JRPGs for people who hate JRPGs

[szaleniec1000]

I like Final Fantasy 6, 7 and 8 but as they're exactly the kind of games (if not the actual specific games) people think of when they think of JRPGs, I wouldn't recommend them for people who don't like the genre. Also like Chrono Trigger, which might indeed be a better bet.

 

[AtticusSP]

Just for the record.
Rouge Galaxy should be bad by anyone's standards.
I like JRPGs, but seriously. That game can fuck off.

 

[IxionIndustries]

I reaally hate JRPGs, because they wind up just like anime, that boring, dull, and droning sound coming from the t.v. behind my computer chair. They always seem to drag on, and on, and on....

EDIT: Also, I know JRPGs put lots of story into their games, but they always add WAY TOO MUCH story, to where it gets off track, and you can't understand what-the-fuck is happening.

 

[Avida]

Anyone else think that Gilder sounded just like Snake when he said "Dance for me" in that video from the OP?

Also;

Basically, JRPGs are long, semi-interactive movies with just barely enough gameplay to make you feel like you've invested a good deal of time into the characters. If you need game play and immersion, your not going to like JRPGs. They also are all heavily stylized, so if you are a fan of gritty realism, your going to not like JRPGs. If JRPGs were to break out of there usual mold, and break any of these rules, I think they could get something special. Good, in depth story's is a rarity, and it is the one crowning achievement of JRPGs.

You want JRPGs to 'break out of the mould' of having a visual style... by having no visual style.. JRPGs and platformers have been the only ones to stay strong and not fall into line with all the rest, and you'd want that changed? Gritty and realistic is not unique damnit! If you (or anyone) wants realism and "immersion" in your games stick to other genre's, JRPGs are very purposefully not about that and neither I nor they would like every catagory of game merging into one horrible gritty mess. Its like asking for more family elements in horror games, or more controller-waggleing in tense squad based shooters - wouldnt you be appauled if that wish was granted?

 

[Xanadu84]

Anyone else think that Gilder sounded just like Snake when he said "Dance for me" in that video from the OP?

Also;

Basically, JRPGs are long, semi-interactive movies with just barely enough gameplay to make you feel like you've invested a good deal of time into the characters. If you need game play and immersion, your not going to like JRPGs. They also are all heavily stylized, so if you are a fan of gritty realism, your going to not like JRPGs. If JRPGs were to break out of there usual mold, and break any of these rules, I think they could get something special. Good, in depth story's is a rarity, and it is the one crowning achievement of JRPGs.

You want JRPGs to 'break out of the mould' of having a visual style... by having no visual style.. JRPGs and platformers have been the only ones to stay strong and not fall into line with all the rest, and you'd want that changed? Gritty and realistic is not unique damnit! If you (or anyone) wants realism and "immersion" in your games stick to other genre's, JRPGs are very purposefully not about that and neither I nor they would like every catagory of game merging into one horrible gritty mess. Its like asking for more family elements in horror games, or more controller-waggleing in tense squad based shooters - wouldnt you be appauled if that wish was granted?

I...don't think you were actually paying attention to my post. All I said was that JRPGs focus on story and presentation first, gameplay and immersion second. I didn't say that was inherently bad. I never said that what they were doing is wrong, but the fact remains that by and large, you DON'T go to JRPGs for realism or deep gameplay. You go for style and story. As for my, "Wish"...well its not even really a wish as much as speculation. I think that if a JRPG preserved it's quality of story and presentation, and merged that with a more realistic setting (Realistic doesn't necessarily mean unimaginative, BTW) and had a different variety of game play then its normal fare, You would have something very unique and innovative, and I would be very interested in playing that game. Its like Lord of the Rings compared to D+D: Just because D+D took many elements of its story from Lord of the Rings in order to make something unique and different doesn't mean that Lord of the Rings suddenly becomes bad. JRPGs are often times good, but a JRPG with different elements would perk my interest.

 

[Zephirius]

you might like Tales of Symphonia, or one of the Tales series, but the do have a chessie storie line.

PS, you might like it because the fighting is like kingdome hearts.

Rouge Galaxy had Kingdom Hearts style combat so, most likely not.

Well, it has more than just that. Character customization (including choosing one of two skill progression paths), many, many sidequests and the characters are likable (in my opinion).

Myself I'm not a big fan of most JRPG's. The random encounters, generally predictable stories and awfully boring turnbased battles are just... Not for me, no. I still kinda like FF9 but that may just be nostalgia from when I was 10 and loved JRPG's.

These days I prefer Western RPG's, singleplayer preferably, for better stories and gameplay.

 

[Spleenbag]

I'm really into Western RPGs: "orcs and elves, not osaka vs. the space aliens" as one poster put it earlier in the thread.

I hate, hate, HATE pretty much everything JRPGS have: no control over character details, turn-based combat, your typical "big boobs or 10-yr-old" women. That being said, my friend showed my FF XII, and we've decided to scrounge an old PS2 and a copy of that game then crash at my house and just play it. The combat is tactical but not turn-based, and I can set aside the other differences for now because it looks so damn fun. If only it were a four-man party, though, then we could take two characters each.

Speaking of which, anyone selling an old PS2? Or I could always check Craigslist.

 

[Biek]

I think ive outgrown my interest in jrpgs. Could be my age, but im sure theres people on this forum older than me who disagree. Ive lost all interest in the FF series for example, even though I was a big fan and own FF 4 to 12. One jrpg I still like is Suikoden 1 and 2 though, maybe its the old 2d charm.

 

[Terramax]

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is the only JRPG I'd recommend. In a way it parodies JRPGs (if you can't stand JRPGs with big breasted anime women, you'll be howling in one of the episodes where Laharl meets his ultimate crytonite) with it's funny yet moving script, fantastic voice acting and OTT moves.

You can also find quick and easy ways to level up your characters meaning grinding is less of a pain. And the tactical battles are, well, more tactical than most RPGs out there.

Go look!

you might like Tales of Symphonia, or one of the Tales series, but the do have a chessie storie line.

No, no, NO! Do NOT buy that game if you don't like JRPGs much. That game is as mediocre as JRPGs get. It is quite literally the most text-book typical JRPG I've ever played. It was only 6 months ago when I bought it also.

 

[Avida]

I...don't think you were actually paying attention to my post. All I said was that JRPGs focus on story and presentation first, gameplay and immersion second. I didn't say that was inherently bad. I never said that what they were doing is wrong, but the fact remains that by and large, you DON'T go to JRPGs for realism or deep gameplay. You go for style and story. As for my, "Wish"...well its not even really a wish as much as speculation. I think that if a JRPG preserved it's quality of story and presentation, and merged that with a more realistic setting (Realistic doesn't necessarily mean unimaginative, BTW) and had a different variety of game play then its normal fare, You would have something very unique and innovative, and I would be very interested in playing that game. Its like Lord of the Rings compared to D+D: Just because D+D took many elements of its story from Lord of the Rings in order to make something unique and different doesn't mean that Lord of the Rings suddenly becomes bad. JRPGs are often times good, but a JRPG with different elements would perk my interest.

*looks back*.. Nah, im not correcting mysself, i stand by that answer - I didnt say you said whatever was bad, i only bitched at what you wanted, though that said you cant tell me the first line of your first post wasnt implying that JRPGs are bad.
Anyway, gameplay isnt a second thought in JRPGs, its just a different type of gameplay, and most titles aim to put a new spin on it to some extent (generic ones excluded, but theres crap in every genre). Clearly defined and characteristic genre's are a good thing, they've evolved from what people want, adding realism and grit reminds me of something the Boosh covered - "elements of the past & elements of the future combining to make something not quite as good as either". Ok i could give you that a realistic setting could help the characters, but if realism really does work off immersion as you suggest wont it be hugely jarring when these beloved characters start bleeding numbers? Or prehaps you do away with the numbers too, then you piss of the strategy fans, or you could take it a step further and change the gameplay to a more shooter-ish westernised thing - then you get the complaints of JRPG haters on Valkyria chronicles "close, but i hate turns, i wish it was even more like a shooter". so you do away with that as well - all your left with is fallout 3, a good game in its own right but like hell is it what te actual fans of the original genre want.

D+D references are lost on me.

Oh and on your last point - look into the genre deeper, if theres still nothing for you just play a RPG, its exactly what you're looking for.

 

[Clashero]

There is only one JRPG I liked, and it was FFXII. It did away with all of the general crappiness of the previous one. Also, it had two interesting characters, which is two more than usual.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Tales of Vesperia is pretty damn good.

So is Legend of Mana.

Grandia series gets some love.

Wild Arms 1-3 gets the same love.

All of these things got me into JRPGs, whilst Final Fantasy games tore me away, with them getting respect without being nearly as good. Good, yes. As good, no.

 

[Avida]

There is only one JRPG I liked, and it was FFXII. It did away with all of the general crappiness of the previous one. Also, it had two interesting characters, which is two more than usual.

As one who liked FFXII untill about 3/4 of the way through and slowly came to detest it afterwards (played untill i killed yiazmat, i want those hours back ¬_¬) - Which two?

 

[Agent-Sliper]

I got "Valkyria Chronicles" for the PS3 the other day. Not alot of people have herd about it, but it's the best JRPG I have ever played. (Granted that isn't a very big list).

 

[KingKamor]

I can't believe that nobody has mentioned these yet.

Tales of the Abyss has a more-evolved version of Symphonia's battle system, along with a better storyline and likable characters. It'll seem kind of cliche at first, but it gets much better. Also, there are no random battles, since every enemy can be seen moving around as a monster on the map. The battle system is nothing like Rogue Galaxy's.

Tales of Vesperia is pretty much the epitome of the Tales series' battle system so far, with countless additions to it since Tales of Symphonia. Like Symphonia and Abyss, it's a real-time battle system, but like I said, a much more evolved version of it. In fact, even compared to Abyss, it's worlds ahead. In my opinion, it has much more likeable characters (aside from a certain few...) and a much better storyline. Being on the 360, the graphics are drop-dead gorgeous-- almost as beautiful as Eternal Sonata's-- and the voice overs are some of the best in the JRPG industry. Vesperia was actually made specifically with westerners in mind during development. There's a PS3 version coming out soon with a new character added, too.

 

[Ancalagon]

The first JRPG I played was Final Fantasy X, and I loved it. But I hadn't played any RPG since Ultima Underworld II at the time, so I suppose it had a bit of a novelty factor. I tried Final Fantasy XII, and got bored halfway through; and Lost Odyssey, where I got bored about three-quarters of the way through. But the only JRPG I've enjoyed since that first experience was Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant. It was funny, the alternative reality thing with World War I and the Romanovs kept me interested, and the ring system made levelling-up less of a grind. So that's my recommendation.

 

[Deguasser]

The Mother series makes fun of JRPGs

 

[Valiance]

Shining Force, no question.