JRPGs, anime, and hateful main characters

[BazaarFawkes]

I really fucking hated The Last Remnant, or its story part in each case. The story and the characters in it were absolutely pathetic.

But I think it's really very wrong to generalise these things to "anime & JRPG". Do many anime & JRPG's have terrible casts? YES.
But so do many western animations, films, series and games.

If you watch series like "Now and Then; Here and There", "Shinsekai Yori", "Shingeki no Kyojin" (just to name a few I recently saw) and pretty much anything by studio Ghibli, you learn to appreciate. With the wealth of the anime / RPG output from Japan, there's bound to be a lot of shit to sift through before you get to the peals.

I definitely agree with you there. I dislike it immensely when people dismiss those genres like they have absolutely no worth.

Just recently finished Shinsekai Yori, and wow... I loved it. I like how ambiguous it is when it comes down to the morality behind the actions commited by both the Queerats and Humans. Gives me so many thinks to think about and discuss. Also, Shun in Episode 10 is tears.

Shingeki? The protagonist sucks a lot.
And the anime is average.

Anime isn't even halfway through, so how could you say? Agree that it started strong but is starting to lose it a little bit. Still above average imo.

Don't agree that the protagonist sucks that much, you can't really know, he hasn't even featured in a large number of the latest episodes. He's annoying, but the series is self-conscious of this.

Different opinions and all tho...

I wouldn't say he's too obnoxious. He certainly has a clear resolve i.e "Kill all the Titans". I will agree he does it quite frequently though, but whether thats a good or a bad thing is really up to you.

The pacing of the anime is definitely slow compared to your usual show. But I enjoy that aspect since it builds up everything before firing off. Although I would recommend people who are interested to wait for the series to finish (or close to) so you can just marathon it. Its one of those "I want to watch the next episode now!!" shows.

Its definitely a good show, there is no doubt about that. But the people everywhere overhyping it are really just setting themselves up for disappointment.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

After re-watching Soul Eater recently.....Black Star. I just cant stand him, but I hate overly egotistical morons anyway.

Shinji Ikari from Evangelion also gets a mention here. You get to pilot a giant robot/monster and theres a cute ginger girl who wants to bounce on you.......STOP MOPING AROUND!

Ikari Shinji again? I propose a challenge: have your mother killed in front of you, get separated from your father for years, return to said father only to be forced to fight in a war with no comprehension about what is going on and which no one thanks you for and actively hates you for, and have that ginger girl be so broken physiologically that she abuses you despite having feelings for you.

If you are able to get out of trauma like that with a genuine smile on your face, then congratulations, you officially have no way of getting PTSD or are able to disconnect from humanity so much that the pain of the world matters not.

On the subject of the topic, harem leads, just bleep them. I understand that they are meant to appeal to people who either have had issues interacting with people or are forced to be outcasts but still, you can make a person who at least is somewhat aware of emotions that others have and is also aware of BASIC SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS. There is honestly no excuse for protagonist to be so idiotic that he isn't even aware of basic human structures, male or female.

 

[wooty]

After re-watching Soul Eater recently.....Black Star. I just cant stand him, but I hate overly egotistical morons anyway.

Shinji Ikari from Evangelion also gets a mention here. You get to pilot a giant robot/monster and theres a cute ginger girl who wants to bounce on you.......STOP MOPING AROUND!

Ikari Shinji again? I propose a challenge: have your mother killed in front of you, get separated from your father for years, return to said father only to be forced to fight in a war with no comprehension about what is going on and which no one thanks you for and actively hates you for, and have that ginger girl be so broken physiologically that she abuses you despite having feelings for you.

If you are able to get out of trauma like that with a genuine smile on your face, then congratulations, you officially have no way of getting PTSD or are able to disconnect from humanity so much that the pain of the world matters not.

Hmmmmm, somebody is taking this way too seriously. Plus I've got two of those issues covered and I seem to doing alright. I've just never had the opportunity to see my mother murdered or get dragged into a war with weird monster shit................yet.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

After re-watching Soul Eater recently.....Black Star. I just cant stand him, but I hate overly egotistical morons anyway.

Shinji Ikari from Evangelion also gets a mention here. You get to pilot a giant robot/monster and theres a cute ginger girl who wants to bounce on you.......STOP MOPING AROUND!

Ikari Shinji again? I propose a challenge: have your mother killed in front of you, get separated from your father for years, return to said father only to be forced to fight in a war with no comprehension about what is going on and which no one thanks you for and actively hates you for, and have that ginger girl be so broken physiologically that she abuses you despite having feelings for you.

If you are able to get out of trauma like that with a genuine smile on your face, then congratulations, you officially have no way of getting PTSD or are able to disconnect from humanity so much that the pain of the world matters not.

Hmmmmm, somebody is taking this way too seriously. Plus I've got two of those issues covered and I seem to doing alright. I've just never had the opportunity to see my mother murdered or get dragged into a war with weird monster shit................yet.

apologies, it's just that i hear about "Shinji is a weak spineless idiot" so much and it gets on my nerves that many don't seem to understand the circumstances that he's been through could break a lot of war veterans, much less 14 year olds who have self-worth issues to begin with.

Also, that giant robot transmit the pain it feels to you so you are basically being tortured every time you go into combat and since the monsters are capable of ripping arms, limbs and chucks of flesh off, you basically are feeling the pain of death.

 

[BazaarFawkes]

After re-watching Soul Eater recently.....Black Star. I just cant stand him, but I hate overly egotistical morons anyway.

Shinji Ikari from Evangelion also gets a mention here. You get to pilot a giant robot/monster and theres a cute ginger girl who wants to bounce on you.......STOP MOPING AROUND!

Ikari Shinji again? I propose a challenge: have your mother killed in front of you, get separated from your father for years, return to said father only to be forced to fight in a war with no comprehension about what is going on and which no one thanks you for and actively hates you for, and have that ginger girl be so broken physiologically that she abuses you despite having feelings for you.

If you are able to get out of trauma like that with a genuine smile on your face, then congratulations, you officially have no way of getting PTSD or are able to disconnect from humanity so much that the pain of the world matters not.

Hmmmmm, somebody is taking this way too seriously. Plus I've got two of those issues covered and I seem to doing alright. I've just never had the opportunity to see my mother murdered or get dragged into a war with weird monster shit................yet.

apologies, it's just that i hear about "Shinji is a weak spineless idiot" so much and it gets on my nerves that many don't seem to understand the circumstances that he's been through could break a lot of war veterans, much less 14 year olds who have self-worth issues to begin with.

Also, that giant robot transmit the pain it feels to you so you are basically being tortured every time you go into combat and since the monsters are capable of ripping arms, limbs and chucks of flesh off, you basically are feeling the pain of death.

I can understand if there are people out there who won't be affected as much as Shinji (if at all). But I agree, it really gets to me just as much if they can't even comprehend the possiblity of trauma when people experience these distressing events.

 

[Fdzzaigl]

Just recently finished Shinsekai Yori, and wow... I loved it. I like how ambiguous it is when it comes down to the morality behind the actions commited by both the Queerats and Humans. Gives me so many thinks to think about and discuss. Also, Shun in Episode 10 is tears.

That series must be one of my recent favourites. It also moves along slowly, but it presents some damn deep themes and it doesn't ever disappoint in tackling them.

I feel the same on Shingeki no Kyojin as well: I enjoy it for what it is really. It's not too deep or anything, but still enjoyable in its concept and presentation.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I'm playing Xenosaga: Der wille zur macht right now, and I must say they have some great characters. There's no one that comes off as stupid, even if there's one whiny guy, but he's not a main character in that way. COS-MOS is already becoming one of my favourite characters in a JRPG, might end up as one of my favourite characters in any media if she continues the way she has been. Persona 4 has good characters too, though the main character is a blank slate, but I played him so I got the best grades in school.

And now I feel just spiteful and frustrated. Got the Xenosaga II, easily one of my favourite JRPGS to date. Agree completely in regards to KOS-MOS, suprisingly well written. Would have loved to get Xenosaga 1 and 3 as well, but for some unexplicit reason only the second game was ever released in europe and due to the region locks on DVDs I can't import them from the US. *RAGE*

On topic: made me think of Disgaea, that series always got good complex characters and well written stories. If they weren't more grindy than even I can bear...

If that is accurate regarding FF XII (and I wouldn't be surprised), then it would make it even more frustrating. It just baffles me, square-enix got some really talented writers on their staff evidently. For example, everytime that I play FF X I think that Auron and Lulu are awesome and then I hear that blonde spoiled brat. I'm supposed to focus on that guy? Seriously, that is your primary character? What were they thinking?!

I live in Sweden. I haven't imported it. I'm using the PCSX2 emulator.

And now I just feel dumb. I blame my collectory stance towards games and that I have difficulties comprehending that a modern computer can actually emulate a PS2. It still feels like a new console to me.

Don't worry about it, I didn't think it would work as well as it did at the start either. XD Also, I think you probably can bypass region locks with a PCSX2 emulator. I had more than one region to choose from when I installed my version. I think it works with real PS2 discs too, even if I use ROMs.

You may want to edit that. I'm pretty sure emulators are technically illegal and endorsing them on the escapist isn't tolerated.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

Luke Fon Fabre, by the gods, this guy made me want to snap the fucking cartridge in half (played the 3DS version) He is insufferable for the first half of the game, my sister says he gets better and I reached the part in the story where he casually fucks up everything and might start becoming less of a ****, but for the most part, I wanted to stop playing because this bitchbag is the protagonist.

Seriously, anyone who complains about Tidus, Tidus is nothing compared to Luke in terms of annoyance.

Does he really get better...I kinda stopped cause I hated him too >_>.

Also I hate main leads who are all bark and no bite, like Naruto. Every time I watched him I kept saying "If you didn't have the nine tails in him he wouldn't be this powerful". Same reason why I just can not stand Black Star, I really want him to be killed off and for all the wrong reasons. Maybe that's why I like Ruby from the Pokemon Adventures, he has the talent for battling he just chose not to use it.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

I'm playing Xenosaga: Der wille zur macht right now, and I must say they have some great characters. There's no one that comes off as stupid, even if there's one whiny guy, but he's not a main character in that way. COS-MOS is already becoming one of my favourite characters in a JRPG, might end up as one of my favourite characters in any media if she continues the way she has been. Persona 4 has good characters too, though the main character is a blank slate, but I played him so I got the best grades in school.

And now I feel just spiteful and frustrated. Got the Xenosaga II, easily one of my favourite JRPGS to date. Agree completely in regards to KOS-MOS, suprisingly well written. Would have loved to get Xenosaga 1 and 3 as well, but for some unexplicit reason only the second game was ever released in europe and due to the region locks on DVDs I can't import them from the US. *RAGE*

On topic: made me think of Disgaea, that series always got good complex characters and well written stories. If they weren't more grindy than even I can bear...

If that is accurate regarding FF XII (and I wouldn't be surprised), then it would make it even more frustrating. It just baffles me, square-enix got some really talented writers on their staff evidently. For example, everytime that I play FF X I think that Auron and Lulu are awesome and then I hear that blonde spoiled brat. I'm supposed to focus on that guy? Seriously, that is your primary character? What were they thinking?!

I live in Sweden. I haven't imported it. I'm using the PCSX2 emulator.

And now I just feel dumb. I blame my collectory stance towards games and that I have difficulties comprehending that a modern computer can actually emulate a PS2. It still feels like a new console to me.

Don't worry about it, I didn't think it would work as well as it did at the start either. XD Also, I think you probably can bypass region locks with a PCSX2 emulator. I had more than one region to choose from when I installed my version. I think it works with real PS2 discs too, even if I use ROMs.

You may want to edit that. I'm pretty sure emulators are technically illegal and endorsing them on the escapist isn't tolerated.

Emulators are not illegal, running stolen software on them is though (or the BIOS if it is required). It's how companies repackage old games for new or different systems, they own the rights to the software the emulator is running.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I'm playing Xenosaga: Der wille zur macht right now, and I must say they have some great characters. There's no one that comes off as stupid, even if there's one whiny guy, but he's not a main character in that way. COS-MOS is already becoming one of my favourite characters in a JRPG, might end up as one of my favourite characters in any media if she continues the way she has been. Persona 4 has good characters too, though the main character is a blank slate, but I played him so I got the best grades in school.

And now I feel just spiteful and frustrated. Got the Xenosaga II, easily one of my favourite JRPGS to date. Agree completely in regards to KOS-MOS, suprisingly well written. Would have loved to get Xenosaga 1 and 3 as well, but for some unexplicit reason only the second game was ever released in europe and due to the region locks on DVDs I can't import them from the US. *RAGE*

On topic: made me think of Disgaea, that series always got good complex characters and well written stories. If they weren't more grindy than even I can bear...

If that is accurate regarding FF XII (and I wouldn't be surprised), then it would make it even more frustrating. It just baffles me, square-enix got some really talented writers on their staff evidently. For example, everytime that I play FF X I think that Auron and Lulu are awesome and then I hear that blonde spoiled brat. I'm supposed to focus on that guy? Seriously, that is your primary character? What were they thinking?!

I live in Sweden. I haven't imported it. I'm using the PCSX2 emulator.

And now I just feel dumb. I blame my collectory stance towards games and that I have difficulties comprehending that a modern computer can actually emulate a PS2. It still feels like a new console to me.

Don't worry about it, I didn't think it would work as well as it did at the start either. XD Also, I think you probably can bypass region locks with a PCSX2 emulator. I had more than one region to choose from when I installed my version. I think it works with real PS2 discs too, even if I use ROMs.

You may want to edit that. I'm pretty sure emulators are technically illegal and endorsing them on the escapist isn't tolerated.

Emulators are not illegal, running stolen software on them is though (or the BIOS if it is required). It's how companies repackage old games for new or different systems, they own the rights to the software the emulator is running.

Either way, he just said he uses roms, not discs. I'm guessing he didn't make the roms himself.

 

[Angie7F]

I dont like the idiot hero types too.
But on the other hand, we have too many complex anti-hero types now so I cant make up my mind.
I guess on of the reasons "Attack on titans" was popular is because it went back to the roots of shonen

 

[Diserasta]

Luke Fon Fabre, by the gods, this guy made me want to snap the fucking cartridge in half (played the 3DS version) He is insufferable for the first half of the game, my sister says he gets better and I reached the part in the story where he casually fucks up everything and might start becoming less of a ****, but for the most part, I wanted to stop playing because this bitchbag is the protagonist.

Seriously, anyone who complains about Tidus, Tidus is nothing compared to Luke in terms of annoyance.

Yeah, but the point of the that story is that Luke is a whiny little whore of a kid. The Tales of Games are known for taking the piss out of and simultaneously deconstructing common JRPG tropes. Like the whiny boy turning into confident badass. Luke does that in reverse. And more-so, he's much more likable afterwards, if he is a bit bitchy until you hit the end-game.

Same way Tales of Graces F (for anyone who's played it) overplays and deconstructs THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP. It would be sickening if it wasn't so well done.