JRPG's that just got everything right

[RandV80]

Yeah for OP recommendations I'd point him towards the Suikoden series, 5 games (+2 side games) in total with only #4 being an abomination.

As for the best example of getting everything right though? I'd have throw my hat in with a few other people in giving that to Dragon Quest VIII. Now it's not my top JRPG of all time, but what it does best is pay tribute to all the classic elements of a JRPG while utilizing modern technology to add to the overall experience.

Consider it from this perspective, take any modern JRPG, and picture them as a demake in 16 or 8 bit versions. FFX for example as much as I love it would be weird in comparison to FFVI and below, there's no overworld map and you're basically walking up a straight path most of the time fighting random encounters. Dragon Quest VIII on the other hand would be considered a classic game on every console generation prior to its release.

 

[Sovvolf]

My deepest condolences.
Seriously.

Of this generation, theclosest thing to a jrpg that I've actually wanted to own was Valkyria Chronicles.

Indeed it seems that this generation isn't really interested in JRPG's, last good proper JRPG* I played was on the PSone (FFIX). It rare that you even find one these days never mind whether or not they are good. I guess Lost Odyssey was okayish just a little too linear (given the genre that's especially troubling).

There's a few thrown out every now and again however nothing to the scale or beauty of the older games which perplexes me. Surely its not that hard to build a JRPG, the basic structure for one hasn't needed changing, the older games like the FF series still work well today as they did back then. Maybe the market just isn't there anymore.

Either way, your right, its not an easy task to find a decent RPG these days, though thankfully the gameplay in a JRPG age well so its not too hard stick one on from the PS days and enjoy if you can get over the graphics.
*This depends on whether or not you can class Kingdom Hearts as a JRPG.

 

[Omega Pirate]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but Knights in a Nightmare is another one of my favorites. Its a DS game that's a blend of Fire Emblem type game play and bullet hell. I rank it up there next to The World Ends With You.

Haven't played any persona games but I did really like Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call (Europe name of nocturne), had Xenoblade Chronicles for a while but didn't play longer that an hour due to playing it on an old tv (couldn't read anything! text too small).

Gotta say I'm dissapointed no one mentioned Tales of Symphonia, may favourite JRPG, think I spend over 400 hours on that game

I got 500 hours in Tales of Symphonia. One of my all time favorites. The sequel is quite lackluster though.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Chrono Trigger for already posted reasons. It's just that fucking amazing.

 

[sageoftruth]

I just finished replaying Chrono Trigger after 5+ years of it sitting on my shelf. It still has a great story, but I couldn't help but notice all the plot holes that I had missed when I was younger. I was more amused than annoyed. After all, the gameplay was still great. One of my favorite things was how little grinding was necessary. I didn't try to avoid battles throughout the game, but I also didn't stop at any point to grind for exp or Tech points. It's good for a solid playthrough without any grinding detours.
Of course, some games have shown that grinding can be made fun if there's more to it than just grinding (complex character customization, or fun battles for instance).

 

[link6616]

Persona 3 may be the closest thing to the perfect JRPG I've ever played with the exception of AI controlled teammates. I really want to play Persona 4 because it did away with those.

There is actually a decent amount of writing about why thematically that lack of control really works..... It's rather interesting and helps foster that feeling that these other characters are actually people to minions...

Anyway, truely great JRPGS.... The golden sun duo, other than being a little too easy and feeling like you needed a guide to get all the djinn was really good

 

[aww yea]

Gotta chime in here and say FF9 had a brilliant story, characters (despite having amarant, the most annoying character in the series. Every other character is brilliant depicted and developed though) battle system was quite basic but the character customisation really brought it out. It's my favourite JRPG by far. Noowww im gonna say this is all opinion because im making it sound like fact, too lazy to rewrite.

Also final fantasy tactics is a game that often slips through the net, its very solid in every area. Less characters are developed (You can eject a lot of them from your team so they dont do much after key points) but the ones that are are developed to the usually square quality. Check it out

 

[Aeonknight]

Final Fantasy IV. This is the one that pretty much set the bar for modern JRPGs. The story is dramatic and engaging, the art is gorgeous, and, perhaps most importantly, it is brutally, unforgivingly difficult. This is a game that will just maul you if you don't keep your party spry.

I recommend the Playstation port, it's considered by most to be the definitive version. You could also give the DS remake a try, if the updated graphics appeal to you. The DS remake is just a touch more difficult, too, if you feel you need the additional challenge.

I attribute FF4 for my being a paladin/knight class in any rpg that it's given an option. Dark Souls, MMO's, etc.

Good stuff.

The five JRPGs that at no point ever disappointed me:

Chrono Trigger
Earthbound
Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals (highly underrated game)
Breath of Fire 3
Shadow Hearts 2

With Vagrant Story also not having any downsides, but it's more actiony than JRPGs are.

Lufia 2... finally someone else who knows of the game's existence. absolutely great game.

 

[The_Illuminist]

Yeah, I have to say that it's gotta be FF VIII.

I mean the junction system was awesome, the story was fantastic and it's still being analysed and the meaning of the game is still being though about today - hell every time i replay it I definitly pick up on new stuff.

That's why myself and a mate just did a 30 hour 100% run through of it

 

[newwiseman]

I'll repeat what many others have said,

Chrono Trigger, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Trigger, it's the only game I don't have a major problem with.

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

One of the best JRPG's I have played was PoPoLoCrois on the PSP. It was a cutsey little number, but what made it awesome was it never took itself totally seriously! The Charactors were massively lovable, and never failed to be interesting, and the battle system was simple but well polished!
It was all in an anime style, and the cutscrnes were great!

The thing I like the most about it though was the fact that you rarely had to choose characters! The story was set up so that your part was usually the only characters around at that time, and other characters tended to dissapear on their own journeys, only to chance meet you again in the future!

I loved the game because of its simple but effective humour as well! Sometimes the jokes would come out of nowhere and catch you off guard, and that what I liked about them!

More games should take lessons from PoPoLoCrois!

 

[personion]

Earthbound.

Bu-

Earthbound.

Wha-

EARTHBOUND GODDAMMIT.

It did everything right. EVERY. THING.

 

[Sovvolf]

snip

I didn't mind FFXIII too much but I just found it especially linear for a JRPG. There was few places where you could actually go out and explore, just a fixed track to walk on. At that point, I tend to wonder why I'm bothering playing it. The leveling up I thought was bull too. However overall, it wasn't a bad, bad game... I still had fun with it and enjoyed the story and the gorgeous graphics but, believe it or not, to me it really, really didn't feel like an FF game.

 

[tombman888]

Legend of Dragoon
The world ends with you
Kingdom hearts as a series.

All completely awesome games and some of my favourites ever.

 

[LadyTiamat]

Tales of Symphonia, the only JRPG that I have played through more than once. It was like FF7 to me but i won't play the sequels, the game ended too perfectly.

Baten Katios - All around great, unique battle system arounf maths and cards :3, but falls short from the DREADFULLY HORRIBLE VOICE ACTING

Persona 3 and 4- Story, gameplay and great writing and characters w dating sims!

SMT: Nocturne- Dark post apocalyptic pokemon w demons that demands you mke a choice on how to recreate (or destroy)the human world. Also dante from dmc makes a guess appearance.

 

[Laser Priest]

Honestly, I have yet to play a JRPG that has warranted the slightest bit of interest or emotion from me.

I'm quite sure I haven't found a JRPG that got a single thing right.