JRPG: Roleplaying game? Or Statistics-Strategy Micromanagement Game?

[ThrobbingEgo]

I'm sorry, are you trying to avoid replying to what I believe is a sound counter-argument to your nitpicking?

Ok ok ok, fine. Sephroth did not touch my dick, nor any character from any game.

There, you just lost your credibility and the validity of your argument. :3 See you later!

So, in order to make any of your argument credible and valid, you have to be touched in the dick by Sephiroth, I guess I just have to call him up and ask for a handjob.

You could always pretend he's a girl. He's not far from it really.

It's not gay if you pretend he's a woman.

 

[BirdBornAsBee]

I think the distinction should be made between Action-RPGs and Turn Based RPGs, not the West versus Japan. This distinction is more useful, because this is what we're really comparing is:

-A game where you take turns hitting each other.
-An action game with heavy "RPG elements."

There's not really a substantive distinction between turn based RPGs of Western and Japanese origin, nor the action-RPGs, unless you count the art style.

Ok, now this thread is getting somewhere, this is one of the first guys who make sense to me so far. Interesting stand point, very intriguing... and I agree you to a certain extend. Except... what exactly is a RPG element? Micromanagement? Creating your own character?

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

I think the distinction should be made between Action-RPGs and Turn Based RPGs, not the West versus Japan. This distinction is more useful, because this is what we're really comparing is:

-A game where you take turns hitting each other.
-An action game with heavy "RPG elements."

There's not really a substantive distinction between turn based RPGs of Western and Japanese origin, nor the action-RPGs, unless you count the art style.

Ok, now this thread is getting somewhere, this is one of the first guys who make sense to me so far. Interesting stand point, very intriguing... and I agree you to a certain extend. Except... what exactly is a RPG element? Micromanagement? Creating your own character?

A character sheet with stats and skills is essential. Maybe a skill tree. It's not so much about micromanaging as it is specializing your character as you choose.

This is why games like Zelda are considered Adventure games, not RPGs.

 

[BirdBornAsBee]

I'm sorry, are you trying to avoid replying to what I believe is a sound counter-argument to your nitpicking?

Ok ok ok, fine. Sephroth did not touch my dick, nor any character from any game.

There, you just lost your credibility and the validity of your argument. :3 See you later!

So, in order to make any of your argument credible and valid, you have to be touched in the dick by Sephiroth, I guess I just have to call him up and ask for a handjob.

You could always pretend he's a girl. He's not far from it really.

Like a 5 minutes drive?

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Did you?

Dude...

David Bowie, can I ask you a personal question?

 

[BirdBornAsBee]

Did you?

Dude...

David Bowie, can I ask you a personal question?

I dunno, ask him.

(Sorry I edit'd the comment)

 

[sumanoskae]

Yeah, that?s pretty much what JRPG?s are, its not necessarily a bad thing but its true, the definition of an RPG is a game in which you play a role, not simply watching one, KOTOR is an RPG because your actions have a large effect on the storyline

 

[Rafe]

RPG's don't need to alter the course of the story to be RPG's do they?

 

[NeutralDrow]

Yeah, that?s pretty much what JRPG?s are, its not necessarily a bad thing but its true, the definition of an RPG is a game in which you play a role, not simply watching one, KOTOR is an RPG because your actions have a large effect on the storyline

As is, say, Tales of the Abyss, because your actions have a large effect on the storyline.

 

[New Troll]

People just need to realize that just because you have an opinion, doesn't mean the world revolves around you. EVERYONE is different. Everyone likes different things. Everyone thinks differently.

There was a time when what is now known as the "Western" RPG was basicly the same thing as old-school JRPGs. But different cultures, different peoples, prefer different things and eventualy the two subcatagories of RPG were born. And go figure, people in the 'west' tend to prefer the 'western' RPG. Does that make everyone who still enjoys a good JRPG wrong? No. Just means our cultures have influenced our generation differently.

But in my opinion, I prefer a good variety of gameplay so I'm personally glad for such cultural influences. Helps keep RPGs from all becoming the same old boring game over and over again.

As much as I enjoy watching ZP, I really wish Yahtzee had never mentioned JRPGs cause so many morons who don't even know what a good JRPG is are so easily swayed by his words. Wish people would learn to think for themslves. Or just think.

 

[asinann]

another console tard that was touched in the naughty place by someone claiming to be sephiroth when you were young.

But he had yellow pointy hair and a big sword, he HAD to be Sephiroth.

 

[shade219]

There is a simple way to think about it. In western RPG's, as was said before, you get to make lots of choice and you arn't role playing a different character. You basically get to roleplay whatever you want with weapons or super powers or whatever.

In JRPG's you are role playing as a certain person. That means stepping into their shoes. Which means you aren't going to make your own choices because you are that character. You are making their choices. It isn't what you want it is what they want. So in JRPG's, if you enjoy those games, then you enjoy them for a story that you guide along but it isn't what you want it to be...

 

[veloper]

I think the distinction should be made between Action-RPGs and Turn Based RPGs, not the West versus Japan. This distinction is more useful, because this is what we're really comparing is:

-A game where you take turns hitting each other.
-An action game with heavy "RPG elements."

There's not really a substantive distinction between turn based RPGs of Western and Japanese origin, nor the action-RPGs, unless you count the art style.

Ok, now this thread is getting somewhere, this is one of the first guys who make sense to me so far. Interesting stand point, very intriguing... and I agree you to a certain extend. Except... what exactly is a RPG element? Micromanagement? Creating your own character?

RPG elements are many, but what makes a game an "RPG" is actually very little:

Add some kind of character progression, be it character levels, XP points, or skill grinding (Elderscrolls) and have the PC kill stuff and you already have your "RPG".

The other RPG elements are:
1. Character classes or roles (paladin, rogue, etc.)
2. quests
3. inventories
4. loot and lot's of it
5. magic
6. elves with funny ears

The final RPG element is all the stuff you won't find not in JRGPS (square), not ARPGS (diablo clones), but only in WRPGS:

7. choices & consequences (good examples are fallout, vampire bloodlines, planescape)

 

[AtticusSP]

Eh. JRPGs are linear. It's how it is. Not a bad thing either. I'll take a series of badass scripted events over talking my way through the game any day. Multiple endings aside, you're pretty much just picking yes or no in a specific scene anyway.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I'm not a big fan of JRPGs, I kind of feel cheated by them. They promise so much but it's never really what you expected. Honestly, you description pretty much sums up JRPGs, it is terribly linear and you only get to execute choices that are given to you, there is no sense of, "tempt fate" option. Perhaps, that is in a way the appeal of the JRPG for some. The whole, tinkering with the stats and efficiency of execution. There is clearly no room for wasting time with silliness such as multiple choices.

It's a niche of it's own. It's not a niche I would go to, hence I don't play JRPGs any longer but for some it is what they are looking for.

 

[thiosk]

If you are playing the role of the charachter in the game, and helping the story to unfold, i don't see how that isn't a role playing game.

Now im going to go play half-life 2, my favorite role playing game of all time.

 

[D_987]

I'll say it did, since every single person I've seen who liked it seemed to suddenly say "everything that's not like Fallout 3 isn't an RPG" (with Fallout occasionally replaced with Mass Effect).

Yep, and its really starting to irritate me - someone posted a really good explanation as to why the OP is wrong on another thread (roleplaying does not mean what he think it means) - let me try and track it down).

EDIT : Bah, I can't find it =(