Chronology Of Console Role-Playing Games

A console role-playing game is a video game that resembles authentic and traditional role-playing games. The modern world of role-playing games has a long history starting from the 1980s. As a result, Role-playing games have gone through many stages of development.

Origins aka their roots

Console role-playing games were developed in the 1980s. During this time, we saw the launch of Rogue, the first actual dungeon crawl game. Other console role-playing games during this time were the Dragon Buster and Tower of Druaga. Then, in 1986, Chunsoft developed the Dragon quest. The streamlined gameplay of Dragon Quest meant that it was more accessible to wider audiences.

The game put a lot of emphasis on story-telling and emotional involvement. However, it also featured significant themes that, even today, are found in most console role-playing games. In addition, it contained significant quests that were interwoven with several sub-quests.

Another release during this time was the action console role-playing game, Deadly Towers and Rygar. They were the first Japanese console role-playing games released in North America.

Evolution during the late 1980s

By the late 1980s, the Atlus company abandoned traditional sword fighting. They did this in favor of modern science fiction settings and themes of horror. It also introduced a monster-catching person with its demon summoning system. This allowed the player to recruit enemies into their group or party. This was done through a system that would give the player a choice of whether to kill or spare the enemy. Moreover, it allowed one to engage with the opponent and converse with them.

Phantasy Star, published by Sega, would set some console role-playing gaming conventions. It included a plot for revenge and combined sci-fi and fantasy. Thus making it highly unique. Each character had a backstory, and the game featured the first female protagonist.

The Magic of Scheherazade was another breakout console role-playing game that featured a unique setting based on Arabian Nights and used the concept of time traveling. Finally, Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest involved an upgrade on its previous model. It introduced the day-night cycle and used three different locations.

In 1988, Dragon Quest III introduced a character progression system that allowed the player to change the party’s character classes during the duration of the game. It also allowed to keep the character’s statistics, and skills previously earned. This was a great innovation in console role-playing games and would forever shape the future of console role-playing games.

The Golden Age of Console role-playing games

The golden age of console role-playing games started in the late 1990s. Console role-playing games distinguished themselves from computer-based role-playing games. The console role-playing game became more based on a story and provided an immersive experience to the players.

Most American console role-playing game characters lacked character and purpose. At the same time, their Japanese counterparts were full of life and groundbreaking in several ways. They were more action-packed and fast-paced. During the 1990s, console role-playing games became very popular and influenced computer-based role-playing games.

From the mid to the late 1990s, the breakthrough made in this sector was using 3D computer graphics and optical disks in fifth-generational consoles. This meant a considerable improvement for console role-playing games. The quests were more extended, better audio was used, and a full-motion video was used.

Conclusion

Console role-playing has reached its peak popularity with the dawn of the new millennium. Today’s technology has progressed, which is why huge advancements have been made in the world of console role-playing games. It is a genre that is both familiar and constantly evolving, even today. The best games today contain all the essential ingredients. Thus, masterfully combining combat, memorable characters, and a gripping storyline.