In my opinion it is the classic "Who's yer Daddy plot device," followed closely by the "Secret Super Power," plot device.

Rogue Galaxy used both. I had figured out that Desert Claw was Jaster's father 30 minutes into the game. I went into denial mode for the rest of the game until it was reveled because it was such a corny plot device. Then the whole Star King idea. It was a surprise but kind of a stupid one. *sigh*

Then there was Tales of Symphonia. Other then the fact that the game was annoying. I nearly threw my controller down in a huff and broke the game disc since from the moment Kratos started talking to Lloyd about his sword skills. It was so damn obvious. Lloyd also used two swords at once. CURSE YOU STAR WARS! That is also one of the newest played out game play mechanics. Some party member or villain in a game or RPG who uses two swords.

I think the "false religion" thing is a little over played, as well as all the Nordic and christian references (no matter how awesome) in JRPG's

I think the "false religion" thing is a little over played, as well as all the Nordic and christian references (no matter how awesome) in JRPG's

Yeah...I think XenoGears really caused that plot device to take off!

I wouldn't have much of a problem with the twists if they weren't so goddamned transparent.

Clueless hero: "Hey, what's that pendant around your neck?"
Inevitable love interest: "It's been in my family for generations!"
Me: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Is "the Chosen One" a plot device? If so, I win. :P

Honestly, the main character is destined to single-handedly stop a global crisis, no matter how much better/cooler/more likeable his companions are. Saving the world, in of itself, is much too used, but I'll that one slide, it's hardly epic if the deed isn't one of worldly proportions. But still, being destined to save the world is just corny. Watching the webs of fate at work to have the "Chosen One" achieve what "only he can do" gets old.

The trusted friend that betrays... BOOOOOOOORING.

Running into pokemon professors in precarious situations that just happen to have starter pokemon in their bags~

Stupid Dame: "I'm coming with you!"
Clueless Hero: "No way it's too dangerous out there!"
Me: *Groooooaaaan*

This is being less used now, but I detested the old plot device of "You must go out and rescue the princess/queen! Oh, now that you have, we'll marry the two of you, despite the fact that you only met for the first time during the rescue!"

That does not equal a happily ever after, dimwit developers!

It's like what they say at the end of Speed.

Amnesia?

The original villain is not the true villain. I haaate that one. I detest it.

I'll just leave this here...

Time Travel.

Off the top of my head...

- Your best friend has turned to the dark side while you've been on your quest
- That quest you've been on now has global significance
- The guy you were after is not the guy behind it all
- That medallion you're wearing is actually half of a bigger medallion, and the second half is worn by your long lost twin
- You have amnesia
- You have amnesia and you actually killed everybody
- Your main character is in a coma before the big fight
- Your main character is "dead" before the big fight
- Your main character is a silent, sensitive yet oddly flamboyant dresser with a monstrous sword
- You are one of the four heroes of destiny
- Your quest involves traveling through dungeons themed by the elements: water, fire, etc.
- Your goal is to collect little pendants with pictures of the elements on them.
- Your mentor dies before the big fight.
- Your mentor is an old man with a beard.
- You have to battle your father in the final fight.
- Your main character shaves his/her head before the final fight.
- Your main character changes appearance before the final fight.
- You must go into space for the final fight
- You must go into a void for the final fight
- You must save the princess.
- Everything you've gathered is taken away 2/3 of the way into the game, forcing you to go get it all again.

I wouldn't have much of a problem with the twists if they weren't so goddamned transparent.

Clueless hero: "Hey, what's that pendant around your neck?"
Inevitable love interest: "It's been in my family for generations!"
Me: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Haha, yes that one!

Someone always have to be sacrificed or dies or disappears in the end.

WHY CAN'T WE GET A HAPPY ENDING EH?

Happy endings suck.

You suck.

Villain has several "forms" after originally defeated

After Original Villain is dead a totally random new villain barges in and declares he shal be the one to take over the universe.

Yes, hello, are you Yoda? Necron, you say?

PISS OFF.

Most disappointing of all is.....

Character: It's finally over, he's dead
Villian: Thank you for releasing me from my shell, muhahaha!
Character: What are you saying you had me kill you just so you can release your true power in a spirit form and absorb the power of the crystals!?
Me: For **** Sake, I've killed him once, is it to much to ask for the writer to just erase him instead of milking it!?

(Especially true in Devil may cry)

OR Better yet

Character: Argh! Its the true power of darkness come forth!
Me: It's a Fu**ing giant EYEBALL! with tentacles, wheres the originality? Whats he going to use, The infamous eyelashing attack!

(Arc the lad: Twilight of spirits, for anyone who doesnt know what i mean. Great plot, great game till final battle)

Giant eyeball.
Tentacles.

Watchmen? :D

STOP THINKING ABOUT THE BLUE PENIS, NEG

Erm.....never watched it so i have NO idea what you talking about, it looked piss poor to me, like 300 was. It was actually far funnier to watch my mates take the piss of it by imitating stuff like "Your sword is poking into my side..... My swords on the other side". Apart from that it was like ricky gervais, just not funny -_-'

You're supposed to READ it o_O

Besides they didn't use that in the movie.

THEY DID TOO USE THE BLUE PENIS

I meant the alien, mang.

THAT PENIS DIDN'T LOOK DOMESTIC

LOL...sefiroslionheart, you should have seen the last battle in Grandia 2.

Villain: "I am the WILL of the almighty dark god!"

Me: "...You're...a frickin' *********!!!"

At least a massive eyeball with tentacles can conjure up images of a Beholder(D&D), which is semi-frightening.

EDIT: Now with more spoiler tags!:P

Actually the giant eyeball was a huge ripoff of baldurs gate1, i was just like, hey hes alive!
I mean one good thing about the eyeball from Arc was, it didnt ****ing float. I mean a floating eyeball, just wtf!?

To me the "Young kid finding and being able to wield the Legendary ancient sword/weapon of destiny purely by accident and thus being the only one that can save the world" has been extremely overused.
The "finding and protecting the magic seals that hold the world together and for some inexplicable reason is also being used to imprison the ultimate villain of the day" is another overused plot device that also makes no practical sense. this is usually accompanied by it's twin brother " You ultimately fail in protecting the seals and the UVD escapes yet, you somehow manage to destroy the creature that no one could truly destroy before and they were most likely more powerful than you are while fighting the beast."

HERE'S ONE:

"YOU'VE OBTAINED THE MASTER SWORD!"

Probably the big giant device that is godly and all powerful and either from a more powerful period of time or an ancient time made by ancient races...

Of course, the device generally is never the REALLY POWERFUL one, just a MOSTLY REALLY POWERFUL one, because 7, 3, or 100 other devices exist like it, or are simply more powerful.

Valkyria Chronicles is a good example, big tank, bigger tank, giant magical spear and shield, bigger tank, uber minigun, bigger spear, bigger tank, OMG a man-made spear (why not just use that in the first place).

Sigh... so unrealistic and so overused.

LOL REALISM IN A VIDEO GAME

LOL REALISM IN A VIDEO GAME

Yeah, I love sniping down the cats with banana-launchers in Call of Duty. Awesome feeling of accomplishment.

That's your favorite side mission, too?

It is, until I figure out how to have actual sex in Persona 4.

It's easy bro!

All you need to do is... and then... but when... happens make sure to... ... ... before you... or else... and victory!

Realism exists in anything that has a set story or style put to it.

Sci-Fi realism unless Unorthodox Sci-Fi and demonstrated as such (it's obvious) must retain these realisms...

Even writers for Sci-Fi and Fantasy have to retain certain realisms else it will appear "Bogus".

Don't you mean SyFy realism?

/end stupid marketing joke

I don't get it... but that's nothing new.

Indeed. It was a shitty joke based on a shittier marketing ploy to expand an audience past nerds and geeks.

Anywho, I say the "chosen one" thing infuriates me. Only this guy can lift this rock or some crap. NO ONE ELSE. Not even 50 guys way stronger than him. Like the rock is genetically predisposed to hate everyone but the Chosen One.

I wouldn't have much of a problem with the twists if they weren't so goddamned transparent.

Clueless hero: "Hey, what's that pendant around your neck?"
Inevitable love interest: "It's been in my family for generations!"
Me: *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Oh gawd that plot device is more played out then "Who's yer daddy!"

For me:

1. The main hero has no idea of his past

2. The guy you thought was the villain, is a misunderstood anti-hero.

3. The main hero is emotionless, but his best friend is wild and outgoing.

4. The ethnic character(if this is one) is stereotyped.

5. The main hero has blond hair and blue eyes, and is seen as special because of it.(Hitler theory.)

6. The main hero is wild and outgoing, but the love interest is cold and emotionless.

7. The main villain has various forms.

8. The main heroes quest for revenge turns out to be a struggle to save the world.

Running into pokemon professors in precarious situations that just happen to have starter pokemon in their bags~
Yesh. You should be able to catch a Pok�mon of your own choice as a starter. :(

But yes, the "Chosen One" plot is so violently overused.