Feature: The paradigm shift within modern RPGs

The roleplaying game landscape has seen little change throughout the lifespan of the video game industry. Even now, 23 years after Dragon Quest/Warrior launched in Japan for the Nintendo Entertainment System, we are still sharpening our blades and readying our shields in preparation for a dragon onslaught. And while the taste of Dragon Age: Origins is still fresh in our mouths, I thought I would take some time to analyze how the RPG landscape is beginning to embrace change.

The RPG genre hasn't always been one that has been on the pinnacle of change. For many years and a few console generations, RPGs were restricted to mostly turn-based combat within a random battle system. For years, no matter which RPG you played, they all felt familiar.

And just like the mechanics mirrored each other, so did the content. Few games opted out of the medieval fantasy look, namely Sega's Phantasy Star series, which launched on Dec. 20, 1987 for the Sega Master System.

Combining medieval fantasy with science fantasy, Phantasy Star helped to show gamers that RPGs didn't have to follow the same conventions that Tolkien and Gygax had previously established. However, to be completely fair, it was actually Atlus' Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei who was the father of science fantasy RPGs.

Combat stayed relatively unchallenged until Square's Final Fantasy IV pioneered the active time battle system. But despite the changes to gameplay, medieval fantasy remained the prominent source material for most of the games. Of course, this all changed when Cloud and Sephiroth became notable names in the industry.

Final Fantasy VII shook off the medieval chains of its predecessors and introduced players to a world with modern and futuristic conventions. While Final Fantasy VI teased gamers with the idea — adding steampunk elements into the narrative — it wasn't until FFVII when gamers really felt a shift in the series' narration. With the exceptions of IX and XI, the landscape of Final Fantasy had fully changed from medieval fantasy to science fantasy. Even the two previously mentioned titles featured steampunk elements.

As the leader in the RPG landscape, Final Fantasy was beginning to set a new tone for the look and flavor of RPGs.

Bioware's Baldur's Gate series and Neverwinter Nights returned players to the medieval fantasy of old, but the company showed its versatility, offering science fantasy titles such as Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect.

Massively multiplayer online role playing games, MMORPGs, also went through this same maturation.

Ultima Online, Everquest and Asheron's Call all featured traditional fantasy settings, until Anarchy Online released its science fantasy setting. While home consoles of today seem to have more science fantasy titles flooding its market, the MMO genre has been a bit slower to challeng the conventional wisdom of what an RPG is.

However, many science fantasy titles are on the horizon — such as Star Trek Online, Jumpgate Evolution, Stargate Worlds, DC Universe Online and The Secret World — so the landscape of RPGs in the MMOsphere looks to be following the same paradigm shift as the consoles before them.

Despite players still flocking to medieval fantasy titles, such as Dragon Age: Origins, space operas such as Mass Effect 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic, as well as other science fantasy games such as Final Fantasy XIII and Earthrise seem to be making serious waves in the RPG pool.

While swords are being replaced with assault rifles and dragons are being replaced by sentient A.I., the core ideas of story and deep game mechanics are still there behind the shine and polish of current triple-A RPGs.

But are we entering into a new age, one that is moving away from dragons and mysticism to science and space exploration? Or will medieval fantasy remain the focal point for future RPGs? After 23 years, have gamers finally embraced an RPG paradigm shift?