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CloseWhile I don't think we've had the topic recently, multiple times in the past of RMN and GamingW and the rest of the rpg-playing (not just making!) sphere, we've gone off about all the stuff we hate that rpgs (of any kind) do "just because". I mean, this exists. This is understandable, but -- what about things we DO like?
I'll start off by saying that I love key items. Tales of Zestiria made me so happy when I had to open up my menu and pick which key item to utilize. Similar systems like key words in FF2 (although I hear it gets annoying, I never beat it) make me feel smart, too. Yes, I do like the Ace Attorney series.
I'll start off by saying that I love key items. Tales of Zestiria made me so happy when I had to open up my menu and pick which key item to utilize. Similar systems like key words in FF2 (although I hear it gets annoying, I never beat it) make me feel smart, too. Yes, I do like the Ace Attorney series.
Let's see...
I love side events featuring the main cast, or even the villains just goofing off. The Tales Of series is good for this, and Final Fantasy has its moments as well. It's nice to be able to see the characters act like real people every once in a while, and chill out at a campfire, or hot spring, or restaurant, for no other reason than they just want to. The piano practise in FFV comes to mind, as does the entirety of the Gold Saucer in FF7.
I love side events featuring the main cast, or even the villains just goofing off. The Tales Of series is good for this, and Final Fantasy has its moments as well. It's nice to be able to see the characters act like real people every once in a while, and chill out at a campfire, or hot spring, or restaurant, for no other reason than they just want to. The piano practise in FFV comes to mind, as does the entirety of the Gold Saucer in FF7.
Leapfrog
110
I wouldn't call them integral to my experience, but I can see where key items can feel satisfying if they're given enough of a presence and not just "key to dungeon", "key to attic" ad nauseam.
On the other hand, I'm an adventure gamer at heart, so when item-based progression is given a strong focus I find it pretty enjoyable. It was probably a big part of why I liked Resident Evil, although that's not an RPG.
I'll think of my own example when I'm not procrastinating on work, but along the lines of key items, I'm a sucker for character or plot-relevant equipment, especially if it's visually or mechanically unique. Brotherhood from FFX comes to mind, at least for the part of the game where you get it. And the ever-fabled Master Sword, at least when it was still a pretty cool and unique thing, and not a stale inevitability.
On the other hand, I'm an adventure gamer at heart, so when item-based progression is given a strong focus I find it pretty enjoyable. It was probably a big part of why I liked Resident Evil, although that's not an RPG.
I'll think of my own example when I'm not procrastinating on work, but along the lines of key items, I'm a sucker for character or plot-relevant equipment, especially if it's visually or mechanically unique. Brotherhood from FFX comes to mind, at least for the part of the game where you get it. And the ever-fabled Master Sword, at least when it was still a pretty cool and unique thing, and not a stale inevitability.
LightningLord2
230
One thing I love is when you face the final boss, you beat him relatively easy and he then goes "THIS ISN'T EVEN MY FINAL FORM!" And the real battle begins (or you just get a win handed to you out of cinematic reasons). Perfect opportunity for the BBEG to give a hammy speech and get a new design without needing much justification.
emmych
817
Can't remember if it's just on TVtropes or if it's on that list, but I love the Goldfish Poop Gang. Reoccuring characters are MY FAAAV, shitty boss characters are ALSO MY FAAAAV, and rivalries between goofy bosses and the party makes mu heart smile. Bonus points if you can befriend these characters and they help you out during endgame. <w<
The fate of the world hangs in the balance, and the only ones doing anything about it are these four people (three of which are mercenaries)
emmych
Can't remember if it's just on TVtropes or if it's on that list, but I love the Goldfish Poop Gang. Reoccuring characters are MY FAAAV, shitty boss characters are ALSO MY FAAAAV, and rivalries between goofy bosses and the party makes mu heart smile. Bonus points if you can befriend these characters and they help you out during endgame. <w<
My favorite poop gangs are in FFX-2 and Exit Fate. (If you like suikoden AT ALL, you should play Exit Fate -- especially since it has the best goldfish poop gang development I've seen in any game.)
FFX-2's best feature is
Pyramid_Head
16
The dinner scenes in Grandia. It was a pretty groovy way to flesh out the characters.
Also, the list of video game clichés had me in stitches.
Also, the list of video game clichés had me in stitches.
Aegix_Drakan
6037
Random books on shelves are among my favorite tropes in RPGs.
Some of them are great and add lore, others are just plain amusing to read.
Some of them are great and add lore, others are just plain amusing to read.
There is lot of stuff in rpgs, which i like. Maybe that's why I occasionally play them.
Books are awesome, Side quests and relations. I love my Dragon Gay Hawk being angry on his lover for demolishing Chantry and having crush on everything what moves with Commander Sheppard.
Also, I like if there is a management feature, like running your own inn or something.
Books are awesome, Side quests and relations. I love my Dragon Gay Hawk being angry on his lover for demolishing Chantry and having crush on everything what moves with Commander Sheppard.
Also, I like if there is a management feature, like running your own inn or something.
LightningLord2
230
You know what's even better than random books? Gravestones. While books usually provide lore, graves are a source of references and stupid memes.
Milennin
2060
I love examining objects in the game world, especially if they have funny or informative texts.
I love dialogue between party members, because it makes them feel more than a bunch of chibi sprites I'm controlling to kill monsters with. At least if the dialogues contain some funny stuff or lead to something... if they provide something interesting for me to read.
I love boss battles with multiple stages or increasing difficulty when they get close to dying. Nothing is more boring than a boss that does the same thing throughout the entire fight.
I love dialogue between party members, because it makes them feel more than a bunch of chibi sprites I'm controlling to kill monsters with. At least if the dialogues contain some funny stuff or lead to something... if they provide something interesting for me to read.
I love boss battles with multiple stages or increasing difficulty when they get close to dying. Nothing is more boring than a boss that does the same thing throughout the entire fight.
Item descriptions.
So much opportunity to add world flavor and lore in item descriptions as opposed to just DEF+1.
So much opportunity to add world flavor and lore in item descriptions as opposed to just DEF+1.
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
I think readable books are one of my pet peeves, actually. I hate that there's an entire bookshelf with two sentences of text on it. I sort of hate examinable objects in general. It's a cheap cop-out to let the storyteller engage in masturbatory ~~~world-building~~~ that has jack shit to do with the plot. If what you were telling me were actually relevant, it would be conveyed through a cut scene.
What I do like are lists of things that I can fill in. Preferably with big obvious blank spots where the uncollected things are. Collected 5/7 treasures in this dungeon? Completed 42/80 side-quests in the game? Slime King wants 100 tiny medals? License board? Achievement list? Tracker that shows my percentage of map exploration? Shit son, I will DO IT. That "-----" in slot 17 of the sound test menu does something uncanny to me. It fans a flame deep inside my soul, stirs a longing that was passed down from my ancestors and encoded into my DNA, to bring order and completion to my world.
What I do like are lists of things that I can fill in. Preferably with big obvious blank spots where the uncollected things are. Collected 5/7 treasures in this dungeon? Completed 42/80 side-quests in the game? Slime King wants 100 tiny medals? License board? Achievement list? Tracker that shows my percentage of map exploration? Shit son, I will DO IT. That "-----" in slot 17 of the sound test menu does something uncanny to me. It fans a flame deep inside my soul, stirs a longing that was passed down from my ancestors and encoded into my DNA, to bring order and completion to my world.
author=LockeZ
I hate that there's an entire bookshelf with two sentences of text on it.
I do, and other games do, 'excerpts' from books.
author=LockeZ
It's a cheap cop-out to let the storyteller engage in masturbatory ~~~world-building~~~ that has jack shit to do with the plot. If what you were telling me were actually relevant, it would be conveyed through a cut scene.
That's a pretty narrow minded, self limiting point of view.
Hmmm... let's see.
- Item descriptions for the reason Feld mentioned ( one of the reasons I love FF12 <3 ).
- Your party members behaving like ordinary people once in a while, like having a bite to eat or just having silly banter. This seems to be quite common in our lists. XD
- World lore, world lore and world lore. Oh, did I say world lore?
- Hidden bosses with huge rewards.
- Sidequests that don't act as filler, but rather gives some back-story to your PCs or even the villains.
- Item descriptions for the reason Feld mentioned ( one of the reasons I love FF12 <3 ).
- Your party members behaving like ordinary people once in a while, like having a bite to eat or just having silly banter. This seems to be quite common in our lists. XD
- World lore, world lore and world lore. Oh, did I say world lore?
- Hidden bosses with huge rewards.
- Sidequests that don't act as filler, but rather gives some back-story to your PCs or even the villains.
Sooz
They told me I was mad when I said I was going to create a spidertable. Who’s laughing now!!!
5354
I like spell/technique combos. Also ridiculous but awesome weaponry.
author=Luchino
- Sidequests that don't act as filler, but rather gives some back-story to your PCs or even the villains.
This is a great one. Not that all sidequests have to be this way, but sidequests that flesh out either the world, characters, or the plot are awesome and proves that you're putting in serious work.
emmych
817
author=Feldschlacht IVauthor=LuchinoThis is a great one. Not that all sidequests have to be this way, but sidequests that flesh out either the world, characters, or the plot are awesome and proves that you're putting in serious work.
- Sidequests that don't act as filler, but rather gives some back-story to your PCs or even the villains.
Yesssss <3
You know the loyalty quests in Dragon Age and Mass Effect? Where you hang out with a specific party member and get to know them better? Those are tHE SHIT <33333
