Why are JRPGs so Complex?

[machomuu]

JRPs are complex in a poor attempt to prevent the player discovering how mediocre and shallow the gameplay is, as JRPs are terribly rote and repetitive (Grind, Boss, travel to town, buy new shit ad infitium)

I can never tell if you're brogamer trolling or being serious, because you're either an idiot or never being serious.

Either way is annoying.

I'm trying to figure that out too because that does seem to be the case

 

[emigre]

JRPs are complex in a poor attempt to prevent the player discovering how mediocre and shallow the gameplay is, as JRPs are terribly rote and repetitive (Grind, Boss, travel to town, buy new shit ad infitium)

Like what games JRPGs do you consider complex

I can't say I've ever found a JRPG to be complex. I'm a relatively intelligent person so I've comfortably grasped numerous battle systems. My earlier post was a half joke half serious.

 

[machomuu]

Honestly I don't know if they even make complex RPGs anymore. There are a few, like Deus Ex and Etrian Odyssey (Well, maybe not Deus Ex, but I definitely wouldn't call that simple). Most RPGs with complex UI are older ones, I have a hard time ones that are complex nowadays unless they are SRPG, and even then they're hard to come by.

 

[Hells Malice]

Complexity isn't always a good thing. Generally games try to incorporate complex things as simple as possible. It's not actually very enjoyable to be confused and annoyed by something, it's a lot easier to be able to understand and grasp a games concepts.

That's why AC works pretty well. It's complex as fuck, but at the same time it's simplified enough that you don't NEED to spend hours figuring out the small stuff, you can just focus on some of the more obvious details and still have fun.

Plus games can be deep, interesting and fun as hell without ever being considered "complex".

Hell, look at Atlus games. Most really aren't complex. Catherine and SMT: Devil Survivor come to mind. I wouldn't call either of them really "complex" but they're both tough as hell, and very fun.

 

[machomuu]

Complexity isn't always a good thing. Generally games try to incorporate complex things as simple as possible. It's not actually very enjoyable to be confused and annoyed by something, it's a lot easier to be able to understand and grasp a games concepts.

That's why AC works pretty well. It's complex as fuck, but at the same time it's simplified enough that you don't NEED to spend hours figuring out the small stuff, you can just focus on some of the more obvious details and still have fun.

Plus games can be deep, interesting and fun as hell without ever being considered "complex".

Hell, look at Atlus games. Most really aren't complex. Catherine and SMT: Devil Survivor come to mind. I wouldn't call either of them really "complex" but they're both tough as hell, and very fun.

Yeah, it really depends on how well it is employed and the level of complexity, as overly complex games tend to be annoying, frustrating, and overall boring.

 

[emigre]

I prefer games that have deep and/or evolving game mechanics. In Eternal Sonata, the battle system would evolve over the period of the game or in Valkyrie Chronicles II where to upgrade your platoon's solider class, you have to attain certain credits.

 

[Missing Number]

i dunno.... there are some WRPGs that fit the billl too

i.e. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, World of Warcraft, Ultima

and for most of those games, its not just the gameplay, but the story as well

 

[Hells Malice]

i dunno.... there are some WRPGs that fit the billl too

i.e. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, World of Warcraft, Ultima

and for most of those games, its not just the gameplay, but the story as well

Fit what bill, lol. ES and FO don't evolve, and neither series is complex. Though making magic in ES is a pain in the ass to start, s'bout it though.
Neverwinter Nights is pretty simple overall (note: I don't mean easy). Never played KotOR. WoW isn't complex in the slightest. In fact, it dumbs down several RPG elements to make the game vastly simpler for the simple minded morons who all play it.

Ultima I agree with, lol.

QUOTE(emigre @ Aug 27 2011, 07:52 PM) I prefer games that have deep and/or evolving game mechanics. In Eternal Sonata, the battle system would evolve over the period of the game or in Valkyrie Chronicles II where to upgrade your platoon's solider class, you have to attain certain credits.

I like evolving game mechanics, but sometimes they do more harm then good. Eternal Sonata's combat system was fantastic until you fully unlock it, then it's so simplistic and repetitive it drove me nuts.

Sands of Destruction did the same thing. It was pretty fun and somewhat difficult, until you you got far enough and then it just evolved into something supremely simplistic and boring.

 

[Nujui]

KOTOR isn't that complex Hells Malice, it's fun, and rather easy once you get the hang of it. I got pretty good at dodging in that game (Even though you really couldn't it's not that hard to do.) I've played both, loved them. Especially with all the mods that are still (I think, I haven't checked the mods site) being made for it.

 

[machomuu]

KOTOR isn't that complex Hells Malice, it's fun, and rather easy once you get the hang of it. I got pretty good at dodging in that game (Even though you really couldn't it's not that hard to do.) I've played both, loved them. Especially with all the mods that are still (I think, I haven't checked the mods site) being made for it.

There are mods for it? I love games with a lot of modding support

 

[Nujui]

KOTOR isn't that complex Hells Malice, it's fun, and rather easy once you get the hang of it. I got pretty good at dodging in that game (Even though you really couldn't it's not that hard to do.) I've played both, loved them. Especially with all the mods that are still (I think, I haven't checked the mods site) being made for it.

There are mods for it? I love games with a lot of modding support

http://knightsoftheoldrepublic.filefront.com/

 

[clegion]

While I'm sure there are a good amount of exceptions, I imagine they're complex because that's their niche, and the audience for them expects a good deal of complexity.

Kind of like the Armored Core games; stupidly complex, but fans wouldn't have it any other way.

AC is complex? didn't think of it that way. Then again I don't exactly think that JRPG are in anyway complex or anything

You can play AC without getting too deep into it, but once you start actually paying attention to every detail of your AC, it's insanely complex. Most people just focus on firepower and mobility. Though if you were to ever verse a human with some comprehension of the game...your caveman quality AC would get trashed in seconds, lol.

This of course assume that i make a caveman quality AC, I still don't think its complex, it is something expected from a mecha design game where you then drag this mecha into the battle

 

[machomuu]

KOTOR isn't that complex Hells Malice, it's fun, and rather easy once you get the hang of it. I got pretty good at dodging in that game (Even though you really couldn't it's not that hard to do.) I've played both, loved them. Especially with all the mods that are still (I think, I haven't checked the mods site) being made for it.

There are mods for it? I love games with a lot of modding support

http://knightsoftheoldrepublic.filefront.com/

Thanks

 

[727]

I don't think JRPGs are really all that complex to begin with. Depth and complexion are too vastly different things. Generally you're just attacking and healing; now a tactics game, that could be seen as a bit more complex. Especially if you get into the RTS realm; perhaps you just haven't gotten used to the RPG feel or the world of today is too used to mindless FPS games. I'm surprised this topic has gotten 4 pages because it just doesn't make sense to me; sure there are a few complex games but for the most part JRPGs are rather simple and repetitive with some depth thrown in to blind us.

 

[SinHarvest24]

That's exactly why i like JRPG!


The more complex a game is, the greater the possibilities are within the game.