Editor's Note: J + RPG

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I don't think we grew out of them, we just grew used to the same story and characters being rehashed over and over again.

So how come we don't feel the same way about the FPS? Especially WW2 FPS? I mean, have the Nazis ever won? It's not like the story and characters ever change in that regard (though Saboteur at least tried, bless its little misguided Scottish accent's heart).

I love Bioshock. LOVE it. (Never played System Shock 2, so don't bring it up!) Tried Bioshock 2 and went, 'Meh, same old same old'.

Now, I bought Demon's Souls and Uncharted 2 the same day. Played a couple hours of Uncharted 2, got bored. Played Demon's Souls and only stopped when my husband reminded me of what day it was.

Story and characters are important as an enhancing factor, but rarely have I played a game solely due to the story. Been attracted by, yes. Been driven away by, yes. But only because of the story? No.

It was the gameplay, I think, that got repetitive, not the story and characters. However, I also like Lost Odyssey and Magna Carta, and of course, YMMV.

I happen to feel exactly the same way about WW2 shooters as I do JRPGS. To be clear I don't hate them, I'm just used to them being pretty much all the same. I still think they are fun to play. I prefer JRPGS to most of the western ones, the storys are usually deeper and more compelling plus the art direction is more pleasing. Compare the story and Art Direction of say Lost Odyssey to Dragon Age (bright and colourful as to dark and brown).

 

[Testsubject909]

Y...Y...You...You bastards...

You just had to put that up there didn't you?

Didn't you!?

Oh Alice... Oh Yuri... Oh god I want to play the game again now.

 

[blippity]

Good article John. I think you've summed up most of my feelings towards the (J)RPG. I experienced FFVII later in my gaming years, having ploughed through many NES/SNES RPGs that I could muster here in Australia, but ever since hmm maybe FFX and Persona 3/4, my interest in RPGs has waned. When Sony announced the PS3, I was looking forward to the next generation of PS2 RPGs (Suikoden, Dark Cloud, FF, Disgaea, Star Ocean etc.) that any of these now do not interest me in their next release (ok except for Suikoden). But since they have either become non-existent or imo, boring, I don't care for the PS3.

I still like turn based RPGs. I still like that level of strategy with the different roles and abilities. I don't like cliched stories and cliched characters. I don't want teenagers anymore, I want adults. I want characters like Shepard from Mass Effect, or Auron from FFX.

I once was an RPG collector. But that changed about 5 years ago when I lost interest in what was released back then. Today hasn't changed.

 

[omegawyrm]

My first JRPG was Legend of the Seven Stars on the SNES and the first one I sought out after that was FFX. I don't know what the hell happened to everyone else in the intervening years, or what the hell would make you think FF VII was such an excellent game in the first place considering how poorly translated and art designed it was, but I still love JRPGs and fit a ton of modern and classic ones into my gaming today along with the WRPGs, FPSes, and Platformers.

 

[Velocity Eleven]

I've never understood this "outgrowing JRPGs" thing I keep hearing... I am 22 right now and JRPGs have been by far my favourite genre since I was 12. The games were amazing then and the games are amazing now.

And I also dont understand why people make such a huge deal about just the storyline, even if I were to accept that all these "cliches" were true (and I havnt really noticed any of them) then they would still bare no-to-little impact on how good the "games" are... These are GAMES not just stories

 

[Dooly95]

And I also dont understand why people make such a huge deal about just the storyline, even if I were to accept that all these "cliches" were true (and I havnt really noticed any of them) then they would still bare no-to-little impact on how good the "games" are... These are GAMES not just stories

Take note; if item A is exactly the same as item B, then there's no real reason to go out and buy item B.

JRPGs are driven mainly by story. A pre-planned story, where you're just along for the ride. If these stories can be summed up each time by "it's like game X", then well, you've really got nothing going for the game.

Mind, I have nothing against JRPGs. I have nothing against RPGs in general. My RPG resume can be summed as thus;
FFX - drifted off before finishing
Dragon Age
Chrono Trigger - drifted off somewhere near hour 3.

 

[Testsubject909]

What I'm not overly impressed about are the people complaining about the linearity of JRPG games. They've not played a great variety of JRPGs have they?

And it's not as if WRPGs are any better. Sure, there's the exception that comes out of Bioware, but even then. Outside of Mass Effect, the endings of Dragon Age sums itself up to... what? 4-5 different endings which have the exact same outcome, each except one forcing a heroic tragedy with the rest just being different clothes worn by your character? Mind you, it's at least a step up from way way long ago in Fable 1, where all your actions throughout the game were all entirely meaningless to the bulk of the story and where your split ending was decided entirely on a singular choice at the very end which then depicts your character as the saintliest of saints, or the most demonic of demons.

Plus, some of the modern day 'evolutions, revolutions and brand new gameplay and storytelling mechanics'... Were present in the past if you dare look long enough at the lenghty history of WRPGs.

If people are stating that JRPGs are starting to stagnate. I would argue that WRPGs are also starting to stagnate, it's just that with all the focus on the exception, everyone seems to forget the rest of the many games within the genre.

(Seriously. There's how many take on the idea of Dungeon and Dragon-esque fantasy WRPG where you alone or with a small band of heroes go to save the world now?)

 

[Velocity Eleven]

And I also dont understand why people make such a huge deal about just the storyline, even if I were to accept that all these "cliches" were true (and I havnt really noticed any of them) then they would still bare no-to-little impact on how good the "games" are... These are GAMES not just stories

Take note; if item A is exactly the same as item B, then there's no real reason to go out and buy item B.

JRPGs are driven mainly by story. A pre-planned story, where you're just along for the ride. If these stories can be summed up each time by "it's like game X", then well, you've really got nothing going for the game.

well "driven by story" is something that I've never witnessed, despite me playing many JRPGs, and as for "game A is like game B", cant say I've played 2 JRPGs that are all that similar. That's one thing I love about JRPGs, they all have the epicness that comes with the leveling-up and battle mechanics yet they are all very unique in the way they execute it

 

[Tharticus]

I would point out that the SNES was the golden age of JRPGs. A huge list of JRPGs were actually entertaining like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy IV and VI, Super Mario RPG, Earthbound and also Breath of Fire were my favorites on the SNES.

At the PlayStation era, JRPGs focused more to be cinematic. It was a big deal back then. It really was. See why Final Fantasy VII is beyond popular, spawning more spinoffs than any other Final Fantasy game made.

 

[Stefan Eriksson]

Outside of Mass Effect, the endings of Dragon Age sums itself up to... what? 4-5 different endings which have the exact same outcome, each except one forcing a heroic tragedy with the rest just being different clothes worn by your character?

I take it you never played Dragon Age: Origins? Or you are confusing it with a different game?

Almost every decision you make in the game have consequences; side with the wrong king and you doom the dwarven kingdom to slowly collapse. Support the wrong character and they will be doing even worse. As far as your own destiny... you can become king, you can become queen, you can sacrifice yourself or you can just ride off into the sunset, or stay as an advisor.

Besides, you can import your saved game and have your decisions impact DA 2.

Anyway... I have never enjoyed the few JRPGs I have played because they have two flaws. One, they are too japanese, meaning the look and cultural outlook, and I get allergic attacks from the japanese art style among other things. The other reason is that the story is too locked in, so it is not worth playing more than once; and no game you only play once is worth $60+. $6 yes, but not $60.

 

[Phantomess]

I'd disagree about the Kingdom Hearts II comment. I really loved the ending of it. I thought it was really appropriate and if you'd played the "in-between" games, you'd understand it better. Unfortunately, all the "in-between" games came after the actual second installment. I suppose that is the problem. There were too many narrative problems in the story for when it came out. Too many unanswered questions.

That aside, the actual gameplay was really quite brilliant and I really enjoyed it. It was a solid, playable game that I could really enjoy. I was at my local EB Games at nine in the morning the day it came out and I spent all day playing it. I saved the final boss fight for the following day, because I really enjoyed it.

As a genre, I think JRPGs are great. They appeal to me and they are the style of game that I prefer to play. Not necessarily for character archetypes, but because the ones that I've played usually keep me interested with their game mechanics and level design.