The problem with the RPG genre is that the consumer is too cynical. Look at it this way, these game companies, both East and West, are pouring all of their financial and creative talent into major titles and because the market is so over saturated and the consumer has a "been there and done that" attitude people feel cynical over the games being released and lose interest.
But it is not always the fault of the consumer, most gaming companies have failed to adapt to changing conditions in the market and they have also failed to display their IPs properly to the consumer.
This question is becoming increasing relevant due to the times we are living in, which is what is an RPG? How if the genre defined? What are some things t look for to determine if a game is an RPG?
Ten years ago this question would have been farely easy to answer. All we had to do look for a bunch of emo kids with a bad guy with turn based controls and we would have an RPG. With the advent of such games as the Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Borderlands series we are seeing the definition of an RPG transform into something that we have not seen too oftern in the past.
The whole point, or theme, of an RPG is evolution. At the start of the game you character, who just so happens to be an average kid or person, is weak both on a physical level, but also on a mental level as well. Through the trials and tribulations of the story, your character(s) is now officially mature in both body and spirit. This is the whole point of an RPG, you can watch your character evolve as you play. In later games of the genre, the character became for customizable with magic, weapons and armor and by the end of the game, your character was a power house because you, the player, controlled that character's destiny through evolution.
I have to ask the forum a question. Have we had an RPG since, let's say, Chrono Trigger that was ground breaking? This is debatable, but I would argue that although we have seen titles since 1995 that were ground breaking in their own right, we, or I, have not seen anything that people fifteen years from now will saying, "This is a masterpiece." What ever success Chrono Trigger had was attributed to two things. First, was the originality of both the story and gameplay. Second, the dream team pushed the quality of the title that it had no way to go but up.
Here is my second question. Could the success of an RPG like Chrono Trigger ever be replicated? Yet again, this is a debatablem topic, but for now I am looking at such games as The Last Story as the second coming of such games as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6. Now before the fans of these titles grab their pitch forks and torches and form a lych mob for me, consider that I am watching this game with cautious optimism. After all, Last Story is being developed by the man who helped develop both of these titles and is currently over seeing the production of Last Story. Perhaps he is putting a little of that magic into this new game?
Topic: The Future of RPGs on Nintendo Consoles (Read 20372 times)
