Poll: Do you hate JRPGS?

[New Troll]

Since some people seem to think this entire community absolutely hates JRPGs and refuse to listen to reason, I figured I'd let the community decide what they think for themself.

Personally, I use to love JRPGs back in the day, but they've grown very mediocre over the years. There's still a couple of good gems among the masses, but over-all I'm probably more of a Western RPG player now. Some of my favorite RPGs of all time though were JRPGs.

Oh, and if you don't know by now, JRPGs are the role-playing games without as much western influence in them. They're generally, but not always, more cartoonish, less open (sandboxy), and slower paced (i.e. turn-based combat.) Usually they try to let the story guide the game, not the gameplay. Course there's exceptions to every rule.

Hope this helps clear things up a little.

 

[SharPhoe]

I'm actually nearly the opposite of metatr0n. I rarely come across a JRPG I don't like (Breath Of Fire: Dragon's Quarter springs to mind), but I give all of them a chance. Sure, I can't connect with the characters on a personal level either, but I rarely ever can, so it doesn't bother me.

 

[AdmiralWolverineLightningbolt]

some are really good like twewy, but games like final fantasy suck

 

[lleihsad]

Not really. I get the impression they hate ME, though.

 

[Flytch]

They look so pretty but are often quite unpleasant...like kittens.

 

[-Seraph-]

I will play any type of RPG, but I just find myself enjoying JRPG's more than WRPG's. I just find somany WRPG's so lacking, bland, and boring with not as much emphasis on story. I TRY really hard to play WPRG's but they come out as so painfully average or boring, and these days there seems to be this whole emphasis on open world which I find to be a cop out at times. I've just been jaded too often by them and JRPG's are just fun and enthusiastic and actually try to mix things up and be crazy which I love, and I like how they try to portray certain themes which I never pick up in western ones...if there is any.

 

[Mediteral]

If it starst with Shin Megami Tensei, then I love it.

 

[Dragon Zero]

I like all RPGs I just need to be in the mood for a JRPG which sadly doesn't happen as often as when I was younger.

 

[Zayren]

No sir, my favorite game is a JRPG.

But, really, I like ANY RPG.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I love ALL RPG's... well, except Hack and Slashers (ala Diablo 2, but this is a personal gripe over the lack of plot in these games) and Star Ocean 3 (worst Real Time Combat System ever!)

What I find JRPG's do SO MUCH BETTER than "Western" Developed RPG's is convey a feeling of awe, spectacle, style... Western RPG's are just so damn realistic and uninspired in their visual design, sometimes a game with a sense of style is a breath of badly needed fresh air.

 

[Chipperz]

I've tried, TRIED to like JRPGs over the years, but the slower pace makes me feel like I'm not doing anything. Slowly.

 

[Timmareus]

I love most RPGs, but both Japan and the West have produced horrible crap, too. The Persona games are bloody brilliant, and so are Planescape:Torment and the 'Baldur's Gate's.
JRPGs tend to tell you a fixed story, which is good because the story is usually pretty deep and good, while Western RPGs nowadays are all about that Sandbox nonsense.
In recent years, I must say I prefer JRPGs, since Western RPGs seem to deteriorate in quality. Even Bioware games aren't as good as they used to be. And for the love of god, stop building these ridiculous "alignment" systems that only know "cartoon super villain out to detroy the world and kick some puppies" or "ultra-saint without a selfish thought EVER". That's worse than nothing for me.

 

[Therumancer]

I like the slower paced games honestly, but then again I came up with Might and Magic and Wizardry. I want more games where you can build your own parties and such, with at least twice as many possible options as there are slots in your party.

In general I like all RPGs, JRPGs not being an exception to that rule, though in general I do tend to think Western RPGs tend to be better when done correctly.

As far as J-pop goes, I actually understand some of it, and why something that is supposed to be cool is thought of that way. As ironic as it sounds, try and think of Japanese trends as being 10-15 or so years behind the US but with modern technologies. That helps a little.

What this means is that around the year 2000 a lot of their attitudes, despite having current technology, were similar to around Circa 1985 US. You could see a lot of the similarities. Nowadays your dealing with what amounts to like the 1990s. Look at the protaganist for Cross Edge for example, he fits right into the whole "Matrix" vibe.

In comparison you had Squall's "cool buddy" Zell with a Mohawk and Warpaint in Final Fantasy 8. That's early 80s punk, and I myself looked at Squall and was thinking "Boy George" for whatever reason. I guess it was the feathered hair and the fur fringe on his jacket.

That's my opinion at least, and please not that I don't mean this in a remotely negative way. Retro can be very cool, and they do come up with some new spins on old styles/ideas.

In general JRPGs have their own vibe and traditions and can be awesome incarnate when done well, but like any genere there are plenty of turds.

>>>----Therumancer--->

 

[Sanaj]

Many people will most likely be able to find one or two even among the Final Fantasy series
that they enjoy (somewhat).
I think some JRPGS are okay, but I prefer "Western" JRPGS now.

I thought Final Fantasy 9 and Final Fantasy Tactics (GBA) were okay.

I will admit to having a complete disinterest with trying yet another Final Fantasy game;
they have become very repetitive, formulaic and mediocre.

Golden Sun (GBA) was another portable game I thought was an okay game.

When JRPGS close off the story until a couple of characters have a conversation, that really irritates me to no end.
I find generally that a culture barrier isn't usually a problem with relating to JRPG characters.
Usually, having a rushed/ uninteresting story, poorly characterized protagonists
or badly written dialogue is the main thing that cripples many RPGS.

 

[Arcyde]

Some are good.

 

[SimuLord]

Used to love them, now they bore the living crap out of me. My tastes have just flat-out changed.

 

[oldMcDouche]

i hate all of them. really each one of them.
they're all the same in my eyes. just IMO

 

[rockingnic]

How about this... I like all types of games. That gets rid of questioning whether or not I like JRPGs because there are some genres that are significantly the worst. I like JRPGs mostly for the FF series.

 

[scotth266]

JRPGs are a good change of pace after playing stuff like God Of War. I like Golden Sun and FFX myself.

I think that Western ones tend to be better though (Mass Effect, for the win).