Rick switching priority to RPG collecting

[Rickstilwell1]

How many times have any of you changed the way you collect?

I'm sure there are other people out there who try to collect games in one way and change their mind if they get bored of doing it a certain way.

I've tried the method of not buying new games that are part of a series until the previous games are completed. This got boring because I got to newer games in certain series that were nowhere near as good as the previous games and I don't really want to force myself to play through them.

Then I tried randomly collecting games for all systems. I don't know, I feel like I might have more fun if I get more organized and mainly go after a certain category of games.

Since RPGs are my favorite type I think I should do those. And even as I do that, I should try them all out a little and see which ones I actually want to play through. Starting with the oldest ones from NES and on and working my way toward the newer ones is probably best since most NES RPGs are still cheap. I've pretty much got the expensive NES ones (the later Dragon Warriors and Final Fantasy repros) out of the way. It might even be more interesting to get the games by release year and see through experience how this genre of gaming grew over the years.

I'll edit this post with pics as I go so everyone can see how much ground I've covered. I'm not going to post all the pics at the time of posting this either. All sets are US releases.

NES:
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/106/l_c8f92277a50c4257bd8af6b54e0d3936.jpg

SMS:
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/78/l_9da7a759f1a0436d948498dcc94cf293.jpg

Game Boy:
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/81/l_6f249a090e8447ed8663df7dac670fb2.jpg

TurboGrafx-16:
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/70/l_a71113731b7b41e996c44651f77ffc71.jpg

Genesis:
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/72/l_cb9435c7722244f5b5572f725756b57c.jpg

Sega CD:
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/67/l_7d01e301803241f0bd1deb136a3385b1.jpg

Super Nintendo:
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/103/l_8172c4c2973148f387fe6c2dd3882e95.jpg

[NayusDante]

You might have more fun going for a particular developer. Try collecting all of Enix's RPGs, or everything that Lord British had involvement in. Just going for one genre is kinda vague, and it gets hard to draw the line.

[Rickstilwell1]

You might have more fun going for a particular developer. Try collecting all of Enix's RPGs, or everything that Lord British had involvement in. Just going for one genre is kinda vague, and it gets hard to draw the line.

For genre line drawing I'll just use allgame.com as the reference. Besides I like different styles.

I kind of like this collection grid I came up with. Using my allgame.com printed list I can make the grid and fill in the empty spaces as I get games. It's an editable picture of my games that won't have to be redone from scratch every time I get something new. It roughly shows the games in order of release year, with repros appearing at the end.

I'll probably end up getting games as I find them or are tempted to play them but I do like this way of displaying I just came up with.

I do agree with one thing though. Some developers just suck so I may want to pass up the bad stuff when I move onto newer systems and go for the better ones first. I kind of already did that on the NES by getting Nintendo, Enix and Square out of the way first.

[NayusDante]

Crystalis is definitely a great one. I haven't finished it, but I've enjoyed it more than any other NES RPG.

I'm definitely going to be looking into that grid thing now...

[BetaWolf47]

Hmm, I used to go and get any non-sports game for the systems I was collecting for. Now I try and restrain myself and only go for stuff I want.

[NayusDante]

Hmm, I used to go and get any non-sports game for the systems I was collecting for. Now I try and restrain myself and only go for stuff I want.

I used a modified version of that methodology, anything that isn't sports and isn't too generic. I was always more into RPGs, so when I started to really get into collecting, I focused on things that were different from what I'm used to playing. Things I avoid are helicopter games, generic "military" looking stuff, movie license games, etc. Anything else, I pick up if it's priced low.

When you find that you're becoming overloaded with games you don't like and don't play, pick a different direction, or just lower your acceptable price threshold for the random stuff. There's plenty of really AWFUL games on NES that get thrown into the RPG genre, so you'll probably reevaluate things once you play everything.

[Arcade_Ness]

I'm a big fan of RPGs as well, so I mostly collect them. My method of collecting is only collect what you actually want to play. I've recently got into the Shin Megami Tensei series, and loving it. I'm considering collecting games from the extensive and expensive SMT series. I like my RPGs dark ex Shadow Hearts, so moving into SMT feels like a natural progression.

[kupomogli]

For genre line drawing I'll just use allgame.com as the reference. Besides I like different styles.

Allgame.com must not really have that good of a representation of video games then.

Arkista's Ring, and Star Tropics 1 and 2 aren't RPGs. I wouldn't really consider Zelda one either, but that's just me. Aside from the fact that they think Zelda is an RPG, they left out Legacy of the Wizard(which is far more of an RPG than Zelda) and Gauntlet(how could they leave out Gauntlet?)

I previously also said Willow but when searching specifically for Willow, found that to be labeled Action/Adventure/RPG rather their other RPG listing(it was in a different listing, basically Zelda with exp.)

[mobiusclimber]

Willow I would classify as an RPG. Legacy of the Wizard I wouldn't b/c you don't really level up your stats in that game. It plays more like an overly complicated platformer to me. Gauntlet is so action-oriented that again I'm not sure I'd call it an RPG.

Arkista's Ring is also not really an RPG. And I'm the kinda person to call Zelda an RPG. Oh neither are the two Star Tropics games.

I would say, tho, that, as an RPG aficionado, most of those games are must-owns (I never cared for the Star Tropics titles). Arkista's Ring and Gauntlet in particular are excellent.

But your next purchase MUST be Crystalis. One of the best RPGs in classic gaming.

Oh and you say you have the expensive games out of the way but you don't own Faria or Might and Magic. Both are just as expensive as a $25 repro, and can be harder to find.

[darkslime]

I used to collect EVERYTHING that I didn't already have, but now only collect games I either want to play or that have some sort of sentimental value to me, and sell everything else as I usually buy in lots.

[BetaWolf47]

I used a modified version of that methodology, anything that isn't sports and isn't too generic. I was always more into RPGs, so when I started to really get into collecting, I focused on things that were different from what I'm used to playing. Things I avoid are helicopter games, generic "military" looking stuff, movie license games, etc. Anything else, I pick up if it's priced low.

That too for me. It's not just sports I'd avoid. Games that were in general made by lower-end developers I usually avoid.

[Haoie]

I get what I want: Isn't that the best policy? Why buy something you don't want?

[NayusDante]

That too for me. It's not just sports I'd avoid. Games that were in general made by lower-end developers I usually avoid.

I understand that, but I must say that taking a chance once in a while might be a good idea. There's plenty of developers that only made one game, so you've probably never heard of them and they probably didn't get too much recognition. Those are some of the most interesting games.

[Rickstilwell1]

You also don't always want to listen to reviews. Reviewers gave Beyond the Beyond for Playstation a very low score, but it is one of my all-time favorite RPGs and I beat it probably 10 times. The developer Camelot wasn't really popular until Golden Sun came out.

And yeah, Willow definately looks like an RPG to me. I think I'll fill out this list first and then go back through and get the other ones not mentioned afterwards. I realize I can't use the guide here for a complete list as some of the Final Fantasy games are not even listed as RPGs when filtered on this site (quite surprising unless it's just because the long list of Playstation games hasn't been completely classifed yet). It's good to start with one source and then use other sources afterwards to make adjustments. There's always the borderline RPG category. Games that some people may consider RPGs while other people may not (i.e. Zelda. Do you call it a third person action RPG or an Adventure? It's all up to you)

It's also good to keep an eye out for spinoffs and sequels to certain RPGs that are of different game genres. Such as how Legacy of Kain transformed into an adventure series. You're still missing out on a good time if you liked the first one and don't play the sequels which are even more in depth.

[Mianrtcv]

RPG's definitely will consume your time. Both in attaining some of the harder to get titles and the effort to complete them. I know I have logged too many hours to remember, but it's been fun.

[hush]

I am a big fan of the rpg, with my collecting i tend to grab games im interested in playing.

[mobiusclimber]

You also don't always want to listen to reviews. Reviewers gave Beyond the Beyond for Playstation a very low score, but it is one of my all-time favorite RPGs and I beat it probably 10 times. The developer Camelot wasn't really popular until Golden Sun came out.

And yeah, Willow definately looks like an RPG to me. I think I'll fill out this list first and then go back through and get the other ones not mentioned afterwards. I realize I can't use the guide here for a complete list as some of the Final Fantasy games are not even listed as RPGs when filtered on this site (quite surprising unless it's just because the long list of Playstation games hasn't been completely classifed yet). It's good to start with one source and then use other sources afterwards to make adjustments. There's always the borderline RPG category. Games that some people may consider RPGs while other people may not (i.e. Zelda. Do you call it a third person action RPG or an Adventure? It's all up to you)

It's also good to keep an eye out for spinoffs and sequels to certain RPGs that are of different game genres. Such as how Legacy of Kain transformed into an adventure series. You're still missing out on a good time if you liked the first one and don't play the sequels which are even more in depth.

I think gamefaqs is a good place to get a list of RPGs, and they tend to be a bit liberal in what they consider to be an RPG. (It helps to check out the Action-Adventure and Adventure categories as well.)

[kupomogli]

You also don't always want to listen to reviews. Reviewers gave Beyond the Beyond for Playstation a very low score, but it is one of my all-time favorite RPGs and I beat it probably 10 times. The developer Camelot wasn't really popular until Golden Sun came out.

Beyond the Beyond was a great game. If only the game didn't have such punishing difficulty with its extremely high encounter rate then people would have probably liked it alot more. Removing that high encounter rate would also mean they'd have to rebalance the entire game as well though. I liked the way you got the second secret character, though I didn't get him until my second time through the game(don't want to ruin anything for those who haven't played it)

[vestcoat]

You're off to a nice start. Here are some suggestions for your NES and SMS lists:
If you count Zelda, you'd better include Hydlide!
I think I heard Gargoyles Quest 2 is an RPG.
Wizardry is an RPG, so what about Shadowgate? Including that would of course open the door to Uninvited and Deja Vu.

Finally, don't forget Metal Gear. Except for the lack of shops, Metal Gear has all the trappings of a traditional RPG:

Password save
Collect keys
Different weapons needed to beat bosses
You increase levels (rank)
there's a series of dungeons (strongholds)
you talk to people (hostages) and get clues, etc.


On the SMS side, don't forget Ultima 4, Dragon Crystal, Kings Quest, and Golvellius. Maybe Spellcaster, Lord of the Sword, and the Wonderboys (the last one, Monster World, was only released in the UK but would definitely qualify).

[NayusDante]

Finally, don't forget Metal Gear. Except for the lack of shops, Metal Gear has all the trappings of a traditional RPG:

Password save
Collect keys
Different weapons needed to beat bosses
You increase levels (rank)
there's a series of dungeons (strongholds)
you talk to people (hostages) and get clues, etc.


On the SMS side, don't forget Kings Quest.

By that definition, Doom is 50% RPG. :P

Also, if you count King's Quest on SMS, you can't forget KQ5 on NES. And if you're counting a graphic adventure as an RPG, don't forget Maniac Mansion.


I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade (wall of text coming... run and hide!), but RPG actually has no definition. The acronym stands for role playing game. By that expansion of the term, it refers to any piece of interactive entertainment (digital or otherwise) in which you control a character. In essence, it's any game where you play a role. In Super Mario Bros, you play the role of Mario or Luigi. In Space Invaders, you play the role of the defending ship. In Pong, you play the role of a paddle. This is why there's various elaborations on the term "RPG."

You're probably looking for "JRPG," as in Japanese Role Playing Game. By a strict definition, it would include any game with menu-driven combat, experience-based advancement, and tile-based maps. Anything in the same vein as Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy is fair game. By a loose definition, you could include games like Crystalis, Zelda II, and Faxanadu. Falcom in particular has done a lot of games that would otherwise be "action-adventure," but the RPG mechanics are too strong for that.

The term CRPG, or Computer Role Playing Game, while very generic, TYPICALLY refers to western-style RPGs. This includes Wizardry, Ultima, Dungeons & Dragons, Baldur's Gate, The Elder Scrolls, and so on. It's a really horrible term because Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy on MSX are TECHNICALLY "computer role playing games," as is any role playing game that runs on a microprocessor. By a loose definition, Shin Megami Tensei fits this category, even though most would immediately call it a JRPG.

Then, there's action-adventure. The Legend of Zelda epitomizes this genre. It's not a pure action game like, say, Contra, but it's not a pure adventure game like Day of the Tentacle. Focus is split between exploring, advancement, and combat. Star Tropics fits here pretty well. By a loose definition, the Metroid series fits this category.

Lastly, there's adventure games. This refers to everything from the classic text adventures up to what you saw on the $10 rack at Target last weekend. The focus in an adventure game is usually the puzzles. Combat, if present at all, is relegated to mini-game status, or is generally unimportant.

Still, you could argue the semantics of genres all day long. Is Mario 64 action, or action-adventure? Is Ys action-adventure, or RPG? Nowadays, genre has even less meaning because YOU create the experience and decide how you want to play it. Is Fallout 3 a shooter or an RPG? Is Deus Ex a stealth game, or is it action?

Given all that information, the only trait shared by all the games on your grid is that you play the role of a character, and as I've stated, that applies to 99% of all games.

[Rickstilwell1]

You're off to a nice start. Here are some suggestions for your NES and SMS lists:
If you count Zelda, you'd better include Hydlide!
I think I heard Gargoyles Quest 2 is an RPG.
Wizardry is an RPG, so what about Shadowgate? Including that would of course open the door to Uninvited and Deja Vu.

Finally, don't forget Metal Gear. Except for the lack of shops, Metal Gear has all the trappings of a traditional RPG:

Password save
Collect keys
Different weapons needed to beat bosses
You increase levels (rank)
there's a series of dungeons (strongholds)
you talk to people (hostages) and get clues, etc.


On the SMS side, don't forget Ultima 4, Dragon Crystal, Kings Quest, and Golvellius. Maybe Spellcaster, Lord of the Sword, and the Wonderboys (the last one, Monster World, was only released in the UK but would definitely qualify).

Wait till you see how dry my SNES and Genesis RPG collections are. I think what happened was that when I was a kid most of the RPGs I had were on NES and I didn't really get to play any other RPGs besides the SNES Zelda until I got a Playstation. So I have plenty of NES and Playstation RPGs but hardly anything in between until more recent years.

Yeah Hydlide is on my Genesis list and the other SMS games you listed were shown as European releases on the list I got. The nice thing about SMS is that you can easily import European games.

My little grids can always be expanded and updated as I go along though. I should probably update my NES to include Legacy of the Wizard (Dragon Slayer 4) as it is somewhat related to Faxanadu (Dragon Slayer 2 spinoff) by being part of the Dragon Slayer series. It still makes it borderline.

I think today I'll put together some of my other lists.

[Daria]

I've been replacing my loose NES RPGs with completes. So I have some spares for trade.

Crystalis
Gargoyle's Quest 2
Star Tropics
Ultima: Quest of the Avatar
Pinball Quest

[Baloo]

I just collect whatever I want really. I'm a 2D Fighter guy, but if I want a game, I'll just buy it if I see it. Same goes for peripherals. Or I'll buy something if it has good resale value, depending on how cheap it is. I don't collect any particular genre or type.

[vestcoat]

By that definition, Doom is 50% RPG. :P


Yep, trying to define "RPG" opens a can of worms.

As far as Metal Gear goes, it's an action-y RPG but an RPG nonetheless. Suggesting it be considered an RPG is a personal crusade of mine and it's always interesting how much opposition there is to the idea. Add some medieval graphics and a cheesy village and it would be considered one of the best RPGs of all time (although the sequels did take things in different directions and I don't consider them RPGs).

Like most RPGs, Metal Gear has traditional outdoor areas (complete with a forest maze) combined with "underworld" dungeons. Movement between the dungeons is driven more by the plot than simply defeating bosses. Linear aspects of Dragon Warrior, like the dragon blocking the cave to the southern continent, are no different than the tank that can't be beaten until land mines are found. Instead of magic there's fancy explosives. Metal Gear is full of personalities and characters that develop throughout the game, there's even romance.

The depth and complexity of newer games have muddied the water quite a bit and it's easier to argue against MG's RPG status when comparing it to newer releases. Today, an average shooter can contain as much plot, character interaction and strategy as an early NES RPG and the genre is defined more by aesthetics and presentation than mechanics (mostly just whether or not characters have "Hit Points"). Compared to the games of its time, however, MG is a strange bird and has much more in common with Ultima Exodus and Dragon Warrior than any other NES releases.

Doom, btw, is just a series of dungeons with no overworld, no townspeople equivalent, no character development, no character levels, and it doesn't matter what weapon you use as long as you kill it before it kills you.

[Jorpho]

Since RPGs are my favorite type I think I should do those. And even as I do that, I should try them all out a little and see which ones I actually want to play through.If your ultimate goal is to find games that you actually might want to play through, then you should cut out stuff that is widely acknowledged to be total crap, like Mysterium GB. :hmm:

[Rickstilwell1]

If your ultimate goal is to find games that you actually might want to play through, then you should cut out stuff that is widely acknowledged to be total crap, like Mysterium GB. :hmm:

Yeah Mysterium looks like it needs a walkthrough just for the play controls (ie turning different directions is annoying). I wonder how linear it is or not. Wizardry for NES was my first RPG though, so I'm conditioned for those old First Person styles. I checked out a few others on emulators today.

Swords and Serpents for NES doesn't look too bad especially since there are places where you can get fully healed for free and the levels have an automap.

And yeah, Arkista's Ring seems to play very similar to Guantlet. My guess is that the people at allgame.com went by screenshots to determine gameplay style if they didn't have the information available. It seems fun enough to get though.

Still I don't see anything unbearable yet. Usually with RPGs that I don't really get into much, I just mess around with them here and there and see if I can get any farther. And then there are ones I really take interest in and actually sit down and try to go all the way through. So either way I use what I buy. Quality just makes the difference on how often.

My latest acquired RPG is Guardian War for 3DO. It's more tactical based and has a very simplistic story: kill all the monsters. But it's easy and fun.

[Rickstilwell1]

Crystalis has been added to the picture. I just got it in today and as everyone said, this game is awesome. I can see where Lagoon for SNES got its inspiration.

I clocked an hour on this game nonstop and only saved and quit because I had to go to bed. I better finish off Dragon Warrior II first though while these batteries are still good. Who knows how many years these things have left. When the NES games came out, battery life expectency was 5 years and all these games have far surpassed that length somehow.

I ordered up a few more games from my list today too, since they were all cheap:

The Magic of Scheherazade
Ultima 4
Ultima 5

I do check these games out on emulators if I can. Doing so will help me decide which games are must haves and need to be bought first. With games that have a save battery, I like to have a master file with my emulator because I know those will never get erased. Nothing wrong with playing good games twice or more. I caught up to my location in Dragon Warrior II (the area before the final dungeon) within a couple hours on the emulator due to fast forward, save states and already knowing where everything up to that point was.

One of my friends said he played through all 3 Game Boy Color versions of the Dragon Warrior games and told me that DW3 was his favorite (the one I don't have yet of course). I wonder if 3 on the NES is also much better than 1 and 2.

Update: I ordered Faria and Might and Magic for NES. Thanks for pointing out that those two were worth more than most so I could go for them first.