RPG Cliches
 

So I finished Final Fantasy Tactics last night. At first I thought, hey, the story actually looks like it will be at least <i>somewhat</i> original. Then,



Is it just me or am I always playing the same game, just repackaged with different characters, fighting systems, and graphics? Yet, for some reason, I keep coming back for more.

Don't go any further than a supposedly beloved RPG for some of the most overused cliches on earth. Here's some of the "prototypes" displayed in the game:

1) A frog who turns out to be a prince
2) a nerdy geek girl who has affection for her robot
3) A bratty princess turn good

At least the mute (lol) main character was original, as was the combat. Too bad the rest of it is utterly derivative.

Guess what the game's name is?

1) Frog wasn't a prince, he was a knight's lackey
2) Since when is that overused cliche?
3) Um, she was bratty, but she was always "good."

Other than that, you're spot on.

LOL, like Aghama said, your memory's a little fuzzy on the details, but Chrono Trigger did have a few cliches. It's been years since I've played the game, but there was:

1) The rebellious princess (sometimes a prince in other games)
2) A corrupt royal advisor
3) Stopping an ancient evil from resurrecting

I can think of other games that have more, though...

Honestly, Pokemon was one of the most innovative RPGs to come out in a long time, I think. And look how many copycats gobbed onto that whole "cockfighting monsters" theme.

And why is it that you can just bust into people's houses and take anything you want? Half the time they're just sitting their watching you rip them off. Some RPGs do go against this... Ultima VII, for one. If you steal too often, the characters in your party will start to become disillusioned and leave you. Also, people shout at you if you come in and start taking stuff.

In Link's Awakening for the Gameboy, if you steal from the store your name changes to THIEF and everyone starts reacting to you like the criminal you are, but take rupees from a jar in someone's house and it's A-OK! -biggrin-

I never liked the whole "Meteor coming to earth" thing

todd

1. Main character is an orphan with mysterious origins, turns out to be the "chosen one" who is destined to save the world.

2. "Yes, I have the information you need, but first you must fetch me a widget from the Dungeon of Foozles."

3. "Ha ha ha! Those pesky adventures will surely be stopped in their tracks if I make it so that they have to push this block over there in order to open the door!"

LOL, yeah my memory is indeed spotty, but that's partly because I played the game like 7-8 years ago, and it really wasn't exactly that memorable. I remembered being very underwhelmed, however. I do believe that the geeky nerd who has affection for the robot IS a cliche though. Tons of movies have this type of plot.

Here's one: the top bad guy is the brother/father/mother of the main good guy.

:lol: Don't forget the computer that runs everything is failing. :lol:

" And I would have taken over the world if it was'nt for those meddling kids "!!!!!!!

OOPS! Sorry, that was Scooby Doo.

DARTH GAMER

My favorite are the people that inhabit the world all stand in the same spot forever or move about 3 yds. In earlier games everyone was a twin but had a diffrerent colored cape/apron.

That one is one of my favorites :D.

Here's a real common one: Guy meets girl, they argue and fight the whole way through, in the end they fall in love.

The stopping an ancient evil is a fairly common theme in japanese culture and in their literature. Of course like any genre or movie these cliche's have been occuring ever since the beginning but I keep playing too. The reason? Its not what happens, its how it happens, thats what keeps it interesting. If the character designs, personalities, story, game is enough to keep it entertaining thats why I like it, plus if I'm enjoying it then who cares if its a cliche :). Although I haven't had a chance to play it, I have heard that Shadow King: Okage is an example that breaks away from the norm.

Darth Gamer you just got me thinking on what a Scooby Doo RPG would be like lol :lol:

Either failing, or gaining some sort of sentience/desire to blow the hell out of everyone else.

Just like about every romatic comedy in the theaters.

Yes, in that no one takes the Shadow King (evil guy) seriosly. Other than that, it is a pretty standard RPG, random battles and all (ugh).

The game would have been a classic if the Shadow King were voice acted, and voice acted with the same voice actor as Plankton in Spongebob Squarepants.

Ok, who can guess which RPG I'm talking about:

It has a teenager with a sword destined to save the whole world.

Heath Ledger?

-Maneesh

Yeah, there all the same, but at least in Xenogears you get layed, twice. so thats some thing different. thats about the only thing different though

I cannot let you people bash Chrono Trigger. It is one of my favorite games of all time. EVERY RPG should give you the New Game+ option. I love blasting through the game with my superpowered characters.
And so WHAT if it's cliched, EVERYTHING that can be done HAS been done. Stop looking for new ideas. You're going to be disappointed. Just enjoy the way the old ideas are conveyed. As long as the game is fun to play, and the characters are likeable is that such a bad thing? Besides, Frog's music kicked serious ass. It's funny this thread came up because I was playing Chrono Trigger for the past week.
Oh and the Kings Chancellor WASN'T evil. He was kidnapped by an evil mutant thingy and that guy impersonated him. ;)

Old retired ass kicker needs to come out of retirement to save the World. This is the other side of young kid who's a natural born ass kicker and didn't know it...and must save the World.

I 2nd this.

rotfl Let me just say that I love the games even if they are cliche.

"Ooooh looky here, a two foot-high fence. Guess I'll have to go through this mile-long dungeon to get around it, becuase I don't know how to jump."


So not true. RPGs are perhaps the least evolved genre over the past decade. Thankfully games like Project Ego, Too Human and Deus Ex 2 (yes I know it's a sequel..) are being attempted.

yeah, it's a cliche, but hey, it's fun.

the story is what compells it. sure you fight the evil rising character that will cause the destruction of the world or something like that, but it's sure fun. and hell, you get a new bone every now and then



it's clean fun and rising there stats is fun as hell.