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Poll: Western vs Asian RPGs

Which style of RPG do you prefer?

Example of:
North American: Baldur's Gate, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Morrowind
Asian: Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Star Ocean

I personally prefer Asian types primarily because they have a very definite, linear storyline that pulls you along and draws you in. I don't like the open-endedness of Western ones because I often get the feeling of wandering around aimlessly. I also like the system where battle and exploration are seperate. Lastly, for some reason lots of Western RPGs, even the good ones, seem to be bug-prone. I loved it when Baldur's gate kept crashing when I used certain items, or when I got stuck in a wall in Morrowind.
 
I think it's more accurate to say that computer games in general are more bug prone because everyone's system configuration is different. That isn't saying that console games are bug free though. Big name console RPGs tend to be very well tested, but there are a lot of crappy console games out there. The games you listed for Western RPGs just happen to be computer games (primarily), while the Asian (more accurately, Japanese) RPGs are big name console RPGs.

I used to prefer Japanese RPGs, but now I find myself preferring more open ended gameplay, although I still have a hard time choosing which one I like better.
 
I enjoyed the final fanatsy series on the nes/snes & playstation up until VIII but I haven't played one since. I prefer the choices, interactive storylines, and variable experiences offered by CRPG's.

I haven't had any problems earthshattering problems with crpg's as far as stability goes, you can probably chalk that up to the infinite variation of computer hardware. Kind of reaching as far as reasons to dislike story and content. In all fairness FF7 was the first game to crash my PS1.
 
I personally prefer Asian types primarily because they have a very definite, linear storyline that pulls you along and draws you in. I don't like the open-endedness of Western ones because I often get the feeling of wandering around aimlessly.
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I find this quote of yours interesting mainly as you listed KoTOR as a Western game despite it being far more linear and story driven then any of the Asian titles you selected for example.

I like them both when done properly. Pushed to pick a best it would be a toss up for me between KoTOR and FFIII(VI)- one Asian and one Western.
 
As long as it has an engaging central plot, I'm far more likely to enjoy it. So I guess Asian ones... though KOTOR is pretty story driven and one of my favorites.
 
As someone mentioned, it seems the distinction is more between Console and PC rather than culture/nationality. Big-name console releases offer a highly-tested game with (increasingly) CG Video, a fairly linear story line, etc. The CRPGs tend to be more open ended, and closer to the 'true' RPG roots. (Role-Playing-Games, in their original form, were about letter the player develop the character based on actions, not just about saving up XP to reach the next level).

Having said that, I enjoy both. Old School console RPGs such as FF2, 3, Chronotrigger, Secret of Mana; FF VII-X. CRPGs such as Planescape, Fallout, Morrrowind, NeverWinter Nights, Baldur's Gate / Dungeon Siege (although those were linear, too).
 
I like both, although I prefer the openness with a cohesive storyline. FFX was fun the first time through, but after that, there was no reason to continue playing the game. You already know exactly what is going to happen. I'm not big on replaying the same 'zone' over and over and over again to get some uber weapon when I've already beaten the game without the uber weapon.

IMO, a lot of the 'bugs' I've seen people complain about in BG, PS:T, NWN, Morrowind, etc, were due to their system configuration and lack of general PC knowledge. I've experience only a few very minor bugs in all of the above games. NWN, especially was bug free for me, and I played the release version on a XP1700 Compaq lappy with the original mobility Radeon 32Meg for over a year, albeit with low details and resolution. 😛
 
True, KOTOR was very linear compared to many other PC RPGs, but it still gave you a lot of options like which planet to go to first, and on each planet there are lots of quests that don't have to be completed in any order, or don't have to be completed at all.

A major difference between the two types would be the battle system. Every western RPG I've played are quite obviously D&D based, which is all centered around percentage. This means that attacks miss a lot, and you will often see the characters in a loop animation of attacking and missing. It just makes battles a lot less exciting to me. I like it when hits/spells almost always work, so there's very little randomness.
 
I like the fact that I have both style of RPGs available to me. That alone is a great thing. I like the fact that I can finish playing the latest Final Fantasy game only to play the latest Baldurs Gate game and get 2 completely different experiences. For this reason alone, I won't vote one way or the other.
 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
IMO, a lot of the 'bugs' I've seen people complain about in BG, PS:T, NWN, Morrowind, etc, were due to their system configuration and lack of general PC knowledge. I've experience only a few very minor bugs in all of the above games. NWN, especially was bug free for me, and I played the release version on a XP1700 Compaq lappy with the original mobility Radeon 32Meg for over a year, albeit with low details and resolution. 😛
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Morrowind was just plain buggy. I don't think anybody's system could run it without it crashing regularly.
 
Originally posted by: igowerf
Originally posted by: Bateluer
IMO, a lot of the 'bugs' I've seen people complain about in BG, PS:T, NWN, Morrowind, etc, were due to their system configuration and lack of general PC knowledge. I've experience only a few very minor bugs in all of the above games. NWN, especially was bug free for me, and I played the release version on a XP1700 Compaq lappy with the original mobility Radeon 32Meg for over a year, albeit with low details and resolution. 😛
Click to expand...

Morrowind was just plain buggy. I don't think anybody's system could run it without it crashing regularly.
Click to expand...

And I never had any problems with Morrowind on that laptop, or the Tbird 1Ghz desktop w/ GF3 TI200 system I had before that. I did, however, have serious problems with the 9600 Pro in my current desktop before I bought my 6800 GT. Morrowind does run without issues on my 9600 Pro Envy laptop though.
 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Originally posted by: igowerf
Originally posted by: Bateluer
IMO, a lot of the 'bugs' I've seen people complain about in BG, PS:T, NWN, Morrowind, etc, were due to their system configuration and lack of general PC knowledge. I've experience only a few very minor bugs in all of the above games. NWN, especially was bug free for me, and I played the release version on a XP1700 Compaq lappy with the original mobility Radeon 32Meg for over a year, albeit with low details and resolution. 😛
Click to expand...

Morrowind was just plain buggy. I don't think anybody's system could run it without it crashing regularly.
Click to expand...

And I never had any problems with Morrowind on that laptop, or the Tbird 1Ghz desktop w/ GF3 TI200 system I had before that. I did, however, have serious problems with the 9600 Pro in my current desktop before I bought my 6800 GT. Morrowind does run without issues on my 9600 Pro Envy laptop though.
Click to expand...

There are some issues that don't seem to be dependent on system though. For example, it's a known problem that sometimes while you're jumping around in that big stone city built on top of the water, you may fall through the ground.
 
Asian (mostly japanese) RPGs tend to have weird, sometimes nonsensical, storylines. So I'm gonna vote western.
 
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