What makes up an RPG?
What makes up an RPG?
I have been mulling this question over a bit in my mind.
Obviously the main structure is to thrust you into a protagonist or group of protagonists into a seemingly initial impossible situation and conquer it by the end of the game.
But what parts do you enjoy the most from these games? I have broken some pieces down and have turned over some thoughts and look forward to your responses and experiences.
The Story
Typically epic, a computer or console RPG usually creates a vast landscape dotted with dungeons which you progress through. You challenge more and more powerful monsters and villians until you are victorious... You think... until the next game. The mythos typically becomes more convoluted until the tapestry is an unrecognizeable spattering of multiple authors over half a dozen games and makes a season of "Days of Our Lives" a document of linearity by comparison.
The Characters
Most players become quite attached to their primary character(s). With voice-over banter between party members, this has become even more common.
"Wrex."
"Shepard."
The Mechanics
This plus one lance of demon skewering is good, but maybe I wand this plus two wand of leeching more. What is going on under the hood? How can I min-max my statistics to get the best bonuses from the materials available? If you think this hardcore aspect of gaming is dead, I refer you to any major RPG forum you like and you will find these individuals who will give you recommendations as to why you should spend sixteen hours farming flame beetles in the ice cave Zorah due to a 0.02% drop rate of ultra-rare crimson wings that can be used to forge a helmet.
The Progresssion
One of the favored aspects of these games is the ability to return to previously challenging areas and roll over them like a steam roller. You can flick those sewer rats over the horizon with your pinky toe after you pass level fifty and those bandits that gave you a headache at level five should run in fear when you come over the horizon, but for some reason they have some sort of hyperactive self-extermination gene driving them upon your swords.
What do you think? Where does your attraction to RPG's lie?
The LOOT drives me unless start to enjoy the unconventional story i.e (Borderlands, Shadow Hearts, Torchlight, White Knight, Alpha Protocol)
I think its story and also the ability to upgrade your character and equipment. The line between action games and RPGs is blurring though in my opinion. You could even argue that an FPS like Modern Warfare or Battlefield is an RPG what with the ability to "unlock" or upgrade your character.
Some games came to mind when I read your post.
Dragon Quest IX on the DS is very complex in terms of unlocking rare loot and complex drop mechanics. Surprisingly so for a game on such a family friendly console. There was months of free DLC which I eventually gave up on. Easy game to finish impossible to get 100%.
Also there are a few games where enemies run away when you reach a certain level. I think Blue Dragon is one and also some of the Tales games.
for me it depend on the RPG with some its the story that gets me
and some others it about the loot or building my char up from the ground up
as well the quest / missions
and others have all the above
There are a ton of games with RPG characteristics. The big thing that defines an RPG in my OP is the story. It is "make or break" on this one thing... No RPG can survive without it.
A good example of this is DA2. Even though you played the same crappy levels again and again, you still kept playing to find out what happens next in the story.