RPGs on the Wii

zyblorg

zyblorg

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Although I'm not one of the people who think that the Wii is underpowered graphically, I must admit that I'm concerned that its hardware will leave it behind when it comes to RPGs.

My first concern is the controller -- I think the Wiimote will be an awkward fit with traditional turn-based RPGs. Perhaps I'm low on imagination, but I can't see it working... I'd love to be proven wrong, though. (As for more action-based rpgs, I think it'll be a slightly better fit, but the lack of buttons might still be a hindrance).

My second, and largest, concern is that the Wii won't be capable of offering the huge, wide-open possibilities that you see on a game like Morrowind or Oblivion. I love getting lost in a game, and the RPGs that I've played for the 'Cube don't offer that experience--- you follow a really tight storyline stright to the end, with option of a few sidequests. I doubt that the Wii will improve upon that and offer the sort of game that allows you to play for hours without even touching the main storyline.

Am I wrong? Will the Wii be able to handle that kind of game, even with its 512 MB of hard drive? Or should I just stick to my PC (or god forbid, fork out for a 360) for that sort of game?

What do you guys think?
 
The controller isn't an issue since the Wii supports traditional style pads (as was displayed at E3). As for an Oblivion style rpg, the hardware is a non-issue. If a developer decides to make a game like that, it'll be because they see a market for such a game. The hardware has no bearing on whether or a not a game like that can be done.
 
Couldn't you just hold the wiimote sideways like an NES pad? I mean to play most RPGs you just need a d-pad and one button. I'm pretty sure the 2600 joystick would be just fine.

Also, as far as the Wii being unable to support large RPGs, I think it's up to the developers - the system will be very capable...
 
MENU SCROLLING ACTION!!

But seriousely, I don't think you need that many buttons for an RPG, and don't see a problem using the Wii remote.
 
So far, I don't think I've seen a single RPG mentioned for the system... I know Camelot is working on a Wii game most definitely an RPG) and I'm sure Nintendo is making a Paper Mario game for it. But that can't be it, can it?
 
Considering all the awesome SNES RPGs that will be available for the Virtual Console, I don't think there will be a shortage of RPG goodness.

Any kind of turn-based stragedy game like Fire Emblem or Shining Force would work well, where you could just point and click. Personally, I would love to see a Wii sequel for Gladius.
 
I'm not so confident that the hardware isn't an issue. It would seem to me that a large world, where your actions have wide-ranging consequences (as opposed to having an impact within the confined parameters of the set storyline) would require a good-sized chunk of a harddrive.

If I'm wrong, however, and the 512 MB that the Wii will offer is more than enough to handle that type of game, then I wonder if the issue is that the Oblivion-style game is more of a North American phenomenon. Are there any Japanese wide-open RPGs? Do you think that the Wii will get enough support in North America to interest a third party into developing something for the Wii?

Maybe with the the Wi-Fi connection we'll see some MMORPGs... that would definitely hit the spot. And I'd love to see what Nintendo would do with that type of game (I've heard people dreaming about a massively multiplayer Paper Mario...).
 
You do know that the Wii allows for your own removeable storage?

Anyway, if it means the Wii won't see 150+ hour level-grind- action- tech-skill-replication-bullshit then I'm all for it. Rpgs like Paper Mario (Small Level cap, minor action elements etc) are just what I need. The only reason I'm getting DQ8 is that I hear it's highly traditional and relatively linear, so I might be able to handle it. For the most part, I'm just not too keen on RPGs anymore. That being said, it wouldn't be too hard to get me back in the mix, especialy if they are done incredibly well and ofer somethin different. An MMO utilizing the 24/7 Connect feature could be badass, especially if the game allowed for users to create/manage unique areas and whatnot.
 
Maybe I'm missing something... but an immersive RPG doesn't require any more clock cycles than a choose your own adventure (at least for the core gameplay, obviously graphics have an impact on that). Unless Oblivion save files are hundreds of megs large, I don't see it being an issue - not to mention the Core 360 doesn't have a hard drive... so I hope 20 gigs isn't necessary to play it, and memory cards (the equivalent of which you can also get for the Wii) are enough.
 
Reality's Fringe;1938164 said:
You do know that the Wii allows for your own removeable storage?
Click to expand...

I do know that -- do you think that developers will build games requiring something that Wii owners may or may not have? I guess it's the same as requiring memory cards out of current Wii owners -- except that memory cards are standardized, and USB storage varies greatly.

Although I don't have a reason to be, I'm skeptical that developers will take advantage of the storage for game play -- I bet that it'll just be used to hold games downloaded from the VC.
 
Well, seems like the DC for Oblivion isn't exactly eliciting a lot of favored response. Like 1-2 hours of gamplay and some new weapon or such, but nothing like new enemies or massive quests. 'Course, that might change in the future.

Anyway, I don't see Nintendo doing episodic/modular content for their games. Unless there's a way for them to stream it online and/or compress it hugely, I doubt we'd get much.

Same thing for Smash Bros - there's too many variables to consider - who has an external HD, how big/fast it is, etc. So I doubt we'll see downloadable characters showing up.

That all said, the controller is more than adequate for RPGs. I'll also wager it can handle some serious graphics. If ATI's PR guy was right about "tip of the iceberg" in relation to graphics, and we're already seeing Zelda, then I'm positive we'll see some killer RPGs in the future. I'm guessing Baiten Kaitos might appear in the future.

Besides, we've yet to see hard proof on what FF and DQ will look like (yes I'm aware they are spinoffs, more or less).

Also, give me virtual console Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, and Secret of Mana any day. Those pwn new RPGs.
 
[quote name='zyblorg']I do know that -- do you think that developers will build games requiring something that Wii owners may or may not have? I guess it's the same as requiring memory cards out of current Wii owners -- except that memory cards are standardized, and USB storage varies greatly.

Although I don't have a reason to be, I'm skeptical that developers will take advantage of the storage for game play -- I bet that it'll just be used to hold games downloaded from the VC.[/QUOTE]

It's no different than any other console. Devleopers have to assume you have adequate space to save their game. The 360 hard drive isn't limitless, neither is the PS3. The PSP uses SD cards as well, and the devs who make games for it don't care whether you have a $20 32MB stick or a $~200 2GB stick; the game will take up what it will take up, and if you don't have enough space, you'd better clear something or get a new memory card.
 
Storage is not an issue.

The controller is not an issue.

Third party RPG support? That's the issue.


Ideally, Nintendo's hoping the lower cost and appeal to more people will result in tons of people buying the Wii...and if that happens, they'll have a huge installed base, and the 3rd parties will start putting more stuff out (kind of like what happened with the PS2...lots of great 3rd party stuff because the installed base was significantly larger than Xbox/Gamecube).

Hell, RPG companies like Nippon Ichi seem set on sprites (something I fully endorse) and couldn't care less about how powerful the machine is, and with cheaper development costs, you'd think Wii would be a perfect fit...it all just depends on how willing consumers are to adopt the machine first.
 
Storage is getting cheaper everyday. The developer could bundle a USB hard drive or flash drive with a game if it needed the space.
 
[quote name='magikman']Storage is getting cheaper everyday. The developer could bundle a USB hard drive or flash drive with a game if it needed the space.[/quote]

That's a good point. Nintendo has already done something similar to this in the past by including a memory card with Animal Crossing for Gamecube. I could easily see them doing it for the Wii version of Animal Crossing.
 
Hardware considerations: People play Daggerfall to this day, so it's not the hardware that drives that sort of thing.

Now, my opinion of Morrowind matters very little here, but the development system is what makes the game. Similar system can be implemented in other games, tweaked necessarily to fit the hardware limitations of whatever platform it is on.


I do think that Nintendo need to have some RPG development, though. The question is: who, what, and when. Personally, I'm crossing fingers for another installment of Mother series.

To be honest, both of the games you've mentioned are PC games, and Elder Scrolls is like Wu-Tang Clan. If there will be anything among those lines (that is, NOT being Elder Scrolls) on any of the systems, I will be rather impressed. Having said that, I think that most 'hardcore-console-only' gamers are not used to things like Wizardry and such. I only say that because most of the games that I see people play and praise are GTA and Halo, which are both action games. RPG-wise, I haven't seen any games on any of the consoles that had the obnoxious micro-management of some older "classic" PC-only RPG titles...


EDIT: 2nd paragraph used to read "The system is what makes the game," which can be confused with a "hardware" system, when in reality I've meant the development/RPG one.
 
[quote name='Strell']
Also, give me virtual console Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, and Secret of Mana any day. Those pwn new RPGs.[/QUOTE]

:applause: for the truth!
 
[quote name='zyblorg']I do know that -- do you think that developers will build games requiring something that Wii owners may or may not have? I guess it's the same as requiring memory cards out of current Wii owners -- except that memory cards are standardized, and USB storage varies greatly.

Although I don't have a reason to be, I'm skeptical that developers will take advantage of the storage for game play -- I bet that it'll just be used to hold games downloaded from the VC.[/QUOTE]
Oblivion uses X360's HHD for cache, and not everyone has a HHD.
 
Look to the OP, you want a Japanese game like Oblivion get Skies Of Arcadia. A sequel to that would equal if not slaughter Oblivion with some more customization added. Funnest RPG I had played in a while when I first got it for the DC.
 
[quote name='Sarang01']Look to the OP, you want a Japanese game like Oblivion get Skies Of Arcadia. A sequel to that would equal if not slaughter Oblivion with some more customization added. Funnest RPG I had played in a while when I first got it for the DC.[/quote]I think he meant the following:

Look (to the OP), [if] you want a Japanese game [similar to the American game] Oblivion [, then] get Skies Of Arcadia.
 
I bet both the Wiimote and nunchuck could be used to control RPGs. Think iPod scroll wheel, or simply point and click.

But don't forget about the VC as people have said. Hurrah for SNES rpgs that I never got a chance to play!!!
 
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