Poll: Who was worst?

Tidus1979 · 10-08-2009, 06:33 PM

I like things without a feel good ending. Not because I'm a depressed emo kid (no offense to those that are...) but just for the fact that it's something different.

Ephemeral · 10-09-2009, 05:55 AM

But RPG's are a bit of a let down when the good guys lose or they die or whatever.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a good tragedy, but if it was like that for every game?
Pass

Tidus1979 · 10-09-2009, 08:26 PM

yeah, no sense i being depressed all the time. lol. but a bit of variation is good.

Ephemeral · 10-10-2009, 04:44 AM

If the sad ending is done really well (which isn't often) then it's okay I can live with it. But I prefer the happy ending. Too many sad bits bum me out.

Jaxartes · 10-21-2009, 04:08 AM

I prefer a happy ending too - it's just that different writers (and readers/audiences etc) have different ideas on who 'The Good Guys' really are.

People want to see the guys/gals they sympathised with the most, win out in the end. 'Rooting for the bad guys' is an expression we're all familiar with. Because they are often more interesting than the standard issue Good Guys.

Most don't really want the villain to actually win (because as you say, the story doesn't work if that happens), but they often will want the villain to get a chance to shine first or to survive at the end etc.

It's just not as easy as saying 'We want the Good Guys to win'. We generally respect the people with the greatest will and inner drive, people who try to take life by the scruff of the neck.

So when Square (amongst others) produce main heroes and heroines who seem a bit wishy washy, our support strays to the baddies (or other party members who seem tougher and steelier).

Put very simply, being Good and following the rules etc is not cool. So given that many of Jap RPG main heroes are very straight laced types (and the heroines either drippy or clingy types), they tend not to enjoy much support from the fans.

Ephemeral · (This post was last modified: 10-22-2009 05:24 AM by Ephemeral.)

True.
I think as long as the bad guys have charisma and style and all the things that the good guys done. then people will want them to win for a while in the game at least.
But then the hero's will grow some cahones and kick some butt and that's when player support strays back tot he good guys. Its not coz they're good it's coz they kick ass the hardest and that's really what is important in the game.

Jaxartes · 10-23-2009, 03:14 AM

Perhaps, but remember what we were talking about earlier - how many of the villains in Jap RPGs are let off lightly for what they do? The writers know that people will like these characters and find ways to excuse even the most serious crimes.

As for the heroes getting tougher and more determined... well, that's on a case by case basis really. Some characters (like Tidus and Vaan) remain fairly whiney and unimpressive.

We can see this if we return to looking at two popular examples from fiction/film - Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

How many people actually prefer Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader, Han Solo, Boba Fett etc? It's only in 'Return of the Jedi', when they purposefully make Luke darker and more deadly, that anyone takes any notice of him.

And in LOTR... hobbits! I mean, who would support a character like Frodo Baggins, in a series that had the Ringwraiths, Witch-King of Angmar, Saruman etc etc?

Ephemeral · 10-23-2009, 04:38 AM

Frodo's cute!

Jaxartes · 10-23-2009, 04:44 AM

He's a fey slacker and I wouldn't vote for him!

He was much better as that cannibal kid in Sin City.

Ephemeral · 10-24-2009, 05:10 AM

True. He was totally shocking. I was like, is that Frodo eating a person!!!
Love that film

Poll: Who was worst?
	Tidus
	Vaan
	Yuna
	Ashe

	[Show Results]
Note: This is a public poll, other users will be able to see what you voted for.