Modern RPGs...
 

I'm kinda noticing a bad trend...

A lot of RPGs seem to have a fantasy based realm. Very few RPGs have either a modern or futuristic setting. I loved Earthbound and I'm working on Shadowrun. But when will someone make another modern RPG with baseball bats, an evil corporate government, and lawyers?

By modern I mean 1980s - present... I seriously would love to play a game like that...

It's because modern games aren't as good when you put them in RPGs. Modern is mainly for games like MGS, more of action/adventure with plots. I prefer non-modern RPGs, seeing as it annoys me when your character with guns aren't killing after several rounds have been put into your enemy.

Edit - And Earthbound was a modern/fantasy(/sci-fi if you include the very end), seeing as three of the characters used mystic powers (Psionics or something).

I disagree, I'm willing to suspend logic temperarily for a good modern RPG. And it doesn't have to include guns, Earthbound takes place in a modern setting, and it doesn't use guns. Also, you have to suspend disbalief in Fantasy RPGs. What about Forever Zero, Lynx's ultimate move in Chrono Cross that basically destroys the universe... and then ten seconds later, everyone is back, and the enemies take some damage but live if they are strong enough. Where is the logic in that, I just destroyed the fabric of reality, and now you have the audacity to live? I could start listing a long list of RPGs that allow ludacris powers that are never fully acknowledged (Just about any FF, or Console RPG I can think of), but I won't, so I'm willing to suspend my disbelief just as easily for a modern RPG as I am a Fantasy one.

Actually, I think the RPG I like most is the conflict of technology versus magic type scenarios, like Arcanum (Great great game, I just wish multiplayer still worked...). I just find it fun to blow away mages with robots, massive guns, and technological power, and in that game at least, it's semi realistic. Most people can't take too many shots from a gun before they bite the dust.

EDIT: So you believe that any inclusion of mystical power automatically makes something a fantasy? I disagree on that point too, what about Shadowrun, which is in the future with robots and cybernetic enhancements, yet stll has mages that summon spirits and throw around fireballs?

Those RPGs are already in a fantasy world, so the moves can have fancy animations and not need explainations.

Any modern game I want to play I want to be realistic. Modern seems to boring to be an RPG, seeing as if you start adding to much technology it is no longer modern, and mixing a good modern plot that makes sense and has good explainations with random battles where you can blow up people and they still live seems like to much of a contradiction.

And fantasy games can have good plots, but nothing modern like, since they usually involve god like creatures wanting to destroy everything.


Edit - Shadowrun is fantasy/modern/sci-fi as well, but even more so then Earthbound (Earthbound is more of a kiddy game).

Edit 2 - As for things like MGS, they make technology better then it really is, but use the same world just more research and hidden things have been done with today's questions (Like cloning for one). It's still more modern then most other games.

Seriously, what's with that? It seems that every RPG now a days needs to end with some near godly evil that wants to A. Blow up the world, B. Take over the world, or C. Revive some ancient, 'unstoppable' evil, and you ALWAYS end up fighting and killing the evil in question. Can't the main bad guy have another goal?

I guess I sort of like Sci-Fi RPGs now that I think about it. The only good 'modern' one I can think of is Earthbound. I prefer things like KotOR, Shadowrun, etc., that include high technology in them, and possibly magic. I can't think of a single 'Modern' RPG other then Earthbound now that I think about it. 'Modern' modern, is in with current technology and such, just doesn't work as an RPG, because everyone knows that if you get shot today, you die. In the future you can always claim advanced armors protect you, and in pure fantasy, well, I won't really get into that, but they always claim magical enchantments, or armor and such, even against nukes/ultimas...

But regardless, a Modern RPG isn't likely to happen for a long time, and console RPGs now have the Xenogears type games to hold you off in the sci-fi/futuraistic department, but it seems for classic RPGing in a sci-fi setting, ala shadowrun, there won't be anything for a while. I wish that series had been more popular, I like those two Shadowrun games too...

Modern RPG... well, there's always anything set in the World of Darkness, which is a darker version of our world, and which involves a hell lot of fantasy creatures...

Isn't that like a vampire the masquerade type thing, with vampires and werewolves and whatnot? I think they are making an RPG/FPS hybrid about that. That could be something interesting to keep an eye on.

Its because of games like Final Fantasy who wre the first to come and create the 'image' of console RPGs. Since then, the majority of them have felt they need to use a similar storyline, character formula and goal to make a good RPG.

Why do games like Earthbound bring about a different view on this. Well....look who made Earthbound. Miyamoto made the first Mother game in Japan on the NES. That automatically shows you why its more unique than the others (although not saying a better game or more fun by any means).

And the reason these repeating fantasy elements seem to mimic Sci-Fi to you is that for the most part, good Sci-Fi is more Fantasy based in writing and creation then anything else. Much of present day 'Sci-Fi' can literally be seen as the same stories of things that were made in the 1400s. Various shakespeare plots can be seen in almost all Sci-Fi series and fantasy elements from Tolkien to Egyptian Mythology in movies and TV shows. That's why its so easy for movies like 'Stargate' and 'Star Trek' to mix fantasy and Sci-Fi together. Because they, while looking totally different from each other on the outside, have the same base.

Some of them like Babylon 5 aren't like this though, seeing as how that's more based on Political deception and wars in space. Those are more of a type of 'modern day' based Sci-Fi parody. But it works for alot of Sci-Fi.

Nothing prevents a RPG from implementing a more realistic damage system. One in which if you do get shot it does more or less realistic damage. Though given the popularity of games like Max Payne and plenty of other shooters where the main character soaks up bullets would suggest that 100% realism in terms of damage from bullets isn't necessary.

Still, Shadowrun, the P&P RPG, implements a pretty decent damage system. And a single bullet could kill in that game though it's not likely. I could imagine a CRPG based on Shadowrun that has a very lethal damage system. In that case the key would be your character's ability to avoid being shot or hit at all.

Even in hand to hand combat that makes more sense than when battles are wars of attrition. It doesn't take too many sword strokes to kill someone. Anyone. Instead such battles could be seen as contests between the two combatants until one manages to tip the balance and gets a solid blow in.

A modern RPG wouldn't be all that exciting. Who wants to level up by balancing their budget and fixing the stove? If you want something like that, go play the Sims!

Seriously though, I think fantasy games are great, though I wish there were more meshing of sci-fi and fantasy. The FF series was beginning to mix it up from VI to VIII, but they seemed to go back to their more sword slinging ways ever since. No more auto crossbows... *sigh*

Aren't all RPGs more or less fantasy based on their overbearing plot and unrealistic threats? Sure, I can believe a large corporation or religion trying to take over the world, but why is everyone always trying to destroy it? Maybe the newer rpg's will try to have your international company merge with the rest of the world with lucrative deals and strong arm tactics. That would be more modern. Levelling from Jr. Corporate Exec to world leader would be fun.