Gotta Catch’em All!

The only difference between Pokemon and the mechanics of every table top game I’ve ever played is that instead of rolling dice, I repeatedly smash the A button. As much as the games may be shunned, at heart is a tried and true RPG. In essence every Pokemon game plays as such gather better pokemon, level them up, and knock out everything that moves. As opposed to an RPG game, get better equipment, become more powerful, kill everything that moves. The differences are astounding!

Pika? Pi? – So I heard you like Pikachu?

I think reader Will is rather astute, I think he knew at about this time I’d be going a bit crazy from working to hard, and preparing for my wedding on March 28th.  So he decided he’d throw me a bone and have me write about Pokemon.  The problem is it’s not that I can’t relate it to gaming it’s I don’t know what I want to say about it.  It is a  GAME.  The problem with it’s game type is that it’s single player level grinding.  For a table top equivalent it’s like controlling the entire party, and the encounter.  Then playing out every battle until you level to 30.  It’s not that I dislike Pokemon, it is in essence a good game.  Just not one I’d play more then once.

Charmander, Char! – Why do we play these games?

It’s tough to say why I enjoy RPGs on consoles or on the computer.  Final Fantasy 6 (That’s 3 to everyone here in the states) was my first real introduction to RPGs.  It hooked me in, drew me into a world of good vs evil, man vs magic, and the fight to save the world.  Well, what was left in it.  The first game I really got into though was Secret of Mana.  I used to act out scenes with my friends on the playground.  We’d spin our own stories and continue the plot well past when it was supposed to be done.  Little did I know it was my first real roleplaying experience.

Koffing! – Wait, where was I going with this?

While games like this did spur me into a love of roleplaying and RPGs in general Pokemon fails to excite me.  Maybe it’s the thin story line, or repetitive game mechanics that just end the end doesn’t do much for me.  Some kids though, much like me with Secret of Mana act out entire episodes and the game excites their imagination.  Those kids are likely growing up as gamers and roleplayers.  We all go to start some where right?

What got you into roleplaying?  Video games or otherwise?