JRPGs Where You Cannot Become Overpowered

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Summary

  • RPGs empower players through traditional leveling and equipment acquisition, providing a sense of accomplishment.
  • Level scaling in some RPGs prevents players from becoming overpowered, ensuring a challenging experience.
  • Some RPGs, like Fire Emblem, require strict progression, limiting player freedom and making it hard to feel powerful.

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that role-playing games (RPGs) have been a constant source of joy and frustration for me throughout my life. The sense of empowerment they provide through traditional leveling systems and equipment acquisition is unmatched in any other genre, but it’s the fine balance between empowerment and challenge that makes or breaks an RPG experience for me.

One of the most memorable games I’ve played in this regard is Dragon Quest Builders, a spinoff from the classic Dragon Quest series. Although it copied the sandbox mechanics popularized by Minecraft, the game executed them well with one notable exception – the resetting levels that left players feeling powerless when they completed a chapter. Thankfully, the sequel addressed this issue, but it still lingers in my memory as a reminder of the importance of maintaining player progression and agency.

On the other end of the spectrum lies Monster Hunter: World, a game I’ve spent countless hours with, yet never felt truly empowered by its progression system. Despite its many improvements over previous entries, the game still requires heavy grinding for EXP and enemy scaling that can leave even the most seasoned hunters feeling frustrated. The joke here is that after sinking so much time into Monster Hunter: World, I sometimes feel like I’m hunting not just monsters, but my own sanity!

A fantastic motivation for engaging in role-playing games (RPGs) is the feeling of empowerment they offer. In these games, players have the opportunity to enhance their attributes using conventional leveling-up mechanisms. Once they surpass an enemy’s level, they can effortlessly overwhelm them, providing players with a sense of achievement stemming from perseverance. Acquiring equipment is another method through which players can bolster their strength in RPGs.

In some Role-Playing Games (RPGs), the progression of players is managed to ensure fairness among all participants. One method used for this purpose is level-scaling, which adjusts the difficulty of enemies to match the player’s level within a specific area, preventing one player from significantly outpowering others. There are other techniques employed in RPGs to maintain balance and avoid overpowered players as well, as demonstrated below.

5. Dragon Quest Builders

Restarting From Scratch

In simpler terms, this spin-off of “Dragon Quest,” titled “Dragon Quest Builders,” was an action game that Minecraft enthusiasts would find appealing. While it borrowed the concept from Minecraft, it managed to execute it effectively, albeit with one condition. Players could progress by leveling up in various ways such as defeating enemies, gathering materials, and crafting items within a designated zone.

Once that particular section is wrapped up, the game resets all levels. For a novice encountering this for the first time, they might be genuinely astonished by this resetting mechanism. This issue was addressed in the subsequent version, enhancing the overall playability. However, the original game remains enjoyable despite its less powerful aspects.

4. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles

Dungeon-based Progression

Some “Final Fantasy” games are quite tough due to their level scaling, such as “Final Fantasy 8” and “Final Fantasy Tactics”. Out of all the spin-offs and main series games, “Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles” is the one that makes it hardest to feel strong, but it’s not necessarily the most challenging overall.

Players have the option to design their own character and profession, embarking on their journey either solo or with a team of three other players, all on the GameCube. In these dungeons, they can arm themselves with weapons and spells; however, once the dungeon is cleared, everything resets back to its original state. This repetitive nature made it challenging to experience the grandeur of an epic adventure, given that the progression system had some shortcomings.

3. Fire Emblem

Die, Reload, And Try Again

Entries prior to “Fire Emblem Awakening” would be suitable for this entry as power progression has historically been challenging throughout the Fire Emblem series. Notably, “Fire Emblem” marked the seventh main installment but its North American debut. What distinguished it from other grid-based tactical RPGs were its demanding difficulty level and linear structure. Additionally, it featured permadeath, which means significant characters could perish during combat.

In this game, advancement could only be achieved by engaging in tough battles, meaning anyone not earning Experience Points (EXP) was left behind. There wasn’t any method for grinding or growing stronger, and losing an ally felt much like losing a finger in reality. This is why save scumming became prevalent within the series until the release of Fire Emblem Awakening, which offered players the chance to disable permadeath and other enhancements that made it easier to explore side content, thus providing more enjoyment.

2. Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Draining On Plumbers

In the latest addition to the Mario & Luigi RPG series, titled “Mario & Luigi: Brothership“, gameplay remains largely similar to its predecessors. Players continue to have control over both Mario and Luigi in turn-based battles, where active participation is encouraged. By timing a jump during an attack, players can inflict greater damage. Additionally, players are given the opportunity to counterattack enemies during their own turns.

Despite the joy of seeing the series return, certain challenges left some enthusiasts feeling a bit overwhelmed. Compared to earlier entries, this game demands intense grinding for experience points, and enemies often match the abilities of the plumbers. This grind can be tiring in multiple aspects.

1. Monster Hunter: World

The World Is Not Your Oyster

Each Monster Hunter game presents a tough battle, but Monster Hunter: World particularly shines as it significantly improved the series. For instance, the user interface was refined, multiplayer entry became smoother, the environments were expanded, and weapon handling felt more intuitive – just to name a few enhancements.

Regardless of other changes made, Capcom kept the progression system intact. Players advance by acquiring superior gear by skinning beasts. However, this top-tier loot doesn’t always protect against even the most basic monsters who can still easily defeat players, and the restricted number of deaths allowed during a mission only adds to the frustration.

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2024-12-29 03:38