This Year in RPGs: September

Borderlands 2 (released 9/18/2012)

Bet you thought I was going to say Torchlight II, didn't you? While it is true that I love T2, Borderlands 2 sold heaps more copies, so I'm setting aside my personal taste to objectively recommend the title that the masses say is more good. Or is it gooderer? Anyways, Borderlands 2 is the successful follow-up to the co-op first person shooter packed full of RPG mechanics and pop culture references. Developer Gearbox calls it a role-playing shooter. I prefer to name the genre first-person looter, personally.

 I started the first one around five times, but always petered out a few hour in. It's not that I didn't like the game or didn't think that it was well done, but for whatever reason I would set it aside and find something else to play. So I haven't exactly gotten around to playing Borderlands 2, but here's what I know about it.

More Classes

In the original Borderlands you had 4 classes to choose from, in Borderlands 2, you have 5. Having not played the new classes I really can't comment on them, but since classes felt distinct and unique in the first title, I have no reason to suspect that they won't be well defined in the sequel.

More Guns

One of the thrills of RPGs is receiving a new item that is incrementally more powerful than the old version. Gearbox cranks this up to the max level (is it 11? I'm not sure) and adds so many weapons, some people have made the argument that Borderlands 2 is less of a game and more of a number comparison simulator. This is, of course, one of the many factors that make games like this addicting. "Sweet! I got a kick-ass new gun!" Followed five minutes later by "Holy shit! This gun blows that last gun out of the water!"

More Variety

One of the complaints about the first Borderlands was that most of the quests were just the standard "go here and kill x of this blank" fetch quest that dominates RPGs. Once again, I haven't played it yet, but from what I've read the quests have more variety to them than the previous title.

While you can play the game single player, Borderlands is one of those games where it is better played with other people. If you can, pick yourself up a copy. Better yet, pick yourself up two and give one to a friend. It is almost Christmas, after all.

This Year in RPGs: June

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 3 (released 6/25/2012)

The game that almost wasn't. Penny Arcade is a well-known web comic that satirizes gaming culture as much as it embraces it. Characters Tycho and Gabe are aliases for their creators' Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik. Their first two outings making a game based on their work went well, creating Penny Arcade: On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness 1 and 2 with Hothead Games, but they ultimately decided not to move forward with the third and final planned game of the series. The art style was deemed prohibitively expensive and both found themselves stretched thin as they tried to manage a successful web comic, expos in Washington and on the east coast, and charity events on behalf of Child's Play all while working on a game.

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 1

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 2

Enter Zeboyd Games (Breath of Death VII: The Beginning, Cthulu Saves the World). Despite insisting for some time that there would be no third game, Jerry and Mike relented once they were approached by Zeboyd. Unlike the highly polished cartoon-like graphics evocative of Gabe's work from the Penny Arcade comic strip that was featured in the previous two titles, the characters are rendered as 16 bit sprites. Something, some would say, is a welcome addition to a series that was already celebrating the turn-based RPGs of yesteryear.

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3

But what we get here is more than a throwback to Final Fantasy. It's a well-executed 2D turn-based roleplaying game, something that has almost gone the way of the dinosaur. Its script also features humorous wit, which is a rarity in RPGs if not gaming in general. If nothing else, PA:OTRSPoD proves that old concepts can still be entertaining, all it takes is the right kind of writing.

This Year in RPGs: March

Mass Effect 3 (released 3/06/2012)

Mass Effect 3 concluded Commander Shepard's tale of saving the universe from the Reapers, an ancient intergalactic species bent on destroying all of civilization. Many fans loved the first two games, but the ending of Mass Effect 3 was met with heavy criticism, which led to BioWare releasing Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut, which expanded on the three different versions of the original ending.

Despite criticisms levied at the title, Mass Effect 3 was a success and continues to be played today, thanks to a steady stream of DLC and the multiplayer mode. Multiplayer was a new addition to the Mass Effect series, and it was one that added longevity to the title.

Although it had its flaws I still enjoyed my time with Mass Effect 3 this year. It was interesting to see the conclusion of the Krogan's reproduction storyline, as well as the plot revolving around the synthetic Geth and the Quarians. To dive into the specifics of either plot points here would be to do them a disservice, but they both have interesting things to say about the role of genetics in reproduction and the question of when an artificial intelligence has sentience. Most game writing has a long way to go before any of it could be said to rival works in the literary canon, but Mass Effect has explored some very serious themes across its three titles.

Since I'm talking about ME3 again, I want to make a correction about something I have previously said that was incorrect. I wrote about Mass Effect 3 on the Wii U last month. I mistakenly said it was the Leviathan DLC that wouldn't be coming to the Wii U. I was mistaken. It's the Omega DLC that won't find its way to the console. At least for now.

This Year in RPGs: February

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (released February 7th, 2012)

One of the more sad stories from the year is Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Not sad because the title was bad by any means, but sad because developer 38 Studios went out of business after making it.

At its worst KoA was a bit derivative of an Elder Scrolls title, but at its best it succeeded where those titles failed. It had interesting lore going for it (penned by renowned fantasy author R. A. Salvatore), aesthetically pleasing art style and combat that was, dare I say it?, more fun than Skyrim.

So what happened?

Making games is an expensive business. Or rather, it can be for those titles at the top. Games dubbed AAA titles because they have the highest budgets and the largest developers behind them. 38 Studios wanted to swim with the big boys, and so they sunk a large amount of money into development so that they could be competitive against the current industry leaders. For a new developer with no established IPs or franchises to fall back on, everything was riding on the success of the first KoA. The title, while not a commercial flop per se, did fail to meet sales expectations. 38 Studios had taken out a number of loans to finance the game's development, including loans from the state of Rhode Island where they were based, and when they were unable to pay back those loans, had no choice but to declare bankruptcy.

Which is unfortunate because KoA was so promising. It had an interesting world and solid mechanics behind most of its concepts. It just didn't set the gaming world on fire. Maybe the gaming population (whom I pretentiously dubbed "interactive entertainment enthusiasts" yesterday) was still wrapped up Skyrim. Or they just weren't ready to tackle another massive open world with a slew of quests again quite yet. Also disappointing because the developer had expressed interest in creating a MMO as a follow-up to KoA. That project will probably now never see the light of day. Such is life in this industry. (True Fantasy Live Online ~ Never Forget).

Anyways, back to the game.

Worth playing because a bunch of people poured their hearts and souls into, then promptly lost their jobs. Worth playing because if you're a fan of RPGs, there aren't a whole lot of original series being created anymore, and who knows how long until we get another fresh IP? Worth playing if you're a fan of the idea of an Elder Scrolls game, but you can't stand Bethesda's buggy coding. And worth playing because you might as well help the state of Rhode Island earn back some of that $75 million.

This Year in RPGs: January

It's that time of year again, loyal reader. The time of year where every blog that's worth their salt compiles some sort of list comprised of the top blank of blank. I'm sure I'll miss some worthy entries as I count through the year's top RPGs as these kinds of list always do, but don't let that stop you from enjoying these top 12 RPG titles that made the cut (worthy of playing) this year.

Final Fantasy XIII - 2 (released January 31st, 2012)

January saw Square-Enix release a follow up to the 13th entry of their flagship franchise. Although Final Fantasy XIII performed fairly well and eventually sold many millions of copies, critics and fanboys alike derided the linear nature of the game, the underwhelming diversity of enemies and quests, and the likability of some of the characters (I'm looking at you, Hope). Others complained that the world lacked towns where adventurers could interact with NPCs, something some consider a crucial component of RPGs, and something rather vocally detested by the fanbase.

Square-Enix took all of those complaints into consideration when making FFXIII - 2. This isn't the cash grab follow up that FFX - 2 was to FFX, trying to milk a dollar by reusing assets; this is S-E trying to make up to their fans. Surprisingly they do a number of things right this time. Maybe someone at the top is listening.

A New Story

Some people said that FFXIII's story was convoluted. Others said it simply wasn't very good. Some people liked it. I say to each their own, but I did feel as if its story was presented a bit too much through cinematics. Square has made fantastic cinemas for some time now, but there's a point every game reaches where it's taking control away from the player a bit too much to the detriment of their immersion. Anyways, in FFXIII-2 you play as Serah, sister of Lightning (the protagonist of FFXIII), along with newcomer named Noel as they search for Lightning.

The combat system from FFXIII returns, which should make some people happy, but I thought it was one of the most uninteresting components to FFXIII.

Open Ended 

FFXIII - 2 (That's Final Fantasy Thirteen Two for those of you who may be perplexed by S-E's numbering system at this point. Personally I think it's a mouthful) features multiple endings like Chrono Trigger.

DLC

For the first time Square-Enix has DLC for a Final Fantasy that's substantial. Some of it is nostalgic, others fan service, but it's nice to see them getting with the program. FFXIII didn't have any DLC to speak of even though there was some request for it from the fans. Once again it seems S-E has taken their feedback into consideration.

Gotta Catch 'Em All

FFXIII - 2 features a monster capturing system that can be addicting for players that like that sort of thing. Basically you can capture any monster and have it in your party and use it to attack your enemies. At least that's my understanding of the situation.