Suboptimist

An Epiphany in 720p.

Mine is a blog featuring seasonal fare. Enjoy this last frivolously-themed post, as I start school next week, and the site will likely become another journal of my adventures in linguistics.

A few days ago I posted a conversation between Dan and me. In case you were totally blown away by what we were talking about, the topic was the age-old role-playing game, or RPG, in this case we are discussing computer/console RPGs, not pen-and-paper. There are several sub-genres of RPGs. Among them:

Western RPG: Typically played on the PC. This is probably why I prefer them, since I was introduced to them first. Usually they are set in a high fantasy setting. The game mechanics are borrowed from pen-and-paper games, such as dice rolling. Character customization is usually very robust, and character leveling is slow. In combat, position and movement are stressed, given the genre’s wargaming roots. Notable titles are Baldur’s Gate, A Bard’s Tale, Ultima, and Neverwinter Nights.

Japanese RPG: This is probably the most popular sub-genre of RPGs. Typically played on game consoles. The games are a little more scripted, and the gameplay is very cinematic in nature. Developers usually develop their own combat system, though may borrow elements from previous games. The player is usually given a pre-made character to play. Like traditional Western RPGs, the combat system is usually turn-based, but the positions are fixed. Combat is usually randomized, which is a holdover from when the console hardware did not permit rendering enemies on screen. Notable titles: Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Lunar.

Tactical RPG: Over time, this became one of my favorites. Neither the East nor the West has an absolute monopoly on this genre, though it was probably invented in Japan. It walks the line between role-play and strategic wargaming. Notable titles: Disgaea, Fire Emblem, Fallout: Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the upcoming Luminous Arc, and possibly Mass Effect.

Action RPG: A relatively newgenre focusing less on turn-taking and more on reflexes in combat. Notable titles: Diablo, Fable, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, and a few of The Elder Scrolls games.

Recently, Dan and I have been struggling to get each other to play certain games. He has been trying to get me to play a traditional Japanese RPG. I have attempted to play a couple of RPGs produced in Japan, but none of them have been traditional. I played Kingdom Hearts, but that played like an action RPG. I also played Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Fire Emblem, but those are tactical. I had an interest in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles but that was action and cooperative. Perhaps it is hard to find a game to use to ease myself into the JRPG. Enter Eternal Sonata, game taking place inside Chopin’s dreams hours before his death.

I downloaded the demo over Xbox LIVE last night before heading out to see a movie. When I came home, I decided to start it up and give it a shot. The world of Chopin’s dreams features an engaging and fun battle system that walks the line between action and turn, stressing the importance of position and ability rotation.

The character models feature exquisite cel-shading (I am a sucker for cel-shading) and the environments are lush and colorful. Even if the game doesn’t feature what I love about Western RPGs, I would be willing to play the game simply for how beautiful it looks, especially when played in 720p on my PC monitor. I think this will end up being a very successful release for the Xbox 360, and perhaps an opportunity for me to discover that character customization and dark high fantasy settings are not necessary to enter the world of role-playing.