If you have to choose between battle system and story…

Which would you compromise in an RPG? Both are very important to me. Which RPGs do you think have the best in each category?

 

Panzer dragoon Orta.

 

Definitely skip the battles in favor of story. Look at FF8: people hate it with a passion yet still played it to the end because they were so interested in the story.

 

Urm, I meant of course Panzer Dragoon Saga

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

There's an edit feature, you know.

And FF8 sucked as a whole. Dull, monotonous battles combined with some generally dislikable characters made for a game that many tried to enjoy but simply couldn't. Although some people (including a few friends of mine) still swear it's the best FF ever. I just have to scratch my head to that.

For some really fun and engaging game systems, try any of Tri-Ace's RPGs (Star Ocean, Valkyrie Profile).

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

I'm an extremely light RPG gamer so my vote for best RPG goes to FFX.

It has a great blend of both story and battle system to keep someone with ADD(like me) entertained for like 70 frickin' hours...

 

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Fishie said:

Urm, I meant of course Panzer Dragoon Saga

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I agree. Panzer Saga was the perfect balance between gameplay and story. Each was excellent in its own right, without becoming overbearing or overlong.

I know that game gets flack for being short -- 15 hours is a twinkle for an RPG -- but I found it refreshing. Most RPGs are merely padding out the playtime with pointless side quests and treasure hunts. Everyone wants to be Tolkien or Cervantes.

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

The edit feature is time limited and by the time I saw my mistake I could no longer edit the post.

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

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Zero-chan said:

There's an edit feature, you know.

And FF8 sucked as a whole. Dull, monotonous battles combined with some generally dislikable characters made for a game that many tried to enjoy but simply couldn't. Although some people (including a few friends of mine) still swear it's the best FF ever. I just have to scratch my head to that.

For some really fun and engaging game systems, try any of Tri-Ace's RPGs (Star Ocean, Valkyrie Profile).

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Have you played Xenosaga yet? I think it's arguably one of the better stories out there, but people seem to have conflicting opinions about the battle system.

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

After slogging through Xenogears and everything I've read about the game on toastyfrog.com, it's one I shall happily avoid like the plague.

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

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Zero-chan said:
After slogging through Xenogears and everything I've read about the game on toastyfrog.com, it's one I shall happily avoid like the plague.

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/versus/images/graemlins/grin.gif Well, I don't think there's any mistaking your opinion as anything other than disgust with the series! Personally, it's my favorite, but if we didn't all have different tastes, what a boring world it would be. Most people love the series, so I'm a bit surprised to read such an unfavorable review ~ I'm curious; what did that article say about Xenosaga?

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

A good story can save a mediocre battle system and vice versa...

but if I have to settle for one game having a crappy battle system in favor of a killer story, or vice versa... I want the killer battle system. There's more depth and lasting replay value in the system than in the story, which you'll have forgotten most of a week after beating it. My view is I'll buy games for gameplay and books for story.

Favorites in terms of story and battle system:
If you could count FFT as an rpg I love the battle system in that. I kept playing for hundreds of hours trying to find fun new ways to mix'n'match jobs and skills ... long after the unintelligible and bland story played out.
If I had to go with a traditional RPG's battle system, FFVI maybe?
I also liked breath of fire III, where paying attention to the weight of your equipment mattered.

For storyline... I've never been overly impressed with ANYone's storyline. But I had the most fun with chrono trigger's. Time travel makes for a simple and effective way to give variety to your allies, enemies, backdrops, etc.

 

Re: If you have to choose between battle system and story…

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CreeD said:
I had the most fun with chrono trigger's. Time travel makes for a simple and effective way to give variety to your allies, enemies, backdrops, etc.


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Yeah ~ kinda reminds me of Time Splitters.