IGN's Top 10 Ways to Fix JRPGs...

[Axolotl]

OK point by point analysis of their list:
10)While I agree in principle, this really isn't a JRPG problem, most games which include a city suffer from this they list Oblivion and Fallout 3 as good examples of it done properly but to be honest I feel they prime examples of empty static worlds.

9)Again good point let down by the fact that WRPGs are just as bad. Planescape: Torment had filler combat so I have no hope of it ever going away.

8)This is a major complaint? Maybe I just play too many late 90's games but how is this a major problem?

7)Meh, open world can be nice but a developed one is better. Still I agree with this point.

6)Once again WRPGs are worse for this (Dragon Age for example) and at least JRPGs use JRPG cliches instead of bad fantasy cliches.

5)I haven't really encountered this problem but I still feel no voice acting benefits a game more than bad voice acting.

4)No. Just no.

3)I actually feel that as long as they're spaced well in relation todifficult combat savepoints are good things. No savepoints mean I generally reload bad things in WRPGS. And they allow me to Speech/Steal perfectly thanks to savegrinding which is a bad thing.

2)I have seen 1 RPG with an original and truly compelling story. ONE. Although I do like they're sugestions for stories.

1)JRPGs don't all use one combat system. And Disgaea beats any WRPG I've ever played in terms of combat.

 

[Axeli]

I kind of agree with the turn based combat thing. I believe the only place where it really worked was in FFX. I also say nuts to multiplayer. But a majority of the stuff on the stuff on the list I totally agree with.

When you (or other people here) think of this oh-so-horrible turn-based combat, how old games do you actually think of? Because it seems like people are more put off by the slowness of the combat in older RPGs than actually the fact they are turn-based.

I mean what the bloody hell can be fundamentally wrong with turn-based? It has been in use for hundreds of years now in games and hasn't ceased to be popular. Chess, cards, boardgames... Why would it be obsolete just for video games?

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Ok IGN, shut up! Not all JRPGs are the same and all these broad generalizations are infuriating. And no, THEY DO NOT NEED ONLINE MULTIPLAYER!! Fuck, I hate online multiplayer!
And no one can honestly say that WRPGs or many other games in the industry aren't guilty of many of the things on that list just as much if not more so then JRPGs.

 

[Adramelech]

Actually laughing out loud as I read this. I know IGN is notoriously bad, but I'm only made aware of what a joke the site is when people link me to stuff like this. Everything is painted with obnoxiously broad strokes and half the points are purely subjective.

The rant about "cardboard cutout" character portraits is hysterical. Surely IGN realizes this is a style that many people prefer, correct? Or do they imagine that every game developer secretly wishes they could have "fully animated, interactive dialogue sequences" if only the budget were bigger?

Hey IGN, some people even prefer the style of pixel art and chiptunes to modern polygonal and "realistic" character design. Shocking revelation, I'm sure.

 

[Random Argument Man]

I wouldn't mind something different from turn-based combat. I liked it, but something original is fun from time to time.

 

[seditary]

Another on the long line of close-minded people trying to impose their own values over a different group or thing.

Oh noes! FPS still conforms to the standard of Wolf 3D - run around with guns and shoot people.

Quick someone come up with a stupid list to fix them!

 

[Internet Kraken]

And no one can honestly say that WRPGs or many other games in the industry aren't guilty of many of the things on that list just as much if not more so then JRPGs.

The authors never said, at least in the article, that WRPGs did not have these flaws. This was simply their opinion on how to fix problems they noticed in JRPGs. Just becuase they used some WRPGs as examples of games that have solved these problems does not mean that they think they're flawless.

Why do I get the feeling that if this article was about anything other than JRPGs there would be a lot less bashing?

 

[TPiddy]

Actually, I would love a multi-player RPG.... Like... Diablo III.... damnit!

But seriously... I can't handle the scope of MMO's, because everyone in there has already done more than you have, but having something similar to Diablo's multi-player co-op RPG adventure would just be awesome. I loved Diablo, Borderlands, Champions of Norrath...

At least throw in up to 4 player co-op... I don't see why not...

 

[Axeli]

And no one can honestly say that WRPGs or many other games in the industry aren't guilty of many of the things on that list just as much if not more so then JRPGs.

The authors never said, at least in the article, that WRPGs did not have these flaws. This was simply their opinion on how to fix problems they noticed in JRPGs. Just becuase they used some WRPGs as examples of games that have solved these problems does not mean that they think they're flawless.

Why do I get the feeling that if this article was about anything other than JRPGs there would be a lot less bashing?

Maybe because this "lol, JRPGs suck!" bandwagon was stupid when it started and hasn't become any less annoying during these last couple years?

And they do imply WRPGs aren't as faulty. First of all, why not just say "RPGs" then? Secondly and more importantly, they keep praising WRPGs as they way it should be done quite a bit.

Save Points are actually a damn good thing. Where's the challenge in a JRPG without them?

Eh? Are you saying that the challenge in a JRPG comes from the inability to save at any point? If that's true, then could you please explain? I don't understand how it contribute to anything other than false difficulty.

Save grinding. Enough said.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

...None of these are problems. The only problem I see here is IGN.

JRPGs are fine as they are. Sure some parts of them get played out, but the same is true of every genre.

 

[Internet Kraken]

And no one can honestly say that WRPGs or many other games in the industry aren't guilty of many of the things on that list just as much if not more so then JRPGs.

The authors never said, at least in the article, that WRPGs did not have these flaws. This was simply their opinion on how to fix problems they noticed in JRPGs. Just becuase they used some WRPGs as examples of games that have solved these problems does not mean that they think they're flawless.

Why do I get the feeling that if this article was about anything other than JRPGs there would be a lot less bashing?

Maybe because this "lol, JRPGs suck!" bandwagon was stupid when it started and hasn't become any less annoying during these last couple years?

And they do imply WRPGs aren't as faulty. First of all, why not just say "RPGs" then? Secondly and more importantly, they keep praising WRPGs as they way it should be done quite a bit.

I agree that mindless JRPG bashing is stupid and annoying. However, I think that the mindless bashing of anyone that criticizes JRPGs is just as bad. After all, the authors of this article openly admitted to loving JRPGs.

And the reason they don't just say RPGs is because they want the article to be about JRPGs. And while they do point out WRPGs, that's because they are showing a specific example of the problem being solved, not because it's a WRPG. In point 4#, they mentioned a JRPG of having attempted to solve this problem in addition to WRPGs.

Save grinding. Enough said.

I don't think I know what you're talking about. Could you please explain?

 

[ElTigreSantiago]

Save Points are actually a damn good thing. Where's the challenge in a JRPG without them?

Where's the joy in games with them?

I kind of agree with the list, but the multiplayer thing was pretty stupid. When it comes to JRPGs, I love the anime-style art, characters and light-hearted nature, but I'm rather tired of the gameplay. My ideal game would be a game like Oblivion or Dragon Age, but with the art, characters and attitude of a JRPG.

I say attitude because with western games today, everything is dead serious and the story is like "A powerful demonic force is coming and the entire world is screwed. Everyone is miserable and probably hates you. But damn it, you're going to save everything somehow." Sure, in Dragon Age Alistair will crack a joke here and smile there, but then it's back to how depressing everything is. Don't get me wrong, I love Dragon Age and some depression (Heck, Fallout 3 made a whole game out of depression and I've been loving the crap out of it for over a year.) but lately that's all there has been. I could go for something a bit happier.

 

[Grand_Arcana]

I don't think it should be taken as "Saving." Yes, that's what he said but just stay with me; this article is a list of possible innovations that JRPG devs should consider. Every part of this review critiques a reoccurring annoyance that appears in JRPGs and gives a possible alternative, or other games that have overcome that problem.

 

[seditary]

I been reading some of the comments, and I can't help but think whenever someone agrees with removing save points "Stop being shit?"

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Uh...

 

[busterkeatonrules]

I have seen 1 RPG with an original and truly compelling story. ONE.

And now you've got me curious. WHICH one?

 

[Internet Kraken]

I been reading some of the comments, and I can't help but think whenever someone agrees with removing save points "Stop being shit?"

I think they should be removed not because I'm "shit", but because there really isn't any real reason to have them. At least not one that I can think of. I can think of tons of reasons not to have them, but not a single reason to keep them. Perhaps you can supply one?

 

[FretfulGnome]

I wonder if they're having this same discussion in Japan, only they're trying to figure out how to fix WRPG's instead.

 

[seditary]

I been reading some of the comments, and I can't help but think whenever someone agrees with removing save points "Stop being shit?"

I think they should be removed not because I'm "shit", but because there really isn't any real reason to have them. At least not one that I can think of. I can think of tons of reasons not to have them, but not a single reason to keep them. Perhaps you can supply one?

When used properly, they can help control and improve the pacing of the game, both in combat and narrative. It sort of destroys the supposed feeling of being in a hostile environment of a dungeon if you can save anywhere and anytime because then there is no risk involved.