Joystiq publishes a story about every thirty minutes. While you wait for the next post to appear on the site, you can constantly hit F5 and click on every single ad you see ... or, you can play Synopsis Quest. Broken up into 25 micro-games, Synopsis Quest reduces the quintessential elements of every JRPG, from character creation, to finding a princess, to escaping a prison, and more.
The solution to many of the puzzles won't be immediately apparent, unless you've been trained to recognize JRPG conventions. In many situations, doing what you're "supposed" to do will lead to disastrous results. Think outside of the box, and you'll be able to beat an RPG -- from beginning to end -- in about ten minutes. Good luck!
[Via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]
Reader Comments (44)
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:03PM ArtificeDrake formerly known as said
THANK YOU :D
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 10:50PM PhilipJWitow said
This game is AWESOME and I loved figuring out how to do things the RPG way.
I loved the way the way you have to enter the "good castle" and the way you enter the "evil castle." It's so true. :)
Reply
I loved the way the way you have to enter the "good castle" and the way you enter the "evil castle." It's so true. :)
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:09PM I am a machineee said
Where can I find spoilers/ which games are nodded to?
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:23PM JohnAHD said
LOOOLLL hit F5 and click on every ad.
love you joystiq, whenever Im really bored Ill do that for you :)
love you joystiq, whenever Im really bored Ill do that for you :)
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 9:19PM (Unverified) said
Isn't clicking every ad against your advertisers policy? Where can we report you?
Reply
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:23PM Rhamsey said
Sounds like a cool idea. I'll test it out after I watch Chuck.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 9:28PM (Unverified) said
Its not that i don't like people that watch chuck. Its that i don't like people who like people who watch chuck.
Reply
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 10:08PM Morisato13 said
What's with all the Chuck hate? Is it because HIMYM is just that much better?
Reply
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 11:53PM Morisato13 said
HEY! When you learn to respect yourself, you are forced to respect others... and who wants to do that?
Reply
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:29PM Ashkental said
My friend and I beat that yesterday.
GOTY material right there.
GOTY material right there.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:30PM (Unverified) said
Is the last level impossible? I can't figure it out.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k184/GameDude04/gameoverlastlevel.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k184/GameDude04/gameoverlastlevel.jpg
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:38PM technoKyle said
***SPOILERS***
You have to do something on the fourth screen.
Reply
You have to do something on the fourth screen.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:51PM SpaceSpace said
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:30PM Dr Acula said
Skipmore creates another timeless masterpiece.
GOTY:AY.
GOTY:AY.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:31PM NickAVV said
That was an awesome use of my time! :D
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:32PM Xoonaka said
What if you only have, say... 30 seconds?! What then?!!?
...oh... wait.... http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/spend-a-few-minutes-with-this-half-minute-hero-trailer/
...oh... wait.... http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/spend-a-few-minutes-with-this-half-minute-hero-trailer/
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:39PM technoKyle said
That was great. Number 21 made me laugh loads.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:48PM Courtney said
Ha, a couple of those actually got me to laugh, particularly the princess and "Act Like a Hero" stages. I miss the old JRPGs, what they've gained in polish they've lost in charm. Been watching my kid play FFXIII, and it's just not really something I feel a need to play.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 7:50PM Diodax said
The "Act Like a Hero" one made me chuckle.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 8:37PM Cypher FDP said
You spoiled a puzzle.
Sort of.
Sort of.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 8:42PM DjiegoMoz said
I cant find the sunken treasure... help T_T
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:11AM Puertoricarious said
yeah, i can't get this one either, and i've gotten all the ones before it on my first try.
bah.
Reply
bah.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 9:06PM (Unverified) said
Best twenty minutes spent all day.
Wait, it should only take ten?
Wait, it should only take ten?
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 9:10PM FentonAlpha said
I can tolerate a lot of things.... i consider myself open minded.... I play some seriously odd / hardcore / niche games....
But this was just boring.
I can dig a lot of things but i can't dig this.
But this was just boring.
I can dig a lot of things but i can't dig this.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 9:41PM Chichok said
I can't solve the middle one D: Where is that blasted sunken treasure?!
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 9:45PM Abob Lyndsae said
That was cute, though a bit too short and easy.
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 10:00PM Funkmaster General said
It does my heart good to see the Joystiq community coming together and enjoy something.
*sniffle*
*sniffle*
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 10:25PM (Unverified) said
That was fun!
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 10:53PM EvoHelix said
Of COURSE that's how you talk to the princess!
Posted: Apr 7th 2010 11:36PM sonicspike41 said
Pretty cool. Had a ton of trouble with the sunken treasure level but I was... well, I won't ruin it for anyone who hasn't tried it, but I feel stupid now, haha.
I also just beat Fairune, which actually did challenge me to think outside the box a bit more than this game did, but both were really fun.
It'd be cool if we could get more games like this on consoles. I plan to buy 3D Dot Game Heroes when it releases, but more would still be appreciated.
I also just beat Fairune, which actually did challenge me to think outside the box a bit more than this game did, but both were really fun.
It'd be cool if we could get more games like this on consoles. I plan to buy 3D Dot Game Heroes when it releases, but more would still be appreciated.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 1:11AM (Unverified) said
God damn what a dull game!
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 1:18AM (Unverified) said
The controls are awful.
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 2:16AM Puertoricarious said
this is amazing. "act like a hero" for the win!
Posted: Apr 8th 2010 10:04AM Brother Unit No 4 said
The sunken treasure probably took me the longest. After multiple failed attempts at diving, I decided that there had to be a signal that marks the spot.
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM







