GameCentral readers discuss their favourite RPGs of all-time, from Fallout 3 to Undertale.
The subject for this week’s Hot Topic was suggested by reader Ishi and covers any game, from any time period. How much experience have you had with role-playing games and what is your preferred style, including Japanese vs. Western and action vs. turn-based?
There were plenty of different answers to those questions, with the most popular choices including Chrono Trigger, Skies Of Arcadia, The Witcher 3, and Dark Souls.
Surprise success
I would say my favourite role-player has changed quite recently to the superb NieR:Automata. I think some people don’t count it as one because of all the action, but it absolutely is in terms of the stats side of things and the story, which for me is the best I’ve ever experienced in a game.
Not only does the story have some pretty profound things to say about existence, prejudice, love, and the inherent unfairness of the universe but it can be really funny too, with lots of bizarre characters that are very easy to sympathise with despite everyone being a robot.
I was so surprised to find the game became a massive hit and would never have imagined that the original would get a remaster as well. Happily surprised though and I hope this means that Yoko Taro gets to do a lot more projects in the future.
Pinky
Bound to love it
I’m in danger of banging on here as I sang the praises of Earthbound on a previous Hot Topic.
Role-playing games are not really my favourite genre but having read for many years how strongly the fans loved the game I thought I must try it when it was finally released in Europe on Wii U.
It was sat in my downloads for a bit and I played it a little bit but not to any great extent but when I actually got into a proper play session on it I could not stop playing. It’s a marvellous game with a fantastic, weird story. The characters are amazing (have you played any other games when you fight crazed religious cults and hippies?). The soundtrack is utterly superb, I can’t think of any other 16-bit games from the mid-nineties that have a reggae dub tune.
It’s honestly brilliant. I downloaded Earthbound: Beginnings afterwards, which is not as user-friendly, but it’s also fantastic. In terms of story it’s possibly better than Earthbound, but initially it is a grind.
John
Complete immersion
I’m the sort of person that would used to have said that they don’t really like role-playing games but the one that turned me round is Fallout 3. Since then I have enjoyed many others, especially The Witcher 3, but I still like the setting and characters of Fallout 3 more, including over its sequel.
Fallout 3, more than probably any other game I’ve played, feels like such a complete world it totally immerses me in what’s going on and feels almost like virtual reality without the headset.
I know the graphics are bad now and Bethesda games are always full of bugs but there’s something about the atmosphere and the attention to detail that always pulls me in. They’ve had a rough time lately, with Fallout 76, but I’m hoping Starfield will be a return to form.
Haster
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Mod cons
Although I’m probably only about halfway through the game my choice would be Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition on the Switch. It just has so many more welcoming options than the standard role-playing game has and lots of little things to make the game better.
The auto-run, varying quests, excellent combat, night and day cycle, flashbacks, quick loading, and secret areas amongst many others. Best of all for me is being able to swap to casual mode when struggling with combat. I still remember getting to the final boss in Final Fantasy 7 and giving up after days of trying to defeat it.
Ian Davis
Double award winner
I nominated this in the best storytelling topic, but Undertale is currently my favourite role-player ever. I haven’t beat Divinity: Original Sin 2 yet, still on the island! However, Undertale takes only two and a half to four hours to complete. But Undertale does not feel lacking in content in anyway.
The combat system is one of the best turn-based systems in the genre – the little mini-games you play for each enemy is so inventive and fun. Toby Fox shouldn’t have gone with the random battles as they do get irritating after a while. And of course, you’re not supposed to kill anybody! So your only reward is money if you befriend the monsters. And the economy is not that well thought out.
But, in ‘the game where nobody has to die’ making sure you get the best ending is so very satisfying. The likes of Sans, Papyrus, and Undyne are righty celebrated for the great characters they are. The humour is always on point, like the two guards who turn out to love one another, those shop keep girls who are ‘so psyched for the destruction of humanity’ and pretty much everything Metaton says. And Fox’s score is magnificent, making that true finale something very special to behold. I was an emotional wreck and could barely see through my eyes any longer.
It was a lovely reminder that while there may be far too many Floweys in the world, and they can’t always be reasoned with, it is always worth a try and that happily ever after is never just a dream.
DMR
No orcs allowed
I would love to say its Final Fantasy 7 or the remake but as much a I love the original, and as much as I was impressed by the new version, I recognise that they both have their problems. Instead I would go for Persona 4, which I still think is a little better than the still excellent Persona 5.
For me these games have everything: great characters, good combat, and a setting that is something other than just generic fantasy with orcs and elves. They can be a bit overlong, I’ll admit that, but other than that I think Persona 4 is pretty much perfect.
Custard
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Awesome and wow
Star Ocean: Till The End Of time. A game which pretty much had everything I could want in a game. It had the fantasy worlds, the sci-fi worlds, and some amazing in0game characters.
The music is just awesome in every way and the combat reminds me of action and turn-based play, due to the frantic nature of it all. Great weapon advancements and character development also. It even has multiple differences in the endings, based on what decisions you made in the game.
When I watched the opening cut scene introduction, of a highly futuristic city and with the epic music, awesome and wow, were repeating in my mind. The city never came into the game, as it was only a PlayStation 2 game and it was never going to recreate a playable CGI moment like that.
But that does not stop the game being just so darn graphically good, that it really made the PlayStation 2 shine from a technical point of view. The game entered my memory as a great experience and a feel good moment to treasure till I go into the great beyond at the end of my time.
Alucard
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The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
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