Ah might just do that then, and go back to OS if it grabs me
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Resetera's Top 101 Essential RPGs - Final Update. Top 101 up plus many extras.
- Thread starter kswiston
- Start date
Ah might just do that then, and go back to OS if it grabs me
The trash mob problem is not identical with random encounters. Chrono Trigger has as many unavoidable trash mobs as most JRPGs from that era. There are also plenty of games (e.g., SMT: Nocturne) with random encounters that make them a meaningful part of the resource-conservation aspect of dungeon crawling.
1. OS2's story was a direct response to complaints about OS1. Larian still colors the world with humor, but the main story and the companions' personal quests are plenty serious. OS2 is also not a direct sequel. You should feel free to jump in without playing OS1.
2. OS1's main story is not constantly mocking itself, if that's what you're worried about. It's just a by-the-numbers RPG story. It's the rest of the game that has a goofy, light-hearted tone. I think people found it difficult to invest in the setting when the game's lore seemed so perfunctory. From my point of view, the problem wasn't the tone but the relative dearth of interesting dialogues or dramatic questlines to go with the humor. Still, it's a great game and well worth your time.
1. OS2's story was a direct response to complaints about OS1. Larian still colors the world with humor, but the main story and the companions' personal quests are plenty serious. OS2 is also not a direct sequel. You should feel free to jump in without playing OS1.
2. OS1's main story is not constantly mocking itself, if that's what you're worried about. It's just a by-the-numbers RPG story. It's the rest of the game that has a goofy, light-hearted tone. I think people found it difficult to invest in the setting when the game's lore seemed so perfunctory. From my point of view, the problem wasn't the tone but the relative dearth of interesting dialogues or dramatic questlines to go with the humor. Still, it's a great game and well worth your time.
Random Encounters can be annoying at times.
I like how pokemon does it. Pokemon gives you a choice by using random spawns as grass, but then when you go to a cave youre annoyed. Many games, everything is a cave lol
Plus Pokemon has repels to make caves a little less annoying.
I like how pokemon does it. Pokemon gives you a choice by using random spawns as grass, but then when you go to a cave youre annoyed. Many games, everything is a cave lol
Plus Pokemon has repels to make caves a little less annoying.
I very much call into question some of those titles as RPGs... If only because if they are RPGs, then it calls into questions about what other genres are.
A lot of people seem to think any sort of progression system instantly means a game has RPG elements or is a hybrid RPG game, but to me what makes the difference between an action-RPG (say Secret of Mana) different from an action-adventure game (say, Legend of Zelda) is the connection to stats and die rolls that link it to the progenitor of all RPGs, Dungeons and Dragons. Secret of Mana has a stat sheet for each character that is very similar to table top RPGs, and it's those numbers that define the character and their actions. Legend of Zelda, Link doesn't have a list of attributes that define him beyond Health and weapon damage. Two stats you'd inevitably find in ALL action games.
But at the end of the day... it really doesn't matter that much. I'm not going to change anyone's mind who's dead set on some of these inclusions even if they make zero sense as RPG or RPG hybrids IMO
A lot of people seem to think any sort of progression system instantly means a game has RPG elements or is a hybrid RPG game, but to me what makes the difference between an action-RPG (say Secret of Mana) different from an action-adventure game (say, Legend of Zelda) is the connection to stats and die rolls that link it to the progenitor of all RPGs, Dungeons and Dragons. Secret of Mana has a stat sheet for each character that is very similar to table top RPGs, and it's those numbers that define the character and their actions. Legend of Zelda, Link doesn't have a list of attributes that define him beyond Health and weapon damage. Two stats you'd inevitably find in ALL action games.
But at the end of the day... it really doesn't matter that much. I'm not going to change anyone's mind who's dead set on some of these inclusions even if they make zero sense as RPG or RPG hybrids IMO
I'm pretty forgiving as well. I don't mind random battles, but if I don't like the battle system then I'm less likely to buy/stick with the game.
The problem is it's literally never been anything lower than #1; the closest we got was P4 losing to it by one point a few years back.
Chrono Trigger represents the JRPG experience distilled to the finest elements. Virtually no filler or BS. Damn near perfect pacing.
It's nice to see Mass Effect 1 ranked next to ME2. People always remember ME2 as one of all time greats but I just love the story, the mood, and, at the time, the potential and bright future Mass Effect 1 seemed to have as a new IP (and it did succeed).
I see why people like ME2 better, but ME1 will be always the best for me. Even if it plays like shit.
I see why people like ME2 better, but ME1 will be always the best for me. Even if it plays like shit.
The original Mass Effect has this pulp sci fi TV series feel, which was one of the things that was lost in the transition to 2. It was also more of an RPG than either of its successors.
I like ME2 far more, but I agree, ME1 often gets unfairly forgotten.
I am already satisfied by knowing that P4 and P5 made it into the Top 10. Maybe they will beat the final boss Chrono Trigger, we will see.
Forgive my ignorance, but are Trails of Cold Steel and Trails in the Sky the same series? I see both names thrown around along with part 1 and part 2 and the games in general have been on my radar for a while, but I never know where to begin with them or how many games there's are.
Mass Effect 1 is just to boring for me to get into. I hate moving around the Citadel and the Mako needs to go away forever.
I was doing new character runs to try out new classes and stuff and started starting over at ME2 just because I couldn't stand playing through 1 again.
I get why people like it but it's just not for me.
I was doing new character runs to try out new classes and stuff and started starting over at ME2 just because I couldn't stand playing through 1 again.
I get why people like it but it's just not for me.
Sure. Narrower defined lists can be useful and even more useful for specific cases or people. But this is a deliberately broad list. This lists purpose is to define RPGs and expanding the horizon of peoples RPG knowledge. But you seem to somehow get the point, as the bold part shows, yet you still complain. And this broader look is direly needed here as the history of this list shows. Always having Chrono Trigger at number one and generally the top 10/20 not changing much and having way to many entries from the same franchises, shows how narrow minded Era is in regards to RPGs. And in thus I feel this list is very useful. Especially the lower rankings or controversial games. The latter get a conversation starting and might lead to some people here to try the games for themselves and check whether they think these games are RPGS or not.
Also, with narrower lists you will get less people voting and more lists in total to encompass the full genre. And if you want to talk about very specific subgenres or games you can look for threads on them and post there. Or you could make your own thread and start that conversation yourself. There are a lot of lttp threads and subgenre discussions on this. For example: A few weeks ago there was a thread on SNES action RPGs.
Yes... same serie called The Legend of Heroes but it is a bit more complex :D
The series started with two games:
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II
After it started the trilogies:
Gagharv trilogy (the first trilogy)
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes IV: Akai Shizuku
The Legend of Heroes V: Umi no Oriuta
Trails in the Sky (the second trilogy)
The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki
The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki SC
The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki the 3rd
A two game arc:
Trails – Crossbell arc
The Legend of Heroes VII: Zero no Kiseki
The Legend of Heroes VII: Ao no Kiseki
And finally the 4 last games:
Trails of Cold Steel
The Legend of Heroes VIII: Sen no Kiseki
The Legend of Heroes VIII: Sen no Kiseki II
The Legend of Heroes VIII: Sen no Kiseki III
The Legend of Heroes VIII: Sen no Kiseki IV
There are three spin-offs too.
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The first time I explored the Citadel I wanted to run out and buy a 360 because I was so engrossed with the RPG elements, conversations and characters. I think I spent a few hours starting a new game on my friend's copy and never left the Citadel. It was great....the first time. When I went back years later to replay the game I felt it was a total slog that killed my momentum.
I think Mass Effect is a great game for one playthrough. I like ME2 better overall though because it has a replayability factor that both ME and ME3 are missing.
I haven't played them yet, but have been meaning to, but have seen people say it's ideal to play TiTS before ToCS.
Edit - Forget what I said... I confused these sigles.
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I think you may have those backwards?
ToCS 1 came out for Vita 2013 and ToCS 2 2014
TiTS:FC came out 2004, and TiTS:SC came out 2006, and TiTS:TC is 2007
Pretty sure (like 99.9%) I've read you need to / ideally should play TiTS first to fully understand ToCS.
Also the general consensus I've seen is TiTS > ToCS, especially in world/story building, so I believe it's also likely said to be the better game series on average.
Today's the day friends.
> FFVII not making the top 5
> Nier: Automata number one
> Bloodborne finishes ahead of Dark Souls
If RDR is an RPG I'm going to go ahead and include Vice City on my ballot then.
> FFVII not making the top 5
> Nier: Automata number one
> Bloodborne finishes ahead of Dark Souls
If RDR is an RPG I'm going to go ahead and include Vice City on my ballot then.
The presence of the original Nier on this list, as well as how low Tales of Symphonia is are testaments to the way people use the legacy of classic games to judge them rather than their own merits.
It's the same reason people talk up Super Mario World and shit on 16-bit Sonic; later Marios are good and later Sonics are not. And then once Mania came out people decided they liked 16-bit Sonic again.
It's the same reason people talk up Super Mario World and shit on 16-bit Sonic; later Marios are good and later Sonics are not. And then once Mania came out people decided they liked 16-bit Sonic again.
I guess you are right because I confused the singles... why not use the full name? :D
2004: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
2005: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
2007: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd
2013: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
2014: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II
2017: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
2018: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Sky come on PSP and so it is playable on Vita... Cold Steel the first two were first Vita and PS3 and the late two only PS4.
So... I read through the OP again, and while the term "game" is used repeatedly and the implied meaning is obvious given the spirit of the thread, strictly speaking it doesn't say "video game". So...
Would Dungeons and Dragons potentially be a viable vote?
Would Dungeons and Dragons potentially be a viable vote?
There are already several non-RPG games on the list... you can vote RDR and GTA.
If you think SFV is RPG you can vote too (there is level up and progression lol).
Yes... everything you think is a RPG is viable to vote by the rules.
It's the most popular and best selling game in what many would consider the most prominent western RPG series. I'm surprised it's so low if anything.
Skyrim is arguably the most popular RPG of the last decade. No amount of negative opinions will overrule the masses. The fact that remastered editions still sell incredibly well should be proof of its popularity.
Random battles are only really an issue to me when the encounter rate is too high and/or the combat is slow, uninteresting or outright bad. It's also pretty great when the game was a visual indicator that tells you how close you are to the next battle. It's why I never get tired of Nocturne and Etrian Odyssey games but something like Persona 2 can be infuriating.
High encounter rates in games with puzzle-heavy dungeons are the devil too. I adore the combat in Digital Devil Saga 1, but that amusement park dungeon was awful.
High encounter rates in games with puzzle-heavy dungeons are the devil too. I adore the combat in Digital Devil Saga 1, but that amusement park dungeon was awful.
Deeleet this. NiER has a better story/grasp of interesting thematics than 95% of the list.
Do you think NieR Automata is better game than NieR in terms of story?
NieR is really something else and it should enter the TOP100.
It started a month after it came out. Not that there weren't legit criticisms , but overshadowing every single game that year Witcher was painted with red target
I'm really just saying that it's a game that didn't get much mindshare before Automata, and if not for that, it wouldn't be on this list, no matter how much it did or didn't deserve to be.
Well at least on GAF NieR got a lot of mindshare... the same happened with Demon's Souls.
So it is normal to see these games here in ERA... NieR was in previous threads even before Automata I guess.
Now outside GAF/ERA yeap I think you have a point but the votes are here :D
I did not say it does. However if you are doing a forum wide (opened to everyone) ranking/poll more or less, don't be surprised if the most popular RPG of the last decade is ranked fairly highly.
If anything Automata is hurting the original NiER by splitting votes. It used to be every NiER fan used their highlights on it because they wanted it to be exposed to more people
Pretty much... NiER was always near to reach the TOP30 but now it had a big drop :D
DAT recentybias.
Witcher 3 mostly gets picked on by JRPG fans that hate the combat. Its never even gonna be close to the criticism skyrim gets. WRPG and JRPG fans shit on skyrim together lol.
While I see bias here that didn't change The Witcher 3 combat is pretty serviceable. Even old WRPG from PS3 has better combat than The Witcher 3.
That why the change to first person camera combat give me hopes with their next title.
Any game in this list has better combat than Skyrim. I still don't get how people enjoyed it.
Because everything else is good to exceptional... same for The Witcher 3.
The hype for the next Elders of the Scrolls is already on heavens even with all the bugs that will never be fixed.
Hey now. I've been relentlessly criticizing TW3 since it launched.