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The "Perfect" RPG: You Are What You Play

Before I begin my humble discourse, let me remind you that the operative word in "Role-Playing Game" is Role.

For instance, a game populated by an eclectic pool of cyber-punk characters is different from another game starring a bunch of knights and wizards. As the player, it is your prerogative to choose the game that has the specific roles you want to assume. Merely looking at the game cover and thinking to yourself: "Whoa! This looks cool." then proceeding to buy the game on these merits alone, will oftentimes lead to disappointment. I have played hundreds of RPGs over the years, spread over a variety of video game consoles. Allow me now to share with you my experiences and knowledge regarding the important decision you're about to make.

The Story

One thing you need to consider when buying a role-playing game is the story. Try to avoid riding on the bandwagon of popular titles. Gaming magazines and online game reviews, how ever credible they may be, would usually exaggerate on a game's "greatness". It's likely that what strikes you as interesting may be different from what the majority thinks. For instance, I tend to have a personal preference for unique settings and concepts. As you browse through some of these RPG titles, you might notice a striking similarity between their background stories. Most RPGs I've played feature a storyline which usually involves a generic small-town hero struggling to save the world from destruction. I have to warn you, some of these stories can be downright cheesy and it wouldn't be long before you grow tired of playing because of it. This can be a tiring cycle of "buy-play-then throw away", so let me give you some helpful recommendations.

If you're a fan of fantasy, Neverwinter Nights for the PC and the Dragon Quest series in other consoles are good choices. Neverwinter Nights is a masterpiece. Just looking at the intricate details in the story makes me wonder how much hardwork was put upon this game. Final Fantasy IX for the Playstation is also an excellent RPG. It's true that some of these Final Fantasy games are hyped-up but honestly, they actually deserve a look too. If modern settings and unique characters strikes you as interesting, then Persona (aka Shin Megami Tensei) is right up your alley. It's an amazing series of RPGs, the current one being Persona 4 for the PS2. Story-wise, it's quite engaging. Persona usually features a refreshing story backed up with a ragtag bunch of characters

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