[Andrea P]

Really, it's a contrast in styles between RPGs that are developed in the Western World (the US and Europe) and Japan. The stereotypical JRPG has a very straight forward storyline, where you go from one task to the next in a set order determined by the developer. A JRPG also tends to have clearly 'Good' and 'Evil' sides to the narrative. Now a Western RPG attempts to have non-linear game play, where you have to complete a set of tasks, but it is up to you on how to do so, and they attempt to have a less defined 'Good' or 'Evil' side.

For example, Morrowind fit the mold of a Western RPG pretty nicely. There's no real set order for many of the quests lines, and although Dagoth Ur is definitely evil, Vivec and the rest of the Tribunal are hardly what you'd call 'innocent'.

Now an example of a JRPG, would be Pokemon. The storyline is very narrow, and you spend most of the game moving from one city to the next in order (or at least that's how I remember it). There's also a feeling that you're definitely the good one.

Of course, the term is limited. For example, KOTOR has a pretty non-linear quest line, but at the same time it has a very defined sense of Good and Evil.

[Harry Leon]

I am referring to these http://plyczkowski.autokoncept.pl/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/loincloth1.jpg.

I know. I've just always said loin-cloth. The image of a barbarian wearing a lion as something to cover his nether regions makes me giggle like an idiot though.

[Ilona Neumann]

I used to enjoy JRPGs a great deal, ever since I played http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasy_Star_(video_game) on the Sega Master System. Great JRPGs continued to be released and were at it's height about a decade ago with games like Suikoden II (my favorite JRPG of all time), Star Ocean II, Xenogears, Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy IX and so on. But the last JRPG I played that I felt was really good is Suikoden V released in 2006 (which is a truly awesome game), and since then there hasn't really been anything that really grabbed me much. Lost Odyssey, The Last Remnant and Suikoden Tierkreis all been decent but not in a "OMG can't stop playing" kind of way as earlier JRPGs used to be for me, where one go to bed at 5am on the weekend.

But since then we seen WRPGs like Jade Empire (PC version, never played it on Xbox), The Witcher, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Fallout 3 and they all been extremely immersive to me.

There are some aspects of JRPGs that I just find boring now, that I didn't mind much before. I feel the genre gotten stale and think the JRPG genre have 4 weak points that needs to be improved upon.

1) World Exploring. For some reason the FF series evolved to the worse here, FFX (and supposingly FFXIII which I have yet to play) offer no world exploring at all, but is instead just a very linear path. Go back and give the player exploration.

2) Random Encounters. Chrono Trigger was a fresh air back in 1995 when the random encounters stopped. Why do the genre in general still use them? I have absolutely no idea, but it's annoying, I want to see my enemies. Even Sands of Destruction, which was released this year, use random encounters.

3) Dialogue choices. Why let the player choose a Yes/No answer, when the game is http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ButThouMust? It's a very poor illusion of player freedom and only hurt the game immersion. Offer proper choices, I was very surprised when I played Suikoden V and Steambot Chronicles, two JRPGs where dialogue choices actually mattered! More of that please. This especially matters when the main character acts like an idiot (like Vaan and lots of other JRPG protagonists) and the player have absolutely no chance of stopping it except moving the plot forward so the character "learn their lesson" and becomes mature. I hate that so much, I don't want to play an idiot, yet here we are forced to it. If there are no choices, at least let me play a smart person.

4) Less cutscenes. Japanese developers seem to love cutscenes, and while they certainly fill a function I don't want to watch a movie every 5 steps, I want to play a game. I stopped to play both Xenosaga and Metal Gear Solid 2 (which isn't a JRPG, but still) because of the annoying amount of cutscenes. Games should be interactive, movies have no interactivity at all. I like how the Suikoden series don't use that many cutscenes, but still tell really great stories and offer lots of interesting characters. Fortunately, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuya_Takahashi (director of Xenosaga) have realised this and http://wii.ign.com/articles/106/1069861p1.html a while ago that he feels like cutscenes are a dead end and instead wants to make a game where the feeling of freedom is high. If his Xenoblade is ever released here in Europe I'm sure I will buy it, looks very good, even though it's for the Wii (which I don't have at the moment).

So yeah, I think that the JRPGs are in a decline, but I hope it will change.

As for the visual design of JRPGs with spikey hair and giant swords, meh, I couldn't care less, they have nothing to do with the story or the gameplay

[Matthew Aaron Evans]

I don't mind some of them, none are on my top ten games list (or if I had one) but some are quite enjoyable.

[Mel E]

Final Fantasy VII is the reason why I can't stand JRPGs. I've explained at length multiple time why that game was the worst game I've ever played... so suffice it to say that because of FF-VII, I'll never play another JRPG

[Sierra Ritsuka]

Secret of Evermore

Just started this one earlier after finishing up FFVI. Best JRPG developed by a Western dev, and never released in Japan.

Oh, Square USA, you poor unappreciated bastards.

Anywho, I much prefer JRPGs to Western ones, and it really is just a difference in taste. I like more linear Western RPGs, like Mass Effect or Knights of the Old Republic, but Bethesda's style is just not my thing. I need a compelling story and character development that stems from more than my own imagination. I also love turn-based combat, but even JRPGs have moved away from that in recent years.

[Kelsey Hall]

Final Fantasy VII is the reason why I can't stand JRPGs. I've explained at length multiple time why that game was the worst game I've ever played... so suffice it to say that because of FF-VII, I'll never play another JRPG

FFVII is overrated anyways. If that is truly the reason then you are missing out on some great games.

[Emily Jeffs]

General reasons I dislike jRPGs:

- Child protagonists
- BFS's in the hands of said child protagonists
- Poor attempts made at being deep and profound
- Monorail journey and plot- no choice in the matters whatsoever.
- Completely unoriginal and unimaginative plots and game worlds, usually with a mish-mash of old world pagan religious figures thrown into the mix.
- Androgynous cast (just can't stand japanese pretty boy- heroes and villains)
- Recycling the old characters in new settings with different backstories. I just don't get it.

Of course, there have been nary a few titles I've enjoyed, but they've been a break from the usual mould somewhat, even if they do display some of the problems I have with the genre- but their other qualities make up for their failings. Chrono Trigger comes to mind as a prominent example.

[мistrєss]

Oh yeah, on the topic of Square Enix: Why is it that they seem completely incapable of hiring voice actors with anything resembling talent?

[Claudia Cook]

Oh yeah, on the topic of Square Enix: Why is it that they seem completely incapable of hiring voice actors with anything resembling talent?

Voice Actors.... That is the problem.

[N Only WhiTe girl]

Oh yeah, on the topic of Square Enix: Why is it that they seem completely incapable of hiring voice actors with anything resembling talent?

You also have to consider the material they're working with. For all of it's faults, I thought SE did a really great job of localizing Final Fantasy XIII, with much better lip-sync than previous games, and I believe one or two of the voice actors even did some work in the Mass Effect titles, which I also thought had pretty decent voice work.

[trisha punch]

I know you are trolling now....
PlayStation 3

* JP September 17, 2009
* NA TBA
* EU TBA
Knights is more of a SRPG and I don't like the look of the gameplay

well thats odd... I saw a video on youtube that had a cutscene with all the characters talking in english... maybe that was an Xbox 360 version?

[Jon O]

well thats odd... I saw a video on youtube that had a cutscene with all the characters talking in english... maybe that was an Xbox 360 version?

Most likely, yes.

[jasminε]

wow, I'm gone for like 15 minutes and this thread already has 22 replies. I've only made it to Terash Cas post that has that monstrous list of JRPGS, and I must say, that list is my dream list of games to own(minus of course, the ones in it that I do already own). So far, from what I've read, there are less people then I thought that disliked(course, I haven't made it past 6 replies or so), and the the main issue thus far is "it's linear" and "Spikey haired git wielding monstrously long sword that is only rivaled by his hair for size".

I gotta say, I'm kind of surprised. I've always believed that if someone likes RPGs, they like ALL rpgs. LOL. I mean, obviously, not the really crappy ones that never should have been released, but I don't think I ever imagined people would discriminate against a game in the rpg genre just because it's characters are funky, or because it's linear. For some reason, naive as it sounds, I've always believed that us fellow RPGers are all one big happy family. LOL. guess I should have known better

I personally like all types of RPG. If it has a fairly large world, has a leveling up(or some equivalent) system in it, has multiple gear sets that can be bought and/or found, involves more the one character, and has a decent story, It is, more or less, My kind of game. I see the good in all types of RPGs. Each has it's own unique flair that makes it a great game. For Morrowind, it's the alien landscape + creatures + awesome character creation. For Oblivion, it's the uniqueness of delving into the equivalent of Hell. For Final Fantasy, it's the Behemoths, and marlboros, the Bahamuts, the summons, and the always unique characters with their own personal histories. For Secret of mana, it's the simpleness of Sprite, the tenacity and stubborness of Girl(I never renamed them), and the ability to upgrade weapons to level 8, then find out you can get weapon orbs off enemies in the flying fortress and ugprade them to level 9. For Chrono trigger, it's the multiple endings, and ability to defeat the main boss of the game less then half way through the game. For Breath of fire, it's how there is almost always a Nina type, how the main character is always descended from Dragons. How there is always a big muscular type like Rand. For two worlds, it's the hilarity of the B movie style voice acting, and the ability to stack armor up to 50 times, and still get 90% of your health taking out by an enemy you fought at the beginning of the game(Ogers anyone?) For Neverwinter Nights, it's the incredibly in depth character creation, the wonderful storyline, and learning more of Toril and Faerun, and Neverwinter nights history in general. For baldurs gate, it's how epic of a story it has, and the sheer depth given to your companions, and the fact the game has truly stood the test of time. I could go on and on(believe me, I already have another dozen games floating inside my head and what I find great about them).

My point is, I love all genres of RPGs, and I'm, again, surprised that fellow RPG lovers don't feel the same way.

[Marnesia Steele]

I like both.

[M!KkI]

Most likely, yes.

Oh fiddlesticks! I was going to get it when i get my ps3...

[Avril Churchill]

wow, so after reading the entire thread, I guess I see more of why people dislike JRPGs. I have to say I disagree with everything said about them, but, I guess thats because I'm 28, and the ONLY kind of RPG that existed when I was 5, was JRPGS(Final Fantasy, Dragon warrior), and while my path throughout the years has led me to many MANY different types of RPGs(I don't even have names for all of them. WRPGS, JRPGS, CRPGS, Top Down RPGs(diablo!), and god knows what other labels), I've come to love all the different styles. It's in diversity that we find true contentment. Or at least, thats how I find contentment. I could never limit myself to just one style of RPG, no matter how good the style.

Needless to say, if I ever sell my collection on Ebay, I will be one rich bastard, as the majority of my collection are rpgs, including numerous rare ones, and RPGs in general sell for more. Course, I'd never sell any of them because I love them all to much. it seems like every time I turn around, I'm discovering some new game that isn't really new, but is apparently a great RPG that either never got a lot of press, or I somehow just never noticed it before. Wish I would win the lottery(course, I'd have to play first). After buying a house, building a massive in-ground pool with diving board, buying several vehicles, furnishings for said house, I'd probably spend weeks on Ebay and Amazon, and going through flea markets, pawn shops, finding as many RPG style games as I could. Probably spend 10k or more on them.

[Pete Schmitzer]

You also have to consider the material they're working with. For all of it's faults, I thought SE did a really great job of localizing Final Fantasy XIII, with much better lip-sync than previous games, and I believe one or two of the voice actors even did some work in the Mass Effect titles, which I also thought had pretty decent voice work.

I did like the voice work in ME, but to be fair I haven't seen that many Square games in action as I've never played one I liked. Just Cause 2 for example, did not keep my interest at all.

[Claudia Cook]

I did like the voice work in ME, but to be fair I haven't seen that many Square games in action as I've never played one I liked. Just Cause 2 for example, did not keep my interest at all.

The voice acting in just cause 2 was done horribly on purpose. (I know you meant that the whole game didn't catch your eye but that's just a small bit I like pointing out.)

[Manuela Ribeiro Pereira]

Oh fiddlesticks! I was going to get it when i get my ps3...

http://www.destructoid.com/what-no-plans-for-a-tales-of-vesperia-ps3-us-release--161856.phtml That's why you should stick to the 360.

[Shirley BEltran]

The voice acting in just cause 2 was done horribly on purpose. (I know you meant that the whole game didn't catch your eye but that's just a small bit I like pointing out.)

Well then I'm left with the question "Why?". Why intentionally make the acting awful? I'm sure it was meant to be funny, but to me it just made the game seem cheap and half-assed. Really though, the main problem I had were the really awkward 360 controls and the overall lack of direction and a focused storyline to keep me interested, messing around was fun for a while, but I don't think I ever played that game for more than 20 minutes at a time, and I haven't picked it up again since I bought it.

[Rachel Briere]

wow, so after reading the entire thread, I guess I see more of why people dislike JRPGs. I have to say I disagree with everything said about them, but, I guess thats because I'm 28, and the ONLY kind of RPG that existed when I was 5, was JRPGS(Final Fantasy, Dragon warrior), and while my path throughout the years has led me to many MANY different types of RPGs(I don't even have names for all of them. WRPGS, JRPGS, CRPGS, Top Down RPGs(diablo!), and god knows what other labels), I've come to love all the different styles. It's in diversity that we find true contentment. Or at least, thats how I find contentment. I could never limit myself to just one style of RPG, no matter how good the style.

Needless to say, if I ever sell my collection on Ebay, I will be one rich bastard, as the majority of my collection are rpgs, including numerous rare ones, and RPGs in general sell for more. Course, I'd never sell any of them because I love them all to much. it seems like every time I turn around, I'm discovering some new game that isn't really new, but is apparently a great RPG that either never got a lot of press, or I somehow just never noticed it before. Wish I would win the lottery(course, I'd have to play first). After buying a house, building a massive in-ground pool with diving board, buying several vehicles, furnishings for said house, I'd probably spend weeks on Ebay and Amazon, and going through flea markets, pawn shops, finding as many RPG style games as I could. Probably spend 10k or more on them.

I'm thinking of selling one of my games. Panzer Dragoon Saga for Sega Saturn. I've heard they can be worth around 500$-700$, but I'm thinking about waiting until the price goes up more.

[Lory Da Costa]

Well then I'm left with the question "Why?". Why intentionally make the acting awful? I'm sure it was meant to be funny, but to me it just made the game seem cheap and half-assed. Really though, the main problem I had were the really awkward 360 controls and the overall lack of direction and a focused storyline to keep me interested, messing around was fun for a while, but I don't think I ever played that game for more than 20 minutes at a time, and I haven't picked it up again since I bought it.

Their goal for the game was to achieve a cheesy 90's action movie in game form.

Edit: And I'd say they achieved that goal and then some.

[Philip Lyon]

JRPG's are a good refreshment from WRPG's, but I couldn't imagine playing them constantly - as I can't imagine playing any genre constantly.

The only JRPG's I play, though, are for the PS and PS2. After random encounters and voice acting come into play, they lose their charm.


I suppose anime fans find them very entertaining, but just like games, I watch anime for a change in style, taste, or whatever. It's all good in moderation, but as for playing only JRPG's, I'd have to say you're crazy.

[Peter lopez]

I'm thinking of selling one of my games. Panzer Dragoon Saga for Sega Saturn. I've heard they can be worth around 500$-700$, but I'm thinking about waiting until the price goes up more.

Maybe if it was still sealed.