You know, I love RPGs, but I get tired of watching them make the same mistakes or reinforce the same cliches over and over. Yeah, there is something great about the classic structure of grinding up your party's levels as you fight your way through countless random encounters, but it would be cool if RPG fans got to check out something radically restructured, wouldn't it?
One man has decided to take matters into his own hands when it comes to the state of RPGs. Jordan Roher, creator of Flare, describes his self-made game as the antidote to the predictable RPG formula, even going as far as listing bullet points on his website that state "No teenage hero, no spoiled princess, no amnesia" and more. In fact, his protagionist is female, in her forties, and facing a solar flare that could destroy the world she lives in. Different so far, yeah?
Jordan says that the game is still a work in progress, but you can check out the demo very soon (keep an eye on it here). He's also on the lookout for artists, voice actors, and programmers to help to finish the ambitious title, so if you're in the mood to be a part of such a project, you can contact him at jordanroher@gmail.com.
What do you think about an RPG that pointedly purses a different approach to the genre? Do you want something like that, or would you be perfectly happy if they stayed the same forever?
Contest:
4:40 PM on 09.09.2009
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I'm tired of the same old shit.
Now just attatch a good game to it and I'll be buying.
But I also like any kind of RPG, so as long as this game's fun, then I'm all in.
Heh, same here. I just finished watching the series yesterday. :D
Anyways, this sounds like a really ambitious project, however, Tropes Are Not Bad. RPG's reuse certain patterns because they work. If used correctly, the amnesiac, teenaged hero can still be a well-written and memorable character.
I appreciate someone trying something new with the genre, but if it's not actually fun to play, the mere fact that the developer averts or subverts those cliches and tropes isn't going to mean anything, and it certainly won't make me want to buy it.
So I'm going to stay a little skeptical of this until I see the finished product.
(especially the over 40 female protagonist LOL!... someone I can finally relate to... that and saving the world of course!)
YES!
Worth keeping an eye out for, but I'm really not expecting too much from this.
Ya, when I read that, I immidiately thought of you! Game sounds totally awesome, doesn't it?
It will take an indie game to shake things up, so be it. Good luck, Flame and watch out Japan.
Anywho, I'd still like to play this if it turns out good, genre-breaking or otherwise.
Plus, we're playing as Elsa, so it's going to be awesome.
Thanks for the support! I got a ton of e-mails from people looking to help with Flare. Does anybody know any female voice actors who might want to help? Not too many of those. Anyway, the game's still a loooong ways off, but I'll try not to let you all down. Maybe I'll even beat Mother 3 to a US release. Ah ha ha... *cries*
And Miss Kims, what are you doing here?!?!
Jordan Roher
There are plenty of RPGs that don't rely only on cliches. And there are tons of RPGs that do use them that are universally loved. Just look at Planescape: Torment. Everyone bows down to it but it still uses the amnesiac hero. Is it a bad thing? Only if you sit there and tell yourself that.
Cliches are not inherently bad. They're just ideas and loose frameworks. It's the writing and delivery of those cliches that creates a good or bad story.