Even More Essential RPGs
The "Essential RPG" idea has fostered a ton of discussion - which was of course the whole idea.
Looking back, I don't know if I was entirely clear in my own mind of my objectives with such a list. A few days later, I think I recognize my subconscious purpose a little better. In talking about "vocabulary," what I was really looking for was perhaps the best / clearest / most definitive examples of the breadth of game design that makes up this incredible genre that we love.

Which is cool from the purpose of a game designer. Or a hobbyist with an interest in game design. Or someone who has a foot in both camps, like me. But folks keep pulling out more games that they'd put on their own lists for their own purposes.

Anne has her list of twelve essential RPGs from a writer's perspective on the Writer's Cabal Blog. In her mind, these are the best examples of different ways to tell story in an RPG. It's a great list. I've personally been burned too many times by games that promised awesomeness and delivered a pile of something stinky. She has several games that were also on my list, but for different reasons. She also includes some great additions: Starflight (I and II), Suikoden 2, City of Heroes / Villains, and... The Witcher. I'm sorry, Anne, but I'm gonna call foul on including an unreleased game on the list. We can hope it delivers on its promise, but... I've had my hopes dashed too many times before.

Scorpia included her commentary, which is as colorful as always. Her own additions would include Eye of the Beholder, and she seemed to agree with Adam V. and Pile_On from the comments here that Wasteland would make a good addition.

Gary, over at The Amazing Re-Titled Blog, has his take on the Top 10 Essential RPGs. Again, he's got different reasons (usually) for including certain games in his list. His additions include System Shock 2, Neverwinter Nights (which, in retrospect, I'm definitely going to have to agree with and add it as #17), Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Arcanum, and Phantasy Star III.

And then we have some great suggestions for games from Tales of the Rampant Coyote and the forum. Beside's Pile_On's and Adam's Wasteland votes, you folks have contributed a number of nominees and made some very compelling cases for them, including:

Dragon Warrior (GB Games),
Wizardy: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (GB Games, seconded by RandomGamer),
Yendorian Tales: Tyrants of Thaine (Tom)
Ultima Underworld (Corvus, and also one of my top runners-up!)
Final Fantasy Tactics (DrSlinky),
Darklands (Pile_On, seconded by Clouviere - Pile_On also included a very DETAILED case for it!),
Arcanum (again, also Pile_On, seconded by Joshuasmyth),
The Legend of Zelda (Ezra - though I don't really think of that one as an RPG),
Star Wars: KOTOR again (Ezra),
Lands of Lore 1 (Ezra),
System Shock 2 also (Ezra),
Eye of the Beholder (Joshuasmyth, agreeing with Scorpia),
Quest for Glory (Joshuasmyth - again, I didn't really consider those to be RPGs, but they might count...),
Alternate Reality (Xenovore)...

If we're broadening the list (and adding indie / shareware games! Woo-hoo!), I'd probably stick Cute Knight up there, too. Not because it could go toe-to-toe against Baldur's Gate II or anything, but simply because it serves as an illustration of how you can hybridize RPGs with other genres to make something that is still very recognizeably an RPG with a very distinct flavor.

So What's The Point?
And I expect more to come. But already, that's nearly 40 RPGs (or near-RPGs) that people consider landmark, exceptional, or otherwise noteworthy and unique enough to be worthy of attention and discussion by anyone today who wants to understand this category of games.

I don't want to argue over which are the most distinct examples of the category. Though I'm sure we could --- for years! I think there's a much more interesting point to come from these discussions.

How many of us have seriously played (let alone completed ) 40 CRPGs? Maybe Scorpia, as being an RPG reviewer for decades can do that to a person (and wreak havok on their sanity, no doubt). I've probably "tried" that many RPGs (and more), but played up until even the half-way point? I think I come up a littl shy, and I've been at it a while. UPDATE: I did a quick double-check, and realized I actually come in a little over 40 if you don't include expansions and very small games. So much for my point. But I've actually completed less than 40 full-length CRPGs.

And even with that many noteworthy games that all reflect different facets of the possibility-space of Computer Role-Playing Games, I don't think we're even remotely close to exploring all the potential that's there. This is an phenominally broad style of game with enormous potential.

So why do we (meaning the audience at large) keep settling for more of the same with prettier graphics?


Join the Discussion Already in Progress on the Forum

Labels: retro, Roleplaying Games

- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 5:00 AM (Permalink)