In the gaming industry, publishers are always chasing trends, and developers love to put new spins on pre-existing mechanics. So while some titles manage to take a few ideas from others and establish their own identity, it's no surprise that copycats crop up in the medium now and then.
RPGs are already a hard genre to develop for, especially if they sport modern touches such as voice acting. With that in mind, even plagiarizing a quality RPG isn't going to be a leisurely stroll through Cornelia. While some copycats are worth a look, others serve as inferior reminders of games players could be checking out instead.
10 Bug Fables Unashamedly Xeroxes Paper Mario
Bug Fables is an indie RPG that wears its Paper Mario influences on its sleeves. As Nintendo has become more restrictive with Intelligent System's quirky franchise, it's no surprise that fans decided to craft their own title to capture the charm of the first few titles.
Perhaps it's callous to expect the same level of polish from a small indie spiritual successor as its big-budget forefathers. Still, the least it could do is establish its own distinct identity. Unfortunately, its unwillingness to break free of Intelligent Design's structure and aesthetics does the title no favors, as it makes players long for the same quality as The Thousand-Year Door.
9 Beyond The Beyond Doesn't Exactly Live Up To Its Title
This early PlayStation title was a bit of a disappointment following Camelot's solid pedigree of RPGs such as the Shining series for Sega platforms. In addition, the game didn't exactly push the hardware's limits with its sprite-based 2D visuals and midi soundtrack.
Its by-the-numbers narrative and mechanics prevented this game from being anything more than a holdover for bigger releases such as Final Fantasy VII. The freshest element it brought to the table was the ability to push X in order to deal more damage and block attacks. It's a shame that Super Mario RPG featured a similar mechanic a few months prior.
8 YIIK A Post-Modern RPG Is Worse Than The Millennium Bug
YIIK A Post-Modern RPG pays loving homage to and incorporates many gameplay mechanics from titles such as Earthbound and Shadow Hearts. From the former, it takes much of its encounter system and surreal atmosphere; from the latter, it takes the same time-based combat system.
However, its grating protagonist, atrocious writing, and downright tasteless treatment of the deceased, keep it far away from the quality of those titles, and then some. It's already a pretty lousy game, but its use of a real-life tragedy makes it one that should be avoided at all costs.
7 Golden Axe Warrior Is A Half-way Decent Copy Of Ys And Zelda
Golden Axe Warrior deviated heavily from Sega's beat-em-up series to tread into the realm of action RPGs. Upon release, it was inevitably compared to Nintendo's Legend of Zelda titles and other franchises such as Ys. While there is some fun to be had with this odd spin-off, the soundtrack and gameplay just don't measure up to the efforts of Nintendo or Nihon Falcom.
Even the Master System boasted far deeper RPG experiences such as Phantasy Star and Lord of the Sword. Players who wish to try it out could unlock it in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.
6 Underworld Ascendant Is Better Left Underground
The Ultima Underworld titles shifted the series' perspective to a first-person view and trapped the Avatar in a hostile underground world cut off from the vast landscape of Britania. After EA acquired Origin, the Ultima series went on a terrible cold streak, and many of the talent responsible such as Richard Garriot, would jump ship.
Years later, the power of crowdfunding made possible a spiritual successor in the form of Underworld Ascendant. Though lacking the Ultima name and lore, it had many of the developers behind it, such as Warren Spector and Austin Grossman. Unfortunately, game-breaking bugs and frustrating design made it unworthy of the Avatar's legacy.
5 Lords Of The Fallen Went Hollow
The success of From Software's Dark Souls spawned a multitude of hollowed imitations that took superficial elements of the games without managing to capture their spirit. Lords of the Fallen is one of those examples. On the surface, it has many elements that people associate with Souls-like titles, such as the dark fantasy setting, the combat system, and bonfire enemy-spawning structure.
However, it fails to meet the same level of quality with its world, characters, and challenge. In addition, the incorporation of dialogue trees fails to bring anything meaningful to the formula and feels like they were tacked on to make it stand out.
4 Shadow Madness Proved To Be Craveyard's Final Fantasy
Developed by many former members of Square's shuttered Western branch, Craveyard's Shadow Madness was an attempt to bring some maturity to a genre mostly known for its lighthearted fantasy romps. Ted Woolsey, the translator of Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger, said that the success of Final Fantasy VII demonstrated that gamers wanted RPGs with darker stories.
While not intended to be a carbon copy of Square's franchise, its influences are undeniable. Unfortunately, while Woolsey's waiting still shines, the visuals, gameplay, and production values fall short. Over two decades later, the game saw a port on Steam for those who are curious.
3 Lord Of The Rings The Third Age Mined Too Greedily From Square
The Third Age tells the riveting story of what a bunch of nobodies were doing while all the important characters were busy making the plot progressing actions and choices in the films. Unfortunately, publisher EA only had the rights to Jackson's films, while Sierra secured the rights to Tolkien's original books.
This meant that characters such as Tom Bombadil were not allowed and essentially forced EA Redwood Shores to create expies of characters that fans knew and loved. Gameplay-wise, The Third Age is just a carbon copy of Final Fantasy X – only somehow even more linear.
2 I Am Setsuna Evokes Classic Square Titles But Never Eclipses Them
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
It's no surprise that fans of Square longed for titles more akin to their RPGs of yore, so it was that a subsidiary of Square Enix was formed known as the Tokyo RPG Factory. One particular title took much from Square's library, such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy X – I Am Setsuna.
From Chrono Trigger, it takes the same ATB system that allows players to combine their abilities, and from Final Fantasy X takes much of the game's plot. While it thankfully tries to establish its own identity with its somber tone and score, its archetypical characters and repetitive environments keep it from living up to the classic titles it evokes.
1 Two Worlds Is Like An Elder Scrolls Game Made By Aliens
SouthPeak Games' Two Worlds titles feel like Tommy Wiseau tried his hand at a George R.R. Martin-esque fantasy game. The dialogue and acting have to be seen to be believed because they sound like they were made by people from a different planet entirely.
The game's prologue mentions a malevolent force repeatedly referred to as "The Taint," and it only gets sillier from there. Upon its initial release, comparisons were drawn with Bethesda's Elder Scrolls titles – particularly Oblivion. While it somehow manages to be even more buggy, it's worth a look just for the unintentional comedy.