[quote name='pukemon']basically same thing all the time, with different battle systems.[/quote]
So.... each game has a different setting, a different battle system, different characters, and an all new storyline.... but they're "all the same."
Uhhh, right.
[quote name='Scrubking']Maybe one day they will realize that fmv's and love stories don't make make a game.[/quote]
No, what makes a good game is having the best of everything. That includes good graphics, good music, interesting characters/setting/storyline, AND good gameplay. As far as I'm concerned if it doesn't have ALL those things, it's not worth my $50.00
I grow tired of your comments about gameplay being all that matters when it is, in fact, only one aspect of the game (especially a more complex genre like the RPG). If you can't appreciate those complexities, than stick to simpler games where the "gameplay" IS actually all that matters, like PONG.
[quote name='Gothic_Walrus'][quote name='punqsux'][quote name='jmcc']No, an RPG's battle system isn't it's main aspect. The story is, by definition of "role playing game."[/quote]
story cannot be a gameplay aspect because the story is written, and in final fantasy games you have no input about the outcome of it.[/quote]
But what about the games where you DO have input in the outcome? Look at games like KOTOR and Deus Ex - you actually get to decide how the story ends. Even two or three different scripted choices are better than one that you can't influence at all.
I've never understood why the FF games are so popular, mainly because they're boring as all hell. Too many movies and not nearly enough replay. That's just my $0.02, though.[/quote]
As Punqsux indicated, the japanese version of the "role playing game" has been horribly mislabeled, because they're not actually role playing games, there's no role playing going on. Role playing requires you to make decisions about your character and decisions that determine the outcome of the story. So Japanese "rpgs" arent actually role playing games, but that doesn't mean they're not excellent games.
It's a question of immersion, depth and complexity of storyline vs customability, options, and ability for the player to take control of and actually be a part of the storyline. The former, the japanese way of going about it (Final Fantasy, Suikoden, etc) is like reading a good book. The latter, or the more european/american approach (Neverwinter Nights, KotOR, etc) takes a Dungeons & Dragons approach to it by giving you as much control as possible in a videogame.
Personally I enjoy both types of game, I think they both have their merits. As far as Final Fantasy goes, I think it has taken a turn for the worse in recent years (FF9, FFX-2.... I'm looking at you -_-), but I have hope for the future. Square Enix is starting to get back on target with games like Drakengard and Front Mission 4. Hopefully FF12 will turn out really good.
