Chrono Compendium
Zenan Plains - Site Discussion => Polling => Topic started by: GenesisOne on August 14, 2009, 04:26:25 pm
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There's always a talk about the greatest RPGs every made for our generation, but you never hear about RPGs that you would do well to steer away from. The poll just lists the most widely known examples of terrible RPG production. If you've had a terrible RPG experience that didn't make the list, more power to you for posting your two cents worth on it.
I personally think it's Quest 64, mostly because at the time, the Nintendo 64 had no RPGs in its library. So much for that ray of light. The game itself has no cut-scenes or even any puzzles to solve.
One would know better than to toss aside these two important elements that are present in almost any RPG you pick up and play.
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idk...a completely negative thread...? What kind of precedence does bashing certain games set? People put a lot of their time and work into making these games hoping people would play and enjoy them. Do we really have such a superiority complex that we need to put them down for said work? Its basically the opposite of a "Favorite..." thread (which I find equally distasteful)...
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Eyed hafta pick that there Chrono Trigger. Eet's the worst game eeeeeever!
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idk...a completely negative thread...? What kind of precedence does bashing certain games set? People put a lot of their time and work into making these games hoping people would play and enjoy them. Do we really have such a superiority complex that we need to put them down for said work? Its basically the opposite of a "Favorite..." thread (which I find equally distasteful)...
It tells us which games deserve a MST3K-style run, complete with snarky commentary.
I voted "other" and say it's actually a tie between FF2 and FF7, but (1) I haven't played a whole lot of RPGs and (2) this has more to do with that I just don't enjoy either one than that they're necessarily bad.
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I liked Quest 64; the spirit system was interesting. Certainly, not the best RPG ever, but a fine first effort. Too bad it remained a first effert.
Course, a truly horrible game is the one that you stop playing and forget about, so one wouldn't expect it to be listed here anywho.
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Haven't played any on the list, but I do recall playing the Lunar game for the DS for about 3 minutes and wondering how anyone could bear owning it.
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I think the game you're referring to is either Lunar Knights or Lunar: Dragon Song. What exactly was it that got you so turned off of this game? IMHO, just sticking the word "Dragon" in the title doesn't automatically make it a super RPG to play.
For the record, I didn't intent for this to be viewed as a "negative thread". This thread is simply for the purpose of looking back at examples of RPGs that were less than stellar in your own opinion for any number of reasons (storyline, characters, battle system, menu system, and so on). Heck, it doesn't even have to be an RPG. It could be any game, for that matter.
Though if it were the worst game you could think of, that would defeat the purpose of this thread just being restricted to RPGs. Hey, if this topic can be renamed "Worst Game You Ever Played", I'd do it in a snap.
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Haven't really played too many RPGs I haven't liked. I very much enjoyed Quest 64, underrated. Sure, it's different, but it is not bad. It just has unique taste, like Radical Dreamers. Worst I know of would be Timestalkers on Dreamcast. I like the game cause it has a good story and it relates to time travel(one of the reasons I love Chrono). But the gameplay is very simple. It's the most literal form of RPG gameplay there is. You attack, I attack, you attack, I attack, you attack, I attack, etc. It's a matter of who has more guys on their team, and who's the higher level. And that's the game's main draw back. Every time you enter a dungeon, no matter how late in the game you start off at LV.1. And it isn't a random encounter system, it's like Chrono so there is no respawning enemies so in order to be able to beat the boss you have to go around the dungeon aimlessly looking for enemies. And unfortunately at LV. 1 you can only stock 4 items with you so you can't even at least prepare yourself for the enemies which unlike you seem to get tougher as the game goes on. You can permanantly upgrade your stats sometimes... for an insane amount of gold. This all means as the enemies get tougher you must raise your level up higher each time. So eventually you will be expected to go from LV. 1 to LV. 60 in just one dungeon. You can save in the dungeon, but only to have the game shut off and when you come back later your save disappears. It doesn't keep track of your level for one specific dungeon either. Whatever the reason, you leave a dungeon and you drop from LV. 88 to Lv. 1 again. You think it's hard leveling up in DQ games? Think it's hard to get to LV. 99 in CT or CC? Those are all nothing compared to having to level up to LV. 99 every time you play a level. This includes sidequests, which you have to do if you want decent items so in the later levels you don't get slaughtered.
Timestalkers has a good story, great graphics, great everything. They just horribly messed up with the gameplay mechanics. maybe if you could keep your level it wouldn't be as bad. But the worst RPG ver, I tried typing it on Google, not many good opinions to follow. People just seem to name the big popular names and it's just they tried and didn't like it. Mostly got Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy XII, and Chrono Cross. After seeing the third one I alreayd lost faith in them. Bastards. Although now that I think abotu it XII was pretty bad...
If you're talking EVERY GAME...
ET for Atari 2600.
Superman 64 for N64
Ninjabread Man for Wii
Shaq Fu(still have it AND the CD :lol: ) for Genesis and SNES
Charlie's Angels for Gamecube
Big Rigs Over The Road Racing for PC
Spawn The Eternal for PS
Anubis II for Wii(now Anubis I is a different story lol)
Back To The future for NES
Need I go on? :lol:
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Quest 64 was sauce...I was so pissed when I rented that turd! Granted, it's been eons since I played it.
But Shaq Fu!?!?!?!?!? Not exactly an RPG, was it? Been a whiiiile since I played that one...almost as bad as Michael Jordan: Chaos In The Windy City or some garbage like that where you save the world with basketballs. A game about saving the world with basketballs and I didn't like it, need you know more?
I think that the fact Shaq Fu even existed is enough to enshrine it in some sort of Commemorative Hall.
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If strategy RPGs count, I would probably pick Kartia: The World of Fate...although for all
I know, it might have been a decent game if it had been properly translated. As it was,
I kept on expecting one of the characters to suddenly exclaim, "All your base are belong
to us!" (Yes, it was so badly done that wouldn't have been out of place.) This broke immersion
so badly for me that I gave up on the game about four or five battles in.
Otherwise, the first Persona and Unlimited Saga would pretty much tie, as I found both
immensely tedious to play, with an honourable mention going to Final Fantasy VIII for
having produced characters that I hated and a plot that often hinged on those
characters being adolescent morons.
Of course, I haven't played any of the games on the list, so my picks might very easily
not be the crappiest ever. (http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/369/iconalfador.gif)
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So it basically boils down to video game discussion that could go in any one of the video game discussion threads in the General Discussion forum...>_>
Lunar: Dragon Song got better once you got around to the questing which helped out with getting moneys a bit (though you were still going to be doing that weird double-grinding)...
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I hate Earthbound's battle system, and yet I love the game ever so much.
Also, I'd put FF Chronicles on the list for the load times. Only the PSX version, but still. It was that bad.
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Worst RPG? Maybe Paladin's Quest. Or Secret of the Stars (or whatever that awful game was called).
Worst translation? Having recently been playing Legend of Dragoon, I must say... The translation is horrific. Fun story (quite cliche, however), fun graphics, fun battle system... But horrid translation.
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Has to be Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest for me, hands down. A stain on the FF franchise. Godawful in every department. Graphics, sound, writing, gameplay, you name it.
Of the options listed, I would vote for Lagoon.
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The Secret of Evermore, the Illusion of Gaia, and Terranigma all count as some of the worst RPGs I've personally played.
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Sword of Mana for the Game Boy Advance.
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Worst...well I've played a lot of games that were terrible to the point of me playing it because it was so incredibly bad. but worst well hmm....
Last Odyssey and FFII I guess both of which were completely uninteresting and boring the worst thing for a game to be.
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Having recently been playing Legend of Dragoon, I must say... The translation is horrific. Fun story (quite cliche, however)...
Legend of Dragoon, much like Chrono Trigger, starts out quite cliché, but picks up as it goes along...I don't know anything about its translation though...I thought it was a good first try from SCEA and still don't quite understand why they haven't seemed to give it a second go (even if not a LoD2)...
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I played Quest 64 once.
I never want to play it again... except to figure out why the f*** i played it in the first place?
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Legend of Dragoon, much like Chrono Trigger, starts out quite cliché, but picks up as it goes along...I don't know anything about its translation though...I thought it was a good first try from SCEA and still don't quite understand why they haven't seemed to give it a second go (even if not a LoD2)...
I kind of feel the same way about Heavenly Sword. I still don't get why don't produce the sequel to one of the best-selling games of 2007. But then again, I'm not that big a fan of the PS3. Kinda sounds hypocritical, doesn't it?
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I have never even heard of any of those games. I'm very selective about the RPGs I play and these days, I do research to find the best ones. Too bad that I don't have any terrible RPG-playing experiences... or maybe not.
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Huh... I like alot of the games mentioned so far. Evermore, Terranigma, Mystic Quest, those are all games that I still might break out and play.
As long as it has fun gameplay, I'm good (which is probably why I own Gauntlet).
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Quest 64 isn't so bad if you know and can tell which fucking direction you're going in before it's too late (Cull Hazard took 3 days cause I kept walking back to the start.) Besides, Baragoon Moore was badass.
I'd elect Y's III. The first two in the series are living legends, but #3 on SNES was like... dumb NPC's, dumb jRPG hair/armor/sword, and you have just your sword. Though, I did like the Lava zone: reminded me of Konami's Salamander kinda, with the flame arches, the birds, and the serpent miniboss.
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RPGs are just generally good! it seems other genres you can very easily come up with a top ten worst games in it's genre but RPG it seems difficult to come up with even one!
the one I listed is annoying and the worst I've played, but it's a good game! Gotta agree with Thought. This makes me wonder now... and curious simply for finding it and nothing else, what IS some of the worst RPGs ever?
Edit: Yes, I know many of my phrasings are complete butchers on the english dialect but I'm busy with some very important and don't have time to think out what I type right now!
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I'm gonna pick one people may know. Lots of bad games, and tho Mystic Quest wasn't great, there was an X factor in there if you can get into it. On paper, it sucked, and like FF6, the dungeons were too long.
For me, worst RPG I ever played was Chrono Cross!
Yes really. I thought it's music and stuff was decent but the excess of characters made everyone seem so 'generic' in reply. And this was years before I knew about multi-plot games like Saga Frontier.
The problem with Chrono Cross was the storyline as a concept. In fragments, watching someone play it you might think its part of some awesome and long RPG like FF7. But when you really get into it, it just feels like... a generic RPG. Like it wasn't made with a dreamteam, with love, or passion or a real desire to create something. It felt scripted like it was a boss telling his subbordinates to make X Y and Z by a certain date. I for one felt that it was a generic RPG that rode on Chrono Trigger's coattails. Without knowing of radical dreamers there was NO connection for a lot of people, and its like someone took the last version of the script and threw in some words like "arris dome" and "chrono trigger" in there and made a couple references to ride on CT's coattails. This game was Mario 2. A game made from another factory with a stamp on it, a few CT words bolted on just to sell a few more copies. If this game was sold in america with a name like "seiken densetsu 4" it would have been a total flop. The whole ending, you hear that speech and then just...lets toss in the name Schala and say she's been the ultimate enemy. I was like what the hell? This was outta nowhere.
I played through all of Chrono Cross JUST because I love Chrono Trigger as my favorite RPG ever made. Otherwise I wouldn't have finished it, no question.
P.S. Screw Capcha
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Foto Showdown.
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Not sure if it counts as bad, but Jade Cocoon felt pretty meh to me. I didn't care about any of the characters or the story, and I just kept pushing through a battle system I sort of grasped. Don't even remember the ending. I just assume whatever disease targeting the women went away.
I beat Phantasy Star Zero, but wasn't too hot about it either. Also didn't help that the music was shit.
I don't think Chrono Cross was the worst, but as an RPG and "the" CT sequel, it definitely falls short. Great for "what ifs" though, okay as a side game.
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If I'm being objective, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is hands-down the worst RPG I've ever played. But I knew its reputation and understood what I was getting myself into. I just had to experience the badness for myself to truly believe it.
On the other hand, the biggest disappointment for me personally was Seiken Densetsu 3. Beautiful graphics, beautiful music, sequel to one of the greatest games of all time... I had high hopes. But the tedious combat system and horrendous level curve rendered it a nigh-unplayable slog. I wish I could go back and un-play it; better it remain a mystery than an unpleasant memory.
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I was also a bit disappointed by SD3. I played it when the English ROM first came out (2000-ish?) but gave up. A few years ago I finally replayed it and beat it.
I think your complaints are the same I had: grind-y at times due to poor level curve, lackluster advances in combat mechanics, etc. I was also frustrated by the multi-protagonist/branching storyline element. I dunno, I have never loved that mechanic in video games, since it requires multiple playthroughs to see all the content and I rarely get the chance to play a game more than once.
But yeah, the soundtrack was topnotch and the graphics were stellar; they were probably the pinnacle of SNES 16-bit graphics.
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I think your complaints are the same I had: grind-y at times due to poor level curve, lackluster advances in combat mechanics, etc.
I don't mind grinding so much when it's optional, but when it's absolutely required for progression, I grow tired of it very quickly. This can be mitigated somewhat if the battle system is interesting, but this game also failed at that. Enemies weren't dangerous at all (except I think there was a ninja with a really unfair one-hit-kill move), they just had absurdly high hit points. Battles felt more like chopping lumber than fighting.
I guess maybe my expectations here are a bit high. Chrono Trigger really spoiled me in this regard—the level curve is absolutely perfect. You never have to grind, but if you want to, battling is actually fun.
I was also frustrated by the multi-protagonist/branching storyline element. I dunno, I have never loved that mechanic in video games, since it requires multiple playthroughs to see all the content and I rarely get the chance to play a game more than once.
Ordinarily I enjoy that kind of thing, but I couldn't stomach the thought of grinding through a replay. My problem with the story was that my characters didn't mesh well (I picked the knight, the witch, and the little cleric girl). They never once came across as an actual party; just three people who happened to be traveling together for whatever reason. Maybe other character combinations were better.
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Regarding SD3's party members, in theory since the protagonists come in three pairs, then it should help having at least one full pair. Then again, your party had one full pair (Duran and Angela, from the sound of it), yet you say it didn't help. So beats me.
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The inherent problem with multi-story games (specially back then) is if you talk about it with your friends or anyone, you had a 20 hour game maybe that you coul dhave played once, and the other person didnt even have the same experience. I played Saga Frontier, you pick from SEVEN different games. Soemtimes the overlap is so much that you never play all 7 of em, so you choose one. I did, and never again till 15 years later. i picked the same 1st character again. Such was SD3, its a different expeneice for people, so it makes the game like a choose your own adventure book. A cool idea but not so much fun for replay or in actuality.
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dafuq
I liked Lagoon, and I really liked Quest 64
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I loved SD3, but hated both SaGa Frontiers (yes, I was one of those suckers that gave Square another shot and bought the sequel...). The grind in SD3 was real. Mostly just for the final equip & class upgrades. Random drops for randomized items (that I think could have even dropped items for the characters you *didn't* choose)...As for the characters' development, there's 3 pairs whose stories will most intertwine, but the ending fights depend on your 1st choice. So yeah at least 1 party member will feel like odd man out. I felt that way about Secret of Mana's trio (only moreso), so always figured it was just the series...
Live-a-Live is the only RPG that really nailed the branching multi-character storyline.
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Tales of Phantasia for GBA. The save function is busted.
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Orphan Scoin of Sorcery on PS2. For some reason, I kind of liked the game. It really was a bare bones and lackluster experience though.
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I played Orphen as well. God, that was a difficult game...
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<_<
>_>
Ok there was *some* things about Lagoon that pissed me off but otherwise I liked it. (why did the sword reach so poorly)
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Lagoon as in, Bahamut Lagoon?
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It's funny, I have so many fond memories of Quest 64. I played it with GameShark and made my char max level out of the gate. I need to replay it one day. Too many games and not enough time.
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It's funny, I have so many fond memories of Quest 64. I played it with GameShark and made my char max level out of the gate. I need to replay it one day. Too many games and not enough time.
I was someone who really loved Quest 64 as well. I mean, it has all the makings of a bad game in retro spect...but it had a certain charm to it that makes me want to revisit it again to this day.
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Probably not the worst RPG I've ever played but certainly the one I was the most frustrated with: Bravely Default. I was infatuated with the idea of the game when it was first announced, especially the art. I told myself I would buy a 3DS specifically for this game if it was ever released in the west, which I did. And gosh, it was amazing. I still remember my breath taken away by the first town, in 3D, when the camera pans out to view the whole city. The music is great. The characters all are interesting and funny, and I'll back Edea and her "mrgrgr" all the way. The game even had voice acting! I didn't like the grind but auto-battle made that bearable and gave me, a casual player, the option to explore the many job classes.
Then I got to the time loop. Ho. Ly. Shit. I wanted to physically break the game. What was going on? Why was this happening? Was it some psychological experiment designed to test my own breaking point? And I swear that I did the thing to break the loop but IT DIDN'T WORK WHAT THE FUCK so I had to sit through the entire thing again and again and again and again. Granted, that's what the player is supposed to do anyway to get the true ending and experience all the side quests, but excuse me, I don't want to subject myself to that torture.
Completely ruined my experience of the game. Didn't even give Bravely Second a second thought because of it.
I did try the demo to Bravely Default II recently. But after seeing the in-game notice that "the demo is designed to be much more challenging than the actual game" and having my party members one-shotted by the first enemies I saw, I noped right out of that.
I feel I might turn on the original again someday just to re-experience the first joys I had with it, but I doubt I will ever put any actual effort into finishing the game ever again.
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I actually adore the Bravely Default series and it's predecessor, Final Fantasy: Four Heroes of Light. I do admit that the time loop was a bit challenge to initially swallow, but the fact that it's actually alternate timelines with events transpiring differently in each universe made it much better. Plus, all of the class keepers were optional outside of battling for the four crystals, and for some reason they gradually became more passive and less evil in each sequential series of events.
Bravely Second, meanwhile, did away with that gimmick and was a straightforward jRPG. I actually enjoyed it more than the first; the plot was better overall and flowed much better, and the new protagonist and his friends (a riff on the Three Muskateers) oddly worked really well.
I'm excited about Bravely Default II, which looks to be a new world entirely. Although... Bravely Second did leave out Ringabel entirely, and it's only at the end of the game do we learn where he's been at this whole time... which could definitely fit into the BD2 somehow, while linking in with the themes of the first game regarding the multiverse of parallel timelines.
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I am certain the series doesn't deserve the disdain I had (still have?) for it. I just remember it being so tedious to the point of complete, utter frustration that I simply wanted it to be over. Pretty sure I skimmed right past all the character development that happens during that event. Given what you said, I might actually like Bravely Second, if I ever give it a chance.
I hope Bravely Default II is enjoyable for you!
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I voted for Lagoon since that's the only one I've played on the list.
With that said, I actually really like Lagoon. It was a childhood favorite!