That tempting, evil game...

[iggyus]

First of all let me give you a background about my gaming habits: I am a massive WRPG fan. I have played everything from Morrowind to Mass Effect 2. Simply put, I love any western RPG that was competently made. I have never played a JRPG before in my life but FF13 intrigued me. Since this community has the greatest gaming masterminds I would like your opinion, do you think that I with my WRPG would enjoy FF13 and should I get it?

 

[Caiti Voltaire]

If you can stand the fact that you play between 5-8 hours before the story actually fills you in on what the hell is going on, then yes.

If you're shallow like me and expect some sort of instant gratification, then no.

 

[NeutralDrow]

If you're just getting into JRPGs, everything I've heard says that FF13 would be an absolutely horrific starting point.

Might I recommend either FF6, or something from the Tales series?

 

[Snarky Username]

If you want to start out with a Final Fantasy, start out with an older one. FFIV-VII where the high spot of the series for me.

I like FFXIII, bu mostly because I'm a giant Square-Enix fanboy. It's still low spot in the series.

 

[Omikron009]

I've never played a JRPG before, but as I understand it the kind of person who really likes WRPGs (such as myself) wouldn't like JRPGs. Or so I've heard.

 

[Snarky Username]

I've never played a JRPG before, but as I understand it the kind of person who really likes WRPGs (such as myself) wouldn't like JRPGs. Or so I've heard.

Not at ll, I love both WRPGs and JRPGs

 

[Iwata]

I'm not a fan of JRPG's by any means, but from what I've seen of my girlfriend playing the game, I'm not sure FFXIII is the best way to ease yourself into the genre...

 

[Delock]

I've never played a JRPG before, but as I understand it the kind of person who really likes WRPGs (such as myself) wouldn't like JRPGs. Or so I've heard.

Not really. Bioware happens to be one of my favorite companies and I grew up with JRPGs and still love them.

OP:If you're going to start into JRPGs, try out the Tales games (Legendia and Symphonia: Dawn of a New world excluded) or try getting FF IX, FF Tactics, or Legend of the Dragoon.

 

[Phoenix Arrow]

Just buy it. Broaden your horizons.

 

[Bailos]

I've enjoyed quite a few FF games. Tactics, Tactics Advanced, Crystal Chronicles, 3,6,7,8,9,10,10-2,11,12,Mystic Quest(Hah!). I've never actually FINISHED most of them, but I've enjoyed them. I do not enjoy FF13. So far, it has yet to be story based. I'm around 15 hours in, and it's still not story based. Sure, there are cutscenes, but they are hardly a significant advancement of plot. I played while a friend watched, and my friend fell asleep for FOUR HOURS. When she asked what she missed, all I had to say is "Well I crossed that crystal sea, and found an airship."

I don't think you understand how much that upset me. Modern Warfare 2 had more story in four hours. And the game seems both simplified and complex, and overall redundant. You only control the party leader, and use an overly complex menu system which eventually devolves into choosing the auto-attack. And the whole crystal upgrade thing... I have no idea how to read it. It's ridiculous. I miss the Sphere Grid.

But these are just my gripes with the game. I'll still play it, because I've heard it gets better 20 hours in, and don't let me dissuade you. I just want you to know, that even as a FF game, as a FF lover I find it lacking. But maybe you'll enjoy it.

 

[Daedalus1942]

First of all let me give you a background about my gaming habits: I am a massive WRPG fan. I have played everything from Morrowind to Mass Effect 2. Simply put, I love any western RPG that was competently made. I have never played a JRPG before in my life but FF13 intrigued me. Since this community has the greatest gaming masterminds I would like your opinion, do you think that I with my WRPG would enjoy FF13 and should I get it?

It's a decent game, but it's pretty damn hard compared to the previous ones which is what I like about it.
It's linear for the first 9 chapters, and you don't understand any of the plot til about the 3rd chapter. It can be comfusing at times but ultimately I'm enjoying it. I'm also feverishly trying to finish FFXII before I finish XIII, but still I got it for only $50 off eBay when it's $110 retail here, so if you can import it, I say go for it.

 

[Daedalus1942]

I've never played a JRPG before, but as I understand it the kind of person who really likes WRPGs (such as myself) wouldn't like JRPGs. Or so I've heard.

Not really. Bioware happens to be one of my favorite companies and I grew up with JRPGs and still love them.

OP:If you're going to start into JRPGs, try out the Tales games (Legendia and Symphonia: Dawn of a New world excluded) or try getting FF IX, FF Tactics, or Legend of the Dragoon.

What the hell? I thought you hated Legend of Dragoon because the graphics weren't up the par? Now you're telling him to play it? Jesus... make up your mind.
You said that people should never buy it.
Also, Legend of Dragoon is a horrible starting point for a Jrpg newbie. That game is pretty damn hard, requires alot of grinding and split second timing in battle. Bad choice to start out with.
The Best Rpg that mostly holds your hand would have to be Final Fantasy IX. that's a much better game to ease yourself into JRPG's with.

 

[Tagball]

You should ABSOLUTELY try Final Fantasy VI first...or Final Fantasy VII. Both are superb.

You should definitely try Final Fantasy VII first if you're a fan of watching a certain character get stabbed in the stomach and a shirtless man on man final boss fight. YES! AWESOME!

As for Final Fantasy XIII....you could get it...it's not entirely bad. It's pretty...and stuff. Then again, I only played about 3 hours in because watching the female character's fannies jiggling back and forth for longer than a half an hour gives me motion sickness.

IN THE END:

I'd mildly recommend it.

OH! One more thing! You should also try Earthbound or Chrono Trigger. Your life won't be complete without those games. You need them.

 

[Hollywood Knights]

I may be going against the flow here, but I would actually recommend Kingdom Hearts II as a starting point in the JRPG world.

It's relatively recent, it's an action RPG so you won't have to get used to the turn-based system (which is a bit of an acquired taste), but it still has a storyline very typical of other JRPGs. What's more, the gameplay is superb, and I imagine you'll be able to pick it up for all of about six or seven pounds. I can't imagine that you wouldn't have a blast playing it, I certainly did (although it has to be said I probably did get slightly more out of it having played a lot of Final Fantasy first, as there are some characters who cross over between the series).

 

[King Kupofried]

FFXIII is only good if you want every single JRPG stereotype you hear from people to be reinforced before your very eyes and save yourself some money by removing the threat that you'll ever be interested in playing one again.

 

[Delock]

I've never played a JRPG before, but as I understand it the kind of person who really likes WRPGs (such as myself) wouldn't like JRPGs. Or so I've heard.

Not really. Bioware happens to be one of my favorite companies and I grew up with JRPGs and still love them.

OP:If you're going to start into JRPGs, try out the Tales games (Legendia and Symphonia: Dawn of a New world excluded) or try getting FF IX, FF Tactics, or Legend of the Dragoon.

What the hell? I thought you hated Legend of Dragoon because the graphics weren't up the par? Now you're telling him to play it? Jesus... make up your mind.
You said that people should never buy it.
Also, Legend of Dragoon is a horrible starting point for a Jrpg newbie. That game is pretty damn hard, requires alot of grinding and split second timing in battle. Bad choice to start out with.
The Best Rpg that mostly holds your hand would have to be Final Fantasy IX. that's a much better game to ease yourself into JRPG's with.

How about you read my post again as it clearly says that I want that game to be put back into circulation or atleast given the treatment that it so justly deserves. (I'm sorry if I come off as hostile here, but a quarter of all responses to my posts online seem to be misunderstood/completely misquoted and I'm getting a bit sick of it).
As for Legend of the Dragoon being a starting point, I'd say that it's a good mix of action and RPGs, well suited for most of today's gamers who pretty much expect QTEs to pop up in every game. It's bad for a newbie in gaming to start, but it's good for someone who already plays most games today to enter into the genre.
And as for IX, that's a little risky, since although it is good overall to start with, the game does drop you straight into a boss battle with very little explanation about how to play, though it should be easy to figure out.

 

[Daedalus1942]

I've never played a JRPG before, but as I understand it the kind of person who really likes WRPGs (such as myself) wouldn't like JRPGs. Or so I've heard.

Not really. Bioware happens to be one of my favorite companies and I grew up with JRPGs and still love them.

OP:If you're going to start into JRPGs, try out the Tales games (Legendia and Symphonia: Dawn of a New world excluded) or try getting FF IX, FF Tactics, or Legend of the Dragoon.

What the hell? I thought you hated Legend of Dragoon because the graphics weren't up the par? Now you're telling him to play it? Jesus... make up your mind.
You said that people should never buy it.
Also, Legend of Dragoon is a horrible starting point for a Jrpg newbie. That game is pretty damn hard, requires alot of grinding and split second timing in battle. Bad choice to start out with.
The Best Rpg that mostly holds your hand would have to be Final Fantasy IX. that's a much better game to ease yourself into JRPG's with.

How about you read my post again as it clearly says that I want that game to be put back into circulation or atleast given the treatment that it so justly deserves. (I'm sorry if I come off as hostile here, but a quarter of all responses to my posts online seem to be misunderstood/completely misquoted and I'm getting a bit sick of it).
As for Legend of the Dragoon being a starting point, I'd say that it's a good mix of action and RPGs, well suited for most of today's gamers who pretty much expect QTEs to pop up in every game. It's bad for a newbie in gaming to start, but it's good for someone who already plays most games today to enter into the genre.
And as for IX, that's a little risky, since although it is good overall to start with, the game does drop you straight into a boss battle with very little explanation about how to play, though it should be easy to figure out.

Yeah, sorry about that. I posted this before you replied to my post in the other thread.
Anyway, getting back to FFIX, if you're talking about the boss fight against the boss of the bandits who's wearing that dragon mask, he's easy. they even explain up the top how to beat him. FFIX gives you hints on how to beat everything for the first quarter of the game, it's perfect for Jrpg newbies.