ive been playing Spectral Force 3 this week and while its fun enough it struck me that there's absolutely nothing original about any aspect of the game. the storyline is some sub-Fire Emblem thing that's essentially non-existant, the combat mechanics are taken directly from the FFT mould and the graphics look like every JSRPG ever.
looking at the last few games i've purchased or thought about buying there seems to be a strongly nostalgic, conservative tone to RPG development right now. i'm mostly talking about console RPGs because that's mostly what i play but i have the feeling PC-gaming isn't much different. it feels like there's a general consensus among people who both make and play these games that RPGs achieved a kind of platonic ideal sometime in the SNES era and that any new game should mirror those games, preferably as a sequel to some long-running series with its roots in the 16-bit era.
story stuff doesn't bother me as much as the game mechanics and design repetition. i'm really interested in games with different takes on character leveling, stats, magic systems &c. ha of course i'm as guilty as the retro-fetishists in idealizing the past but even the new games i find enjoyable seem stale, a little. the most interesting new RPG i've played is Contact and that was a mess with a terrible battle system.
― Lamp, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 05:48 (seventeen years ago)
so um, yeah, i guess im asking for ppl to a) recommend any games they've played that have intersting battle systems/gameplay and b) tell me if im wrong in thinking this is true or even if im wrong in thinking this something new
― Lamp, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 05:50 (seventeen years ago)
JRPG: Earthbound
PC RPG: Witcher
― kingfish, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:03 (seventeen years ago)
Puzzle Quest?
― Mordy, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:20 (seventeen years ago)
well I blame it on a few weak links in a chain
I believe I could scribble my own ultimate game in theory but it's really mostly computer nerds who make these games and never does 1 man have complete control of all aspects (I believe).
― CaptainLorax, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:25 (seventeen years ago)
CaptainLorax I'm surprised you haven't discovered the RPG Maker 2000 community yet
― Curt1s Stephens, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:27 (seventeen years ago)
eh, I need awesome graphics for an rpg (nowadays) though
― CaptainLorax, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:38 (seventeen years ago)
and action as compelling as the best shooter game
― CaptainLorax, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 06:42 (seventeen years ago)
You're pretty much describing Mass Effect there.
― JimD, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 07:03 (seventeen years ago)
Yep, that's Mass Effect.
― polyphonic, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 07:29 (seventeen years ago)
Bioware vs. every other RPG developer, basically
― El Tomboto, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 14:37 (seventeen years ago)
People were trying new and innovative stuff on the PS1/PS2 for RPGs, no? Like... yeah, DQVIII probably single-handedly made everyone go arch-conservative for a while, but FFXII is pretty new and different. Personas 1-3 as well. I think right now, more than ever, there's a trend twoards making super-retro type shit (lost oddysey/dragon quest whatever) but I'm sure someone will fuck with it in a new way soon enough!
― Will M., Wednesday, 13 August 2008 18:16 (seventeen years ago)
Have you found Bioware games that innovative, Tom? Esp. in terms of game mechanics/design? I haven't played Mass Effect but NWN while a lot of fun wasn't that new, at least for me. A friend of mine worked on the Sonic game though and he says it's a lot of fun.
Persona's a caveat but the whole MegaTen series dates to the 16-bit days and the Persona series was spun-off in the 90s, no?
― Lamp, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 18:37 (seventeen years ago)
The Baiten Kaitos games have a card-based battle system that's quite good so far. (I've only played Origins for a few days.) FF12 seconded too.
― abanana, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 20:01 (seventeen years ago)
mass effect wasnt great for me at all. the dune buggy discovery part takes too long. the conversations take too long. the action is all 3rd person and the bio spells are pretty week and not fluid since you have to open the menu. not many combat choices at all.
― CaptainLorax, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 21:02 (seventeen years ago)
the most interesting new RPG i've played is Contact and that was a mess with a terrible battle system.
:( OTM
― Abbott, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 21:37 (seventeen years ago)
Does Paper Mario count as innovative?
― Abbott, Wednesday, 13 August 2008 21:38 (seventeen years ago)