Poll: Pick the JRPG to represent the genre (my Going Gonzo Project)

[Flames66]

Hello again fellow Escapists.

Here I am again with the continuation of my JRPG project. Here's the low down:

Last week I asked JRPG fans to pick games that best represent the genre for my to try out and review. I have put them into this poll and I will be reviewing the winner.

If you have a game that you think better represents the genre than any listed here, just put its name on its own in a comment and I will tally them up to see which has the most votes. Remember the conditions though, it must be on PC or PS2, £10 or under and I will not sign up to anything to play it (no online activation other than Steam).

Thanks everyone, if you have any questions quote me and ask.

EDIT: My poll is missing, anyone know how to re-add it?

 

[Kalabrikan]

While some will argue they aren't the pinnacle, based on your requirements, Final Fantasy X and Dragon Quest VIII seem to be the best choices. DQVIII is considered the most talked about Dragon Quest, while Final Fantasy X is the second most popular 3D Final Fantasy behind VII.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Grandia 2.

No, really.

Best turn based combat system ever, nice story, great main character.

As a bonus, Grandia 2 is on BOTH the PC and the PS2 and the Dreamcast. I just can't get it to work on my PC.

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

I'd say one of the Final Fantasies, I suppose. They are the most popular of the genre, overall, and the one that everyone points out as the example of a JRPG.

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Well my favorite would be Tales of Vesperia but the obvious representation of the JRPG is Final Fantasy no matter how far the developers are going to take it.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Many people say Chrono Trigger.

 

[wooty]

I'd say Final Fantasy IX, as the obvious choice, it represents the new breed of 3D JRPG games but also goes back to the roots of what the JRPG were all about. Plus it was a totally underrated game imo

 

[BreakfastMan]

I would say...
Kingdom Hearts 1+2.
Rogue Galaxy.
Xenosaga (If you are feeling adventurous, and like ridiculously convoluted stories).

These seem to best represent the genre. Not sure if these are in your price range (talking from the States, not sure what the conversion rate between dollars and pounds is), but they are all very good games.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

Grandia 2.

No, really.

Best turn based combat system ever, nice story, great main character.

As a bonus, Grandia 2 is on BOTH the PC and the PS2 and the Dreamcast. I just can't get it to work on my PC.

My vote also goes to Grandia 2.

I've also heard Chrono Cross was good.

 

[migo]

Final Fantasy X - it's on PC, and has been considered the best game ever by some Japanese mags.

I'd also suggest Persona 3 FES, for people who are a little fed up with the repetetiveness of JRPGs (Final Fantasy VII really had a lot of copycats and Final Fantasy X made that even more the case, to the point that usually only FF games would be different), Persona 3 and 4 make for some very interesting changes to the genre while still clearly being JRPGs.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

Dragon quest series.

You know your game is GOOD when the goverment of japan says you have to release the game ONLY on the weekend, due to the fact that people take time off of school/work to play it.

...

Hell, pencils base on the series are not even allow in scxhools.

 

[kinggamecat]

I'm not sure how much 10 euros is in Canadian but I'd say FF7 or Dragon quest 8, if JSRPGs (Japanese Strategy Role Playing Games) count then Disgaea all the way! DISGAEA FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flames66]

I'm not sure how much 10 euros is in Canadian but I'd say FF7 or Dragon quest 8, if JSRPGs (Japanese Strategy Role Playing Games) count then Disgaea all the way! DISGAEA FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure how much 10 euros is in canadian either, but as I'm working in Pounds Sterling (£) 10.00 GBP = 16.3740 CAD should do it (according to the currency converter).

 

[TheMurray]

Chrono Trigger

 

[Fensfield]

You know.. yeah, purely from this point of view, I'd vote Grandia 2, too.

Brilliant battle system.. and just generally fun. It refined the genre without revolutionising it (Grandia, too, really, but G2 refined the battle-system a bit more and is more the defining Japanese RPG than Grandia, even if I feel the original was more enjoyable).

 

[Kapol]

Honestly, while I understand why they're there, the limitations make it so you can't really say that that JRPG is necessarily the best. For example, my favorite JRPG is Lost Odyssey. I thought it had the best story, most interesting world, and best characters I've seen in a JRPG in a long time. Then again, I have played Chrono Trigger/cross, so I don't know how good those are. Based on your qualifications though, I'd have to go with FF7 or X.

 

[Lambi]

I'd say Final Fantasy IX, as the obvious choice, it represents the new breed of 3D JRPG games but also goes back to the roots of what the JRPG were all about. Plus it was a totally underrated game imo

I agree with everything you just said. It's my favorite game, not just FF game, but my favorite game overall.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Hmm...I don't think I could, really. The subgenre is filled with exceptions, sprawling differences in mechanics, and storytelling norms.

How exactly would one determine whether Final Fantasy X deserves "representative" quality over Final Fantasy VI? Or Chrono Trigger? Or Dragon Quest? Or Baten Kaitos? Or Tales of Symphonia? Or even Septerra Core?

 

[Flames66]

Hmm...I don't think I could, really. The subgenre is filled with exceptions, sprawling differences in mechanics, and storytelling norms.

How exactly would one determine whether Final Fantasy X deserves "representative" quality over Final Fantasy VI? Or Chrono Trigger? Or Dragon Quest? Or Baten Kaitos? Or Tales of Symphonia? Or even Septerra Core?

I know, it's a very difficult decision. The way I am trying to get around it is asking fans of the genre and picking the one that gets the most votes. It's not perfect but hopefully it'l work well enough to get a review done.