Opinion Fest 2009: Most Innovative

Many critics of the RPG genre like to complain that the RPG formula (especially the JRPG formula) has become stale and outdated. Though this criticism may hold true for some games, it is my experience that many developers are constantly trying to refine and innovate within the genre. The Most Innovative award seeks to recognize those games that rocked the boat the most this year. Even if the games themselves aren't as highly venerated as other, more pedestrian titles, these games will build stepping stones for more creative content in titles to come.

Honorable Mention: Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story – Alphadream, Nintendo – Nintendo DS

Mario & Luigi 3 takes ideas from its predecessor and expands on them to create a truly enjoyable little title that utilizes the DS in almost every capacity. From blowing fire with the mic, tapping the touchscreen to execute special attacks, and timing different button presses to knock things back and forth, Bowser’s Inside Story is a title that proves that Nintendo is still finding new things for the DS to do, even in a relatively stiff genre, like RPGs.

3rd: Half-Minute Hero – Opus, XSEED – PSP

The demon lord is planning to destroy the world, the princess has been kidnapped, and the fate of humanity rests on your shoulders alone. Sure, the plot of Half-Minute Hero sounds like about as cookie-cutter as you can get; why does it deserve an award for Most Innovative?

Well, take that basic concept, and then squeeze it – and just about every other classic JRPG cliché you can think of – into 30 seconds, and you suddenly have something so different, no one else has ever done it! Not to mention that saving the world in 30 seconds gives gamers with less time on their hands something interesting to do on a quick break. ;)

2nd: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes – Capybara, Ubisoft – Nintendo DS

The Kingdoms of the world are on the brink of war as an army of demons threatens the world with destruction. With all the legendary heroes slain in a surprise attack, the next generation of the champions of justice have only one choice: match up three 16-bit sprites of the same colour so they can charge up a few turns and hopefully get to the top of their opponent’s puzzle screen. Obviously.

Clash of Heroes combines linear RPG storytelling with unit-based puzzle combat that extends beyond Puzzle Quest’s “match up coloured gems” for something that feels incredibly fresh, and manages to stay interesting both in and out of battle.

1st: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers – Square Enix – Nintendo Wii

By now, waggle controls are old news. Most core gamers are tired of and maybe even a little vexed by the term “motion controls,” mainly due to the seemingly constant stream of waggle-based mini-game compilations.

But what if there was an RPG with high production values, a legitimate storyline, and motion controls that were actually made for the title, and not just tacked on? That is what Square Enix set out to do with The Crystal Bearers, and while it not be as epic as the upcoming FFXIII, its clever and meaningful utilization of the Wiimote to do everything from butt-battling to throwing huge boulders at monsters stands as a testament to legitimate motion-controlled RPGaming.

Opinion Fest 2008: Most Innovative

Though many reviewers demand the next great thing out of everything they play (hey, I’m sure it’s a tough job to play video games all day), reinventing the wheel is not always the best way to go about game design. Sometimes tried and true methods with a new coat of paint are all a game needs to sell itself (see Fallout 3). The games that win the Most Innovative Award, however, are games that do dare to be different; to rise to the challenge of pushing the genre in new directions.

These games may not be the most popular, but they have done a lot for the RPG genre in 2008.

3rd: AWAY: Shuffle Dungeon – Mistwalker, Artoon, Majesco – Nintendo DS

Though maybe not as robust as some other RPGs this year, Mistwalker and Artoon’s AWAY forces you to look at the dungeons you explore in a different light. “If I step over there, then I have to make sure I grab that before the shuffle…” is not an uncommon thought. Mixing basic top-down action-role-playing with the thought required of a puzzler, AWAY is a refreshingly new approach to a classic formula, even if it borders on “smash your DS with a hammer” frustrating.

2nd: The Last Remnant – Square Enix – Xbox 360

Some of you may remember that one of my fist reactions to The Last Remnant’s gameplay was “…wtf did I just watch?” And its true. Just watching someone play the game will do little besides raise an eyebrow. Playing the game, however, becomes very intuitive very quickly, and within an hour or so, you’ll wonder what you were confused about at all.

Combining strategy and turn-based fights into a single, massive entity, The Last Remnant was one of the first games that actually made me feel like I was commanding an army, and several times I actually found myself yelling at the soldiers on my TV screen. “Dodge that! What’s wrong with you?!”

1st: Infinite Undiscovery – tri-Ace, Square Enix – Xbox 360

Infinite Undiscovery, despite its shortcomings, propels the Japanese take on action-RPGs ahead by light years. From the battle system that can have up to 18 of your allies slugging it out at once, to environmental hazards like rockslides and wind storms, Undiscovery delivers some of the most chaotic and intense battles ever seen in an RPG to date (even on easy mode!). But that’s just where the game starts. Throw in emotional connections and changing personalities that affect your party’s skills, and an interesting Connect Action system that affects which characters you want on your party, and you have a game with some really forward thinking going on. Oh, did I also mention you can control catapults? Because you can.

Love it or hate it, Infinite Undiscovery rethinks the traditional JRPG formula on nearly every side, and is more deserving than any title of the most innovative RPG of 2008.