|
Post by moran on Nov 13, 2015 13:41:50 GMT -5
The Zelda craze of the last couple years I don't really get. I've always felt that they've been on a steady decline Majora's Mask with every title a little less interesting than the one before it.
|
|
|
Post by kaoru on Nov 13, 2015 13:46:52 GMT -5
Even when comparing Skyward Sword to Twilight Princess? Because TP seemed to be almost engineered to be the most boring unoriginal thing imaginable.
|
|
|
Post by lurker on Nov 13, 2015 13:53:18 GMT -5
I thought the wolf Link thing was an interesting idea.
|
|
|
Post by Bobinator on Nov 13, 2015 14:23:33 GMT -5
JRPGs. Like, as a genre, as a whole. Now, I'm not saying there are no good JRPGs at all. I can stand the Mario ones, Mother, and, if we're counting these, Undertale and Barkley Gaiden. But, speaking generally? I don't know. I also admit I'm kind of basing this opinion off of the SNES/PS1 era of the genre, particularly. I don't know if modern JRPGs are any better about this, because I haven't played any.
I just can't see the enjoyment in something that takes so much busywork and repetition to progress through. IIn my own personal opinion, I haven't played many JRPGs aside from what I've previously mentioned where constantly having to fight enemies is ever enjoyable. It's like the equivalent of watching a DVD where every fifteen seconds, you have to navigate a menu to continue watching the movie. It doesn't help that the stories to... let's say a fair number of JRPGs are never all that great. So many of them share the same basic tropes, and it's rare that you ever feel like you have any kind of agency in the story. It just feels as if you're moving from cutscene to cutscene, having to constantly fight battles for the reward of more plot.
Again, I'm not saying all JRPGs are like this. The problem is that there are a startlingly low number of these games where the combat's enjoyable (Mario) and the story has enough to it that it's actually intriguing. (Mother) I admit I'm hardly an expert on the genre, so maybe there's a lot of games that do both well that I'm missing. Since people mentioned Pokemon, at least that game asks you to actually use some thought and strategy, given how important it is to know what elements to use, and when. A lot of other games, it boils down to "Fight, fight, fight, use heal spell, use attack spell, use item, fight."
While I'm at it... I admit, at times, that I can't always see the appeal of the King of Fighters games. They're not bad games, I'm just not quite sure what makes them stand out from other fighting games so well. In my experience, the controls aren't quite as easy to use as anything from Capcom, the character designs are more grounded in reality, which I personally don't find all that interesting, and it always generally felt like the series stubbornly refused to take in any of the improvements in the genre since like... 1997.
|
|
|
Post by Sturat on Nov 13, 2015 14:36:03 GMT -5
I don't understand Dark Souls. I tried playing it for a couple hours, and the environments were so bland and the controls were so sluggish! Are all modern games like this? I'm pretty sure there were 3D games that controlled better released over 10 years earlier.
|
|
|
Post by moran on Nov 13, 2015 14:39:24 GMT -5
Even when comparing Skyward Sword to Twilight Princess? Because TP seemed to be almost engineered to be the most boring unoriginal thing imaginable. Haven't played SS because TP was the last straw for me. Those motion controls tacked on to a decade old game engine was just too much.
|
|
|
Post by shelverton on Nov 13, 2015 15:03:46 GMT -5
I loved Twilight Princess and don't understand the hate. Then again I only played the gamecube version. And I honestly played it before Ocarina so that might've helped. But still, I loved it.
|
|
|
Post by Exhuminator on Nov 13, 2015 15:13:03 GMT -5
Since people mentioned Pokemon, at least that game asks you to actually use some thought and strategy, given how important it is to know what elements to use, and when. When Pokemon released in 1996, it was just a kid friendly rip off of a JRPG series that began in 1987. If you spend time with SMT: Nocturne or SMT: Strange Journey, you'll realize Pokemon is lacking in the difficulty department, despite "sharing" some core game concepts.
|
|
|
Post by Maciej Miszczyk on Nov 13, 2015 15:50:06 GMT -5
I don't understand Dark Souls. I tried playing it for a couple hours, and the environments were so bland and the controls were so sluggish! Are all modern games like this? I'm pretty sure there were 3D games that controlled better released over 10 years earlier. the game is slower and methodical than most, not everyone likes it but I had fun. disagree about the environments though, Dark Souls 1 has (with some exceptions: The Depths can go fuck themselves) amazing level design although like most things about the game it only becomes apparent when you spend some time playing the game. the early locations may be a bit boring but you will visit some beautiful locations and the whole world is amazingly interconnected - not just on one plane but also vertically.
|
|
|
Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Nov 13, 2015 17:33:19 GMT -5
JRPGs. Like, as a genre, as a whole. Now, I'm not saying there are no good JRPGs at all. I can stand the Mario ones, Mother, and, if we're counting these, Undertale and Barkley Gaiden. But, speaking generally? I don't know. I also admit I'm kind of basing this opinion off of the SNES/PS1 era of the genre, particularly. I don't know if modern JRPGs are any better about this, because I haven't played any. GG codes and frameskip helped me enjoy many old JRPGs again. Granted you'll have all responsibility in controlling the challenge level but it's totally worth it to me.
|
|
|
Post by Aoi on Nov 13, 2015 18:39:05 GMT -5
Pokemon: I don't get it nowadays, but first generation was bananas. Yeah, it's Dragon Quest Lite, yeah it's a mild JRPG... but who was playing RPGs back then? Again, pre-FF7 in the west. Yes, RPGs were huge on SNES, but Pokemon made them mainstream. It was a nice mix of casual and core, and honestly just a fun game. I'd still recommend any gamer to play through Red/Blue. You ask who was playing RPGs back in 1998 when Red/Blue released? Well I was for one. I mean that year alone saw the release of Panzer Dragoon Saga, Baldur's Gate, Xenogears, Fallout 2, Parasite Eve, Mega Man Legends, Breath of Fire III... and many more. RPGs had definitely become popular by 1998. Also, in the west, Final Fantasy VII was released a full year before Pokemon. I'm not sure why you thought otherwise. What I don't get about Pokemon isn't its gameplay. I understand its simple gameplay. What I don't understand is how people keep buying the exact same game over and over. Hah! You're totally right, I should've checked the dates. I was using my own mental calender. Pokemon occurred in middle school for me, when it launched here. I branched from that straight into the FF craze within the next year. Still, I stand by my statement. I noted that RPGs were a known genre and had strong contenders coming off the SNES... but their sales are pretty minor compared to FF7 and Pokemon 1st gen. Chrono Trigger was just under 3mil, including its PS1 release. FF7 under 10mil and Pokemon R/B/G was 30mil... My dates may have been wrong, but the new JRPG zeitgeist was certainly present and Pokemon nailed it.
|
|
|
Post by moran on Nov 13, 2015 19:11:00 GMT -5
I think it's the other way around though. Pokemon seemed to hit at just the right time when everyone was playing them.
|
|
|
Post by Aoi on Nov 13, 2015 19:42:32 GMT -5
^ That's why I said the JRPG zeitgeist was present... But, Pokemon completely outsold anything else and brought millions of new players into the fold beyond the few million already getting caught up in it.
|
|
|
Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Nov 13, 2015 20:40:31 GMT -5
Sorry for stating the obvious but it did also have the benefit of a hit cartoon series helping to boost its sales, and not long after its release there was the also popular card game. Plus you couldn't easily play the PS1 at school or on family trips like with the GB/GBC (which everyone already owned by then).
|
|
|
Post by lurker on Nov 13, 2015 20:43:22 GMT -5
Bullet Hell Shooters- way too chaotic. Wish they still made games like Aero Fighters. Seems like most shooters nowadays are either bullet-hell or grid-based with basic geometrical shapes. Strategy RPGs- Haven't found ones that are accessible enough. Had a friend who got out of SRPGs for awhile because of Ogre Battle 64.
|
|