Frustrating Quests In Otherwise Great RPGs

Key Takeaways

Side quests in RPGs can vary in quality due to deadlines, poor writing, or uninspired design.
Some RPG side quests, like Nero Brothers in FF9, interfere with game pacing and offer disappointing rewards.
Bethesda’s Radiant quests in Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield are bland filler that fail to revolutionize questing.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of role-playing games (RPGs) under my belt, I must confess that I’ve encountered moments in gaming history that have left me scratching my head in disbelief. One such instance that stands out like a sore thumb is Dijkstra’s betrayal in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. A character as cunning and sharp-witted as Dijkstra, who had always proven himself to be a master of political intrigue, suddenly turned into a buffoon by openly declaring his intent to kill three key figures in the North – Roche, Thaler, and Ves – right in front of Geralt. It’s hard to imagine a more harebrained betrayal in RPG history! I mean, come on, Dijkstra! Even a witcher as formidable as Geralt could take him down if push came to shove.

Role-playing games are delightful to experience, offering a tangible feeling of character advancement alongside captivating narratives that often leave players contentedly concluding an extensive journey which consumed numerous hours. The central tales in these games must be compelling to keep players hooked until the finale, yet most RPGs enhance this by providing a generous amount of additional quests, which not only deepen a player’s engagement but also enrich the environment they traverse.

It’s not accurate to claim that every side quest in an RPG is worth completing, as quality can vary significantly due to factors like looming deadlines, poor writing, uninspired design, or a mix of these issues. Consequently, some outstanding RPGs may include side content that is so mediocre and forgettable that players question its purpose.

5 Nero Brothers (Final Fantasy 9)

A Quest So Obtuse It Took Years To Discover After The Game’s Release

Frustrating Quests In Otherwise Great RPGs

When news broke out about an additional mission being found in Final Fantasy 9 over a decade following its launch, it’s not hard to understand why players were eager to explore this new content. Nevertheless, a brief glance at the Nero Brothers questline made it evident as to why nobody had stumbled upon one of the most tedious side missions available within the game. The fact that this quest is linked with the game’s dungeon adds to the frustration experienced by numerous players.

To acquire the modest Protect Ring, players will find themselves making frequent journeys between Memoria and Lindblum following each boss fight or special cutscene in the final dungeon. This necessitates interacting with the Nero Brothers on every trip, waiting for all ten brothers to return home before they can proceed. The repetitive nature of this task, leading to a mediocre reward, makes it one of the most exasperating quests within the Final Fantasy series, as it often disrupts the smooth progression towards the final boss encounter.

4 Ming Must Die! (Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines)

The Most Frustrating Quest In A Game That Suffers From An Incomplete Latter Half

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is renowned as one of the best role-playing games ever made, particularly during its initial half where the game’s depth is exceptionally developed. Each vampire class offers a distinct experience, and players have multiple options to achieve any given goal; however, the game begins to unravel toward the end, shifting emphasis onto combat and offering limited side content. The Chinatown area stands out as the most disappointing hub in the game.

The central storyline becomes monotonously linear without much depth, and nothing illustrates the decline in quality for the game “Bloodlines” better than the mission players receive if they don’t ally with the Kuei-jin. Players are tasked with infiltrating the Golden Temple and eventually reaching Ming Xiao’s hideout, where she metamorphoses into her demonic form, setting up one of the most disappointing boss battles seen in any video game, be it RPG or otherwise. With no long-range weapon at hand, players are essentially doomed as Ming has an overwhelming amount of health and can easily defeat the player with just a few strikes. Even armed with a potent rifle, it requires endless, tedious shooting and dodging for this frustrating confrontation to be over.

3 Reason Of State (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)

The Smartest Character In The Witcher Makes An Incredibly Stupid Decision

In essence, the writing in The Witcher 3 is remarkable, standing out as one of the key factors contributing to its status as a top-tier modern RPG. Unlike many games that offer binary choices for players, this one provides a more nuanced experience, with some side quests boasting richer and more diverse narratives than the main storyline itself. It’s no surprise that the game has garnered such high praise, but it does have an acknowledged flaw – a weakness in its armor that many fans recognize.

In the game “Reason of State,” players are given the chance to eliminate Radovid and liberate the Northern Realms from his oppressive rule. This situation, ripe with political intrigue, should have been an exciting climax. Unfortunately, it becomes one of the most aggravating parts of the game instead. The character Dijkstra, who has demonstrated intelligence and quick thinking throughout the story, makes a foolish move by announcing his intention to murder Roche, Thaler, and Ves in order to seize power in the North. This is surprising because such a devious man must have foreseen Geralt’s rejection of this plan, given that this witcher could easily overpower him if necessary.

2 Underground Colosseum (Final Fantasy 7 Remake)

The Fight Against The Hell House Is Pure Torture

In the Remake of Final Fantasy 7, players can relive the enchantment of the original game with a new, vibrant look, yet the choice to set the entire game within Midgar has sparked debates among fans. To extend the playtime, significant scenes from the original have been filled with unnecessary padding, and some side content in Final Fantasy 7 Remake is quite poor. The concept of battling in an Underground Colosseum sounds intriguing, but it results in a challenging, less enjoyable experience due to the bonus battle.

In the original game, The Hell House was a typical adversary that players could engage in random encounters. But in the remake of Final Fantasy 7, it transforms into an intense boss battle that’s incredibly challenging and time-consuming to conquer. Trying to decipher its elemental weaknesses while dodging its attacks and gradually reducing the enemy’s health bar becomes tiresome just a few minutes into the confrontation, embodying one of the issues with the overextension of original content in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

1 Every Radiant Quest Ever (Bethesda)

Bland, Meaningless Filler That Was Marketed As A Revolutionary System

It’s hard to argue that Bethesda’s RPGs don’t rank among the best in the genre. Even a game like Starfield, which was initially met with some disappointment, has its strong points and is worth exploring if you’re looking for an engaging sci-fi experience. However, one aspect where many Bethesda games fall short is their writing, particularly when it comes to the reasons given for players to complete certain quests. These motivations can become unclear when the Radiant system is implemented.

As a passionate gamer diving into the vast worlds crafted by Bethesda, I can’t help but feel a bit let down when it comes to the Radiant quest system. In Skyrim, I was initially excited about the promise of endless questing opportunities. However, what unfolded were repetitive fetch missions, kill-monster tasks, and other monotonous chores that seemed more like padding than engaging content.

2024-09-15 07:03