Mannyman

This would be a good time to throw in a Game Dev Story joke...

How about a Baseball Action RPG, or a Mini-skirt Racing game? Anyone?

And that my firends, was 64 minutes well spent. LOL

If you think Gamestop is agressive as it is pushing preorders on customers, just wait until they start pushing this!

@baby sea tuna
I'd have to disagree... the NES version of Double Dragon 2: The Revenge would easily get $5 out of me, and I think it's the best in the series. Probably even $10 if it's a good port with proper online support. It's one of my favorite NES games, and one of the best brawlers of all time.

@PR0F3TA

Hell yeah they were fun! Reader Rabbit, Oregon Trail, Mario Teaches Typing were all games I grew up with and were a lot of fun to play. Don't get me started talking about Carmen Sandiego, the damn game tricked me into reading encyclopedias for hours! There's probably still a market for it, if someone steps up.

I admit that it's crazy to say, but I think there actually might be some potential for Microsoft or another publisher to release educational software for the Xbox 360. Or as they used to say back in the day, "edutainment".

@KillaPat

Sure I agree with what you are saying about FF 13, but I'm talking about the bigger picture as far as how modern games in general are critiqued. Also, I must argue that FF6, FF7, and CT mostly play the same way. In FF6/FF7/CT you have to do very specific events in their respective order to advance and the path you take is generally the same every time. Toward the end of the games the optional quests open up and you can complete them or head on to the final boss, but other than that story advancement is the same. Nowadays, people expect more than that and tend to lower their grade in such cases. My point is that too many people complain about not having enough control about character and story choices, which could ultimately influence the direction of new RPGs. See games like Oblivion, Fable, Fallout, Mass Effect... Of course, none of those games are JRPGs, but I just hope not too many devs steer away from the classic linear format to emulate what those successful franchises are doing. I'm not saying that these games aren't good or that there shouldn't be open design, I just think that linear design shouldn't be abandoned just because a lot of people (particularly new school gamers) frown upon it.

In the case of FF13, it should have at least had an overworld.

@Jawmuncher

I don't know why so many people these days complain about games being linear. Linear and open gameplay/story have their advantages and disadvantages. Personally I like linear because they can focus on developing characters in the way they want to portray them, and can pay off in the long run if it's a really good story.

Seriously, is there anyone other than me who can't see Chrono Trigger, FF6 or FF7 with an open storyline without them all being ruined???

@Sega Uranus

Whoa, nice way to bounce back with your response... Sorry I misunderstood your post as I did not see the joke in it, but I agree with you as far as most Square Enix RPGs (newer ones, especially). I haven't been a fan of most of Square's RPGs as of late, although I am playing FF XIII now and it has surpassed my expectations thus far.

Anyway, the point is, if someone out there is reading this and you don't normally play RPGs for one reason or another, make Chrono Trigger your first exception.

@Sega Uranus

I take it you've never played Chrono Trigger then. It is easily one of the best games ever made, and one of the best RPG's ever made (if not the best). It screams excellence in all development aspects (story, gameplay, music, and graphics) and has more replay value than any RPG I've ever played.

If you have never played Chrono Trigger, even if you are not a fan of RPG's, you are missing out. $15 for the DS version is a great opportunity to experience what is probably the best game on the SNES.