Players have been discussing why so many games now feature mechanics drawn from roleplaying games, diving into the details of video game history in the process. While this great debate remains ongoing, a couple of conclusions have nonetheless been drawn.
The news comes from arecent threadon Resetera which is quite appropriately called “so, what games do you think started the ‘everything needs to have RPG elements’ trend?” The discussion began with a suggestion that Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood kicked off this particular design approach back in 2010. The game introduced a system of character progression, equipment upgrades, and quests that weren’t a part of previous entries in the series. These elements were extremely well received by players at the time and subsequent installments continued to expand on the features.
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Several other games have been mentioned including Skyrim which most likely popularized the concept of an open-world RPG with skill trees and character customization. Borderlands also entered the discussion, being mentioned as a game which combined RPG elements with first person shooter mechanics, introducing loot and skill trees to the genre.
Some users have been pointing out how the trend has been driven by the desire to extend the life of a game beyond the initial playthrough. Adding features along the lines of character progression and skill trees, developers provide players with a reason to continue on after completing the campaign. These users consider this to be a response to the increasing cost of game development as publishers look for ways to keep players engaged with a game for longer periods of time.
When it comes to game design, a couple of users have been arguing that RPG elements are now so common that few if any of them are seen as unique or innovative. They consider this trend to have become so prevalent that players quite simply expect these mechanics to be found in most games, noting that games without these elements could be seen as lacking. Some users on the other hand suggested that such a strong focus on RPG elements has resulted in a form of homogenization, leading to a loss of diversity in terms of design, many games feeling strangely similar in their mechanics.
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