Trying RPGs Lately
I've been trying tons of Gamefly games lately and writing about them. I intend to keep do so, but I just had a run of RPGs show up from Gamefly that just didn't click with me at all.
Oh, by the way, we set up a Gamefly offer for listeners/readers to get you a free trial if you're interested. I still love the service so if it's intrigued you at all while I've been talking and writing about it for the last month or so go check it out.
But anyway I'm realizing it takes a lot for an RPG to impress me these days. One has to grab me with it's setting, story, characters, battle, and progression systems. It has to do it quickly too.
The amount of RPGs without "Final Fantasy" in the title that have held my attention over the past few years is slim. Persona 4 Golden is the most notable exception, followed by Bioware games, and then games like Bravely Default which might as well be called Final Fantasy.
I keep hoping something else will break through but I'm finding I lack the patience for any other RPG I try. They all feel so samey. Or so generic. Or so uninspired.
I don't know exactly why I'm writing this. Partially to vent. Partially maybe I'm looking for recommendations? Honestly, maybe I'm just waiting for Final Fantasy XV, Persona 5, and Mass Effect Andromeda. Those are the next three RPGs I'm super excited about.
What RPGs have you guys played lately that you've loved?
Oh, by the way, we set up a Gamefly offer for listeners/readers to get you a free trial if you're interested. I still love the service so if it's intrigued you at all while I've been talking and writing about it for the last month or so go check it out.
But anyway I'm realizing it takes a lot for an RPG to impress me these days. One has to grab me with it's setting, story, characters, battle, and progression systems. It has to do it quickly too.
The amount of RPGs without "Final Fantasy" in the title that have held my attention over the past few years is slim. Persona 4 Golden is the most notable exception, followed by Bioware games, and then games like Bravely Default which might as well be called Final Fantasy.
I keep hoping something else will break through but I'm finding I lack the patience for any other RPG I try. They all feel so samey. Or so generic. Or so uninspired.
I don't know exactly why I'm writing this. Partially to vent. Partially maybe I'm looking for recommendations? Honestly, maybe I'm just waiting for Final Fantasy XV, Persona 5, and Mass Effect Andromeda. Those are the next three RPGs I'm super excited about.
What RPGs have you guys played lately that you've loved?
I still mean to try I am Setsuna, although apparently the story is a real letdown. I think it's tough for new RPGs to come out these days - the Asian market has been in the hands of non-ending IPs like Final Fantasy, Zelda, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts etc. forever, notable exceptions aside. And western RPGs often lack in quality imo, unless we're talking Fallout, Witcher or some similarly big title.
ReplyDeleteThere's something very formulaic about RPGs and therefore so much (bad) copying, too. The moment you iterate, it's not considered an "RPG anymore", so maybe that's part of the issue (for example The Last Guardian should satisfy a lot of RPG itches, but it's strictly speaking an action adventure because of gameplay).
I haven't played anything great since W3 and I don't have the faintest clue what's hot and upcoming on PC. So much for that..
Yeah, I think you're onto something there. Something about the iteration without actually pushing the genre.
DeleteChrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Star Ocean 2 & 3, Secret of Mana... all worth playing. None of the new breed are doing much for me, though I do want to finish FFXII.
ReplyDeleteEven Final Fantasy has problems. FF Record Keeper and FF Brave Exvius and FF Mobius are all passable, but plagued with design issues.
Suikoden 3, Wild Arm 4, Blue Dragon....RPG's definitely do tend to follow a pattern of events "The Heroes Journey" but so do most games in general. As for your first request for a game "One has to grab me with it's setting, story, characters, battle, and progression systems." yes all these i can solve easily, but your last request to "do it quickly too" is another thing altogether RPG's are a generally slower gaming experience usually involving time and patience to really get into the game(of course i know you know this)
ReplyDeleteMy view on why you want the game to capture your interest quick is simple your probably just like me, I love being immersed in a world and as a kid i always wanted a game that gave me the most playtime for my money and RPGs were it, but as an adult time to play is something i have less and less making it harder to play these games, I am assuming your the same and want to most immediatevalue for you time.
Another good RPG you might like could be Legend of Dragoon, it has a pretty neat battle system and I personally found it enjoyable, might be worth a try if you haven't tried it yet :-)
Ps: Radiant Stories for PS2 as well might be worth a look.(I tend to be a PS2 and somewhat of a nes player)
Yep, you're 100% right that the pacing thing is because I value my time a lot more now. I want a game to really grab me fast these days. I don't appreciate a long preamble at all.
DeleteI am looking forward to Final Fantasy XV and Persona 5 a lot though. They'll be out soonish, but not yet. *sigh*
I really got to try out the Persona series been hearing great things about them for ages and even own all the PS2 releases but have yet to actually play it.
ReplyDeleteYeah i can feel your hype over FF15 feels like we been waiting forever for it. Which version you order? I personally bought one from square-enix store and another from gamestop when i heard about "A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV Game!" which is there exclusive for the game(love the retro look of it). I have a PS4 still in it's box when i bought it last year.....i generally play retro but i got the system in anticipation of FF15, Kingdom Hearts 3, and the new FF7.
Also Tesh mentioned Star Ocean....that is a must try if you haven't already, personally i like Star Ocean 3 the best but almost all the games are great and they just released Star Ocean 5 which i heard is stellar :-)
I'm also finding it hard to get into a lot of RPGs lately. They take so long to get started. JRPGs tend to be trite, while western RPGs are all gigantic with way too much garbage extra stuff to do.
ReplyDeleteHowever, some suggestions:
- Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines - I've been doing a Let's Play of this, and I'm having as much fun with it as I did the first time I played. It can be a little buggy, but it's a great story where you play a newly created vampire and it has some great dialogue and lets you choose between combat, persuasion, stealth better than a lot of other games. I just heard you're not a fan of horror. While this has some horror segments, the bulk of the game isn't really like that.
Jade Empire - Just played this for the first time recently. They don't get the relationships and morality levels quite as good as Bioware's more current games but this was a lot of fun and I like that they tried something different with combat.
I've also really liked all the isometric cRPGs that have come out recently too: Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2, something Divinity, Shadowrun Hong Kong.
I should really check out Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines. I've heard so much good stuff about it over the years and I've never given it a shot.
DeleteI actually just picked up the new version of Jade Empire for iOS. I remember really liking the game when I played it back on the original Xbox but I don't remember much about it except that it had some of the core Bioware goodness.
I wish I liked isometric RPGs more. I've tried so many of them and none have ever clicked with me. Maybe some day one of them will.
Thanks for all the recommendations!