[Rainer Deyke]

I did play the original once, but not as often as the remake. I prefer the menus - nothing ruins immersion as much as having to guess which keyword will trigger a response.

[js71]

[white_door]

All the best plots and stories I've seen in games had what were basically a linear story with small variations and/or lots of optional side quests thrown in, however I strongly disagree that dialog style affects this at all. Also I'm not going to talk about the massively non-linear or free rpgs here, since I agree with Nephilim on that level.

Its true that more meanful player choice increases the amount of effort required to keep things interesting in terms of having a great plot. Yet there are a so many rpgs that have more choice than "Yes" or "No" when it comes to dialog, and manage to have stories and amazing scenes that rival the best that that rpgs with purely linear dialog offer. This leds me to believe that it more than possible for indie developers to do the same.

A rpg with linear dialog is valid and interesting style to go with, but it really doesn't have the monopoly on great stories or dramic plot sequences. I feel it can hardly get more dramic, than if the player knows that their next choice could possiblity affect the outcome of the rest of the game.

For indie developers, the limited resources factor does affect this, but not completely. An indie developer can always choose to have a shorter overall game length, if they don't want to sacrifice the depth of the plot or the extra time involved.

[Aptyp]

Everyone knows some guy who's been working on his "dream game" for years. With that kind of patience, "omg not enough time to give player a lot of meaningful choices" is not an excuse to half-ass major gameplay features.

[tcaudilllg]

I'm playing Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals now. It seems to be unique in that it presents the process of falling in love--and even marriage--without pulling any punches. When I was younger I was unable to appreciate this aspect of the storyline, but since I have matured I am better able to see the cues the characters send to one another with their small talk, the subtle ways they relate to one another. The relationship between the hero and the heroine seems especially deep and profound, much more so than Cloud experienced with Tifa. (if you could really call that a relationship....) There are also some particularly meaningful questions asked, like in regard to the battle between good and evil and what it takes to "win" it.

I recently completed Tales of Phantasia also. A very eye-opening storyline that I recommend investigating.

[Terry]

[tcaudilllg]

I never got a significant impression that Cload and Tifa ever really hit it off. The story seemed unfinished to me, because Cloud was right to the very end split between the "perfection" of Aeris and the reality of Tifa. The game's ending seemed to reinforce this divide.

I can speak with some authority on the subject because in many ways I've been there, and Cloud is my type personality-wise. He seemed to me hooked on Aeris to the very end, even though he knew he couldn't have her.

[Terry]

(edit) actually, never mind.
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[Mandrake]

[Happy]

[tcaudilllg]