Looking for an immersive JRPG

[kyogen]

Nier (PS3)--great story and characters, interesting world, decent action combat

Final Fantasy XII (PS2)--huge world, great cast, story focused on power and politics, nice environments and art design

Neither of these is your bog-standard JRPG, but they're both great quirky versions of the genre. If Persona 4 is more your style, though, you might prefer other Atlus games in the MT/SMT family or even Catherine, which is kind of a puzzler with a JRPG vibe.

 

[viranimus]

I will offer to add very much old school. Silver from dreamcast era (but available on PC) and Grandia 2

Ill nod to Final fantasy 9, Xenogears, Xenoblade, Vagrant story (though it really isnt all that Jrpg-ish)

 

[romanator0]

Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age. 2 of the best JRPGs I've ever played. I'll also throw in a recommendation for Dragon Quest VIII and Final Fantasy IX, they're also very well made games.

 

[Mister K]

My personal favorites (aside from P4) are Final Fantasy X and Chrono Trigger and I DO recommend them.

 

[dimensional]

This gen I would put Xenoblade Chronicles at the top and as one of the best of all time as well not just this gen, The Last story next for its brisk pace excellent combat and fun interaction between characters, after that there is Lost Odyssey which is much more traditional but also good fun.

If you want to class Valkyria Chronicles as a JRPG then fine it is an excellent game (my second favourite game of all time actually) and has a great story and characters but really its more of a strategy game if you buy it expecting a JRPG you will probably be dissapointed. There is a demo of it on the PSN though I believe.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Not since Persona 4 have I found a JRPG that has really hooked me. The kind of game that just captures you with a well written story, engaging characters, and smooth gameplay mechanics. Does anyone know of such a game? I have all the current consoles and a PC so platform isn't an issue.

If your consoles really are completely current, you could always just play persona 4 again with the new version on Vita, everything you could ask for from the original but with awesome new graphics, additional content etc etc.

I do want too, unfortunately a Vita is the one device I don't have.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I've got a big list of games to check out now.

 

[blazearmoru]

FF10 Brohan, FF10 :<

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Tales of Symphonia / the Abyss / Vesperia / Graces f / Destiny / Eternia(Destiny 2 in the states) / Legendia / Phantasia
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy XII
Star Ocean
Star Ocean: The Second Story
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Star Ocean: The Last Hope(International if possible)
Grandia
Breath of Fire
Chaos Rings Omega
Chaos Rings
Chaos Rings II
Xenogears
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra

There are probably more that I'll remember later after I hit the Post button.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Oops, double post. Please ignore this post.

 

[Maze1125]

Chrono Trigger is one of the best JRPGs I've played. Older now, but still good and you can get it on the DS IIRC.

 

[Hargrimm]

Tactics Ogre
Demons/Dark Souls & King's Field/Shadow Tower games
Anachronox
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne

Those are the ones I know enough about to recommend.

Sengoku Rance

Ha! Nice one

.

 

[lechat]

xenoblade
story reads like something out of a twisted manga

 

[Kaimax]

Sengoku Rance

Ha! Nice one

.

It's a good series with good lore and world backround behind it, if you can stand all the sex content. And Rance is basically the "Final Fantasy" of the Eroge world, it already reached the 8th and that's not the end of the story. lol

 

[deanospimoni]

Most recently produced JRPG that I played was Final Fantasy X, so I am at a bit of a disadvantage. However, if you don't mind sprites, Final Fantasy VI is a rather good game. Interesting characters, good story, a memorable villain, etc. Gameplay is clunky by modern standards, and has a couple of notable gamebreaking exploits, but the story more than makes up for it. Strongly recommended.

Others:
Chrono Cross
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VII
Kingdom Hearts

All of my favorites were produced by Square Enix for some reason. The quality of rpgs that they have been producing recently saddens me.