{"id":197852,"date":"2021-02-20T16:30:43","date_gmt":"2021-02-20T16:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gamerant.com\/amazing-rpgs-with-bad-long-openings\/"},"modified":"2021-02-20T16:30:43","modified_gmt":"2021-02-20T16:30:43","slug":"10-rpgs-that-are-amazing-after-a-rough-opening-few-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2021\/02\/20\/10-rpgs-that-are-amazing-after-a-rough-opening-few-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"10 RPGS That Are Amazing (After A Rough Opening Few Hours)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Video games have a unique relationship with pacing, more so than any other artistic medium. The very nature of player agency makes a slow start far more challenging to overcome than in a movie or book \u2013 video games<\/a> are a time sink that demand the audience\u2019s attention. The RPG<\/a> genre in particular doesn\u2019t shy away from longer titles, but this can result in games that take a few hours to stretch their legs and really get going.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0The 15 Hardest RPGs Ever Made, Ranked<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

While most people play games for instant gratification, some of the best RPGs in the genre can\u2019t be approached that way. RPGs are notorious for taking their time in setting a mood or introducing mechanics, alienating those who just want to get into the swing of things. But in a genre where the average RPG pushes dozens upon dozens of hours, a rough opening is a blip in hindsight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

10 <\/span>Dragon Quest VII<\/h2>\n
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As far as JRPGs are concerned, the Dragon Quest<\/a> franchise is as classic as they come \u2013 playing most of the genre\u2019s tropes fairly straight (while also being an important codifier of many). Despite this, each game in the series has a clear identity both narratively and in terms of gameplay. Dragon Quest VII in particular is a slow based RPG composed primarily of vignettes where patience is an absolute must.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It takes a long time just to get to the first battle, let alone when players finally start gaining some agency over how their party develops. It\u2019s important to understand just what kind of game Dragon Quest VII is before starting, but the slow burn narrative ultimately just builds a wonderfully rich world with some genuinely beautiful storytelling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

9 <\/span>EarthBound Beginnings\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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Neither EarthBound or Mother 3 open with a bang, but they\u2019re both RPGs that settle into their core gameplay loop more or less right away. Comparatively, EarthBound Beginnings has a much harsher opening. Ninten has next to no direction, combat isn\u2019t particularly fun without a full party, and the level design just isn\u2019t that interesting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a certain charm that keeps EarthBound Beginnings captivating and the quality spikes in quality upon entering Magicant for the first time. EarthBound Beginnings can be on the grindy side, but the RPG only gets better as it goes on \u2013 ending up one of the best games on the NES and a fantastic start to one of Nintendo\u2019s best series.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8 <\/span>Final Fantasy XIII<\/h2>\n
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Final Fantasy XIII is almost notorious for how long it takes for the main storyline to actually open up. Fans regularly lambast the game for its \u201c15 hour tutorial\u201d and for good reason. While it\u2019s not actually the case, Final Fantasy XIII<\/a> takes an extremely long time actually getting the main party together and allowing players to explore the world around them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a015 JRPGs With The Deepest Lore, Ranked<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

When Final Fantasy XIII finally opens up and just lets audiences <\/span>play the game<\/span><\/i>, it\u2019s not hard to see why the RPG has such a dedicated following. The combat is some of the most strategic in the series, the presentation is consistently top-notch, and exploration is actually fun when plates are limited to hallway after hallway (though dungeons don\u2019t exactly fare much dungeon).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7 <\/span>Mass Effect<\/h2>\n
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The original Mass Effect<\/a>\u2019s opening focuses on setting a tone above all else, and while that\u2019s in no way a bad thing, it does mean players have to trudge through the game\u2019s blandest content to finally get to the best. Worse, information overload makes it difficult to fully appreciate each party member\u2019s introduction or the political machinations at work narratively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t until Mass Effect allows players to get to know their squad intimately or start exploring the galaxy that the game finally opens up. The RPG mechanics are the best in the franchise (in that the original Mass Effect actually feels like an RPG with shooting mechanics, rather than a shooter with light RPG elements) along with arguably the best story in the original trilogy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6 <\/span>Paper Mario<\/h2>\n
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The first two Paper Mario<\/a> games are beloved RPGs, but they both suffer from their fair share of flaws. The original Paper Mario in particular feels like an actual chore to begin. While players only need to endure an hour of tutorialized gameplay and a general lack of freedom, Paper Mario\u2019s introduction <\/span>feels <\/span><\/i>long \u2013 especially on a replay when the game forces players to relearn how to play (and slowly at that). Paper Mario is quick to open up once control is actually handed over to the player properly, but the game\u2019s opening is a far cry from Super Mario RPG\u2019s extremely brisk intro.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5 <\/span>Shin Megami Tensei IV<\/h2>\n
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Shin Megami Tensei IV is one of the best games on the 3DS (RPG or otherwise), but its first few hours are a genuinely hard sell. The Kingdom of Mikado is unique compared to SMT\u2019s staple setting of Tokyo, but the linear nature of the early game \u2013\u00a0along with brutally hard difficulty curve and visual novel esque story \u2013 make for an awkward few opening hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a010 PC RPGs With The Best Main Stories<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t until the main cast actually reach Tokyo where Shin Megami Tensei starts coming into its own, and fast. The story picks up in pace, the tone starts to reflect what\u2019s expected of the franchise, and the difficulty curve becomes considerably more reasonable as players gain access to better Demons and Skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4 <\/span>Tales Of The Abyss<\/h2>\n
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Luke fon Fabre\u2019s character arc is all about deconstructing his self-absorbed, childish personality \u2013 which means he spends a huge chunk of Tales of the Abyss\u2019 early game acting like a spoiled brat who the rest of the main cast need to baby. Luke keeps this act up for over 10 hours of gameplay (and then some) before he\u2019s finally humbled by his own mistakes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke\u2019s personality is painful early on and hard to like, but it culminates in one of the best character arcs in the genre. Luke\u2019s growth alongside the rest of the cast \u2013 coupled with a story that focuses heavily on what it means to be alive \u2013 makes Tales of the Abyss\u2019 pay off all the better. Just be ready for a lot of build up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3 <\/span>Trails In The Sky FC<\/h2>\n
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Trails in the Sky FC is the definition of a slow burn and players best be prepared before starting the first of many long RPGs in Falcom\u2019s still ongoing saga. The main appeal of the Trails series boils down to its attention to detail, featuring dynamic dialogue where NPCs actively react to the world around them \u2013 and often for any little thing that happens narratively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This often results in side quests popping up in abundance, taking attentive players who feel the need to do everything off the beaten path for hours at a time. Trails in the Sky FC\u2019s prologue is particularly notable for this, extending over <\/span>five hours <\/span><\/i>for\u00a0anybody who wants to do and see absolutely everything before the story actually begins in earnest. That said, this just means Trails in the Sky FC’s story has more depth than the average RPG.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2 <\/span>Xenoblade Chronicles 2<\/h2>\n
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Unlike either of its predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2<\/a> does not open with its best foot forward. Rex lacks Shulk\u2019s maturity or depth and is surrounded by a party full of caricatures. The combat doesn\u2019t explain itself particularly well, takes forever to open up, and the story spends more time circling tired tropes out of shonen anime instead of fleshing out the plot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not until the end of Chapter 3 where Xenoblade Chronicles 2 really starts to flesh out its story. Jin and Malos are far more complex villains than anyone featured in either Xenoblade Chronicles 1 or X, and Torna\u2019s tragic backstory adds genuine pathos to their plight. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 doesn\u2019t quite stick the landing, but the second half blows the first completely out of the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1 <\/span>Ys IX: Monstrum Nox<\/h2>\n
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The Ys franchise has been experimenting with denser storytelling since SEVEN on the PSP, mainly to mixed results. SEVEN and VIII have excellent stories, but more because of how they reflect on Ys as a franchise \u2013 not because of their length. Ys IX eventually gets to a similar point and leaves series veterans with some important commentary on protagonist Adol Christin, but there\u2019s just no getting around the slow first half.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ys IX takes its time setting up the story\u2019s central mystery and introducing the main cast, forgoing the series\u2019 history of brisk pacing in favor of detailed plotting that just doesn\u2019t feel at home. That said, the combat shines immediately and the level design is the best Ys has seen in ages. Beyond this, Monstrum Nox\u2019s story comes into its own during the second half \u2013 even leading into one of the best last acts in the franchise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next:\u00a010 RPGs With The Most Romance Options<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n

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In a genre where the average RPG pushes dozens upon dozens of hours, a rough opening is a blip in hindsight.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":284,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"10 RPGS That Are Amazing (After A Rough Opening Few Hours) - ITTeacherITFreelance.hk","description":"In a genre where the average RPG pushes dozens upon dozens of hours, a rough opening is a blip in hindsight."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[607],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197852"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197852"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197853,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197852\/revisions\/197853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}