I've always been a fan of RPG's it's made me a geek in certain circles of my life, but to be honest they are the longest video games and well I don't usually beat them in a single sitting. I like to see as well how in depth the writers get with their stories. Lets take a good example of a good RPG (I'm sorry I'm about to show my age)... The classic Final Fantasy. Series wise this is one of the longest running RPG's out there. They've always written a rather well told story even if their approach to playing the game has gone from rather standard to way out there. Yet as the years pass and the newer pieces of the franchise come forward there is a feeling of loss. I'm speaking plainly of the MMO and XIII. I'm not bashing these games yet they do leave something to be desired, and if you haven't followed me thus far I'm speaking of 13 and 14.
I have a numerical affinity with the number 13 so thus a new storyline and approach made this game rather desirable yet it seems the story hit a lacking fatigue and an over desire to grind to move forward. Now don't get me wrong grinding isn't bad, but when it puts a story in full halt you lose some of the pleasure of following what's going on. 13 part 2 continued and further explained some things yet had a lot of the zombie apocalypse moments and again the story hit a halt requiring grinding to move forward. Here's hoping part 3 isn't the same.
Fourteen the MMO which is quite beautifully done and well put together if you can get past the control scheme feeling off or just clunky (for ps3 and PC if using a controller). Yet the story seems lacking the missions are fun but some seem like a lot of work for something so minor. My best example here is the mission for goblin cheese. For a simple piece of cheese you have to face a nightmare of a dungeon and defeat an acidic dragon just for a npc to have a wine and cheese party. Yes you read that right the over story is that they are testing you to choose if they should help you face the greater threat to the land, but I felt quite irritable after that boss fight just for cheese. Now again I'm not bashing the game but trying to pull forward a point to the game makers. As I shall further explain.
An RPG is supposed to be an epic tale where a hero goes on an adventure and the story helps the player get involved into the goings on of the world. The player want's to be inspired to journey to explore not to be a bounty hunter and just kill for profit directly. Yet this can be part of the story. Lets look at another example of a good RPG that being the cross with a FPS Borderlands. This is truly innovative. You are a Vault Hunter you do quests to get money guns and well help you survive, yet you feel a camaraderie with the cast. Even the most annoying character is someone you somewhat care about. Yet even Borderlands falls into some faults... that being DLC.
I'm not saying DLC is bad, but there is this fine line between a good game with DLC and well DLC ruining your experience. I understand technology is improving we people as consumers need to buy things to make things better yet my claim here is for things such as a Season Pass. This is a great idea, but when you put up things the player would like to play with more outside of your season pass, well you're just being mean. The digital age is hurting in a strong way yet improving in others the way of the RPG and here is the fine line I'm trying to point out folks. A lot of gaming today is being based on what you can offer via DLC this is actually killing some of the storylines that make a good game. I don't think gaming should be about how much money you can pull in via levels needed in DLC yet I feel the DLC and the add on should help enrich the game. I understand the need for exclusiveness yet sometimes it's like putting up a barrier between players. One with money can go anywhere one who has to limit his or her spending can only go so far. Videogames should not emulate life but allow us an exploration outward. An RPG is the great exploration so why are we limiting the adventure seeking warriors to realms limited by real money. Back before the whole internet feature of gaming even shortly after games were detailed and everyone got to explore the great worlds of owning a game, why are we slowly taking that away from the player?
- William Dreimann
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