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[Menome]

Resonance of Fate went almost completely the opposite way, by having your team be hired scrubs for the majority of the game for the people who were actually involved in the plot.

You only start interacting with the 'big events' in the last couple of missions and after they're dealt with in a way that stops it interfering with your own lives, the team goes back to a life of hired scrubbery again.

 

[Black-Wind]

This is the 2nd element of what really snatched me up about EQN.

I hate HATE HATE that MMOs plop you into this world where you're this special snowflake that's supposed to save the day ... just like every other player in the game. It breaks any immersion the game can muster.

EQN advertised that you would not only play in a living world that changed via player actions but also that YOU can make your own damn story and the game would take efforts towards giving you opportunities to a do things you show interest in. You could make your character become a well known Goblin slayer, you could be the type whose super into rallying calls, you could sit in a town and just protect that single town from stuff, you could do anything you wanted and the game would keep track of it in your own personal story book.

The dream ... if only that game were ever to come out. :[

 

[Soriku]

Resonance of Fate went almost completely the opposite way, by having your team be hired scrubs for the majority of the game for the people who were actually involved in the plot.

You only start interacting with the 'big events' in the last couple of missions and after they're dealt with in a way that stops it interfering with your own lives, the team goes back to a life of hired scrubbery again.

That's...not quite what happens.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

I very rarely self-insert anyways.

Actually, Souls/borne totally fits this example. Every game calls you the "chosen undead," blah blah blah.

But whatever, I don't mind, they're among my favorite games ever.

But, like Megaten and Matsuno games, you righteiously SUFFER for this designation!

 

[Frozenprince]

Honestly this kind of thing extends to beyond games for me. In any sort of medium whether it's books, movies, even tv shows, cartoons, and anime I absolutely loathe the "person from prophecy" angle. It feels extremely shallow, I feel like it might be one of the reasons I have little desire to read the rest of the Dune series which is supposed to be fantastic. I don't know if it turns that on it's head but in the first book it didn't and that annoyed me. Same could be said for the Kingkiller Chronicles with Kvothe.

I feel like there are very few examples where even though there's a prophecy character like that, I end up enjoying them. Nausicaa being one since the movie doesn't constantly harp on about the prophecy, though it does allude to it more than once.

In games it's much more fun to play as the average joe who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Basically this. It's always more compelling to just be a guy. You can be competent and do great things and make an impact, but I don't want to be the person that singlehandedly saves the universe with my giant flopping wang. I just want to be a guy who lives in the universe the creator has constructed for me and interact with it in a relatively reasonable fashion.

 

[IAmRandom31]

I look at the RPG genre a bit like fantasy novels. I want to be powerful. I want to go toe to toe with some mythical God dude who wants to destroy the world but I'm standing in his way. I want to call lighting from the skies, summon ancient dragons to reign meteors onto my foes. I want Epic. I want high fantasy. I like starting out as a teenager wielding a wooden sword who by the end has some earth shattering giant sword that can cut the tits off a God.

I want high fantasy and crazy ass action. Thats what I want. I don't want to roleplay as a bum ass trash collector who gains enough experience to tell off his boss one day.

There are a ton of games out there anyway that don't go the " chosen one " route.

OP, you would of loved Ultima Online. Best roleplaying experience of all time, because early on, before the casuals jumped in to PK, everyone roleplayed. People roleplaying Tailors or Blacksmiths or Miners or whatever. Not everyone jumped on horseback to ride off into the sunset in search for treasures guarded by Wyrms and shit.

 

[Memorabilia]

There's a lot of dick eating and porking going on in this thread.

 

[tbd]

You really see GTA as an RPG that's furthermore comparable with fantasy JRPGs and WRPGs?

 

[Menome]

That's...not quite what happens.

Okay, a life of hired scrubbery coupled with new-found existential angst.

 

[Laughing Banana]

OP have you played DAI yet?

That's basically all there is to the player character. Shepard was at least awesome and not bland.

If anything, DAI can actually accommodate both ways: you can view the Inquisitor as the chosen one but you can also view him/her as just some random guy/girl that gets thrown into fantastic events... and both are equally valid interpretations.

Kinda refreshing for a Bioware RPG, tbh.

 

[RedSwirl]

It kinda does get boring when the ultimate stakes are raised in EVERY game of this type and the world always seems to have been made for the player character. It's why I avoided the main quest in Skyrim and tried my best to pretend my character wasn't the Dragonborn, but just another person I was role-playing.

I think Geralt ultimately fits as a subversion of the fantasy messiah. He is one of the most famous people in his world and get's a shitload of opportunities others don't get, but the entire world doesn't revolve around him. He can sometimes affect major changes on a local scale, but the games (and books) give off an excellent feeling that there is a world of events and characters moving forward independent of him. If anything Geralt is basically the Obi-Wan to the actual Chosen One.

 

[Kalentan]

If anything, DAI can actually accommodate both ways: you can view the Inquisitor as the chosen one but you can also view him/her as just some random guy/girl that gets thrown into fantastic events... and both are equally valid interpretations.

Kinda refreshing for a Bioware RPG, tbh.

I feel like all 3 protagonist of Dragon Age aren't really chosen ones. All of them have shit that happens to them that put them into their situations. Unless you count being a Grey Warden being a 'chosen one.'

 

[GreatestHits]

People expect video games to surpass real life in concept alone. The laziest one is the center of the universe trope. There's a lot to do when you make a game. A lot of devs don't want to or aren't interested in creating a unique premise for why you want to be the main character. I think elder scrolls should be omitted from your OP because it doesn't force the trope on you unless and until you really go down the main quest line. You can be the average Joe who porks the wench and the blade for hire.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Bloodborne is probably the last example I would pick. Almost nothing ever revolves around the main character in the grand scheme of things, you're more of an observer of everything happening around you.

That and there are multiple endings in the game where you can go from zero to hero.

 

[Success]

I genuinely thought that the thread title was the name of new edgy indie game.

 

[Zolbrod]

You need to play NieR, OP.

 

[Navid]

...at the end of the day just be a regular halfling-miner-dude who owns a little mine and as an ex-solider is good with his ol' rusty axe who's competent enough to kick a mini-Dragon-Dolphin in the cooch and save his small village, then resume his relatively regular-everyday-normal-guy life.

If you look past the specific fantasy aspect of the above, it sound to me most MMO's are what you are looking for, there you can be just another person among all the others (despite what the game wants you to believe) you'll be just another warrior/miner/trader/guardian/whatever. And no matter what you do in the end someone else will have done it so you will never be the 'chosen one'. Maybe try something like Eve Online or one of the many Day-Z a'likes if you wan't to be the extreme version of a nobody in a game world.

 

[Laughing Banana]

I feel like all 3 protagonist of Dragon Age aren't really chosen ones. All of them have shit that happens to them that put them into their situations. Unless you count being a Grey Warden being a 'chosen one.'

Indeed. And Grey Wardens are *far* from something that can be called "heroes."

Also, this is a minority opinion I suppose, but I don't really regard Commander Shepard as the "chosen one" too, despite the famous Space Jesus moniker thrown at him due to ME3's conclusion.

He/she is just a very capable N7 soldier, one of the best, but that's all he/she is; he or she doesn't have any "chosen one powers" or stuff like that. There is no prophecy about him/her in regards to his/her exploit against the Reapers, etc etc.

 

[Frozenprince]

Indeed. And Grey Wardens are *far* from something that can be called "heroes."

Also, this is a minority opinion I suppose, but I don't really regard Commander Shepard as the "chosen one" too, despite the famous Space Jesus moniker thrown at him due to ME3's conclusion.

He/she is just a very capable N7 soldier, one of the best, but that's all he/she is; he or she doesn't have any "chosen one powers" or stuff like that. There is no prophecy about him/her in regards to his/her exploit against the Reapers, etc etc.

I think ME3 does a good job until the last couple hours at showing how Sheppard is just a figurehead that happens to be a good soldier, but still just a figurehead. Your entire duty is just to go do things for other, smarter characters that will accomplish your goals. Species fight off the Reapers on their own, without your help, and in fact in some cases you're actively detrimental to it.

I thought it did a good job, again, until the end.

 

[poodaddy]

Totally agree with OP 100%, and yes I even agree with how you put it OP. Fuck being the big important guy, life's not like that and I don't need my games to fucking patronize me. On another note, I'm loving reading this thread. It's these types of controversial threads that never disappoint for reading material.

 

[patapuf]

I feel like all 3 protagonist of Dragon Age aren't really chosen ones. All of them have shit that happens to them that put them into their situations. Unless you count being a Grey Warden being a 'chosen one.'

Nah, the world totally revolves around you in Dragon Age. The same is true for Mass Effect.

The main problem i have with the "chosen one" trope is that the world doesn't feel authentic. NOTHING happens if the hero doesn't step in and solve problems with everyone enthusiatically agreeing with everything he does. And that's painfully obvious in most Bioware games (and most RPG's).

"We totally know where this thing is we need but you are the only one in the whole world that can get it for us".
"We are both being dicks because of our clashing ideologies, but just say the word and we'll set our years old feud aside" ect.

The Witcher does suffer from this a bit as well, but at least it also makes an effort to show you that you can kill the strongest dragon and that still doesn't mean things turn out the way you want. Because you are not the only person that matters in this world.

 

[UntoldDreams]

Indeed. And Grey Wardens are *far* from something that can be called "heroes."

Also, this is a minority opinion I suppose, but I don't really regard Commander Shepard as the "chosen one" too, despite the famous Space Jesus moniker thrown at him due to ME3's conclusion.

He/she is just a very capable N7 soldier, one of the best, but that's all he/she is; he or she doesn't have any "chosen one powers" or stuff like that. There is no prophecy about him/her in regards to his/her exploit against the Reapers, etc etc.

I think the OP is lamenting that its no longer "realistic" for him to play a role where the universe hangs in the balance (again). He would likely feel more attuned to a story where the scale and scope is more down to earth like perhaps saving a hapless village from a single ogre.

 

[Lanrutcon]

I like how Dark Soul (the original) handled this. I always felt like sure, I'm a hero. But so was that corpse I just passed a few minutes ago. He had a name. He had a legend. Then he fell through the roof or tried killing the 4 kings or ran into a Hydra and bang. He got ended unceremoniously, like I will be in several fights, potentially by someone who has made a far bigger name for themselves (hi, Havel).

Then you make it to the very end and it's like, no. Burning the magic flute of Endor does not magically make the world better. What you've done will take ages to make a difference, if it ever does. You're just the one poor sod that managed to make it this far in this particular world. Congratulations, hero.

 

[danmaku]

It's a terrible clichè, but not as bad as "you have amnesia".

Also, GTAV is now an RPG? then I guess Dodonpachi can be an RPG too (and you're not space jesus in DDP, so I think you'll like it, OP).

 

[Aureon]

I mean, FFXII has you play the game from the perspective of a relative inconsequential guy to the story that acts as a perfect fish out of water for the players to learn and understand the world we're playing but everyone bitched about it. It's emasculating to not be the center of the universe because videogames have conditioned us to have all this power fantasies.
It's a damn shame really.

Final Fantasy does pretty well in the regard, tbh.

Perhaps MMO entries excluded - they do love lampshading it and making you do fetch quests, though.
Lightning had some issues. Cloud\Squall\Zidane\Tidus\Vaan are pretty well-rebuked and definitely ain't shit. Tidus and vaan even more so.

Bioware games lately are insufferable exactly for that motive for me. And i don't get the praise for Witcher while insulting Dragonborn, they're basically the same archetype.

 

[Markitron]

I find strange that people on GAF seem to treat Geralt like some everyman (usually in the context of insulting Bioware games). They seem to conveniently forget that he is a superhuman monster hunter that can cast magic, is on personal terms with Kings/Emperors, is friends with the most powerful witches/magicians in world and is seemingly the answer to everyone's problems.

He is not an everyman or anything resembling one.

 

[Nessus]

I wouldn't mind it if it was done better.

I'd love to see an Elder Scrolls-type game where there is reactivity in the world to the insane leveling up your character does.

Like near the end of the game you would be more or less a demigod, literally hundreds of times stronger than an average human. Your feet wouldn't touch the ground as you were passing through, random villagers would cower and hide before you, noticeably anxious and fearful if you spoke to them.

Instead we get the town guards lamely trying to kill you if you accidentally hurt a chicken.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Star Ocean II kind of subverts this.

You are a galactic federation ensign that accidently gets transported to a primitive planet. The locals see your alien clothes and use of a regularly distributed federation phaser as a "Sword of Light" and think you to be a legendary hero told of in prophecy.

Also you get constantly shown up by Dias.

This is true until disc 2, when you stop a galactic threat. Disc 1 was great about making you feel like a fish in the ocean. Sure, Claude is the son of an admiral or whatever, but he really feels like a generic guy compared to most RPG protags, especially because he's introduced as sort of a joke to the rest of his team.

Star Ocean 1 actually does this better. The main character is basically along for the ride. Ronixis/Ronyx and Ilia feel more important than Ratix/Roddick.

The Suikoden series does this really well, even if you are always special to some degree. McDohl and Riou are the sons of a war hero, Hugo is the son of a clan chieftan, Lazlo and Prince Falenas are princes, etc. But the stories are much more grounded and you never feel much like Jesus. You're a leader, but you're just one man. You depend on your army and on your support circle like any real leader would, and you usually don't end up saving the world. It's more about taking back your country. It's not the best example, but it's more subverted than Mass Effect/Persona style full-on savior status. And despite the prince from Suiko V being royalty, he's a black sheep in that regard since he's a prince in a queendom.

 

[Vintage]

Wanted to make such thread for quite some time. This isn't only for RPGs, but for all action games.
A couple of examples that ruined franchises for me:
Call of Duty: from playing as a simple private in the big army the player goes to being a bearded super dark-ops elite general who stops the nuclear bomb at the last millisecond.
Assassin's Creed: Altair's story was quite personal with him being a small cog not only in crusade, but also in his clan. Desmond's arc was minimalistic, mysterious and basically was about his survival. But then suddenly you're the only one that can save the world from alien civilization or some kind of bullshit.

I find strange that people on GAF seem to treat Geralt like some everyman (usually in the context of insulting Bioware games). They seem to conveniently forget that he is a superhuman monster hunter that can cast magic, is on personal terms with Kings/Emperors, is friends with the most powerful witches/magicians in world and is seemingly the answer to everyone's problems.

He is not an everyman or anything resembling one.

Being powerful isn't being center of the world. The world in Witcher series revolves around it's own problems that are not caused by Geralt and usually isn't solved by Geralt. Yes, he takes part in a lot of stuff, but he's just a helper, not some icon that the whole population solely relies on.

 

[birthday-suit]

If GTA is an RPG then RPG doesn't mean anything any more. Just throw the term away.

And call Final Fantasy cutscene magic games.

 

[KyanMehwulfe]

well, trevor was indeed a good example since we know that he does in fact have a very average sized dick...

If anything, DAI can actually accommodate both ways: you can view the Inquisitor as the chosen one but you can also view him/her as just some random guy/girl that gets thrown into fantastic events... and both are equally valid interpretations.

Kinda refreshing for a Bioware RPG, tbh.

i sort of like it as a blasphemous qunari

 

[Dragner]

Final Fantasy tactics: The thread.

You do a lot of things in that game and nobody will ever remember it. Delita is considered the hero even if he does utter shit. You are reduced to tales that elder people tell and nobody believes. Mostly being the bad guy for the majority of the world surrounded by a band of traitors.

10/10 plot.

Well, maybe is it more Matsuno: The thread thinking about it.

 

[Ishan]

Haven't played witcher . But right op. A game where you can go around car jacking with abandon murdering civilians with getting a star system of getting hunted down is being not a "Jesus with a huge dick" as you put it . What utter rubbish analysis most games in fact almost all give you a tom of leeway to be a but extreme . Because guess what if you don't get it . There is an awesome alternative called real life ....

I mean what do you want ? Even games which aren't making you •awesome• like journey or gone home are still
Giving you a very special premise . I really
Don't think you've thought this out properly .


Edit also even witcher you're a friggin demon hunter . Yeah not save all end all but you're not average and yeah I wanna be commander Shepard save the galaxy rather an slightly over average achiever when I'm just playing a game ....

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

Nah, the world totally revolves around you in Dragon Age. The same is true for Mass Effect.

The main problem i have with the "chosen one" trope is that the world doesn't feel authentic. NOTHING happens if the hero doesn't step in and solve problems with everyone enthusiatically agreeing with everything he does. And that's painfully obvious in most Bioware games (and most RPG's).

"We totally know where this thing is we need but you are the only one in the whole world that can get it for us".
"We are both being dicks because of our clashing ideologies, but just say the word and we'll set our years old feud aside" ect.

The Witcher does suffer from this a bit as well, but at least it also makes an effort to show you that you can kill the strongest dragon and that still doesn't mean things turn out the way you want. Because you are not the only person that matters in this world.

the bolded part isn't actually true to varying degrees in recent Bioware games.

Mass Effect 3 had some great little touches in it. Like if you chose Morinth in Mass Effect 2 she'd show up as a banshee in the final mission. Same if you don't go and help Jack who'll show up as one of the annoying stealth guys (cipher?).
Not to mention that w/o playing ME2 there was no chance to convince all parties to join forces.
DAI even had a system in place that chooses the next divine based on your actions. That this is in place and how it works is mostly hidden from the player.

Mass Effect and DA also had romances happen if you romance neither party.


Unchanging worlds are a pet peeve of mine I hate how every open world is a single second in time conserved forever. It's one of the reasons I like the frontier in AC3 the seasons change the landscape looks really different and it plays somewhat different.

i sort of like it as a blasphemous qunari

I personally chose to go andrastian Qunari (tal-vashoth) believing to be the chosen. The flavour is so good.

 

[DavidBoring]

Wanted to make such thread for quite some time. This isn't only for RPGs, but for all action games.

i would add The Last of Us to that list. I really love the game for not making Ellie some kind of messianic saviour.

on my first playthrough as soon as i learned that shee was bitten but not infected i thought later in the story she will be the one who defeats the infected - with a scene similar to world war z, when the zombies don't react to Brad Pitt - because that's the way videogame stories normally work out. but instead naughty dog gave us this really great amigous ending

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

i would add The Last of Us to that list. I really love the game for not making Ellie some kind of messianic saviour.

on my first playthrough as soon as i learned that shee was bitten but not infected i thought later in the story she will be the one who defeats the infected - with a scene similar to world war z, when the zombies don't react to Brad Pitt - because that's the way videogame stories normally work out. but instead naughty dog gave us this really great amigous ending

I never played the game but I always wondered what kinda scientist

Spoiler

have to kill the subject to get the necessary material to conduct studies

that's so incompetent.

Spoiler

It's not like you need a kilo of brain material and if they never succeeded wouldn't it be easier to just kill the subject and extract it immediately. Or just keep em i a coma.

I'm sorry but I'm a notorious nitpicker.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Nah, the world totally revolves around you in Dragon Age. The same is true for Mass Effect.

Dragon Age 1: you can actually let the other dudes (of which there are two options to pick from) to deliver the final blow to the final ultimate evil dude while you just watch. Heck, even the circumstance that allow you to actually do that is created by other dude, not by you. And the way you can do all sorts of *really* hilariously evil stuff as the Warden in DA1 doesn't really fit with the typical Chosen One mantra. The Warden didn't have any special "power" of any kind beyond what was given to him due to the Warden initiation ritual--something that plenty people other than him/her also has, and even so that power is not really a power but more of a curse, really

Dragon Age 2 subverted the Chosen One trope even further. It can be strongly argued that the hero didn't have any power to change anything and it can EVEN be argued that things were made much worse due to his/her involvement in the affairs.

Dragon Age Inquisition: like I said, the game was open enough to make the interpretation that the hero is just some random tool gets thrown into the thick of affairs can also be very valid.

I've given my opinion on Mass Effect's Shepard above.

 

[redcrayon]

Indeed. And Grey Wardens are *far* from something that can be called "heroes."

Also, this is a minority opinion I suppose, but I don't really regard Commander Shepard as the "chosen one" too, despite the famous Space Jesus moniker thrown at him due to ME3's conclusion.

He/she is just a very capable N7 soldier, one of the best, but that's all he/she is; he or she doesn't have any "chosen one powers" or stuff like that. There is no prophecy about him/her in regards to his/her exploit against the Reapers, etc etc.

What bugs me about Shepherd is the way all the other races pander to him whenever he shows up. If one really competent Turian showed up and offered to flip a coin and pick an option in a binding decision about the issues facing Earth, it would look silly if everyone just welcomed them into the highest level of politics and listened with awe.

 

[Monocle]

Great OP, lol. Very entertaining read.

 

[patapuf]

Dragon Age 1: you can actually let the other dudes (of which there are two options to pick from) to deliver the final blow to the final ultimate evil dude while you just watch. Heck, even the circumstance that allow you to actually do that is created by other dude, not by you. And the way you can do all sorts of *really* hilariously evil stuff as the Warden in DA1 doesn't really fit with the typical Chosen One mantra. The Warden didn't have any special "power" of any kind beyond what was given to him due to the Warden initiation ritual--something that plenty people other than him/her also has, and even so that power is not really a power but more of a curse, really

Dragon Age 2 subverted the Chosen One trope even further. It can be strongly argued that the hero didn't have any power to change anything and it can EVEN be argued that things were made much worse due to his/her involvement in the affairs.

Dragon Age Inquisition: like I said, the game was open enough to make the interpretation that the hero is just some random tool gets thrown into the thick of affairs can also be very valid.

I've given my opinion on Mass Effect's Shepard above.

In dragon age 1 and inquisition they give you a status (warden and inquisitor) from pretty much the beginning that gives you the authority to do whatever you want and that guarantees that everyone will listen to what you say, even the highest of the social ladder or the lowest that shouldn't give a shit. The random person thing is really only the excuse to allow a blank slate character.

In both games it's also pretty immediately clear that you are the only one that can save the world and all events happening in the world are centered around you (or more precisely, your position as the warden/inquisitor).

Mass Effect is the same, though the spectre stuff was pretty well handled in 1. It's in 2 and 3 where it quickly became obvious you were literally space jesus, whatever you wanted to happen, happened.

I want the hero to have agency but i also want the world to a) not revolve around only me, the protagonist, and b) i want the gameworld to push back. Give me choices but don't let me just win because i made a descision.

 

[MrRudiMentary]

Oblivion is good at this. It seems like you're the main hero destined to do great things, but as it turns out

Spoiler

it's Martin who is the center of importance

Sure, in the main quest. But you're still the leader of the thieves guild, fighter's guild, the listener of the dark brotherhood, the archmage of the mages guild, the grand champion of the arena, the knight of the nine and the fucking god of madness.

 

[Creaking]

It's you! The Hero of Kvatch

At least in Oblivion, you weren't actually the 'savior' savior. You were just the savior's lackey who did all the difficult stuff. Still has this issue though.

 

[spineduke]

This sounds like a steam tag worth building - at least, curating a list of RPG games where you're not the chosen one. Mount and Blade was great in that regard, and I believe Kingdom Comes: Deliverance will be the same when it comes out.

EDIT: or a list of RPGs that don't involve you saving the world - anything smaller in scope would suffice.

 

[Boss Doggie]

Sure, in the main quest. But you're still the leader of the thieves guild, fighter's guild, the listener of the dark brotherhood, the archmage of the mages guild, the grand champion of the arena, the knight of the nine and the fucking god of madness.

You can opt not to do those though and it seems that beside the expansion, none of them seems to be canon. And beside the expansion, none of them really compares to actually saving Tamriel. This isn't small time like taking out a lame ass dragon reskin.

 

[Ferr986]

Well, the clever thing about Dark Souls is that it starts with you wandering around clueless and everybody acting like you aren't worth a damn. Then you meet Frampt, who praises you as the Chosen Undead and gives you a concrete goal and you feel like you've finally been rewarded for your struggles.

Spoiler

And the player can go the entire game believing they're the super special Chosen Undead until the last cutscene where they wonder why they're on fire. But if you do some investigation, you realize Frampt is bullshitting you. "You will succeed Lord Gwyn" sounds really impressive until you learn any gullible brute who is flammable will do.

Spoiler

well both Frampt and Kathee bullshit you. The real point of Dark Souls (especially as seen in DS2 SOTFS) is just that you can't do shit after all. Link the flame, don't do it. Doesn't matter at the end. Shit will go down regardless. So there's really no chosen undead. You're just a tool for anyone's agenda, be Frampt, Kathee, Nashandra, Gwyn...

I feel like the only one that doesn't mess with the player is Aldia.

Btw I agree with OP. I'm a little tired about everyone around sucking my dick because how awesome I am, like Mass Effect or recently FFXIV.

 

[RipperGrim]

Blame The Matrix.

As outlandish as your post might sound, I find most of your perspectives perfectly normal in an anomalous sort of way. What you are essentially arguing for is diversified representation of character types and origins. Which is a good fight to fight.

actually blame Star Wars.


Also I think one of the best ways to tell an epic story is using this story method, starting from humble beginnings to getting to the end and fighting/ defeating something that seemed so far away and unbeatable at the beginning is an awesome feeling, it's not the most original but I feel it's a very good tie in for a vidoegame stories as you're character levels up/gets stronger it fits the narrative perfectly.

I do think being more diverse is good as well though, Geralt is a good example of someone who is kinda in the background of all these big events and he tries to keep his story focused on only the people he cares about, it makes for a very interesting narrative and I wouldn't mind seeing more things like it. The only issue though is that Geralt is an already defined character, he's a bad ass the the beginning and a bad ass at the end, no real arc happens in my opinion by the end of Witcher 3 but on the other hand because he's so defined I feel the writing for his character is very good and very focused.

 

[aspiegamer]

This is going to sound extremely contrary, but FF-Type0. Most of the missions have you playing as a part of a larger battle, though yes you're the spear a lot of the time. This sticks out in the final dungeon, though. You get the ever loving shit beaten out of you by the final boss when you're assuming you'll win the same way as every other JRPG ever. You're given a gimmick ability based on the group's signature talent to eventually win, and even then not via traditional battle. And then everyone dies. There's even an alternate ending where, despite turning to the Dark Side to try to be awesome and save your friends, you still get slaughtered. There's no way to actually "win".

Resonance of Fate went almost completely the opposite way, by having your team be hired scrubs for the majority of the game for the people who were actually involved in the plot.

Was going to post this! I love this game so much. Even when you're "powerful" the majority of your abilities rests in weaponry and skill since your raw physical stats remain complete garbage. The writing plays you as the underdog even through the last dungeon and the party is aware that they're actually the ones causing disruption and for exclusively personal reasons. Angst on such a deeply personal level is a rarity. And you sure as hell don't save the world. You disrupt a long-standing and by all accounts generally functional government. You settle the score just enough to feel like you can leave your ghosts behind and move on with life. We'll never see the sequel the ending sets up, sadly.

 

[old manatee]

The STALKER games are pretty good about letting you feel like an anonymous scavenger.

 

[Eric the Red]

I hated in FFVIII when they made Squall the leader of Balmab Garden. It was much more interesting when you were just making your way through as another student.

 

[Azure Phoenix]

Despite the crass wording I couldn't stop nodding my head reading the OP, it's why I generally dislike most RPGs (particularly JRPGs) and MMOs yet loved Persona 4. You're either a spiky haired boy with a big sword that conveniently is the only person who can save the world from a demi-god despite being a layabout from a tiny farming town with no training or experience (JRPGs), or you're some unnamed mute prisoner with no backstory that just so happens to be the saviour of the world with special god powers (WRPGs).

Why can I not just be someone who isn't special, who has far less lofty goals, who finds themselves out of their depth and has to rely on other people? Why does it always have to be going on an "epic quest" to save the world from a big bad evil, why can't it be a regular ass dude doing what he can to save people?