RPGs; Eastern vs. Western

[Daeval]

I would have easily said Eastern up until Final Fantasy 7 was released. Despite that it sucked hard, that game became the model for future Eastern imports. From that point on, most of what has come to the states has been wretched, with a few notable exceptions (IE Final Fantasy 9). Way to go U.S., we might as well have taken the bait on Mystic Quest.

 

The lack of quality in Eastern console RPGs drove me to playing western PC RPGs and finding much quality there - such as that in Fallout and Morrowind. I can't throw my lot in entirely with them though, as I still hold some Eastern classics dear, especially Final Fantasy 2 and 3 (American numbering).

 

Where do some things fit? For example, Strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea? They're mostly Eastern, but don't really fit in with the regular Eastern RPGs. Also, do MMORPGs count as Western? And what about action RPGs like Secret of Mana or Diablo? I didn't consider any of those when casting my vote.

Edited February 21, 2005 by Daeval

[Sybarite Paladin AxL]

eastern, end of story

western just doesn't do it for me, d&d style is crap.

[Gryph]

Where do some things fit?  For example, Strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea?  They're mostly Eastern, but don't really fit in with the regular Eastern RPGs.  Also, do MMORPGs count as Western?  And what about action RPGs like Secret of Mana or Diablo?  I didn't consider any of those when casting my vote.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea? Eastern.

Also, do MMORPGs count as Western? Western. Ignore Phantasy Star Online.

And what about action RPGs like Secret of Mana or Diablo? Eastern and Western.

[Agozer]

Where do some things fit?  For example, Strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea?  They're mostly Eastern, but don't really fit in with the regular Eastern RPGs.

How so? I find your reasoning a bit lacking. Games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Disgaea, Phantom Brave, Hoshigami etc. etc. are Tactical RPGs. I'd say they are more than qualified to be in the eastern category.

 

And like Mr. G said, most MMORPGs are pretty much western, with a few excpetions like Final Fantasy XI Online, Phantasy Star Online and a whole bunch of Korean ones.

[NeoMaster]

I would have easily said Eastern up until Final Fantasy 7 was released.  Despite that it sucked hard, that game became the model for future Eastern imports.  From that point on, most of what has come to the states has been wretched, with a few notable exceptions (IE Final Fantasy 9).  Way to go U.S., we might as well have taken the bait on Mystic Quest.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You don't like FF7 yet you find 9 an "exception".

 

Check your weed bag and clean out the beaver tranquilizer.

[Wizard]

I would have easily said Eastern up until Final Fantasy 7 was released.  Despite that it sucked hard, that game became the model for future Eastern imports.  From that point on, most of what has come to the states has been wretched, with a few notable exceptions (IE Final Fantasy 9).  Way to go U.S., we might as well have taken the bait on Mystic Quest.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FF9 Totally rocks every FF fantasy before it and after 5. Shame everyone hates something of it. 7 However, will always be the game Final Fantasy will be known for. No matter what, since it was the game that gave the Final Fantasy series a reinvention. I ditched FF7 a long time ago, and don't mind breaking the cds against the wall.

[Agozer]

I still play all my Final Fantasy games; I hate neither of them, which is good.

[Gryph]

I would have easily said Eastern up until Final Fantasy 7 was released.  Despite that it sucked hard, that game became the model for future Eastern imports.  From that point on, most of what has come to the states has been wretched, with a few notable exceptions (IE Final Fantasy 9).  Way to go U.S., we might as well have taken the bait on Mystic Quest.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FF9 Totally rocks every FF fantasy before it and after 5. Shame everyone hates something of it. 7 However, will always be the game Final Fantasy will be known for. No matter what, since it was the game that gave the Final Fantasy series a reinvention. I ditched FF7 a long time ago, and don't mind breaking the cds against the wall.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Final Fantasy 3 (or 6 for you purists) will be the one that I remember because I actually liked it. I don't know if I'd like it now, but I liked it back then.

[Agozer]

I would have easily said Eastern up until Final Fantasy 7 was released.  Despite that it sucked hard, that game became the model for future Eastern imports.  From that point on, most of what has come to the states has been wretched, with a few notable exceptions (IE Final Fantasy 9).  Way to go U.S., we might as well have taken the bait on Mystic Quest.

FF9 Totally rocks every FF fantasy before it and after 5. Shame everyone hates something of it. 7 However, will always be the game Final Fantasy will be known for. No matter what, since it was the game that gave the Final Fantasy series a reinvention. I ditched FF7 a long time ago, and don't mind breaking the cds against the wall.

Final Fantasy 3 (or 6 for you purists) will be the one that I remember because I actually liked it. I don't know if I'd like it now, but I liked it back then.

Well, FFVI was the pinnacle of eastern RPGs... until FFVII came along. Word has it that at one point Hironobu Sakaguchi dropped the FFVII project when he started to doubt if they could pull off the transition to 3D so that the fans would still love it. Needless to say, everything worked well

[Daeval]

Where do some things fit?  For example, Strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea?  They're mostly Eastern, but don't really fit in with the regular Eastern RPGs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How so? I find your reasoning a bit lacking. Games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Disgaea, Phantom Brave, Hoshigami etc. etc. are Tactical RPGs. I'd say they are more than qualified to be in the eastern category.

 

And like Mr. G said, most MMORPGs are pretty much western, with a few excpetions like Final Fantasy XI Online, Phantasy Star Online and a whole bunch of Korean ones.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I kept them seperate because Tactical RPGs and MMORPGs have entirely different gameplay from what people think of when they think Eastern (Final Fantasy, Suikoden) or Western (Fallout, Morrowind) RPGs. Tactical RPGs come from the East, but play more like a turn-based Western RPG. MMORPGs use many of the same principles as Western RPGs, but package them entirely differently.

 

 

I would have easily said Eastern up until Final Fantasy 7 was released.  Despite that it sucked hard, that game became the model for future Eastern imports.  From that point on, most of what has come to the states has been wretched, with a few notable exceptions (IE Final Fantasy 9).  Way to go U.S., we might as well have taken the bait on Mystic Quest.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You don't like FF7 yet you find 9 an "exception".

 

Check your weed bag and clean out the beaver tranquilizer.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FF7 was an extreme dumbing-down of the Final Fantasy series. Equipment selection was reduced to a linear progression of single weapons and a single armor pieces. All of the magic and other special abilities were reduced to a single, incredibly simple, universal, and easily abuseable special ability system. Characters were reduced to a magic stat, some hit points, and some cute limit animations by the Materia system. It didn't matter who you used - the guy with the highest magic and the most materia slots was always the best choice if you knew what you were doing. The story was stupid too, full of throwaway characters and literary cop-outs, but that's subjective so I'll let it slide. In short, FF7 hit a homerun with an easy to learn (and easy to master) system, lots of time-wasting mini-games, and a "cool" attitude, but it sucked as an RPG compared to the SNES titles.

 

FF9, on the other hand, was a welcome return to the series' roots. Characters had individual abilities, so who you used actually made a difference to gameplay beyond the occasional limit break. The item combination system made equipment more interesting than "more AC, more slots." The story was more traditional, but wasn't bogged down with "My main character is a spirited youth, no he's a clone, no he's an incarnation of gaia, no he's the son of a man and a hedgehog" for half the freaking game. But that last point comes down to subjectivity again. The art direction wasn't "cool" like FF7's, but the game was far more intricate and entertaining.

[Agozer]

I sorta agree with Daeval, since FFIX had more vibrant colors and the more traditional graphical output, whereas FFVII and FFVIII were more techy. Still, being techy didn't make those games any less enjoyable on the whole.

[Wizard]

FFVIII is still horrible, no one should ever face it. OH OH WERE ALL FROM THE SAME ORPHANAGE! WHAT A FUNKING STRANGE CONINKIDINK!

[Daeval]

I sorta agree with Daeval, since FFIX had more vibrant colors and the more traditional graphical output, whereas FFVII and FFVIII were more techy. Still, being techy didn't make those games any less enjoyable on the whole.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It wasn't about the difference in graphic style for me. FF2 and FF3 (American again) shared the same difference as FF9 and FF7, but both of the older titles were really good games. With the recent titles, it's the difference in gameplay complexity that bothers me.

[Agozer]

FFVIII is still horrible, no one should ever face it. OH OH WERE ALL FROM THE SAME ORPHANAGE! WHAT A FUNKING STRANGE CONINKIDINK!

lol Yeah, that was kinda fux0red, but the whole sorceress thing was nice methinks.

 

AND TEH FREAKING GUNBLADE

[Wizard]

Dont mac on the gunblade. That thing kicks major amounts of ass. And the girls too...zOMG!