it's how u see it, not how u play it that makes whatever game RPG. i mean when u play a soccer manager game, can u opt to play as a spectator or a hooligan or a player? nope. as for tomb raider, u are playing the role as that extra pixels on her chest woman, not as her dad, butler, enemy, etc.

the only thing that's u is choice & implementations.

that's by understanding the root words of RPG, not as how game developers make it to be.

my 1 cent.

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......a gift from LaFille......