JRPGs

[GigaHz]

As someone who started playing WRPGs and JRPGs around roughly the same time (Fallout series and FF6), my biggest complaint with JRPGs is that they haven't really evolved much over time.

The only recent JRPG that I can think of that did make an effort to break out of the stagnating JRPG formula is FF12, and predictably many people hated that game.

There's just something about turn-based combat, anime cliches, overly flashy/gimmicky combat, and bat-shit insane story lines that I find unappealing. They were fine for the SNES-Playstation era but they feel incredibly out of place now.

Also, I really liked Demon Souls, but I'm not sure if that counts as a JRPG. It seems more like a Japanese take on WRPG gameplay so I'm not sure how gamers would define it.

 

[veloper]

Also, I really liked Demon Souls, but I'm not sure if that counts as a JRPG. It seems more like a Japanese take on WRPG gameplay so I'm not sure how gamers would define it.

"Action RPG".

We don't call a RPG a JRPG just because it's from Japan, the game has to play like a JRPG. Party (of 4), turn-based or semi-TB, fixed combat formations, lineair story, random encounters on a world map, etc.
I suppose a JRPG can ditch some of these old characteristics, but not most of them and still be one.


OT: no hate, just apathy.
I might have hated FF13, if I had liked previous installments, but I don't, so I don't care what happens.
I like good SRPGs though and those typically come from Japan also (and are not JRPG, but do share some similarities).

 

[Abbyrose07]

I love Jrpgs but they just get really annoying sometimes. A lot of them are just cliche...with the characters the plots etc...There is almost always that annoying healer main character girl (childhood friend, random princess that the main character meets in the beginning of the game etc.) who is in love with the main protagonist but never shows it. You almost always have to rescue her from some evil person during the game also. Then they meet some other cliche characters...sexy girl, other cool guy since the main character is most likely a "cool guy" character as well, random kid, spunky girl, main characters guy friend, guy who is obsessed with women etc...then they go out and save the world while grinding, doing random quests for people, trekking through endless dungeons/fields, battling bosses etc on the way....the end.

 

[IWCAS]

If you don't like JRPG's Play Persona 4. You'll change your mind. If you DO like JRPG's and have never played an SMT title... Well go fucking get one. NOW

I did. It actually worked the other way for me. I surprisingly quite enjoyed Persona 3, to the point that I actually bought it twice (once the normal version, and then FES). Even though it suffered from the problems above mentioned regarding JRPG character archetypes, design and clichés, it was a surprisingly good and deep game, that although it didn't really DO anything new, it mixed and mashed several gameplay elements to create an enjoyable whole.

The purchase of Persona 4, however, showed me that Persona 3 was the exception that proved the rule. All that felt new about P3 felt rehashed and tired in P4. It was, to me, a letdown after the brilliant glimmer of hope seen in P3.

P3 was more of a challenge. Maybe p4 just bored you. P4's combat was much smoother--coming from someone who sucks at it but can still enjoy it.

 

[Legion IV]

If you don't like JRPG's Play Persona 4. You'll change your mind. If you DO like JRPG's and have never played an SMT title... Well go fucking get one. NOW

All opinion. I thought Persona 4 was just bad. I didn't like half of the characters. The ending to me was absolutely awful and infuriated me to no end.

Sorry for not including details but i still have a soul and i dont want to spoil the game for others.

 

[MarxII]

The trouble is that the Japanese are singularly skillful at writing characters who are absolute pricks, and then lionizing those same to Narnia and back.

 

[Keepeas]

I actually have a hard time getting into the the western ones like Dragon Age, the Witcher or Mass Effect.

about the only Western RPGs I like so far are Fallout and Borderlands.

What is so bad about games like Final Fantasy (except VII, I do see plenty reason to hate on that one), Tales of Symphonia, Disgaea, and Kingdom Hearts?

yeah I have the same problem, and Fallout and Borderlands are FPSrpg's so...I don't think they count.

I love the JRPG's that I've played:
Tales of Symphonia (love it to death)
Chono Trigger
Paper Mario 2
etc.

But I think the label of JRPG hurts it along with lack of advertisement for JRPGs in the west.
I mean the only time you really hear about one is from a fanboy or a hater...

Also I loved Symphonia...but I can't get into the 2nd one because of that whining crappy main character...does anyone know it gets better...I mean Lloyd was a perfect main...

 

[IWCAS]

If you don't like JRPG's Play Persona 4. You'll change your mind. If you DO like JRPG's and have never played an SMT title... Well go fucking get one. NOW

All opinion. I thought Persona 4 was just bad. I didn't like half of the characters. The ending to me was absolutely awful and infuriated me to no end.

Sorry for not including details but i still have a soul and i dont want to spoil the game for others.

Well actually you are right on the characters. As far as GAMEPLAY goes P4 takes the cake. I predicted that... Well you know who was the killer from about the middle of the game too. I loved the shit out of FES and my avatar reflects that; P3 was just more interesting but it was harder and wasn't quite as perfected in the dungeons.

P3's ending was FUCKING AMAZING and Shinji made my cry like a little baby. That shit was sad.

 

[infohippie]

My problem with JRPGs is that historically they've been console-only, so as a PC-only gamer, I never played them as I was growing and my taste in games was maturing. However, I did play a lot of western RPGs as well as read a lot of western fantasy novels and played a lot of pen & paper RPGs. Now that some JRPGs are on PC too, I just can't seem to get into them since I didn't really get exposed to them growing up. Also, I like my party members to be more the western archetypes and not a bunch of androgynous kids.

If Japanese developers didn't have such a hard-on for consoles all the time, they might be able to really expand their customer base.

...and then lionizing those same to Narnia and back.

Nice turn of phrase, but I move that it be shortened simply to "Aslanning them."

 

[ecoho]

Ok, so I hear it all the time on Yahtzee's reviews and from a lot of other people on the forums, but I generally do want to know what people seem to have against JRPGs.

I actually have a hard time getting into the the western ones like Dragon Age, the Witcher or Mass Effect.

about the only Western RPGs I like so far are Fallout and Borderlands.

What is so bad about games like Final Fantasy (except VII, I do see plenty reason to hate on that one), Tales of Symphonia, Disgaea, and Kingdom Hearts?

its mostly setting and the teenage thing kinda grates at you. now thats not saying that JRPGs are bad they are just bad for people who like you know D&D.

 

[ecoho]

I actually have a hard time getting into the the western ones like Dragon Age, the Witcher or Mass Effect.

about the only Western RPGs I like so far are Fallout and Borderlands.

What is so bad about games like Final Fantasy (except VII, I do see plenty reason to hate on that one), Tales of Symphonia, Disgaea, and Kingdom Hearts?

yeah I have the same problem, and Fallout and Borderlands are FPSrpg's so...I don't think they count.

I love the JRPG's that I've played:
Tales of Symphonia (love it to death)
Chono Trigger
Paper Mario 2
etc.

But I think the label of JRPG hurts it along with lack of advertisement for JRPGs in the west.
I mean the only time you really hear about one is from a fanboy or a hater...

Also I loved Symphonia...but I can't get into the 2nd one because of that whining crappy main character...does anyone know it gets better...I mean Lloyd was a perfect main...

it doesnt i went out and traded mine for $20 when i could and never looked back and i put 15hours into it.

 

[johnstamos]

I don't play em.
Glad i could contribute to this thread.

 

[redspud]

I like them both.

I play a JRPG when i get bored of WRPGs and vice versa

 

[Javarock]

If you don't like JRPG's Play Persona 4. You'll change your mind. If you DO like JRPG's and have never played an SMT title... Well go fucking get one. NOW

No.

I Have saw the art style for that game, And to me it appears animeish, I'm not otuching it with a ten foot pole.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Seems alot of people pull the ignorance hat over their head and not actually talk about JRPGs.
We all like our games and all our games have faults, so let's talk about what they are, otherwise they can never improve.

So JRPGs:
- story, characters, text is all straight up anime, very entertaining and over the to but make no sense, the characters are completely unrelatable because there is no single person in the real world who acts or talks like them

- rubber stamp characters, if you are doing the silly thing don't just reuse the same characters put something new in (and no anorexic crack whore Dante is not the answer to that)

- random battles, you couldn't possibly find anything to make the game feel more mechanical and not like a consistent world

- turn based combat, when I'm not doing anything for 90% of the combat time you need to fix some things, I want to participate not wait

 

[Chibz]

So JRPGs:
- story, characters, text is all straight up anime, very entertaining and over the to but make no sense, the characters are completely unrelatable because there is no single person in the real world who acts or talks like them

- rubber stamp characters, if you are doing the silly thing don't just reuse the same characters put something new in (and no anorexic crack whore Dante is not the answer to that)

- random battles, you couldn't possibly find anything to make the game feel more mechanical and not like a consistent world

- turn based combat, when I'm not doing anything for 90% of the combat time you need to fix some things, I want to participate not wait

Except not even every FINAL FANTASY game is like that.

1. Most of the characters from 4 and 6 are relatable. Admittedly most real people won't act like them, but that's more due to you simply not knowing people in such situations.

2. Um... What? In the good final fantasy games the only reused character name was Cid. Due to popular demand. And that's due to popular demand.

3. Not every FF game has random battles. Mystic Quest for example, you know where every single encounter is.

4. What's wrong with turn based combat? Maybe you aren't cut out for the genre...

 

[Smooth Operator]

Except not even every FINAL FANTASY game is like that.

Ya some games improve on some things, I was talking in general where JRPGs go wrong and most don't even attempt to move forward.