Alright, so that title may be a bit disingenuous, but I'm a blogger on a gamer website, so I'm pretty sure being an insensitive biased prick is mandatory. Besides, anyone that finds that title offensive is dumber than a bag of hammers.
The idea of this post, if you couldn't tell from my very informative title, is about the current status of RPG's. Currently, RPGs suck. Of course there are exceptions (Odin Sphere, Grim Grimoire, Persona), but overall, RPGs have been stuck in the year 2003 for way too long. And when I say that, I mean the majority of RPG stories, looks, and gameplay really haven't advanced or changed since then. I remember rummaging through video game stores back when the PS1 was on its way out. I remember finding so many gems that RPG fans would only dream of (Tactics Ogre, Xenogears, Vandal Hearts, Vagrant Story, Star Ocean 2, Hoshigami, Saiyuki, Suikoden 2, Lunar).
But that really doesn't exist anymore. I know back then games were a lot cheaper to produce so developers weren't afraid to create a game that might not sell over a million copies. Today, though, since games are so expensive and so over-the-top, we don't really have those unknown, japanese rpgs with terrible translations and poor production value. Today we have something that, majority-wise, hasn't really changed or broken new grounds.
Today we have RPG's that are generally guaranteed to have 1 of 3 things:
1. Pretty, flashy, Animesque graphics.
2. A lame, uninspiring, unrewarding story.
3. Some stale, dated gameplay with a gimmick to make it look cooler than it actually is.
Of course, there are exceptions to this (
lookin' at you), but overall, RPG's have fallen into this slump of banal, foppish-haired, over-the-topness that is just comes off shallow in the end. And it doesn't seem like it's going to stop. With games like Final Fantasy XIII, which looks like nothing new, and the new Kingdom Hearts, which looks like potential shit if I knew what the hell was going on, it seems this genre of games has drifted away from the originality and urgency it used to have.
But if I sound too harsh or too tactless, then just listen to this
kid. He knows what I'm talking about.
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But otherwise I agree with you, the standard JRPG has kind of become dull. After FF's 6 and 7 (in b4 username, etc) the JRPGs really never improved and basically brought in a ton of immitators (Xenogears/Saga, etc) that I never cared for. To build upon this blogs ideas, I'm suprised you didnt mention Final Fantasy X in here at all... since in my opinion its the symbol of how stale the JRPGs have gotten.
FFX Stale RPG Requirements
--Extremely linear: Check (you follow one path basically to the end of the game)
--Dull character: Check (Tidus sucks)
--Lacking a worthy villain: Check
--Boring story: Check
And I don't have too much to comment on here because people are entitled to their own opinions. But sure, things aren't the same anymore but I'm still enjoying some of them so I guess they're still doing okay in my books. I do have to say I wish Atlus was more with the money. :( They deserve it.
Square Enix are leading this genre, but if they don't watch themselves they might spell its demise. Many japanese developers are caught with their nostalgia goggles on when creating some jrpgs. This is why many of them don't change, because the cherish the 8 and 16bit days of rpgs.
This is why Dirge of Ceberus failed for SE, because they became so caught up in jrpgs, that they forgot how to make an action game decent, IMO.
As far as variety goes, this is why I'm a big fan of Parasite Eve, Einhander, Ehrgeiz and Front Mission, because these games were Square trying new stuff out, to break those comfort chains. As far as I can see, Square Enix aren't interested in pushing things forward anymore, just in reselling existing IP. I pray that their Eidos acquisition, will teach them some new tricks beyond jrpgs. Indeed a Front Mission action game would be superb, in Eidos hands.
While the FF series is popular, and I understand them pleasing the fans, they need something more and should be pushing new IP more than FF. To not see this breaks my heart, and so I look to Atlus these days.
I guess Square, are in the same position as Blizzard to a degree. Being complacent never works out well, as Fallout 3 and Persona 3 and 4 show. The competition can creep up on you.
Otherwise I agree with the staleness. I would like to see more games take a Persona route and devote less resources to flash and more to story and substance.
If games like Noby Noby Boy, MadWorld, and Braid cost millions to make, could they have taken all the risks that they did? I doubt it.
Supposedly FF13's gonna "break the mold." I'll believe it when I see it. >_>
Then sometimes you have a game like golden sun or Dragon quest, where both facets are lacking.
If the newer games had better writers or engineered more creative leveling and battle systems their might be something to them. Then again I can play Earthbound over and over again so perhaps I too am just a nostalgic elite.
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