Linear Games Spoil Experience?

by Shannon O''Leary

I was playing one of my RPGs the other day, when I wondered, "Why am I doing this again?" After all, it was exactly the exact same routine as the first time I played it, and no matter how differently I answered, the result was exactly the same.

Sure, you do have a few choices as to how the game plays: maybe you'll find a cool new sword you never knew existed, or maybe the second time around you have the perfect strategy to annihilate that darn boss that LOOKS a lot harder than he is (trust me). Then I wondered when I last played a truly non-linear RPG. I'm sorry to say it was in 1989.

I bet no one remembers it, but it was a stupid game called "Volcano" where you were a hiker trapped on an erupting volcano and had to escape. The point is you had true control over the character. You could decide anything you wanted: whether to go south or west, whether you hide under a rock or continue along a path, to shield your eyes with a cloth or rather cover your feet. Obviously the wrong decisions resulted in instant and gruesome death. Such messages as "A rock fell and squashed you" or "Lava melted your head" would play, as you would curse yourself for that foolish decision. And vow to do it right the next time.

Why is this relevant? Well, it was YOUR decisions that controlled the game, which was what made it so much fun. (Yes it was fun, I played it all the time) So why are so many games nowadays devoid of any choice? Why can't you choose to pass through different dungeons/forests/ temples that may have different difficulty levels? Where is the choice? Wouldn't it be so cool to play an RPG again knowing of the many unseen, new locations that you can travel to?

I don't know about other people, but I want something more to keep me coming to a game than thinking "Oh gosh darn, I forgot to visit Dali at the right time to get a stupid coffee bean that has absolutely no relevance to the rest of the story..." A game should BE a game, RPG or no, rather than the interactive novel so many RPG's are.

This is in no way knocking RPGs, I just feel that a fresh new look on the genre would be great. Games such as Dark Cloud look to address this aspect, as well as FFX with its new abilities and leveling system. I would appreciate any opinions on this and other subjects, feel free to e-mail me at: smeghead@ananzi.co.za