finalark
SNORLAX
Link to original post: [drupal=1856]Why I don't like Star Ocean[/drupal]
I've pretty much made it clear that I don't like ARPGs (anime RPGs, and I am going to use that until it sticks). This includes such titles as Tales of (insert place here), Riviera: The Promised Land or any game spat out by Atlus. But one series that I never liked was Star Ocean, which was a pretty popular series for a while if I remember correctly.
My first problem with the series is that the Star Ocean games make all of the mistakes that ARPGs normally make. Stereotypical character personalities? Check. Predicable plot? Check. Anime cliches left and right? Check! Ugh, when will ARPG developers learn? Then again, why would they change their ways? Games with the same exact problems like Tales of Symphonia or Riviera: The Promised Land still get great reviews and sell really well even with all of these problems.
My second problem with this series is that it also makes all of the classic JRPG mistakes too. Although I'll admit that the lack of mini games is a good thing, it still isn't enough to make up for characters who never change at all regardless of what happens in the story. Just like most JRPGs, the characters have one assigned personality and stick with it throughout the entire game, not changing at all. After all, that would be human and as we all know JRPGs are too good for that. Also as usual, you just kind of shuttle the main character from event to event, having no say in anything. While not a bad thing if the storyline is good enough, but that's the thing. Star Ocean stories are never good. They always involve some vaguely evil aliens trying to do something evil but before you can find out anything about it you're thrown onto underdeveloped planet after underdeveloped planet before you know it, you forget that you're even playing a Sci-fi RPG which brings me to my one big complain that I've been saving for the end of this short little rant.
If you're going to have the balls to call yourself a Sci-Fi RPG THEN ACT LIKE A FREAKING SCI-FI RPG. Forcing the players to revert back to middle-ages technology and fighting is not Science Fiction! If I wanted to play a middle-ages RPG I'd play Oblivion! I liked the way you did your Science Fiction in Star Ocean, Square, but freaking stick to it! You did this in both Second Story and in Til the End of Time! And I sure as hell wouldn't be surprised to find that you did it in the first and fourth games too!
I've pretty much made it clear that I don't like ARPGs (anime RPGs, and I am going to use that until it sticks). This includes such titles as Tales of (insert place here), Riviera: The Promised Land or any game spat out by Atlus. But one series that I never liked was Star Ocean, which was a pretty popular series for a while if I remember correctly.
My first problem with the series is that the Star Ocean games make all of the mistakes that ARPGs normally make. Stereotypical character personalities? Check. Predicable plot? Check. Anime cliches left and right? Check! Ugh, when will ARPG developers learn? Then again, why would they change their ways? Games with the same exact problems like Tales of Symphonia or Riviera: The Promised Land still get great reviews and sell really well even with all of these problems.
My second problem with this series is that it also makes all of the classic JRPG mistakes too. Although I'll admit that the lack of mini games is a good thing, it still isn't enough to make up for characters who never change at all regardless of what happens in the story. Just like most JRPGs, the characters have one assigned personality and stick with it throughout the entire game, not changing at all. After all, that would be human and as we all know JRPGs are too good for that. Also as usual, you just kind of shuttle the main character from event to event, having no say in anything. While not a bad thing if the storyline is good enough, but that's the thing. Star Ocean stories are never good. They always involve some vaguely evil aliens trying to do something evil but before you can find out anything about it you're thrown onto underdeveloped planet after underdeveloped planet before you know it, you forget that you're even playing a Sci-fi RPG which brings me to my one big complain that I've been saving for the end of this short little rant.
If you're going to have the balls to call yourself a Sci-Fi RPG THEN ACT LIKE A FREAKING SCI-FI RPG. Forcing the players to revert back to middle-ages technology and fighting is not Science Fiction! If I wanted to play a middle-ages RPG I'd play Oblivion! I liked the way you did your Science Fiction in Star Ocean, Square, but freaking stick to it! You did this in both Second Story and in Til the End of Time! And I sure as hell wouldn't be surprised to find that you did it in the first and fourth games too!
