Recommend an MMORPG or JRPG.

[Baralak]

I really enjoyed GW2, I pumped in over 200 hours into it before I finally got bored and quit. I still don't regret buying it, though. My main schtick with MMOs is that I want to feel like I'm in a living, breathing world where I cna make an impact, instead of just being in a theme park experiences the rides and games. If you want to avoid hotbar combat though, (Like me, since I despise auto-attack in my games) I prefer Dragon Nest, C9, and TERA, which is going free next month. Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2 are probably the best hotbar-based MMOS, although Lord of the Rings Online is also fantastic.

Oh! Also, Champions Online if you like superheroes. I like it a lot better than DC Universe Online.

 

[sanquin]

GW2 never claimed to be the next gameplay revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLOGGKmKok4

"Combat of GW2 is unlike any other game"

GW2 apologist. Crap game is crap.[/quote]

But it IS like any other game. There is no other combat system like it. Because it's basically a mix of other combat systems. Shady marketing? Yes. This one quote being a claim that the entire game is a gameplay revolution? No.

 

[Akytalusia]

DDO, for MMO's. i've never found anything else like it. it's got everything you want.
as for JRPG's, where to even start. there's ton's of greats out there. kingdom hearts is a pretty solid choice for general appeal though. feel free to dive right into KH2 though. it's far superior and you get the basic story of KH1 right in the beginning anyway.

 

[Coffeejack]

Spoiler

I really enjoyed GW2, I pumped in over 200 hours into it before I finally got bored and quit. I still don't regret buying it, though. My main schtick with MMOs is that I want to feel like I'm in a living, breathing world where I can make an impact, instead of just being in a theme park experiences the rides and games. If you want to avoid hotbar combat though, (Like me, since I despise auto-attack in my games) I prefer Dragon Nest, C9, and TERA, which is going free next month. Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2 are probably the best hotbar-based MMOS, although Lord of the Rings Online is also fantastic.

Oh! Also, Champions Online if you like superheroes. I like it a lot better than DC Universe Online.

I have to admit, I enjoyed myself more than I expected with LOTR Online. It seemed relatively refined and exciting to explore. I'm downloading The Old Republic at the moment, because it's also free-to-play and BioWare still presumably have a good writing team, unless the departures clipped that particular wing too. I think the first MMORPG I buy might be The Elder Scrolls Online, but I have my doubts and shall have to play the waiting game as far as that one goes. If it's not as well-designed as I thought, it might still be a lot of fun to explore the continent of Tamriel.

 

[Tropicaz]

Final Fantasy IX would be my recommendation, great game.
All the FFs running from 6-10 are class though.

I've also just picked up chrono trigger which is apparently class, too.

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Well, if you're looking for a JRPG, I can recommend pretty much every pokemon game.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Spoiler

That's an Elin from Tera, and it's perfectly normal to be put off by them.

the game it self isn't to bad though, nothing revolutionary far as quest set up goes, but the combat is the best part of it, being that its more twitch based then stat based.(Lancers are pretty beastly btw)

also look into Vindictus, its even more action based.

all i got, for MMO's don't play hotbar based games anymore cause they bore me and the plug was pulled on CoH

 

[Epona]

Final Fantasy IX is my personal favorite JRPG. It has an awesome story, great characters, a neat battle system that makes it so that you can only learn certain abilities by using certain equipment and permanently learning it by earning enough ability points while wearing it. So it sorta discourages players from immediately going for the next best set of equipment and instead focus on earning an ability that could become useful in the long run.

I'd also recommend:

Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy VII
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Last Story
Chrono Trigger (preferably the DS version, of course that's just me)
Demon's Souls
Dark Souls

Which is a horrible system. No one wants to be wearing weak equipment because they need to learn a new skill. Previous games in the series did it better. Espers in 6, Materia in 7, GF's in 8.

IX also moves like molasses stuck in concrete.

Everything else on your list looks good though.

 

[scorptatious]

Final Fantasy IX is my personal favorite JRPG. It has an awesome story, great characters, a neat battle system that makes it so that you can only learn certain abilities by using certain equipment and permanently learning it by earning enough ability points while wearing it. So it sorta discourages players from immediately going for the next best set of equipment and instead focus on earning an ability that could become useful in the long run.

I'd also recommend:

Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy VII
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Last Story
Chrono Trigger (preferably the DS version, of course that's just me)
Demon's Souls
Dark Souls

Which is a horrible system. No one wants to be wearing weak equipment because they need to learn a new skill. Previous games in the series did it better. Espers in 6, Materia in 7, GF's in 8.

IX also moves like molasses stuck in concrete.

Everything else on your list looks good though.

Opinion.

I'll admit, for me the game does slow down a bit during parts of disc 3, it picks right back up though.

 

[Epona]

Final Fantasy IX is my personal favorite JRPG. It has an awesome story, great characters, a neat battle system that makes it so that you can only learn certain abilities by using certain equipment and permanently learning it by earning enough ability points while wearing it. So it sorta discourages players from immediately going for the next best set of equipment and instead focus on earning an ability that could become useful in the long run.

I'd also recommend:

Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy VII
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Last Story
Chrono Trigger (preferably the DS version, of course that's just me)
Demon's Souls
Dark Souls

Which is a horrible system. No one wants to be wearing weak equipment because they need to learn a new skill. Previous games in the series did it better. Espers in 6, Materia in 7, GF's in 8.

IX also moves like molasses stuck in concrete.

Everything else on your list looks good though.

Opinion.

I'll admit, for me the game does slow down a bit during parts of disc 3, it picks right back up though.

I am talking about the ATB, sit and wait to attack battle system. ATB is fine in other games but in FF9 it crawls.

 

[scorptatious]

snip

I'm pretty sure you can increase the battle speed via the options menu or something along those lines.

Either way though, it doesn't bother me too much. Just means I can listen to the awesome battle music for a while longer.

 

[Epona]

snip

I'm pretty sure you can increase the battle speed via the options menu or something along those lines.

Either way though, it doesn't bother me too much. Just means I can listen to the awesome battle music for a while longer.

Yeah but even turned all the way up, it is painfully slow compared to previous games with ATB. The music is awesome though.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Good day.
Can anyone recommend a JRPG out there that isn't like the others?

Xenogears (PS1) - Combat is combo based - you have a light, medium, and strong attack, and you can mix and match. It is turn-based. The graphics are rather dated, but you get nice full Anime cut-scenes now-and-then. Also, part of the time, you get to pilot a giant mech and step on enemies (and fight giant enemies).

Also - best writing in a video game. Ever. Literary, historic, and religious references abound.

Persona 3 (PS2 or PSP) - Great story, elemental strength/weakness based combat, and great characters.

Persona 4 (PS2) - Less good story than 3, but has a couple of really ground-breaking characters. The rest of the cast besides those two are a little bland compared to 3, I find, but I'm in a minority on that opinion. According to most JRPG fans, Persona 4 is the golden-plated god-child that can do no wrong.

My work here is done.

Note: I hate MMOs, so I didn't even touch that with a stick.

JRPG- Xenoblade Chronicles

Yeah, but try finding a copy of that game anywhere. For less than 100 bucks, I mean. And if you do... point me in that direction.

FYI (to the OP) Xenoblade Chronicles is from the creator of Xenogears, a decade or so later. It has no plot relation, but I imagine it has a similar quality of writing.

 

[klausaidon]

Sign up for a Free to Play World of Warcraft account, and decide if you like it or not. I'm surprised no one has pointed out that the first 20 levels of WoW is free.

WoW is the most polished MMO out there, and is probably your best chance. It's expensive for the WHOLE thing, but you don't need every expansion right away. The first 20 level are free, and it's only $20 for the base game, and first 2 expansion which will last you to level 80, that will give you majority of the game, and you won't need the other two expansions for awhile. If you reach level 80, and still enjoying the trip, at that point it's probably a good idea to upgrade to the next expansion since you already invested enough time to get that far. But if you can't get past level 20 without getting disinterested, might as well move on.

I've never played Guild Wars 2, so I can't say much on it. But it doesn't have free trail. I wouldn't buy a game, without being able to try it first. Since this will be your first foray into MMOs, I'd go for the safer option above.

As for JRPG, despite all the examples above, you're rather on your own. What qualifies as a good story is mostly up to you. Just look for a JRPG that looks like it have characters you think look cool. They tend to focus heavily on the main characters, and if you can't connect to the protagonists, the story isn't going to be interesting.

 

[The_Echo]

The Kingdom Hearts series. Feel free to skip out on 358/2 Days and Re:coded, and Chain of Memories if you hate the gameplay in that one. Days is very much a side-story, and as-of-yet has no real bearing on the main plot. It's basically backstory for a few of the characters from II. The other two are bridge games and you won't miss out on too much if you just read the synopsis on Wikipedia.

But the absolutely essential titles (Kingdom Hearts, II, Birth by Sleep, Dream Drop Distance) are all amazing games, and each one improves upon the one before it. The story is brilliant.

And while the inclusion of Disney characters does put some people off, it actually works very, very well. Mickey Mouse winds up being kind of a badass.

 

[Hazy]

JRPG- Xenoblade Chronicles

Yeah, but try finding a copy of that game anywhere. For less than 100 bucks, I mean. And if you do... point me in that direction.

I got my copies of Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story on Cyber Monday at Gamestop. 30 bucks a pop. You might want to check there, and see if they still have some in stock.

And play Mother 3, OP. I'm not going to tell you again.

 

[j0frenzy]

Earthbound and Mother 3 are great places to start for JRPGs. The only problem being that they don't handle like every other JRPG so you may get a bit disappointed when you find yourself liking those two games and can't find something else like it. Also, any Mario RPG actually tends to be really good.

 

[souper soup guy]

Can't help you much with the MMORPGs, but as far as JRPGs go, I can recommend The World Ends With You, it has an interesting combat system, and a great story. If you don't mind going significantly older though, I would recommend any "tales" game(Symphonia, Abyss, etc) they have a fun active combat system that is almost like a fighting game crossed with your typical jrpg. If you want to go even farther back, you can't beat either Chrono Trigger, if for nothing else other than historical value, and my personal favorite JRPG, Final Fantasy V, the combat is your typical JRPG fair for the most part, but it has a fun job system, great characters (including one of my favorite JRPG characters Gilgamesh), and is overall a great time.

 

[Coffeejack]

Well, if you're looking for a JRPG, I can recommend pretty much every pokemon game.

I loved 'em up to Gold, I do admit, but I can't play them on the PC (except for Blue and Red with the aid of an emulator, I think. I think I got that working correctly once. Possibly).