Which of these is most important to a game?

[Dark Knight Of Lodis]

These are all important features to a game in my opinion.

A large selection of weapons always makes a game better, especially if they all have different types of abilities that accompany them. They are always something that motivates a player to earn more money to get the most strongest, most recent weapons.

Good looking spells always make a game better because they make for some awesome looking visual effects.

Long, challenging boss battles are always a lot of fun as long as there is a point, and something that makes it interesting the whole time, not just repetitive.. As long as the battle does not exceed half an hour, I like it. I know that a lot of people disagree with this.

Deep, suspenseful dungeons are another thing that I believe a lot of people will disagree with me on. I love massive dungeons that take a lot of time, maybe even hours to explore. (As long as there aren't an insane number of random battles) Puzzles are fun in them too, as long as there is not too long of a break between killing.

Multiple Storylines Based on Choice ALWAYS make for great games in my opinion. Multiple endings are cool, but games that actually have multiple stories (Tactics Ogre) make for the very best. I am planning on making my next RPG this way.

What are your opinions, and which is most important?

[Dungeon Warden]

I prefer a long involved story more then the other elements. I also enjoy exploring dungeons (and other areas) so that option is a close second.

It might be hard to do a multi-branching story with RPG Maker 2, but it might be interesting if you can pull it off. RPG Maker 3 seems to be more story based, and with less options to change the basic gameplay, more time and effort can be put into the story.

[Dark Knight Of Lodis]

I didn't put a long involved story on there, because I thought that almost everyone would pick that option, being that that is what the game is really about. I wanted to see how people chose between these "secondary" features.

[Deleted]

Of what you listed I said multiple story branches. Overall, the player enjoys a game much more if they have control in what they do - whether it be customizing characters' stats/abilities, exploring big places with a lot to do, making choices that effect the story (or don't), etc. The more linear the game is as far as characters' stats/abilities, small locations, mandatory choices (ugh), lack-of-optional missions, etc.; the faster people will get tired of the game and the sooner they'll want to replay it.

These seem more like features/things-to-focus-on, and for my game I've learned this.

[Rodak]

darkknightoflodis said:

I didn't put a long involved story on there, because I thought that almost everyone would pick that option, being that that is what the game is really about.

I ran a similar poll recently.
See this thread for proof of what you say and dissenting opinions. It seems a lot of folks want an interesting battle system above all else. And more...

I'll have to vote for the varying stories, but only if there is some cue that they exist and when these decisions are made. Even if only in a separate "Strategy Guide," or else your replay value will be much lower.

[Zed Bloodrage]

Yea yea, a Large selection of weapons is always good, and Long challenging boss battles are always great, and sure Deep, dakr, Suspenseful dungeons are always great fun to explore and fight the creatues within, but massive choices, and different endings, and many alternative classes make for the best game. Stick with that idea, and add in as many as possible of the others. I love you Drk Knight.