RPG of the year is gonna be very interesting this year

[njiska]

Final Fantasy XII
Kingdom Hearts II
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

3 games and everyone is a contender for best RPG of the year. It's hard to believe it's not even april yet and the world has already seen 3 knock-out contenders.

Can anyone recall the last time we had this kind of competition?

[Neo Rasa]

Dragon Quest VIII made it to the US in 2005. :P

[njiska]

Dragon Quest VIII made it to the US in 2005. :P

Shit you are correct. Doesn't seem like it was that long ago. Either way my point still stands.

[MarkMan]

Dragon Quest VIII should win for 2006 too, it was that good. :)

Good call njiska 8-) !

Looking forward to KH II later this week and FFXII this fall. :)

[Juganawt]

Landslide victory for Oblivion.

If it isn't the winner, the awards are either fixed, or the voters are idiots.


For a start FFXII Isn't an RPG, it's an interactive movie... Kingdom Hearts might be good but I didn't enjoy the last one, and Dragon Quest was released last year.

Oblivion is simply the best RPG ever crafted, is probably going to be game of the year, and pisses all over the other entries combined.

[Raedon]

you have to remember that to be a winner people have to be able to play your game. This isn't the Academy awards, where a bunch of movies no one saw are up for best picture. You can call Oblivion "innovative" or "best graphics" but the money will go to FF and KH.

1) the install base and fanboy base is over on the PS2, both FF and KH are huge fanboy titles.

2) Oblivion is fun, but not many people can play it at the speeds needed to be fun on the PC and the 360 isn't in as many rooms as the PS2.

If FF is as solid as DW8 then it will win.

[maxlords]

Shadow Hearts: From the New World as well this year, and Grandia III and Tales of Legendia. None of those is likely to win though :D

[blissfulnoise]

Oblivion will probably win in the American press.

Like it or not, anything that's a departure from the flood of JRPGs is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

Even if Kingdom Hearts II and Final Fantasy XII are absolutely amazing, as I'm sure they will be, they're still following the tried and true JRPG formula.

Oblivion, on the other hand, much like Daggerfall and Morrowind before it, is, in all likelyhood, going to be the only ROLE playing game we'll see this year.

BUT, never count out BioWare. Too Human will likely see a release this year. Also, Neverwinter Nights 2 is set for release. Not to mention games like Blue Dragon, Phantasy Star Universe (depending on how in depth the single player mode REALLY is), and a "grip" of other quality RPGs will see release this year. Let's wait and see how the field plays out.

[Raedon]

You are underestimating the number of JRPG fanboys in the media.

As for Oblivion, the buzz is another MMORPG without the people. Fun but not many will play and even less will bother trying to follow the story line thus never really finishing anything.

The rpg games that come out of Japan have very solid story lines and you finish them not because they are open ended but because you want to see what happens to the characters and how the story will play out. Not many people desscussing the story line of Oblivion or even what an Oblivion gate is. People talking about Oblivion are people who are under 24 hours in and amazed by the graphics and music.

I only played for about 7 hours or so and I've come across books 48 pages long in the game, I didn't read them I just pick pocketed and did a few quests. I never finished Morrowind and I can tell I'll drop this as well. I'm just not interested in an offline MMORPG.

[diskoboy]

Oblivion has my vote, hands down.

I haven't enjoyed an RPG this much since, well.... Daggerfall. :D

[Daria]

BUT, never count out BioWare. Too Human will likely see a release this year.

"Too Human" is a sci-fi adventure game from the people that did "Eternal Darkness", could be an RPG I suppose but everything I'd read up on it so far has never indicated that it will be. If you were confusing it with Bioware's new sci-fi RPG, then that game's called "Mass Effect."

[sirhansirhan]

Well, counting strategy RPGs, we've got Disgaea 2 coming out this summer, and counting games that may not see a US release, Mother 3 comes out in Japan in less than a month now. Not that I think either one of those will win RPG of the year in any major publication, but one or the other will almost definitely be my RPG of the year.

Hell, I bet I'll like Atelier Iris 2 better than I'll like KH2, FFXII, or Oblivion.

[Cryomancer]

Phantasy Star Universe and Mother 3 should be out this year too.

edit: damn, both were already mentioned. but seriously if it doesn't get too dumbed down thanks to the ps2 version PSU should hopefully rock a lot.

[maxlords]

BUT, never count out BioWare. Too Human will likely see a release this year.

"Too Human" is a sci-fi adventure game from the people that did "Eternal Darkness", could be an RPG I suppose but everything I'd read up on it so far has never indicated that it will be. If you were confusing it with Bioware's new sci-fi RPG, then that game's called "Mass Effect."

Yup, Too Human is from Canadian developer, Silicon Knights :)

[Neo Rasa]

The rpg games that come out of Japan have very solid story lines and you finish them not because they are open ended but because you want to see what happens to the characters and how the story will play out. Not many people desscussing the story line of Oblivion or even what an Oblivion gate is. People talking about Oblivion are people who are under 24 hours in and amazed by the graphics and music.

I have to totally disagree with this. I'd say that Oblivion has the fastest paced and most well written story in the series so far. It's also constantly involving, creating several points where I couldn't even bring myself to leave the main storyline to do sidequests even though I was perfectly able to (retaking Kvatch is a great example of this). It's taken far less time for the plot to ramp up than in most Japanese RPGs I've played in the past several years outside of the Shadow Hearts games.

[Raedon]

I've been wrong before, it's just mho and nothing else. though I doubt I'm wrong as to the RPG of the year that this thread is about.

When Dec 2006 rolls around few people will remember Oblivion fondly unless everyone buys an Xbox 360 or anyone without a Radeon 9800 pro (with all setting turned down) upgrade their video cards. Not enough people will have a chance to like or dislike Oblivion. How many people/kids out there only have a PS2 this year to play on. I went to rent a movie yesterday and all the posters were KHII nothing about Oblivion anywhere except the new release list.

KHII, FF, and others will really have to suck for Oblivion to win best RPG of 2006. and that is just mho.

[Beavertown]

Final Fantasy XII. Just because Matsuno can do no wrong.

[njiska]

I've been wrong before, it's just mho and nothing else. though I doubt I'm wrong as to the RPG of the year that this thread is about.

When Dec 2006 rolls around few people will remember Oblivion fondly unless everyone buys an Xbox 360 or anyone without a Radeon 9800 pro (with all setting turned down) upgrade their video cards. Not enough people will have a chance to like or dislike Oblivion. How many people/kids out there only have a PS2 this year to play on. I went to rent a movie yesterday and all the posters were KHII nothing about Oblivion anywhere except the new release list.

KHII, FF, and others will really have to suck for Oblivion to win best RPG of 2006. and that is just mho.

While i can't argue your point about the install base i can say this.

Critics, not sales, pick RPG of the year.

Oblivion is a breath of fresh air into the overly crowded JRPG world and that's gonna mean a lot when the time comes.

It's also a throughly gripping experience. In Oblivion you do much more to craft the story then you do in FF where you just simply advance it.

It's also worth noting that this is one of the last major titles released before the summer game drought and 360 is no longer a scarcity.

Truth be told FFXII will probably win it on name alone. All i'm saying is that, Oblivion is a contender and shouldn't be swept under the rug.

[Kid Fenris]

Guys, I think Basic Instinct 2 is pretty much a lock for Best Picture at next year's Oscars.

[Raedon]

Guys, I think Basic Instinct 2 is pretty much a lock for Best Picture at next year's Oscars.

Snakes on a Plane for Best Picture

[pacmanhat]

I think Oblivion is the likely choice from website editors and non-idiotic fanboys, while FFXII is the likely choice of the gaming populous in general. This isn't to say that FFXII won't be great (I'm sure it will be) - it's just that the fact that it's Final Fantasy is what's going to push it over the top.

I think of it this way - Oblivion is the thinking man's RPG, while FFXII is the RPG fan's RPG. And I'm sure we all know which of those groups is more outspoken.

[njiska]

I think of it this way - Oblivion is the thinking man's RPG, while FFXII is the RPG fan's RPG. And I'm sure we all know which of those groups is more outspoken.

Very well said.

[norkusa]

I honestly don't mean to sound like a dick, but I just saw an ad on TV for the new Kingdom Hearts II game and it looks like it could easily win the award for most effeminate video game of all time.

An RPG with cutsie Disney characters? Yuck. Maybe if I was an 8 year old girl or Michael Jackson I could enjoy it, but I just don't understand the mainstream appeal of this game. What's so special about it?

[Trebuken]

I honestly don't mean to sound like a dick, but I just saw an ad on TV for the new Kingdom Hearts II game and it looks like it could easily win the award for most effeminate video game of all time.

An RPG with cutsie Disney characters? Yuck. Maybe if I was an 8 year old girl or Michael Jackson I could enjoy it, but I just don't understand the mainstream appeal of this game. What's so special about it?

I though this about the first one. It makes sense to a heterosexual male, it really does. But...I was (for the first and last time), wrong. It's not gay. Mickey is THE MAN. This is truly the greatest uni-sex game ever made...besides we all know it's about the gameplay.

Since the main character is somewhat adolescent, I am sure MJ would like the game as well.

Back to the Subject:

All three of the these games are going to make game of the years difficult. I imagine different websites and magazines will likely have different choices, similar to God of War vs. Resident Evil 4.

Later,
Trebuken

[meancode]

Kingdom Hearts II really isn't in the same leage as FF or Elder Scrolls.

I am going to take a stab in the dark and say that Oblivion will win Best RPG in 2006. It is not because I like it, because you know I do, but because of Bethesda's recorrd and because of how many damn hours I have been playing it. You cannot play a FF game for as long as I have been playing Oblivion. And I am not even close to being done!

[blissfulnoise]

BUT, never count out BioWare. Too Human will likely see a release this year.

"Too Human" is a sci-fi adventure game from the people that did "Eternal Darkness", could be an RPG I suppose but everything I'd read up on it so far has never indicated that it will be. If you were confusing it with Bioware's new sci-fi RPG, then that game's called "Mass Effect."

Yup, Too Human is from Canadian developer, Silicon Knights :)

Doh! I got my games mixed up, I was trying to come up with Mass Effect.

[Daria]

You are underestimating the number of JRPG fanboys in the media.

As for Oblivion, the buzz is another MMORPG without the people.


You're kidding right? Square themselves have said their inspiration for FFXII's new battle sysytem was that of recreating the FFXI experience offline. Oblivion just features a very classic, western PC RPG style of gameplay. One focused around non-linearity and mission quests. However loosely that may resemble an MMO game, which frankly I don't see the connection, is nothing compared to Square's move.

Oblivion provides an extremely rich and intricate universe which supports the foundation of it's storyline. MMOs tend to be a rather empty experience, storywise, because they're just the backdrop for social interaction amongst the players. Storywise, Oblivion is rather exciting, with certainly more intrigue then most cliché ladden Japenese offerings.

Although I have always thought western (computer) and eastern (console) RPGs are two completely different creatures and really have no buisness being compared. And I'd say a battle between Oblivion, Final Fanatsy XII, and Kingdom Hearts is no exception.

[Tan]

You are underestimating the number of JRPG fanboys in the media.

As for Oblivion, the buzz is another MMORPG without the people.


You're kidding right? Square themselves have said their inspiration for FFXII's new battle sysytem was that of recreating the FFXI experience offline. Oblivion just features a very classic, western PC RPG style of gameplay. One focused around non-linearity and mission quests. However loosely that may resemble an MMO game, which frankly I don't see the connection, is nothing compared to Square's move.

Oblivion provides an extremely rich and intricate universe which supports the foundation of it's storyline. MMOs tend to be a rather empty experience, storywise, because they're just the backdrop for social interaction amongst the players. Storywise, Oblivion is rather exciting, with certainly more intrigue then most cliché ladden Japenese offerings.

Although I have always thought western (computer) and eastern (console) RPGs are two completely different creatures and really have no buisness being compared. And I'd say a battle between Oblivion, Final Fanatsy XII, and Kingdom Hearts is no exception.

it's ironic that we call them western rpg's, when the gothic, medieval nature is loosley based on european history not ours, and strangely enough, it seems few JRPG's actually have Asian characters, or are based on Ancient Asian cultures with the exception of say Jade empire, which is a western rpg :roll:

[Daria]

it's ironic that we call them western rpg's, when the gothic, medieval nature is loosley based on european history not ours,

Europe is considered part of the "western" world. Besides the term applies not to the theme of the fiction involved but rather the culture creating it.

[njiska]

You are underestimating the number of JRPG fanboys in the media.

As for Oblivion, the buzz is another MMORPG without the people.


You're kidding right? Square themselves have said their inspiration for FFXII's new battle sysytem was that of recreating the FFXI experience offline. Oblivion just features a very classic, western PC RPG style of gameplay. One focused around non-linearity and mission quests. However loosely that may resemble an MMO game, which frankly I don't see the connection, is nothing compared to Square's move.

Oblivion provides an extremely rich and intricate universe which supports the foundation of it's storyline. MMOs tend to be a rather empty experience, storywise, because they're just the backdrop for social interaction amongst the players. Storywise, Oblivion is rather exciting, with certainly more intrigue then most cliché ladden Japenese offerings.

Although I have always thought western (computer) and eastern (console) RPGs are two completely different creatures and really have no buisness being compared. And I'd say a battle between Oblivion, Final Fanatsy XII, and Kingdom Hearts is no exception.

That was a hell of well thought out post. I tip my hat to the.

[sabre2922]

Im really looking forward to Phantasy Star Universe a TRUE Phantasy Star FINALLY.

FF12 looks impressive also ...but a Nov release for the U.S. hmmm seems to me Square-Enix wants to take advantage of the the release of the PS3 in the same month but it makes sense $$$ and thats what its all about right? ;)

[Raedon]

You are underestimating the number of JRPG fanboys in the media.

As for Oblivion, the buzz is another MMORPG without the people.


You're kidding right? Square themselves have said their inspiration for FFXII's new battle sysytem was that of recreating the FFXI experience offline. Oblivion just features a very classic, western PC RPG style of gameplay. One focused around non-linearity and mission quests. However loosely that may resemble an MMO game, which frankly I don't see the connection, is nothing compared to Square's move.

Oblivion provides an extremely rich and intricate universe which supports the foundation of it's storyline. MMOs tend to be a rather empty experience, storywise, because they're just the backdrop for social interaction amongst the players. Storywise, Oblivion is rather exciting, with certainly more intrigue then most cliché ladden Japenese offerings.

Although I have always thought western (computer) and eastern (console) RPGs are two completely different creatures and really have no buisness being compared. And I'd say a battle between Oblivion, Final Fanatsy XII, and Kingdom Hearts is no exception.

I'm assuming you don't play MMO's on roleplaying servers as that statement about MMOs being devoid of story is completely fabricated based on what I can only assume to be little play of MMOs with kids. Go play DDO and you will find an MMO of roleplayers 30 years old to 60. Even WoW with all the teens playing is vastly richer in Warcraft mythology then 4 Elder Scrolls games.

starting a post with "your kidding right?" is a way to make me blow off your post as fangirl trype. But I see your point the more I play Oblivion. I think this descussion is best left for November/December. :)

[erehwon]

I really need to play Oblivion. I'm playing KHII right now. It's good, but it's not the rpg of the year. Right now I'm hoping for Persona 3 or Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria (http://www.the-magicbox.com/0603/game060319a.shtml) are announced for the US market. From the look, VP might have a shot. Persona looks interesting, but it is a very niche title. I'm more interested in these games than FFXII.

By the way, here is a 17 min trailer for Persona 3.

http://gametrailers.com/player.php?id=9644&pl=game&type=wmv

[kainemaxwell]

You're kidding right? Square themselves have said their inspiration for FFXII's new battle sysytem was that of recreating the FFXI experience offline. Oblivion just features a very classic, western PC RPG style of gameplay. One focused around non-linearity and mission quests. However loosely that may resemble an MMO game, which frankly I don't see the connection, is nothing compared to Square's move.
So for those of us who never played 11, what's the battle system like?

[Neo Rasa]

You run around and lock onto various things, and your healer heals you in real time constantly while you slash at things.

From what's come out in the US so far I'd give RPG of the year to Oblivion, no contest. Though presumably either Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou or Persona 3 will make it to the US this year I hope so that will make it interesting. I still need to play Kingdom Hearts II. There's Twilight Princess also still coming out if you're going to consider Kingdom Hearts II's gameplay a contender.

Even WoW with all the teens playing is vastly richer in Warcraft mythology then 4 Elder Scrolls games.

The games are so different that they're not really worth comparing like we all agreed, but seriously, I think this statement is way off base. As far as actual in-game background and its presentation goes the Elder Scrolls series beats out just about any game ever made. I mean even in Daggerfall from the mid-nineties you could go into a library, walk up to a single shelf and read ten different books that would each have ten or so pages of in character fiction, historical disserations by people in the game world about the game world, etc. It's a ridiculously involved game in a ridiculously fleshed out franchise; one of the main selling poitns for it being its well developed game world.

Also the remark about the "buzzword" for it being an MMO without people is pretty out of the bounds too. The typically oblivious to anything game-related New York Times even did a pretty strong feature on Oblivion in the Arts sections specifically talking about how it's the first super involved single player game to come out in quite some time and how it might spark a resurgance in the popularity of this type of game.

[Daria]

I'm assuming you don't play MMO's on roleplaying servers as that statement about MMOs being devoid of story is completely fabricated based on what I can only assume to be little play of MMOs with kids.

As far as comercial released MMOs are concerned I've played Ultima Online (of which I played on an all Role Playing shard), Lineage, and Final Fantasy XI.

Kaine: Final Fanatsy XI plays like... well you run up to a monster and initiate an attack. You have to initiate unless the monster is aggrevated (aggro) At that point you're locked onto that creature and no one else except your party members may fight it. Based on your stats you are set to automatically whack away at the creature at so many hits per minute, leaving you the player to manage other actions such as deciding when to cast a spell or take a potion. If you cast a spell, it takes so many seconds to complete, should the monster hit you in that time the spell is interupted.

From what I've played of the demo Final Fantasy XII mimicks this system by again handling the actual attacking for you, much like in a Knights of the Old Republic game, and leaving all the micro-managing to the player: potions, magic, etc.

[studvicious]

What about the madness that will be Twilight Princess later this year? (hopefully) :D

[blissfulnoise]

The Zelda series has always been the watermark that defines adventure games on consoles.

I've stayed away from specifics on Twilight Princess, but from what I understand, this iteration in the series will be no different and won't fall into the RPG camp.

[stressboy]

My prediction:

Xbox publications will give it to Oblivion.

Playstation publications will give it to.... I am not sure. It is still too early to tell.

Sites that cater to all platforms is a toss up. The buzz I hear about FF12 is it is the best FF in years. I am not going to pick a winner until FF12 is in my PS2, sucking my life away as I play it non-stop like I do with every new FF game(except 11).

I am currently playing Oblivion on my PC and loving it.

[studvicious]

The Zelda series has always been the watermark that defines adventure games on consoles.

I've stayed away from specifics on Twilight Princess, but from what I understand, this iteration in the series will be no different and won't fall into the RPG camp.

ahh, the 'ol "Zelda isn't an RPG" angle. Forgot about that one. I guess technically it's an Adventure/RPG but I know what you're saying.... moving onward..

[Kuros]

I think that Oblivion has a really good chance of winning it. What makes it stand apart from the other RPGs on the list is that unlike them, you get a real sense of being in the world unlike just controlling the main characters. I've only played the game for about 8 hours now and I love it. They put so much time into the game with the story and the amount of background on the world it's amazing. I walked up to a character and she introduced herself as being from the house Hlaalu, which if you played Morrowind, would notice that was one of the Great Houses that gave you quests. They have backgrounds fleshed out for tons of people and places. Even though it's single player, the world doesn't feel static.

If it doesn't win RPG of the year I'm going to be rather surprised. But I still can't count out KH2 and FF12.

[neonesmaster]

final fantasy XII will get my vote for the best rpg of the year, but i think oblivion will win because it has bill gates behind it. although i must throw in that i have seen 2 come back to my store as trade ins. people are saying there is too much text and not enough rpg action going on...

i filmed som eof final fantasy XII at a conference last year when square enix was there presenting. i also snagged a prerelease case from the vendor for dragon quest 8. kinda cool, but only if you are into cases and all.

the graphic for final fantasy XII are unreal. of course everyone in the us has seen the demo now, but i think the video i shot was a little more compelling.

either way. they confenscated the video and i got to keep my pride...

that day sucked for sure.

november 2005

[Kuros]

people are saying there is too much text and not enough rpg action going on...

I always hate it when people give that reason for not liking a RPG game. I can understand if an action game goes too slow due to text, I'd be pissed also, but an RPG?

I wanna look those people in the face and just say "Well no shit sherlock, RPGs typically have a lot of text in them. Are you just too lazy to read?"

[jdc]

Oblivion is too text heavy?!?

Where?!?! I've finished the game......I must have missed something then. Even with the assloads of books that I've "read" for stat upgrades.

Dear Oblivion....where to stand? It's not as great as it's predecessor.....if you're a hardcore Elder Scrolls fan.....but if you're a casual gamer.....different story. It would actually be BETTER than it's predecessor. They dumbed it down to be more palatable to more people. Nothing wrong there....sales equal success. The game is still amazing. I actually like the new "lighter" game a bit better because it IS less plodding.

I think that Oblivion will take RPG of the year in North America simply because no-one will have the balls NOT to name it as so. Then again......if Twilight Princess launches this year..... LOL Gotta love Zelda being classed as an RPG by the average North American! LOL

[Raedon]

Even WoW with all the teens playing is vastly richer in Warcraft mythology then 4 Elder Scrolls games.

The games are so different that they're not really worth comparing like we all agreed, but seriously, I think this statement is way off base. As far as actual in-game background and its presentation goes the Elder Scrolls series beats out just about any game ever made. I mean even in Daggerfall from the mid-nineties you could go into a library, walk up to a single shelf and read ten different books that would each have ten or so pages of in character fiction, historical disserations by people in the game world about the game world, etc. It's a ridiculously involved game in a ridiculously fleshed out franchise; one of the main selling poitns for it being its well developed game world.

It's not way off base, your logic is flawed by what I can only assume is idiology. the elder scrolls series is no where as deep as the Warcraft franchise. There are even real novels for warcraft. If you don't think the Warcraft games are well developed and full of story then you have been asleep for over a decade (or you are just trolling.)

I went and read the NYT article and it was worth enough for them to mention WoW right off the bad as the only competition to oblivion. It doesn't mention that it is better they just say it's the only RPG to sell for a while.


Since its release for PC's and the Xbox 360 last week, the game has sold out in stores across the country and appears to be supplying the first noticeable competition to World of Warcraft, the "American Idol" of games, for the hearts and minds of many old-school players.

It comes down to how deep do you want to get into the mythology of a game. You choose to read books on a in game bookshelf go for it. Oblivion is about as rich a game as Eye of the Beholder with NEW OMG graphics. Even the original EQ blows away the Elder Scrolls on just content alone.

Don't blanket your posts with non-facts without explaining why. I say, show me how I'm off base. show me.. You will not be able to back Elder Scrolls Oblivion as the richest, most content filled game world of all time.



Also the remark about the "buzzword" for it being an MMO without people is pretty out of the bounds too. The typically oblivious to anything game-related New York Times even did a pretty strong feature on Oblivion in the Arts sections specifically talking about how it's the first super involved single player game to come out in quite some time and how it might spark a resurgance in the popularity of this type of game.

First off, don't mis-quote me. I never said "buzzword." and again how am I out of bounds by stating Oblivion is just any MMO without people? It is basically because MMO's came from games like Ultima, the Bard's Tale, and Pool of raidiance.

again the NYT has no choice but to point out MMO's all threw that article.


"In a single-player game, if you kill the dragon, it's dead forever. In a multiplayer game the dragon respawns every 20 minutes so the next player can kill it. So in a single-player game the village that was being besieged by the dragon can forever thank you and be grateful, but in a multiplayer game that can never happen. So the accomplishments in a single-player game can seem much more important and memorable."

This guy doesn't get it. I go to Molten Core every week and the game experience of 40 real people playing their class as good as they can is FAR more memorable then just killing some boss mob once. In an MMO people see your skill as a gamer and your character gets great gear that you can show off. The MMO gives you Oblivion with people who notice you're a kick ass Druid.

He's also wrong about things always being the same in an MMO, mobs are moved, fairs travel, plagues flow across the land even when you are not there.

The next player quote says it all


Rebeca Ames, 26, a World of Warcraft player who works for the Brooklyn Children's Museum and has dabbled with Oblivion, said the absence of a social context often leaves single-player games feeling a bit pointless. "There's no doubt some people are saying, 'I'd rather be playing Oblivion,' since it came out," she said. "But I end up feeling in a single-player game that there's no one to share your accomplishments with."

If you look at that article it actually talks more about WoW then Oblivion. It's not a strong article at all. the NYT just said to me, "they turned down $15 a month just so people could play offline? - that is bad business, Now lets look at the this game over here with 6 million players that is pulling in $90,000,000 a month."

[Neo Rasa]

It's not way off base, your logic is flawed by what I can only assume is idiology. the elder scrolls series is no where as deep as the Warcraft franchise. There are even real novels for warcraft. If you don't think the Warcraft games are well developed and full of story then you have been asleep for over a decade (or you are just trolling.)

I was pretty specific that I was referring to the in-game content and not the outside sources built around it. I'm talking about what's delivered within the Elder Scrolls games themselves as opposed to the spinoff titles and so on. I like how World of Warcraft is so deep because there are real novels about it, but Oblivion is as "rich" as Eye of the Beholder, uh, so all the D&D material Eye of the Beholder is based on isn't relevant. But all my logic is flawed due do to "idiology" so I'll just drop this here. ;)

[devils advocate]

Wow. Raedon hints at one person being a fangirl type, and another for his intellect containing "idiology".

Sure makes his opinion look qualified.

But as he said, he may not be right. But he sure thinks he is.

[Beavertown]

and again how am I out of bounds by stating Oblivion is just any MMO without people? It is basically because MMO's came from games like Ultima, the Bard's Tale, and Pool of raidiance.


It's nothing like a MMO. The only thing it "might" have in common with MMOs at all, is the content and how it's presented.

As far as gameplay goes, again, it's nothing like a MMO. Oblivion is an action/rpg that plays similar to a FPS and it features a fully fleshed out singleplayer experience with a main storyline/quest to complete.

I don't see the comparisons at all. You said it yourself that MMOs are about the multi-player experience -


This guy doesn't get it. I go to Molten Core every week and the game experience of 40 real people playing their class as good as they can is FAR more memorable then just killing some boss mob once. In an MMO people see your skill as a gamer and your character gets great gear that you can show off. The MMO gives you Oblivion with people who notice you're a kick ass Druid.


That doesn't translate into Oblivion whatsoever. So, I'm not sure what you're arguing that shows Oblivion is just an MMO without people?

[Daria]

people are saying there is too much text...


But... alll the dialouge is voiced... and the books are completely optional. O.o

Radeon: I never claimed that Oblivion was the richest fictional universe ever devised, but there's no denying that it is indeed rich. How it stacks up to World of Warcraft however is completely irrelevent. This thread is about the best RPG of 2006, so how about we keep the focus of the discussion on games that were actually released this year?

[Neo Rasa]

Speaking of which, has Falcom put anything cool in Japan this year? Even US PSP release of Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion sneaked out the gates last November, and the 2006 PSP port of Ys 6 sure as hell isn't winning ANYTHING (nor does it really deserve to).

On the Atlus front I'd say Metal Saga could be a contender if the writing is as good as they say it is.

[Daria]

Not yet I don't believe. But they are releasing a PSP port of a 2004 PC action RPG titled Gurumin in Japan. It was supposed to be released mid-March but I think it's been pushed back until the summer.

[Neo Rasa]

Gurumin is good stuff, I hope the PC port isn't as bad as Ys VI's was.

Falcom puts out so many RPGs with really intruiging character designs, I wish more of them would make it over here.

[Raedon]

people are saying there is too much text...


But... alll the dialouge is voiced... and the books are completely optional. O.o

Radeon: I never claimed that Oblivion was the richest fictional universe ever devised, but there's no denying that it is indeed rich. How it stacks up to World of Warcraft however is completely irrelevent. This thread is about the best RPG of 2006, so how about we keep the focus of the discussion on games that were actually released this year?

I was debating the worth of that NYT article Daria.. it was off topic but I had to defend myself from you seething fanboy types..

[Raedon]

God I hate this board sometimes, everyone has to f'ing jump into a fight that isn't theirs.

No reason to even discuss this unless someone wants to say one more thing about games in 2006 that arn't released yet..

Oblivion was about as fun as Fable.. I'm actually kind of dissapointed it hasn't even been a week.

Someone start this tread agian in November.. :roll:

[Neo Rasa]

So much anger...Blizzard invented the RPG. World of Warcraft is the Hamlet of electronic storytelling. We get it.







Anyways it seems 1up is going to do a "big feature" on Devil Summoner: Kuzunoha Raidou in the near future. They already did a substantial preview for it so I'm hoping this is going to coincide with Atlus announcing a US translation (otherwise why plan two big "previews" when the game is already out in Japan?).

If it improves on what faults Riviera: The Promised Land had then Yggdra Union will be a blast as well. Scheduled for October in the US, just came out in Japan recently. Riviera was a huge surprise for me so I'm looking forward to checking Yggrda Union out ASAP.

[Joker T]

Oblivion is one of the few RPGs I have enjoyed so it wins for me by default.

[Neo Rasa]

Oblivion is one of the few RPGs I have enjoyed so it wins for me by default.

I'm pretty impressed with the combat in it since this is the first game in the main series where all the combat is real time. It feels like Condemned but more refined. It's "easier" in that you can just hold down the guard button and be guarding forever, but at the same time you do have to angle it correctly for projectiles which is pretty cool.

I gotta say I got into a brawl in one of the dungeons with two vampire warriors and three skeletons and was impressed with how aggressive the AI was. Not a hitch in the framerate or any slowdown either.

It's kind of weird how 3D graphics are still at this point where you can only really combat maybe half a dozen things at once without the game looking or running like garbage. Painkiller's the only game to really get around that.

I brought it up before, but I hope to God Devil Summoner makes it here. Megami Tensei franchise is my favorite RPG series ever. The game seems to be extremely good from what people are saying too.

The combat is like a mix of Curse of Darkness and Lost Kingdoms. You have random encounters but the combat is done in real time with you running around and attacking. The summoned devils roam around with you as partners in combat and as support characters.

[Captain Qb]

Some you just have to buy these games:
- Dragon Quest 8 for PS2
- FF XII for PS2
- Oblivion for X360

But I have to get also some older RPG games, because i'm collecting theme.. ^.^

Captain Qb.

[Daria]

but I had to defend myself from you seething fanboy types..

Seething fanboy? Hey I'm not the one on a World of Warcraft rant in a 2006 RPG thread. Although you seem quick to disregard anyone with a differing opinion as merely another fanboy. But hey if your side of the debate is so fragile that you need a cushion just to maintain your percieved stance on the matter, by all means let the name calling fly.


As for the other contenders for this year... I can see the mass apeal of Kingdom Hearts. But as much as I want to like the series, as awesome as a Disney cannon RPG sounds, the whole Final Fantasy aspect just keeps on ruining it for me. I'll admit it I'm one of those freaks of nature that just can't stand the FF series. With a few exceptions (loved FF9 & FF4). I've tried both the original and Chain of Memories, and I will try the number Two but I don't see myself magically like it more then the other games unless it cuts back on the FF cameos at least until I'm already abosrbed in the story. Or maybe if it just featured more Vivi. :)

Course that's a personal bias and I can't really use any of that a basis for knocking it as RPG of the Year.

As for other potential contenders this year, I can't wait to see how the sequal to Valkyrie Profile is handled.

[poe]

I'm assuming you don't play MMO's on roleplaying servers as that statement about MMOs being devoid of story is completely fabricated based on what I can only assume to be little play of MMOs with kids. Go play DDO and you will find an MMO of roleplayers 30 years old to 60. Even WoW with all the teens playing is vastly richer in Warcraft mythology then 4 Elder Scrolls games.

Are you actually counting the marriage of Moonfire Stormrage and Wytchcraft on a RP server as Warcraft canon? Serious? Why not lump the inane discussion on the other realms into canon too? I can see the press release excerpt now. "The last invasion of the burning legion was stemmed by the wicked awesome judo chop of Chuck Norris, which sets the stage for Warcraft 4:BAMF." Trying to argue fan content as part of the mythology is really weak.

MMOs should really never be lumped into the same category as single player RPGs in any respects but graphics. Story in an MMO, as Daria said, is just a backdrop for the social side of it.

Good MMOs are only as dynamic as allowing for a few different character builds in a given class, maybe an engaging player-driven economy (I hear EVE Online is awesome for this), and the rest is either people working together to complete raid content or a very pretty chatroom (Roleplaying or otherwise). Single player RPGs, by contrast, are usually built around a story and a very engaging set of mechanics (moreso than level-grinding in an MMO, which is more maligned in a single-player game than MMOs because it's not what solo players want).

And on topic: Persona 3 (though it'll be so far below most people's radars to ever happen).

[Neo Rasa]

Some you just have to buy these games:
- Dragon Quest 8 for PS2
- FF XII for PS2
- Oblivion for X360

But I have to get also some older RPG games, because i'm collecting theme.. ^.^

Captain Qb.

I have to admit, I wasn't turned OFF by the FFXII demo in Dragon Quest VIII but it didn't really do anything for me. I haven't liked the recent FFs much at all even if they are technically really good games (I'm one of those codgers that hates everything about FFVII and up but loves the first six and Tactics to death). I'll give this one a chance but I'm more hoping for Devil Summoner and Persona 3 to make it this year.

I do think Kingdom Hearts would be significantly cooler if it had just Disney characters instead characters from both companies, but that kind of defeats the original purpose of the game, which was to raise the visibility of Square's characters.

I'll have to buy Kingdom Hearts II eventually either way because it has a Tron world.

Honestly, under the radar or not Persona 3 would probably do better here than Devil Summoner. There are a LOT of PSX-era RPG fans that remember and liked both Persona games. And I believe that reprint is actually selling pretty well.

[Beavertown]

I have to admit, I wasn't turned OFF by the FFXII demo in Dragon Quest VIII but it didn't really do anything for me. I haven't liked the recent FFs much at all even if they are technically really good games (I'm one of those codgers that hates everything about FFVII and up but loves the first six and Tactics to death).

I'm the same way. But I'm holding out hope for XII because it was designed/directed by Matsuno, the same guy that did Tactics, Vagrant Story and the Ogre Battle/Tactics games. It's definitely not your average FF game.

[Neo Rasa]

Yeah it's set in Ivalice too which is pretty interesting. Though the thing that has me most looking forward to it is that Hitoshi Sakimoto is doing the soundtrack.

[Mark III]

Yeah it's going to be a pretty heated battle this year for the coveted RPG of the Year award.

But I think the clear victor this year will be:

Neopets Petpet Adventures: The Wand of Wishing
by a landslide.

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/image_viewer/boxshot.php?pid=927914

:D

[Iron Draggon]

Well it will never win, but Beggar Prince should be the RPG of the year, IMO. I know it isn't even out yet, but come on, a new commercially released RPG for the Genesis, 8 years after the last commercial release? It should win just for that alone! Who needs modern RPG's when you can play a new old school RPG? It's like going back in a time warp!