RPG Backtrack

Sega had a lot of franchises that have been abandoned over the years, and one with a focus on fighting and summoning spirits showed up on the Genesis and Saturn. Then Oasis vanished, with Sega seemingly uninterested in bringing it back. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 164: “Beyond the Legend” appeared first on RPGamer .

The world of Morrowind is a gigantic one, and the multitude of places and things to partake of is fittingly enormous. The praise given to this game is not without reservations, however. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 163: “The Elder Dead Sea Scrolls” appeared first on RPGamer .

In the early days of RPGs, a title constructed entirely of ASCII that depicted an adventurer being overcome by a variety of random forces inside a dungeon was released. Rogue proved enormously influential, and we talk about both the original and some of the many games that took influence from it. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 162: “Do You Like this Rogue?” appeared first on RP...

How do adventure game mechanics mesh with those of RPGs? In the case of at least most entries in the Quest for Glory series, pretty darn well as it turns out. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 161: “Paths of Glory” appeared first on RPGamer .

Few series make it to thirteen numbered entries, but Final Fantasy succeeded. The first installment with that number in its title has occasioned a lot of discussion over the years, and we're here to add some more. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 160: “Triskaidekaphobia” appeared first on RPGamer .

Between Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Inquisition came a middle game that doesn't get much love. Whether it deserves attention in spite of its shortcomings is the subject on this episode. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 159: “Twice a Dragon’s Age” appeared first on RPGamer .

The world of Borderlands continues to revolve heavily around shooting things while Claptrap entertains. In the second game, hitting kneecaps and areas other than the face proves advantageous, for the benefit of those without great FPS skill. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 158: “Crossing the Border” appeared first on RPGamer .

The fifth Final Fantasy was left in Japan for years, though nowadays it's available on a plethora of platforms. It may not be exactly what everyone out there would like, but those in search of a worthy Job system need look no further. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 157: “Take This Job and Love It” appeared first on RPGamer .

The Elder Scrolls began with obtuse games that are customarily bundled with later titles nowadays rather than being sold alone. For sheer quantity of material they're hard to beat, but figuring anything out can be quite a struggle. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 156: “Arena of the Elders” appeared first on RPGamer .

Somehow the work of Idea Factory has been crossing the Pacific much more frequently in recent years. This is a look back at certain titles which have occasioned great sorrow, and learning that those feelings have not dimmed one bit after some time to recover. (Chaos Wars, Cross Edge, Trinity Universe, Blazing Souls: Accelate, Mugen Souls) The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 155: “Bad Idea...

Being a spy probably isn't easy, but Alpha Protocol makes it look that way in certain regards. Some of what Obsidian tried to do with the game is admirable, while other things just baffle the player. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 154: “Delta Force” appeared first on RPGamer .

The Shin Megami Tensei brand has spread over a great number of platforms, and two recent entries on the 3DS are the subject this time. One finds the series counting to four, and the other brings a title originally on the Saturn out in English at last, showing that newer isn't always better. (Shin Megami Tensei IV, Soul Hackers) The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 153: “Demon Seed” a...

Back in the day, first person shooters didn't come with RPG elements very often. System Shock and its sequel bucked the trend of 90s FPS titles by having some, and now they can both be played without resorting to shadowy tricks. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 152: “Shock to the System” appeared first on RPGamer .

In the shift from Demon's to Dark Souls, many subtle things changed. The location, mechanics, platform, and feel all experienced some alteration, but the fundamental essence of moving through a cruel world eager to kill the foolhardy trekking through it remained intact. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 151: “Darkness in the Soul” appeared first on RPGamer .

The Wanzer is a human-piloted mech with enormous versatility. People piloting these devices are central to a series that spans many years and console generations, with an unfortunately high number that never crossed the Pacific, but something linking almost all the Front Mission games is that they provide a good dose of tactical action. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 150: “Say Hello...

Once upon a time, the idea of melding RPG mechanics with objects dropping out of the sky in matchable shapes and colors would have seemed absurd. After multiple Puzzle Quests, the idea can still seem absurd, but that's no longer the automatic reaction. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 149: “It’s A Puzzle” appeared first on RPGamer .

Among the annals of NES action RPGs, Crystalis stands tall. It may not be the best game in the system's library, but it deserves some attention, and finally gets some on this episode. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 148: “Crystal Clear” appeared first on RPGamer .

Following up Deus Ex has proved a difficult task, but developers went ahead anyway. The results have been greatly varied, and we tackle all the ones currently extant. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 147: “The Gods Must Be Crazy” appeared first on RPGamer .

The PlayStation 3 hosted a short-lived series that does not feature Level 5 firing on all cylinders. Talking about this interesting experiment nevertheless makes for an entertaining episode. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 146: “The White Knight on His Chronicles” appeared first on RPGamer .

It's time to talk about a Final Fantasy. Which one? Well, it's got improbable returns from death, monsters on the moon, a spoony bard, a jumping Dragoon, and too many versions to count using the fingers of just one hand. Those things should narrow it down. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 145: “A Whale in Space” appeared first on RPGamer .

In the future envisioned by Deus Ex, law enforcement is encroaching on the freedom of citizens around the world and corporations are pursuing a complementary agenda in the name of making sure the right people stay on top. Any similarity to modern day headlines is coincidental - probably. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 144: “God in the Machine” appeared first on RPGamer .

It took the Persona series nearly as long as Street Fighter to count to three, but the reception once it did was enthusiastic. Here we have quite a bit more adulation to throw its way, along with a little talk about how it managed to get better in a Portable form. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 143: “The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun” appeared first on RPGamer .

If Sega's Yakuza series is accurate, urban Japan is filled with hotheads on every street corner just waiting to have whatever handy devices are lying on the street used for facial rearrangement. The first two installments of this series have other concepts too, but bicycle bashing gets plenty of praise. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 142: “You Now Have 12 Hours” appeared first...

Studio Ghibli's entrance into the gaming world ought to have been a time of rejoicing, but the reception Ni no Kuni received was not quite that enthusiastic. Here we examine why, and also hear about the DS Ni no Kuni that will probably never officially cross the Pacific. The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 141: “World in My Eyes” appeared first on RPGamer .

Usually we talk about games that have some kind of following behind them, but the topic is a little different this time. This is a show dedicated to RPGs that reviewed badly at the time, and haven't received any kind of consensus reappraisal over the years. Still, reliving the misery produced a lot of strong feelings. (Secret of the Stars, Beyond the Beyond, Quest 64, Ephemeral Fantasia) The post...