Poll: do you believe there is a difference between JRPG and RPG

[Zeema]

I reckon there is sorta for me

RPG: Is a more Serious Dark game and in that you always seem to have a branching story

While a JRPG: is a more Teen Angst and Annoyance and it seems to me that its very linear

NOTE: i havent played persona so i cant provide a judgement on that

 

[Sp3ratus]

There is a difference, if there wasn't, it would just be called RPGs instead of WRPGs and JRPGs. The main difference, as far as I know is that JRPGs tell a set a story, whereas WRPGs let you choose your story, playing through with your character, instead of one already created for you.

As you said, there usually is also a difference in tone, where JRPG tends to be more fantastic and colourful, whereas WRPGs tend to be more gritty realism. At least that goes for the majority of games, representing their respective branch.

EDIT: I agree with this, however:

At the core, no. RPGs are defined by gameplay mechanics that are present in the genre: stat tweaking, armor/weapon management, etc. JRPGs have these.

My original post still stands though, as the things I described are usually what's used to differentiate between the two branches.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

At their core, no. RPGs are defined by gameplay mechanics that are present in the genre: stat tweaking, armor/weapon management, etc. JRPGs have these.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

RPGs have more freedom, are often set in more medival settings, are customizable and have either real time combat or the old school pause-command thing, while JRPGS are turn-based, have have some common rules and mechanics (overworld map, in-city/town/cave map, almost identical items...) but can tell a bigger (and sometimes better) story because the limitations on the rest of the game.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

All JRPGs are RPGs but not all RPGs are JRPGs.

 

[KarumaK]

There is obviously a difference to anyone paying even a minor amount of attention, one of them contains a "J".

Honestly the things people come up with.

 

[veloper]

The JRPG is a RPG, but not all RPGs are JRPG.

The JRPG is a defined genre (though that is slowly starting to get hybridized beyond recognition too).
The RPG is an undefined super-genre; a word that means almost nothing.

 

[Axolotl]

Not significantly, yes JRPGs play differently from WRPGs but the differences aren't greater than between two different WRPG series.

 

[CriticalGriffin]

Shouldn't it be "WRPG" since RPG is the main genre which both JRPG and WRPG belong in?

But anyway; Yes, there definately is alot of differences between traditional western and traditional Japanese RPGs. Not always though and sometimes JRPG's borrow some elements from WRPGs and vice versa.

 

[babinro]

I honestly don't know. Can someone list a few examples of what we consider to be true RPG?

Are games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Oblivion, Fallout considered RPG's?

If so, I'd say the main difference between those and typical JRPG's like Tales, Final Fantasy is that JRPG's provide less choice to the gamer and focus more on telling a story that isn't ruined by the player making seemingly random choices or disregarding the urgency of the global issue.

That being said, both types of RPGS have their ups and downs, but I prefer choice in my games simply as it adds a lot more replay value. Still, I'm not about to give up on traditional JRPG's any time soon.

 

[Z4N5H1N]

Ridiculous question. JRPGS are RPGs. It's....right there in the name.

If your question is "Is there a difference between JRPGs and Western RPGs?" then the answer is yes; one is developed in Japan, the other isn't.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

An RPG is an RPG, no matter how you slice it. Despite the vast differences between them. Western RPGs vary greatly, as do JRPGs.

 

[necromanzer52]

JRPG's are RPG's made in japan.

 

[wooty]

JRPGs seem to have more style and personality to them, tend to be quite quirky in nature. They also seem to use more colours than grey, brown and brownish-grey.

 

[kamkazeepenguin]

JRPG's have larger amounts of crack in the writers office

 

[Runswithscissors]

I've always thought it as more of a style choice than to do with the gameplay.

 

[CiB42]

RPGs of the western variety (games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, the first two Fallouts, The Witcher) are very different. RPGs aren't about stat crunching, it's about playing a role. These games let you play your character how you want to (within certain bounds). This is because they trace the style back to Dungeons and Dragons and other pen and paper RPGs. The thing that makes these games what they are isn't a game mechanics thing, it's the ability to make choices about how the gameworld and story evolves, choices that have consequences.

JRPGs don't let you play a character in the same way. They are thus an entirely separate genre. The choices in these games are only tactical ones- do you cast Ultima now, or use a summon? Provided you win the fight, that choice no longer matters and has no consequences for the gameworld at all. These games do not trace their 'ancestry' to D&D.

 

[gardyna]

JRPG's have a distinct feel that western developers just can't regenerate (it's cultural unfimiliarity)

both types differ way more than say Jbrawlers and western brawlers but greater diversity is always a good thing you shouldn't shunn one genre in favor of other and the RPG's are split in two but they are similar so anyone who enjoys western RPG's should at least kinda like JRPG's

 

[Snotnarok]

JRPGs used to be good, since the PS2 era I've found few and far between games. Hell I played through some of BoF4 recently and went "wow a JRPG game that actually had some feeling and heart put into the game instead of generic bs that is tossed into every new one"

Call me a retro-fanatic but after PSOne, just nothing appealed to me on consoles. PSP and GBA on the other hand...has some dandy titles. I just picked up Tactics Ogre and being a fan(atic) of Final Fantasy Tactics I have high hopes...which I'm sure will lead to disappointment.

 

[DanielBrown]

I reckon there is sorta for me

RPG: Is a more Serious Dark game and in that you always seem to have a branching story

While a JRPG: is a more Teen Angst and Annoyance and it seems to me that its very linear

NOTE: i havent played persona so i cant provide a judgement on that

Well, what you said pretty much sums up my view on the difference between them.
Don't know what else to add.