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[Shinta]

Amano's artwork has never featured very prominently in Final Fantasy characters or sprites. Mostly Amano's work is used for profiles. Final Fantasy IX was a very "anime" or cartoony Final Fantasy game with a slight realism. While the new ones almost entirely go for a realistic look with occasional popular cartoon references. While Tales games go for a cell shaded or cell shaded-like look. Amano influences are nowhere to be seen in Final Fantasy XIII at all. In fact the last time Amano aesthetics played even remotely heavily into a Final Fantasy game, was Final Fantasy VI.

Tales franchise goes for both cartoony characters and landscapes. While lately Final Fantasy has been going for realistic characters and landscapes. That's really the only difference. I do agree that many of the areas and designs in Final Fantasy games require more money and time to create, but I think that's honestly one of the failings of Final Fantasy lately. Spending money on things that don't matter like how ridiculously detailed some towns and dungeons and so forth have, while the gameplay suffers for it.

Lots of high polygon designs don't mean much if you can't interact with them. With Tales I find the ratio of stuff that is there to be interacted with as to the stuff that is simply there to look at, to be far higher in Tales than Final Fantasy. Which is better game design.

If one is arguing that Final Fantasy games are better than Tales games because they the popular cartoon style of Japan, instead of what Final Fantasy does, then that's pretty shallow. Cartoony is not worse than realistic. And I'd much rather have cartoony landscapes one can better interact with, that realistic high-polygon landscapes for show.

I'd also rather trek the cartoony landscapes of Okami than the realistic landscapes of Final Fantasy XIII anyday.

I just don't think of realism when I think of FFXIII. I can kind of get what you're saying, but I think you're really downplaying how little that is a factor in these games.

It's one of the least realistic in a way, because the gods and mythology play so much of a role in this one. XIII-2 goes even further into the fantasy and Lightning Returns looks like it follows this trend, with the whole world being swallowed by chaos and time no longer existing. I'm sure this will play into the artstyle and the world design throughout.

As far as the amount of space people can explore, I've seen tons of areas in Tales of that are as narrow as some of Final Fantasy XIII's. All of the maps in Xillia's English gameplay video today were actually very similar. Most of Ni No Kuni's are as well.

XIII-2 has a lot more open areas to explore so this is really a criticism that should be over and done with as far as I'm concerned. XIV: ARR has extremely huge areas, bigger than anything in Tales of. Pretty sure Versus will as well based on what they've said.

Does Tales of have any cities as big as Academia?

 

[Santiako]

^^^^
FFXIII is a bad game, but it is goddamn beautiful.

 

[dude]

Project Eternity and Torment alone pretty much makes it the best year for RPGs since 2000.
In terms of hype if nothing else.
Plus, by then we'll have Shadowrun and Wasteland 2 to replay. Also, that game by the Quest for Glory guys can come out good, and there's that game by the other Quest for Glory guys. I think those are slated for 2014 as well.

 

[HolyBaikal]

XIII-2

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is certainly a massive improvement over XIII. And A Realm Reborn could be the best MMORPGs of this generation. Though it should be noted that XIV, despite having exploration, did not have much you could interact with on its landscapes, many of which were extremely copy and paste. Having nearly zero content and being one of the worst MMORPGs this generation.

Comparing MMORPGs and jRPGs seems difficult, which is why I hesitated about that XI comparison, especially since XI was a pretty solid MMORPG, especially at the time. But I can easily say I would rather play Tales of Vesperia or Tales of Graces than launch Final Fantasy XIV. And that the games really are far better than launch Final Fantasy XIV.

Final Fantasy certainly can become as good as Tales and Shin Megami Tensei again. But that will be a difficult road, and will not happen if they are focused on graphics.

For me, though, I'm tired of keeping up with them after years of disappointments. While on the other hand, I can easily bank on betting a new Tales of Shin Megami Tensei game will be worthwhile.

 

[Riposte]

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is certainly a massive improvement over XIII.

I take XIII over XIII-2 any day of the week. XIII-2 threw away the better aspects of XIII in exchange for better fulfilling FF fan expectations. It just so happens FF fans care too much about inconsequential fluff.

 

[HolyBaikal]

It just so happens FF fans care too much about inconsequential fluff.

Except that I'm very much not a "Final Fantasy fan". Final Fantasy XIII-2 is just far better from a gameplay design perspective.

 

[Riposte]

Except that I'm very much not a "Final Fantasy fan". Final Fantasy XIII-2 is just far better from a gameplay design perspective.

You mean like combat that is so easy to break that it is too difficult to even put limitations on yourself to not completely bulldoze through the game (without switching classes even)?

EDIT: Oh btw, I'm still not over that insane comment you made about criticizing the music in Tales games.

 

[Shinta]

You mean like combat that is so easy to break that it is too difficult to even put limitations on yourself to not completely bulldoze through the game (without switching classes even)?

Can't argue with that.

 

[LonelyGreyWolf]

You listed four games. That's not quite many, imo. In any case, I'm really looking forward to Witcher 3 and Dragon Age 3. I love both Witcher 2 and Dragon Age 2. Currently re-playing Witcher 2 and bar some minor frustrations the game is top-notch.

 

[dude]

You listed four games. That's not quite many, imo. In any case, I'm really looking forward to Witcher 3 and Dragon Age 3. I love both Witcher 2 and Dragon Age 2. Currently re-playing Witcher 2 and bar some minor frustrations the game is top-notch.

It's not quantity, it's quality, man. We're talking about the return of the isometric WRPG from the oblivion it has been banished to. I can't fully fathom the idea that my favorite genre is actually back.


EDIT: In what world are those FF designs realistic? I mean, people do have faces, which is a change of pace from anime, but I wouldn't go as far as realistic

 

[Canis lupus]

It would, if FFvsXIII come out.

 

[HolyBaikal]

You mean like combat that is so easy to break that it is too difficult to even put limitations on yourself to not completely bulldoze through the game (without switching classes even)?

Not everything about the game is better. Just some things.

Honestly, it is kind of overhyped how much of an improvement over Final Fantasy XIII that XIII-2. Neither of them are all that great.

But Final Fantasy XIII is easily one of the worse games in its genre this generation. No matter what the graphics are, the game XIII is simply poorly designed.
So was launch XIV. XIII-2 not being all that great isn't so much of a testament to how great Final Fantasy XIII is, but how lacking both of these games are.

While at least a game like Tales of Vesperia, while not pushing the polygon limits of the XBOX or PlayStation or anything like that, is an all around quality game. A decent enough story, likeable characters, quality combat, and a decent amount of content.

 

[Narolf]

It would, if FFvsXIII come out.

Shouldn't take that long to come out.

 

[Omnistalgic]

Ugh.... Just because several people have a different opinion than you, doesn't mean there is a groupthink/hivemind. That bullshit is so annoying because it is just a cheap excuse to delegitimize other people's opinion than you. Though I have no horse in the debate on whether Final Fantasy XIII is a good game or not, a lot of people do not like the series. End of story. This "GAF HIVEMIND!" stuff gets annoying. Just because there are several vocal members that dislike a game does not mean everyone does. I have seen several people on here that enjoy Final Fantasy XIII.



Before this thread devolves into "What is an RPG?" crap I think it is pretty clear no one can actually concretely define what an RPG is. RPGs mean different things to people but a lot of people consider the Souls games RPGs so I think it is fair to call Dark Souls II an RPG in this case.

2014 should definitely be a good year for RPGs. A lot of high profile releases, indie/Kickstarter games, and I have a good feeling that titles like Fallout 4, Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (at least in Japan), the next Deus Ex will have a good chance to make it to 2014. Should be like 2011.

RPG are usually story driven and Souls games are about grinding and the challenge. JRPG vs. WRPG is simply different cultures, but the Souls titles are not traditional role playing games mostly because the story isn't really important. I do think of a true RPG as a title that you are actually in a story, and playing a particular role with events unfolding as you progress, but I would also put Demon/Dark Souls in the RPG category. Though they are not traditional.

FF13
Dragon Age
NinoKuni
Mass Effect

Those are more traditional for me at least...

 

[Taruranto]

Dunno, we got things like X, Wasteland and Project Eternity, but we don't know when they are coming out.

Bethesda and SE also will possibly ruin the fun for everyone.

 

[Chromie]

^^^^
FFXIII is a bad game, but it is goddamn beautiful.

Yup more flash than substance.

Dunno, we got things like X, Wasteland and Project Eternity, but we don't know when they are coming out.

Bethesda and SE also will possibly ruin the fun for everyone.

Wasteland 2 is coming out October 2013. Project Eternity is set for 2014.

 

[Reuenthal]

Witcher 2 is my favorite RPG of the latest years. I really liked Dark Souls. I liked a lot DA:O but not DA2 so I am less hyped for DA3 in comparison to the other two. But yeah I agree with you OP I am anticipating the 2014 RPG with excitement less for quantity and more for expected quality and expected enjoyment I would have of certain two titles.

 

[AkimbO_Arcana]

Shin Megami Tensei IV is coming. That's probably where Atlus' priorities are now. That, and of course the western release of Soul Hackers.

Europe here, aka the miserable Atlus-ghetto...

 

[Eusis]

This is late, but:

: Eusis, if you want to have some fun... here is a thought exercise: Instead of jumping over stronger similarities to fit as many games under the RPG umbrella as possible (with silly excuses like "let's just believe whatever the publisher wants us to believe"), what if we stopped calling games RPGs altogether?

Admittedly this is why I may not really want to argue over some games as the lines can really, really blur and sometimes it's down to gut feeling that's hard to explain (which could be the case for the "DSII isn't an RPG!" guy, heh), but in a case like this it IS specifically about RPGs coming out in the future, and it's ridiculous to simply go "that's not an RPG" to a game that most people who play it call an RPG, can articulate WHY it's an RPG, and the developer/publisher classifies as one, notably a developer/publisher that is less likely to just go for the shameless marketing angle. That, and Dark Souls II is undoubtedly as much of an RPG as some of the other examples like the Witcher are, at worst the differences are relatively minor such as possibly lacking towns.

Incidentally, this is why it's for the best NeoGAF sticks with only standard and community gaming forums: you try to divide by genre and it'd just be a royal mess of people being snobby or pedantic (the latter I'm guilty of here) and arguing about what goes where.

 

[7threst]

Europe here, aka the miserable Atlus-ghetto...

Hehe, same here

Which is the reason I'm gonna have to import a 3DS...

 

[i-Lo]

Isn't mass effect 4 also coming out for 2014?
Anyway, I'm currently burnt out on JRPGs of the more traditional kind. So unless fallout 4 shows up next year, I will reserve judgement. Plus, I'm far more interested in Cyberpunk 2077 (2015) and the next deus ex.

 

[Gorgon]

The Witcher 3 alone would've made 2014 year of the RPG.

Actually I'd say that The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 alone already make next-gen better than this entire gen, but that's just me.

 

[we.are.the.armada]

Nobody can say for sure, but I feel Persona 5 coming on board in 2014.

 

[Kafel]

year of "probably/possibly"

 

[spekkeh]

I usually don't like making declarations saying something is going to be the "year of this," but just look at what RPGs are slated to come out in 2014:

The Witcher 3
Dark Souls II (probably)
Dragon Age III (probably. Can't be worse than DA2 right?)
Project Eternity
Another Bethesda game (possibly)
Versus XIII (lol)
X
Torment: Tides of Numenera

I'll add anything that I'm missing.

Let me see.

Sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel. Sequel to horseshit. Unannounced project.

Nope.

Don't know about you but I play RPGs for interesting new worlds and stories, not to relive the same thing. Might as well play CoD, at least it has explosions.

 

[Derrick01]

Witcher 3
Project Eternity
Dead State (most likely, it aint coming out this year)
Torment

Hell I'll even throw in Fallout 4 because I'm feeling generous today. 2014 is going to be great for both old school wrpg fans and the new gen action fans.

Let me see.

Sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel. Sequel to horseshit. Unannounced project.

Nope.

Don't know about you but I play RPGs for interesting new worlds and stories, not to relive the same thing. Might as well play CoD, at least it has explosions.

There's not enough disappointment to express for this post.

 

[The Return of]

i remember when people used to look forward to good games like persona 3 and tales of the abyss

then people started having to hype shitty ports/remakes of 10 year old games on the ds like chrono trigger and the final fantasy remakes

now look at this thread. this is pathetic holy shit. soon enough people will be starting threads for hentai rpgs because there's nothing else in the genre to play

Lol There's definitely rpgs listed that will be better than Tales of the Abyss...

Riposte rants about Rpgs are just the worst. Just shits up every thread. As if action rpg hasn't exist since back in the days. Why not just make a thread instead listing your reasons on what rpgs are and aren't

 

[legacyzero]

Fall Out 4 maybe?

Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE happen PLEAAAAAAASE

 

[FACE]

I'd add Grim Dawn since they still haven't released the alpha they had planned for the end of 2012.

i remember when people used to look forward to good games like persona 3 and tales of the abyss

then people started having to hype shitty ports/remakes of 10 year old games on the ds like chrono trigger and the final fantasy remakes

now look at this thread. this is pathetic holy shit. soon enough people will be starting threads for hentai rpgs because there's nothing else in the genre to play

Let me see.

Sequel sequel sequel sequel sequel. Sequel to horseshit. Unannounced project.

Nope.

Don't know about you but I play RPGs for interesting new worlds and stories, not to relive the same thing. Might as well play CoD, at least it has explosions.

Woah! I've seen some terrible posts here on NeoGAF, but you guys take the cake.

 

[Master_Funk]

I dont see how you could call it the year of the RPG without a bethesda RPG. Sure the other games will probably be great but without a Bethesda RPG, its missing something huge. However, if Fallout 4 is out in 2014, then Fuckin A .

 

[Midou]

The Witcher 3
Dark Souls II (probably)
Dragon Age III (probably. Can't be worse than DA2 right?)
Project Eternity
Another Bethesda game (possibly)
Versus XIII (lol)
X
Torment: Tides of Numenera

Bolded are day 0. 2014 will be awesome. Witcher is evolving greatly on its formula. Dark Souls II could be exact game with new areas and I'd buy it. DAIII will have to prove it's like DA: O and doesn't follow mass effect in casualizing the franchise more and more with each entry (I call it Fable syndrom). PE and Torment have the potential to be fucking awesome. If Bethesda game is Fallout 4, will probably get it, if it's Obsidian doing it, guaranteed.

X looks pretty awesome, am slightly skeptical because Xenoblade had some annoying gameplay systems, but robots is awwwwwww yeah.

I dont see how you could call it the year of the RPG without a bethesda RPG. Sure the other games will probably be great but without a Bethesda RPG, its missing something huge. However, if Fallout 4 is out in 2014, then Fuckin A .

It's okay, Witcher 3 will be like if Skyrim had RPG mechanics.

 

[Sentenza]

Don't know about you but I play RPGs for interesting new worlds and stories

Nope, I don't.
They are welcomed and very appreciated as added value, of course.
But I play games (in all genres) looking for the same thing: a mechanically interesting, interactive experience.

The most amazing RPG in the world -gameplay wise- could even be built entirely around tropes and cliches and I would probably still love it far more than the most amazing story ever told, if presented in a cinematic, barely interactive fashion.

 

[P90]

I must have missed the announcement. Persona 5 is planned for 2014?

 

[Yuterald]

2014 year of the RPG? lol!

Maybe if Trails in the Sky SC released and From Software announced King's Field 4 (for PS4). The only two RPGs that I'm majorly hyped for are SMT IV and Ys: Celceta. Ys fucking comes out in September and SMT IV doesn't even have a release date yet for NA. X is probably going to be hot, but there's too little info on the game right now to get your panties in a bunch.

 

[archnemesis]

I must have missed the announcement. Persona 5 is planned for 2014?

They have been working on a 360/PS3 game for a long time. A 2014 release seems likely.

 

[Derrick01]

I dont see how you could call it the year of the RPG without a bethesda RPG. Sure the other games will probably be great but without a Bethesda RPG, its missing something huge. However, if Fallout 4 is out in 2014, then Fuckin A .

Because Bethesda makes bare bones RPGs now. They're usually not worthy of being mentioned in a RPG list.

 

[Mileena]

Not sure if Witcher 3 and Dark Souls 2 constitutes as Year of the RPG.

 

[Sentenza]

2014 year of the RPG? lol!

Maybe if Trails in the Sky SC released and From Software announced King's Field 4 (for PS4).

Just because you are incredible narrow and closed-minded with your tastes doesn't mean others have to share your point of view.

Not sure if Witcher 3 and Dark Souls 2 constitutes as Year of the RPG.

If they are as good as it's expected from them, I would be happy even with just one of them.
Plus: Project Eternity and more.

 

[Durante]

Not sure if Witcher 3 and Dark Souls 2 constitutes as Year of the RPG.

Good thing that Project Eternity and Torment alone each constitute a Year of the RPG.

Just because you are incredible narrow and closed-minded with your tastes doesn't mean others have to share your point of view.

Pretty much. As someone who enjoys all types of RPGs, that type of post is just embarrassing.

 

[Labombadog]

Well this thread escalated quickly....

I been a big fan of RPG's since a young lad and cannot wait for the upcoming RPG's stated for 2014. I pledged for both Project Eternity and Torment. I CANNOT wait!

If it wasn't for this beautiful weather I would go home after work and play some Planescape: Torment but I think I will take a walk by the local trail.

Cheers.

 

[The_Monk]

I have some really hopes for The Witcher 3 and Dragon Age 3. If these two become great games I'll be happy.

 

[Jay Sosa]

More like year of the WRPG :C

 

[Finaika]

More like year of the WRPG :C

Why the sad face?

 

[Yuterald]

Just because you are incredible narrow and closed-minded with your tastes doesn't mean others have to share your point of view.

Whoa, you got the wrong impression of me. I'm like the complete opposite of closed-minded. All I was saying is that there's only a few, select RPGs that will really do it in for me this year, you know what I mean? It's not like the ones I listed are the only ones I'm going to play. I'll probably check out all the Japanese RPGs that come out this year, at some point. Christ, some people on this site are so sensitive.

 

[spekkeh]

Woah! I've seen some terrible posts here on NeoGAF, but you guys take the cake.

I was semi-trolling of course, and X will be amazing for sure, but I'm always irked by "next year is going to be amazing, look at all the sequels coming out". The best experiences are always new experiences imo. Especially in story-heavy media.

Nope, I don't.
They are welcomed and very appreciated as added value, of course.
But I play games (in all genres) looking for the same thing: a mechanically interesting, interactive experience.

The most amazing RPG in the world -gameplay wise- could even be built entirely around tropes and cliches and I would probably still love it far more than the most amazing story ever told, if presented in a cinematic, barely interactive fashion.

Fair enough.

 

[Midou]

Pretty much. As someone who enjoys all types of RPGs, that type of post is just embarrassing.

Yes, I never understood someone being super into JRPGs but hating WRPGs or vice versa. They are fairly different genres, but they certainly have a lot of overlap, mostly in focus.

 

[Jay Sosa]

Why the sad face?

Cause my most favorite genre (JRPG) seems to be even more dead than before. It's obviously awesome to see so many potentially great WRPG on the horizon, don't get me wrong.

 

[Mileena]

Good thing that Project Eternity and Torment alone each constitute a Year of the RPG.

Pretty much. As someone who enjoys all types of RPGs, that type of post is just embarrassing.

Never played Torment as I've heard the game part of it isn't so good but the story is and that doesn't appeal to me at all. As for the Obsidian KS, I'll wait and see as half their games tend to suck. Maybe Square will surprise me and release TWEWY2 or something and it will be year of the RPG.

 

[Rad-]

I'm pretty sure we will see a new Deus Ex game too. 2014 would fit a normal development time very well.

 

[luca1980]

I need trails sc and dark souls 2.
And Matsuno news.
Anything else doesn't really matter