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General discussionWill we ever see a Superhero RPG?(85 posts)(85 posts)
(85 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 02, 2019
The game industry has never really grokked superheroes, greatly favoring "elf, dwarf, and orcs" fantasy RPGs over all else. The Freedom Force games are the closest we came to a proper superhero RPG and the response from the general customer base was something like "that's not an MMO!" and then they all flocked to City of Heroes for a little while and that's been it. We would probably need some kind of a crowdfunded project to get what the original poster wants at this point because mainstream publishers aren't going to do it.
Posted March 02, 2019
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Telika: I think there's an open world Spider Man game somewhere, that is similar to the second Arkham game, in that you have a big city to roam and can interrupt side-crimes all over the place. Add some stats, some choose-your-side, and you've got the OP's rpg.
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Enebias: If only it was so simple!
RPGs -at least, based on my definition, derived in turn from pen and paper ones- should have at least three features to be called such: character customization (not necessarily in looks, but necessarily in skills and traits), several widely different playstyle options and huge reactivity to choices in both the setting and the npcs. The farther you can go in making it with complete freedom of choice (something I believe impossible for an AI, so videogames will always be limited in this regard), the better it is. Alas, nothing can beat a good, human game master: with pen and paper if you want to do something... you simply do it! Everything can adapt, while programs are always closed between walls, no matter how much space you can find inside.
Yeah, in this context here we speak, implicitely, of cRPG, which are their own things, with their own limitations in terms of narration flexibility and all that. Actually, the OP wouldn't have much difficulty to find superhero tabletop RPGs, but I don't think that's what he meant.
Posted March 02, 2019
I suspect the biggest hurdle would be economic. If you're looking at licensing an existing trademark, it's almost certain to cost $$$$ right out of the gate.

From that perspective action-oriented games almost certainly do look more appealing to devs/publishers than 'rpg' where Skyrim and a few others (WoW) seem like the exception to the rule that some of us (who post on gaming forums) really like RPGs a lot more than the general masses do.

As some have suggested, if you're willing to invest the time to create your own trademark (in line with what Freedom Force did) then you have a bit more leeway, but that's also a much bigger lift both creatively and in terms of marketing.
Posted March 02, 2019
What I think came a little close to it too is Chroma Squad.
Posted March 02, 2019
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Elmofongo: I mean MMORPGs have already done it with City of Heroes and DC Universe Online and they can serve as a basic template for how to make a Superhero RPG, because those games have amazing character creation.

Basically have the character creation of DC Universe Online/City of Heroes.

Have the Open World be filled with meaningful content and side activities like Grand Theft Auto 5 and what not.

And have it be as story driven and cinematic as Witcher 3 and Mass Effect.

And BAM there you have the best possible Superhero RPG.
Not exactly, what you're looking for, but:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/422130/Comic_Book_Hero_The_Greatest_Cape/
Posted March 02, 2019
Well, what separates a superhero from a JRPG protagonist? Summoning the power of the gods with a flick of a wrist, flying at practical will, bending elements to their whim, and even revival from the dead.
Posted March 02, 2019
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Elmofongo: I mean MMORPGs have already done it with City of Heroes and DC Universe Online and they can serve as a basic template for how to make a Superhero RPG, because those games have amazing character creation.

Basically have the character creation of DC Universe Online/City of Heroes.

Have the Open World be filled with meaningful content and side activities like Grand Theft Auto 5 and what not.

And have it be as story driven and cinematic as Witcher 3 and Mass Effect.

And BAM there you have the best possible Superhero RPG.
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BreOl72: Not exactly, what you're looking for, but:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/422130/Comic_Book_Hero_The_Greatest_Cape/
Also if "choose your own adventure" books qualify as RPG :
https://store.steampowered.com/app/316140/Appointment_With_FEAR/
Post edited March 02, 2019 by Telika
Posted March 03, 2019
I haven't played them but what about the Marvel Ultimate Alliance games?
Posted March 03, 2019
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muddysneakers: I haven't played them but what about the Marvel Ultimate Alliance games?
Action RPGs, and pretty good (pc port had some technical hiccups). The X-Men Legends games (console only) are the same formula and really good too.
Posted March 03, 2019
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ofthenexus: The X-Men Legends games (console only)
The second one was released on the PC. Was quite fun, at least back then. I'm not sure how well it holds up though, haven't played it in years.
Posted March 03, 2019
Wait... What? South Park the Fractured But Whole
Posted March 03, 2019
The Batman Games sort of kind of come close to this but they have less RPG elements.

As others have said, the open world has to be done right but otherwise this sounds like a really neat idea.

A while back I played a third-person Iron Man game on a console at a store and it was rather a good time.

Something open world would be great granted that it is done right.

I have been tempted to pick up Freedom Force several times only to re-read the description and go "darn it".
Posted March 03, 2019
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vidsgame: I have been tempted to pick up Freedom Force several times only to re-read the description and go "darn it".
Why? It's a really great game.
Posted March 03, 2019
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vidsgame: I have been tempted to pick up Freedom Force several times only to re-read the description and go "darn it".
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Breja: Why? It's a really great game.
It's just one of the genres that I'd probably forego playing is all. I read that the first one is turn-based and I watched a short playthrough of the second one as well to see whether much has changed. I think it's just a genre I generally avoid.

I am tempted because I like the name and the characters, so I could play it just for that. Who knows, I might enjoy it.
Posted March 03, 2019
low rated
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Enebias: Soooo... basically "Modern Trends™-The Game"?
I wouldn't touch it with a pole. The worst of modern gaming plus the apex of commercial cinema. Wow.
Also, games should stop being "cinematic". It is not an achievement for the media, just a bastardization of movies.

I'd rather have a blast from the past: https://www.gog.com/game/freedom_force
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Elmofongo: My goodness that is the most hipster statement I have ever seen.
Lolwut? Have you even SEEN any of the recent crop of superhero movies? They are amongst the worst films ever made.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionWill we ever see a Superhero RPG?(85 posts)(85 posts)
(85 posts)