Q: Do you hate RPGs, or are simply too old-school for the newer ones?
A: I like RPGs, but most of the newer stuff hasn't caught my attention. I am into the older ones more, though..
Q: What's your beef with the modern RPG? Other than becoming more refined graphically, it honestly hasn't changed much.
A: That's it: they haven't changed much. I like newer battle systems or at least well thought out ones. That's why I am anticipating Paper Mario 2 and Final Fantasy XII.
Q: You get new stories, new combat systems, change isn't always required for a genre. That's why you return to them. The innovative ones differentiate themselves, and because the loved methods of the genre, make themselves stand out.
A: The problem I see is that there isn't enough of the well founded and ingenious combat systems around. Every game has its perks (ATB, TB, Action, etc) but none have created something new or done something old well. Chrono Cross sets a good example for this. (New combat system that worked WELL)
Story is something else. With games becoming more graphically focused, I think developers have a harder time saving disk space and time for a grand story. Release dates are another factor. Pluss, much of what I have seen in modern RPGs is less plot twists and more predictable events with the stereotypical cute girl in need of rescue and daring hero saving the world, planet, city, whatever. But I suppose some games change this. I applaud FFX-2 for the fact that it put the player in another character's shoes.
Q: But those are the stereotypes that have been with the genre for a long time. I think, developers decide that they are going for a character drama, so they put out the standard "save the world" plot, and then focus on the characters development. Which isn't bad, but they give up on somewhat original plotlines in the process.
A: I know, but RPGs like FFVI, EarthBound, Chrono Trigger, and Xenogears break those character roles.I don't want to see a boring character develop instead of a brilliant story. Both should be combined, not one sacrificed. Besides, isn't the story what shapes the characters?
Q: Save the world is a good way to bring out everything in a character, but it is overdone. There's either some world threatening monster, evil empire, or a shortage of some critical factor in the world's life.
A: Even Tales of Symphonia, while having a pretty generic plot, was saved by gameplay. So a game can use a save the world plot and recover with other aspects, in my opinion. But the quality could be doubled with a good story.
Q: What about interesting elements to the save the world plot, though?
A: Yeah, interesting inbetweeers help the plot, but it's almost always the same in the end. Then, save the world can be produced in an intriguing manner, such as Metal Gear Solid.
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Major cookies if you can guess who the person asking the questions is. (It was altered a bit, but just for sake of comprehension.)