Poll: Do you prefer western or japanese RPG's?

[Ieyland]

Ok why do people continue making threads like this. You can't make it through the first 5 comments without someone basically stealing Yahtzee's opinion or at least a paraphrase from him or completely missing the point that Pen and Paper RPGS and Video game RPGs are different and JRPGs are RPGS. This thread has been done to death and then some.

As someone already said on the first page JRPGs are about telling you a story WRPGs are about your story and both are recycled and redone nowadays as each other. I do have to say the Turn based argument wasn't made in the first page that I seen which is something as one of the best WRPGs is turn based combat wearing a mask KotOR is the game I am talking about. People have different opinions so of course some like JRPGs and some don't but this topic always leads to flaming.

Especially from uniformed opinions on JRPGs such as androgynous teens with spiky hairy which if any of these people have actually played JRPGs over the years would know that is is very recent and restricted trend. Yes other companies besides SE make JRPGs. Complaining about run around random battle hit attack argument is also pretty poor as in Oblivion it is run around "OH NO A WOLF" mash either right bumper or trigger depending on your class until the opponent dies.

I could go on but I am not going to bother. On topic I like both and they both have their good and bad points. On their merits there are amazing games in both genres it's just a shame there is so much blind hate for JRPGs and very few actual well thought out arguments or opinions on the subject.

You lost me at Yahtzee.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Ok why do people continue making threads like this. You can't make it through the first 5 comments without someone basically stealing Yahtzee's opinion or at least a paraphrase from him or completely missing the point that Pen and Paper RPGS and Video game RPGs are different and JRPGs are RPGS. This thread has been done to death and then some.

As someone already said on the first page JRPGs are about telling you a story WRPGs are about your story and both are recycled and redone nowadays as each other. I do have to say the Turn based argument wasn't made in the first page that I seen which is something as one of the best WRPGs is turn based combat wearing a mask KotOR is the game I am talking about. People have different opinions so of course some like JRPGs and some don't but this topic always leads to flaming.

Especially from uniformed opinions on JRPGs such as androgynous teens with spiky hairy which if any of these people have actually played JRPGs over the years would know that is is very recent and restricted trend. Yes other companies besides SE make JRPGs. Complaining about run around random battle hit attack argument is also pretty poor as in Oblivion it is run around "OH NO A WOLF" mash either right bumper or trigger depending on your class until the opponent dies.

I could go on but I am not going to bother. On topic I like both and they both have their good and bad points. On their merits there are amazing games in both genres it's just a shame there is so much blind hate for JRPGs and very few actual well thought out arguments or opinions on the subject.

You lost me at Yahtzee.

Well that nice I mean it isn't like a massive text wall I did try to break up the points as best as possible if you got lost in it well maybe you could actually try read it again because it is true.

 

[Downfall89]

A western RPG involves role-playing. A Japanese RPG is a linear adventure game with numbers.

Thank you. Saved me around 10 seconds of my life.

No seriously, I absolutely hate JRPG's. I hate them almost as much as Yahtzee does.

Couldn't possibly agree more.

I'm glad. You seriously don't know how much I despise JRPG's.. I almost had a heart attack when my friend said FF XIII is better than God of War 3.

I've gotta admit, I have played most of FF XIII and did enjoy it, mostly because it's not so much turn based anymore as it is "charge your attacks". However for the God of War 3 comparison I can't comment as i've not played it as i don't own a PS3 / Xbox 360 (being a PC whore ^^) and only played FF on a friends.

Ohh. Well God of War 3 is awesome, and I'm also a PC elitist, but you should try it out one day, it owns.

 

[P.Tsunami]

Westerns by far. JRPGs have few strong points for me. The only JRPG I can remember enjoying is Final Fantasy X, and honestly, that's not all that good a game, either. Repetitive, random grindfests, linear storylines, a character gallery where I'm sure to detest at least half... it doesn't make for a game that entertains me. Now, by all means, not all western RPGs are good. I do find them a lot more fetching, though. They offer choice, customization, and often interesting, likeable characters. I'd rather play through a hundred games as Commander Sheppard than a single more game as Tidus.

 

[PsionicAtlas]

I'd say both, though my favorite RPG so far interestingly enough was Demon Souls, which is a Japanese take on wRPGs. Makes you curious of what a western take on JRPGs would look like....

 

[SilverUchiha]

Can't vote. I like bits of each while having mixed feelings of RPGs in general. Roleplaying in videogames is a POOR substitute for table-top roleplay. I understand that the videogames have to limit their options of the game would be too ridiculously massive, but I like having nearly unlimited choices in what I can do and who I can be. Most RPGs I've played limit you in at least one of those categories.

I really wished to be a half-dragon in Neverwinter Nights but it sucked that the option was never available.

 

[KiWaSa]

As long as there is no turn based combat, there fine with me F**K final fantasy.

 

[CosmicCommander]

A western RPG involves role-playing. A Japanese RPG is a linear adventure game with numbers.

Thank you. Saved me around 10 seconds of my life.

No seriously, I absolutely hate JRPG's. I hate them almost as much as Yahtzee does.

I second this.

JRPGs are always the same, the characters are always some sort of stereotype, and the ones that aren't are slates of brick. There is no immersive-ness in the game, because ALL it is is merely number-crunching. The plot is always either paper-thin or ridiculous, and any attempts to deny this are futile. JRPGs are never fun or interesting, they are damn awful.

KotOR, now that is a good game, the story was beautiful, the characters were all intriguing and fun to know, the locations are nice and varied, and the combat was far more than it's point-and-click nature suggested.

In short, you should collectively have sex with the combined power of BioWare, for KotOR was awesome.

 

[Akalistos]

I know someone's gonna barge in here and rant about how RPG's are RPG's and we shouldn't categorize them, but for me they are vastly different.

I won't say they aren't different, but there many similitude also.

I like JRPG's because the stories always felt more personal to me, I feel sad when a character dies. In western RPG's I never get emotional when a character dies because there was no connection to begin with. However, I still prefer western RPGs, I guess when you grow up with something it's hard to shake off.

I go for story first. That's why i keep looking for synopsis and reviews of a game before buying it. In that regard, i prefer JRPG but.... sometime, the story is either cliche (Japanese one at that) and easy to guess or don't attach you to the event. Western RPG are fairly fun, gameplay wise but you rarely have a plot or its feel like a afterthought. (Exhibit A: FALLOUT 3)(Exhibit B:Speedrun [http://speeddemosarchive.com/Fallout3.html])

What i wish should happen to that genre now is for Bethesda and Square-Enix to associate themselves to one project. S.E. on story and B. on gameplay. I wonder what would come out of such teamwork.

 

[Rayansaki]

Western most of my life, but for this last generation, only Fallout 3 really did it for me. Mass Effect1/2 and Dragon Age were a massive bore, and Oblivion was a great game on a broken engine, while FFXIII and Resonance of Fate (specially the latter) quickly entered my favorite RPG list.

Right now, I'm more likely to buy a JPRG release than a Western one with similar reception.

 

[GonzoGamer]

It's funny because a lot of those old jrpgs (like Phantasy Star 1-4) were very non-linear free roam type games and wrpgs tended to be more strategy oriented. But that's way back in the day.

Currently it does seem that the jrpgs have become more linear while wrpgs have become more free-roaming.

What I would like to see is a game that combines the best of both worlds. Something with that anime style and a good story (but not so much cliche character development) but with a fast paced open world (with well rewarded exploration) and lots of customization for everything. Like a cross between Fallout 3, Final Fantasy X, and GTA San Andreas.

Is that too much to ask?

 

[Rayansaki]

A western RPG involves role-playing. A Japanese RPG is a linear adventure game with numbers.

Thank you. Saved me around 10 seconds of my life.

No seriously, I absolutely hate JRPG's. I hate them almost as much as Yahtzee does.

I second this.

JRPGs are always the same, the characters are always some sort of stereotype, and the ones that aren't are slates of brick. There is no immersive-ness in the game, because ALL it is is merely number-crunching. The plot is always either paper-thin or ridiculous, and any attempts to deny this are futile. JRPGs are never fun or interesting, they are damn awful.

KotOR, now that is a good game, the story was beautiful, the characters were all intriguing and fun to know, the locations are nice and varied, and the combat was far more than it's point-and-click nature suggested.

In short, you should collectively have sex with the combined power of BioWare, for KotOR was awesome.

My guess is you never played more than 5 hours of a good JRPG title.

 

[Malifact]

A western RPG involves role-playing. A Japanese RPG is a linear adventure game with numbers.

Thank you. Saved me around 10 seconds of my life.

No seriously, I absolutely hate JRPG's. I hate them almost as much as Yahtzee does.

What he said.

 

[rory12345]

WRPG. I find them far more interesting.

 

[Conman94]

For me, WRPGs are my personal favorite because I can make my own character and develop it at will, with JRPGs it's like you're reading someone else's book instead of writing one yourself (which certainly isn't a bad thing, but I prefer to have more control).

 

[KingKamor]

I like to play both kinds. I usually play Fallout 3 and Tales of Vesperia in the same breath. I like WRPGs for their non-linearity and JRPGs for their often unique fantastical battle systems. While WRPGs tend to go more towards things that could actually happen, like in Fallout 3 where you get to explore a huge world once you get the chance to and be whoever you want to be, JRPGs throw general realism out the window to make way for over-the-top badassery and world-destroying Falcon Punches.

 

[Rayansaki]

A western RPG involves role-playing. A Japanese RPG is a linear adventure game with numbers.

Thank you. Saved me around 10 seconds of my life.

No seriously, I absolutely hate JRPG's. I hate them almost as much as Yahtzee does.

Couldn't possibly agree more.

I'm glad. You seriously don't know how much I despise JRPG's.. I almost had a heart attack when my friend said FF XIII is better than God of War 3.

While I would never say that FFXIII is better than God of War 3... since God of War 3 is well... God, if I went back and didn't have either of them, I would sooner buy FFXIII than GoW3. It's just A LOT more entertainment, and a great time sink. GoW3 is 10 hours of awesomeness, 20 hours of goodness, but FFXIII is 5 hours of decent a 70 hours of goodness.

 

[Cakekey]

Western, for sure. JRPG's are loads of fun and all, but they don't actually let you play the role. It's more like they give you a set of characters to control, deciding how they fight, what side missions they do, etc. Honestly, it feels more like you're playing as their manager. Western RPG's, such as the Fallout series, The Elder Scrolls, and Mass Effect all give you a superb amount of customization, not only letting you build your own character, but actualy make their decisions in quests, deciding who you want them to be, and how you want them to shape the world.

 

[Jark212]

Western, there open ended, general non-linear and have superior stories...

That's just me though...

 

[kickyourass]

I love all RPGS (MMORPGS being the sole exception), although I do agree when people say alot of JRPGs can be a bit same-y.