Going Gonzo: The JRPG Project

[Flames66]

Hi everyone.

I have been posting on these fine forums for some time now and this has finally come. I have taken a step back from posting for a few weeks because I wanted something meaningful to post for my big 1000. I have finally decided on a topic; JRPGs.

They are a subject that comes up frequently in gaming discussion, often with an attached flame war. I have never played a JRPG in my life (apart from a short demo of an early Final Fantasy when I was quite young) and I have very few opinions on them. Because of my less biased view, I had an Idea some time ago that I would have a go at one, see what I thought of it and write a review for the sire of the game I played and the genre. This endeavour failed because One of my conditions was that it must be on the PC and apparently there are very few of them that fit.

Now, I was told that there were plenty of them for the PS2 and I happen to have acquired one of those free from my Uncle. Because of this I thought I would dust off my old idea and present it to you again as my thousandth post. So here it is. Below you will find my list of requirements.

If that was all too long for you; Recommend me a game that represents the JRPG genre!

Conditions:

1. Must be on the PC or PS2
2. Must be below £10
3. I will not make an account on any pages or servers to play it (no online activation DLC)
Steam is fine though as I already have an account.
4. Must be a game that you think represents the JRPG genre well.

Thank you all, I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I'd say Final Fantasy 10 because of how attached you get to the characters...


Plus it's old school turn based JRPG.

 

[Radeonx]

Persona 3 and Dragon Quest VIII are both fantastic PS2 games.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Shadow Hearts Series ( This is a MUST!)
Earthbound ( Emulation)
Perosna 3
Persona 4
SMT: Nocturne ( A ***** to find, but worth it. Also hard as hell.)
Disgea ( doesn't really represent JRPGS well, but it can be addicting)
Final Fantasy 10 ( My favorite in the series)
Digital Devil Saga ( Never played, but its a SMT game so it must be good)
Rogue Galaxy ( Basically Final Fantasy 12 without the crap)


This should hold you of. These are some of the best games I've played on the PS2.

 

[Flames66]

Shadow Hearts Series ( This is a MUST!)
Earthbound ( Emulation)
Perosna 3
Persona 4
SMT: Nocturne ( A ***** to find, but worth it. Also hard as hell.)
Disgea ( doesn't really represent JRPGS well, but it can be addicting)
Final Fantasy 10 ( My favorite in the series)
Digital Devil Saga ( Never played, but its a SMT game so it must be good)
Rogue Galaxy ( Basically Final Fantasy 12 without the crap)


This should hold you of. These are some of the best games I've played on the PS2.

Which of these games do you think best represents the JRPG genre?

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys! Keep em coming!

 

[Wayneguard]

This is the easiest choice imaginable. Get the final fantasy anthology for ps1 (you can play it on ps2). It's got two of the best games in the series (IV and VI) and the best job based game (V). Plus, three games in one for 5 bucks can't be beat.

Final Fantasy Anthology on PS1. Go get it.

 

[Thaius]

Final Fantasy X on the PS2 is a good example. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy, but the voice acting is mostly pretty good (despite early PS2 tech limitations that often leave unbearable pauses between dialogue). It's one of the best Final Fantasy battle systems, has a great story, great characters, and, as always, a beautiful soundtrack by Nobou Uematsu, the John Williams of video games.

If you're one for emulation... ahem, not that I'm advocating illegal emulation of games that aren't even being produced anymore and wouldn't give the creators money anyway...[/b] you could play Final Fantasy VI (known as III on the SNES because of a stupid numbering thing - long story). It's old school, but one of the absolute best. EDIT: Along the same lines, Chrono Trigger. Also highly recommended.

Of course the PS2 is backwards compatible, so you could play VII as well, which is my personal favorite video game. But good luck finding the discs for cheap.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Shadow Hearts Series ( This is a MUST!)
Earthbound ( Emulation)
Perosna 3
Persona 4
SMT: Nocturne ( A ***** to find, but worth it. Also hard as hell.)
Disgea ( doesn't really represent JRPGS well, but it can be addicting)
Final Fantasy 10 ( My favorite in the series)
Digital Devil Saga ( Never played, but its a SMT game so it must be good)
Rogue Galaxy ( Basically Final Fantasy 12 without the crap)


This should hold you of. These are some of the best games I've played on the PS2.

Which of these games do you think best represents the JRPG genre?

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys! Keep em coming!

The Shadow hearts Series, as it has a battle system that makes every battle at least a bit different. The setting is original, being set in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Lots of wackiness, also tragedy. You'll love it if your into Lovecraft too.

All of the games represent JRPGS well, really. Which is why I posted the good ones.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Final Fantasy X on the PS2 is a good example. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy, but the voice acting is mostly pretty good (despite early PS2 tech limitations that often leave unbearable pauses between dialogue). It's one of the best Final Fantasy battle systems, has a great story, great characters, and, as always, a beautiful soundtrack by Nobou Uematsu, the John Williams of video games.

If you're one for emulation... ahem, not that I'm advocating illegal emulation of games that aren't even being produced anymore and wouldn't give the creators money anyway...[/b] you could play Final Fantasy VI (known as III on the SNES because of a stupid numbering thing - long story). It's old school, but one of the absolute best. EDIT: Along the same lines, Chrono Trigger. Also highly recommended.

Of course the PS2 is backwards compatible, so you could play VII as well, which is my personal favorite video game. But good luck finding the discs for cheap.

just a bit of braggin, i got 7 2 years ago for 10 bucks in perfect condition =] manual,case, and all =]


but OT:

i would recommend ff9 or ff10 for the best visual to gameplay playability, because by now going back TOO far it is hard to enjoy the graphics ( i know i shouldn't be saying that..but playing a game fresh with no nostalgia its hard to enjoy those ones with no voices and not good graphics at all...)

 

[Flying-Emu]

Do NOT get any Final Fantasy game. They are not indicative of the JRPG genre in any way, shape, or form. They're just the most popular; they don't necessarily represent what JRPGs are all about.

If you want a GOOD game that gives you the basic gist of JRPGs, pick up a copy of Chrono Trigger.

 

[Bocaj2000]

Do NOT get any Final Fantasy game. They are not indicative of the JRPG genre in any way, shape, or form. They're just the most popular; they don't necessarily represent what JRPGs are all about.

If you want a GOOD game that gives you the basic gist of JRPGs, pick up a copy of Chrono Trigger.

Why did it take so long for someone to say this?

OP: One of my favorite JRPGs is Lost Odyssey, but that doesn't fit your criteria...
Xenogrears got good recteption (never played it though)
Zelda is technically a JRPG...

Other than that, I don't really know. They aren't as plentiful as many people pretend they are.

 

[Thick]

Do NOT get any Final Fantasy game. They are not indicative of the JRPG genre in any way, shape, or form. They're just the most popular; they don't necessarily represent what JRPGs are all about.

I've read this a couple times and just don't get it. Help?

FF10 would be my recommendation.

 

[thenoblitt]

tales of symphonia though it isnt a typical jrpg, or the xenosaga series just because they have an amazing story they are a little heavy on the cutscenes though

 

[Flying-Emu]

Do NOT get any Final Fantasy game. They are not indicative of the JRPG genre in any way, shape, or form. They're just the most popular; they don't necessarily represent what JRPGs are all about.

I've read this a couple times and just don't get it. Help?

FF10 would be my recommendation.

People will recommend the newer FF games because they're the only JRPG they've played, when they're nothing like 90% of JRPGs.

 

[Thick]

Do NOT get any Final Fantasy game. They are not indicative of the JRPG genre in any way, shape, or form. They're just the most popular; they don't necessarily represent what JRPGs are all about.

I've read this a couple times and just don't get it. Help?

FF10 would be my recommendation.

People will recommend the newer FF games because they're the only JRPG they've played, when they're nothing like 90% of JRPGs.

Fair enough, I haven't played all that many JRPGs so I don't suppose I can say what makes for a representative one. I just thought that FF10 was a good one for PS2.

 

[LogicNProportion]

Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3...you know I'm technically right...

<<

Steambot Chronicles, Front Mission 4, Final Fantasy X, Dragon Quest VIII

and if you wanna talk PS1, then we have a whole other animal.

 

[LogicNProportion]

Final Fantasy X on the PS2 is a good example. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy, but the voice acting is mostly pretty good (despite early PS2 tech limitations that often leave unbearable pauses between dialogue). It's one of the best Final Fantasy battle systems, has a great story, great characters, and, as always, a beautiful soundtrack by Nobou Uematsu, the John Williams of video games.

If you're one for emulation... ahem, not that I'm advocating illegal emulation of games that aren't even being produced anymore and wouldn't give the creators money anyway...[/b] you could play Final Fantasy VI (known as III on the SNES because of a stupid numbering thing - long story). It's old school, but one of the absolute best. EDIT: Along the same lines, Chrono Trigger. Also highly recommended.

Of course the PS2 is backwards compatible, so you could play VII as well, which is my personal favorite video game. But good luck finding the discs for cheap.

just a bit of braggin, i got 7 2 years ago for 10 bucks in perfect condition =] manual,case, and all =]


but OT:

i would recommend ff9 or ff10 for the best visual to gameplay playability, because by now going back TOO far it is hard to enjoy the graphics ( i know i shouldn't be saying that..but playing a game fresh with no nostalgia its hard to enjoy those ones with no voices and not good graphics at all...)

I got NEW copies of VII and VIII for 10 bucks each. VII was in a bargain bin at a game store years ago. I got VIII a few months ago. VIII was in display glass under the counter. Asked the guy about it, and it was originally 20, but he and I talked and I got it half off for being a 'friend'.

PS. Amazon is the retro gamer's best friend. Got a copy of original MGS for PS1 for 5 bucks, and it works like new.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Final Fantasy X on the PS2 is a good example. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy, but the voice acting is mostly pretty good (despite early PS2 tech limitations that often leave unbearable pauses between dialogue). It's one of the best Final Fantasy battle systems, has a great story, great characters, and, as always, a beautiful soundtrack by Nobou Uematsu, the John Williams of video games.

If you're one for emulation... ahem, not that I'm advocating illegal emulation of games that aren't even being produced anymore and wouldn't give the creators money anyway...[/b] you could play Final Fantasy VI (known as III on the SNES because of a stupid numbering thing - long story). It's old school, but one of the absolute best. EDIT: Along the same lines, Chrono Trigger. Also highly recommended.

Of course the PS2 is backwards compatible, so you could play VII as well, which is my personal favorite video game. But good luck finding the discs for cheap.

just a bit of braggin, i got 7 2 years ago for 10 bucks in perfect condition =] manual,case, and all =]


but OT:

i would recommend ff9 or ff10 for the best visual to gameplay playability, because by now going back TOO far it is hard to enjoy the graphics ( i know i shouldn't be saying that..but playing a game fresh with no nostalgia its hard to enjoy those ones with no voices and not good graphics at all...)

I got NEW copies of VII and VIII for 10 bucks each. VII was in a bargain bin at a game store years ago. I got VIII a few months ago. VIII was in display glass under the counter. Asked the guy about it, and it was originally 20, but he and I talked and I got it half off for being a 'friend'.

PS. Amazon is the retro gamer's best friend. Got a copy of original MGS for PS1 for 5 bucks, and it works like new.

oh hell yeah amazon is, got ff9 off there last fall for 12 bucks, got the case (small break in the corner but was in the description) with the manual and disks with a few super small scratches (but hey,they are ps1 discs..those things can get clawed by fucking wolverine and they still work flawlessly)

 

[Flames66]

Here's the list of games so far after checking which games are available. If anyone has any additions or subtractions for my list then tell me.


Final Fantasy X
Persona 3
Persona 4
Dragon Quest VIII
SMT: Nocturne
Final Fantasy 10
Digital Devil Saga
Rogue Galaxy
Final Fantasy Anthology on PS1
Chrono Trigger

I'll make it into a poll soon but I'm leaving some time for anyone to change my list.
JRPG Fans recomend a game to represent Your Genre!