I was thinking today that one of my favorite game genres is the fetch/job/delivery (now on abbreviated as F/J/D) type game.  I'm talking about where a major part of the gameplay is devoted to doing continually ongoing odd jobs, deliveries or fetching things for various characters.  Often times there will be job centers or a bulletin board where you can pick and choose the jobs you want to do, and the various rewards will be listed, the value of which is often based on how difficult the job is.  Other times, the gameplay revolves around talking to the different characters in the game to collect something for them or to complete some kind of task for them.

I realize not everyone likes the F/J/D kind of games as mostly that kind of stuff just goes on forever.  Some people might see those kind of games as boring and pointless.  But really, that's the reason I like those kinds of games, because its like you "live" in them.  It relieves stress for me.

Here's some various F/J/D games I can think of.

Animal Crossing GameCube:

Animal Crossing is probably one of the most well known fetch quest type of games.  The F/J/D gameplay mostly revolves around talking to the different characters who will ask the player to either collect or return some kind of item that a different character borrowed or lent out.  The player then goes to the other character to pick up or deliver.  Sometimes, however, there's a little more to it as the character you go to pick up from will say that they lent to some other character, or they themself need a task done before they can help you.  In that way, the gameplay can seem artificially long winded.  Your reward for doing the task?  Usually some kind of item you can put in your little Animal Crossing house - sometimes it'll be something uncommon, sometimes not.

Is it fun? 

It's interesting for the first few times you play the game, but it does get old after about a month or so when you realise its like you're just doing chores for people.  And neither the reward nor the process was really fulfilling to me.  Plus there's really no variety.  Once you've done a few chores for characters, the process is really about the same each time.  Another thing that annoys me about Animal Crossing is that how because the game uses the system clock to simulate a real living world in real time - if you don't play the game for a few days or so and you haven't yet completed the task that a particular character has asked you to, the next time you talk to them they will say something like you took too long and sound upset.  Effectively cancelling the task and making you sound like a jerk for taking so long and not doing what they asked.  Hey, if I don't exactly have time to play a game every other day or so, the last thing I want is a video game character getting on me for not being the best neighbor.

Official UK Animal Crossing website

(The official US Animal Crossing website now only features Animal Crossing Wild World for DS.  Boo!!)

Radiata Stories:

Radiata Stories seems to generally be harshly judged by tri-Ace fanboys (at least, I've noticed) for some reason.   Its an interesting game with two main characters (boy and girl) and as yougo thru the game, you have different third NPC's that you can choose to join your party and fight with you in the quests/jobs you do.  The characters all seem to have very defined personalities, my personal favorite character in the game is the first NPC that joins you, Clive.  Oh he always makes me laugh because he's just so silly!

(If I had a screenshot of Clive, I'd place it here)

The F/J/D gameplay is mostly going to the job center, selecting a mission to complete, and also a Friend to join you as the NPC in your party.  As you progress thru the game, you can gain more and more Friends to join you as friendly NPC's in your quest.  So that always makes the game fun.

Is it fun?

What makes the game interesting is that the game has day/night cycles with a simulated living world, where each character has their own schedule.  Certain characters will always go to work at the same time, they might hang out at certain places the same time on some days.  And your character has to follow the schedule too, so you always go to sleep at night.  No multi-day questing without sleeping!  What makes the missions interesting is that since each character has their own schedule, if you need to meet some particular character, you have to meet them on their time.  You can't always just go to their house to complete your task.  Oh no!  Sometimes a character may only be available early in the day, or maybe is tired/unwilling to meet you at other times.  I think the game does a good job of simulating a living world so it makes things interesting.

Official US Radiata Stories website

Lunar Dragon Song:

Lunar Dragon Song is a Nintendo DS spin-off of the original Lunar Games, Silver Star and Eternal Blue.  Generally, Lunar Dragon Song is pretty harshly criticised by Lunar fanboys, and I have to admit they have good reasons.  In Lunar Dragon Song, the two main characters (boy and girl) are employed as couriers in the Lunar world.  The F/J/D gameplay is going to the Gad's Express location in each town, you select a job which usually consists of a character in some town needing various numbers of various items.  Some are easy ones that just need a few of one common item, others are more complex needing many of multiple items.  For each package delivered, you get pay, which is always stated based on how complex the needed items are.

Is it fun?

Not completely fun.  The game control has many flaws, possibly due to being a early DS release trying to experiment.  The whole game can be played without the use of the stylus (if you choose), which to me is one of the few good points for the game.  Like the other two Lunar games, the pacing is dirt slow and it really kills this title.  In any RPG, the run button will be used a LOT as you have to repeatedly travel from town to town and back again.  Lunar Dragon Song unfortunately thought up the clever idea to penalize the player from running by slowing using up hit points if you run.  As your characters lose hit points, they will sweat after a certain amount lost and then once any of your characters have less than one third, they no longer can run anymore.  If the characters would at least slowing replenish the hit points lost from running after they stop, that would seem to make more sense, but no, the game designers seemed to decide that running in a game is a privilege, NOT a standard.

As far as the slow pacing goes, that I don't mind if the game itself and the battles are fun to play, like they are in Lunar Silver Star and Eternal Blue.  In Lunar Dragon Song, however, man the battles are just a drag in my opinion.  Battles in Lunar Dragon Song are turn based.  If you choose to fight manually, there is a fight button, hit the fight button and your character attacks.  That's it.  You don't have the option to select who you attack, the game basically chooses for you.  Being so dull, I mostly select the Automatic Mode for battles, since manually, there is basically no strategy involved anyways.  The battles themselves are pretty slow at regular speed too.  Luckily I found my favorite buttons in the game.  Either of the shoulder buttons when held down will fast forward the battle action (thankfully).  Its almost kind of funny that that's even in there, like they knew... oh man at regular speed, battle after battle will put the players to sleep!

On the collecting items to be delivered, the player can only get deliverable items by beating monsters who will drop various random sundries.  Another clever idea the game designers came up with is that you are forced to select whether the battles will give you experience OR sundries.  You don't get both.  So it forces you to do more battles.  I'm playing thru it however, with the fast forward button, I just put all the battles on automatic and hold the button until its over, then play on.  I don't think the game is horrible, but it has a lot of bad points - even ones I didn't mention because I'd have to keep writing.  Nice game to put me to sleep I suppose.

Official US Lunar Dragon Song website

ShadowRun Genesis:

Ah, ShadowRun Genesis (to diferentiate from ShadowRun Super Nintendo, which is an entirely different game, even though they both have the same title) is a game I'll always remember from playing when I was a kid.  Its a cyberpunk setting with classic Pen and Paper RPG style writing/gameplay.  The game also is brutally difficult and I am pleased to say I am one of probably only a handful to actually beat the game.  I completed it off the top of my head too, meaning I didn't use and FAQ's, cheats or strategy guides.  A certain character that needs to be found seems to be nowhere to found, but trust me, its there.... just that it is way off the map.

Anyways, the F/J/D gameplay of ShadowRun Genesis consists of going on ShadowRuns, which are various missions found in bars with the main character acting basically as a mercenary to do various corporate dirty work on behalf of the Mr. Johnsons (anonymous corporate figures), such as erasing some kind of company file, or finding/protecting a client, etc.

Is it fun?

Oh yes is it fun!  To assist in your ShadowRuns, you can hire ShadowRunners who will depending on their skills, can help in in different ways for a cut of the profits, and as long as you treat them well.  If you tend to abandon a hired ShadowRunner or don't keep them healthy, they may choose to leave you on their own.  Then if you want to hire them again, they may not be so friendly towards you the next time around.

The tasks often include hacking into a building security system, avoiding cameras/guards, and exploring the Matrix without being caught.  Most tasks tend to take stealth and triggering a building alarm really does feel tense - as you may choose to hide and wait until hopefully no guards spot you and turn off the alarm so you can proceed further.  Going into the Matrix is also very cool.  The Matrix is like physically going into cyberspace, trying to fool the security entries and not be firewalled.

Once you get enough upgrades further in the game, all ShadowRuns are generally easy to complete.  Hah, you have enough firepower to just wipe out security.  But the game is especially tense in the early stages as you are creeping around just for survival.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance:

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a spin-off of the Final Fantasy series for the GameBoy Advance.  Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is set like a fan game, in that the characters are all fans of the Final Fantasy game (self-reference), and then mysteriously, various characters are transported into the Final Fantasy game world - is it just a dream or is it real?  Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is not a tradional RPG like the regular Final Fantasy series.  Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a turn based strategy game set on an 3D isometric map.

The F/J/D gameplay is basically 300 or so various missions that you can select at lodges - only so many at a time, and often certain missions can only be selected at certain revolving time periods in the game.  Completing a mission will give you various item or items that you will usually need as requirements to go on other missions.  The missions are usually a battle that needs to be fought and won.

Is it fun?

Its fun for I'd say the FIRST fifty hours or so.  I say that because I have over 180 hours on my game save.  The game itself isn't actually that long as I've beaten the game long ago, I guess I'm just crazy.

There is a set number of missions, 300 or so, but although certain missions need to be completed to advance the story, most are optional, and there is even some side quests.  Also, even after you have completed a mission, it is still available to select again as time periods revolve again.

The battles themselves are interesting as there are different jobs that characters can take, which determines their fighting style.  You can select various characters with certain jobs to take place in a particular battle that might have an advantage on the map.  Archers might be useful for a map with cliffs.  Also damage depends on which way the character is facing.  If you attack an enemy from the back, they would take more damage than from the front.  So of course, its a good strategy to face your enemy whenever possible.

Personally, I have so much play time on the game because it is really very easy.  Its obviously a kids game, so its something light and casual I can play without having to invest deeply while playing, like other more in depth RPG's.  I actually often play the game at night before bed and then play the game until I fall asleep.  Once I fall asleep, next time I wake up, I just save and turn off the game.  So for me, the game is perfect for that - it usually tends to put me to sleep pretty quickly, since I've played it for long and am way way too used to it.

Official US Final Fantasy Tactics Advance website

What Fetch/Job/Delivery games do you like best?  Or maybe hate?  Please leave a comment on any suggestions as I always like to find new games of this genre.  If you would like to write a post section on any games, "Is it fun?", like I have done above, that would be cool.  Of course, you don't have to.

I've heard Chulip has tasks in the game, but I haven't played my copy yet.