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Easy E · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 50

Of all the ingredients that combine to form an awesome RPG, which one would you say is the most important? Must the story move you almost to tears in order for the game to be to your liking? Or does the keystone lie in the combat, of which there will surely be a lot?

I'm gonna say Story is the most important to me. It's hard to pick one out of so many options, but if the story sucks, it's hard to really care about the mission of the game...

How about you?

Pandar · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:57 pm Post subject:

I agree 100%. A game can have the best battle system in the world, but if there is little incentive to continue through the game other than to drudge through some boring piece of plot or another, split between fighting random things and occasional bosses, then it's just not all that worth it. The story is what an RPG is all about, basically. You can't play a role if it doesn't have a good story to fit into.
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Q · Ass sorcerer Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 1034

Well I have to follow the crowd and agree with you too..

Without a good storyline It won't force me to continue playing it especially since I live such a busy life already, I couldn't put much efford toward playing it without a good story to spark interest.

NR · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject:

I picked "other" because "battle" didn't cover it.
I like the "flow" of the game, like how the dungeons are put together, and how well they work with the battle system. I'm not a huge lover of crawlers per se, but if the townplay and dungeonplay suck, then I can't care about the game.

Conversely, if the gameplay is great, then a crappy story won't matter to me. I can even push my way through, oh, say, Dual Hearts and not care that the story is bad.
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DemonEdge · Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Posts: 331

I went with the story as well....I really can't get into a game if the story doesnt' interest me. It could have the greatest graphics in the world but if the story is basic then I'll find myself bored to tears. One example I could think of is Legend of Dragoon. Everyone remember that game? Its a old psx game but I found myself replaying it and passing it even though I put it to rest like years before. The story pulled me back into playing it and beating it. It had a really kool idea about the characters being able to morph into dragoons.

(Just a side note, I wonder if they will ever make a sequel, or something along the same lines-- because i'm not one to reuse story content, but its a kool idea in itself.)
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Owozifa · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

I also voted other, but I don't have specification yet. To come when I have more time/less crappiness.
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NR · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject:

Orie and I were discussing this the other night and an interesting set of examples came along.
SaGa Frontier -> Crappy story, very enjoyable game overall.
SaGa Frontier 2 -> Much better story, wretched game overall.
Perhaps my love of SaGa Frontier and hate for SaGa Frontier 2 is why I picked what I did Laughing

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timrpgland · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 11:22 pm Post subject:

I'd have to give the story the most importance. Sure I can enjoy a game with a lack-luster story but a great story usually makes a great rpg.

There should be more games like Jade Empire and KOTOR (GO BIOWARE!)
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Owozifa · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:43 am Post subject:

You know, I have to give props to the music as well. No one has really said much about it, but bad music is a huge turn off for me. Lack of music as well. I'm looking at you Xenosaga I. Anyway, that's what usually actually inspires me to play a certain game. I'll be listening to the music and just...I gotta play it.
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Q · Ass sorcerer Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 1034

very true man. That's why FF7 will always be loved by so many. Great story, great gameplay, great music.....Almost flawless...

Owozifa · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:40 am Post subject:

Flawless eh...

*points at Q* This guy are sick!
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NR · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:51 am Post subject:

Owozifa · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

*points at NR* You WILL be Soylent Green.
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Q · Ass sorcerer Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 1034

why not almost flawless?? Surprised

Jati no Rei · Joined: 21 Dec 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Athens, GA

I also went with Battle, because pretty much every RPG is going to have a lot of battles, and if the battles are boring, a great story will just be wasted, since my frustration/boredom will doom the game first. An example in both directions:
Cool Story/Bad Battles: Suikoden 3.
I'm a HUGE Suikofan, and Suikoden 2 is just about my favorite RPG ever, so when Suikoden 3 came out i was Pumped. Sadly, the Buddy system they used in battles was so poorly done I couldn't even finish the game, even though I really liked what I'd seen of the story.
Lite Story/Awesome Gameplay: SaGa Frontier.
This game is also among my favorite games of all time, and while I personally find the story more involving than many people who try this game, by far the reason it's so awesome is that the Combat/Battle/Party system is SO AWESOME! ok, and some of the characters KICKASS!!
So, as I said, I do enjoy a good story, but I have to be able to have fun in a game in bewteen the cutscenes for me to want to bother...
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NR · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:13 pm Post subject:

*nods*
I'm so far finding the battle system to keep me from exploding at the number of fights in Wild ARMs 4. The battles happen too frequently, but at least there's a good system for them.
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Guest · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:10 pm Post subject:

Story for sure

Idin Leis · McCoy fucked me so hard Joined: 19 Oct 2005 Posts: 4627

Definitely battles.

If I wanted a story I would watch a movie.

Then again a lot of the later final fantasies are practically movies.

I would not be surprised it the storyline option does in fact win.

Just keep in mind there are games that are RPG's that are amazing and might not exactly fit the japanimated 16-19 year old hero template default that has been with many games recently..
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randar23rhenn · Old school JRPG Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 2098

honestly as much as I'd like to say story is most important... it's all about the battle system..

if the battle system is not fun at all, I dont care how good the story is, I cant make myself play a game that isnt fun

LiQuid! · fasta dan a muddafucka! Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 9318

All 6 of the people that voted for story need to stop playing video games altogether and start (or continue exclusively) reading fucking books or watching crappy anime. Story is a good bonus if done right, but good gameplay is the only thing that can save your game from getting lambasted by mouthy jerkoffs on the internet.
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