It's an age-old argument that dates back as far as anyone can remember. Discussions carry on year after year as players moan and groan, mumble and grumble about their favorite games being too linear. How linear is too linear, though? A game that throws you on a set path with clear objectives and no way to alter your course could be seen as linear, even if the world appears to be semi-open in nature.
Many people will have their own opinion, as there can never be a clear cut definition. Whether or not you like linearity, you have to draw the line somewhere. I recently came across an image (which can be seen below) of a Final Fantasy XIII area map. I'm not going to say that this is something I didn't see coming: Final Fantasy has been a long proponent of airtight maps devoid of much room to walk.
There's something about seeing an overhead view of the area map, though, that makes me uneasy. Naturally, Japanese RPGs aren't expected to be as open-world as their western brewed counterparts, but surely the team over at Square-Enix has to come to a point where they say "hey, we need to give players more freedom of movement and exploration." It really depends on who you are, but in this day and age, I expect action and RPG games of all sorts to be more open in terms of traversal throughout the playing world.
I'm sure this won't be game breaking, as people will be far too involved in strategically taking out foes and completing quests to care about where they are, but what do you think? Click here to get your own view of the world made out of shoestring (the image is literally too tall for me to post).
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December 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Thank you 360!
December 19, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Yup, it’s all because of the 360 why this map is that small. I think if it was exclusive then it would’ve been bigger. Then again, they could’ve still made it the same game and added multiple 360 discs. An extra 23 discs would’ve worked
December 19, 2009 at 1:38 PM
what an idiotic statement
December 19, 2009 at 3:33 PM
lol sarcasm. It was a reply to the above.
December 19, 2009 at 10:56 AM
The whole point of RPG’s to me is to explore. Walk forward and fight isn’t a good look, this ain’t Final Fight
December 19, 2009 at 11:13 AM
It does look quite linear but it’s only one map. Granted it’s quite large but all ff’s have some parts that are like this.
December 19, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I’ll take a straight forward, linear story anytime. I’m sick of all the western RPGs that lack a true, involving story for the sake of “exploration” and “choosing your own path.” Games like Oblivion were a GIANT BOREFEST because they are so “open” you can’t even get involved in the story (or lack of). They are essentially “storyless.”
December 19, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Agreed. Western RPG’s suck… But I will give Mass Effect one last go.
December 19, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Who cares? This is only the map of one area. It’s a JRPG, linearity is a good thing. Sure WRPG’s are more open world and fun to explore, but their stories usually suck. JRPG’s stick to the traditional linear formula, which allows them to create good stories.
December 19, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Lol, WRPG storyline sucks? comeon, JRPG are usually hero saving the girl and everyone is happy.
Mass Effect/Kotor/Baldur’s Gate/PlanetScape Torment and many more WRPG games have amazing world and storyline.
Btw= exploring is a good thing.
December 19, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Can you honestly say you were “wowed” by the plot of any JRPG? They’re usually really convoluted and unoriginal.
December 19, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Yes, actually. As far as i’m concerned Final Fantasy X had the best storyline out of any game i’ve ever played. Western RPG’s just throw in an open – world setting and a bunch of guns and call it a finished product. JRPG’s actually have a heart and soul to them, there’s a REASON for the events happening. You don’t just go around shooting people in the head with a slightly modified gun for no reason at all.
December 19, 2009 at 4:21 PM
All I’ll say is that both JRPG’S and WRPG’S have their faults. I love JRPG’S for there stories but the linearity of some keeps me from from getting truely engage in the game. For instance the new Star Ocean: Last Hope, great game, but when I’m out leveling up my characters I end up wondering when the next cinamatic is going to happen so I can stop being bored. With WRPG’S I find that sometimes there isn’t enough story to keep me interested. Like Borderlands, great game, fun to explore but the lack of a gripping story has kept me from beating it lately. Both WRPG’S and JRPG’S have there strengths and weaknesses. Don’t count either of them out for lack of story or open worldness.
December 20, 2009 at 4:08 AM
i would love to see more open world games like saints row, infamous, prototype, red faction guerrilla and GTA.
true crime, the new game announced at the VGAs is looking really enticing hopefully its done well.
mafia 2 is my most anticipated game for next year, every trailer i see makes me want the game that much more.
December 23, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Well first of all we shouldn’t lump all games with RPG aspects as WRPGs…for example, Borderlands while having RPG elements is really a Roguelike game (Like Diablo)…ie emphasis on items/stats not storyline.
The truly classic WRPGs have amazing storylines…Ultima IV-VII, Baldur’s Gate, Betrayal at Krondor etc. Sure they started as Pen and Paper stat builders (Ultima 1-3, Phantasie, Bard’s Tale, Might and Magic) but that was the demand in the 80s…since then they have evolved quite a bit.
I like both JRPGs and WRPGs and each has games with weak stories etc…but when done right nothing beats a game that has a compelling linear story in a non-linear world (Dragon Age, Baldurs Gate 2 etc).
December 25, 2009 at 3:59 PM
It’s “Final Fantasy”, because Square Enix says so, not because some disappointed fans whine about it lacking, or over compensating, why don’t we actually wait for the game to, I dunno, come out, before judging it? <_<; From APPEARANCE alone, it looks really good, aside from the (REALLY?) fruity looking clothing going on, the character and environment looks very detailed, and worthy of play. I, for one, plan to spend the $65 for my own copy, woot.
March 6, 2010 at 3:26 AM
This is a late response to an old comment. That said I wouldn’t spend 65$ on a game that is considered vastly compact compared to other games in the series. That said thanks to Amazon I’m gonna get it new for 30$ which I am more then happy to pay for then flip it afterward. Anyways, back on topic, how can you say not to jump to conclusions? This game was already released in Japan on December 19th of 2009. Granted the post in question was made on the 25th and topic the 19th I’m sure there is more then enough people that played it that can confirm this consensus. There’s been numerous American and European reviews that played the Japanese version. While I’m sure this game would have scored a 9/10 in most cases was docked to mainly due to a lot of people feeling, as it was put eloquently by one reviewer, “A dark tunnel that you are constantly pushed down with pretty wallpaper”. No one want’s to feel that they are constantly pushed down the path with no room for exploration. That said with exploration comes sidequests which there in lies side stories which add to the over all experience. I like a good helping of exploration, to add to the overall experience, cause when I play I like to play it thoroughly the first time through, and if need be for an alternate alignment story track a second, but never with as much interest as the first. As I’ve invested myself already into the characters, plot, and gameplay and the mystery is gone for me.
Anyways, didn’t mean to go off on a rant just wanted to express my views, as well I’m sure it will be a great game, with a great story, won’t surpass anything done previously by Square.
January 23, 2010 at 8:27 PM
Anyone who wants to sacrifice game play for getting a “great” story is a damn fool. You want a great story, read a book. The only reason anyone would find any of these FF game’s stories to be interesting is due to severe lack of exposure to good literature, good story telling.
February 25, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Man, sorry to say, but this FF gonna be a shit!! What the guys of Square are thinking? Shit, A Final Fantasy Linear???? Go to hell man! And Oblivion, Mass Effect, Fallout, have, indeed, a open-world….but this don’t affect the history!!! Oblivion, MF and Fallout have a wonderful history!
One more thing: the history of Final Fantasy X is SHIT!!!
March 10, 2010 at 12:41 AM
Ya completing quests lol….
Its not just linear. It’s almost completely devoid of quests and npcs. I can’t believe they did this.