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Are classical console RPGs the way of the past?

arstechnica.com — With gamers looking for shorter, more frantically-paced action RPGs, is the turn-based RPGs becoming extinct. Is there a future for the turn-based, classical RPG, or will it go the way of the adventure game?

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  • overbored454, on 10/12/2007, -8/+32I will always love turn-based RPGs. Still, I think that at the time when I played them in the 1980s (way back on the PC, long before consoles even thought about tasting them), they were turn based for two reasons. 1) Because that was the way RPGs were played and 2) it was stress free on the systems.

    We fast forward now to a new generation. Most of the new generation has never played a table top RPG and would have no reason to accept a turn based RPG. Consoles can kick out fantastic graphics with awesome power. Bringing games to a crawl is almost like driving a Porsche around a retirement home parking lot.
    • zerokill, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17it would be nice if there would be a few indie developers that would develop the 60+ hours turnbased rpgs. I also love turn based RPG, lot more strategy involved :P. good times with FF :)

      I do hope square will make a big distinction between FF13 and FF versus 13 where versus will be the action packed one en 13 will be the traditional one.
    • Saiing, on 10/12/2007, -5/+2I thought when I saw a movie recently, Blue Dragon had what looked like a turn based battle system. I might be wrong though.
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -3/+40I'm so going to get dugg down for this...


      Pokemon! (Diamond and Pearl look to fulfill a needed turn-based RPG fix)
    • iloveroundtable, on 10/12/2007, -20/+1City of heroes/Villains is turn based in it sown way and pretty damn fun. You have to wait for your powers to "recharge"
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19"You have to wait for your powers to 'recharge'"

      Guild Wars has that too. How is that turn-based? Turn-based means Player A does his jazz. Player B does his jazz. Player C (optional) does his jazz, etc. Repeat process. Think of card games like Magic: The Gathering (does anyone even play that anymore?). If it doesn't have turns, it isn't turn-based.
    • Mootabolife, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1there goes my childhood
    • gcnaddict, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9You know what might need to be introduced to help boost turn-based RPGs? Interrupts.

      I'm not sure if any games have this yet, but I know that card games (MTG) had them for a while. Instants could be played whenever, as could taps, despite the turn-based structure of the game. The same thing needs to happen in RPGs, and one avenue provides an efficient way of doing this: the DS Touchscreen.

      With any other control mechanism, you'd need to maneuver through a series of menu options via the D Pad or control stick just to get to the thing you want to do. With the DS, it's simply a matter of tapping the option. It helps, because interrupts need fast reflexes. The DS Touchscreen can allow for turn-based RPGs which utilize interrupts, making for more interesting gameplay. Other things could be added too, like the ability to try and dodge an attack if done quick enough, etc.

      Just some ideas, that's all.
    • Gir53457, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Yeah, I still play the Pokemon series (I'm 18) because they still retain the old NES RPG feel. But the problem is that nobody much likes classic RPGs anymore unless it is the new Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. Paper Mario and tales of Symphonia are some of the better ones I played recently, but all the others are just bland Japanese crap that they churn out every month. With all the horse power that the new consoles have they need to really do some thing unique (Other than a massive and impractical sword that looks downright stupid with their skater punk reject clothes.)
    • skywake, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3@gcnaddict
      don't worry.... I think a lot of people are looking forward to the new pokemons
      (I am personally looking forward to breeding fire monkeys so I can kill Pikachu)
      we need more strategy based games and less 'twitch' games I think
      just to balance it out a bit....
    • skyhighrockets, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Ahem, Wakfu.com, Dofus.com
    • darkamster07, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1anyone else think FFXII pulled off the hybrid rather well?, I really enjoyed the system, seeing as I don't like those RPGs that are all real time battle.
  • somunny, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10My favorite classical RPG is Beethoven V.
    • Iknockstuffdown, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I prefer The Adventures Of Beethoven IV: Dragon Isle.

      Parts one through three weren't the greatest.
  • frofro, on 10/12/2007, -3/+44I grew up with the SNES. Final Fantasy III, Chrono Trigger, and Secret of Mana are some of my all-time favorite games.
    • quaunaut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15Just for the distinction, Secret of Mana isn't turn based.
    • phredgreen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7The original Final Fantasy was the first video game I ever beat. I still have the cartridge and the nintendo power guide sitting in a box somewhere in the closet.

      :)

      I'm thinking about dusting off my poor, disused PS2 and giving FFXII a shot, just to see if there's any hope for the future. If that doesn't pull my chain, I'll always have ROMs.
    • sexycommando, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Xenogears is my #1. Those awesome button combo attacks practically made the game. The new Xenosaga series sucks though.
    • jgtg32a, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Yeah, Xenogears' combat is one of the best systems I've ever used.

      And Xenosaga was an awesome game, but it does require you to accept the fact, you can "play" for 2 hours w/o fighting, and you need to read all the database to know whats going on.
    • bobcrotch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Hell yes, check out Enchanted Arms for the 360, it's by ubisoft and not really japanese but it's a great turned based current gen RPG
    • Asshate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Breath of Fire.
    • Ascendant, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Phred, definitely dust off your PS2 and give FFXII a shot. (Also, call your friends and tell them they may not be seeing you as much over the next month or so)

      IMHO, the best Final Fantasy since VI.
  • 7levels, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21I grew up playing Super Mario RPG, and i still play it all the time. That game was the *****
    • jgtg32a, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Why is he getting dugg down.

      Mario RPG is one of the best RPGs there is and I HATE Mario
  • mykos, on 10/12/2007, -13/+6I lost all interest in Japanese-style RPGs (still love ya, Chrono Trigger!) the first time I played Baldur's Gate 2. I love a good story, and I have to say that "mysterious ancient evil challenged by some young, nondescript heroes" isn't very original anymore. They're all about the same.
    • Gir53457, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Western RPGs rely more on the skill and immersion of the player and thus the action oriented play styles. So it's fair to call them action RPGs and not turn based RPGs.
  • Zimzap, on 10/12/2007, -8/+13The article was a good read buy how could they honestly not include Earthbound? It is widely refered to as one of the best RPGs of all time with Chrono Trigger.

    Starman FTW!
    • kevisazombie, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4Why the hell would you digg him down for throwing props to earthbound!? freaking ff7 fan boys that's why. OOH look at sepiroth I wish he would come whisk me from my room with his big sword show me his balls. of materia
    • x0rtrunks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6The article DID include Earthbound, just under it's original name: Mother. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EarthBound_%28series%29

      "Eventually Final Fantasy, Megami Tensei, **Mother**, Phantasy Star, Ys and the numerous RPGs that followed came to build a genre that would push the amount of content that was expected from a retail game and provide countless cherished memories to a generation of gamers."
    • DJCult, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Earthbound does indeed deserve aforementioned 'props'. Thrown.
    • Cheysuli, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Buhkaskah?
  • radicaldreamer, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2mykos, stories aren't original at all anymore. You can thank Shakespeare, Milton, Chaucer, the Bible, and many other classical poets/authors for that. As far as the presentation of said stories go, there is a diverse amount of originality in a way that a particular (J)RPG goes about executing the story and tying things together.

    Sadly, it seems that turn-based gameplay may just become a real thing of the past; and in reference to the GDC keynote about RPGs, I'm glad Sakaguchi defended the nature of turn-based gameplay by mentioning that there has to be improvements and what not within turn-based gameplay. A ton of JRPGs have already done this, and anyone who has not been exposed to these kinds of JRPGs that have innovated the way to go about turn-based battles really shouldn't comment on the issue.

    Long live turn-based gameplay. It's the deepest form of gameplay an RPG will ever have; and no battle system, action or real time, will ever be as superior.
    • WanderLink, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10I'm pretty sure "the Bible" isn't an author or poet.
    • mykos, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Ha...well, you're right there. What I should say is that the turn-based ones are "less imaginative", with less plot twists.

      Common elements of a Square-ish RPG:
      1. Strange/mysterious/ancient evil force on the verge of destroying earth
      2. Young/spunky/quirky/big-haired heroes fulfill prophecies about destroying the evil force.
      3. Hero and arch nemesis both plagued with deep inner tumult brought on by traumatic events in their childhoods.
      4. Final boss battle lasts forty-five minutes and the final boss takes on anywhere from two to eight forms.

      Have I covered most of the bases? People who like these games need to play Planescape Torment just once.
    • DJCult, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@Myko, Cecil and Terra beg to differ with you.
  • jdiggity, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Classical RPG? wtf mate
    • deviouskoopa, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Yeah, Final Symphony VII of course! Mozart and Bach save the planet from destruction haha... music fanboys dream.

      Okay, so I don't think I could come up with a lamer pun to save my life...

      EDIT: Okay damn and digg down this comment to the fiery hell of Digg... someone already made the horrible pun.
  • tatltat, on 10/12/2007, -20/+4good riddance to turn based games. i never liked them and never will.
  • drunkjack, on 10/12/2007, -17/+7Turn Based RPG video games never made sense to me. It's a VIDEO GAME. It's supposed to be more active, more intuitive than a pen and paper RPG. If I wanted to wait my turn, I'd have played with the dorks who played AD&D. I wanted to use my thumb to beat the tar out of monsters, not flip through menus.

    Legend Of Zelda > RPGs.
    • Wisgary, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21Turn based RPG fans are in it for the strategy and the plot, not for the action. Most RPGs now are easy, but back in the SNES era you had to prepare for dungeon romps, buy potions, buy armor and weapons, sell old stuff, level up your characters, and then while in the battles use the right combinations of items/healing spells/attacks/attack spells to actually win. Like anything, it's fun when you're into it.

      The whole thing loses its point when you can easily coast through the game though, which is why many people just get bored of them now.
    • Agret, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Hope you realise zelda is an rpg.
    • nzknzknzk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4You idiot, Zelda is not an RPG. Because it has swords and is set in the past does not mean it is an RPG...

      Do you level up? Gain experience? Etc.

      It's an action adventure.

      /logged in just to say that
    • Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3In the same essence, most Final Fantasies are not Role-Playing Games either.

      Just because you gain EXP points doesn't make it an RPG (you gained exp in Zelda II and it's not an RPG). You must play a role (your own role) somehow. The character you control does not have dialog, you're suppossed to be the character himself. The FF heroes such as Cecil and Cloud make it more of an action/adventure with turn-based combat.

      In this sense, the only entries in the FF series that are close to actual RPGs are FF1 and FF11 Online.
    • beepsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Wisgary

      I couldn't agree more, RPGs today are nothing more than books/movies, the strategy and challenge is often gone and you can coast through the whole game without even coming close to defeat. In fact often the only challenge is found when you undertake incredibly frustrating side adventures to find some ultimate weapon that you don't even need to win in the first place.
  • WanderLink, on 10/12/2007, -22/+5I hope they go extinct, I hate turn-based games. They're just glorified board games.
    • v0lrath, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Board games rule.
    • TheTaoOfBill, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1board games > final fantasy

      I don't fall asleep at climatic moments in board games.
    • jgtg32a, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Axis and Allies anyone?
    • EochaidRiata, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3EochaidRiata rolls 2d20 to hit WanderLink with mace.

  • Shaggy6ster, on 10/12/2007, -13/+8I never could get into turn based RPGs. "You stand still while I attack you. Now I'll stand here while you hurt me." It just doesn't make sense to me.
    • jgtg32a, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16I've never understood FPS where you could get shot w/ multiple AK-47 rounds and live.
    • PlaidPhantom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I never understood this whole 'game' thing. I just go outside and hit random strangers with blunt objects.
  • MackPrime, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5a casualty of everyone's attention defecit.
  • inmatarian, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1Oh, I have to kill god again? These RPGs are pretty similiar. I liked it better when it was the alien timetravelling comet.
  • DforSpiD, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4All action, no fun, the games of the future...
    What a shame; it's all a plot to eliminate intelligent thought...
  • SquigglyP, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1i like turnbased games, but more of a strategy fan than RPG. I'd rather have a game be one ongoing battle of wits than a series of mini battles that are all basically the same. If there was an RPG that had much larger and longer battles that had more influence on the overall plot of the game (beyond just giving me an extra couple points of life or mana or whatever) i'd be all over it, cause one thing strategy games lack is a decent plot line ususally. The story is pretty much just the battle. Someone needs to combine the two genres and just take the strengths and depth of both to create the ultimate strategy RPG. I can only beat the germans so many times before it starts getting old :P
  • skyfire1, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2I don't mind turn based games if they have minigames in them like Paper Mario. I'd rather defeat a monster because I perfected my timing then because I spent xxx amount of hours leveling up character xxxxxx.
  • GabeUtsecks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5There is going to be an X-Box 360 RPG starring Frederic Chopin. Seriously.

    http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/objects/761/761569.html
    • mookiemookie, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1"Ah, yes. Well, this happens to be a nocturne."

      "A which?"

      "You know, Frederic ***** Chopin."

      ;)
    • matariel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@mookie

      Ah Tombstone, Val Kilmer plays the best Doc Holliday.
  • NYG1988, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Chrono Trigger is and will always be my favorite game. Play it all the time.
    • caddyalan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Though I liked Chrono Trigger, I didn't really like any other console RPGs for the next two years. (If I had only known about Suikoden, that wouldn't have been true.) So for me, that was a big turning point for RPGs... a dividing line between the era of simple, somewhat pretentious sprite based RPGs, and the era of awfully pretentious polygonal RPGs.

      After the Playstation era, one of my favorite RPGs was the offbeat, low budget Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga. It was unique: not too abstract, not too tough. Okay, I also liked nostalgia-driven games such as Atelier Iris and Dragon Quest 8... but that might be just my opinion.
  • Nysul, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3While not a console RPG, check out Temple of Elemental Evil for the PC.

    When it came it out it was buggy as hell, but the fans have essentially fixed the game since Atari abandoned it. However, it was turn based, and had a good amount of strategy to it, especially if you are familiar with the D&D rules.

    As for consoles, yes, it is dead, at least for me. Even so called throwbacks to the past (ie, dragon quest) end up sucking. I think I just don't like JRPGs, even though I was a big final fantasy fan back in the day (FF 1, 2 [us], and tactics are my favorite). I think back then since everything was blocky I could imagine myself as the protagonist and get immersed into the game, and the heroes were not all pussies. Now when I play the newest dragon quest I just think to myself "why is my guy following this douchbag of a king?". They tried to implement some strategy (the skills), but they seemed more like a tacked on afterthought than anything.
    • kevisazombie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1i dont think Atari had anything to do with ToEE that was a troika game and they went bankrupt. The also made the far better game Arcanum
  • chumpsucker, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1YES!

    Ahmen.
  • Samsong, on 10/12/2007, -16/+1FPS FTW!!!
    • TheTaoOfBill, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3There were way too many acronyms in that post...
    • thepxc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I agree with thetaoofbill. GTFO.
  • smokeyjohnson, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1I'm simply not patient enough for that kind of thing. I love real time, fast paced gameplay.

    However, being a previous owner of oblivion and giving it back to gamestop only a week later may prove I'm just not an RPG guy.
    Give me ninja gaiden, RE4 or gears of war over that kind of thing anyday.
  • RaNDoMMAI, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0Shining force FTW!!!
  • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Console RPGs have always sucked, and they suck yet. They are really "adventure" games, with their linear plots and linear character development.
  • Zaetha, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Dugg because he mentions Earthbound, one of the best RPG of all time. (Well, "Mother" to be precise).

    SMASH!!!
  • TheTaoOfBill, on 10/12/2007, -13/+1Final Fantasy is for super nerd gamers. They should just go back to playing magic the gathering.
    • kevisazombie, on 10/12/2007, -14/+1Final Fantasy is for pedophiles that like young asian boys
    • mrRB, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Well, aren't you two secure in your sexuality.
    • desertrose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Of course we are.

      Cause, I mean, you two probably play WoW and have a REAL life, right?
  • electronicmaji, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15It will never die as long as japan exists.
    • TheTaoOfBill, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1Well then, my goal becomes clear. The Japanese must DIE!
  • scronline, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I miss both the adventure games and the turn based games. It's not necessarily what people want, it's what the industry is (or is not) producing. Most of the games these days really kind of suck. Hoping that ETQW changes that though.
  • IknowKungFu, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Well people have short attention spans, and need to see yield for their work quickly. I played all the turn based RPG's in the day, and I still love them. However I simply don't have enough time to play them anymore. Final Fantasy XII is still on the shelf waiting to be beaten... work school and everything else got in the way. As much as I love the style and the sweeping epic stories, and amazing scores it's just not a possibility for me personally anymore.

    In addition it's also a matter of the market getting stale. It's been pointed out several times before me that the plots are stale and generic. If the main hero or heroine has amnesia one more time, and it turns out to be that they are the long foretold hero to save the world from this and that evil, I'm going to throw my console out the window. The mechanics of the game never sold the game for many people, the standard Final Fantasy battle system doesn't sell the game, the story and sound and powerful emotions that the game evokes from you. That's why action games and shooters sell now. I know I'm going to get dugg down for this but, Halo is not really the most spectacular game. It's a great game don't get me wrong, but it's a shooter. Most are generic, and the same. What sets Halo apart is the fact that it's play is so smooth, the graphics are awesome, the plot isn't stupid, and it's just plain good. Finishing it although not as great a sense of accomplishment as say finishing Dragon Quest VIII, it was much easier to achieve.
  • DrScott, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Fallout series.
    • balloot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Fallout was one of the first "action" RPGS, IIRC. Damn, I loved that game. Fallout was the first RPG I played where you were unlimited in your actions. I just loved the idea of being able to walk up to any random person in the game and shoot them for no reason. Not that it was a good idea, but the fact that you *could* made for some interesting scenarios/strategy.
  • Saq0, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0I sure hope so, playing non-action rpgs now is a chore, even greats that I loved back in the day like FF3 (6) are just so painfull to sit through, especially random battles how annoying is that *****?? Also, I can't wait till games like WoW start becoming true action based instead of dice based. There's something to be said for strategy and twitchiness combined, it's just more fun.
  • MrFlesh, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Another ***** "What the fans want" article...like the one about Id being pushed to consoles cause of piracy.....nobody wants a shorter simpler RPG except thier makers......so they don't have to write as compelling of a story and don't have to put as much effort for the same amount of pay off.......my evidence....Elder scrolls oblivion. Sure it's an action RPG but it is anything but short. It's not about finishing it quickly it's about the journey.....however that has to be compelling enough for people to keep playing. Yes the stories are getting stale and repeated like every other story line for any game, but that's because everyone is worried about making the money....not having the product make the money. The industry is moving torwards graphics and action because it's the easiest and there for the cheapest to produce and it applies to the least common denominator which means the most potential money......sure they're a business in it for the money but that's all it's become like music a quest for money........that's why the same damn rap song has been playin' since the early 90's......I think this is the reason why the gaming community in japan is shrinking.
  • Wahoo06, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I have always loved this genre myself. For anyone here looking for a good series of handheld RPGs, the Golden Sun games were excellent. They are GBA games (I would love to see a Golden Sun DS or Wii game), but they are expansive, utilizing the power of the GBA while still holding true to RPGs of the past. I have heard that Camelot may be in the middle of another RPG project, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

    Dragon Quest was always great. Some complain they are too simple, but they hold great plots and are just a lot of fun. I look forward to DQ: Swords and DQ:IX.

    Otherwise, it does seem that RPGs are suffering. The improved graphics and abilities of these new systems should be used to enhance the RPG, not strip it.
  • Chicagorocks, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2When you say RPG I will always think of Chrono Trigger,Final Fantasy III (SNES) and Dragon Warrior I,II,III and IV(NES).

    I hate the action chop chop style. I like strategy and taking your time and flipping through menus and deciding what to buy or sell at shops and all of that. That's what I grew up on.

    Can anybody recommend the best turn based RPG currently available for the PSP? Is there one?
  • masterthiefster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Back in 2005, I would have agreed that turn-based combat can be just as enjoyable as real-time combat. Why do I say 2005? That was before I played Mount&Blade. While light on story, Mount&Blade has the most amazing combat system of any RPG I've had the pleasure of playing. Mounting a horse and galloping full tilt with a couched lance into a throng of screaming combatants mercilessly hewing each other--all in real time--is an aural experience that has to be played to be understood, and puts every other battle system to shame. When I win a battle I feel joy, excitement, exuberance. When I lose I feel dismay, anger, and resolve to recover from the loss. When I play a turn-based RPG, however, I feel... well... often I feel nothing.

    While I have seen vast advances in the western RPG, I have seen few in the JRPG that have been so pronounced as the "a hit is a hit" system of western RPGs. I've seen too many of them, and I'm just sick of them. As one of the commenters on the article itself said "I find the combat, stories and character development in Final Fantasy like RPGs shallow, slow and boring. I much perfer [sic] a deeper experinece [sic] like baulders [sic] gate or fallout type RPGs". There are far better games out there; why should I bother slogging through another game that requires me to level up before I can take on a particular boss, rather than merely employing better spells or the right strategy?

    The writer is also inaccurate in labelling non-turn-based RPGs as "action RPGs"; this term is generally reserved for Diablo and its variants, rather than games that merely use an action system.

    The open-ended nature of most western RPGs is another crucial factor missing from JRPGs. While in a western RPG if I find a barrier such as a high rock or a demon lord I can come back later when I can climb higher or fight better and pass that challenge. In many JRPGs the barriers are fully transparent. In Golden Sun, for instance, one of the earliest barriers is some puppies--yes, puppies--playing in a path, and I'm told to not disturb them. In a western RPG I'd just plough on through and, if the dogs attacked, either run away from them or simply kill them.

    So yes, the JRPG needs to evolve if it is to survive. As western RPGs like Gothic and Oblivion move more into the public eye and transcend the PC-console divide more and more designer will move to real-time systems. Being able to actually swing a sword and time blows against an enemy's blocks, rather than simply pressing A and then a few seconds later seeing my character do it against an enemy unable to defend itself, is undeniably more satisfying.
  • WaterJake, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Grinding is bad
  • balloot, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Am I the only person who thinks that FF3 for SNES (aka FF6) represented the pinnacle of turn-based RPGs? I think the transition to Playstation ruined everything. FF7 felt like I was guiding along an interactive movie instead of playing a video game. IMHO, RPGs killed themselves by introducing 10 minute sequences where the player doesn't do anything but watch. I, for one, get bored way too easily to deal with that.
    • masterthiefster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2FFVII would have been the most awesome console RPG in history if those two (three?) discs had actually been glutted with GAMEPLAY rather than MOVIES. Heck, if they'd done all the movies live using the game engine (ala Zelda/Halo/etc.) it still wouldn't have filled two (three?) CDs. Even Blue Dragon couldn't fit on a single DVD because of this.
    • henrythehorse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1While NES gave birth to the first RPGs, SNES had the first major quantity of them and they were all quality. But following SNES Sony continues to be the platform that still tries to push RPGs into the future. You have flawed logic on the PSX transition since it has countless of the greatest RPGs of all time and Sony's consoles are still the place to go for RPGs in quantity and with quality.
  • paker, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1My favorite RPG is Quake 3 Arena.
  • Chicito, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Currently I'm playing "Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki FC" for PSP. Good storyline, really good portable RPG, it really deserves English translation imo.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jrnggol2sw
  • Cherubim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1RPGs are great and more fun than regular arcade/action games. One has to actually think and use strategies instead of giving a hand control a workout. The first RPG I played was Wizardry then the Ultima series. Both awesome games and a lot of fun to play.

    • fuzzynyanko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yes and no. I like playing those kind of RPGs once-in-a-while, but the fighting aspect sometimes gets very patterned. Fight->Fight->Fight->Fight->Magic/Heal->Fight->Fight

      One annoying thing that's happening more and more: The character casts a high-level spell/summon and it takes a long time to watch some animation execute. It's cool the first 5 times watching but after using it for the 200th time... "Stop dancing around and blow the bad guy's ass away already!" I love that a lot of NIS games let you that turn that off.

      Still, I'll get hooked to a game that takes me into a world and tells me a great story.
  • drall.kj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Adventure game aren't dead!
  • flipside3, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I'd love to see Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and some of the Final Fantasy's make it on to the Wii.
  • Cyber_Akuma, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1God I hope not, I love J-RPGs. Never was too big a fan of the open sandbox/D&D type W-Rpgs like Elder Scrolls.

    Don't get me wrong, games like Morrowind and Oblivion are great, but I just prefer games like Atelier Iris, Ar Tonelico and Final Fantasy more. The first 3 RPGs that started me into loving the genra were Breath of Fire 3, Super Mario RPG and Final Fantasy 7.

    I did notice a decline of these type of games though from non-major developers, and especially publishers in the USA. Id hate to see them die.
  • greenmky, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I miss turn based RPGs. They are on the way out. I've never been a big fan of action RPGs. Once in a while one is good (see: Secret of Mana) but I prefer a strategic game. That said, lately RPGs fall into 2 categories.

    1 - action RPG
    2 - 100 hours of mind-numbing turn-based Atlus-style strategy RPG

    There can be a nice middle ground in there. For example: Super Mario RPG.
  • brickguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Shadowrun on the Sega Genesis pwned. 8 ))
  • hockey, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I can't believe no one has mentioned Bioware's Knights of the Old Republic.

    It's got everything any RPG gamer could love. It's turn based with an action feel (if you've played it then you'll know what I mean). It's got a great story, it's the perfect length time wise and to top it off it's based on Star Wars so you get to be a Jedi!

    How much more awesome can it possibly get?
  • henrythehorse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I blame the dying of smart intuitive games on Microsoft's Xbox. The typical Xbox/Xbox 360 user only knows games as far as shooters and/or EA Sports titles, the too most linear genres in gaming. Microsoft only pushes out Shooters which are worthless in all areas but maybe multiplayer. Have all the exclusive shooters that you want 360 because no one else is missing them.

    How I hate Microsoft's involvement in console video gaming, Xbox is definitely when video games jumped the shark...
  • ShivaOritiner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't understand why we can't have both. I love "classic" RPGs and even though I can't play them 10 hours a day, I'd find a way to sneak in some time each week if someone would actually put out a good "classic" rpg. I could play instant gratification games like Burnout or GTA during the week between work and school and then indulge my inner geek on the weekends when I have more time.

    But it won't happen... developers are out to make money. It's called capitalism and "classic" rpgs just aren't selling anymore.
  • Splutterbug, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nice well writen article. As companies like Nintendo are pushing the pick up play aspect of gaming this could well be something we could see less and less of, and personally I no longer have the time to hog the TV long enough to play an in depth turn based game.

    My DS however that's another story, I can see this sort of thing doing very well on handholds providing they give people the option to save whenever they want so that they can fit in with the way people use handhelds.

    Chrono Trigger on the DS given the Final Fantasy 3 treatment.. Yes please!
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