RPGs, a sprint or a marathon?
 

RPG's are normally rather long games. A modern rpg will generally try to cram in a good 10 hours or so minimum of storyline then you have side quests to do and character development and before you know it, it's three months later and you've still not finished the thing. The rather open-ended nature of most rpgs however means that people tend to play them at different speeds. I reckon there are three main types of rpg player, although most of us are probably a combination of a couple at least:

Some people will stick hard to the story, rushing from main objective to main objective, rarely deviating until it's done. They might do some levelling if they need to to beat a boss but generally, as little time as possible is wasted and they get the whole thing finished in the fastest possible time. They're not overly concerned with getting the ultimate weapons or building the best character, they just want to know what happens. People like this probably would only use an FAQ if they got stuck on one particular point. Either that or they'd use a walk through right from the off and follow it to the letter. We'll call these people the sprinters.

Some people like to power-game their way through. Always fighting the toughest possible monsters to maximise their level progression, these people want to build the most powerful character possible with all the best gear. This inevitably takes a while as the levelling up is time consuming and there are often intricate quests needed to get the best gear. I'm inclined to suggest that these people are the most likely to read message boards or FAQs before they start to play the game to find out how best to max out their character. By the time they finish the game, the last boss is largely pointless as their team is so hard it's just not a contest but for these players, it's not about beating the game, it's about kicking the living fuck out the game and standing triumphant over it's bloody corpse. I'm not sure there's a running analogy that fits this but we'll go with middle distance, like 800m. Focused, requires power and determination but takes a bit longer than pure sprinting. Actually, this kind of player might never even finish the game, prefering to just continually seek for something better to equip their character with, especially in the case of more Western, random loot drop type rpgs rather than jprgs which are more likely to have a "best" set of equipment.

Finally, there are people who just like to explore the game world and see everything it has to offer. Wondering aimlessly about, they'll take on every side quest possible and fight the same monsters over and over to see if they drop anything different the 200th time you kill them. Whilst their characters will eventually become powerful from all the killing and quest rewards, theirs will be a much slower advance as they're fighting more lower level enemies. Also they're more likely to experiment with different gear and skills before settling on what they like. This person will probably have a look at an FAQ later on in the game, to see if there's anything they missed. This person will probably take a long, long time to finish the game and might even never finish it at all, getting bored before the end. These are the marathon runners.

Of course these are just my idea but I think they fit quite well. I guess it's three different things you can get out of a game, the story (For sprinters), the combat system (For middle distance types) or the game world (For marathoners).

Personally, I tend to start games as a marathon runner, wandering aimlessly, doing as much as possible and not worrying about levelling up or what have you. With some games I'll later become more of a middle distance type when I realise that I've picked up a lot of the really decent gear and my team are pretty tough but by that point I've normally spent twice as long getting to my current level as a true power gamer would have. I also often don't finish rpgs because I get bored (And aren't ever that bothered by the story).

So what kind of rpg gamer are you? I started this thread after looking at the Sacred 2 leaderboards and on the lvl/kills board, I'm way, way down because I've killed thousands of monsters and not really levelled up much, having spent a good 50 odd hours to not quite finish off the elven region (The first of about 9 chapters I think). I'm just enjoying wandering around the place doing all teh silly little side quests and I'm really not bothered about creating some kind of uber-warrior, just so long as he's tough enough to not get killed I'm happy.

Used to be a sprinter. But I've become a marathoner once I could not devote gobs of time into story progression. Invariably I will have already defeated the super top-secret boss, have ultimate gear, and receive all upgrades, and at level 99, before I take on the final boss.

I draw the line at level 99. I don't attempt to get optimal stats in, say, Final Fantasy 7. I'd rather gameshark it than wander around that submarine... :tpg:

I suppose I'm a marathon runner lite. While I do plenty of aimless wandering and hunting for sidequests, it's rare that I become obsessive about them or rare drops. I just like to take my time exploring the game world, talking to everyone, searching out of the way nooks that look like they might yield treasure, that sort of thing. If I'm really enjoying a game then I'll go to an FAQ to see if I'm missing any important side stuff, especially things that offer deeper backstory into characters, but I never look past where I'm at in the game (intentionally, at least). It's that aimless wandering that keeps my backlog as large as it is, since I tend to finish RPGs at least 10-20 hours after most peoples' times.

Achievements are pushing me a bit more towards the middle distance type, though. Fallout 3 and Tales of Vesperia are the only 360 RPGs that I've gotten into enough to notice, but both have been played to far greater lengths of completion than I would usually even consider. Vesperia is a prime example, since I still think Tales of the Abyss was slightly better. How many times did I play Abyss? Once. How many times for Vesperia? I'm on my fourth run at the moment. Once through normally, once for speed run achievement, half-run for low-level achievement, half-run for completion before I deleted it in a half-asleep moment of stupidity, and another run for total completion that I'm nearing the end of. It's absolutely insane, yet I'm doing it. Still, I'll never be the type to read through an FAQ and ruin the game before starting it just to go for side stuff or achievements.

I also have an odd tendency to stop playing an RPG once I get near the end, either by accidentally discovering it through an FAQ or sensing from the story that the game is almost over. It can be annoying, but I just lose interest for some reason. Even if I'm really loving a game it can be a bit of a struggle to push past that desire to go play something else instead, which is the other reason why I have so many unfinished RPGs.

It depends on the game itself as to what I'll be like during the game. Dragon Quest VIII is a prime example of me being the "wandering aimlessly" type, gathering everything I could, getting all the best monsters for the Arena, boasting about big wins in the Casino, making the best items I could through alchemy and thoroughly beating the Epiloque quest. Dark Cloud 2 had this same sort of feel as well; the fishing, town reconstruction and modification, weapon building, etc.

In some of the more recent Westernized RPGs though, like Mass Effect, it's different. There aren't really any sidequests to speak of, at least none that take 3 or 4 hours to complete or can't be done alongside the main storyline. Mass Effect kinda makes the player sprint through, especially if you want to replay the game and use the opposite conversation choices.

I need to go back and replay Tales of Vesperia in a way that will maximize my party's fighting power and tackle every sidequest as they appear. That game was particularly terrible about having a sidequest pop up but nothing to alert you that one was available. I entirely missed out on the hot springs events and items because I didn't start the quest at the right time, and there was only one time to start it. >:(

Tritoch, that's almost exactly ho wI play rpgs these days.

Mass Effect did have a few side quests in that you could visit all the identi-kit planets and there were always a few people with odd tasks for you to do on the story planets. I never bother getting all my characters up to max level although I did near-max the team's stats in Last Remnant (So I could beat the Fallen, was a bit of an overkill frankly, he went down in about five turns) and I have an old Suikoden save game somewhere on a memory card where every single playable character in the castle is at least level 63, has the best armour available equipped and a fully sharpened weapon.

A thread on GameFAQs suggests that you can get through Sacred 2's story in about 8 hours. I've taken 50% to complete about 10% and I'm only level 30. Likewise it took me a good 15 hours to finish Too Human the first time (Not that it's really an rpg) since I spent a long time exploring every last nook and cranny and choosing gear and stuff, although once I was done with the story I powered my way to level 50.

Interesting question!

It all depends, for me, in how involved I get with the game's storyline. If it really sucks me in I'll tear through the game once in a sprint, trying to do everything as quickly as possible because I want to see how things will end up. I'll try to do sidequests and explore but won't worry about missing anything. Then, afterwards, I'll usually pick it up again for a more leisurely marathon playthrough if I really liked it.

Less involving games I tend to marathon, since that lets me concentrate on the meat n' potatoes of stats and such which comes to the fore in the absence of a really gripping story. I also space out my playtime more; lots of shorter sessions rather than a few gargantuan all-nighters. Even in this case, I usually won't go for 100% completion or the secret super-boss; I'd rather play a new game.

LOL. I tend to go for the middle distance. (See Valkyrie Profile. xD )

I also did similar in Dragon Warrior VII's Monster Park, its an optional sidequest, but man, does it really complete the whole damn game.

But yeah, I find myself saving time by reading a BUNNNNNCH before I dive into a rpg. I find it easier to plan ahead classes, purchases, and when to AND NOT to take quests. Mostly to minimize my time or/and need to either power-level or equip my party correctly. See I used to be a marathon runner until I realized how huge my backlog was and decided to fuck all and "to finish" some damn games.

I couldn't be arsed to miss out on some great game because I'm backlogged with these rpgs (that are ALSO great too). Like for an example, lets say I finally get around to play Valkyria Chronicles but then The Last Guardian is released. Oh yeah, I put that off for those short games and their awesome experience.

Only during gaming's serious seasonal downtimes I'd tend to play some rpgs. That I had noticed.

The last game I somewhat did a marathon in was Opoona, its enjoyable to run about in. :D There's no guide or a FAQ for this when it first released and I found the experience in playing this very memorable. I try to push myself to enjoy more rpgs this way. I'd do so early on, and if its turning completely left field (boring) I'd go for the middle distance.

Also, Valkyrie Profile I had replayed several times, hence the middle distance, not because it was boring. ;)

Middle line here. Sometimes I go for the extra stuff, others just to complete the storyline. Invested a TON of time playing Rogue Galaxy due to fun factor; Star Ocean 4 due to its battle system (about 200+ hours in basically); Disgaea also a fuck ton and Valkyrie Profile to name a few. I marathoned Ar Tonelico however, just to get it over with.

But yeah, I finish RPGs in 2 months after I start them, and this is playing at least everyday.

Not to really dodge the question, but I'm somewhere in between the two, though I might be closer to the marathon runner rather than the sprinter, depending on your definition.

Assuming we're talking about the RPGs that I play (JRPGs to be specific), most of the games last me between 35 hours and 60 hours. Given the definition, I'm probably not a sprinter, but I don't consider myself someone who sets out to discover every nook and cranny the first time through. Unless absolutely pressed, I refuse to look up GameFAQs or any other guide for an RPG on my first pass through it, because from experience, it drains the fun out of RPGs for me. Rather, on any given playthrough of a game, should the game make any mention of a side quest or optional area, I typically go and do the side stuff before continuing. On the other hand, if the game makes no reference to the side area, then, unless I stumble onto it by accident, I won't do it.

To support this with some concrete examples, I'll use Final Fantasy VI.

After you get Setzer back in the World of Ruin, you could always just fly straight to Kefka's Tower and proceed to the final boss as the main story allowed you to do. But if my memory's not too fuzzy, you'll also run into a scene with the party on the airship running by with a carrier pidgeon, which ends up leading you from one place to another eventually to reunite with Cyan. This is what I consider an example where the game hints at a side quest that you can choose to do or not. This is the kind I would generally do on my first pass through the game.

An example of something not hinted at would be to bring Mog through the Lete River or the Serpent Trench to learn Water Rondo, the only dance that is learn-able strictly in the World of Balance. This is the kind I would be likely to skip on my first pass through a game.

Assuming I am playing a RPG game that actually has storyline, I will end up running through the game for the story. Meaning: Finish the game ASAP to know the main storyline. If it tends to have side-story lines that affects the game (character, main story, etc, good example here is Star Ocean's character quests) I will tend to do as much as possible.

While I will do those stuff, I will probably never do those "secret boss"
or "secret dungeon" (Valkyrie Profile anyone? Ug, that was so annoying since I sucked at that game) unless it links/affects the characters/storyline.


At the same time, I end up having huge problem since I always want rares, not those common weapons you can buy from shops.

If this actually occures (and this occures almost 100%), I will end up using cheat device to get end-game weapon while my clock will say "Played "0:05"

I would absolutely consider myself a marathon runner when it comes to playing rpg's.

I've always been the type of person, that wants to experience everything an rpg has to offer. It is not surprising that some of the rpg's I invest time in can go upwards to 100 to 200+ hours. I guess I'm the type of player that once I play an rpg and do everything in that rpg especially secret bosses and secret dungeons I never want to touch that rpg again.

I have a tremendous amount of rpg's that I haven't played even back to the snes days. I've actually been concentrating the majority of my time playing rpg's for older consoles instead of the current generation of consoles even though on the scatter occasion I will play something on the PS3.

The way I look at it is that playing my collection of video games will be what my retirement will consist of, in the meantime I will continue to do everything I can in every rpg I play within a certain extreme. I'm not one for gridning but I always prefer to finish every side-quest, get every skill, finish collection lists, monster itineraries or anything else along those lines.

I know one of the hardest rpg series to complete everything is the star ocean series. Especially with its item creation and multiple endings. Its a challenge I look forward to.

I second this opinion. It botheres me the fact I have to re-play the whole game and meet the minimum requirement for Ending A, or Ending B, or Ending C, etc. That's just too much, but from my personal view, it forces the player to choose option he/she previously didn't. I can always look forward to the endings, because even though you know the ending will be predictable, it really isn't. And once you get the ending you want, it really feels great. Even if the ending really sucked.

Heavily favor the power-gaming, min/maxer style of play personally. Nothing bothers me more than getting half through a game and then realizing that I missed some huge thing, didn't get some great item, or leveled my characters in some half-assed way. That has caused many restarts or abandonments in the past, which also leads me to be the type that leaves a huge string of saves at strategic points in the game. (Mass Effect ended up with ~30)

However, my style also comes with a bit of what you've called the marathoner, in that I get everything. Although, for me, I'd call it more completionist. I rarely wander, or if I do, its usually only when I know I can't permanently miss things.

Like Meia, I spend a lot of time pre-game reading about the system, exploitable holes, and any big gotchas in the plot. For example, in Oblivion, I'm the type that custom made a class so I could get +5/+5/+5 stats each level, and then sat around punching rats to ensure it. Unfortunately, I don't like grinding, I just dislike being weak even moreso.

This style tends to make me lackluster about moving the story, as I get so distracted with leveling, finding secrets, and getting everything, that I forget what was actually happening in the game. I'll often have to read up just to remember where I was supposed to go. In some ways, this actually makes me more of a fan of classic SNES RPGs, as there just wasn't the huge quantity of extra stuff to do, and I could play the game without the constant worry that I was missing things.

From a completionist standpoint, one of my favorite systems ever was Chrono Trigger, as once you had finished it once, you could then cruise through the game with nearly invincible characters, beating it whenever you felt like it, and experiencing tons of permutations of the plot at your leisure. Genius.

I used to just sprint through them, BARELY beating the game at maybe level 50 or something. I seem to remember level 54 being my standard winning-the-game level. But now I tend to also do the start out at a marathon, figure out I don't have the patience and just work to finish the game.

Frankly, I'm trying to get back into finishing them quicker so I can enjoy the story and the game more and then decide to come back to it if I liked it enough. I just don't have the time or endurance to be a completionist >_>

It really depends on the game. I used to make sure I finish everything I started regardless if I thought the story was weak or lame. Now I only finish what I actually enjoy, and as I said it depends on the game if I spend time leveling up or do sidequests. Examples would be Final Fantasy XII and Tales of Vesperia. I found FFXII to be rather bland and boring aside from the pretty cutscenes. The story was interesting enough but the battle and leveling up system just didn't do it for me. So I went through the game leveling only when I had to and staying focused mainly on the story. Tales of Vesperia was different, I actually played 1/3 through and then started over completly just because I thought I missed something. I spent hours just doing battles and leveling up my skills before advancing the story. To this day that is the only game that I achieved over 80% of the achievements. So for me it doesnt depend just on the story, but rather if the gameplay and interface are appealing to me.

I'd have to say I'm a marathon runner. When I beat a game I really have to beat everything the game has to offer, but take my time so I can also enjoy it. I can't stand beating a game and feeling like I rushed through it. Of course once I'm done completing all the quests and bonus material, then I start trying to max out my characters.

Depends on the game and the platform. Handhelds, I can sprint because I can play them while I travel or while there's downtime at work, plus they're generally shorter. TV stuff and PC games, though, tend to take way longer, because I play them more sporadically. Like, I think it took me a year to beat Xenogears the first time, back in the day.

See, I tend to get every item in the game, all the secret characters and take down the secret bosses. I sometimes max out characters, but its rarely my end goal. I do it because I want to make sure i haven't missed a single ounce of the story, so I guess I'm sprinting through a long distance run?

Maybe. Fuck you and your metaphors, English.

That's just OCD mate, I don't think there's an Olympic event for that yet.

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I start out with the ambitions of a mid-distance runner and end up sodding it off and sprinting for most of the game until I reach a point where it would be much easier to progress had I bothered to do side quests for items/gear/summons etc. At this point I fuck off that first game entirely and start again as a marathon runner, although I keep an FAQ handy from the start to make sure I don't miss anything (I remember being eternally frustrated at how apparently well I'd done in FFXII only to discover I was missing about 10 espers by the time I got to Giruvagen, especially since I'd kept up my middle-distance 1337 warriors and leveled up countless times, practically completing everyone's LP boards >8( ).