The RPG 'Battle Chasers: Nightwar' has finally officially launched on Linux

Are randomly-generated dungeons really such a great feature that they deserve double entries in the feature list? The game looks beautiful, but I can't think of a "console RPG great" that's based on random dungeons instead of a properly designed game world. I guess the inspiration is limited to style of art and some details of gameplay, leaving out the best bits like proper story progression and world building.

I hope a full review disproves my first impressions.

Quoting: tuubiAre randomly-generated dungeons really such a great feature that they deserve double entries in the feature list? The game looks beautiful, but I can't think of a "console RPG great" that's based on random dungeons instead of a properly designed game world. I guess the inspiration is limited to style of art and some details of gameplay, leaving out the best bits like proper story progression and world building.

I hope a full review disproves my first impressions.

Story isn't half bad. Even setup for a sequel.

Game play is classic turn based JRPG style combat.

Replay value is one more round with New Game+.

Is this a real RPG, or is it just an adventure game with stats?

And by "real RPG", I mean does it have actual choices and consequences that affect individual quests and the overall story? Or does it offer typical JRPG "choices", as in no choice at all?

"Do you want to rescue my uncle?"

>No

"Ha ha! You're a such a joker. Of course you want to rescue him. Let's go!"

What is a "JRPG"?

Quoting: Mountain ManIs this a real RPG, or is it just an adventure game with stats?

And by "real RPG", I mean does it have actual choices and consequences that affect individual quests and the overall story? Or does it offer typical JRPG "choices", as in no choice at all?

"Do you want to rescue my uncle?"

>No

"Ha ha! You're a such a joker. Of course you want to rescue him. Let's go!"

This I don't actually care about. I'm fine with a fairly linear story as long as it's interesting. And yes, it can still be a "real" RPG in the computer game sense even if you can't do absolutely anything you want and in any order you please. The line between RPG and adventure has always been vague.

Quoting: someg33zerWhat is a "JRPG"?

Japanese-style RPG, as in Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, the Tales series etc. It's a commonly used term.


Last edited by tuubi on 29 May 2018 at 2:02 pm UTC

Quoting: someg33zerWhat is a "JRPG"?

Japanese RPG. Or at least in the style of one.

Quoting: tuubi

Quoting: Mountain ManIs this a real RPG, or is it just an adventure game with stats?

And by "real RPG", I mean does it have actual choices and consequences that affect individual quests and the overall story? Or does it offer typical JRPG "choices", as in no choice at all?

"Do you want to rescue my uncle?"

>No

"Ha ha! You're a such a joker. Of course you want to rescue him. Let's go!"

...The line between RPG and adventure has always been vague.

Not really. I think Warren Spector put it best: An RPG is any game where you can change if not the outcome of the story then at least the way it is told.

Or as someone from BioWare once said, "Just because you put a 'J' in front of it doesn't make it an RPG."

The only JRPG I can think of off the top of my head that I would classify as a real RPG is ChronoTrigger. It has something like 16 different endings that depend on what decisions you make on your adventure, and in one case, you have the choice of either killing an antagonist, or sparing his life and asking him to join your party.


Last edited by Mountain Man on 29 May 2018 at 4:57 pm UTC

Quoting: Mountain Man

Quoting: tuubi

Quoting: Mountain ManIs this a real RPG, or is it just an adventure game with stats?

And by "real RPG", I mean does it have actual choices and consequences that affect individual quests and the overall story? Or does it offer typical JRPG "choices", as in no choice at all?

"Do you want to rescue my uncle?"

>No

"Ha ha! You're a such a joker. Of course you want to rescue him. Let's go!"

...The line between RPG and adventure has always been vague.

Not really. I think Warren Spector put it best: An RPG is any game where you can change if not the outcome of the story then at least the way it is told.

So, if an adventure game has lots of choices and different endings, it's suddently an RPG? Personally I'm fine with vague genre definitions, because otherwise we end up with nothing but clones and slight variations, and a gazillion niche genres consisting of three games or so.

Quoting: Mountain ManOr as someone from BioWare once said, "Just because you put a 'J' in front of it doesn't make it an RPG."

Yes, he stated the obvious. Well done him.

Quoting: Mountain ManThe only JRPG I can think of off the top of my head that I would classify as a real RPG is ChronoTrigger.

It's a great game, but not the only JRPG with choices and consequences.



BTW, is this déjà vu or did we already have this conversation a few months ago?

Quoting: tuubiSo, if an adventure game has lots of choices and different endings, it's suddenly an RPG?

How would you define an adventure game vs RPG game ? I think that most of the time people mistake RPG with D&D.
So for a game to be a RPG you need to have lots of stats for your character / party.

The way I classify my games an "ARPG" is not a RPG but an action game. And adventure game without any stats but as you said with lots of choices and different endings is a RPG.

But I come for the tabletop RPG world, and I've seen a lot more than D&D so maybe my definition is very personal.

On Steam at £9.99 this weekend so I've picked it up. Played about 3 hours so far and am very impressed at what is probably my first 'RPG' of this genre. Graphics are gorgeous and the mechanics seem easy to understand at the moment.

One strange thing is that I was originally intending to play with my Logitech F710 but could not successfully redefine the left stick and D-pad via Steam. For some reason left-stick up still produced the D-pad up action.

Still, it seems easier to play with keyboard and mouse anyway :-)