Eastren and Westren RPGs

[mgoblue]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

it's somewhat tough to have a completely open RPG and yet have it hook you with that same storyline...Morrowind did it (I think), I just didn't get into that game for other reasons...I just think it's pretty tough to put it all together with a wide open RPG like that. So many variables, it's too easy to screw one up and have that kill the fun

[fossen]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

good point, i've always wondered why more rpg's werent like western rpgs. Linear feels kind boring because if you don't succeed you can just do the same thing over again (well you can for western, but you have more choice)

But a very open-ended RPG is always deficient in story, as they have to be open enough to accept all sort of main characters.

I want entertainment. I want to be told a story, not create one. Final Fantasy X is like watching a 40-hour movie. Morrowind is like wandering around, wondering what the **** to do with my life - and I do plenty of that already, away from the Xbox.

[fossen]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

good point, i've always wondered why more rpg's werent like western rpgs. Linear feels kind boring because if you don't succeed you can just do the same thing over again (well you can for western, but you have more choice)

But a very open-ended RPG is always deficient in story, as they have to be open enough to accept all sort of main characters.

I want entertainment. I want to be told a story, not create one. Final Fantasy X is like watching a 40-hour movie. Morrowind is like wandering around, wondering what the **** to do with my life - and I do plenty of that already, away from the Xbox.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

But a very open-ended RPG is always deficient in story, as they have to be open enough to accept all sort of main characters.

I want entertainment. I want to be told a story, not create one. Final Fantasy X is like watching a 40-hour movie. Morrowind is like wandering around, wondering what the **** to do with my life - and I do plenty of that already, away from the Xbox.

Good point. Its real easy to get lost in Morrowind.

The Japanese have a deeper dramatic sense than westerners also. For example, the Matrix trilogy definately had a Japanese sensibility. The movie was constantly asking you to ponder different concepts and speculate on the greater meaning of things. Thats why alot of people hated it...way too deep for our pop culture. Japanese storytelling reflects that. I've never played an American RPG with the emotion or depth of Aeris dying in FFVII. I was really sad for a few seconds. Someone mentioned Xenogears...classic Japanese RPG, the storyline involved tring to kill GOD!

Our games aint that deep.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

But a very open-ended RPG is always deficient in story, as they have to be open enough to accept all sort of main characters.

I want entertainment. I want to be told a story, not create one. Final Fantasy X is like watching a 40-hour movie. Morrowind is like wandering around, wondering what the **** to do with my life - and I do plenty of that already, away from the Xbox.

Good point. Its real easy to get lost in Morrowind.

The Japanese have a deeper dramatic sense than westerners also. For example, the Matrix trilogy definately had a Japanese sensibility. The movie was constantly asking you to ponder different concepts and speculate on the greater meaning of things. Thats why alot of people hated it...way too deep for our pop culture. Japanese storytelling reflects that. I've never played an American RPG with the emotion or depth of Aeris dying in FFVII. I was really sad for a few seconds. Someone mentioned Xenogears...classic Japanese RPG, the storyline involved tring to kill GOD!

Our games aint that deep.

[DueceDiggla]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

Only RPG that held my attention to the end

[DueceDiggla]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

Only RPG that held my attention to the end

[Bacardi151]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

Only RPG that held my attention to the end

great game. I remember this one back in the day. I think there needs to be a balance between not being linear and yet being able to follow a story along. The elder scrolls have always been the exception to the rule. They are huge, as in damn HUGE! I like the baldurs gate, fallout, planescape:torment type of rpg (you can lump KOTOR into that one too). Phantasy star I and II were my favorite eastern rpg's. and i was able to get thru FFI and II. But from then on out, it began to feel too restrictive; I am a bit on the other side of the spectrum of where fossen stands. I cannot take being lead along. Its like nothing happens in the world unless you go to the right place. And time is not a factor in most instances.

Dont get me wrong, i will play them all. But my love for the western rpg started back when i was in elementary school playing AD&D. The c-64 provided a TON of western rpgs that were just incredible to me.

[Bacardi151]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

Only RPG that held my attention to the end

great game. I remember this one back in the day. I think there needs to be a balance between not being linear and yet being able to follow a story along. The elder scrolls have always been the exception to the rule. They are huge, as in damn HUGE! I like the baldurs gate, fallout, planescape:torment type of rpg (you can lump KOTOR into that one too). Phantasy star I and II were my favorite eastern rpg's. and i was able to get thru FFI and II. But from then on out, it began to feel too restrictive; I am a bit on the other side of the spectrum of where fossen stands. I cannot take being lead along. Its like nothing happens in the world unless you go to the right place. And time is not a factor in most instances.

Dont get me wrong, i will play them all. But my love for the western rpg started back when i was in elementary school playing AD&D. The c-64 provided a TON of western rpgs that were just incredible to me.

[jfsolo]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

I realize that this is a generalization, but "Western" RPG's can be called western for more than one reason. The "hero" in western RPG's always has to "cowboy up" and be a bad ***. He can't show vulnerability or weakness. In western RPG's hero's rarely have to acknowledge or deal with the ramifications of their actions.

WARNING SPOLIERS!!!!




In Deus EX: Invisible War I helped a family out by hacking into a computer, and getting a little girl enrolled into a swanky Private school. Later on when I spoke to her mother(after I had exposed the headmaster as a psychopathic, cult member) I learned that her daughter had been killed duing a subsequent raid on the school by the government.-The mother had no idea that I had set the events in motion that led to her daughters death. She did know however that I had got her daughter in the school, but didn't blame me for her death.

I personally was quite bothered by how my seemingly good deeds had sealed this girl death warrant so it was great that I had to deal with the ramifications of my choices, but my character on screen did not manifest the same dismay that I felt. Although I understand the attitude of not wanting the game to force a reaction on to the user, I think that moment could have been very powerful with some cinimatics or a more animated response from the characters. Would it have been contrived? Yes, but in Art
rhetoric and histrionics can create transcendent experiences.

[jfsolo]

Re: Eastren and Westren RPGs

I realize that this is a generalization, but "Western" RPG's can be called western for more than one reason. The "hero" in western RPG's always has to "cowboy up" and be a bad ***. He can't show vulnerability or weakness. In western RPG's hero's rarely have to acknowledge or deal with the ramifications of their actions.

WARNING SPOLIERS!!!!




In Deus EX: Invisible War I helped a family out by hacking into a computer, and getting a little girl enrolled into a swanky Private school. Later on when I spoke to her mother(after I had exposed the headmaster as a psychopathic, cult member) I learned that her daughter had been killed duing a subsequent raid on the school by the government.-The mother had no idea that I had set the events in motion that led to her daughters death. She did know however that I had got her daughter in the school, but didn't blame me for her death.

I personally was quite bothered by how my seemingly good deeds had sealed this girl death warrant so it was great that I had to deal with the ramifications of my choices, but my character on screen did not manifest the same dismay that I felt. Although I understand the attitude of not wanting the game to force a reaction on to the user, I think that moment could have been very powerful with some cinimatics or a more animated response from the characters. Would it have been contrived? Yes, but in Art
rhetoric and histrionics can create transcendent experiences.