CRPG Analyzer: A checklist for computer role-playing games

Originally Posted by HiddenX
Exploration
(Interactivity)
- Game gives you monetary rewards for killing creatures/solving quests
(already in the Must Haves C2)

Originally Posted by Arhu
As a consequence I had to re-order the MH/SH elements a bit and reformulate two of them, but nothing serious. They are now ordered by choice / interactivity / immersion, like the NtH elements.

Originally Posted by HiddenX
The MH/SH are already ordered by getting more demanding step by step.
So I'm not so sure if another order is really useful.

• At least one Must Have condition is violated => the game is not a CRPG.
• All Must Have conditions are fulfilled => the game is at least CRPG'ish or a CRPG light.
• All Must Have and some Should Haves conditions are fulfilled => the game is a CRPG that needs to be further qualified with (subgenre) tags and/or reviewer comments.
• If all necessary Must Have and all Should Have conditions are fulfilled there's no further discussion necessary => the game is a true CRPG.

The Bard's Tale I: Tales of the Unknown

Diablo

Originally Posted by HiddenX
One little addition:
The reward system can a monetary system (money/gold), too.

Originally Posted by Arhu
I read about a weird Action-Adventure CRPG called "Endomorph" today. The reward system is really strange and tied into what the game is about. Apparently you can find nectar in the game world, and upon drinking it you get stronger. It has a cost, though, namely the more you drink the more you transform into a bug, one of the very things you fight against (?). So basically you trade your humanity for strength you may need to progress.

How should we call a system like that?

Originally Posted by HiddenX
SF3: Combat provides some challenge (➙ e.g. requires preparation, use of tactics or environment.) - it's a 'No' for me

Pillars of Eternity

Might & Magic X: Legacy

What is an RPG?

The exact definition of a Role Playing Game, or RPG, is argued by gamers.

In an article on RPG’s, Mathew Tschirgi said “An RPG is a game in which the player controls one or more player characters in order to complete an overall quest. The game is won by solving puzzles, interacting with Non-Player Characters (NPCs), and gaining experience points by defeating enemies in turn-based or real-time combat to increase their characters' various statistics (Strength, Stamina, Agility, Intelligence, and so on.)”

While this is a good working definition, there are a few elements found in Most RPG’s.

Story line – the player controls a character or group of characters through a story. Story line is typically much more important in single player game and table top games. In MMORPGs and Muds a storyline will normally exist, but it is secondary to other game aspects.

The Final Fantasy and Chrono Cross series are known for their complex and enthralling story lines. In particular Final Fantasy VII’s story line was so powerfull that it is known to make players cry during some of the more emotional parts.

Story line control – The player is able to choose where the characters go and what they do. The amount of control varies from game to game, from small choices of which way they want to go in a maze or where to go in a town, to large choices in which a character has the ability to move through an entire world. In most RPGs, the player will eventually have a large amount of control in where they visit.

MMORPGs and Muds are known for their complex worlds. In the MMORPG World of Warcraft the players have an entire world to explore, quest and kill each other in. The world is so large that two players could play the game for months without entering the same areas.

Changing story line – through the course of the game the players choices of action affect the world. In some games this shows as different endings, different actions cause different endings. In other games this becomes an integral part of the game with the character choosing between good, evil and more.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) forces it’s characters to choose between the light and dark sides. Not only must they choose, but depending on how evil or good the character is causes not only different endings, but also affects how the other characters in the games treat the player’s characters. Characters that were somewhat light are given an accommodation by the Jedi Counsel, characters that were extremely dark take over the universe and rule it with an iron fist. I liked playing the dark side character.

Character creation – the player creates each character from scratch, choosing it’s name, race, class, appearance, skills and abilities. This doesn’t show up as much in RPG’s with detailed story lines but is very important in Muds and MMORPGs. Depending on the RPG, these choices might differ in the change on game play. Typically Racial and class choices cause the biggest differences, and in many the Race changes what classes are available.

In most Muds, which were only text based, the characters appearance was up to the player. The player was responsible for writing up the characters description. The more creative the player, the more impressive the characters appearance would be.

In World of Warcraft, the player is asked to choose between Human, Night Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Orc, Undead, Tauren and Troll. The player picks between male and female. The player also chooses what class his character will be; Hunter, Warrior, Shaman, Priest, Mage, Paladin, Druid or Warlock. Finally the player is shown a base character model and then asked to change the way it looks. The player is given options for hair style, hair colors, facial features and more.

Character advancement – the characters in the game become more powerful and gain new abilities as the game moves on. Most RPG’s have a leveling system where characters gain experience for completing quests and killing enemies. Typically the characters advancement and abilities are in some way controlled by the player. Players might have total control, giving them the ability to completely create each character as they wish, or partial control, giving the player a small group of options on how to advance the character.

In final fantasy X all the characters start off with set abilities. Tidus specializes in speedy, but less damaging attacks, Lulu is a black mage casting damaging spells on enemies and Yuna is a white mage casting healing spells. As the game progresses though, the player gets the option to choose what skills the characters gain. By the end of the game Tidus can still be a speedy fighter, but he will be able to heal a bit, Lulu could be a powerful fighter who has a few dark magic spells and Yuna could be completely specialized in healing.

• Must Have
  C1: you can control and role-play one (=Avatar) or more (=Party) unique characters (-> not only uniform units) - yes
  C2: you can progressively develop your characters' stats and/or abilities (-> e.g. through an in game value (usually exp. points) gained by quests, exploration, conversation, combat, …) - yes
  C3: Checks against character stats and/or character abilities/skills are necessary to make progress and finish the game - yes
  C4: you can equip and enhance your characters with items you acquire - yes
• Should Have
  C5: you can create your characters - no
  C6: the player needs preplanning for the development of the character(s) - yes
  C7: the primary means of problem solving, gameworld interaction and overcoming challenges is the tactical use of character/party skills/abilities (-> the player's physical coordination skills are secondary) - a weak yes (some minor player coordination is needed)

• Must Have
  E1: your character(s) can interact with the gameworld and find new locations by exploring. - yes
  E2: your character(s) can find items that can be collected in an inventory (-> there have to be more item types than quest items, weapons, ammunition and consumable stat boosters.) - yes
  E3: your character(s) can find information sources (-> e.g. NPCs, entities, objects that provide info) - yes
• Should Have
  E4: there are NPCs in the game - yes
  E5: you can choose a path (-> there is at least some branching) - yes (you can join one of 3 factions)
  E6: your character(s) can manipulate the game world in some way (-> e.g. pull levers, push buttons, open chests, …) - yes
  E7: the gameworld can affect your character(s) (-> e.g. weather, traps, closed doors, poisoned areas, …) - yes
  E8: there are initially inaccessible areas in the gameworld that can only be reached by enhancing your characters' abilities, solving quests or puzzles (-> e.g. unlock locked areas, overcome obstacles, repair bridges, dispel barriers, …) - yes

• Must Have
  S1: your character(s) can get information from information sources (-> e.g. hints, goals, quests, skills, spells, training, …) - yes
  S2: your character(s) can follow quests (-> there is at least one main quest) - yes
  S3: your character(s) can progress through connected events and play their role - yes
• Should Have
  S4: the story is influenced by your decisions and your characters' actions and stats/abilities/skills. - yes
  S5: your character(s) can interact with information sources (-> e.g. NPC conversation, riddle statue question, …) - yes
  S6: your character(s) can make choices in those interactions - yes
  S7: at least some of these choices have consequences - yes
  S8: advancing in the story requires thinking of the player (-> e.g. irreversible choices, moral dilemma, riddles, …) - yes

• Should Have
  F1: Combat efficiency is in some way tied to character stats or abilities (-> e.g. amount of damage, chance to hit, weapon access, …) - yes (bigger stats allows you to carry better weapons, special skills give combat advantages)
  F2: Combat works with some random elements (game internal dice rolls) - maybe
  F3: Combat should provide some challenge (-> e.g. preparing, use of tactics or environment possible) - yes