character development
Character development for me is at the heart of any story. I’m more interested in the individual characters’ stories than the overall plot intrigue, which is one of the reasons I prefer side quests.
I’ve already mentioned The Witcher 3, it’s basically the epitome of “best sidequests”, and for good reason. Bloody Baron is usually one of the first things people rave about when talking about The Witcher 3’s quest quality, but that’s because it’s truly incredible. In this questline, you’ll help search for the aforementioned Baron’s missing wife and daughter in exchange for information on Ciri’s whereabouts. What unfolds is an intricate web of the Baron and his family. The Baron wasn’t always the good guy. In fact, he was a very reprehensible person. You can blame him if you want and make his life worse. But the Baron is going through a lot too, and your empathy will be put to the test.
Another much older game involving choices and characters is Chrono Trigger. His RPG from the genre-defining Square doesn’t have many side quests, all backloaded in the final hours, but they’re all pretty good.
But a short cutscene that focuses on Lucca after restoring the forest is one of the game’s best moments. Lucca travels back in time to a fateful day in his past when his mother lost the ability to use her legs.And a lot of people don’t know they can actually save her. Finding a password in a dream can turn off the machine and change the course of history.
Formidable Enemies and Super Bosses
Admittedly, this is a bit of an outlier on my list, but who won’t Love a good challenge? Perhaps the basis for RPG side quests, unique monsters, hunts, and very powerful bosses are: everytime welcome.
Hunt boards are very common in modern RPGs. The first one that comes to my mind is Final Fantasy XII, and when you complete these, you’ll come across Yazmat, a super-boss with over 50 million HP. Red’s battle in Pokemon Gold and Silver, which takes place atop Silver Mountain, is pretty legendary. Regardless of whether you consider this a really tough fight or the true final boss doesn’t matter, this is the hardest and most rewarding Pokémon battle we’ve ever seen. This is a great reward for those of us who started our Pokemon journey with Red & Blue or Yellow.
My current favorite is the hidden boss in Octopus Traveler II. Like Pokémon, it’s a bit of a treat for those who played the first game. For some reason, this Super Boss is harder than the first game, but the amount of thought you need to put into fine-tuning, character building, and party composition is tantamount to victory in and of itself. And when you beat it? Honestly, nothing makes me feel better.
connection with the main story
By its very definition, side quests are not mandatory. But there are also many things that add to the understanding of the main story and add even more. This time I would like to talk about Disco Elysium. You could probably pick any side quest in this game, but I’m trying to be as vague as possible. But if you’ve played the game, you probably know what I mean when I’m talking about cryptozoologist Morel.
Talking to Lena, a wheelchair-bound woman in Whirling in Lags to find her husband Morrell, will trigger four quests. Kim’s skepticism of cryptozoology, combined with Harry’s playfully idea of becoming a cryptozoologist, started out as an amusing distraction, but the emotional payoff when he helps and reassures Lena is touching. . We may be able to help you with your research along the way. However, it’s not just about great characters and world building. I can’t even tell you how great this side quest is, since it’s tied to the end of the game. If you don’t do it, you won’t miss the chance, but if you do, you’ll be shocked.
I also really like quests that aren’t necessarily tied to the story, but whose existence is justified by the character’s profession or journey. Geralt may be taking on quests to get money to continue his search for Ciri in The Witcher 3. Since Lloyd and SSS belong to the Crossbell Police Station in “Zero no Kiseki” and “Soukyuu no Kiseki”, they need to help the residents.
So what do you get out of all this? Good writing is paramount. What matters to me is what you do in a side quest, not what button you press, what object you get, what activity you have to pursue, etc. look in a sidequest. The characters you meet, the secrets you uncover, the sentences you encounter, and how it changes your attachment to the living, breathing world.
I know not everyone wants that for side quests, but sometimes I also like killing very powerful monsters and getting a nice sword or something. But as long as I’m not collecting Rainbow Slugs or 50 Rainbow Slugs, I’d be happy if he complimented and respected my time with his one item of basic prize.
What do you value in side quests? Vote in the poll below and let us know in the comments.
