Gaming World Forums

General Category => Entertainment and Media => Topic started by: MW85 on December 04, 2007, 05:10:43 pm

Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: MW85 on December 04, 2007, 05:10:43 pm
Okay there's some I know of:

Suikoden series ( 108 Stars in each game except Tacitcs )

Fire Emblem Games

Radiata Stories ( 175 recruits )

Chrono Cross ( 45 playable characters )

So is there any RPG-like games out there that have multiple playable characters/recruits that are not listed here?
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Nemorian on December 04, 2007, 05:40:47 pm
What about games like Disgaea? You only get so many by way of storyline, but you can create/capture a bunch of other ones. (If you need a more common example, Final Fantasy Tactics.)
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Orange00 on December 04, 2007, 05:58:54 pm
Pokémon !!  :fatty:

sort of..
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Dapper Swindler on December 04, 2007, 07:19:51 pm
Shining Force
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Marcus on December 04, 2007, 07:25:30 pm
Depends on what you're looking for, specifically.  Do you want an RPG that presents individual, unique characters or an RPG that gives you random or create-your-own-when-you-need-them characters?

Off the top of my head, I know the Jagged Alliance series features a huge cast of colorful characters (including everyone's favorite Russian) and the Baldur's Gate series features about 15 or so unique characters scattered around the game.

As far as console games besides the ones you mentioned... I can't think of any!  I know the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series (although not an RPG) has literally hundreds of unique generals since it's based on a book series or something.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Psycho_Studios on December 04, 2007, 08:42:52 pm
As far as console games besides the ones you mentioned... I can't think of any!  I know the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series (although not an RPG) has literally hundreds of unique generals since it's based on a book series or something.

Based on actual Chinese History and the book written about it.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Marcus on December 04, 2007, 08:45:08 pm
I honestly thought RotTK was based on history but completely fictional in its characters and events.

The more you learn (because learning is half the battle).  G.I. JOEEEEEEEEEE.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: The_Emugator on December 04, 2007, 09:04:37 pm
While it doesn't have as many characters as some examples listed, Planescape: Torment comes to mind.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: HL on December 04, 2007, 09:06:43 pm
While it doesn't have as many characters as some examples listed, Planescape: Torment comes to mind.

(and its the best RPG ever made)
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: kentona on December 04, 2007, 09:44:55 pm
I honestly thought RotTK was based on history but completely fictional in its characters and events.

The more you learn (because learning is half the battle).  G.I. JOEEEEEEEEEE.
This is closer to the truth...

Sure, the events of RotK happened, but book is more along the lines of Homer's The Odyssey - The Battle of Troy happened, but probably not exactly as depicted.  The history is romanticized (lolpun).  RotK is based on history and characters and events in that history, but took liberities in it's storytelling.

Learn more!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_of_the_Three_Kingdoms


...anywho, back on topic:

FFVI has 14 (I think?) playable characters.

What's your Number of Characters threshold here?
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Craze /!\ on December 12, 2007, 03:03:55 am
In Etrian Odyssey you can create 15 unique characters, I believe (maybe 12).

Basically any tactics game.

Valkyrie Profile has bazillions of einherjar.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Draykon on December 12, 2007, 04:30:41 am
FFVI has 14 (I think?) playable characters.

What's your Number of Characters threshold here?

I was going to ask the same question. Also FFVI is probably my favourite FF and highly recommend it.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Ohlichris on December 12, 2007, 03:18:34 pm
The SaGa games usually have lots of characters.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Cho on December 13, 2007, 08:35:43 am
Yeah, Romancing SaGa 2 has like, 200 or so: 5 or 6 different characters per class, and, despite members of a class just being palette swaps, they all have differing stats (and sometimes mastery rates. Like, Sagittarius is the only Court Magician who has Bow mastery).
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Warlin on December 17, 2007, 05:40:16 am
>.>
<.<
Go find an illegal rom of LiveALive and an english patcher if you don't read japanese~
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Dapper Swindler on December 18, 2007, 05:35:29 am
I think FFVI is unique for not only having a large cast of characters, but making them an important part of the story.  As opposed to the dozens of people who join up with you in a game like Chrono Cross.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: maladroithim on December 18, 2007, 09:32:29 pm
I don't think this guy has ever come back to read his thread :(
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Feldschlacht IV on December 18, 2007, 11:18:02 pm
The game itself may be flawed, but Suikoden III's Trinity Sight System is one of the best character implementation devices I've ever seen in an RPG.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Cho on December 19, 2007, 01:38:33 am
I think FFVI is unique for not only having a large cast of characters, but making them an important part of the story.  As opposed to the dozens of people who join up with you in a game like Chrono Cross.

Well, not every game can work characters like Relm, Strago, Cyan, Gau, Mog, Umaro, Gogo, and Shadow into their complex narratives like Final Fantasy VI did! You can maybe argue that Shadow plays an important role in the story, if only as a dues ex machina, but if you honestly think that Relm, Strago, Cyan, Gau, Mog, Umaro and Gogo impact the story in any meaningful way... I don't know what to tell you.

Oh, and I'm totally not supporting Chrono Cross's cardboard standees with different accents or anything, although quite a few of them were pretty awesome. Mojo is one of the best things in an RPG, ever.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Rone Rivendale on December 19, 2007, 04:28:38 pm
Other than Umaro, they ALL have an impact on the story of FFVI.

Relm is Shadow's daughter.

Strago is one of the last of a magical race. (the whole story of FFVI revolves around magic)

Cyan is a major part of the storyline. You even go through his dreams as one of the story points.

Gau is major part of the storyline early on in the game. You can't say any character who isn't an optional character isn't important to the story.

Mog and the moogles save Terra towards the beginning. There is no story without them.

And Gogo is Daryl, Stetzer's long lost love. Also an important part as you go to her tomb during the story when you're getting the 2nd airship.

Don't crap on FFVI just cuz you're an anti-FF fanboy.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: DarkPriest on December 19, 2007, 06:21:37 pm
And Gogo is Daryl

There is no proof of this. There are rumours that Gogo is General Leo, Banon, Gilgamesh, Gogo from FFV, Relm's mother or even Ultima Weapon (!). However, I found one very compelling piece of evidence support the claim that Gogo is in fact Adlai Stevenson, former governor of Illinois.


However, this has nothing to do with this topic so carry on please!
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Feldschlacht IV on December 19, 2007, 06:22:39 pm
Gogo is NOT Daryl. Gogo is just a recurring character in the series. Nothing more.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: kentona on December 19, 2007, 09:22:40 pm
Gogo is NOT Daryl. Gogo is just a recurring character in the series. Nothing more.
I am now convinced Gogo is Adlai Stevenson.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: unusualgamer on December 19, 2007, 09:26:55 pm
I didn't read the whole topic, so I don't know if anybody mentioned this, but Wild ARMS series.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Cho on December 19, 2007, 09:32:32 pm
Other than Umaro, they ALL have an impact on the story of FFVI.

Relm is Shadow's daughter.

Strago is one of the last of a magical race. (the whole story of FFVI revolves around magic)

Cyan is a major part of the storyline. You even go through his dreams as one of the story points.

Gau is major part of the storyline early on in the game. You can't say any character who isn't an optional character isn't important to the story.

Mog and the moogles save Terra towards the beginning. There is no story without them.

And Gogo is Daryl, Stetzer's long lost love. Also an important part as you go to her tomb during the story when you're getting the 2nd airship.

Relm being Shadow's daughter impacts the story how? That particular subthread is completely optional, not to mention the fact that Shadow is a non-entity after the Continent.
Strago isn't the last of a magical race at all. The Magic City (Thamasa?) is full of magicians like him. These people aren't Esper-Human hybrids either, they're humans who can use magic. He doesn't actually do anything besides tell you where the statues are, and, I think the Gate? But the Empire already knew the locations of both of those, so whoops!
Cyan stops having any impact on the story by the time Sabin finishes his little scenario. The Dream Demon? That (optional quest) only tries to flesh out Cyan's incredibly complex backstory of "Being pissed that his wife and son are dead," which is what you find out within 10 minutes of meeting him (him being Cyan).
Gau gives you the helmet, and like Cyan, stops having any impact on the story by the time Sabin finishes his little scenario.
If you're going to try and say that Mog is important because of that, that means all his friends are just as important to the story, which is kind of silly, especially since that scenario could have played out with just Locke, really.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Shadowtext on December 19, 2007, 11:32:20 pm
Having fairly lengthy optional sidequests for most of the characters (and getting them BACK is an optional sidequest for everyone except Celes, Sabin, Edgar and Setzer. And I suppose Gogo and Umaro, since you're not getting them BACK) is still more than most of the other games with loads of characters give them after they've joined. Even though some of Chrono Cross's characters were pretty neat in concept, very few of them had anything specific to them after joining the party in the first place....the only ones I can think of off the top of my head who did were Serge, Kid, and Harle (obviously), Glenn, the guitarist guy and the blacksmith guy. Possibly Riddel. I can't remember if she was necessary to do the Mastermune thing.

Most of the guys in FF6 at least got a dungeon in the World of Ruin or something.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Cho on December 20, 2007, 03:16:50 am
Quote
Even though some of Chrono Cross's characters were pretty neat in concept, very few of them had anything specific to them after joining the party in the first place....

A majority of them did required you to do some events to obtain their Level 7 skill. Now, bear in mind the majority of those didn't involve a substantial sidequest or anything, but a couple did have bring some deeply needed character development.

Quote
Having fairly lengthy optional sidequests for most of the characters (and getting them BACK is an optional sidequest for everyone except Celes, Sabin, Edgar and Setzer. And I suppose Gogo and Umaro, since you're not getting them BACK)

Characters with lengthy sidequests (I'm being generous here and defining "lengthy" as "Requiring a dungeon." I'm sorry Shadow, sleeping at an inn doesn't make the cut!):
Relm, Strago, Terra, Locke, Gogo, Umaro, Mog, Cyan

Characters with lengthy sidequests that actually contribute something to the character's personality or storyline:
Strago, Terra, Locke

Strago and Locke getting something like a backstory, and Terra gets someting that resembles a backbone (and gets that whole emotion thing that she so desperately wanted back in the WoB). Relm, Cyan and Gau get sidequests where you learn exactly what you knew about them to begin with (Relm is an artist, Cyan is upset that his wife and kid are dead, and Gau was abandoned in the wilderness).
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Shadowtext on December 20, 2007, 03:35:57 am
A majority of them did required you to do some events to obtain their Level 7 skill. Now, bear in mind the majority of those didn't involve a substantial sidequest or anything, but a couple did have bring some deeply needed character development.

Characters with lengthy sidequests (I'm being generous here and defining "lengthy" as "Requiring a dungeon." I'm sorry Shadow, sleeping at an inn doesn't make the cut!):
Relm, Strago, Terra, Locke, Gogo, Umaro, Mog, Cyan

Characters with lengthy sidequests that actually contribute something to the character's personality or storyline:
Strago, Terra, Locke

Strago and Locke getting something like a backstory, and Terra gets someting that resembles a backbone (and gets that whole emotion thing that she so desperately wanted back in the WoB). Relm, Cyan and Gau get sidequests where you learn exactly what you knew about them to begin with (Relm is an artist, Cyan is upset that his wife and kid are dead, and Gau was abandoned in the wilderness).



You're forgetting that you also have to go through the Veldt Cave to get Shadow back. Like you said, we're being generous by calling them "lengthy," but it's a dungeon anyway.
Title: Any RPGs with various playable characters?
Post by: Evangel on December 20, 2007, 03:51:07 am
>.>
<.<
Go find an illegal rom of LiveALive and an english patcher if you don't read japanese~

I'll have to second this.  Live-A-Live is for Super Famicom and is one of the more unique JRPGs out there.  When you start the game, you have a choice of which character to play, each one from a completely different era and setting(there's a ninja, a cowboy, a wrestler, a psychic kid, a caveman, and a robot), which all tie together in the ending.  The combat system is pretty interesting, too.  It's turn-based, but tactical in that you can move your character around on the battlefield to avoid attacks, much like Lunar.