A Case Against: Blabbering NPCs

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

Case 2:
We all have encountered them at least once:
A NPC (Non-Player-Character) telling us useless information – information to disregard right off the bat. “Nothing new here”, you might think, and in most cases you are right. However, I’ve encountered a case where things went a bit wrong …. I’m speaking of End of Eternity alias Resonance of Fate.

Suspect #1

A little brat is asking me whether I wear the same ones day in and out. “Fine”, I think, I’m changing my outfit every new chapter, so why not doing it right now to shut her up?
New set of clothes and back again, little brat is telling me the same thing. Hm. Well, let’s ignore her then, shall we?

Fast forward an hour or two. I’ve reached a new floor and started carrying out one of the assigned missions, this time a winter/ice-themed level. People are telling me left and right that I should equip weapons that can deal fire-damage since that’ll help me a great deal. I’m doing so and everything is going fine until I get killed and have to redo a battle. And again. Well, I should make better use of the fire-damage-bullets, I suppose? Lo and behold, I’m victorious. Close to finishing my task as well!

Just the boss left – two turns later: …. Did that one waste me or what?
About ten game overs later: … Why?

Back to town then, buying more ammunition. Talking to townsfolk to see whether I missed something. And what do you believe I see someone mentioning there?
NPC #whatever: (palaver) You should wear clothes that keep you warm (palaver)
NPC#whoever: (palaver) You should wear clothes that keep you warm (palaver)
… Wait.
I check out the resident shops. Surprise! They sell some equipment that prevents you from taking ice-based damage.

Wondering why I didn’t notice that, especially since THAT much people are telling me to take care of this.
… still clueless? See Suspect #1:
Yeah, it’s all thanks to that little brat fu– pardon, fooling around and telling me to change my clothes. Her unnerving bullshit message made me disregard any chattering dealing with my clothes, making me ignore a key problem being pointed out by NPCs in the end.

If that was a intentional choice, hats off, tri-Ace! If so (and even if not): That NPC shall rot in hell.
If you want NPCs to enrich the game with drivel, then at least do not follow that up with mission critical information that is needed to progress.

This is Serious Fun after all.

Verdict: Capital punishment for that NPC, case closed.

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