Building the Perfect RPG

[The Ponzzz]

If anyone reads Game Informer, July's mag had a section on building the perfect RPG by using components of previous RPGs. I didn't agree with most of their selections, so lets see what the PC can come up with. Toss out your opinions here! Here are the categories:


Hero
Final Boss
Party
Dialogue
World
Art Direction
Story
Cutscenes
Humor
Cooperative Attacks
Strategy
Replay


:medieval:

[Allereli]

TEXT111111

[Bhuryn]

For me replayability is all about randomization. Once i've done it, I always have a hard time doing it again. Customization is second. Skills, stats, gear, etc.

[Rimalon]

For the love of God, don't have the main male character be a 16-18 year old inexperienced kid thrown into an apocalyptic storyline by accident.

Customization is fine, but I don't think it should be taken to the extreme. Take a look at FF12, for example--for all intents and purposes, every fucking character is a blank slate. And they all look the same. Fuck that game. Moving on...

The characters should all lean toward a specialization, whether it be physical, magical, skills, items, whatever--but if you REALLY REALLY want your 400 pound barbarian-type to use healing magic, you can do it. It would just take a while, and he would never be as good a healer as someone MEANT to be your healer.

Co-op attacks are an awesome way to display party solidarity. In a lot of RPGs, there's always that marginal character or characters that don't seem like they fit. For example, in Chrono Trigger, Ayla. HAY GUYZ, LET'S BRING THIS CAVEWOMAN WITH US. IT'LL BE A BLAST!

But... the fact that she had co-op attacks with everyone made her seem like she belonged. In addition, if co-op attacks are designed and balanced correctly, it makes using the party YOU want easier. In a lot of RPGs, the hero and maybe one or two other characters get some crazy ass game-breaking ability gained at some point in the storyline. After that, you feel FORCED to use them, because of that overpowering ability. If the rest of your characters had l33t combo attacks, though, party composition would probably be way different.

Battle system should totally be turn-based, influenced by a SPEED stat, and different actions should have different base time requirements. Items are fastest, then attacks, then magik, etc.

Stat increases on level-up should be random, a la Fire Emblem or Dragon Warrior 4. It helps replayability; if, on one playthrough, one character consistently gets INSANE stats on level up, it makes them fun to use. On the next playthrough, maybe they'd suck ass and you'd have to use someone else.

[The Ponzzz]

Here are my picks...

Hero - Maxim (Lufia)
Final Boss - Kefka (FF6)
Party - Suikoden 1's party system
Dialogue - Lunar 2
World - Oblivion
Art Direction - Fallout 3
Story - Shining Force series
Cutscenes - Phantasy Star IV
Humor - Lunar 1
Cooperative Attacks - Chrono Trigger
Strategy - FF Tactics
Replay - Diablo

[Ashlander]

I'd like to see some army battle mini-games like in Suikoden too. For replay I'd love to see a villains version of the game once you beat it.

[Geshron]

I'd like to see more games like Oblivion. Sandbox.

[LMingrone]

Just wait. There will eventually be an Elder Scrolls MMORPG. I've been waiting for that since Daggerfall.

[Androidpk]

An original and compelling storyline. A young adolescent male suffering from amnesia who must figure out his past while trying to save the world from being destroyed. You know, something gamers have never seen before. Yeah.

[Ashlander]

An original and compelling storyline. A young adolescent male suffering from amnesia who must figure out his past while trying to save the world from being destroyed. You know, something gamers have never seen before. Yeah.

You forgot the part about the ancient prophecy about him that he won't accept.

[Apotheosis]

My ideal RPG would be cyberpunk based/themed, so there really aren't a lot around although Shadowrun for genesis does a good job.


BUT.. I would have to agree with Kefka for an FRPG Final Boss

[Jayvn]

Kefka was by far the most evil perfect boss.. I fucking hated kefka, he was an asshole.. so many years have gone by and I still hate him for killing Cyans family and the rest of Doma castle..

[The Ponzzz]

Yeah, Kefka is the perfect "bad guy" in an RPG. He didn't threaten, he wasn't omnipotent. He just killed, and he was insane. He poisoned the water, he destroyed the world, I bet he even banged your mother without a condem.

[Ashlander]

Yeah, Kefka is the perfect "bad guy" in an RPG. He didn't threaten, he wasn't omnipotent. He just killed, and he was insane. He poisoned the water, he destroyed the world, I bet he even banged your mother without a condem.

That would explain the clown porn thing going on in the tits thread.

[Renian]

Yeah, Kefka is the perfect "bad guy" in an RPG. He didn't threaten, he wasn't omnipotent. He just killed, and he was insane. He poisoned the water, he destroyed the world, I bet he even banged your mother without a condem.

Goddammit, I can't rep you twice so quickly.