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[Tellaerin]

... it all depends on how much you care about story. (I don't.)

You know, that really puts your RPG recommendations in a different light. For me personally, likeable characters are probably the most important consideration in an RPG, followed by the overall plot and world design, with gameplay being the least important of the three. Not that it's unimportant, but I can thoroughly enjoy a game with a by-the-numbers plot and standard RPG gameplay as long as I like/am interested in the cast. Pure gameplay alone, on the other hand, isn't enough to save an RPG for me if I don't like the characters. Of course, that probably makes me the glaring exception around here.

 

[ethelred]

You know, that really puts your RPG recommendations in a different light. For me personally, likeable characters are probably the most important consideration in an RPG, followed by the overall plot and world design, with gameplay being the least important of the three.

Well, the good thing is that Baten Kaitos Origins has the great cast, it has the really strong plot and good world design... so it's not like these things are lacking here.

I tend to, on the whole, hold gameplay and story/characters to be about equal in importance, though there are certainly exceptions.

Castlevania isn't an Action RPG, is it?

The DS one, I mean.

Opinions vary.

 

[AniHawk]

Castlevania isn't an Action RPG, is it?

The DS one, I mean.

 

[Synbios459]

Wouldn't Oblivion be considered more of an Action/Adventure game?

 

[RevenantKioku]

Just put about five hours into BKO.
It's just unreal how better this game is than something like FF12 on every single level. And isn't this the Xenosaga team? Square should be ashamed! :lol

 

[B.K.]

And isn't this the Xenosaga team?

It's the same company, but a different development team.

 

[AniHawk]

Just put about five hours into BKO.
It's just unreal how better this game is than something like FF12 on every single level. And isn't this the Xenosaga team? Square should be ashamed! :lol

tri-crescendo isn't the Xenosaga team. The Xenosaga team did XS III.

 

[RevenantKioku]

It's the same company, but a different development team.

tri-crescendo isn't the Xenosaga team. The Xenosaga team did XS III.

I knew it was something close. Either way, this shames FF12. Big surprise so far. (Ignoring Dragona's unrelenting praise, but hey, that's what I do.)

 

[Speevy]

Wouldn't Oblivion be considered more of an Action/Adventure game?

Um...no? Broken leveling system or not, it fits the original "RPG" idea more than most games released recently.

 

[Error]

Just put about five hours into BKO.
It's just unreal how better this game is than something like FF12 on every single level. And isn't this the Xenosaga team? Square should be ashamed! :lol

that battle system is godly

and yes the game rox

 

[MoxManiac]

You know, that really puts your RPG recommendations in a different light. For me personally, likeable characters are probably the most important consideration in an RPG, followed by the overall plot and world design, with gameplay being the least important of the three. Not that it's unimportant, but I can thoroughly enjoy a game with a by-the-numbers plot and standard RPG gameplay as long as I like/am interested in the cast. Pure gameplay alone, on the other hand, isn't enough to save an RPG for me if I don't like the characters. Of course, that probably makes me the glaring exception around here.

I dunno, I think those of us who put gameplay at the forefront of our RPG expectations are probably the smaller group; we do exist though.

 

[FateBreaker]

that battle system is godly/QUOTE]

godly? I don't think so. It's really good, and way more fun that way-too-slow BK1 battle system, but there's still some things that make it lack here and there. Although, yes, ultimately, great battle system.

 

[LJS9502_basic]

that battle system is godly

and yes the game rox

Hm...I liked BK1 and theres no doubt about me getting a Best Buy giftcard on Christmas. Maybe I should pick BKO up.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Hm...I liked BK1 and theres no doubt about me getting a Best Buy giftcard on Christmas. Maybe I should pick BKO up.

Very pleasant surprise. Difficulty just ramped up a notch too, I died! OMGZ.

 

[Duderz]

Now, I really don't want to bother with BKO unless its story is at least on par with every other story since the Renaissance period.

Can you at least give me that, GAF?

 

[Tsubaki]

it all depends on how much you care about story. (I don't.)

Hear hear. I've always thought that GAMES should all be judged on the same criteria - how they play. Why people throw their standards out the window for RPGs is beyond me. Especially since RPGers are deluding themselves that RPG stories are worth a damn. They're only a thinly disguised means of getting you from one dungeon to another.

 

[Systems_id]

Hear hear. I've always thought that GAMES should all be judged on the same criteria - how they play. Why people throw their standards out the window for RPGs is beyond me. Especially since RPGers are deluding themselves that RPG stories are worth a damn. They're only a thinly disguised means of getting you from one dungeon to another.

Personally I hold RPGs up to higher standards is because the story is the only thing that keeps me interested beyond the 30 hour mark. The only RPGs I've ever played that have battle systems compelling enough to keep me entertained longer are FFXII and SMT: Nocturne. The rest were just me slogging through hundreds of battles to see what happend next. I wish RPGs (particularly of the Japanese variety) would cut out all of the filler and gave me a far more focused experience instead of including 30+ hours of pointless fluff. All three Shin Megami Tensei games from this gen (haven't played Devil Summoner) are excellent examples of what I'd like.

 

[Diablos]

Awesome gameplay, soundtrack, characters, graphics, and the story, despite some flaws, is still pretty solid. I loved every moment of this game. GOTY!

 

[Pureauthor]

Hear hear. I've always thought that GAMES should all be judged on the same criteria - how they play. Why people throw their standards out the window for RPGs is beyond me. Especially since RPGers are deluding themselves that RPG stories are worth a damn. They're only a thinly disguised means of getting you from one dungeon to another.

You make it sound as if people care about story only in RPGs.

 

[dirtmonkey37]

Blue Dragon/FFXII

FFXII loses definitive #1 because of the last 5 hours.

WOAH HOAH!

Blue Dragon? So the first disc impressions along with the cliched story (from what you said) were nudged out by the last two discs? THAT'S AWESOME!


I haven't played FFXII, but what's wrong with the last 5 hours (if you can explain to me without spoilers)?

 

[TekunoRobby]

Oblivion without a doubt.

Though I wish I could be saying Mother 3 or Blue Dragon.

 

[rainer516]

If Xenosaga 3 had 1's battle system it would have been the best game this year. But since it didn't it fails and is automatically surpassed by the superior FF12. Best RPG of the year, best battle system, awesome customization, godly challenges, excellent 80+ hour gameplay. The storyline was a bit weaqk, but still better than cutscene-fest FFX. Also, it's a prequel to the greatest RPG of all time (vagrant story).

 

[Rahxephon91]

. Also, it's a prequel to the greatest RPG of all time (vagrant story).

Wait how? What makes it a prequel?

 

[Fady K]

godly? I don't think so. It's really good, and way more fun that way-too-slow BK1 battle system, but there's still some things that make it lack here and there. Although, yes, ultimately, great battle system.

Agreed. Some people overrated it here big time. The battle system surely rocks, and the game is really good, people have different opinions I guess, as I think Xenosaga III is an almost perfect RPG (much better than BK0) and a looot of people would highly disagree.

Now, I really don't want to bother with BKO unless its story is at least on par with every other story since the Renaissance period.

Can you at least give me that, GAF?

Hey, I miss my line :lol Well, duderz, if you really want a deep plot, you wont find much with BK0 IMO, you got better choices if you want a great story.

If Xenosaga 3 had 1's battle system it would have been the best game this year. But since it didn't it fails and is automatically surpassed by the superior FF12. Best RPG of the year, best battle system, awesome customization, godly challenges, excellent 80+ hour gameplay. The storyline was a bit weaqk, but still better than cutscene-fest FFX. Also, it's a prequel to the greatest RPG of all time (vagrant story).

I liked the battle system in 3 more, though personally, i WISH the battle system in 3 had combos like Xenogears, that wouldve been awesome!!! I feel the same way about FFXII, right down to the Vagrant Story connection (one of the greatest games I have ever played). But why think of it as a prequel though?

 

[Avalon]

*Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria*


Awesome gameplay, soundtrack, characters, graphics, and the story, despite some flaws, is still pretty solid. I loved every moment of this game. GOTY!

Thank you!

It really makes me sad when people assume that more cutscenes equal more character development and story. VP2 might not have featured a lot of detailed scenes, but every single one of them was important and it conveyed just as much as a game with bloated story portions.

I liked the battle system in 3 more, though personally, i WISH the battle system in 3 had combos like Xenogears, that wouldve been awesome!!!

It needed to be completely reworked to be awesome. The system is just so shallow.

 

[Fady K]

Awesome gameplay, soundtrack, characters, graphics, and the story, despite some flaws, is still pretty solid. I loved every moment of this game. GOTY!

Still playing through Lenneth!! Cant wait!

 

[rainer516]

I feel the same way about FFXII, right down to the Vagrant Story connection (one of the greatest games I have ever played). But why think of it as a prequel though?

Oh but it is, Events play out like this: FF12 ---> FFTactics ---> Vagrant Story. The mist is the Dark, Kiltian religion has been wiped out in Vagrant Story but Lea Monde remains as a place where an ancient Kiltian Temple stands. Sidney is the new Grand Kiltias etc. etc. It's just a matter of piecing it together.

 

[Fady K]

Oh but it is, Events play out like this: FF12 ---> FFTactics ---> Vagrant Story. The mist is the Dark, Kiltian religion has been wiped out in Vagrant Story but Lea Monde remains as a place where an ancient Kiltian Temple stands. Sidney is the new Grand Kiltias etc. etc. It's just a matter of piecing it together.

Wow 0_0 I actually never thought about this.

 

[Llyranor]

By association, even Revenant Wings would be a prequel to Vagrant Story!

 

[Fady K]

By association, even Revenant Wings would be a prequel to Vagrant Story!

Actually, from the look of it, Revenant Wings is a prequel to FFXII too

 

[rainer516]

Actually, from the look of it, Revenant Wings is a prequel to FFXII too

Nah, sequel.