The Trouble with RPGs - Does this make me a Heretic?

Post by **marurun** » Fri May 11, 2007 9:50 pm

Jeff Vogel, owner of Spiderweb Software, has a periodic column on IGN's RPG Vault. His latest entry, a 2 parter, very much sums up some of the problems I have with RPGs. Like him, I used to love them. But they make the grind far too menial and monotonous for my current attention span. I wish there was some way to merge the more mature themes of western PC RPGs with some of the ease of play of Japanese RPGs, while keeping the challenge factor, but eliminating much of the annoying level grind. I think strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem, Shining Force, and Feda are the way to go, really.

part 1
http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/763/763050p1.html

part 2
http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/782/782155p1.html

Post by **lordofduct** » Fri May 11, 2007 10:31 pm

I agree almost completely with this guy.

There actually is a rant I want to go on, but I don't know how to put in into words quite yet... so eh, I won't at this time.

Post by **Mozgus** » Fri May 11, 2007 10:34 pm

No time to read the whole thing, but I agree with the original poster.

Post by **racketboy** » Sat May 12, 2007 10:29 am

Mozgus wrote:No time to read the whole thing, but I agree with the original poster.

Same here

But here's my personal issue:
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21

Post by **marurun** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:52 pm

I have that same problem, Racketboy. Surprised I missed that thread and didn't post...

I suspect some of what I brought up, and also Jeff Vogel, might play into that at least in part :)

Post by **kinn** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:37 am

Have to agree with this.

Just wish that there was some kind of god mode in the rpgs where you could like skip the ramdom battles or something.

Post by **marurun** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:13 pm

Some strategy/tactical RPGs can actually be more fun. They keep the cool plots and characters but make each battle more challenging, more meaningful, and more fun. Even if you didn't go tac, making fewer battles that are more important and more momentous could be a good thing.

Post by **kinn** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:23 pm

marurun wrote:Some strategy/tactical RPGs can actually be more fun. They keep the cool plots and characters but make each battle more challenging, more meaningful, and more fun. Even if you didn't go tac, making fewer battles that are more important and more momentous could be a good thing.

Yeah true. I loved the Shining Force games. Advance Wars was class too. I heard Vandal Hearts was meant to be a good series as well but never tried it. Final Fantasy Tactics was ok but that as good as I expected.

As for fewer battles, well thats one way to go. However, you would need to be careful in how fewer the battles will be i.e. you would not want to have people then complaining about it being like the MGS games...just walking from one cut scene to the next with hardly any gameplay!