Blogger Archive: Fleach 
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Two months into the new year and the community never fails to impress. Last month we received a slew of submissions and database edits.
In total we saw an outstanding 2994 submissions which comprised of 2880 game submissions and 114 hardware additions.
You guys also put your cameras and scanners through the works because the database now includes an additional 756 images.
Last month six members broke the 100 mark with their submissions. Monkees19 made 256 database entries and Sauza12 contributed 163 additions. The other four to add over 100 submissions were staff members: ApolloBoy (1383), Shadow Kisuragi (380), Tynstar (153), and CoinCollector (115).
The top 5 image submitters for February were: monkees19 (253), Sauza12 (150), Tynstar (84), Raidou (65), and Sirgin (62).
Great work everyone!
Thanks again for continuing the improve the rapidly growing database and getting involved in this supportive community! Everyone deserve a round of applause!
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Science continues to run out of control and the altruistic hero returns in March's RF Gen Community Playthroughs.
This month in the Retro Community Playthrough we're going back to the grandfather of Sega consoles, the Sega Master System. Take control of Alis and her band of adventurers to avenge her brother's death at the hands of an evil tyrant in a far off world. In this science fiction adventure you will embark upon a grand quest across the stars in the RPG classic Phantasy Star!
For the Modern Community Playthrough you must test your will against man and beast in The Last of Us, swan song of the PlayStation 3, which changed the relationship between narrative and gameplay. When human nature is pushed to violent and desperate extremes every day is a fight for survival. The ability to endure brutal circumstances will carry you through a journey that is both terrifying and rewarding. Endure and survive against all odds in the March Modern Community Playthrough.
Retro Playthrough Discussion Thread
Modern Playthrough Discussion Thread
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o736/Fleach/overlookrpg_zpsaeaab780.jpg[/img] Bonus Super Awesome points if you know the connection between the picture and this article's topic
The video game industry is huge; it's one of the fastest growing industries alongside film. Now with outlets like Steam, Origin, and a myriad of digital distribution platforms gamers have more ways than ever before to play and experience the latest of what the creative minds in games have to offer. There are also more developers many who owe much to crowd funding and self-publishing. So why, with all these creators, retailers, and distributors, don't we see more RPGs?
The primary point of attention is that members of the games industry, like any other industry, are out to make money. Many people have said it before, myself included, that when it comes to games we vote with our dollars. Kickstarter is the perfect example of this. If a project interests you and you want to see it come to fruition you back it financially. It could be the genre, the developer, or an exciting gameplay mechanic that entices you to pledge support. Looking at Double Fine and their crowd funding campaign for Broken Age shows us that a genre once considered long forgotten still has eager and enthusiastic fans. Without digressing too much, this particular game might have benefited a fair bit from the "right time, right place" idiom. Without Telltale Games' The Walking Dead becoming a huge success we might not have other point-and-click adventures like Kentucky Route Zero (which is super cool and very eerie!) or the aforementioned Broken Age.
Still, could RPGs experience a similar revival? It's important to look at the numbers when considering this question. In 2012 the video game industry generated approximately $21 billion in revenue1. That's a lot of sales. To put that into perspective, if that total were to only be physical retail games priced at $60 it would equate to 350 million games sold. But this number includes handheld, mobile, DLC, and digitally distributed games which made up nearly $15 million of this total. This all indicates that gamers are spending large sums over various platforms and even within games. At the top of the sales charts is the action genre accounting for nearly one quarter of the total revenue.
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At least RPGs outsold racing games. Take that Forza 5!
It comes with no surprise that action games represent the top selling genre. They're fun. They're fast-paced. They have explosions! Simply put, they echo whats popular in the film industry. This is not wrong by any means; ever since video games have become bigger and more cinematic they would naturally be influenced by big budget, high grossing movies. From a gamer point of view action titles play an important part in gaming libraries. The gun fights test a player's hand-eye coordination, and reacting to sudden events challenges a person's reflexes and reaction times. These are all vital skills to have in real life, so in a strange way it can be said that action games prepare us for unexpected circumstances. Video games in general have real life benefits. Look at the case of the 10-year-old boy whose Mario Kart playing helped him steer a car to safety (Article here).
It can be, and likely is, argued that Role Playing games can benefit players as well. These games require map reading skills, strategic thinking, and anticipating an opponent's next move. Not an as exciting skill set, but next time you outwit someone thank Fire Emblem.
[img width=400 height=380]http://www.cryptomundo.com/wp-content/actheroineguide1.jpg[/img] "Create a distraction by throwing a stick away from the Sasquatch, toward the forest"
The unfortunate reality that many RPGs face is that the games usually receive poor publicity and marketing. This ends up with people calling these games "niche," but the case really is that the public and the advertisers have brought about this classification. It's a cyclical correlation that few people buy these games because of the little efforts spent towards promotion. If the next Final Fantasy had TV commercial slots like Fifa 14, or got more attention from the games news outlets the game could have the potential to reach a wider audience. This would ideally translate into greater sales, and ultimately into more games of the genre.
But that's wishful thinking.
Yes RPGs don't have as wide an appeal as other genres, but to debate this ends up in bickering over small things. Games of all genres have noteworthy qualities and nitpicking certain personal gripes just shows fanboyism and unwillingness to try something different of the gaming population. Sure, RPGs are overlooked, but there are too many factors to overcome to completely remedy the situation.
Perhaps the bold new ideas we can see from developers collaborating with genre veterans2 will prove that there enough people who love these games to bring forth an RPG renaissance. We'll just have to wait and see.
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Welcome to 2014 everyone!
The Community Playthrough team would like to wish everybody all the best in the new year and we've come up with a great way to kick off a new calendar of gaming.
Get ready to cause some trouble in January with Ultra-Intergalactic-Cyber-G, Marina Liteyears in Mischief Makers for the Nintendo 64. Shake Shake your way to victory on planet Clancer to save Professor Theo in this month's Retro Community Playthrough.
The Modern Community Playthrough is the place for adventurous heroes. Join Link as he sails the wide seas in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for the Nintendo GameCube, and now in glorious HD, on the Nintedo Wii U. Perilous battles, fantastic discoveries, and epic dungeons await the brave.
We would also like to sincerely thank the amazing Crabmaster for starting this great community activity. It's always so much fun to play a game as a group and we owe that pleasure to you. Thank you!
Ready to play?
Head on to the discussion threads and join the fun!
Mischief Makers Discussion Thread
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Discussion Thread
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Wasn't October spooky? Did shivers run down your spins while searching Dracula's castles? Did danger lurk in the darkness of the shadows surrounding Seto?
Techwizard, singlebanana, GrayGhost81, and I hope those who took part in October's Playthroughs had loads of fun.
Currently, Dezorian is in the lead for Simon's Quest with 42 Achievement Points for RFGen's inaugural Retro Playthrough. Still some time left to overtake him and earn singlebanana's super secret, coveted achievement prize. Over in the Modern Playthrough thread all those who found the Silver Haired Girl and helped Seto make new friends along the way deserve a salute for their accomplishments.
If you thought things were ominous last month, November's games will surely provide some great thrills.
Open your eyes to a bitter truth because things are much more sinister than they seem. Join Abe and Max in their journeys to overcome worlds bent on their downfalls.
Oddworld: Abe's Odysee (PS1) tells the dark fantasy story of a gremlin-like creature named Abe who is an unsuspecting factory janitor who learns that the fate of his race lies in the sadistic hands of his sinister captors. Guide Abe in his escape to salvation during techwizard's inaugural Retro Community Playthrough.
Max Payne 3 (PS3, X360) is the broken New York cop's vengeful return to video games. Max is a broken man seeking respite in Brazil as a bodyguard for a high profile corporate figure. Unfortunately, trouble has a way of finding Max. Fight through the seedy underbelly of Brazil as a man who, with nothing left to live for, puts his life on the line to uphold his duty. Things will quickly spiral out of control in Modern Community Playthrough.
Retro Playthrough discussion thread
Modern Playthrough discussion thread
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Until only a few months ago I vehemently detested any handheld since the GameBoy Advance. The graphics paled in comparison to what the latest living room systems could produce. Games were released on tiny cartridges that I could easily lose underneath a piece of furniture and forget about. The GameBoy Advance SP came out and I could care less. Then the DS and its various iterations received the same reception. Sony's PSP and Vita were not even on my radar.
Then something happened.
My bulky home consoles started getting fewer and fewer JRPGs. "Is the sub-genre on its way out?" I thought. The games that tickled a soft spot in my heart had to be hiding somewhere. I then saw games news outlets reporting on Final Fantasy: Bravely Default and Etrian Odyssey Untold, and my ears perked up a little. After reading some previews and watching brief gameplay videos I was sold. These were games I were longing for, but there was a problem: they were for the 3DS. How could such great looking Role Playing games be slated for release on portable console? Who would even want a handheld when one could spend roughly $50 more to get a fully HD game system? That was my argument that naively justified my unwillingness to consider the handheld market.
While trekking across America in The Last of Us, experiencing the monomyth in Journey, and saving my son in Heavy Rain I was silently craving a JRPG. I resisted buying a 3DS by telling myself the screens were too small. I held out against the XL redesign by saying the colour choices were not attractive. Much to my surprise Nintendo announced the black 3DS XL and I thought it looked like something I might actually want. Two highly intriguing titles were on the horizon after all. So, with the release of the sleek obsidian coloured handheld I jumped aboard the ship, and I like where its taking me.
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Having found the new home of my favourite genre left me wondering why these developers began to favour the different platform.
The JRPG was once synonymous with the SNES and gained even more steam on PlayStation 2. Gamers had titles including Chrono Trigger, EarthBound, Final Fantasy X, and Odin Sphere. Part of the RPG experience was budgeting one's time and sitting in front of TV to save the world. This was the domain of the genre and it made sense because as console technology improved developers were able to craft grander epics with increasingly beautiful visuals. I firmly believed JRPGs weren't going to leave the living room thinking that the XBox 360 and PS3 would offer me with the next enthralling odyssey. However, the current generation of gaming stations didn't receive as many of these games as their predecessors. The games relocated onto the DS and PSP, and even series that originated on the home console appeared on these 4 inch screens.
The home consoles were left with cliche, trope-laden, painfully linear games that resulted in long time fans wanting more at best, and feeling burnt out at worst. Meanwhile someone on a bus was commanding an army or crawling through maze-like dungeons. Perhaps the Japanese gaming style was the catalyst of this change where mobile gaming dominates over the living room experience. Moreover, those who grew up playing Phantasy Star and Robotrek now have jobs, families, and responsibilities that take them away from a 40+ hour epic. So it's completely reasonable that these games shifted to the pocket sized platforms.
In a way this could also be seen as JRPGs honouring their roots. These games, after all, are about the stories at the core. Without long cutscenes and voice acting to rely upon, any weakness in the narrative are easily exposed. Thus the focus has returned to the plot and character development which is paramount to any RPG. The handheld JPRGs take on more a "all-killer-no-filler" approach to the experiences they offer.
Many are quick to say that the JRPG is dead, but that's not true. One just needs to know where to find them. The genre that went stale found a breath of fresh air on Nintendo's 3DS and Sony's PSP or Vita. There's more new ideas and adventures to experience while commuting and during shorter periods of quiet down time. With few exceptions like PS3's upcoming The Guided Fate Paradox, RPG fans have reason to get excited again but they will just be playing on a different, smaller screen.
Image credit: @thomasjones_89 Click the poster to view his twitter feed and see some of his art
Community Playthrough Discussion Thread
Thanks everyone for making the July and August Community Playthrough of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars so much fun. Pat yourselves on the back for restoring order the world and allowing people's wishes to come true.
As you may remember, thanks to Shadow Kisuragi's vast knowledge of the game, we were able to offer you with a slew of achievements to tackle while playing. It was a close race between Addicted and singlebanana for the biggest achiever, but Addicted just squeezed ahead with one more achievement. Congrats Addicted!
For being the RFGen member with the most achievements he earned himself a say in the selection of the next game for us to play through together. Addicted must have loved platforming and puzzling through those 16-bit Disney games, because he proposed we play the new DuckTales Remastered and the Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse remake.
DuckTales is available now digitally on Steam, PSN, or the Wii U eShop for $15. XBox Live Arcade will receive DuckTales Remastered on September 11. Or if you like game cases (and snazzy pins) "physical" copies containing a download code are in stores as well.
Castle of Illusion will be released via PSN on September 3rd.
If anyone is feeling lucky Capcom is holding a contest to give away 150 DuckTales Remastered press kits. More information can be found here.
Here's to another Community Playthrough.
DuckTales! Woo-Oo!
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In case you were wondering what happened to RFG's news updates, there's no need to worry. We haven't forgotten about you guys. Here is a quick recap of the action the database saw over the last two months.
In June we saw a total of 3720 submissions which comprised of 3503 games related submissions and 217 hardware entries. July was only slightly quieter with 2028 in total. 1900 of which were games and 128 hardware submissions. Big thank you to everyone who made it happen!
The top submitters for June were Tynstar (760), ApolloBoy (537), and Shadow Kisuragi (340).
July's top three were ApolloBoy (447), thegreatska (303), and douglie007 (150).
Great work guys! Thanks for your efforts!
June and July were busy months and our database is chock full of new submissions thanks to great community members like yourselves. We've got a total of 29,718 submissions this year to date and there are still four month till the end of 2013 to hit our goal of 50,000. Keep at it!
If there are any aspects of Role Playing games that have the potential to polarize their players grinding is likely to top that list. Some gamers soak up ever ounce of it while others cringe at the mere thought. One thing is certain though - if you want to get anywhere in an RPG you will have to grind.
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Before even looking at how this gameplay mechanic is used it is important to understand the meaning of the term in question. To grind can be defined as sharpening by abrasion, but could also refer to being oppressed, tormented, and crushed. Two totally different meanings, but they are both so appropriate to describe a Role Playing game staple. By looking at the definition alone one can see where the polarization occurs. Repetitively battling enemies to gain new items and levels both hones the skills of the character while tormenting the player with a seemingly endless chore.
When looking at Western RPGs and their Japanese counterparts it becomes apparent that both treat grinding differently and implement it for unique reasons. Western Role Playing games, for the most part, and most notably, Skyrim, utilize this gameplay element as a reason to explore the game's world and mythology. In doing so the player can completely bypass the main plot in order to gain full freedom to discover hidden items peppered throughout the land that colour the game's lore. Grinding is absolutely optional but is in fact an added incentive for the player to try to enhance their gaming experience. In this case the act of grinding becomes synonymous with discovery. The treasure is out there should the player choose to seek it. This ultimately contributes to greater immersion by offering players the uncover the game's secrets.
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Japanese RPGs, on the other hand, exploit level grinding in a very different manner. The role which grinding plays becomes a critical component of the game and the development of characters' statistics. This is all well and good on the surface, but it can have deleterious effects on the player's view of the game as a whole. By forcing a player to repetitively perform the same task, be it battling or playing a mini-game, he or she can actually lose sight of the plot and the primary objective of the game. This will usually result in forgotten plot points or even player resignation leaving the game to never be played again.
While leveling up in such a way often feels like a chore the tedious act does have underlying benefits. Evening out the playing field, especially in preparation for boss battles, gives the player a chance to develop skills - both strategic concepts that can be used in-game and improved character techniques - that allow spikes in difficulty to be overcome with less frustration. The same can be said for grinding in multiplayer online RPGs as well. By level grinding the player can keep up with fellow gamers and gain access to once unattainable areas or items. However, in typical Japanese fashion, grinding is not just a shallow game mechanic. It ties into a state of mind which is associated with overcoming life's hurtles.
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The way JRPGs use grinding adequately reflects both meanings of the word. The honing of one's talent will translate into the dominance of oppressive barriers. Much like studying or training the body, grinding carries a special philosophical weight along with it. Father of the Japanese RPG Yuji Horii claims:
In the real world there are so many difficulties people are facing. Sometimes, there are no rewards... at least in the game, we want to make sure they [players] will be rewarded. In Japanese style you have to try, try, try - and then you can finally get a reward. It is like climbing a steep mountain - you have to keep climbing, climbing, climbing and then at the end you finally get to the top, and you see the beautiful view.
In this way level grinding reassures the player that their time and hard work will pay off. Be it the acquisition of superior items, the improved statistics, or the pleasure of defeating more powerful enemies, this gameplay mechanic in fact teaches players to not lose hope in their endevours, more importantly, that with persistence and determination any goal is achievable. Despite being very taxing on the player, grinding levels and equipment is a backbone of the RPG genre. It is implemented in many games and in as many unique ways, but its philosophical teachings and in-game rewards make the experience so much greater. So keep trying, keep climbing those mountains because whether the experience comes in the form of points or fond memories, nothing comes without effort.
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I hope everyone who participated in June's Community Playthrough enjoyed the 16-bit Disney games we played. Puzzling and platforming through those was loads of fun!
July is fast approaching and that means the RFGen community will be playing through another game together. Wildbil52 hinted that it would be a super game for the seventh month and we'd like to congratulate Duke.Togo for correctly guessing Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars as the next Community Playthrough game!
Those who want to join can head over to this thread for more info.
The next generation of consoles is upon us. PS4 and XBox One will make their way into living rooms across the world this holiday season. We now know what to look forward to and we're buzzing with excitement. The games we will soon be playing, the heroes we will be meeting, the experiences we will be sharing; all this wonder and adventure await. Without looking at what games lie on the horizon and focusing only on E3, we all know it: Sony stole the show at this year's press conference. No DRM, offline compatible, acceptance of used games. This is all great news for gamers and now that the two giants have put their chips on the table it comes down to us. Who will we side with? Who will come out victorious?
Of course I'm ready to vote with my dollars, but a question burns in my mind. What will the next generation bring with respect to Role Playing games? No doubt we will see graphical advances, more frantic battles, and temples so realistic you'd think you're actually there. But what about the stories to be told? The lessons to be learned? The emotional bonds to be formed?
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What I'm really asking is will future RPGs make me care about what's going on within the worlds they present? To put this into perspective I am emotionally invested in Ni No Kuni's , Oliver because I feel his love for his mother echoes my love for mine, but I don't really feel like I will gain anything from seeing his story through to the end. Oliver seems to be a likable young boy, one with manners, respect, and a level head. But his friends are not as deep, and they appear to be merely tagging along for the ride. I mean their stakes in the journey aren't as compelling as Oliver's. On the other hand, I felt driven to guide Tidus and his companions to the conclusion of Final Fantasy X. Tidus needed Yuna and her guardians just as much they needed him. They completed each other and together they completed the story. It was a perfectly symbiotic relationship that created a masterpiece video game.
Like a novel, a game must follow a satisfying narrative arc if it is to be worth our time. During gameplay and cutscenes which the player has earned the gamer has to learn about the hero's motivations and, upon the end credits, have made a connection to the cast and story. Film can accomplish this in two hours while some games fail to do so over forty hours. RPGs must use their medium expertly to convey their messages clearly and succinctly or they will fall by the way side. If the audience is intelligent enough they will glean from the story, the message needn't be shoved in our faces. Setting, conflict, and drama will be lost if they're shallow or gratuitous. I will still gladly enter a fantastical realm of monsters and magic but it must have meaning. Summoning fierce deities will still be fun, however I want to earn this power instead of receiving it as a means to continue the plot. I want a juicy steak with my gravy. The upcoming RPGs must deliver on this or else their fate simply doesn't look promising. If an Action-Adventure set in an fungal virus infected apocalypse promises more of an emotional roller coaster ride, RPG developers have to shift gears to avoid becoming cliche romps through beast riddled caverns.
I've saved the world from hell-bent rivals hundreds of times. Now I want to look inside so as to make sense of the outside. Rescuing a character from a descent into madness or teaching the faithless heroine to be able to love will be enthralling. A demonic backdrop would still work. The monsters confronted during gameplay would be physical representations of the protagonist's inner turmoil. If we must continue to analyze the world around us consider defeating an alien race which would in turn teach of the dangers of misanthropy or a tainted moral compass. That would make for a wonderful story.
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The oral tradition is a characteristic trait of humans. We need stories as they are the vessels used to relay culture, values, beliefs, and morals. The genre is by its very nature conducive to story-telling and as such I know these kinds of games can very well be the modern equivalent of Aesop's fables. Inasmuch I believe these games need to be thought provoking in order to earn their place among the greats - to stand the test of time. They need to be significant if they intend to be relevant. It's been twenty years since Secret of Mana hit the SNES and it's still relevant today. We're still discussing Final Fantasy VII after sixteen years. We will look back on Dragon's Dogma with as much admiration in five years time? Perhaps the Mass Effect trilogy will be the exception, but those are only three games from a vast console library. Will the Role Playing games of the early 2000s be as essential as those of the early 1990s?
I accept that the halcyon days of RPGs ended long ago, but could there be a resurgence of great games just beyond the horizon? Will Noctis (Final Fantasy XV) or the hero of Capcom's yet-to-be-named game make their way into our psyche? It's time RPGs break the shackles they put around their wrists and take note from other video game genres, even film and literature. The future leaves us with many questions but that is to be expected. We should not fear the unknown, nor should we tread these uncharted waters with hesitation. Embrace the wonderment that is set to grace our TVs. Should we be disappointed, remember that we have two power weapons at our disposal. They are our voices and our wallets. I won't go so far as to say the future of gaming, and RPGs in particular, is bleak but it is uncertain. Uncertainty, though, is exciting. Just like coming home to a surprise party, loading the next epic journey could be just what we wanted.
Final Fantasy is among the longest running Japanese RPG franchises in video game history. The Dragon Quest series, which spans 27 years, is the current holder of that record. Still, it is worth mentioning that Squaresoft is responsible for some of the most significant additions into the Role Playing game catalogue, with perhaps Final Fantasy VII at the top of that list. Despite being associated with rabid fanboyism this game's importance is undeniable.
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The seventh installment in the main series marked a change in which Squaresoft's RPGs were presented and played. In 1997 gamers experienced the first polygonal 3D Final Fantasy not on a Nintendo console, but on Sony's PlayStation. Until then all Final Fantasy games were released solely for the NES and Super Nintendo respectively. The shift to 3D presentation, use of pre-rendered cutscenes, and the sheer scope of the narrative meant that the game would not fit onto a standard cartridge. Sony's disc based system allowed Squaresoft to accomplish this and create something totally new and innovative. They had the freedom to stretch their creative muscles and develop their grandest, most epic adventure yet. The result was a game that required three discs and over 40 hours to play to completion.
Squaresoft also established one of video games' most famous rivalry in the relationship between Cloud Strife and Sephiroth. The bond between the two characters formed the narrative arc that gripped so many players in the late 90s. Their relationship stemmed from young Cloud's aspirations to be as powerful as the mighty Sephiroth. However, in typical Role Playing game fashion, things are not as they seem once Cloud learns of Sephiroth's origins. No longer able to deny his past the super soldier sets out to destroy the world and the corporation he had sworn to protect. Thus the bitter rivalry formed between the two that captivated countless gamers.
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The leap to 3D visuals and complex characters certainly contribute to Final Fantasy VII's prolific reputation, but that is not the most critical case for the game representing a milestone in RPG history. Final Fantasy VII was the best selling entry in the series at the time. Within 48 hours of its release the game hold sold approximately three million copies, and over eight million units worldwide by 1999. The game was a critical success garnering stellar reviews and becoming the first console RPG to earn widespread popularity outside Japan. RPGs were now something more than esoteric games that appealed only to geeky guys; it became a respected video game genre with more people than ever before exploring the nuances of Role Playing adventures.
Squaresoft's seventh game in the main Final Fantasy series is still being discussed to this day. It is the subject of vehement demands for an HD remake and the source for several spin-offs including an animated feature film. The legacy of Final Fantasy VII lives on and even if it may not be one's favourite installment, the game definitely maintains a special place in gamers' collections as well as the RPG catalogue.
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Fun Final Fantasy VII Facts
The game was considered for a remake on the PlayStation 2 in 2001
Final Fantasy X's Spira is the 'ancestor' civilization which colonized the Planet of Final Fantasy VII. This is reinforced by Shinra's mention of potentially harnessing the Farplane as an energy source, which his descendants would go on to do with the Lifestream many centuries later, as the Shinra Electric Power Company.
It was the first Final Fantasy to include incredibly powerful optional bosses
Role Playing games have a rich history with roots in pen-and-paper adventures extending all the way to the latest 50 plus hour hi-def epic. When looking at the history of RPGs 1986 is an appropriate starting point. This year saw the release of Dragon Quest on the Famicom and perhaps the birth of the console RPG genre.
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Before making the leap to the home console Role Playing games were played using books which outlined rules, enemy strength, and scenarios for the players; most importantly these games required the use of a person's imagination to create the world and its inhabitants. Dungeons and Dragons, created by Gary Gygax, set the formula for RPGs as a genre. His pen-and-paper games introduced the concepts of character leveling, Hit Points as a representation of health, and random enemy encounters. The core concepts of Gygax's adventures were eventually brought onto the computer with notable games including Akalabeth and Ultima.
Ultima was a huge success in Japan - this game, along with Wizardry, heavily inspired Yuji Horii of Enix. Horii's intent was to create a game that incorporate the same depth and sense of adventure that his favourite computer games portrayed, but using a simpler control scheme.
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What Horii and his team created was Dragon Quest, and it took the Japanese Role Playing community by storm. By exploiting the best elements of Ultima and Wizardry, and creating a story about saving a land from the clutches of an evil enemy the console RPG genre was set in motion.
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Though these shared similarities to early Role Playing games this new breed of RPGs eschewed the complex control systems of their computer counterparts which required players to type commands to interact with the games' worlds, opting instead to use the basic - and now iconic - directional pad of the Nintendo Famicom's handheld controller. Players could now search chests, battle monsters, and navigate dungeons with a single button press.
The basis of Horii's game became the foundation of future RPGs. Players would now travel across an overworld from town to town encountering monsters along the way. Success in battle was rewarded with Experience Points which enabled a character to gain higher levels, improved statistics, and more powerful skills. Everything that players had to perform prepared them for the final duel against the evil force which was threatening the kingdom. The game outlined the general premise of the plot, but demanded that players discover where they must go and what they must do in order to reach the conclusion of their journey to preserve justice and righteousness. The basis of Dragon Quest would be emulated and expanded upon to create newer and broader adventures.
This set the stage for other developers to experiment with the new style of Role Playing games and led to release of other historic epics such as Final Fantasy and Ys among others.
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Square Enix and Level-5, two well known JRPG developers. The games of these studios are household names to almost any gamer and collector, but what about NIS or Atlus? Here at RF Generation those who focus their collecting habits on RPGs or are more open to different genres are likely to be familiar with the more obscure side of Role Playing games - the niche RPG.
Niche games are made with a specific target audience in mind. Whether its rogue-like dungeon crawlers, stories of cute alchemists, or the adventures of high school kids with supernatural abilities these RPGs are not destined to be million dollar blockbuster games. On one level this is likely because Role Playing games are much more popular in Japan than they are stateside. North American gamers should consider themselves lucky to reap the rewards of the successful Operation Rainfall campaign.
The primary demographic of niche RPGs are the otaku - anime enthusiasts. These people are more likely to pick up on the unique style of Japanese humour that would be lost on the typical North American gamer. While not a Role Playing game, the Katamari series is a perfect example. The Disgaea games published by NIS use the anime art style and feature many gameplay elements that naturally appeal to fans of Japanese animation. Fan service is another aspect of the niche RPG with the otaku in mind. Often sharing similarities to these games, though not always, are the rogue-like RPGs.
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In a word a rogue-like games can be described as unrelenting. All items and progress are lost should the player fail to clear the dungeon safely. This is hugely frustrating of course, but if successful the reward is sweet. To add to the complexity and difficulty these game occasionally feature randomly generated levels. Shiren the Wanderer (Wii) is a modern dungeon crawler.
Crafting, weapon customization, and alchemy are also common elements of niche RPGs. The Atelier game rely heavily on these game mechanics. Sorting through submenus to find the optimal combination of items may not be for everyone, certainly not for someone who just wants to embark upon a journey of grand proportions.
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Because these niche games seem so unusual according to North American expectations they are often never released in the west. These really are games that are not specifically made for North American audiences though some of the more accessible titles have been translated and redone for English-speaking gamers. Knowing that only a select number of people who make up the intended market demographic will purchase these games publishers typically have lower retail forecasts and thus these games will see smaller print runs. Though the other side of the RPG scene is weird, difficult, and complex it is still worthwhile to experiment with these games. And as a collector why not add some quirky titles to your shelves?
In Part 1 of my critique on video game categorization I posed the question "Can the Zelda games be considered RPGs?" My stance is that these games cannot be labeled as Role Playing games on the basis that they do not depict the character growth, statistic building, and depth of narrative required of games of the genre.
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The Zelda series no doubt presents many enthralling story lines, but the characters are subject to the direction of the narrative. Consider these games to be akin to a Greek myth in which the hero is a victim of the fate determined by the gods. Like Odysseus, Link must take up arms, embark upon a journey of epic proportions and cope with an unalterable destiny. The characters of Adventure games are driven by the story. RPGs display the opposite. The characters push the narrative forward.
Despite this critical fact that separates Adventure and Role Playing games one cannot argue that both involve playing the role of a hero on an adventure. This is why I am not comfortable with the term "RPG." Modern video games, and even many retro titles, cannot be pigeon holed into just one genre category. A game such as Secret of Mana is rooted in the RPG basics and incorporates gameplay elements from the Adventure genre. Titles that merge these two genres are too conveniently labeled as Action RPG. This does provide insight on the game's play style, but does not accurately identify the game as a whole. My solution to this is to look at the adventure itself, the context in which it takes place, and whether characters grow as the game progresses.
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Narrative Adventure
This is the typical RPG whether it is turn based or played out in real time. These games depict stories which are driven by the protagonist and his or her companions. Character development is illustrated via statistics, but more so in the dialogue or cut scenes. As the characters grow the story becomes deeper much like a film or novel. These games tend to be longer as more time is spent allowing the player to experience the characters and setting. The structure of the narrative often follows Joseph Campbell's Monomyth.
Fantasy Adventure/Action Adventure
The story is set in a fantastical world which has power over the hero. The protagonist's shortcomings do not impact the story; in this case the story predetermines his or her weaknesses. The focus of these games is directed more to the player having to adapt to and overcome challenges presenting by in game obstacles. These games also follow the Monomyth structure, but take the shortened path which is shown in the upper portion of the diagram.
I've enjoyed looking at what constitutes an "RPG" and like that there is no definitive answer. My solution for the categorization problem uses the characters and storyline of the games, as I feel they are integral to a great gaming experience. What are your thoughts on these labels? How do you identify what is and isn't a Role Playing game?
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