How is a JRPG an RPG? The J man has to know.

[.jayderyu]

Words Of Wisdom said:

.jayderyu said:

The mistaken premise is basing that the only influnce the payers have on the game world is centered on the  rails story. I didn't like Icewind Dale as much, and Baldurs Gate was good, but I never finished.

 

The problem is that you define influence as only things affecting the main overarching storyline.  In KotOR2, you get to choose Light side or Dark side and most of your choices will stem from that.  You can make some changes but for the most part (with a couple exceptions) everything happens about the same way on each path.

Conversely, in Baldur's Gate 2 not only did you get a main quest with several branches of its own (Bodhi/Shadow Thieves,

The list of things goes on and on.  In KotOR you had a main quest with a few decisions some of which mattered more than others but in Baldur's Gate 2 you had a main quest with tons of side-quests that let you define your character, flesh out

You get a decision which changes one small part toward the end of the game in KotOR whereas in Baldur's Gate 2 you get a multitude of decisions like the De'Arnise Keep which lead to saving a woman's family, becoming ruler of your own domain, and even a romance with drama and kidnapping.  Do they necessarily affect the end of the game (short of having that character with you or not)?  No, but do you really think there's more roleplaying in the former?

There's an old saying among table-top RPG players and that's "You can't win the game" because there is nothing to win.  The game is in the adventure itself.  Getting to the end isn't nearly as important as what you do on the way that's where Baldur's Gate 2 shines and KotOR falls.

I left BG2 out of my discussion because I haven't played it. I was refering to BG1 and I didn't finish, but I think I already mentioned that.  I wouldn't put KoTOR in as a full rpg, but a good story with numerous rpg trappings. Though your discussion on BG2 get's me the urge to install it(I've had the game for years, shame on me). But I stand by what I say. In the limitations of a crpg you have start and and end. How you get there is up to you. The rest is discovery. If you end up doing an on rails story, then it's not an rpg, but instead a interactive novel. You might as well play Steve Jackson Fighting Fantasy novels and call them rpgs. But this doesn't mean they are not some what enthralling and fun to play. Many of them are.

I'm pretty familiar with the table top saying. Though I prefer Pen(cil) & Paper myself. I have become 20 years familiar with the saying :)

Edit:  ok how about this. Consider me an Elite/Upstream/Hardcore Role Player that finds CRPGS to be casual low games and that i'm being a harcore ass about it :) though a hardcore player that enjoys "low" end crpgs anyways :)