Reply to Re: Why you shouldnt play Oblivion: Elder Scrolls 4
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Ok I hope this doesnt start a flame war or make people hate me, but in an RPG the most important feature is "linearity".
That is whether the plot and story follow a line. A story that leads you from point A to point B without any options on what to do is "linear". An example is not having choices in dialogue. A story that lets you go from point A to point C by skipping areas or not choosing to do certain things is "non-linear". An example is choosing to be evil when you could have been good and getting different quests/endings/character reactions.
Consider this...before there were computers or consoles to play RPG's on what we had were tabletop RPG's most notably back then and now being D&D. Thing about D&D is that your actions, as in morality, siding with factions, and making allies, was determined solely by you and set into motion by the imagination of the DM.
Thing is no matter what you choose you FEEL responsible in that whatever transpires was not only caused by you, but you feel its effect when something happens. In linear games this doesnt happen. If you're forced to make a specific decision regardless of your ideals then what happens is irrelevant...its like watching a movie where your completely uninvolved. If you made the choice the idea that your in charge makes it so much more IMMERSIVE to the game that you cant help, but enjoy it a lot more.
Thats why there called "ROLE-PLAYING" games. You PLAY the role. If theres no decision making its just an action/adventure/puzzle game in a fantasy world...thats it.
One notable difference is between consoles and PC or between American and Japanese games. Consoler RPG's are almost always super-linear and PC RPG's used to be all non-linear though there are hardly any now that hack-and-slash "RPG's" have mostly replaced them.
If you want an example of what I think a REAL RPG is that I know Dinker's will understand I would suggest "Cloud Castle 2: Scarab", "Initiation", or "The Stone of Balance" and "Pilgrim's Quest". Each one has multiple ways to complete quests that lead to different interesting responses from NPC's that are often inclined toward good or evil.
As for other games the Star Ocean series of console games is somewhat non-linear though not much.
There's much better options on PC. Some recent games that you can still get ahold of that are REAL RPG's are "Knights of the Old Republic", "Vampire: The Masquerade", and "Gothic 2". There are dozens more counting old games though I doubt you'd find them.
Wow...honestly guys I'm glad I wrote that. I dont mean to sound obnoxious or like some elitist donkey, but I really dislike how so many "RPG's" are just hack-and-slash action games or actually have a great stories, but dont involve the players input except in winning or losing in combat.
I'll admmit there are some awesome linear RPG's. I LOVED FF6 and some of the other ones are pretty good. Sadly though you only really feel great if the story is superb since the immersion is low being so linear and rigid.
I promise I still respect and like you all even if you disagree. I think I was just exposed to a dying genre and am saddened at looking at what something use to be...
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
That is whether the plot and story follow a line. A story that leads you from point A to point B without any options on what to do is "linear". An example is not having choices in dialogue. A story that lets you go from point A to point C by skipping areas or not choosing to do certain things is "non-linear". An example is choosing to be evil when you could have been good and getting different quests/endings/character reactions.
Consider this...before there were computers or consoles to play RPG's on what we had were tabletop RPG's most notably back then and now being D&D. Thing about D&D is that your actions, as in morality, siding with factions, and making allies, was determined solely by you and set into motion by the imagination of the DM.
Thing is no matter what you choose you FEEL responsible in that whatever transpires was not only caused by you, but you feel its effect when something happens. In linear games this doesnt happen. If you're forced to make a specific decision regardless of your ideals then what happens is irrelevant...its like watching a movie where your completely uninvolved. If you made the choice the idea that your in charge makes it so much more IMMERSIVE to the game that you cant help, but enjoy it a lot more.
Thats why there called "ROLE-PLAYING" games. You PLAY the role. If theres no decision making its just an action/adventure/puzzle game in a fantasy world...thats it.
One notable difference is between consoles and PC or between American and Japanese games. Consoler RPG's are almost always super-linear and PC RPG's used to be all non-linear though there are hardly any now that hack-and-slash "RPG's" have mostly replaced them.
If you want an example of what I think a REAL RPG is that I know Dinker's will understand I would suggest "Cloud Castle 2: Scarab", "Initiation", or "The Stone of Balance" and "Pilgrim's Quest". Each one has multiple ways to complete quests that lead to different interesting responses from NPC's that are often inclined toward good or evil.
As for other games the Star Ocean series of console games is somewhat non-linear though not much.
There's much better options on PC. Some recent games that you can still get ahold of that are REAL RPG's are "Knights of the Old Republic", "Vampire: The Masquerade", and "Gothic 2". There are dozens more counting old games though I doubt you'd find them.
Wow...honestly guys I'm glad I wrote that. I dont mean to sound obnoxious or like some elitist donkey, but I really dislike how so many "RPG's" are just hack-and-slash action games or actually have a great stories, but dont involve the players input except in winning or losing in combat.
I'll admmit there are some awesome linear RPG's. I LOVED FF6 and some of the other ones are pretty good. Sadly though you only really feel great if the story is superb since the immersion is low being so linear and rigid.
I promise I still respect and like you all even if you disagree. I think I was just exposed to a dying genre and am saddened at looking at what something use to be...
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
