The Best RPG Series With Anthology Games

Key Takeaways

• Pokemon
  integrates characters and regions across games, culminating in the crossover Gacha
  Pokemon Masters EX.
• .hack//Link
  connects multiple series while facing criticism over gameplay in its final mainline game.
• Fire Emblem Heroes
  continues to expand with crossovers across the franchise, providing unparalleled character integration.

As a lifelong connoisseur of video games and a seasoned traveler through countless virtual realms, I must say that the anthology games of these beloved series truly stand out as the cream of the crop. The interconnected narratives and character crossovers in Tales of the World, Dissidia Final Fantasy, and Tales from the Worlds of Final Fantasy have provided me with countless hours of entertainment and a sense of nostalgic delight that only comes from recognizing familiar faces in unexpected places.

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There are numerous role-playing games that often change their characters, environments, and sometimes additional aspects as the series unfolds. These games can evolve from 2D to 3D, from black-and-white to vibrant colors, and from being silent to featuring top-notch voice acting. Over time, as a collection of these diverse games, settings, and other elements are developed and incorporated, some game companies combine them all into one integrated setting.

This results in role-playing games (RPGs) intersecting with one another to some extent, featuring characters who maintain a certain level of independence but still engage directly. These crossovers are frequently found in the Gacha format, although there are other methods for series to interact with themselves as well. These RPG anthologies will be ranked based on the number of installments and the effectiveness of their integration of source material.

5 Pokemon

Anthology Game: Pokemon Masters EX

In most Pokemon series installments, a significant number of playable characters, including the iconic Pokemons, are consistently carried over. Interestingly, human characters in each game also share similarities with those in other games. For instance, the games Gold and Silver enable players to journey from their home region Johto to Kanto, providing an opportunity for players to explore the previous game’s region firsthand. Although such direct integration is uncommon as the series broadens its scope, there are always instances that demonstrate the intricate connections between every region in the Pokemon universe.

The games, Black 2 and White 2, feature the Pokemon World Tournament where players can battle against Gym Leaders and Champions from different regions that were active at the time, as well as an alternate-universe version of Team Rainbow Rocket from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This latter team is a combination of multiple evil team leaders who managed to achieve their objectives in this universe.

The situation reached its peak when we encountered the Gacha game called “Pokemon Masters EX.” In this game, players can join forces with and command an array of characters from different regions, such as the Elite Four, Champions, and even well-known trainers who have been made playable. Each character has a signature Pokemon that is unique to them.

In this game, players engage in thrilling 3-on-3 matches against opposing teams, simultaneously strengthening their own Pokemon teams. This aspect keeps the game true to its original essence, despite the streamlined approach. Known as Masters EX, it received a mix of positive and negative feedback upon launch. Some critics pointed out the limited content, while others focused on the seemingly superficial mechanics. Regardless, since its initial release, the game has persisted and expanded, offering more content over time.

4 .hack

Anthology Game: .hack//Link

This engaging collection of games is set within an online role-playing game called “The World.” Players create their own avatars and play as heroes within this virtual environment. What sets it apart is that it tells one continuous story over multiple installments. It also has a sequel series, .hack//G.U., which unfolds after the original, introduces new characters, and continues the narrative across several games, similar to its predecessor.

The two series are more directly connected in .hack//Link, a Japan-only PSP release, which features characters from both incarnations alongside a new protagonist named Tokio Kuryuu, fighting against a new evil organization known as Schicksal. The game was praised for its connective nature, linking between the lore of the games and expanded media such as OVAs, manga adaptations, and more. However, the gameplay itself fell under scrutiny, being heavily criticized by reviewers and critics. .hack has since attempted multiple spiritual successors, which ironically were on now-discontinued service-based platforms. However, //Link remains the final mainline game with the .hack title, and the last to focus on the lore of the greater series before it.

In the world of fighting games, I found myself immersed in a sequel that expanded its roster from the broader series, titled “//Versus“. This game was sometimes packaged with a unique film inspired by the popular franchise “.hack“. As a fan, it was a thrilling experience to delve into this multimedia combination.

3 Fire Emblem

Anthology Game: Fire Emblem Heroes

Fire Emblem is known for its numerous iterations, and occasionally, there are cross-overs within the main series to different extents. An early instance of self-referentiality was showcased in Awakening, where characters from previous versions, referred to as Einherjar, could be played, and were also fightable in downloadable maps. A few more, specifically tailored to represent unique characters, resurfaced in Fates as well.

The show explored a more blended style of storytelling by incorporating the RPG gameplay of Warriors, merging it with the beat-em-up style common in most Warriors games. In this instance, characters from various Fire Emblem adaptations become playable, although some versions have limited or no presence within the spin-off. The main emphasis in Engage is on “Emblem” warrior interpretations, which allow the characters of this particular series installment to harness their powers. Additionally, Tokyo Mirage Sessions refashions characters from Awakening and Shadow Dragon into beings similar to Persona.

In terms of popular cross-overs, none surpasses “Heroes,” an enduring Gacha game that consistently gets updated and manages to thrive alongside numerous mainline “Fire Emblem” games. Its extensive scope allows it to regularly introduce characters from various series installments across updates, ranging from fan favorites and well-known figures to lesser-known ones, some of whom were previously untranslated outside of Japan. Despite the simplification of gameplay (even with continuous updates), no other “Fire Emblem” game boasts such a large ensemble of characters from its individual titles collaborating under one roof.

2 Final Fantasy

Anthology Game: Dissidia Final Fantasy

In my opinion, the world of Final Fantasy is like an extensive universe on its own, with many of its well-loved titles featuring additional content that deepens their unique storylines. However, what ties this series together is the continuous narrative known as Dissidia Final Fantasy, where the disparate worlds are interconnected.

As a dedicated gamer, I can tell you that Dissidia initially started out as a 3D fighting game, much like Fire Emblem Warriors did. But what’s interesting is how it blended aspects of the original series’ genre into this new form, making the gameplay feel more like an action RPG than just a traditional fighting game.

The game series called Dissidia has a new version, not a fighting game but a Gacha game titled Opera Omnia. Unlike its predecessors, this edition offers many more playable characters from various games, usually two or more for each game. As it is set to end in February 2024, the future and direction of Dissidia, if any, remain uncertain.

1 Tales Of

Anthology Game: Tales Of The World

The Tales series often changes settings between installments, although some games do follow as sequels. Some titles even take place in the same region, though not necessarily as direct sequels. Similar to other RPGs, the series features a mythological medieval atmosphere and explores themes of justice and conflict across diverse races and cultures. The Tales series has been adapted into various forms, and characters from its games have made appearances elsewhere.

Because the series enjoys a varied level of fame worldwide, only certain installments can be found in the Western region, with exceptions such as the latest addition, Tales of Arise (released in 2021). The less frequently accessible titles are the spin-offs, referred to as Tales of the World. It’s quite intriguing since it seldom appears that there is a single “world” shared among all these “tales.

Although a range of games featuring characters from multiple Tales series have been launched, one notable exception is Radiant Mythology, which was released globally in 2007. Other games within this franchise often explore various genres such as puzzle games, tactical RPGs, and even board game hybrids. The latest entry in the series, Reve Unitia, debuted in 2014 and was a port of the mobile game Tactics Union for the Nintendo 3DS. Interestingly, it has been ten years since any new installment has emerged. It appears that with each new world created within the Tales universe, there is less motivation to collectively produce games based on them. At present, it seems the focus is more on individual worlds, as demonstrated by Arise being the 17th mainline game in the series.

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2024-11-23 06:06