Skyrim, Dragon Age 2, Mass Effect 3: Are RPGs Evolving, or Dying?

Andrew Dyce of Game Rant writes: "With the biggest RPG franchises getting more and more ‘streamlined’ and user-friendly, we have to wonder – does the genre have any hope of surviving?"

[Stealth20k]

just shut the fuck up. rpgs are doing just fine, j and W

If you want action you can have it, if you want turn base you can have it, if you want strategy you can have it, if you want dungeon crawlers you can have it, you want monster breeding you can have it, you want more of a visual novel rpg you can have it

In no other genre is there MORE diversity in gameplay options

[Kee]

I'm with you, RPGs can be actiony. If people want strategy, go play Command and Conquer.
To me RPGs are still about character development (levelling up etc), choices and story .

[zatrox]

"To me RPGs are still about character development (levelling up etc), choices and story ."

And this article talks about the former; character growth and development, which is becoming streamlined.

One thing I love about RPGs (Well, more than anything, the western variation of them) is the customization: making the character I want to play as. That sense of freedom, that is lost within all the streamlining and lack of depth role-playing videogames have seen lately.

It doesn't mean games like, say, Mass Effect 2 are bad- I just find the lack of being able to make a stealth character and do a no-kill run or being a goddamn wizard born from ashes of dragons; playing as a little, badass loli kicking ass while casting spells of incredible magnitude or a nice guy of a human knight, that awesome sense of adventure with said character- those are features that we see in less and less RPGs with time, in favor for a more streamlined, easier-to-understand-because-s upposedly-customers-are-clinica lly-retarded; and it's a damn shame.

[Kee]

@Zatrox
I'm sorry, but if you think there is a real lack of detailed character customisation then you've obviously not played any of bethesda's recent games.
If anything, these options are getting greater. With karma choices all over the place in bioware games, it's possible to be able to go through the game the way you want to play (pretty much as if they placed you in their game).

In terms of from a gameplay perspective if you want more options, game devs aren't mind-readers and sure as hell can't make a game that pleases everyone. We all have taste and opinions and that's what this all boils down to.
So, before I go on and on and on... And on... I'll just say this- don't act like it is the freaking end for all RPGs just because they're trying to give you something different. They're giving you something different because a bunch of games have given you all these customization options before and they didn't sell all that well (referring to no game in specific). Damn, I have gone on a bit.

So, I'm saying a few things here... One thing is though that all these people here complaining about the dumbing-down of these rpgs are idiots. Because if they don't want them dumbed-down they should probably have supported the not-dumbed-down games we're seeing less and less of. Sorry if the post seemed angry or offended anyone, but you can quit whining and enjoy the games they release or, better yet, start a gaming studio and try to keep everyone on n4g happy. See how long before you're bankrupt. Yours, in the most sincere and non-mocking tone, Kee

[Wiggu]

@Kee

I think the massive changes made in these triple-A RPGs has more to do with their views on the most profitable style of game, not fans failing to support certain titles. Mass Effect and Dragon Age look to become even more popular than Jade Empire, KOTOR, or Baldur's Gate. All those games were massively supported by the core audience, but as a result didn't carry mass appeal.

I don't know how someone can look at BioWare's changes as anything but choosing to please the masses over their core fan base.

And the people commenting here may not have their own studios, but they do have opinions and concerns about the kinds of games that they love and are passionate about, so they're far from idiots in my book.

[plb]

Well DA2 seems to have taken a turn for the worse compared to the previous. Hope that is not the case with the other mentioned games.

[Ranshak]

Its not just the RPG genre, everything is getting dumbed down so that anyone can pick up and play. Have a look at the shooters out there aim assist lol. 5 years back you wouldnt find a single shooter that has aim assist on it.

Ill end up picking DA2 when its dirt cheap on Steam along with all the DLC, doesnt really deserve day 1 buy.

[Neckbear]

The "big" names?

Perhaps; devolving.

Smaller stuff, however?

Nope.

[DethWish]

Yeah, i find that indie stuff is pretty much all i play nowadays

[zeal0us]

ARPG have came a long way, for a long time what JRPG did was industry standards, but you can slowly see a shift in the industry today. I don't think JPRGs are dying but a little change won't hurt. Long as developer update their ARPG/JRPG won't die anytime soon.

Also long some companies stop trying to sneak drms into the games I highly doubt it die...DRM not only affect RPGs but also other genres as well, wish there was an alternative to fighting pirates

[Nac]

ARPG? You mean WRPGs?

[zeal0us]

Yea sorry for that, how u get a disagree just for asking a question?

Sometimes I wish disagreeing require a statement or something, my god this system is like

"I don't like George Bush", "Why?" "Because"

that don't really make that much sense...

[Nac]

No. No they do not.

[theonlylolking]

The only one I am excited for is ME3.

[PooEgg]

I am having a hard time looking forward to ME3, after being somewhat disappointed with Dragon Age 2, and it isn't that DA2 is terrible, it is just missing a lot of the things that I loved about the first game.

I really liked the first Mass Effect, but I liked ME2 a lot less. So it leaves me to wonder, will ME3 improve upon the first games or will EA/Bioware continue along their current path from great to simply average? Will it be Mass Effect 3 with fewer options, shorter gameplay but a lot more DLC to pay for? I won't be pre-ordering it in any case. I will be taking a wait and see approach this time.

[koehler83]

Stop whining and make better games yourself.

[BeaArthur]

Well considering how poorly JRPG's tend to sell these days (with the exception of FF) I would say they are evolving. You can either remain stagnant or change with the times.

[zatrox]

...It is hilarious that the article doesn't even mention JRPGs, yet you do.

Moreover, JRPGs still have their niche, mind you.

[BeaArthur]

Aren't JRPG's RPG's? Last time I checked they were. The point is, you evolve or fade away into obscurity.

[Masterchef2007]

RPGs recently have become more like shooters for some reason.

[Troll-without-Bridge]

why is this even considered an article?

[dreamoner]

Consoles' fault. Developers scaling down their games just to make them playable on consoles. I'm just happy there are MMO games which is the only genre exclusive to PC.

[DanSolo]

Well I think "some" RPG's will be more action oriented, and dumbed down to a degree, but others will remain the same type of experience.

But the ones that are more action oriented for now will bring more people into the RPG genre.... so in the long run I think the RPG-lite games will actually help evolve the genre into something bigger and better, as those new people will become accustomed to the RPG elements and will be more willing to get to grips as those elements deepen.

I can also see a kind of "bridge" come into effect in more and more games in which accessibility and micromanagement will go hand in hand.... in that I mean a pick up and play action type person will be able to level up and pick skills easily without too much fussing about, but there will be a deeper level or levels that RPG purists can delve into.

And if that happens I think it can only be a good thing. When I was playing Fallout 3, a number of times I found myself thinking that it would be cool if the controls were alot more fluid like in a top rate FPS, while at the same time I found myself thinking it would be nice to have a deeper RPG system in place.

[Wiggu]

Great point, definitely more of an introduction for more people. If BioWare wasn'tt aking that approach with all of their major franchises I'd be happy: bring people in with one, give them a bit deeper experience to go alongw ith it. I just don't like how only one is waaaay more profitable :S

[TacoTaru]

You are certainly more optimistic than I. If ever they try to slip in some of the old RPG playstyle the new devotes will object violently. Button mashers don't want no stinkin' thinkin' in their games. They just wants to blow stuff up.

[midgard227]

rpgs are fine, freakin stupid articles

shooters are dying because it feel like im playin cod with almost everyone of them with the exception of KZ and resistance.

everything shoots this gen, im sick of it

[Frak]

TO MENTION ELDER SCROLLS IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS THE SHITS SUCH AS DRAGON AGE AND MASS EFFECT IS A SIN

[InfiniteJustice]

If Skyrim/ Witcher 2/ Mass Effect 3 all turn out to be crap, then yes, RPGs are dying (the big ones anyway). But chances are, none of the above will be crap.

If said games all release in 2011 and aren't pushed back, then I dare say this is one of the best years for RPGs we have had in a looong time.

[BeastlyRig]

The witcher 2 ftw!!

[Arknight]

I think there are still some good RPGs being made, but it's not the way it was back in the '90s, which was really the golden age of the genre.

The perfect example is the fact that now people divide up the genre between "JRPG" and "WRPG". There really shouldn't be a reason to do that if the game is a good RPG. Demon's Souls is a great example. Most people would probably label it as a WRPG before finding out it was developed in Japan.

We need to stop placing these type of labels on RPGs because they actually restrict your point of view and your expectations before you even look at the game. You create a prefabricated misconception before even playing the game.

A good RPG should have a deep story, an element of exploration, and an element of character development that is at least somewhat controlled by the player's choices. Other than that, the rest is just aesthetics.

[Baka-akaB]

?? Those labels were even more present and stronger in that golden age you described

[DragonKnight]

Love the avatar Arknight. FFIV FTW!!

But Baka-akaB is right. I mean, take a look at Secret of Evermore. A Squaresoft game, but it was made by Squaresoft America. It's a WRPG that looks like a JRPG, but it sure as hell didn't play like a typical JRPG of the time.

[RevXM]

I dont know about you but popular western RPGs seem to really lack poilsh and tend to look incredibly canny.

I really like Mass effect 1&2 but they lack polish and some things look canny or akward, like peoples faces or movement. they need to take their time, slow down and make a smooth and immersive, detailed worlds and characters.
AND we all know Fallout...

I do not know about JRPGs though since I have barely touched them but FF looks smooth.

Im looking forward to ME3 and Im curious about the witcher 1&2.
I played the DA2 demo and I could not stand it, its really a piece of rushed software, and there is so much akwardness, stuttering and pops and bugs it hurts.

[Pintheshadows]

Whoops, I was meant to agree. Apart from the DA2 part (it seems cool to hate on it) ME had some bizarre stuff going on. In both the 360 and PS3 versions of ME2 I noticd Shepards neck would go crazy if you looked at something interactive and then ran off. The main issue I have though is the frequency of loading screens in ME and DA2. I disagree about ME characters though. If you don't feel they are immersive I fear you will never be happy.

[RevXM]

Well sometimes people tend to look weird when talking in ME3.
Look at other games, Uncharted, GOW, Heavy rain, Mirrors edge, Bad company and many more.
Superb acting and mo cap, why cant ME have that?

Ive also Noticed that Neck thing.
Is it popular to hate on DA?

[Pintheshadows]

Seems to be at the moment. I've played it through 3 times and I think its fantastic. Although I did get called a DA2 fanboy the other day.

I think mocap would be beneficial but some games look weird with that in place too. KZ3 is a bit bizarre like that.

[mobijoker]

I dunno whether its evolving or not.But there is a wider range of great rpgs now.Rpgs can be great shooter,great action adventure,great strategy,great puzzler-almost any genre can be fusioned to rpg.Unlike shooter market,it got rpgs that are completely different from one another in terms of gameplay.There is Bethesdian rpgs,Jrpgs,Classical D&D rpgs,turn based rpgs,hack n' slash rpgs- you're bound to like atleast one type.While in case of shooters,there is not much variation bcoz 95% of them plays the same.

[lochdoun]

They're dying... if they're published by EA.
(I'm looking at you, Dragon Age 2 and probably Mass Effect 3 as well)

[MilkMan]

Dumb thread.
If I see another "is the RPG dying convo" I'm gonna hurl.
NOTHING is dying. Not even the adventure game.
'nuff said!

[DragonKnight]

All I have to say is Thank From Software for Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. Returning to old school style is what makes those games the exception to today's casual rule.

JRPG's are failing in sales because they try to change into what they are not. They don't need any kind of western influence at all. I long for FF's of old. You may hate ATB, but find games with a better combination of story, characters, and fun than old school FF's like FFIV and FFVI in today's pitiful RPG offerings. ME isn't an RPG, it's a shooter with RPG elements. In my opinion, mergering too many genres with RPG's is the problem. Especially shooter RPG's.

Why does everything have to be shooters these days? Whatever happened to imagination?

[NYC_Gamer]

rpg's are the best games to play nice story/gameplay.

[twiglet]

Well Bioware RPGs are dead. They are whoring themselves out in the action/shooter genre now.

Bethesdas RPGs are going as strong as ever. Well, minus a tad dumbing down here and there (but they do make up for it in other areas).

So I guess blank slate sandbox RPGs are still going strong, but Bioware-styled story-dialogue-character driven games with strong tactical roots are already dead. ME2 and DA2 gave the unswerving indication that dumbed-down-to-fuck combat is most important in these games.

Oh and incase in shooter fan retards say it, "playing a role" or "telling a story" are not prime requisites of a role playing game otherwise every single fucking game invented is an RPG.

"Look at me! Im roleplaying as a ping pong bat!"

If you think the crux of the RPG genre is "playing a role" you are A) a fucktard and B) not a real RPG gamer.

[zackacloud]

I just wonder how ffxiii(most disappointed game ever in rpg world) sell very well and take positive and liked by people and site than wkc (best rpg in this gen) ???!!!

And finally people say it these games not rpg it hack n slash and shooter