I've been thinking about the process of rating CRPGs. What makes certain games so addictive and enjoyable? I started making a list of everything that occurred to me, and tonight I organized that list into categories. It just so happens that there are 10 categories, and if I assign 10 points to each one, I have a decent 100-point scale.
The things I like about CRPGs may not be the same things you like. For instance, I don't care much about graphics. All I ask is that, as I put in my list, they're not distractingly bad. I care even less about music. I know that game developers pay composers and musicians to record extensive soundtracks for their games, but one of the first things I almost always do when firing up a new game is turn the music off.
On the other hand, I do value some unusual things. For instance, I love games that extensively describe the different weapons and armor you pick up. I also love the process of finding new stuff and outfitting my characters. I value strong NPC interaction as much as exciting combat. I prefer my areas to re-spawn so I can return to beginning areas once I'm level 12 and idly fireball rats just for fun.
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| I could read these all night. |
With this in mind, I created this master list of characteristics (titled with a nod to my Reddit user name, and my favorite drink). Each of the individual items combine to create a score of 0-10 in each category, contributing to a master score of 0-100. Let me know if you think I missed anything obvious. Ultimately, over the years, I expect I will create a separate blog post for each of the items in these categories.
CRPG Addict's Game Innovation, Merriment, Likability, and Engagement Test (GIMLET)
1. Game World
- Game world has unique features that distinguish it from other CRPGs
- Creators have endowed game world with history and lore
- You understand how your character and quest fit within overall game world
- Your decisions and actions measurably affect game world
2. Character Creation and Development
- Game allows extensive customization of characters during creation process
- Characters are rewarded for combat and quest-completion
- Character advancement process is satisfying and rewarding
- Encounters and dialogs play differently with different classes, sexes, alignments, and characteristics
3. NPC Interaction
- Game has NPCs with whom you can talk
- NPC Interaction advances the plot of the game
- Game offers you flexibility in dialog choices
- NPC Interaction provides opportunity for role-playing
- PC learns things about the game world from NPCs
- Game offers NPC relationships (romances and friendships)
4. Encounters & Foes
- Game offers unique monsters distinguishable from other CRPGs
- Foes are well-described in game world
- Foes behave in different ways depending on their type
- Game features some scripted encounters with opportunities for role playing
- Game has some level of random encounters so that you never know what's coming
- Areas respawn at some point after they are cleared
5. Magic and Combat
- Player has numerous options in combat
- Combat is tactical, requiring some strategizing to successfully navigate
- Combat offers opportunities for role-playing
- Magic system (if included) is well-balanced
6. Equipment
- Game has wide variety of weapons, armor, and accessories to buy, find, wield, and wear
- Game makes it easy to understand and evalute how items compare to each other (e.g., which weapon does the most damage)
- Items are thoroughly and interestingly described
- Items are at least partly randomized within game world
- Player can create or customize items
7. Economy
- Game gives you monetary rewards for killing creatures/solving quests
- There are interesting and helpful things to buy with your money
- You never reach a point in which collecting money becomes pointless
8. Quests
- Game has a "main quest" the completion of which constitutes winning the game
- Main quest has different outcomes based on player decisions
- Game features side quests that offer opportunities for character building
- Side quests have opportunities for role-playing
9. Graphics, Sound, and Inputs
- Graphics are not distractingly bad
- Fun and realistic gameplay sound effects
- Interesting and immersive background sound effects
- NPC dialogue, if spoken, is well-acted
- Controls are intuitive and responsive
10. Gameplay
- Game is alinear, allowing freedom of movement throughout game world
- Game is highly replayable, offering different experiences for different classes and alignments
- Game has the right level of difficulty: challenging without being exasperating
- Overall pacing is good; game is not over too quickly, neither does it drag
After I finish The Bard's Tale, I'll rank the games I've played to this point on the scale. Without overly demanding criteria for graphics and sound, I suspect that some of these older games (especially a few of the ones coming up) will hold up quite well.
