What series should be the "mascot" for JRPGs?

[Onyx Oblivion]

For as long as I have known the genre, it has been defined by Final Fantasy. And it will continue to be, regardless of what anyone wishes.

If you had a choice, what JRPGs franchise would have you be the "mascot" for the genre?

Do you think that it should still be FF? Do you have another franchise in mind?

There are a few catches here:

The franchise has to still be in development and has to regularly be localized for audiences outside of Japan, so you can't choose dead franchises. Or Japan only franchises. And the series has to have a few titles under it's belt...Let's go with a minimum of 3. And a semi-regular release schedule, preferably at least one game per console generation.

Personally, I'd go with the "Tales of..." series, because it's featured the now-popular RPG trend of real-time combat since it's beginning, random battles have been gone since AT LEAST Symphonia on the Gamecube, it's featured local multiplayer and multiple playable characters, too. The story in the games tends to be quite rich, with high quality visuals and music. I've only played Phantasia, Destiny, Abyss, Symphonia, Vesperia, and "the World", though. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

My runner-up is SMT [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megami_Tensei].

FYI: I liked FF13, so I don't think that FF is "dead", by any means. I'm just saying that I think that better franchises exist.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

So you would choose the mascot for JRPG's to be a series without turn based combat?

No.

I have nothing against turn-based combat, personally, you know.

 

[Gigaguy64]

Ehhhh.
I like the Tales series but, id think the Dragon Warrior/Quest, Lufia, Phantasy Star, or Fire Emblem series would be better suited to be the Mascot if we had one.
They have been around the longest and influenced the genre the most.

But i actually wouldn't want to choose a Mascot, JRPGs can be very versatile.

 

[Sliverwings]

I think Final Fantasy is still the mascot for the JRPG genre

 

[Drakmeire]

I guess it should be "final fantasy" but I think the "dragon quest" series would be a better bet because they show how to evolve while keeping the game simple.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Ehhhh.
I like the Tales series but, id think the Dragon Warrior/Quest, Lufia, Phantasy Star, or Fire Emblem series would be better suited to be the Mascot if we had one.
They have been around the longest and influenced the genre the most.

But i actually wouldn't want to choose a Mascot, JRPGs can be very versatile.

Well, like it or not, most genres have a particularly well-known series, that even the non-gaming populace at large has heard of.

MMOs have WoW. FPS has CoD and Halo. Sports have Madden. Platformers have Mario. See where I'm going with this?

So you would choose the mascot for JRPG's to be a series without turn based combat?

No.

I have nothing against turn-based combat, personally, you know.

Turn based combat is one of the defining features of JRPG's. Real time appears in every other genre.

You have a point there. But anyway, what series do you suggest?

 

[Flac00]

Not Final Fantasy. I have heard there are much better JRPG's out there, but the "cream of the crop" do not include FF. That is mostly because it has not really innovated since 8. (Though the combat in the new one is different, it still feels the same)

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

I would have to say Final Fantasy because it is one of the best known and most popular JRPGs out there.

 

[Gigaguy64]

Ehhhh.
I like the Tales series but, id think the Dragon Warrior/Quest, Lufia, Phantasy Star, or Fire Emblem series would be better suited to be the Mascot if we had one.
They have been around the longest and influenced the genre the most.

But i actually wouldn't want to choose a Mascot, JRPGs can be very versatile.

Well, like it or not, most genres have a particularly well-known series, that even the non-gaming populace at large has heard of.

MMOs have WoW. FPS has CoD and Halo. Sports have Madden. Platformers have Mario. See where I'm going with this?

Oh i knew what you were saying.
But i was just saying id rather not haft to choose one.

But anyway, FF is already is a good Mascot, the FF series hits Turn Based Strategy, Turn Based Battle, Real Time Battle, MMO, Action.
And a lot of the games have great Stories, Characters, Music, and Art/Style.

 

[hopeneverdies]

If it were Monday, I would say Golden Sun. But since it's not, Fire Emblem has quite a few JRPG tropes without being too cliche.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

But anyway, FF is already is a good Mascot, the FF series hits Turn Based Strategy, Turn Based Battle, Real Time Battle, MMO, Action.
And a lot of the games have great Stories, Characters, Music, and Art/Style.

Fair enough. I mean no disrespect to the series with this topic, it's just that a lot of people seem to think it's past it's prime. Just thought it'd make for an interesting topic.

 

[Flac00]

Not Final Fantasy. I have heard there are much better JRPG's out there, but the "cream of the crop" do not include FF. That is mostly because it has not really innovated since 8. (Though the combat in the new one is different, it still feels the same)

Final Fantasy innovates every game. It has innovated itself out of the JRPG genre in my opinion and even SE said that XIII is not a JRPG.

Hm, i guess this just goes to what defines a "JRPG". I think the genre has to evolve or something because if FF is counted as a non-JRPG, then the genre as a whole hasn't developed.
ie: take FPS's for example. The gameplay in Unreal Tournament and Ghost Recon (1) are very different yet they are still counted as FPS's. The FPS genre has changed radically in many ways, with their "flagship" games all having different gameplay styles, Halo: more run and gun w/ vehicular combat, Battlefield/Call of Duty: Sight the guns, crouching, not firing while moving, etc, Gears of War (TBS but same for me): Stop and pop. I am not a big JRPG know-how guy, so everyone else is probably more of an expert.

 

[Gigaguy64]

But anyway, FF is already is a good Mascot, the FF series hits Turn Based Strategy, Turn Based Battle, Real Time Battle, MMO, Action.
And a lot of the games have great Stories, Characters, Music, and Art/Style.

Fair enough. I mean no disrespect to the series with this topic, it's just that a lot of people seem to think it's past it's prime. Just thought it'd make for an interesting topic.

Oh i wasn't trying to be critical.
And i can see where your coming from, but i think the series is trying.
Its just for many people, if the new FF games isn't like their favorite FF, then "tis is not Final Fantasy!, Square Enix what were you thinking the series is DEAD to me LOLFUL RAGE"
Which pisses me off to no end.

Square Enix has been trying to do something new for a while.
And they have created some of the best games iv ever played as Spin Offs from the main series.

Sigh, i guess its almost the same thing with Zelda fans.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Ever notice how JRPG's sell well on the DS but not well on the consoles? The DS (and GBA) has ports of older JRPG's while the console have these new "evolved" JRPG's. It seems clear that more people prefer the older JRPG's to the newer ones.

You may be onto something...
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/790K-people-bought-chrono-trigger-ds-and-other-square-sales/
Total US sales were HIGHER than total JP sales.