What JRPGs are Good?

[Quaidis]

Apologies up front. I saw the other thread (I'm certain that most of you know which one I'm talking about) and it highly inspired me to create this one.


No, this isn't simply about your favorite jrpg of all time, or which one is the best. This is a thread discussing jrpgs in general. Not only which ones are good, but also which ones everyone should avoid, which are okay, and short reviews there of.

I have no interest in a three word post about your enjoyment over Final Fantasy and how you believe it 'rulz'. I would like to know specifically why you thought such and such a jrpg was good, such and such a jrpg was terrible, and any in between.

Are there any good jrpgs coming out in the next year that you are interested in?

I would also like to know what you would specifically like to see in a jrpg.



If you came to this thread with a relative distaste for jrpgs, may I guide you to this more fitting thread for your posting pleasure? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.118693

 

[ConstantJoe]

Golden Sun (GBA) was awesome, if it counts. It's easy to play, easy to understand, I'm not really into JRPGs and I really enjoyed it. The story's great, the characters are interesting, and the combat is fun. I believe that Golden Sun 3 has been announced for the DS, and I'm tempted to buy it just for that game

 

[ohgodalex]

I can't say that I've enjoyed many recent JRPGs. I have a hard time becoming attatched to the characters, which makes it difficult to justify playing through countless hours of, quite frankly, rather dull turn-based combat in order to watch their story unfold.

Still, The World Ends With You is easily one of my favorite games, and I've spent over 75 hours attempting to plumb its depths, a task I have yet to complete. I'm not sure what it was about the game that I enjoyed so much, but it could be that I can play DS while hanging out with friends, while I have to play console RPGs at home, all alone. At the same time, I dislike MMOs because they have no real goals. The day that a co-op JRPG with interesting, or at least believable, characters is released, that features gameplay over LIVE, is the day that my interest in the genre is renewed.

 

[Xrysthos]

Not a big fan of JRPGs, so I'd have to say none. But that's my opinion. A lot of friends recommend the Final Fantasy series though.

 

[WittyName]

I personaly am currently playing through Final Fantasy IX (PSX games FTW! lol) and I'm really enjoying it. The controls are fairly easy to use, the battle system works nicely and the characters are quite likable. It takes a while to get into the story, but after that, it is a lot of fun to play IMO.

 

[Caimekaze]

To me, a JRPG is good when it can accomplish the two major goals for its genre: A powerful or otherwise interesting story and an interesting or otherwise fun system.

Sometimes one or the other will overtake, but as long as they are still well done I'm happy.
Take Persona 4 as an example. It has a relatively unique system, with the combination of the One More turn based system, the almost dating sim-esque ability to improve relationships with other people and a deep and intriguing story.

Likeable characters also play heavily. I prefer them to be in some form realistic than completely stupid on just generally annoying.

 

[deletemeplease107]

I can honestly say NO JRPGs have ever satisfied me.... they just bug me.
sorry but i dont have any suggestions

 

[skcseth]

Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits - PS2

Infinite Undiscovery - Xbox 360

 

[Kasawd]

Golden Sun (GBA) was awesome, if it counts. It's easy to play, easy to understand, I'm not really into JRPGs and I really enjoyed it. The story's great, the characters are interesting, and the combat is fun. I believe that Golden Sun 3 has been announced for the DS, and I'm tempted to buy it just for that game

Golden Sun 3, eh? I wonder what that is going to be like. To tell the truth, I fear it being good because of the DS. I hope they dont put in anything for the microphone.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Mother
Earthbound/Mother 2
Mother 3
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Suikoden II
Vagrant Story
Radiata Stories
The World Ends With You

 

[Blood_Lined]

Star Ocean. Great science fiction element, great, dramatic storyline, great character development, (including romance, which is always a plus) great combat system, great voice acting; (in my opinion anyways) Simply put, the Star Ocean series is FANTASTIC, (obviously) it is my favorite game franchise of my favorite genre, and Star Ocean Second Evolution (because it has voice acting) holds the title for my favorite video game period, rather than the Second Story.

 

[S-Unleashed]

Kingdom Hearts 1,RECOM,2
The World Ends With You
Golden Sun
Pokemon (All of them.)

 

[Quaidis]

Bloody well, I forgot to add in my first post some specific rpgs.

I believe everyone will enjoy ChronoTrigger, even in this day and age. The graphics and game play were unique for its time and the plot is still original. The length was perfect, the characters were all likable, and the monsters were challenging (especially Lavos). It also has strong replay values. I have a soft spot in my heart for this game.

Another jrpg I feel worth mentioning is Skies of Arcadia. Some of the things it brought were not new to the table, yet it did bring in large airship battles, and piratey goodness. The main character is also very interesting, as is the plot.


One jrpg I found in poor taste was KingdomHearts 2. They did take what good was in KingdomHearts1 and improved on it, but they also went with the most cliche of all cliche plots. Not only does the main character have amnesia, but everyone else does as well! Due to this 'amnesia', characters in the first game (such as Whiney the Pooh) were teeth-gritting annoyances. Not only that, but I have never played a children's game so supremacist and sexist in my life. If you weren't part of the main party and their friends, you were to be killed. If you were different in any way, shape, or form, everyone wanted you to go off and stop existing and no one likes you. There is only one female character in the entire game you get to fight with (Mulan) and even then she's treated as in the way and quickly discarded for the next adventure.


I'm currently playing Wild Arms 5, which I had to burn down two orphanages to find. It is not nearly as good as 1-3, yet holds the flavor of the series far better than 4. I'm having a hard time lowering myself to the personality level of the main character (and his outright stupidity. He's worse than Lloyd in Tales of Symphonia.) The plot I'm at odds with. It's slow in the beginning and repeats itself constantly ["I'm a golem hunter! Let's go find some golems! Can't wait to see some golems. Do you like golems? Let's find golems together!"], but does get very interesting after a point. The dungeons are bland and you are guided through them, yet once you acquire all of the special ammo, the optional dungeons and bosses are very fun to seek out and beat on.

 

[ConstantJoe]

Golden Sun (GBA) was awesome, if it counts. It's easy to play, easy to understand, I'm not really into JRPGs and I really enjoyed it. The story's great, the characters are interesting, and the combat is fun. I believe that Golden Sun 3 has been announced for the DS, and I'm tempted to buy it just for that game

Golden Sun 3, eh? I wonder what that is going to be like. To tell the truth, I fear it being good because of the DS. I hope they dont put in anything for the microphone.

Yeah I hope it doesnt use any off the gimics that are common in DS games (rubbing the screen, using the microphone, etc.). Those gimics work in some games, make them better, but for a JRPG, it's just not needed. The touch screen will hopefully be just used as a menu for combat, etc. (similar to the new pokemon games).

 

[Quaidis]

Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits - PS2

Infinite Undiscovery - Xbox 360

Kingdom Hearts 1,RECOM,2
The World Ends With You
Golden Sun
Pokemon (All of them.)

Mother
Earthbound/Mother 2
Mother 3
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Suikoden II
Vagrant Story
Radiata Stories
The World Ends With You

And what about these games? Do you like them, dislike them. Why? This is a discussion thread, not a list.

 

[Rodyille]

Just been playing Chrono Trigger on DS I can see what the hype is about awesome with a capital for every letter, Golden Sun was brillant, Final Fantasy 7 is still involving today as it was years ago (even if I do know the plot inside out already) and Fire Emblem asspecally the first released on GBA the interesting plot mixed with excellent strategy RPG aliments and abouve all the frigging involving as hell Support system tops it all off, man great games

 

[666thHeretic]

If you don't mind the risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder, and you like tactical RPGs, try any of the Disgaea games. The first two are on PS2, third is on PS3, and the first has been remade for DS and PSP.

EDIT: God damn it I can't believe I forgot Chrono Trigger. And if you've got an emulator, may as well try Final Fantasy III while you're at it.

 

[Quaidis]

If you don't mind the risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder, and you like tactical RPGs, try any of the Disgaea games. The first two are on PS2, third is on PS3, and the first has been remade for DS and PSP.

EDIT: God damn it I can't believe I forgot Chrono Trigger. And if you've got an emulator, may as well try Final Fantasy III while you're at it.

So what about Disgaea and FF3 do you think makes them awesome, separates them from the mediocre crap flooding the markets out there?

I played, I believe the first, Disgaea once. It was after I became very tired with Phantom Brave. Little did I know that they had the exact same voice clips and monster designs. Quite possibly one of the most lazy of development jobs.

 

[A random person]

Chrono Trigger has what every RPG should have: A good combat system, well-made epic story, interesting characters you give a crap about (Robo is awesome, end of story), not dragged out, good art (say what you will about Dragonball Z, the art style is fantastic for this game), and of course, an awesome soundtrack. It is the only JRPG I have ever beaten.

Final Fantasy VI, the other game I hold as the pinnacle of the genre, also exemplifies these traits. Kefka is an awesome villain (I normally hate "evil for the sake of evil" villains, but he fits my evil clown exception) and the art style has just the right amount of color and detail. And of course the soundtrack. If only it wasn't for that damn fanatics tower.