Are RPGs loosing their RPGness?

[DustyDrB]

Games don't exist to fulfill genre definitions (which are shaky and relative definitions anyway).

Same problem: No towns, no open worlds, linear progression, stat simplification, streamlined story progression and less custimization.

Sounds more like the average sandbox game these days is what you're looking for.

 

[MazeMinion]

I would agree that RPGs have lost depth over the years.

Look at the Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall. That game has lots of skills, MASSIVE WORLD, lots of enemies, deep quests and storylines, and in-depth character progression.

Then look at the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. The game basically holds your hand all the way through. Quest markers, tons of tutorials etc. The world isn't even half as big as Daggerfall's, and the amount of content is much less. It only looks prettier than Daggerfall.