I thought Dawn of Souls was pretty much a masterpiece of the genre. Lots to do and see, not too hard, not too easy. Its only negative point is having an extremely different premise and hero from the typical Castlevania storyline.
Well that makes sense, because Dawn of Souls is a Final Fantasy game on the Game Boy Advance.
I thought Dawn of Souls was pretty much a masterpiece of the genre. Lots to do and see, not too hard, not too easy. Its only negative point is having an extremely different premise and hero from the typical Castlevania storyline.
Well that makes sense, because Dawn of Souls is a Final Fantasy game on the Game Boy Advance.
He probably meant Dawn of Sorrow. I mean its not THAT different. Can happen.
I thought Dawn of Souls was pretty much a masterpiece of the genre. Lots to do and see, not too hard, not too easy. Its only negative point is having an extremely different premise and hero from the typical Castlevania storyline.
Well that makes sense, because Dawn of Souls is a Final Fantasy game on the Game Boy Advance.
He probably meant Dawn of Sorrow. I mean its not THAT different. Can happen.
Not when you're calling something a masterpiece of the genre and then not even getting the title right...
I'd prefer more Metroid-like games and more Castlevania-like games and less Metroidvanias. A lot of the time the rpg stuff only gets in the way.
Interesting. I found the lack of RPG in Metroid and Shadow Complex took something away from the experience.
Leveling and finding equipment is one of the nicest parts of CV, though I'm very transparent having called for more ARPG in my last post.
The newer Castlevanias are alright, but they're missing the challenge
Have you even played Order of Ecclesia? That game is brutal. One of the hardest games on the DS.
we've covered silent protagonists shoehorned into social situations where it makes no sense right
because far cry 2 has the approach where people just get the information from your mute without you even saying anything, they just carry on talking with new information like you said something, half life 2 has rebels being directed into position by your charismatic eye movements, and modern warfare 2 has soap losing the ability to speak during the missions where you play as him
i don't really enjoy silent protagonists and that bioshock infinite trailer just confirms it. it doesn't withdraw me from the experience to hear my avatar make noises and react to a surprising situation with a vocalisation, like a normal person
Yeah, I prefer much of Dragon Age to Mass Effect (I know there are big differences but they are similar enough for me to say that I prefer that style of game in the fantasy setting v sci-fi), but one thing that drives me absolutely nuts is the fact that your character doesn't speak in Dragon Age a la Shep.
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Seems like you want to trade in the same old JRPG cliches for the same old Tolkien and D&D cliches.
Because really, the writing in jrpgs is fucking awful, but the writing in most western rpgs is just as fucking awful, but in a more familiar and acceptable way.
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Seems like you want to trade in the same old JRPG cliches for the same old Tolkien and D&D cliches.
Because really, the writing in jrpgs is fucking awful, but the writing in most western rpgs is just as fucking awful, but in a more familiar and acceptable way.
You make a good point but it's not just about the writing. It's atmosphere as well.
You take Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2 and slap an a turn-based combat system with some random encounters and it's my perfect game.
Tw4win on
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DrakeEdgelord TrashBelow the ecliptic plane.Registered Userregular
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Find a copy of Anachronox (if it runs on modern systems, not sure about that. It uses a modified Quake 2 engine so I don't see why not), it sounds right up your alley.
It's really lame that you can't play games that you have DLC for unless you're connected to live. If I buy something and download it, why is it not just stored on my harddrive?
I moved recently, and have been without internet all week. I can't play FO3 (technically I can, but my saves wont work because it "can't load" the DLC) I can't play DeadSpace, I can't play GTAIV and even Dragon Age. Also, all of my Arcade titles have reverted to trial games.
Really lame.
I don't know why you're having this trouble but if you're still on the same Xbox, gamertag etc then you should be able to play most of your dlc.
With FO3 at least, I had a period of time where I would take my 360 around to a friend's house, download the dlc there and then take it back home where I had no internet.
hmm, have you changed Xbox's at all since getting your XBLA stuff/dlc?
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Seems like you want to trade in the same old JRPG cliches for the same old Tolkien and D&D cliches.
Because really, the writing in jrpgs is fucking awful, but the writing in most western rpgs is just as fucking awful, but in a more familiar and acceptable way.
Err not really, unless you're talking Bethesda games
Many JRPGs have plots that either have holes, don't follow their internal logic, or just plain don't make sense in general. Something like Dragon Age has all kinds of cliche, but everything makes sense in context and characters (for the most part) act believably
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Seems like you want to trade in the same old JRPG cliches for the same old Tolkien and D&D cliches.
Because really, the writing in jrpgs is fucking awful, but the writing in most western rpgs is just as fucking awful, but in a more familiar and acceptable way.
Err not really, unless you're talking Bethesda games
Many JRPGs have plots that either have holes, don't follow their internal logic, or just plain don't make sense in general. Something like Dragon Age has all kinds of cliche, but everything makes sense in context and characters (for the most part) act believably
Not being completely nonsensical isn't exactly an exciting high point for writing. You can string together and endless number of cliches and boring, laborious dialogue and still have a coherent story and setting. Doesn't make it not fucking awful.
Time to bitch a little bit about JRPGs vs. WRPGs and why no one can create a hybrid of the two.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
I know everyone has their tastes... and I have a friend who is JUST like you... and I say the same thing to him:
Turn based battle systems are an outdated design mechanic that is no longer necessary or fun for that matter. They were great back in the day when hardware limited what we could display on screen and what sort of inputs a game could accept from the user.
I used to be a huge JRPG fan but I got seriously sick of the same rehashed crap over and over and I just can't play through a turn-based RPG anymore. I try, but I always get bored. Pressing attack for hours on end and watching a canned animation got old about 10 years ago.
The market for these types of games is shrinking rapidly in favour of more active battles systems and I couldn't be happier about it.
All that said, I agree wholeheartedly that the Japanese need to put their obsession with children saving the world out to pasture. Grow up and start writing stories about adults, please.
EDIT: I hadn't read much of this thread... didn't realize you guys already bitched about RPG game mechanics. Sorry, I don't want to open that can of worms back up. Please just take my rant as pure venting :P
Ragnar Dragonfyre on
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SirUltimosDon't talk, Rusty. Just paint.Registered Userregular
edited October 2010
Personally, I don't like it when other people enjoy things I don't.
Combos that stun-lock you until they end or you die are total bullshit.
What combos are these? Single player or multiplayer?
If they just happen to do a lot of damage and you die because of that, welp that's how it goes.
And it's hardly a combo if you can get out of it part way through.
It doesn't matter whether it's single or multi, and it's not that whatever is hitting you does a ton of damage per strike. What I'm talking about are long combos that trap you, unable to do anything for the length of the attack until it either ends or it kills you.
Infinites? Well, they're a pain in multiplayer games, sure, but I've only ever seen SNK bosses use them in singleplayer. They're broken, but not that big of a deal.
Unless you're referring to something else entirely.
I know everyone has their tastes... and I have a friend who is JUST like you... and I say the same thing to him:
Turn based battle systems are an outdated design mechanic that is no longer necessary or fun for that matter. They were great back in the day when hardware limited what we could display on screen and what sort of inputs a game could accept from the user.
I'm :x ing so hard at you, right now. DA:O was a great breath of fresh air in the wRPG genre specifically because it wasn't some twitch fest that was trying to appeal to FPS fans and take the people who'd buy wrpgs for granted.
Half the reason AP's combat system was so great is that despite trying to copy generic UE3 cover based third person shooting, it slowed the gameplay down rather than trying to speed it up, unlike a certain other UE3 based WRPG that I could name :?
I know everyone has their tastes... and I have a friend who is JUST like you... and I say the same thing to him:
Turn based battle systems are an outdated design mechanic that is no longer necessary or fun for that matter. They were great back in the day when hardware limited what we could display on screen and what sort of inputs a game could accept from the user.
I'm :x ing so hard at you, right now. DA:O was a great breath of fresh air in the wRPG genre specifically because it wasn't some twitch fest that was trying to appeal to FPS fans and take the people who'd buy wrpgs for granted.
Half the reason AP's combat system was so great is that despite trying to copy generic UE3 cover based third person shooting, it slowed the gameplay down rather than trying to speed it up, unlike a certain other UE3 based WRPG that I could name :?
not everybody likes their gameplay senile (in all senses). and AP would do well to realise that there are more ways to slow down gameplay than by crippling it. splinter cell can be very slow.
Turn based battle systems are an outdated design mechanic that is no longer necessary or fun for that matter. They were great back in the day when hardware limited what we could display on screen and what sort of inputs a game could accept from the user.
As an RPG convention, I guess I agree with you (though would King's Bounty count as an RPG? I still like that kind of system), but overall turn-based stuff still works pretty well when appropriately used. X-Com or Civ, for example.
Edit: Actually, I take that back, the Wizardry style RPG still works, too -- Etrian Odyssey does a great job of it.
Apothe0sisHave you ever questioned the nature of your reality?Registered Userregular
edited October 2010
It's odd, you rarely find people saying that turn based strategy needs to die and is an unfun holdover to when computers had trouble handling the inputs and display.
It seems to me that there is a place for the genre of RTS AND TBS. I wonder if we could extrapolate this to other areas.
Apothe0sis on
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Zxerolfor the smaller pieces, my shovel wouldn't doso i took off my boot and used my shoeRegistered Userregular
edited October 2010
I guess all those hours of pressing of "next turn" in Civ5 was pretty unfun after all. Should've let me take control of one of my units in realtime first-person and shoot Ghandi in the face for reals. Much more immersive and pro.
You know what I really hate in RPGs? When they give you a party member that's just terrible mechanically. The two games I've played recently that this has been painfully clear in are Dragon Age Origins and Breath of Fire 3.
Breath of Fire 3 suffers from a problem a lot of JRPGs did in the nineties. Magic user characters are either horrifically overpowered or the worst characters in the game. Breath of Fire 3 gives you a character who's entire schtick is damaging magic, and then the system breaks as all bosses are resistant to magic and wisdom doesn't boost magical damage as much as strength boosts physical damage. This wouldn't be a huge problem, but the character naturally learns nothing but attack spells and debuffs which fail due to magic resistence more often than not. Mechanically useless character, and you're forced to use her for a good portion of the game to boot.
In Dragon Age I love my dog, I think he's pretty sweet. He's also really bad in combat in comparison to any of the other Warrior characters, I got around this by using the extra dog slot mod but honestly he has limited beyond belief talents, two equipment slots that give mediocre at best bonuses and most areas of the game don't have his special landmarks meaning he doesn't get some halfway decent passive boosts in the areas he needs them. I hope if Bioware has a dog in Dragon Age 2 they make him/it more useful because by all lore accounts he should be way more badass.
In Dragon Age I love my dog, I think he's pretty sweet. He's also really bad in combat in comparison to any of the other Warrior characters, I got around this by using the extra dog slot mod but honestly he has limited beyond belief talents, two equipment slots that give mediocre at best bonuses and most areas of the game don't have his special landmarks meaning he doesn't get some halfway decent passive boosts in the areas he needs them. I hope if Bioware has a dog in Dragon Age 2 they make him/it more useful because by all lore accounts he should be way more badass.
Overwhelm and the AoE stun are pretty good, but yeah, he's a little gimpy. Then again, it's not like you need a super optimized team to tear through Dragon Age.
I don't really understand why RPGs still give less (or no) XP to PCs not in the active party, or who croaked in battle. KotOR was the first RPG I played where they gave less instead of none outright, but even then I don't see the point. Why do designers feel the need to disincentivize people from mixing up their party composition on a whim? What gameplay benefit is there to saddling me with a bunch of useless boat anchors? Games have mostly moved beyond giving all the XP to the character who landed the killing blow, and this really seems like something that could go, too.
In Dragon Age I love my dog, I think he's pretty sweet. He's also really bad in combat in comparison to any of the other Warrior characters, I got around this by using the extra dog slot mod but honestly he has limited beyond belief talents, two equipment slots that give mediocre at best bonuses and most areas of the game don't have his special landmarks meaning he doesn't get some halfway decent passive boosts in the areas he needs them. I hope if Bioware has a dog in Dragon Age 2 they make him/it more useful because by all lore accounts he should be way more badass.
Overwhelm and the AoE stun are pretty good, but yeah, he's a little gimpy. Then again, it's not like you need a super optimized team to tear through Dragon Age.
I like Overwhelm and Dread Howl, but they are useless against Ogres and most Elite or higher enemies. Its not even how powerful he is to be honest so much as the fact that Alistair/Sten/Oghren/Shale are just so much better there's no mechanical reason to use him and he gets the least dialogue and story presence. He's basically a glorified sidekick and I think if they had just let him come in addition to the party in the base game he would have been awesome. As is he's the weakest party member and that irks me because its blatantly obvious even going by his equipment.
Posts
How does that even work? Is it like the game giving you a "1 out of 5" for accuracy? Or "2 out of 5" for stealth or sniping?
Steam: CavilatRest
ALYX, SHUT UP
DO YOU HEAR ME?
WHY WON'T ANYONE LISTEN TO ME
Well that makes sense, because Dawn of Souls is a Final Fantasy game on the Game Boy Advance.
He probably meant Dawn of Sorrow. I mean its not THAT different. Can happen.
Not when you're calling something a masterpiece of the genre and then not even getting the title right...
Have you even played Order of Ecclesia? That game is brutal. One of the hardest games on the DS.
Hey baby whasshappening?
Oh you like the strong silent type? Well I'll be more silent than you can handle. UGH oh yeah. That's right.
Yeah, I prefer much of Dragon Age to Mass Effect (I know there are big differences but they are similar enough for me to say that I prefer that style of game in the fantasy setting v sci-fi), but one thing that drives me absolutely nuts is the fact that your character doesn't speak in Dragon Age a la Shep.
I'm an old school gamer. The first game I ever beat was Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest (or maybe it was Police Quest on the PC - my memory is a little fuzzy). This was followed closely by the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior on the NES. It's safe to say that I like difficult games and I especially like JRPGs or at least some elements of them.
I really like the battle system in most JRPGs - random encounters, turn-based combat, job switching, even some action RPG systems like those found in the Tales... games. What I don't really like about JRPGs is the over used theme of kids saving the world or heavily anime influenced characters.
For example right now I'm playing Dragon Quest IX and from a technical standpoint I think it's a great game. The battle, job, and alchemy system is just perfect. I could just give a shit about the plot because it's a cliche JRPG plot. In fact, I've taken to skimming a walkthru just so I can skip most of the conversations. I want to play the game and enjoy the battle system, I just wish there was a better plot.
On the other hand, we have WRPGs with their more "mature" plot and branching conversation trees. These are great but I really, really dislike the battle system in most WRPGs. The turn based system in Dragon Age - hated it. Same with the more action oriented systems of Mass Effect 2 and Fallout 3.
So, why can't some crafty developer make some sort of hybrid game? A great JRPG battle system with the plot and pacing of a WRPG?
Many people will say "What about Shin Megami Tensei?" I've played them and I've loved them. Nocturne and Strange Journey are right up my alley. I even loved Persona 3 & 4 but again, those two games suffered from some of the same old cliche JRPG crap.
Gesundheit
What combos are these? Single player or multiplayer?
If they just happen to do a lot of damage and you die because of that, welp that's how it goes.
And it's hardly a combo if you can get out of it part way through.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
stream
Seems like you want to trade in the same old JRPG cliches for the same old Tolkien and D&D cliches.
Because really, the writing in jrpgs is fucking awful, but the writing in most western rpgs is just as fucking awful, but in a more familiar and acceptable way.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
stream
You make a good point but it's not just about the writing. It's atmosphere as well.
You take Mass Effect or Mass Effect 2 and slap an a turn-based combat system with some random encounters and it's my perfect game.
Find a copy of Anachronox (if it runs on modern systems, not sure about that. It uses a modified Quake 2 engine so I don't see why not), it sounds right up your alley.
I don't know why you're having this trouble but if you're still on the same Xbox, gamertag etc then you should be able to play most of your dlc.
With FO3 at least, I had a period of time where I would take my 360 around to a friend's house, download the dlc there and then take it back home where I had no internet.
hmm, have you changed Xbox's at all since getting your XBLA stuff/dlc?
Besides Anachronox there was Septerra Core, which was a pretty good jrpg-style game, though the combat was slow as balls.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
stream
Err not really, unless you're talking Bethesda games
Many JRPGs have plots that either have holes, don't follow their internal logic, or just plain don't make sense in general. Something like Dragon Age has all kinds of cliche, but everything makes sense in context and characters (for the most part) act believably
Not being completely nonsensical isn't exactly an exciting high point for writing. You can string together and endless number of cliches and boring, laborious dialogue and still have a coherent story and setting. Doesn't make it not fucking awful.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
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I know everyone has their tastes... and I have a friend who is JUST like you... and I say the same thing to him:
Turn based battle systems are an outdated design mechanic that is no longer necessary or fun for that matter. They were great back in the day when hardware limited what we could display on screen and what sort of inputs a game could accept from the user.
I used to be a huge JRPG fan but I got seriously sick of the same rehashed crap over and over and I just can't play through a turn-based RPG anymore. I try, but I always get bored. Pressing attack for hours on end and watching a canned animation got old about 10 years ago.
The market for these types of games is shrinking rapidly in favour of more active battles systems and I couldn't be happier about it.
All that said, I agree wholeheartedly that the Japanese need to put their obsession with children saving the world out to pasture. Grow up and start writing stories about adults, please.
EDIT: I hadn't read much of this thread... didn't realize you guys already bitched about RPG game mechanics. Sorry, I don't want to open that can of worms back up. Please just take my rant as pure venting :P
It doesn't matter whether it's single or multi, and it's not that whatever is hitting you does a ton of damage per strike. What I'm talking about are long combos that trap you, unable to do anything for the length of the attack until it either ends or it kills you.
Unless you're referring to something else entirely.
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I'm :x ing so hard at you, right now. DA:O was a great breath of fresh air in the wRPG genre specifically because it wasn't some twitch fest that was trying to appeal to FPS fans and take the people who'd buy wrpgs for granted.
Half the reason AP's combat system was so great is that despite trying to copy generic UE3 cover based third person shooting, it slowed the gameplay down rather than trying to speed it up, unlike a certain other UE3 based WRPG that I could name :?
not everybody likes their gameplay senile (in all senses). and AP would do well to realise that there are more ways to slow down gameplay than by crippling it. splinter cell can be very slow.
As an RPG convention, I guess I agree with you (though would King's Bounty count as an RPG? I still like that kind of system), but overall turn-based stuff still works pretty well when appropriately used. X-Com or Civ, for example.
Edit: Actually, I take that back, the Wizardry style RPG still works, too -- Etrian Odyssey does a great job of it.
Yeah, I know people like that.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
It seems to me that there is a place for the genre of RTS AND TBS. I wonder if we could extrapolate this to other areas.
Breath of Fire 3 suffers from a problem a lot of JRPGs did in the nineties. Magic user characters are either horrifically overpowered or the worst characters in the game. Breath of Fire 3 gives you a character who's entire schtick is damaging magic, and then the system breaks as all bosses are resistant to magic and wisdom doesn't boost magical damage as much as strength boosts physical damage. This wouldn't be a huge problem, but the character naturally learns nothing but attack spells and debuffs which fail due to magic resistence more often than not. Mechanically useless character, and you're forced to use her for a good portion of the game to boot.
In Dragon Age I love my dog, I think he's pretty sweet. He's also really bad in combat in comparison to any of the other Warrior characters, I got around this by using the extra dog slot mod but honestly he has limited beyond belief talents, two equipment slots that give mediocre at best bonuses and most areas of the game don't have his special landmarks meaning he doesn't get some halfway decent passive boosts in the areas he needs them. I hope if Bioware has a dog in Dragon Age 2 they make him/it more useful because by all lore accounts he should be way more badass.
Overwhelm and the AoE stun are pretty good, but yeah, he's a little gimpy. Then again, it's not like you need a super optimized team to tear through Dragon Age.
I like Overwhelm and Dread Howl, but they are useless against Ogres and most Elite or higher enemies. Its not even how powerful he is to be honest so much as the fact that Alistair/Sten/Oghren/Shale are just so much better there's no mechanical reason to use him and he gets the least dialogue and story presence. He's basically a glorified sidekick and I think if they had just let him come in addition to the party in the base game he would have been awesome. As is he's the weakest party member and that irks me because its blatantly obvious even going by his equipment.