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RPGs that are based in "our" time and reality?
- Thread starter Zukuu
- Start date
Freaky Fred
Banned
Lol who's got time to read the OP these days?
iLLmaticV3
Member
The first thing to pop in my head when I read the thread title was also Earthbound (Mother series). Can't think of many others that also weren't already mentioned.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
There are people that consider Saints Row, Grand Theft Auto and Sleeping Dogs RPGs? That's something I wouldn't have expected.
Parasite Eve is the only one I could think of. Metal Gear Ac!d is treading the line. Maybe we could throw Ring of Red into this? It's like World War II era, but it basically just revises history to imagine there being tank like mechs. They aren't really that super advanced.
Parasite Eve is the only one I could think of. Metal Gear Ac!d is treading the line. Maybe we could throw Ring of Red into this? It's like World War II era, but it basically just revises history to imagine there being tank like mechs. They aren't really that super advanced.
SeanNoonan
Member
One could argue the original MSX Metal Gear titles were RPG's... in the same way that some view the old Zelda games as RPG's.
i don't consider them RPGs but "RPG elements" have seeped into virtually every genre this gen besides sports. i would say the RPG label may become arbitrary but i guess there'll always be heavily stat based games
Yeah, I think that as well. It's actually mind boggling that we don't have more.
I remember a game boy game on japanese that I used to play as a kid, where you beat up other school people, but I can't remember the name. Would love to see a game where you battle with "real" weapons (not necessarily guns), and not only demons. :3
Darkmakaimura
Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
Wow, not much I can think of. There's that Secret World MMO that takes place in contemporary times as was mentioned as well as the World of Darkness. I think Disgaea 4, when it visits the Earth, is contemporary. In a bizarre way, Ultima's hero is from modern times and small portions do take place on modern Earth. But yeah, OP, there does seem to be very little in the way of modern day RPGs when it comes to console or PC games. Tabletop RPGs are another story....
You should see my JRPG Platformer thread and people recommending non-platformers even with the word "Platformer" is right in the thread title itself. Heh.
The "modern" chapter of Live A Live is kinda short, tho.
HELL YES IT IS. At first its just this vignette RPG party platter.
Then you unlock a chapter.
Then it becomes an amazing RPG with music by Yoko Shimomura.
bigdaddygamebot
Member
Nah. It was on a 100gamesin1 cartridge (or 30? or 50? Can't remember). It was played top down afaik (at least the "overworld view"). Can't really remember much else tho. Was really, AGES ago.
Nikkuthulu
Member
Hmmm.. The closest one I could guess that -might- fit the criteria, depending on how tight the window is, that hasn't been mentioned is possibly the some of the .hack games. Namely the 1st PS2 series and the G.U series. And even then it's an action MMORPG.
Granted the game takes place on the internet for the monster slaying, investigations but when you log-off you can do real world stuff like watch the news, get current events, post on message boards, read emails etc. I'd say it's a reasonable future and doesn't really have too much technology that's out of this world or straight up sci-fi.
But again, it's a stretch.
Granted the game takes place on the internet for the monster slaying, investigations but when you log-off you can do real world stuff like watch the news, get current events, post on message boards, read emails etc. I'd say it's a reasonable future and doesn't really have too much technology that's out of this world or straight up sci-fi.
But again, it's a stretch.
Angelus Errare
Banned
I think the "our reality" tidbit throws a wrench in any potential games. Since in our reality there is no such thing as magic, supernatural entities or anything of that nature. Our reality is just that...our reality, so RPGs would be pretty boring if they took place in our reality. Unless we create an RPG based on something that could possibly happen like corporate espionage or something, but even then it'd be pretty boring.
Darkmakaimura
Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
Advanced Paperwork & Paychecks 2nd Edition.
Hey, not an RPG but how about that Infocom game....
I'd consider a school / dojo setting where you go around beating people or using folding chairs etc pretty interesting. I mean Persona 3/4 are pretty great, so is Yakuza.
Also based in our world, doesn't mean it can't use some other elements. It's a difference between using fireballs in a fight, or jumping 5 meter into the air and summoning demons from another world to fight off other demons. ^^
Alpha Protocol is set in a "real world" of spy fiction. The only really unrealistic things are some of the character abilities like stealth but as a mission based game the ability to turn invisible for a few seconds doesn't actually break reality in relation to the scripting of the game.
I was going to suggest Vampire the Masquerede as well but it does revolve around a secret world within our world. It does give that feeling of this is california today BUT vampires exist.
I was going to suggest Vampire the Masquerede as well but it does revolve around a secret world within our world. It does give that feeling of this is california today BUT vampires exist.
Well, I mean if The World Ends With You counts, then I imagine that some leverage is available. I'd consider Earthbound, since, while it has aliens it uses a more or less conventional modern setting. There's only one sword in the whole game!
Flipside I don't know that I'd consider Pokemon. The games occasionally make reference to Earth and regions and animals on Earth, but I tend to pretend that Pokemon happens on its own planet.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
Vampire: Bloodlines.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
Hellgate: London
Nikkuthulu
Member
Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble (and the others in the series) I'd give it the hybrid RPG in the same vein of Yakuza. Level up, distribute stats, get new moves, beat up people in sandbox style world etc.
..and at this point i'll mention Shadow Hearts.
ChosenPredator
Banned
shadowrun?
This thread bums me out. In my opinion, MOST RPGs ought to exist within normal reality. The fact that the vast majority rely on tired Tolkienesque fantasy tropes is absolutely depressing.
Edit: just look at this thread. People asserting that an RPG doesn't make sense in "our reality" because we don't have magic. Why on earth does anyone think magic is necessary in an RPG. This thread is one giant face palm.
Edit: just look at this thread. People asserting that an RPG doesn't make sense in "our reality" because we don't have magic. Why on earth does anyone think magic is necessary in an RPG. This thread is one giant face palm.
Darkmakaimura
Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
That's where sci-fi RPGs come in, although a lot of those have variations of magic (psi, biotics, etc.)
Other than detective stories, war or espionage, there's not much you could really do with "real life" when it comes to an RPG. The only other closest one would be the tired and cliched zombie theme, but that's not exactly "realistic".
I agree with the overuse of Tolkienesque themes. One reason I get burnt out of WRPGs.
This. I'm so fucking sick and tired of it and most people will be too.
XANDER CAGE
Member
I wish our reality was as dope as Shadowrun's.
There might be more than one, but you're probably thinking of The Secret World. It's actually a really good example; the game deals heavily in supernatural stuff, but the premise is explicitly that it's set in the 'real world' and all of the supernatural stuff, is, well, a "secret world" going on right under everyone's noses.
It's also a really good game, and most of the time plays more like a singleplayer RPG or (hard as balls) Myst-like adventure game, with some pretty entertaining writing. I'd give it a shot, for anyone who's into modern-day RPGs. ($30, no monthly fee, these days.)
Black Door
Banned
Did they ever fix the shitty combat in that game? The world is so compelling but fiddling with the awful guns...yeesh
shadyspace
Banned
Hybrid Heaven
There hasn't been a real overhaul to the combat or anything, no. It does leave a really bad first impression, especially at the beginning of the game when you don't have enough skill points to learn any interesting skills. Personally, I thought it got pretty good once you started unlocking the cool skills from the outer wheel, though. The freeform character build system really pays off in terms of letting you play however you want. But yeah, it's definitely kind of balls at the beginning of the game.
I don't think it's necessary, but videogame RPG's, which typically deal in power fantasy and constant escalation, tend to struggle without something supernatural to draw on.
Otherwise your options tend to be down-play the power levelling / character progression and play up the story navigation elements, to avoid a situation where you are roaming around the suburbs looking for random mugger encounters to level up your party. But if you dampen it down too much you end up with action games or adventure games or something that stops being recognisable as an RPG.
I'm not saying it can't be done, or has to be done that way, just that things get a lot easier when you add monsters or robots.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
it's hard to think of activities that people would level outside of "battle classes" though.
unless you went in full blown indy and made a political themed FTL or something, you are often going to wind up with 'battle!' at some point.
cart life might be an exception, but I haven't played that one. Xelios would know.
Zevenberge
Member
Ace Attorney? Professor Layton?
Jaded Alyx
Member
This thread is something else. How on Earth, or any other planet, are these RPGS?
Zevenberge
Member
How are they not? You follow a story-driven sequence of events based on one (or several in case of Layton) main characters. It does not involve combat, but is that essential? I know I play Layton and Ace Attorney mainly for the RPG elements rather than the puzzle elements.
Edit, by Wiki's definition:
Complex storyline: check. Goes through different places, check. Communicating with both friends and enemies, check. Only the boss criteria is not that obvious. However, looking at the way the games are set up, there is an equivalent of a "boss" at different points in each game.
Well, Layton was more early 20th century (And I think an Alternative world where WW1 never happened)
Even if you think the games are RPGs, I don't think they are based in our time at all. O reality for that matter.
Madden NFL 25 is an RPG right
natkingcoleslaw
Neo Member
Sleeping dogs