Jasede said:
Tox: That might be so; but if the initial character puts (shallow/picky) people off, then they will never get that far, and it is difficult to blame them for it.
It's more difficult to blame the writer, in my opinion, than some tards who couldn't spend one lousy hour in the game just because the main character has white hair or a limp or something. Torment was great, because it provided a clean slate as well as a backstory, which no longer applied to your character, but was connected all the same; to imagine that someone, anyone, was put off by the initial aspect of not being able to customize the character (lol bigger nose) awakes a new hatred for humans within me.
I mean, Fallout was essentially the same way; you could pick a name, and stats and skills, but looking back you were still the Vault Dweller or the Chosen One. You were still trapped in one single storyline, albeit with several major variables, and that, certainly, must be a point more vital than the lacking ability to change your character's appearance? Surelly.
I guess the standard has become a sandbox and abilities like chosing the color of your teeth, minus any worthwhile main story or character development.
Mr. Teatime said:
Maybe this is an essential difference between games and, say, books and films, then. Because I'd much prefer to play and work with a compelling character, rather than one who's a blank slate and as a result never becomes particularly compelling. It's the task of the developer to make that character interesting, just as it is the task of the director or screenwriter or novelist.
Of course, in a perfect RPG I reckon you'd create that character through your choices and the way you deal with people - but I don't think it's practically possible to get the same level of depth. You might bring Fallout in here, I dunno.
No, you could customize your character at the beginning, sure. But it's cosmetics, really, it's not
the important feature for character growth. The important bits are writing, choice and consequence, reactive gameword and so forth, so that your character has the ability to become something different on his own, when compared to, say, a character that I might play.
Mr. Teatime said:
Then you have the JRPGs, which without exception go for the predetermined character. True, most of them are spiky haired emos, but occasionally you get a very compelling story, which couldn't be told any other way - I guess some of the FF games might fall in there, and I hear Chrono Trigger is very good, though I haven't played it.
They're more akin to adventure games, seeing as the story is nearly always a completely linear progression of events, and due to the lack of any meaningful choices you as the player might make. The main protaganist, from what I've seen of jrpgs, is not as much an emo, as he is the silent "..." type, allowing the player to determine for him/herself what thoughts are running through the main character's mind. But all in all, one can't complain about the characters in adventure games, because they are closer to books than games, and one cannot expect to be the hero, only to guide the hero through the storyline by being there and sharing the experience. If the protaganist and his choices doesn't suit your taste, it is simply because you're playing the wrong game, end of story.
Mr. Teatime said:
Finally: Braid - a new game on Xbox Live.
It's coming to the PC as well, apparently, so hey. Might as well try it.
