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RPGs - East Versus West?

Posted by simoniker on from the we-vote-hawaiian dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for their Spy/Counterspy column discussing the relative advantages and disadvantages of Western and Japanese RPGs. According to GameSpy editor Benjamin Turner's less-enthusiastic view of Japanese RPGs: "I want to create my own characters instead of playing someone else's; I want to explore a world at my own pace rather than being shuffled through a pre-planned, linear progression. Most of all, I want to be able to replay a favorite game and have a very different experience." However, editor Christian Nutt's rebuttal suggests: "While there are entertaining elements to Western RPGs... the way that all of the design elements of a great Japanese RPG work in concert to offer a truly engaging experience as a whole is what really excites me the most."

3 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Ultima 7 has yet to be surpassed... by andrewski · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In terms of sheer depth, scope, variety, and detail U7 is still king in my mind. The ability to do almost anything silly makes me so happy.

  2. KOTOR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    First of all, I'll come out and say im a Japanese RPG fan, so you know where I'm coming from.

    Im just playing through Star Wars: KOTOR for the second time... The first time through I was the perfect hero in every situation, and the story arc basically followed a Japanese RPG. Your character is selfless, etc, etc. With the Evil character though, I was really dissapointed. You have freedom, but it was very very limited. You become the most evil and powerful sith in the galaxy, and people will still refer to you as a member of the republic, etc. There are lots of faults with consistency and what "makes sense." Fallout did a much better job with this, I think. Western game's freedom is just another variable that can be pulled off very well or not so well. Once games get ambitious enough to really let you do anything (*crossing fingers for Fable*) I think Eastern RPG fans will be more pleased. Personally, I would rather have a completely linear story than something that is only partially open ended. You have to ask yourself, if you have freedom with THIS, why not freedom with THAT? If things get open ended enough though, and do so with a decent story line, that would be great.

  3. A hybrid of the 2 by saia · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Each of the 2 different styles of RPGs are great in their own way, but I have only seen one game I would consider a hybrid of the 2. That game would be Legend of Mana for PSOne.

    It's got the whole Japanese elements of the cutesy anime graphics and predeteremined plot lines.

    The Western elements are that you choose what your character uses and by using certain skills, they develop into other skills. You also determine how the world is rebuilt and what order you choose to do side quests. You can even tell the NPCs to screw off if you want and thus end a plot line. And if you do one set of events before another, they are no longer available.

    The replay value of this comes from discovering the various plot lines you miss the first time, and you will miss some.

    So each time you play, the world comes out a little different and your character comes out a little different but the overall plot is still followed.

    Any other hybrids between the 2 styles?