The allure of RPGs

[puke_face]

I have noticed lately that I seem to be fascinated by tactical/strategy RPGs. There are a few hang ups though. Every time I go to play a different one, I am overwhelmed by the depth that these games have. For example, Final Fantasy: War of the Lions has a rich story line, and you could spend years trying to manipulate every single aspect that the game has to offer. I spent some time in the tutorial, and there just seems to be a little overkill when I just wanted to spend a few minutes learning the functions, it actually took about 20 minutes just to get through a single section of the tutorial! (There are still 5 more to go... ) That has long been something that has bothered me about RPGs, the fact that you spend so much time doing so little. In one battle, it took about 10 to 15 minutes, just to find out that I was going to get the inevitable (for me) Game Over screen.

With that said, I am asking for advice from people that thoroughly enjoy the RPG experience. What do you like about RPGs? What things make a good RPG in your opinion? Is the depth something you are annoyed by, or is that the reason you purchase an RPG? I really want to be able to enjoy these games, but damn. It seems like there is just too much to do. And the fact that they put this type of game on a portable device makes me think at first that it would be a little faster on the game play side, but that is certainly not the case!

[Gamerforlife]

Two things for me:

1. Character Growth - I really love seeing my character becoming stronger and more capable over the course of the game. In many other genres, your character is roughly the same throughout the game. However, a max level character with loads of abilities, powers and strong equipment will be far stronger than the wimpy guy you started the game with. I like that, particularly with Final Fantasy games. They usually have optional battles and sidequests that require you to get your characters as strong as possible before you can face them. I like the rewarding feeling of building up my characters until they are strong enough to take down the most powerful, legendary creatures in the game's world

2. I love a good story, in any entertainment medium. Generally speaking, RPGs have far greater potential for excellent story telling than other genres. Unfortunately though, with the genre being so huge in Japan you can end up with a lot of games from there that have very cliche, overdone, predictable stories. However, when you look at some of the RPGs of the west you find amazing tales like the one being told in the Mass Effect series

Unfornately, most rpgs(both western and japanese)tend to be a pretty big time sink. It's a genre that demands commitment more than any other I think. To become a hardcore rpg fan is to leave the bachelor days of gaming where you messed around with other genres behind

[puke_face]

Two things for me:
1. Character Growth - I really love seeing my character becoming stronger and more capable over the course of the game. In many other genres, your character is roughly the same throughout the game. However, a max level character with loads of abilities, powers and strong equipment will be far stronger than the wimpy guy you started the game with. I like that, particularly with Final Fantasy games. They usually have optional battles and sidequests that require you to get your characters as strong as possible before you can face them. I like the rewarding feeling of building up my characters until they are strong enough to take down the most powerful, legendary creatures in the game's world

I like this part as well. It is a good feeling, knowing that your player will be able to beat anything by the time the game is over. On the first Fable, this is what kept me going. That is probably the only RPG (and not full on RPG at that) that I was able to finish.

2. I love a good story, in any entertainment medium. Generally speaking, RPGs have far greater potential for excellent story telling than other genres. Unfortunately though, with the genre being so huge in Japan you can end up with a lot of games from there that have very cliche, overdone, predictable stories. However, when you look at some of the RPGs of the west you find amazing tales like the one being told in the Mass Effect series

I have noticed a HUGE difference in western and Japanese games in general, but the RPGs tend to have the quirky humor that isn't really all that heard of over here. Some of the stories in games like Disgaea are hard for me to pick up on, because of all the distractions.

Unfornately, most rpgs(both western and japanese)tend to be a pretty big time sink. It's a genre that demands commitment more than any other I think. To become a hardcore rpg fan is to leave the bachelor days of gaming where you messed around with other genres behind

My god man, this ^ could not be more true!

[noiseredux]

2. I love a good story, in any entertainment medium. Generally speaking, RPGs have far greater potential for excellent story telling than other genres. Unfortunately though, with the genre being so huge in Japan you can end up with a lot of games from there that have very cliche, overdone, predictable stories. However, when you look at some of the RPGs of the west you find amazing tales like the one being told in the Mass Effect series

since the OP brought up Final Fantasy Tactics, I couldn't help but think of my own love for Turn Based Strategy games, or T-RPG's or whatever you wanna call them. Things like FFTactics or the Tactics Ogre games, etc. What's funny is, I actually just enjoy the purest part of these games. I just like playing the battles. I love being given a set of characters, each with their own weapons, powers, ranges, etc and going against a team of enemies on a grid. I love the different goals given to succeed for each battle. I love that each board you're set on is different. But what's funny is I don't care about the story. Seriously. I often just find it gets in my way. I know that might sound silly, but when I'm playing something like Tactics Ogre, the story is sooooo secondary to me. I really just want to play these wonderful games of "epic chess." To me, they're relaxation games really. And I just don't need a story to enjoy them.

[puke_face]

since the OP brought up Final Fantasy Tactics, I couldn't help but think of my own love for Turn Based Strategy games, or T-RPG's or whatever you wanna call them. Things like FFTactics or the Tactics Ogre games, etc. What's funny is, I actually just enjoy the purest part of these games. I just like playing the battles. I love being given a set of characters, each with their own weapons, powers, ranges, etc and going against a team of enemies on a grid. I love the different goals given to succeed for each battle. I love that each board you're set on is different. But what's funny is I don't care about the story. Seriously. I often just find it gets in my way. I know that might sound silly, but when I'm playing something like Tactics Ogre, the story is sooooo secondary to me. I really just want to play these wonderful games of "epic chess." To me, they're relaxation games really. And I just don't need a story to enjoy them.

Interesting. That makes it to where you have unlimited replay value on said game, since your not listening to or watching the story. Has this ever back-fired on you when you were looking to buy a game? Were you thought it might have the good grid-based gameplay you were looking for, but it was actually more story oriented? I'm guessing you read a lot of reviews...

[noiseredux]

Interesting. That makes it to where you have unlimited replay value on said game, since your not listening to or watching the story. Has this ever back-fired on you when you were looking to buy a game? Were you thought it might have the good grid-based gameplay you were looking for, but it was actually more story oriented? I'm guessing you read a lot of reviews...

yeah not really back-fired. Something like FFTA or Tactics Ogre, you can just keep hitting A at the cutscenes and be browsing the internet at the same time. Haha. I mean, you'll still have to go through tutorials or whatever, but that's a necessary evil often. In a sense. Another tactical game I adore is Rebelstar Tactical Command for GBA, which is pretty much just X-COM Advance. Sooooo fun.

[puke_face]

yeah not really back-fired. Something like FFTA or Tactics Ogre, you can just keep hitting A at the cutscenes and be browsing the internet at the same time. Haha. I mean, you'll still have to go through tutorials or whatever, but that's a necessary evil often. In a sense. Another tactical game I adore is Rebelstar Tactical Command for GBA, which is pretty much just X-COM Advance. Sooooo fun.

That explains how some people tolerate the ridiculous amounts of Final Fantasy sequels you see. I've been wondering that as well . Just looked up Rebelstar Tactical Command, looks like yet another alluring RPG... Dammit

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I'm very particular about RPG games, Western or otherwise. In fact, it seems pretty random what RPGs I like.

Panzer Dragoon Saga
Knights Of The Old Republic
Final Fantasy III (DS remake)

Honestly, those are really the only ones I enjoyed to play through all the way. Panzer Dragoon Saga was my absolute favorite though, and I really loved Knights Of The Old Republic.

As far as strategy RPGs, I can't think of one I enjoyed.

It's just not my genre.

[chupon]

I spent some time in the tutorial, and there just seems to be a little overkill when I just wanted to spend a few minutes learning the functions, it actually took about 20 minutes just to get through a single section of the tutorial! (There are still 5 more to go... )

Love tutorials? Try Knights in the Nightmare!

[irixith]

I absolutely love RPGs .. *but* I absolutely hate tactical/strategy RPGs. I don't know why. Whenever I see a new RPG announced and I meander over to look at the screenshots, one shot of a grid based battle system and my interest drops to zero. I wonder sometimes if it's gender related, but then I like plenty of other types of games that would defy that argument, so I really don't know. My idea of torture is someone forcing me to play Final Fantasy Tactics. I also hate the so called "Western" RPG. You know, the Mass Effect/Dragon Age sort of RPG. Cannot get into them at all.

I love the RPGs of the SNES/GBA. Turn based random-encounter romps through the same old tired Japanese "young boy must save the world" theme. I don't know why I like these kinds of RPGs as much as I hate the ones I mentioned above. Actually, I think I do. What it really boils down to is that I prefer simplicity in my RPGs. A stat/upgrade system that is not particularly complicated and makes sense (i.e. FIR1 is less powerful than FIR2), and a quest where I don't have to worry about missing 50% of the items in the game just because I didn't do a particular event when the game expected me to. A difficulty level that gradually increases, and a bit of grinding is always OK. (..but not the Earthbound kind, where you can die in your very first battle.) Equipment and items that I can mix and match, without there being any one particular thing I *must* find in order to beat the game. A reasonable length that allows me to enjoy the game, but also other games as well.

Simplicity. That's all I want.