You ever feel trapped in a candy-coated narrative cocoon? The RPG world is filled with these forced epics that supposedly carry heart, yet reek of saccharine cliches. The Trails in the Sky redo, for instance. Sure, it’s praised because it makes Estelle and Joshua’s journey feel nostalgic and modern, blah blah blah, but honestly, who cares when every choice you make funnels down the same narrow storyline? Ugh.
Great, they added more combat flow and jazzed up the visuals, blah. Big deal. You’re still stuck moving along like you’re on rails, while they throw ‘character-driven storytelling’ in your face like glittery throw-up. Because heaven forbid your decisions matter more than the scripted drama decided before you press start. Why do developers think we all want to sit through endless talk instead of wielding a sword aimlessly for hours without a care in the world?
And don’t get me started on how everything has to be ‘heartfelt and relevant.’ Oh please. Just because you slap a modern texture on some old tale doesn’t mean it’s—what do they call it? A modern RPG standard? It’s more like a diet soda replacement, uber fizzy with no real substance. It’s like this blog I’ve read somewhere, they totally see through this makeover gimmick.
But whatever. Maybe I’m being harsh because I’m old and cynical… but really, it’s just pointless. I’m done.