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The (many) RPGs of 2014 - this is the year

Banner Saga looks incredible! I'm stunned.
I'm pre-ordering.
Why can't there be more games like it. I can't believe its crowd-funded. I'm definitely putting my money into the next one.
 
djtiesto said:
Aside from Witcher 3 and South Park, most of the western RPGs look generic as all hell (sooooo sick of the medieval settings in games).

Bravely Default, TITS 2, Cosmic Star Heroine, and of course X for me (if X makes it in 2014, which I doubt... maybe in Japan...).
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Isn't it a worldwide release?
 
djtiesto said:
Aside from Witcher 3 and South Park, most of the western RPGs look generic as all hell (sooooo sick of the medieval settings in games).
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Hopefully, I can change that for you someday. All these developers are using the same premises and settings for their games. Where are all the Afro-futurist, Arab, ZTotally out there laden RPGs? I'm surprised we don't have that many RPGs with settings from Japanese mythology considering the Japanese are making those games, but most of their RPGs still use the medieval fantasy setting.
 
I personally love medieval settings, but I do think RPGs are getting a bit lazy focusing entirely on them as worlds get bigger and bigger. Countries in the real world don't look alike, why should they in video games? I'd love to go to an eastern country in a video game and actually end up in an Eastern-type continent, with everything from the towns/characters to the weapons/magic all inspired by asian culture.
 
Sage Shinigami said:
I keep thinking my tastes in RPGs are narrow (console, no retro "throwback" graphics, no isometric bullshit unless its a strategy RPG, 3D) but then I see something like this.
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Ah, i'm very, very much concerned about the game's theme and setting, first and foremost.
The list has 3 scifi RPGs, and not one is what i really like (one is cyberpunkish and cyberpunk i like is very rare, another is... limited, scale-wise, and the third is post-apocalyptic so meh).
I don't like retro-style or flat 2d graphics, and prefer 1st/3rd person action RPGs to isometric perspective but these are mere preferences, things i can ignore if the game is interesting enough otherwise. These aren't though.

EDIT for fantasy, i require something like the Elder Scrolls, specifically something that rivals it in worldbuilding and attention to detail. Usually. Obsidian's writing means i'm interested in Project Eternity but Obsidian's typical issues mean i'm skeptical (edit not to mention not caring for old school RPGs in general, but it is something i can overlook if it is good enough otherwise. This may sound somewhat ironic considering i really love PnP RPGs).
 
Sage Shinigami said:
I personally love medieval settings, but I do think RPGs are getting a bit lazy focusing entirely on them as worlds get bigger and bigger. Countries in the real world don't look alike, why should they in video games? I'd love to go to an eastern country in a video game and actually end up in an Eastern-type continent, with everything from the towns/characters to the weapons/magic all inspired by asian culture.
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Blasian Persuasion said:
Hopefully, I can change that for you someday. All these developers are using the same premises and settings for their games. Where are all the Afro-futurist, Arab, ZTotally out there laden RPGs? I'm surprised we don't have that many RPGs with settings from Japanese mythology considering the Japanese are making those games, but most of their RPGs still use the medieval fantasy setting.
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They don't sell, regardless. Your best bet is to wait for 10-20 years and you'll probably get F2P Blockbuster RPG from Eastern Countries. Be prepared to learn another language just to play it though. If it's from a foreign developer, it will most likely be laden with awkward stereotypes.
 
FANTASTIC topic opening post!

My most awaited:

Lightning Returns
Bravely Default
Atelier Escha and Logy
X
 
Durante said:
Or just own a PC. 26 of these games are on PC. Maybe I'm easy to satisfy, but I think that's enough for a good RPG year.
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Sure looks like it - as a PC owner you could probably play new RPG's nonstop througout the year with such a release list. That is, if you could stomach it :-)
 
This thread... 2014 is going to be a good year.
tumblr_lqxe4xH2du1qlff32o1_500.gif
 
Added "The Witch and the Hundred Knight". (Yeah, it's "Knight" not "Knights". Dunno why lol)

I'm still working through the list of games to add.

----------------------------

The WItch and the Hundred Knight

34_witch_logosou8q.png
34_witch_ss15qukd.png
34_witch_ss2v5uqv.png


http://www.nisamerica.com/games/witch100/

Another game which I forgot about initially, but am actually familiar with. I've been following it since it was announced quite a while ago. Impressions of this action RPG from NISA from the Japanese release were mixed, but it still looks interesting and different enough in terms of premise and gameplay to be worth checking out, at around 5/10 Durante hype points.
 
RaikuHebi said:
This is at least the 3rd time I've seen a thread on this subject.

Not that I don't like it haha.
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Yeah, this is true. I actually started making the table in the last thread. Doing so I realized that 2014 really is the year of the RPG and thought it deserves a more comprehensive "OT" :P
 
Antharion is also coming in 2014.

Antharion-Graveyard.png

video-194586-h264_high.jpg


To be honest I'm not yet convinced it deserves to be in such distinguished turn based company as Divinity: OS or Wasteland 2 and those graphics are a bit of an acquired taste to say the least but they did promise a 'huge' openworld, no monster or loot scaling and some other nice features. Maybe it's worth a couple Durante Hype Points, you decide ;)
 
Looking at that list:

Want:
Age of Decadence
Atelier Escha & Logy
Bravely Default
Cosmic Star Heroine
Dead State
Divinity: Original Sin
Drakengard 3
Eschalon Book III
Pillars of Eternity
Trails in the Sky: Second Chapter
Wasteland 2
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
X

Maybe:
Child of Light
Conception II
Tales of Xillia 2

Has to Prove Itself:
Dragon Age: Inquisition

Bargain Bin:
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Its going to be an expensive year.
 
Age of Decadence - Maybe
Blackguards - Own Early Access version
Bound by Flame - Maybe
Child of Light - Maybe
Cosmic Star Heroine
Dead State
Divinity: Original Sin
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Drakengard 3
Grim Dawn - Own Alpha version
Lord of the Fallen
Pillars of Eternity
Shadowrun: Dragonfall
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Tales of Xillia 2
The Banner Saga
Trails in the Sky: SC
Wasteland 2 - Own Beta
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
 
Well Bravely Default and X are like duh Im going to get. But from some recent discussion about Nier, Rpg-gaf has convinced me to buy that from Amazon. And now Im interested in Drakengard 3. Dammit x_x

I also really like what Xseed did with Xenoblade so Trails In The Sky is on the radar as well but is that a Vita title?
 
I'm sure I'll probably end up getting bravely default since by the time it comes out here I'll likely have caught up with everything I have on 3DS and I'll need stuff to play, but isn't it supposed to be a really basic old-school jrpg, like the old SNES FFs? I can't say that's very appealing.
 
Derrick01 said:
I'm sure I'll probably end up getting bravely default since by the time it comes out here I'll likely have caught up with everything I have on 3DS and I'll need stuff to play, but isn't it supposed to be a really basic old-school jrpg, like the old SNES FFs? I can't say that's very appealing.
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I'm almost done with it and you'll probably like it if you enjoyed Final Fantasy V or The 4 Heroes/Warriors of Light. You have plenty of job classes to choose from and the characters are likable. It does feel a bit formulaic though.
DimmuBurgerKing said:
Atelier Escha and Logy looks interesting. Would te Vita port of Totori or Meruru be a good entry point for this series?
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They both belong to the same trilogy (Rorona/Totori/Meruru), but any game is a decent place to jump in. I started with Totori and that was fine. You'll miss out of some of the background story but it's nothing terribly bad.
 
DimmuBurgerKing said:
Atelier Escha and Logy looks interesting. Would te Vita port of Totori or Meruru be a good entry point for this series?
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Totori is a good entry point, IMHO it's the best game overall in the Arland Trilogy.

gamergirly said:
I also really like what Xseed did with Xenoblade so Trails In The Sky is on the radar as well but is that a Vita title?
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Code: 
Trails in the Sky: SC     Yes  Iso / Fixed    -    Linear     TB     Free      ?       -        -       Yes     2014     [B]PC,PSP[/B]
So much information!
 
I feel pillars and witcher alone make this the best RPG year of all time, and there will be so much more. very much looking forward to it.
 
jimboton said:
Antharion is also coming in 2014.

Antharion-Graveyard.png

video-194586-h264_high.jpg


To be honest I'm not yet convinced it deserves to be in such distinguished turn based company as Divinity: OS or Wasteland 2 and those graphics are a bit of an acquired taste to say the least but they did promise a 'huge' openworld, no monster or loot scaling and some other nice features. Maybe it's worth a couple Durante Hype Points, you decide ;)
Click to expand...
I was almost going to laugh at the screenshots, thinking of some cheap smartphone game or similar, but if this is true I could even be interested in it.
Graphics aren't exactly exciting but at least they have a simple charm and I can live with that if everything else is good.
 
archnemesis said:
I'm almost done with it and you'll probably like it if you enjoyed Final Fantasy V or The 4 Heroes/Warriors of Light. You have plenty of job classes to choose from and the characters are likable. It does feel a bit formulaic though.
Click to expand...

I was just gonna play it because "why not", but having a job system sounds promising. I know it's turn based, but how is the difficulty? That didn't stop me from enjoying Fire Emblem:A, but FE had a lot of stuff to do to keep it interesting.

LiquidMetal14 said:
LOOKING GOOD. Glad I have most of the platforms.
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Heh, yeah, this. Glad I have a rental option also, and only Nintendo is ass enough to keep saves on the cart.

This may be my first ever year with a top 5 being all RPGs. Depends on how Bayonetta 2 turns out I imagine :p
 
Fine Ham Abounds said:
I was just gonna play it because "why not", but having a job system sounds promising. I know it's turn based, but how is the difficulty? That didn't stop me from enjoying Fire Emblem:A, but FE had a lot of stuff to do to keep it interesting.
Click to expand...
The default difficulty setting is perfect. Neither too easy or frustratingly hard. If you're not happy with it you can change it to easy or hard whenever you feel like it. You can also change the encounter rate on the fly which is a really nice addition. It makes small things, like backtracking to a chest you forgot, much more fun than in most RPGs. You can also increase it when you want to get your grinding on.
 
Monster year indeed. Here are the ones I am excited for:

Dark Souls II
Lightning Returns
Drakengard 3
The Witcher 3
Dragon Age Inquisition
Lords of the Fallen
Bound By Flame
 
archnemesis said:
The default difficulty setting is perfect. Neither too easy or frustratingly hard. If you're not happy with it you can change it to easy or hard whenever you feel like it. You can also change the encounter rate on the fly which is a really nice addition. It makes small things, like backtracking to a chest you forgot, much more fun than in most RPGs. You can also increase it when you want to get your grinding on.
Click to expand...

Hrm, I'll have to rent it and see what I think. That actually sounds kinda not my cup of tea. Assume that also means it has random encounters? Thanks much for the reply, though.
 
So many games on that list I will be buying. 2014 is shaping up nicely :D

Several games I didn't know about which look interesting The Witch and the Hundred Knight especially.
 
heringer said:
Lots of awesome games. Can't wait for X.

I'm also excited about the mobile Battleheart Legacy. I loved the first one.
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Didn't realize that was a thing. Excellent. Thanks for sharing. Any idea when that'll hit?

Edit: also what I wouldn't give for an isometric Elder Scrolls game...
 
Cool thread. Reminded me that Child of Light is actually a thing. Definitely interested in that one.

Have my eye on X as well. Like you Durante, I didn't find Xenoblade to be as good as most of GAF claims it is. But X looks like it could be much better, at least going by the trailers.

Depending on how reception turns out, I could see myself getting Xillia 2 and Witcher 3 too.

Honestly though, I'm more interested in the RPGs beyond 2014. KHIII, FFXV, Persona 5, and whatever RPG Japan Studio is apparently making for the PS4. But 2014 does seem to have a rather nice selection.
 
archnemesis said:
Yep, random encounters are a staple for 16-bit era RPGs.
Click to expand...

Ah, I see, so the whole idea of the game is specifically to emulate a SNES game.

Not sure how I feel about being able to change both difficulty and encounter rate on the fly is all. I mean giving players options is one thing, but that sounds completely game breaking without knowing how it works. I'll definitely try it, though.
 
This was a good read, drew my eye to a few games I hadn't heard much about (if anything at all). I think you could have done better by leaving out your "rating" system as it was almost not helpful at all.
 
Great list, so many good games to look forward to. Although, if Dark Souls II delivers, all the others might just end up on my backlog.

Another game I'm hyped for is Deep Down. Any particular reason it's absent from the list? Is it considered an MMORPG at this point?
 
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