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That is interesting. It's a completely different kind of appeal being able to play as yourself. I suppose it depends what you prefer, I do really love being able to shape the world as I please, but I think I love even more being able to really appreciate a character in their own right.
I guess there are some games that make a compromise, like Mass Effect which has a sort of a canon to it, so that the character has actual dialogue and actions instead of being an essentially "silent protagonist". It's cool to be that person, but with your own sense of morality.
Good blog man, well-written.
I guess there are some games that make a compromise, like Mass Effect which has a sort of a canon to it, so that the character has actual dialogue and actions instead of being an essentially "silent protagonist". It's cool to be that person, but with your own sense of morality.
Good blog man, well-written.
Keelut: Thanks! This was my first actual gaming blog, so I was a little apprehensive about it. I don't have a lot of experience with Mass Effect, but my understanding is that it really is a more balanced mix of Eastern and Western RPG styles. I think what I should have said is that with JRPGs you get more of an "outside-looking-in" feel as opposed to just being the character. I really do think that that changes the whole feel of the game.
I do enjoy JRPGs such as the ones you describe, where you are playing the game to watch the main character's story unfold rather than essentially playing as yourself.
However, I've also played plenty of JRPGs which use the silent protagonist. Characters like the hero from Dragon Quest VIII (probably other DQ games too, I've only played one) or the protagonists from the Persona series don't really seem to have a story of their own, and instead you step in to fill their shoes and choose responses for them. And then of course, there are JRPGs such as Demon's Souls where you create your own character, and there isn't really much story there.
Interestingly though, I can't think of many examples of Western RPGs where you're playing as a character rather than yourself. Nothing is coming to me at the moment, but then again I guess I haven't played too many Western RPGs. JRPGs just seem to have more variety.
However, I've also played plenty of JRPGs which use the silent protagonist. Characters like the hero from Dragon Quest VIII (probably other DQ games too, I've only played one) or the protagonists from the Persona series don't really seem to have a story of their own, and instead you step in to fill their shoes and choose responses for them. And then of course, there are JRPGs such as Demon's Souls where you create your own character, and there isn't really much story there.
Interestingly though, I can't think of many examples of Western RPGs where you're playing as a character rather than yourself. Nothing is coming to me at the moment, but then again I guess I haven't played too many Western RPGs. JRPGs just seem to have more variety.
interesting thoughts!
... and I think you've nailed one of the reasons I tend to prefer Western RPG's to JRPG's. In most JRPG's you are indeed generally playing as another character and learning about their story... but unfortunately it's usually the story of a teenage boy's quest for vengence with a love interest along the way. Never having been a young teenage boy, I find it hard to relate! In most WRPG's there has almost always been not only the option to play as my own gender (female) but also as an older, adult character. :(
... and I think you've nailed one of the reasons I tend to prefer Western RPG's to JRPG's. In most JRPG's you are indeed generally playing as another character and learning about their story... but unfortunately it's usually the story of a teenage boy's quest for vengence with a love interest along the way. Never having been a young teenage boy, I find it hard to relate! In most WRPG's there has almost always been not only the option to play as my own gender (female) but also as an older, adult character. :(
bbain: That's actually an interesting point about RPGs that use the silent protagonist. However, even in games like Dragon Quest (which I believe all use the silent character) and Legend of Zelda, you have such strong supporting characters that I think they can give you all the references you need to determine how your character would normally behave. They say things like "that was really brave thing you did" or "that decision is so unlike you", and it gives you a more inside look into the player-character. Demon's Souls is definitely an anomaly. Honestly, I consider it to be a Western RPG that just so happened to be made in Japan.
Elsa: Don't worry. You didn't miss much from not having the teenage boy experience :P.
Elsa: Don't worry. You didn't miss much from not having the teenage boy experience :P.
Great post! You bring up a great point, and one that has troubled me for a while as most of us rush to embrace the more open, Western style RPG. There's a reason that games like Oblivion or Fallout 3 don't engage us in the same way as one of the top JRPGs of the last decade (or two).
It's great to have freedom and full control over my own avatar sometimes. But I interact with myself all day long, sometimes it's nice to share a space with completely different characters and watch see things unfold from many different perspectives, not just mine.
It's great to have freedom and full control over my own avatar sometimes. But I interact with myself all day long, sometimes it's nice to share a space with completely different characters and watch see things unfold from many different perspectives, not just mine.
Excellent post!
I tend to prefer WRPGs to JRPGs for much the same reasons Elsa does -- I wanna play as myself, but myself AS A BADASS :)
I tend to prefer WRPGs to JRPGs for much the same reasons Elsa does -- I wanna play as myself, but myself AS A BADASS :)
You mentioned Valkyria Chronicles! I agree with you largely. In my own reply to this post I said that JPRGs feel more epic than western ones and I think that's because you are playing as a character unlike in Oblivion (which I do enjoy playing) where you are playing as 'yourself'.
