Hit points, finding various quest items, upgrading characters and equipment, battling "monsters".. all of these characteristics bind the various games within the RPG genre through the years, but it's the "execution" that often bitterly divides it's fans.

Few other feuds in gaming are as heated or as drawn out as the various squabbles within the RPG realm.. a conflict that has been raging across gaming platforms since the 80's. I believe the debates on which game should be considered the best RPG of 2009 will once again tempt the varying fan bases into raising arms yet again.

Despite both of these games being quality additions to the genre as a whole.. the more action oriented console RPG Demon's Souls and the more traditional PC oriented Dragon Age: Origins are more often than not on complete opposite ends of the genre's spectrum. These differences may invoke varying degrees of rhetoric from opposite fanbases as to why "their" RPG is better.. melodrama that has been occuring for quite a while now.

Through the years.. the face of the RPG genre has taken many forms, but since the early 90's especially the console and PC sects have only continued to divide. This divide has often been nurtured by varying degrees of success for some of the genres iconic titles.. and the mentalities of the fan bases on either side of the fence.

The genre had its on modest beginnings in the mid-70's with text-based adventures on tremendously bulky mainframe computers.. and had various Dungeon's & Dragons influenced home PC titles during the early 80's like Ultima and Xanadu that began integrating rules of combat, graphics and stories (albeit on a very modest scale). Although small.. the genre's fan base was a dedicated bunch.

The small fan base then began to have it's loyalties tested as the increasingly Japanese dominated videogame industry of the mid to late 80's began spawning Ultima influenced RPG's of their own within the home console market with games like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.. which led to a wider mainstream appeal for the genre. With hardware being rather limited on both ends at that particular time.. the RPG's were not too radically different. Many popular PC RPGs were ported to consoles so fans on both sides pretty much had similar experiences and tastes.

It wasn't until console RPGs changes to the genre's status quo in the early part of the 90's that the genre's fan base began to fracture. Japanese games like the more action oriented dungeon crawler RPG, the original Legend of Zelda on the NES, and the first FF on the SNES Final Fantasy IV(II in North America), that introduced the ATB(active time battle) system as well as more involved storyline began shifting the console RPG fans preferences. On the other side of the fence the success of the more text and strategy focused PC RPGs such as the Gold Box engine games developed by SSI further solidified the course taken by PC developers.

Over the next decade after that the escalating differences in not only preferences, but also the hardware it was played on further branched out the genre's audience. But it's lingering niche status overall regardless of platform allowed the conflict to be rather civil because despite the golden age of RPGs in the 16-bit era of consoles which included titles like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy IV & VI, Secret of Mana, Lufia II and Breath of Fire II(among many others).. it's mainstream success was not too far off from its PC brethren. That all changed at the dawn of the 32-bit era though.

The true splintering point was the massive mainstream success of Final Fantasy VII on the original Playstation in 1997. While it's success was welcomed by many fans.. the fact that a "Japanese console RPG" the likes of a Final Fantasy was the one that made the mainstream breakthrough infuriated a good amount of others.. especially among the PC sect. The proceeding years deepened the resentment as console RPGs further enjoyed success while many quality PC games such as Fallout, Planescape, Icewind and Baldur's Gate did not manage to reach the same heights of appeal.

Which leads us to the modern day where both sides have their fair share of quality "and" douche bag fans. The undesirables on both ends attempt to instigate against the other with pointless debates and shameless bias/hypocrisy. Both are so quick to dismiss the other.. blindly ignoring the fact that regardless of preference BOTH platforms have greatly contributed to the genre's legacy. Gamers that are actually familiar with the genre's history will realize that the PC iterations helped create the structure and intellectual elements that the genre needed.. and the console iterations added the artistic and progressive gameplay elements that uped the ante for the rest of the genre, which was neccessary for it's evolution through the years. But apparently recognizing those facts is simply not an option for the ignorant fanboys on both ends.

Thanks in large part to the fact that they are both a PC gamer and a fan of a niche genre.. many of the douchebag hardcore PC crowd are the quickest to succumb to spewing out the cliché rhetoric that results from basically the videogame game equivalent of a Napoleon complex. They feel the need to make up for their smaller numbers and appeal by not only overly inflating the stature of a number of quality PC RPGs.. but also their own personal ego. They resort to both minimizing the impact and looking down upon notable console RPG sacred cows and even insulting the intelligence of its fans.

It's rather sad and redundant at this point.. antagonistic gamers really need to stop using platform bashing as a means to makeup for some of their insecurities. Simply because a popular game does not meet ones preference is not enough reason to waste everyone's time amidst trying to constantly force beliefs revolving around why fans should just stop being a fan because any of the game's various critics all of a sudden deem it "unworthy".

Various console RPG bashers hate popular games like FF VII? Too damn bad. Many people consider it a great RPG because IT ACTUALLY IS TO THEM.. a critics lack of preference for any specific game will not magically undo it's popularity on a whim. I mean.. for a game that was supposedly so "overrated" and not worth the conversation.. many of them certainly take a good deal of time to over-analyze a game that came out over a decade ago don't they?

So many of them are every bit as cliché as what they are actually "accusing" of being cliché. They'll attack known favorites just to get a rise out of its fans and then proceed to cling onto various obscure PC games in an effort to go into forums and claim that those "simple console gamers" could never possibly have the intellectual or emotional depth that only they and a select few have to properly comprehend these games .

Basically, they go out of their way to target anything that is successful in the genre.. even games within their own ranks like the traditionally PC focused developer Bethesda. As soon as the Elder Scrolls and Fallout series has some mainstream success and all of a sudden they are not "real" RPGs anymore either. Uh huh.. who could have possibly predicted that kind of nonsense from these people?

Anyways, the console fan base is guilty of PLENTY of their own problems.. the fact that its hardware is more accessible thus giving them a wider range of ignorant followers does not help their cause. So many of them are so painfully shortsighted that they refuse to keep proper perspective when it pertains to the legacy of great games that led up to what they are currently enjoying. They just need to accept the fact that all of those old games with ugly sprites are what paved the way for everything modern gamers enjoy.

The fact of the matter is that both sides need to get over themselves.. broader success does not make all console RPGs better just as being more obscure and unnecessarily sophisticated do not make all PC RPGs worth mentioning. One side suffers from having a number of watered down and cliché iterations while the other suffers from having many convoluted games that suffer from clumsy gameplay and constant glitches. What all RPG fans need to keep in mind is that when at their best.. each side has plenty to offer and should not be dismissed due to lack of preference. Great games on both ends of the spectrum have the same amount of quality and intelligence.. they are just displayed through a different scope.

That sentiment holds true with both Demon's Souls and Dragon Age.. two great RPGs that just happened to be done from a different take. There is no wrong choice when picking among them. Personally.. despite enjoying Dragon Age I would pick Demon's Souls. Not that its anything that Dragon Age did wrong.. but moreso what Demon's Souls did right. Despite some shortcomings it was closer to what I have always wanted an RPG to be.. the perfect blend of skill and intelligence.

Despite enjoying plenty of PC games from companies like Bioware or Blizzard.. I more often than not felt like I was just point and clicking something to death. When battling enemies or other players it seemed more a contest of who customized a character better than actual skill.. stat numbers battling other stat numbers via the same repeated battle animation. I dont know.. while the mouse and keyboard setup is ideal for aiming purposes it can can feel impersonal at times in a more action oriented title. Using a keyboard for character movement has always felt so unnatural to me.. which is exactly why using a Playstation gamepad instead is perfect for me in an action heavy RPG.

With an RPG like DS I'm starting to get that balanced gameplay.. I'm not just pointing and clicking an enemy OR just choosing the fight or magic command against it like in a Final Fantasy.. I get a more visceral and natural feel. Battles have a high skill AND intelligence factor.. you need to be smart enough to properly strategize + customize your character, but you also still need the skill to put that characters abilities to good use. Then thanks to the gameplay system there is always that X factor.. whether its the environment or timing of the battle there is always something unforeseen that can have major implications. All in all its neither extreme.. its not slowed down to the point of being just an elaborate session of a D&D boardgame OR a mindless hack and slash.. it is moving the genre closer to that happy medium.

After downloading the latest GTA IV expansion "The Ballad of Gay Tony" we around here looked forward to the newest pop culture spoofs added to the game world's TV, internet, clubs etc. as much as the added gameplay(which is actually turning out to be pretty good).

To me at least some of the newest additions were almost worth the 1600 MS points by themselves.. specifically the anime spoof cartoon Princess Robot Bubblegum(click here for trailer). Maybe it was helped a bit by the recent spats I've been having with hardcore anime fanboys about my annoyances with how cliche most of the modern anime have become.. but I can honestly say that I have not laughed that hard in a quite a while, lol. It basically touched upon every cliche in hysterical fashion.

Besides getting back in GTA IV I've been continuing my playthroughs of Demon's Souls(definite cult favorite status IMO).. which is still alot of fun despite the ridiculous jump in difficulty in new game+ modes.The first run through isn't that bad at all if you get used to the mechanics and customize your character to your strengths.

The only real annoyance is one of the game's main bosses"The False King" who has a special attack that can permanantly de-level your a** by one each and everytime it lands.. which sucks considering the game is on constant auto-save so there is no reloading. Like I said though.. first time through is fine.. its the ball busting new game+ run throughs that really has some ridiculous moments in store for all who bother, lol.

Anyways.. since I'm on multiple play throughs with one character I'm obviously within those oh so fun 100+ soul level character showdowns(only players in a 10 level radius can interact).. and my recent run in with a few black phantoms(players who invade another player's game) amidst some of the tougher portions of my new game+ play throughs have created some amusing consequences.. but I basically can only say that looking back though, lol.

Long story short.. I had reclaimed body form(which makes you susceptible to invasions)after beating a tough boss. After using alot of supplies I went to do a short grind to accumulate enough souls to replenish my stock. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't paying attention and forgot how vulnerable I was walking around with 100,000+ souls in body form while not being properly equipped or stocked for a PvP fight.. and well.. as usual with my luck I was invaded one time after another without warning right as I was ready to leave the damn level, which is rather frustrating since you cant skip out amidst multiplayer.

I held my own for quite a while despite the disadvantages.. all to fall off acliff while fighting adamn lag-switcher.. conveniently leaving my blood spot(the area were you have a second chance at lost souls)in a rather bad spot between several dangerous demons. Still fuming from my recent battles.. I also managed to fricken die on my way to reclaim my lost souls.. and trust me when I say that I went completely f*cken postal.

I concluded my short tantrum and proceeded to invade other games repeatedly after really only doing it sparingly beforehand(I'm usually a helpful blue phantom 95% of the time).. I went on a complete murder spree that I didnt even think I was capable of doing.. all the while realizing the amount of "you crazy a**hole" looks I was receiving within the household for my curse laden bloodthirsty quest for revenge. Gotta love what games can bring out of you sometimes.

Be grateful American Demon's Souls fans, because if this were the early 90's a game like this would not see our shores.. not by a long shot. Trust me when I say the days of hoping that any of the highly anticipated JRPGs possibly coming to the U.S. only to usually be met with disappointment are still fresh in my mind.

Often deemed "too hard" or simply not viable options sales-wise.. many quality Japanese titles never made it to the states.. which was especially frustrating at that time due to Asia having such an overwhelming hold on the industry(basically, there weren't many American/European alternatives to makeup for the losses). The genre hit hardest was indeed (unfortunately for me) RPGs. Sadly, even if some of my anticipated titles made it across the ocean they were either too hard to find or basically too watered down to bother with.

That's why a game like Demon's Souls seeing a worldwide release is such a breathe of fresh air.. especially for gamers who want a "quality" challenge instead of the cheap hardcore difficulties that developers tack on to a cake walk of a game. I'm glad I can finally start playing some quality Japanese titles again.. especially a good atmospheric dark fantasy action RPG on my PS3. I've been basically playing nothing but American games for a little too long now, lol.

I suppose in my defense it isn't completely my fault.. my hand was often forced. The clout of the Japanese developer is not what it used to be.. nor is the quality of some of the games. I used to be a big fan of the "older" anime and Japanese games(obviously).. but more recent iterations have not exactly peaked my interest. Those two mediums have been clogged with redundant and convoluted rubbish over the last decade IMO.. they often betrayed there own original appeal for me by focusing on more flash than substance(the problem some western games tend to have). But I have been seeing an upswing as of late though.. which can be mainly attributed to some of these developers actually trying to be "original".

Anyways.. beyond the whole Japanese gaming talk.. Demon's Souls itself is good for the industry. This game values quality over mass appeal.. far too often gamers are served their gaming experiences on a silver platter filled with straight forward quests that are either too slow or too focused on mindless twitch gameplay with easy, trivial or repetitive achievements/trophies and a side of "been there, done that" multiplayer. Demon's Souls uses a satisfying approach to gaming fulfillment.. by offering rewarding gameplay that can range from "feeling" as hectic as a twitch shooter to as methodical as a good strategy game all the while having its gameplay mechanics keeping things balanced.

Rarely these days do we see games like Demon's Souls utilize the three qualities of a good gamer.. patience, a little skill, and strategy. You lack just "one" of those.. and the rest "will" fail you. No Rambos.. no cowards.. no half hearted strategists.. being one dimensional or lazy in the land of Boletaria will get your character nothing but a one way ticket to a round of demon gang rape. In a game like Demon's Souls.. the enemies are not the main threat.. its the lack of patience and awareness. This is also one of those rare games that actually live up to the saying of being a "love it or hate it" type of experience.. basically for some it will be a waste of $60 while being the best $60 others have plopped down for a game in a while.

The game is not perfect by any means.. it does have some rough patches. A steep learning curve, heavy punishment for dying(which sucks considering how often you will), questionable frame rate at times, and a bit more reliance on grinding than I would like are examples.. but the atmosphere and originality go a long way to make up for that. One of my personal favorites is indeed Demon's Souls take on multiplayer.. being able to leave and give tips and messages for other players to read, the ability to enlist the help of a couple other players for boss fights, and the ability to invade another player's game is just f*cken cool. Novel ideas that I not only hope will be more fleshed out in possible sequels.. but something the rest of the industry should take note of.

Bottomline, this is a game that proves gamers do not have to be coddled to have a rewarding gameplay experience.. it isnt chopped up into varying degrees of overly easy or overly cheap difficutties.. there is just one. One quality level of challenge that while not for the weak of heart.. is certainly not impossible for those with some patience and willingness to properly strategize. In the end.. a good opportunity for some modern gamers to have a chance to take off the training wheels.. get the FPS pacifier out of their mouths.. and prove their gaming merits.