And to clarify a bit-- I get what you're saying that since every game has those RPG qualities (character, story) that the only defining quality RPG's really have left are things like turn based battle system but that simply means other games are getting better and evolving.

In 1995 you couldn't have your everyday platformer have the same rich narrative and characters as, say, Final Fantasy IV but today, you have things like Uncharted that has its strong roots in platformers and action games while also outdoing games like Final Fantasy XIII with it's story and characters.

The defining quality of RPG's have just become kind of generic since now any game can have those defining qualities while still excelling and being another type of typical game.

Now the real sad part is that while your typical action can easily integrate the defining qualities of a good RPG, the characters and story, RPG's have stubbornly stuck to their bad gameplay.  That's why RPG's have been on the backburner the last 10 years.

Mass Effect 2 is still an RPG but the RPG elements are heavily watered down from the first one, the same appears to be happening to Dragon Age 2. ME2 is, in my opinion, an Action Shooter with RPG elements.

You mean it's an RPG with reduced Strategy elements.

Watered down Strategy RPG with Action Shooter tendencies and a serious case of split personality? Agreed?

No, not at all.

It's a full-blown RPG where (lame) strategy elements were traded off to strengthen (lame) shooter elements.

That's not a case of split personality.

You so crazy... Anyway, I didn't really like it at all. Enjoyed the first one though depsite some glaring flaws.

I'd hardly call Uncharted out-doing FF13, it's just swapping the predictable stereotypes out for predictable douchebags.

Anyway, I think the whole RPG genre label is largely irrelevent and always has been. The roots of what we define the genre as date back to old tabletop games and choose-you-own adventure novels and come from the ideals of letting you play the game how you want to. Pretty much every game lets you do that now, meaning it's impossible to class any one game as an RPG. But back in the old days even most arcade games let players adopt their own style. Admittedly they had about as much freedom as a one-dimensional morality meter that most Bioware games have now, you could still choose to get through the levels or play for points, adapting the player character to the gameplay style, or 'role', that you wanted.

Well hey, nothing wrong with not liking it, I'll agree to that readily enough

What did FFXIII do better than Uncharted?

Remember, just because it's more complex or longer story doesn't make it better.

Notice my use of the word 'predictable' to describe the characters from both games. I haven't said that either game's story was better, their just as bad as each other in their own ways, whether it be characters with no motivation or a mess of factions and made-up words.