Japanese RPG's and why I don't like 'em

[AWAR]

They are just boring, generic western fantasy never gets old. Also western rpgs are usually the quest-glory type while most JRPGs are about who has the most feminine teenager..

 

[SAMAS]

I hate racing games. Why can't I jump? Mario can jump. Mario's been jumping for decades. My race car should be able to jump too.

Your free Internet is in the mail.

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

Dude, we're on The Escapist forums. Being this close to Yahtzee has made us all bored to tears by all the people who think they're cool because they agree with him on something. Everyone has their own opinions - you don't like JRPG's, I think they're brilliant. So can we please just accept that and not discuss them for the eleventy billionth time?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

PedroSteckecilo, exactly with the story thing, they've used the same stories over and over for JRPGs, come to think of it, for RPG's in general, I guess thats something you can scorn all RPG's for.

Be fair, ALL stories are the same if you distill them down to their base elements. The trick is to look at the bigger picture, it's not just WHAT you do in a game, it's HOW you do it, WHERE you do it, WHY you do it and with WHO you do it. If you combine these elements correctly ANY story becomes enjoyable no matter how samey it's basic premise is.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

Before I say this, let me announce that I love Bioware RPG's. That being said, I hate JRPG's, the reason for this being is that I can't change the story. Well, there are many other factors, like the fact that there are spunky androgynous male teens fapping about with their odd hair styles and weapons the size of motorcycles. And the colossal dragons made of fire that randomly appear the second you step on a certain daisy in the middle of a field. But the main reason is that for an RPG, JRPG's are very linear, sure you can go over the landscape as much as you want, and fight every imp you'd like. But the story will remain the same. My question(s) are do you like JRPG's? If so do you have reasons to support them? Or are you like me and think they suck?

...

Yes, I like JRPG's, and WRPG's.

I like RPG'S in general.

JRPG's are fun for a good jot, and offer something to the table (for me), West is the same tolkin's character's traits...which is good for me.

But hear this: Not all JRPG's do that surpise battle treatment.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I could care less where it was made, it is about how the game is more than where the company that made it is located. Two JRPG series that I enjoy are Pokemon and Final Fantasy, but I could never really get into Star Ocean. Dragon Age was pretty fun while I was playing it (then BioShock 2 came out and now Final Fantasy XIII), but can't really get into Mass Effect much either. I bought it last year when it was on sale on Steam and still haven't really care much for it...

Most of the time, I prefer FPS/RPGs (Fallout 3, STALKER, BioShock [kinda RPGish]). One thing I loved in Fallout 3 that isn't in Dragon Age is the freedom...

 

[Dr. wonderful]

Dude, we're on The Escapist forums. Being this close to Yahtzee has made us all bored to tears by all the people who think they're cool because they agree with him on something. Everyone has their own opinions - you don't like JRPG's, I think they're brilliant. So can we please just accept that and not discuss them for the eleventy billionth time?

Dude, I need to sent you a Internet.

 

[dementis]

The main reason i dislike any JRPG i've played is the turn based combat, i'd rather have a game that while the enemy is busy beating the crap out of a team mate i can sneak up behind them and cut their head off. In my experience you can't do that in a JRPG.

 

[Broady Brio]

JRPGs arn't my game. RPGs I've liked a few, such as Oblivion.

Thats all I an say about this.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I'd say one of the main factors of why I like Japanese RPGs is that I grew up with them. Playing these games for pretty much my life, I've grown a sense of attachment and appreciation for them. It's the same feeling I have with other types of games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. All of the SNES Final Fantasies, Suikoden, Breath of Fire... when I reminisce about these games, they were all good times.=

Don't bring up Suikoden, it'll only make you mad/depressed.

It's the exception to 75% of the complaints people bring up about JRPG's and yet you'll find that pretty much NOBODY has played them.

 

[Omnis]

They are just boring, generic western fantasy never gets old. Also western rpgs are usually the quest-glory type while most JRPGs are about who has the most feminine teenager..

A lot of WRPGs are more or less offline MMO's (the quest systems that continue forever) with the added bonus of having some sort of very thin red line/story. And Personally I can never get involved in those stories, the plot is too far away and you're always distracted by some meaningless grind quest.

And no, JRPGs are not about "who has the most feminine teenager" it's about telling a story about characters with a personality and depth to them that's more than skin deep. In a world you get to experience through the eyes of your characters.

Yes I took your flame bait but honestly different people, different preferences.

 

[Goombanator]

FF13 is the first JRPG I have played scince the Ps1 days.. And without talking at length it in itself seems a juxatpositon. Decent story (about 8 hours in) But it takes so long to get going. Dragon age was a long haul slog, but at least the combat was tactical from the off. The first 3 hours of Ff13 you literally just press a button repeatedly to win fights. Thats just sloppy.

 

[Sakurazaki1023]

I'll say this right off, I prefer JPRGs.

That being said, the main things that set JRPGs apart from WRPGs is the fact that it is a linear story. While some WRPGs allow you influence the game world through your actions, JRPGs have a predetermined story and stick to that. While many WRPGs do have engaging story lines, not a single character in any WRPG I have played has ever been the slightest bit sympathetic. While it is necessary to make your character an empty slate in order to accommodate character customization and player choice, most of the WRPG protagonists are more like emotionless rocks that you can guide around the world and take quests and story missions from a group of equally unrelated rocks that stand in one place pretending to be villagers.

I play JRPGs to have a fun and unique battle system, well designed character art and monster/demon art, and to be able to relate to the characters as you guide them through the story. I guess what it all comes down to is that WRPGs lack the sympathetic elements of a linear story with consistent, realistic characters.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I like JRPGs for their stories and character development. Also, it looks extremely cool.

 

[Wolfram23]

As Yahtzee's review of DA:O shows... it's got all the different origins and once you finish that first hour of gameplay, they all converge into the exact same story. The only real non-linearity to it is the order you do your questing and how much party members love you. Whoopie!

 

[nicholaxxx]

as long as there is a clearly defined 'infinty plus one sword' [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InfinityPlusOneSword]

I'm happy

simple interests, huh?

on a more serious note, action JRPGs are my favorite, it's more amusing than 'hit/cast/heal' then wait for the round to go. anything with an active battle system is my best friend.