JRPGs

[Azure79]

I just wanted to hear everyone's opinions on JRPGs. I know this might be a sensitive subject, so let's try not to start a flame war.

 

Now I'm not really familiar with JRPGs. I can count the number of JRPGs I've played on one hand. 3 that is. All Final Fantasy games. Six, Seven and Eight. I played X as well but I couldn't finish it.

 

I considered myself a FF fan for quite awhile and not having a PS or PS2 until recently I couldn't play FF9 or 10 until recently. I was looking forward to it too considering the fond memories I have of the previous games.

 

I tried my best but couldn't finish it. I found the entire gameplay mechanic pretty annoying after awhile. I didn't like being interrupted every few steps by monsters, I didn't like seeing the same attack animation over and over and over again. I didn't like the turned based combat system with my side and the enemy separated by an invisible line taking turns bashing each other. It felt artificial. I hated seeing the party's winning poses again and again. Ok I get it, we won. Can we skip this part?

 

I thought to myself, "But wait, you really liked playing the other FF games. What gives?" I don't know. I guess my preferences have changed or something. I even tired reinstalling FF 7 and 8 and loaded up 6 on an emulator to see if there was something else to those games X lacked. Nope, I quickly got annoyed with those games too, well maybe except for six because the combat went much faster due to simpler graphics and animations.

 

So since I seemed to be turned off the FF series, are there any other JRPGs that don't have enemies interrupting you when you walk around? I think that's the most annoying aspect for me at the moment.

 

I'm not going to write off JRPGs since my experience with them is so limited. Plus I'm afraid ShadowPaladin might hunt me down. Do all JRPGs share a same basic template? Turned-based combat with a unique battle system and skill system for each game, fairly linear story, people with funky hairdos and those goddamn enemies interrupting you every 5 seconds while you try to get from point A to B?

 

If you're into JRPGs, why so? Oh and recommend one with an exceptional story. I'll give it a whirl.

[Child of Flame]

I like the Shining Force games.

 

Sega needs to make Shining Force 3.

[karka]

I don't like them.

[Meshugger]

I like them, more story and character based than western RPG. But i don't play them as with a "pure" RPG-state of mind though, i see them more like interactive stories than RPG's.

 

And Azure, you should play trough FFX, it has one of the best endings that i've seen.

Edited October 11, 2005 by Meshugger

[Darque]

I like the various SaGa games.

 

And if they count as "jRPGs"... I like the Koudelka/Shadow Hearts games as well.

Edited October 11, 2005 by Darque

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

I've already sent the cheque to the Ninja "

 

To seriously answer your question though. There are some universal elements mostly revolving around your choice of protagonist and how the story is told through a mixture of FMV and cutscenes (to say these are outside of your control would be false).

 

Other than that you will probably find a different system in every JRPG you play, even those from the same series like FF. Latest FF is different to anything you have ever seen before :cool:. One I could never really get on with was Baten Kaitos and the card system.

 

Tales of Symphonia for example has the monsters on the field map so you can see and avoid them. Ironically this dillutes the roleplaying since it removes the avoidence from the characters and transfers it to the player.

Star Oceen is another one where the critters appear on the map and can be avoided with relative ease.

 

I think Shadow Hearts:Covenent would be a good choice. The story is strong, it comes on two DVD's and weighs in at around 100 hours gameplay. The combat is turnbased, but with a stop dial which you can change or adjust depening on your abilities. So rather than just watch your attack your always involved in the timing (unless you want to switch it off). It's scene heavy in places, but also has some huge dungeons and other areas where there is little or no interuption, has some nice puzzles too.

Your still going to come across random creatures, but very early on you get the means to slow or even stop the non boss encounters.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

And Azure, you should play trough FFX, it has one of the best endings that i've seen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Seconded.

[Reveilled]

I always got really annoyed by random battles in the Final Fantasy games. What always carried them for me was the storyline, which was always good enough to keep me interested in them. Often, I would simply use some sort of cheat mechanism to turn off random battles altogether.

 

What I've found is that I have different standards for CRPGs and JRPGs. In American RPGs, I want a considerable degree of flexibility in my character and in the storyline, and I'm quite happy with (and possibly to some degree prefer) a plot that is completely cliche (Bad guy is taking over country/planet/galaxy and only you--and the people who joined your group despite only knowing you for less than a minute prior to joining--can stop him).

 

On the other hand, in a Japanese RPG, I'm happy to play an exremely predetermined character, and have a more complex plot that is in every way as linear as an ancient greek writing system.

 

The completely different and fairly rigid expectations might be the reason why I'm one of only five people on the planet that didn't like Torment.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

I like them, more story and character based than western RPG. But i don't play them as with a "pure" RPG-state of mind though, i see them more like interactive stories than RPG's.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Not a bad way to approach things. It might suprise some people (no one who has been around here for a while though) but I used to absolutely loathe the things. Because I was approaching them with a traditional RPG mindset all I saw was how restrictive they were whilst completely overlooking the positives. It was only when I wached my wife (girlfriend at the time) play FFX and just watch the story unfold that I got totally hooked. If anyone had told me I could experience that level of emotion from a game I would have laughed in their faces before that.

 

Since even traditional RPGs are becoming more and more restrictive anyway when it comes to what freedoms you get with your character the JRPGs became more and more appealing to me.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

I always got really annoyed by random battles in the Final Fantasy games.  What always carried them for me was the storyline, which was always good enough to keep me interested in them.  Often, I would simply use some sort of cheat mechanism to turn off random battles altogether.

 

What I've found is that I have different standards for CRPGs and JRPGs.  In American RPGs, I want a considerable degree of flexibility in my character and in the storyline, and I'm quite happy with (and possibly to some degree prefer) a plot that is completely cliche (Bad guy is taking over country/planet/galaxy and only you--and the people who joined your group despite only knowing you for less than a minute prior to joining--can stop him).

 

On the other hand, in a Japanese RPG, I'm happy to play an exremely predetermined character, and have a more complex plot that is in every way as linear as an ancient greek writing system.

 

The completely different and fairly rigid expectations might be the reason why I'm one of only five people on the planet that didn't like Torment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

As I said in another post they bother me when I'm trying to solve a puzzle since I want to focus all my attention on it. Otherwise I find getting the most out of the battles is the best approach.

 

Ditto I look for different experiences in each game, I think if your look for the same experience you will be disapointed. That said I was pretty disapointed with Jade Empire for a number of reasons (lots of gameplay ones).

 

I'm one of the other five people on the planet. Nothing pisses me off more than having to make those sorts of choices for a character that isnt mine. I dont like the old amnesia shtick just to make it possible either.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Give this one a whirl if your looking for a non typical JRPG.

 

This innovative RPG takes players on a journey of survival, adventure and mystery. After a disastrous incident at sea, the young hero of the game awakens to find himself on a seemingly uninhabited island. After meeting another survivor, a 17-year old girl who has also drifted ashore, the two must work together to survive. While planning their escape, the two will learn survival skills, such as hunting, searching for food and building tools while uncovering the island's many mysteries.

 

Features:

 

Survival game based on the relationship of two main characters - the hero and the heroine - who are trapped on a mysterious deserted island

 

 

Search and obtain items by utilizing the innovative Nintendo DS touch panel

 

 

Numerous activities such as fishing, hunting, trapping and cooking make living on the island fun - while also providing innovative mini-games

 

 

Survival depends on sharing responsibilities between the main character and NPCs - each character's actions will affect the dialogue and events in the game

 

 

Dual Phase System - After clearing the game as the hero, the player can play as the heroine and gain a completely different gameplay experience

 

 

Multiple game endings depending on the two players' lifestyle, relationship, dialogue and their manner of escape

[Lord Tingeling]

Oh, pally. Been a while.

 

How are things going?

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Oh, pally. Been a while.

 

How are things going?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pretty good now thanks, almost back to normal.

[Musopticon?]

"Love or hate?"

 

Is there a third option? :D

[kirottu]

I liek Hentai games.

[Atreides]

The only JRPG that I've played through is FF-X and it definitely had a more developed story than others that I'm used to. I liked it and would play more.

 

Plus, Guilty Gear > u. And yes, I know it's not a RPG.

[Qazplm]

I liek Hentai games.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you want to watch porn there are much better options.

[Musopticon?]

I liek Hentai games.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you want to watch porn there are much better options.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Totally baited.

[Guest Fishboot]

I haven't played any proper JRPGs in a while (proper as in clearly a descendant of FF7, as distinct from the line of Tactics Ogre knockoffs) but it's more from ambivalence than dislike. I (like 90% of the videogame-playing human race) loved FF6 and FF7 but I think I only have one JRPG in me every two or three years. If I try to play them any more often than that I get distracted by the anime cliches and I can't summon that "Collect 'em all!" obsession that is usually central to JRPG gameplay. I think I feel one coming on, though - I played about half of FFX when it came out and no JRPGs since then, so I'm ready for FF12.

[Plano Skywalker]

I really haven't played a true JRPG to date since they are mostly on certain consoles that I have never owned. If I do end up getting a Revolution, I may play some.

 

I have played Third Age which, gameplay-wise, is a hack of a JRPG with true Turn-Based combat. It is an OK change of pace.

 

The bottome line is that we need the rich storytelling of a JRPG with a certain amount of Western sandbox.

 

KOTOR I had a fair amount of sandbox for a heavily story-focused game. What it could have used is alternate paths in the main quest. I realize this makes it more difficult to produce but that is the Holy Grail: story AND sandbox.

[mkreku]

I'm divided. I don't like the newer Final Fantasy games (I liked the first few) because of the turn based combat and the fact that every map feels like a totally uninteractive corridor.

 

I did, however, like a game I played recently called Ys: The Ark of Napisthim. It's kind of a 3D version of 2D Zelda.. Hard to explain, but I liked it. Since I own a PS2 and 99% of all RPG's released for that console are JRPG's, I'm trying to adjust. It's not easy as most of them are, quite frankly, crap.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Ys was the last one I played lots of fun although the fight before the end boss was better than the end boss, after taking out the globes I couldnt really tell whether or not anything was happening till I got the victory cinematic.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

The bottome line is that we need the rich storytelling of a JRPG with a certain amount of Western sandbox.

 

KOTOR I had a fair amount of sandbox for a heavily story-focused game.  What it could have used is alternate paths in the main quest.  I realize this makes it more difficult to produce but that is the Holy Grail: story AND sandbox.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Try Tales of Symphonia. It's got a ton of sidequests, two worlds and two huge maps (comes on two disks) It's also got one of the most endearing characters I've ever seen who suffers the more you accomplish which is pretty horrible. It's a bittersweet sort of game, so not for people who like upbeat and happy.

 

It's not TB , rather it uses a mixture of magic and skills which use up AP. Combat is very entertaining for the most part and pretty hard.

[Baley]

I like the Shining Force games. 

 

Sega needs to make Shining Force 3.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They released Shining Force 3 on the Saturn.

 

 

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/s...e&itemid=198623

 

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/s...e&itemid=198624

 

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/s...e&itemid=198625

 

The first scenario has been translated to English,if memory serves me.

Edited October 11, 2005 by Baley

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Shining Force was re released on the GBA as Ressurection of Dark Dragon. More story this time around and some new characters but essentially the same game. The game gets harder the more you complete it if your into that sort of thing.

 

http://www.gamestation.co.uk/product.asp?id=101254607659589

 

I played Shining Soul too , which was ok but nothing really special. Hand held Diablo although MP is fun.

 

http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/produc...shining_soul_ii

Edited October 11, 2005 by ShadowPaladin V1.0