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each with their own quirks and unique personality. The fact that this series is never mentioned as much as it should be makes me sad.

The Gameplay

As much as the story, game-play is also important when it comes to choosing the right RPG. There are many modes of play to choose from, but they're usually categorized into two: Real-time action game play or turn-based strategic game-play. I prefer the latter over the former because I really don't like frantic button-mashing. Game-play also includes the special features of the game which makes it stand-out among others. Most games would employ mini-games within the game itself, to add color and variety. Others have unique skill systems which enables you to customize your characters right down to the last minute detail. Although if you strip them down to the basics, it's the general "feel" of the game that really matters.

The more a game stands out, the more it gains a broader audience. Simply put, uniqueness sells well. For example, Suikoden has a Pokemon-like component where you have to recruit various characters while playing through the game's course. The Star Ocean series, on the other hand, has an intensive item creation system that's fairly addictive and it currently has a cult following because of it. Some games would require you to learn a card-based mini-game or battle system to advance through the story (Final Fantasy VIII and Kingdom Hearts). Others would even go so far as to feature a New Game+ mode, enabling the player to play through the game a second time but some kind of added benefits. These are but a few of the twists you'll encounter while playing an RPG. The sole reason they were added is to enhance a game's replay value and most, if not all, of these games succeed with that objective.

The Pros and Cons of Reading Game Reviews

If you have tried reading game reviews off the internet and gaming magazines, you might find that some of these can be really helpful in weeding out the bad RPGs from the good RPGs.Don't rely too much on these game reviews though. Some of these magazines are actually paid by advertisers to boost a game's popularity. The RPG genre has a niche market, meaning there's a constant demand for these games in general. Video game makers would fight tooth and nail just to sell the games they have tried so hard to develop and that's where these review sites and magazines come in.

At the end of the day, it's you and not these reviewers who knows what's suitable for your taste and standards.

Learn more about this author, Julius Albert Custodio.
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