To Each Their Own

by Richard Clough

We all play RPGs for different reasons, and, therefore, appreciate different aspects in the games. That’s why the video gaming populace cannot agree on one RPG to stand above the rest. Granted, everyone seems to agree that music is an important factor, as is the plot, but many people debate on subjects as linearity, difficulty, and small side games.

One of the most important factors is, I agree, the plot, and only a well-developed one will keep my attention while I am playing an RPG. Now, despite what some people might think of the game, I was kind of disappointed with the plot in FF7. True, it did go in depth with many of the characters, and it did maintain my attention through the first half. However, when Cloud and Tifa were in the lifestream, that’s when the plot just became too hard to swallow. Was he only fooling himself about his past again, or was he realizing the truth? That is unknown to anyone. Personally, I think the two best story lines to this day are from FFIV, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Xenogears. These three tell a story and they tell it good. The fact that I can play through them again and again is proof of that. I won’t stand for a sloppy story.

Now before you fans of FF7 come at me with your flaming torches and pikes, let me say that it is a good game, it just got too much hype, and didn’t quite live up to it. It was spelled out and advertised as if it were going to be the greatest RPG to ever grace the land of console gaming. It was revolutionary, and brought out some intriguing properties of the Playstation, but it just didn’t live up to the name the commercials were creating for it. It relied too much on graphics to present the story, and that’s what people mean when they gripe about the plot. It was presented in the visual fashion, something that is rather hard to do with an RPG, as was proved with FF7.

Another important factor is the music. If the music doesn’t entertain or fit the mood, then the players feel lost when they view the scene. Music is an important part to the plot. Yes, that’s right, music is important to the plot. Without the music, scenes don’t seem so dark as they should. Turn down the volume all the way on a game one day and find out. It feels a little different without the music.

Now, for the bits that people have been raving about, I shall first touch on difficulty. I personally enjoy a difficult RPG. It was asked by Mr. Marshall , “Honestly, when you're playing an RPG, tell me if you ever catch yourself saying "Well, Exdeath killed me again.... What an awesome game!". I enjoy RPGs that beat the crap out of me. I don’t go level-raising to the extremes after a loss, I start thinking. I appreciate it when a boss makes me think. That’s one of the things I liked about Final Fantasy Tactics and Xenogears, if I wasn’t paying attention and was just mashing buttons, I got my butt kicked. I like it when I have to think to go on, makes the game more fun.

Side games, while a nuisance at times, often provide a break from the intense concentration needed throughout most of the game. Now, I admit that often I can’t stand them, but I try to have fun with them. You know, break the rules and see how many times you can lose before they send you back to your last save point. It could be just me, but it helps me deal with the games sometimes.

Now, for linearity, I can honestly say that I don’t like it. Others do, however, as proved with the not-so-recent Saga Frontier debate. That game, while not to my liking, received an intense defense. This is he prime example of different things pleasing different people.

I shall close this by saying that everyone has the right to express their opinions, and everyone definitely has different opinions. All I know is that I like a difficult, long, complex RPG. Others might not share my views, but then again, they are mine, aren’t they? Refer to the title of this editorial, “to each their own.” Think about that for a few minutes, then tell me why people complain about RPGs, but like others. It’s because everyone is different, and will like different things.