Story-based RPG

>story-based RPG
>the protagonist is as bland as possible, so that you can project yourself on him
Is there a worse game design trend?

Silent protagonists

moral choices are objectivelly the worst trend

>pov video
>silent protagonist
Is there a better porn trend?

Silent protags can work in games like Zelda, where the game isn't story based

Yes there is.
>You have to make the protagonist understand something you already know so he can agree with doing actions he otherwise wouldn't or find items he wouldn't care for.
>There's an in-game way to time-travel but the main character still fucking needs you to point everything out most of the time even if it's already been done.

Fucking hated and loved that VN.
Wish I remembered the name, It's probably buried in my PC somewhere.

This, it feels so awkward. I would take that bland Shepard any day over this shit.

>so that you can project yourself on him

That's the point user, it's an RPG so you make the character how you want them to be.

I've heard SOME SHIT with what kind of characters people have been in Fallout NV.

Over explaining shit as if your audience is full of fruit flies with an attention span of less than half a second.

but your audience is all of those things

quit playing faggy weeb shit m8 since that is the standard ass story telling trope for them ya queer.

> we want the console audience

To be honest in most cases I prefer bland main characters since most of the time they make personalities to strong and it gets fucking annoying. You know, if you find a character annoying you can usually just try and force yourself past their scenes, but a main character will always be there center stage.

But this is entirely about story-based RPGs.

I like the times when the strong main character personality is entertaining.

>story-based RPG
>the protagonist is as bland as possible, so that you can project yourself on him
>they turn out to be a complete psycho and start disobeying your inputs

True. That is wonderful, but more often than not the strong personalities end up being annoying as fuck.

DMC is a good example of how it can both benefit and be detrimental.

Dante, great fun and adds a lot of personality.
Donte, almost ruins the game more than the actual gameplay does.

What game?

the "i'll explain everything in scientific terms, have the protag say 'come again?' and then dumb it down for the player" trope

MGS3 did it well cause I saw a good example yesterday, but alot of games assume the player will not understand and treat you like you are 5.

>bland, worst?
I think silent protag probably trumps that one.

It's definitely a move that can make or break the game. I just came off fresh from finishing Trails in the Sky and I really enjoyed the main character, hell, I liked most of the characterization in general.

Dante succeed because Vergil is the best you could get to an asshole older brother
DMC3 instill a sense of competitiveness that not many other game was able to

>Is there a worse game design trend?
RPGs where you play as a established character instead of being allowed to create your own.

>Geralt, character fleshed out by the story with no option to impose yourself on him has amnesia
The amnesia meme is already retarded on traditional RPG's, there's absolutely no reason for Geralt to have it as well.

The way Vergil is characterized is so strange. He's the "edgy" katana wielding villain but he's just on a darker path on wanting to become stronger after failing to protect his mother. Plus his nasally as fuck nerdvoice that strangely comes off as charming.

Plus he was voiced by the best Red Ranger.

YU-NO?

It's a way to conceptualize the fact that most people haven't read the books and it would be silly for him to question everything that is happening.