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Clarification about the question: If you want to say 'it depends on how much of that language I know', that's not what I'm talking about.

(Since there are some people who know various bits and pieces of Japanese from watching anime, I won't use Japanese in the following example.)

For example, if a plot-oriented RPG came out in Russian, and you didn't understand a single word of Russian, would you play it?

Edit

My opinion is as follows:

I would not play it. Knowing that it's a plot-oriented RPG, the story would be the most important part of the game, and I wouldn't be able to enjoy it if I didn't know what was going on.

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 28th April 2005 19:10

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I'm not sure on this one. I agree with you as far as story goes, but if I really dig the gameplay and the look of the game, I may just play and make up the story and plot in my mind to play in "my own little world of sorts". So, going by that logic, call me crazy, but I guess I would.

This post has been edited by FabulousFreebird on 29th April 2005 11:24

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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

If I can't understand the storyline or underlaying plots, then what is the point of playing? Sorry, but for me to enjoy an RPG, I need to see depth, detail, and be able to immerse myself in the environment created. If a language barrier impedes this, then I won't play it. It may be a great game, and kudos to the game makers for it. But still, in a situation like that, I wouldn't play.

Not in an RPG. RPGs are so text and story-driven that I would really struggle to play an RPG in any language besides English. I've managed using only partial translation patches for certain games (Fire Emblem 4, Bahamut Lagoon, Final Fantasy V a long time ago), but anything more than 75 or 80 percent isn't worth the frustration. The fact that I only speak bits and pieces of French and Portuguese (neither of which are really RPG languages) doesn't help me get my inner import gamer on.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

Nope. I'm fluent in three languages, have basic understanding of further three, but not understanding what's said in an RPG, takes away the point of playing. In an RPG the point is to follow the story, isn't it? And you pretty much can't do that if you don't understand what's said.


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"I fell off the mountain of words at around the 10,000ft mark. Tell my family...they owe me money." -Narratorway

"If you retort against this, so help me God I'll shove any part of your anatomy I can find into some other part. Figuratively, of course." - Josh

"We have more, can deliver tuesday." - Del S

Good old CoN

Definitely.

One of the main complaints people have about newer RPGs is that they are more and more videos with scattered bits of gameplay in-between scenes, as opposed to the other way around. So obviously, storyline is not the only important thing about an RPG (it IS a game, after all.) Furthermore, some RPGs have a worse storyline than some FPSes, and they're still fun to play (in fact, some have practically no storyline; what about the good old Rogue/Dungeon Hack/etc type games, which are of legendary status among oldschoolers?)

While it would definitely not be an experience as fulfilling as if I understood what was going on, there are still purdy pictures and characters running around and doing stuff during events, so I can have a basic understanding of things. And most of the time, RPGs have you exploring dungeons and fighting stuff; unless the game engine is horribly complex there is little need for text. Heck, some games give their spells outright horrible names; what's the difference between a smatter of lines you don't understand and a spell called "Lutapik"?

So yeah. A strong storyline doesn't make the genre at all. If the game's good, why hold back on playing it?

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"Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by
the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession
and the likelyhood of him sharing."

I would say and no and that's for a couple of reasons. The main reason is, story is very important so if I don't know what's going on, I won't have much fun. The second would be me probably not figuring out what the heck to do and where to go because I don't understand the menus and text that tells me these things.

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Elena Indurain

Currently Playing: Suikoden II

no, because then i would be obligated to get a guide
and you wouldn't be able to understand anything

all that would be left is graphics
which is the last thing i look at when it come to choosing games

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"Have you ever seen a baby do that before?"

Hmm... my favorite game is a simple game for PC called "Dance with Intensity." Now, DWI is a DDR simulator (among others) and, frankly, is horribly addictive. Even after two years of playing it, it remains fresh and exciting because the system behind it is great.

It doesn't have a story.

Isn't what matters how enjoyable a game is? A game may be labelled as a certain genre, but is it such a big deal if you find yourself enjoying an FPS's story, or the minigames in an RPG, or even the hardcore attack-dodging reflex-taxing action the system in a certain RTS offers? An RPG may invoke "great storyline" in most people, but is that truly the one and only thing that makes it great?

One of the most popular of PC games is the "hack" genre, where random dungeons are generated and you basically go through them fighting stuff and picking up items without encountering a single bit of storyline. Some games, such as Diablo or Dungeon Hack, hammer a small story around the overall concept, but at their core they remain a long, long dungeon run. Practically all that is fun and that involves you about these games is the going through dungeons bit, upgrading equipment, building up a powerful character, and basically getting as deep in the dungeon as you can.

Story is not the only thing that makes a game good, no matter what it's genre. It's a very case-by-case dependant thing, but at its core a game is a game. A means of active entertainment. Not a movie or novel.

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"Judge not a man by his thoughts and words, but by
the quality and quantity of liquor in his possession
and the likelyhood of him sharing."

I completely agree, Silverlance, but when I voted a strong NO, I was responding to the thread's prompt: "Foreign-Language RPGs"

Certain games in Japanese like Kirby's Dream Land 3, Radiant Silvergun, and Tobal 2 are super-fun games that I've played in Japanese, without the language barrier getting in the way. However, for an RPG, like the title of this very thread, I find it very difficult to play a game in any language besides English.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

I don't even think I'd play a game that wasn't plot-oriented if I didn't understand the language. If it was a game with a story, that would drive me insane! I might try it for a little while, inserting my own dialogue (like I do for Xenosaga, which I wish was in a foreign language), but, ultimately, I'd quit out of frustration.

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Veni, vidi, dormivi.

I can barely stand that French version of Dynasty Warriors 2 I was given, so I wouldn''t be able to play an RPG with a non-English plot. I like to know what's going on in games - great gameplay is all well and fabulous, but I like to know where I'm going and what I'm buying.

I'd far rather play an RPG with no plot at all then an RPG in a forgien language that I didn't understand. "Why? " you might ask. Well here's why:

1. Because a forigien language RPG's just plain unplayable. The language used dictates far more then just the words the character's speak inbetween the games. Menus, in game instuctions and anything that would need indicating would require a word. I might be able to get by without a plot if everything that needs explaining is explianed in english but to me, Japanese is barely more then a bunch of random scribbles. It's just plain imposible to know what to do.

2. The waiting time. My goodness, a plot heavy game? That's a lot of text to scroll through there and for what? Absolutly nothing. With a plotless RPG, there'd be the exact same amount of story on my end without all of the button pressing, attempts to rush through text and god help me if there are any unskippable cut scenes.

3. If there's an english release at a later date, I'd feel like a fool struggling through the game for less overall enjoyment then if I'd have just played the newly released one. This may or may not fit the criteria of this poll but it's the smallest of the factors.

If it's any other type of game, fine I can get by without a plot as long as there isn't an important texted based interactions. There's no way I'm going to spend my time memorizing every little option in a menu just so I can use a weak little Mojukusan attack agaisnt a Myomite or something of the like. No way at all .

This post has been edited by Tonepoet on 8th May 2005 19:23

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Role reversal at its finest.

I would definitely NOT play a foreign language RPG, I dont think i would play ANY foreign language game. If i cant understand the story then i really dont see a point in playing a game. I would rather play a crappy-storyline rpg that i can UNDERSTAND then play a good one that I can't.

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Peace sells... but Whos buyin? -Megadeth


You wont be saying that when you get a
lead pipe across the head -James (Darkness Illusions II)

well if the game had drop dead graphics i would play it thinking this must be done by square becuase the stroy only breaks up summons and cinemas XD

jk i would think how english needs to be univseral im just stubborn

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procastinate now, dont put it off

What's the point? If you can't understand the story for an RPG, why should you play it? After all, story is the most important thing in an RPG, and there would be no point to the game without it.

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Music is a mysterious thing... Sometimes, it makes people remember things that they do not expect. Many thoughts, feelings, memories... things almost forgotten... Regardless of whether the listener desires to remember them or not...

- Shitan, Xenogears

Aye, I have to go with the masses on this...for RPGs I most certainly would not. Action or Beat 'em ups, maybe.

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The Arcana are the means by which ALL is revealed.

I have to go with the masses on this one too- not only because I would be reading a bunch of stuff I don't understand, but also because (knowing me) I'd run to the store and buy the language's dictionary and wrack my brain trying to understand it...

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Get me off this Disciplinary Committee so I can play any FF except for FF8!!!