General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
I am an *extremely* story-motivated gamer. I play single player games on the easiest difficulty (or with cheats turned on) because I'm not interested in the challenge. I play because I want to find out what happens next.
I thought this was an interesting point of view, and I'd like to continue its discussion.
In your opinion...game mechanics and graphics aside...which CRPG has the best story? For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that "C" stands for either Console or Computer.
IMO, the CRPG with the best story has always been Super Nintendo's Final Fantasy III (or Final Fantasy VI, in Japan.) It has become the standard by which I compare all others.
FF3 Spoilers ahead
I love how magic is presented as a mysterious, dangerous force of nature. The struggle to control it is presented in a very realistic manner: if such a power existed, I would fully expect the military to attempt to use it as a weapon. Which is what happens...The Empire begins experimenting with it, creating all sorts of horrible aberrations and enhanced soldiers, eventually opening up a gate to another world to steal more magic.
I love the steampunk/magitech technology level. I love the villain...his madness is both campy and disturbing, obviously inspired by the Joker.
The storylines are simple enough, but they build upon themselves well enough that you totally get drawn in. But for all of its simplicity, it presents a lot of issues that were quite mature for the time...things like abortion, suicide, murder, and genocide.
I could go on. For days.
My second favorite would have to be Wizardry VI: Crusaders of the Dark Savant. I didn't particularly care for any of the other games in the Wizardry series, though.
Wiz7 Spoilers ahead
I think the reason why I like this game so much is because of how HUGE it is...it had more races and classes to choose from than any other game of its time, and it was a lot less linear (less "railroading") too. And the game setting (an entire planet) was incredibly detailed. It wasn't just another place to kill stuff; you could interact with it in game-changing ways (even to the point of making the game un-winnable.)
The war of the T'Rang vs. the Umpani...the origins of the universe, and its mysterious creator...the high-tech, futuristic weapons...space travel...if you love Spelljammer, this game was right up your alley.
The story was smart and well-planned, and the NPCs had depth and style. It was like the writers took the old "save the world" plot, and cranked it up to eleven. I wish today's CRPGs were half as detailed as this one...if they were, I would probably start buying them again.
I had long hoped to find a D20 setting developed for these two games, but it doesn't look like it will happen. (Although I've got my eye on Final Fantasy Zero...) Guess it's up to me, now. :/
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Last edited by CleverNickName; 27th December 2008 at 09:02 PM..
(By Final Fantasy III you meant Final Fantasy VI? Shadow? Terra? Celes? Kefka? Nice game for SNES but far inferior than PS:T... IMO)
Yeah, that's the one. When it was released for the SNES, SquareSoft called it "Final Fantasy III." I think it was originally released as FF6 in Japan, though.
The unanimous response of Planescape: Torment has piqued my curiosity. Can anyone point me to a handful of reviews that I can read? I've got a gift card that's burning a hole in my pocket...
The best CRPG, story-wise, was for me, Final Fantasy VII. The story as well as the action sequences were amazing for its time.
Have you played FFVI or PS:T?
:P
Explaining: FFVII use to be "the best" for most people who started at 7 and never played VI. I would vote FFVI before playing PS:T. It's another level of gaming.
I also enjoyed Shadow of the Colossus (PS2), but that's almost me saying I enjoyed it for its LACK of definitive story, and more its ability to create a history/mood/story very subtly.
I also liked Septerra Core A LOT. Slightly more than the Fallout Series in terms of story.
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I don't know that I could pick just one. I like a lot of the ones that other people have already mentioned (Fallout 1&2, Planescape: Torment). To name a few I liked that others haven't:
Some Favorites:
Chrono Trigger (Best console RPG EVER. Not nearly enough people have played this one.)
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (the first one, the second wasn't as good)
I recently played Mass Effect (good, but not great), Fallout 3 (not bad, but ultimately limited and disappointing compared to the originals), and I'm working on The Witcher (GOOD!).
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Mallus and everyone else is right! It's really not even a contest.
Wow. In my head, I thought this was a great idea for a discussion thread...but it seems like Planescape: Torment is a rock star in this department. I've just placed an order for it (thank you Amazon), and it will be here in a few days. I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl.
In the "best story ever" department, though, I remain skeptical. FF6 is going to be hard to beat. Not to mention all of the others on my List of Awesome.
And I know it's an unfair bias, but I have been burned before by the D&D-brand CRPGs. Remember Ravenloft: Stone Prophet? Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager? Freakin' Menzoberranzan? After that last one, I swore never to buy another D&D computer game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by resistor
Chrono Trigger (Best console RPG EVER. Not nearly enough people have played this one.)
I love this game! It barely left my SNES deck back when I was at Oklahoma State.
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Last edited by CleverNickName; 26th December 2008 at 08:25 PM..
Explaining: FFVII use to be "the best" for most people who started at 7 and never played VI. I would vote FFVI before playing PS:T. It's another level of gaming.
I have a working theory that everyone's favorite FF game coincides with their first FF game. For me, there is no question that FFVI is the best. I still play through it once evry 18 months or so.
Best story (C)omputerRPG because they really are different up to recent years. It's been so long since I played PS:T that I can't really say it's 'the best' but I remember enjoying it. I think the Fallout series as a whole is really up there, even if the newest is kinda lacking. (Not that it's bad, I love it.)
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And I know it's an unfair bias, but I have been burned before by the D&D-brand CRPGs. Remember Ravenloft: Stone Prophet? Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager? Freakin' Menzoberranzan? After that last one, I swore never to buy another D&D computer game.
When I said "no contest" I obviously meant IMO. But PS:T is in a league of it's own when it comes to D&D computer games, that's for sure. Now, if you look at other games, you can of course find others that are really good. I just haven't had the luck of finding anything with as good a story.
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