say the grinding in this is really as grating as it's often to led to believe? If so I might just go with the Super Famicom remake and not worry about being "historically authentic".

[Opa Opa]

Thanks everyone for your recommendations... tried the Apple II version of Ultima for a bit, went through a town and a dungeon, and it unfortunately seems like I'm already too spoiled to really enjoy the game. It was mostly the sense of not easily knowing what options you have as well as the keyboard commands... I do appreciate the game mechanics and the ideas that it introduces though; it was very helpful to my understanding of RPGs overall to play it.

"R" (ready) then "W" (weapon) then "B" (dagger) = Dagger equipped

"R" (ready) then "A" (armor) then "B" (leather armor) = Armor equipped

When in a dungeon facing an enemy: "A" (attack)

...
___

If you really want to take another crack at the older games you should read a guide detailing commands and whatnot.

[lisalover1]

Shin Megami Tensei and its various spinoffs, especially the Persona line

I would definitely agree that if nothing else, SMT and Persona redifined storytelling in RPGs.

I would say that Phantasy Star had a bunch of elements that no other game had done before upon release, but I am hesitant to say that it "revolutionized" RPGs, because very few people actually owned the Master System necessary to play it.

My vote is also for Dragon Quest/Warrior for all but inventing the Japanese Role-Playing Game.

Finally, Ultima didn't revolutionize Role-Playing Video Games, because there was almost nothing [series, anyway] before it. You can't change something that doesn't exist. Unless I'm missing something really obscure, in which case I am sure I will be notified immediately, there was very, very, very little to the genre before Ultima.

[Opa Opa]

I would definitely agree that if nothing else, SMT and Persona redifined storytelling in RPGs.

I need an explanation for this otherwise I've gotta call b.s.

[o.pwuaioc]

I would say that Phantasy Star had a bunch of elements that no other game had done before upon release, but I am hesitant to say that it "revolutionized" RPGs, because very few people actually owned the Master System necessary to play it.

The Master System was very popular outside of the US. If Wikipedia is accurate, then it sold 13 million units worldwide.

[dogman91]

"R" (ready) then "W" (weapon) then "B" (dagger) = Dagger equipped

"R" (ready) then "A" (armor) then "B" (leather armor) = Armor equipped

When in a dungeon facing an enemy: "A" (attack)

...
___

If you really want to take another crack at the older games you should read a guide detailing commands and whatnot.

Lol, well I knew about those. Who knows; probably just my initial sense of being a bit overwhelmed at the options... I may give it another shot sometime. It DOES seem to not require much strategy other than simply knowing where to go...and memorizing random details such as those moving pixels represent a jester, and he steals your unarmed equipment with no indication whatsoever of what has happened.

[lisalover1]

I would definitely agree that if nothing else, SMT and Persona redifined storytelling in RPGs.

I need an explanation for this otherwise I've gotta call b.s.

It was a very radical idea to put an RPG in a modern setting. It broke the genre free from the archetypical high fantasy setting, and allowed for something different and unique. It was also quite a bit darker than most RPGs that preceded it. Persona took these elements and ran with them, eventually becoming a bizarre and effective combination of life simulator and RPG. SMT/Persona is basically everything that other RPGs WEREN'T doing.