Xbox versus PS2 for the discerning adult

[Dragonblade]

Most of my friends have both an Xbox and a PS2. None of them ever play their PS2s. Ever. The PS2 has a bigger library of games but IMO, most of them suck. And the ones that do not suck have an Xbox version with superior graphics.

Can you tell, I'm biased.

Yes, the PS2 has more RPGs, but none of them can touch Morrowind, Knights of the Old Republic, or Jade Empire. And forget about Final Fantasy. The series has become little more than interactive movies, you're lucky to get 5 minutes of play time per hour of CG cutscene. And when you do get to play its mindless monster killing. American RPGs have surpassed Japanese RPGs in pretty much every way. And I should know, I used to live in Japan! But hey, if you love those railroading cutscene heavy Japanese RPGs, you should know that Microsoft hired one of Square's former directors and game designers along with part of their crew to make two Japanese style Final Fantasy-esque RPGs exclusive to the Xbox 2. Microsoft plans on owning both the U.S. and Japanese game market in the next generation console wars.

If you are willing to wait and fork out the cash, I'd wait till Microsoft comes out with Xbox 2 at the end of this year. The big M also plans on releasing Halo 3 the exact day the PS3 comes out. A shrewd move that will cement their place at the top of the console wars, IMO.

 

[Dragonblade]

More news, in addition to getting Hironobu Sakaguchi to create Final Fantasy style RPGs for Xbox 2, Microsoft just announced a partnership with Yoshiki Okamoto (responsible in part for such Capcom favorites as Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Megaman, and even a Gameboy version of Legend of Zelda) and Tetsuya Mizuguchi (responsible in part for Sega Rally, Sega Touring Car, Rez, and Space Channel 5).

Looks like Microsoft is poised to take over the gaming world and even steal Sony's rule of the Japanese market by partnering with all the top Japanese game designers.

 

[Vonlok The Bold]

I'm looking to buy a console system too. My reasons are odd. I am buying it primarily to get Dance Dance revolution so I can get in shape(hopefully in a fun way.) Both systems currently have that title available. I will most likely get an x-box, but I don't know for sure.

I will enjoy the other games as well, but they aren't my primary reason for buying the system. When talking about RPG's PS2 seems to have more games, but the best rpg that I can imagine is Morrowind which is only on the x-box. I've played the game on the PC and it is a great one. Only x-box has that one.

One thing I've noticed about PS2 games and x-box games as well is that almost every game has the protagonist jump in the air and do a flip. That is true of fighting games, platform games, rpg adventures etc. It's almost like the characters can't jump unless they flip.

 

[WizarDru]

Wizardru and MoogleEmpMog are quickly becoming my favorite posters... Spot-on, guys!

We live to serve.

I'm looking to buy a console system too. My reasons are odd. I am buying it primarily to get Dance Dance revolution so I can get in shape(hopefully in a fun way.) Both systems currently have that title available. I will most likely get an x-box, but I don't know for sure.

This depends on how many versions you want available to you. Currently, the Xbox has both DDR Ultramix and Ultramix 2. The PS/2, meanwhile, has four versions, and can play 4 other versions from the PS/1. Moreover, the PS/2 has (for the adventurous) seven or eight more versions in Japan. Gamecube is getting a Mario version later this year, though details are scarce.

Oh, and Your reasons aren't odd. Lots of folks (myself included) have considered it as an option. It's one reason they put an exercise mode in the game, after all.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Yes, the PS2 has more RPGs, but none of them can touch Morrowind, Knights of the Old Republic, or Jade Empire. And forget about Final Fantasy. The series has become little more than interactive movies, you're lucky to get 5 minutes of play time per hour of CG cutscene. And when you do get to play its mindless monster killing. American RPGs have surpassed Japanese RPGs in pretty much every way. And I should know, I used to live in Japan! But hey, if you love those railroading cutscene heavy Japanese RPGs, you should know that Microsoft hired one of Square's former directors and game designers along with part of their crew to make two Japanese style Final Fantasy-esque RPGs exclusive to the Xbox 2. Microsoft plans on owning both the U.S. and Japanese game market in the next generation console wars.

I'd rather watch a Japanese RPG than play the soulless, storyless tripe that comes out for the PC. Especially since the gameplay in most PC-style RPGs (KotR is something of an exception, I'll admit) has gone so far downhill in the last five years that they're barely playable.

If I want a decent American game, I know where to find it. Warcraft, Doom, Half-Life, Unreal... I love American action and real-time strategy games. But modern American "RPGs" are little more than poorly-concieved real-time strategy games with stories vastly inferior to anything Blizzard has done (aside from its only sort-of RPG, Diablo) and stats.

Japanese and Japanese-style RPGs set out to tell a story; there's a game involved, but in many cases it's secondary to the world, the tale and especially the characters. If you want mindless hack and slash, or to uberize your character with race/class/stat-up combos, then none of that is important.

Gameplay still should be.

When was the last time an American company made a decent turn-based game? New World Computing with Heroes of Might & Magic 3? Or did Civ III come out after Heroes 3? By contrast, Japanese RPG/turn-based strategy hybrids have since then included Final Fantasy Tactics, Vandal Hearts 2, Tactics Ogre, Front Mission 3, the Nippon Ichi games (like Disgaea). Not to mention rereleases of older games like Tactics Ogre or Growlanser. Any one of those is ten times the game any PC RPG has been since the last Gold Box game, or, MAYBE, Fallout.

I don't have monstrous twitch reflexes. I don't enjoy third-rate RTSes (Baldur's Gate) masquerading as RPGs. I usually don't enjoy second-rate action-adventure games (Knights of the Old Republic, console versions of Baldur's Gate) doing same.

 

[Arnwyn]

Yes, the PS2 has more RPGs, but none of them can touch Morrowind, Knights of the Old Republic,

*blinks* If you say so.

or Jade Empire.

I didn't know that it was out yet.

And forget about Final Fantasy. The series has become little more than interactive movies, you're lucky to get 5 minutes of play time per hour of CG cutscene. And when you do get to play its mindless monster killing. American RPGs have surpassed Japanese RPGs in pretty much every way.

Heh. Looks like you're a little out of the loop, IMO.

Can you tell, I'm biased.

I'll say.

But, different strokes and all that. I, personally, will play Suikoden, Xenosaga, Disgaea, and yes, even Final Fantasy before I'll ever go back to Morrowind.

by partnering with all the top Japanese game designers.

"All", hmmm?

 

[Mallus]

I'd rather watch a Japanese RPG than play the soulless, storyless tripe that comes out for the PC. Especially since the gameplay in most PC-style RPGs (KotR is something of an exception, I'll admit) has gone so far downhill in the last five years that they're barely playable.

You forgot one other exception, Planescape: Torment.

Other than that, I kinda agree...

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

You forgot one other exception, Planescape: Torment.

Other than that, I kinda agree...

Story-wise, I'll definitely agree. Even as a person who disliked Planescape in general and the city of Sigil in particular, I found Torment's plot and characters fascinating. I didn't care for its gameplay, though - Baldur's Gate +, perhaps, but still in the same vein.

 

[Captain Tagon]

The thing I dislike about most Japanese RPGs is that they are in no way RPGs. You don't play a role in Final Fantasy anymore than you play a role in Mario. Nothing you do will affect the story in any meaningful way. I still enjoy the games for what they are though, but calling them RPGs is a travesty.

 

[Dark Jezter]

I'm gonna have to agree with Dragonblade. I haven't enjoyed any recent Japanese console RPGs because it feels like I'm watching a movie occasionally interrupted by interactive combat sequences. Plus, I'm getting a little burned out on how almost every Final Fantasy game inevitably seems to involve a group of angst-ridden, beautiful teenagers saving the world. It's like I'm watching Dawson's Creek with swords.

Baldur's Gate 2, Planescape: Torment, and Knights of the Old Republic, on the other hand, are some of my favorite RPGs of all times. Those games had great storylines, addictive gameplay, memorable characters, and allowed you to have at least some influence over the storyline.