What defines a RPG?

[Torillian]

Player2 said:

Mnementh said:

Zelda Metroid is not so clear. Your character gets better with different items, as you can do more stuff. To get these items, you have to fullfill some objective. You can argue, that these items are no 'stat', that's true. So the definition may rule out Zelda Metroid-games, but it could be discussed.

"In this article the author Karl Koebke tries to give a definition, what a RPG is. Let's take a look. The definition he comes up is:

1.Main focus of the game must be (largely) persistent Player controlled characters with base stats that define their attributes and which can be increased over time, e.g. strength and agility.
2. There must be some means for the player to increase the base stats of these characters over time by completing objectives which is usually, but not always, called “experience”."

So Metroid isn't an RPG but Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow and GTA: San Andreas are?

I don't remember GTA: San Andreas having any base stats, you leveled up your use of different weapons by using them, which is certainly RPG-like and has seen use in games like Oblivion, but since the character himself does not have base stats that determine his attributes and increase over the course of the game I wouldn't consider it an RPG.  I'd have to look into Dawn of Sorrow, but no Idon't consider Metroid to be an RPG, and I'd be somewhat surprised if anyone does.