JPRG's and Armor

[NuclearPenguin]

Anyway, I enjoy both WRPGs and JRPGs, but one thing I dont like about JRPGs is the fact that no matter how much you upgrade your armor you still look the same. Anyway, my question is what is your opinion on this and do you know of any JRPGs that actually show it?

 

[Tartarga]

Oh god, there was one that I know of but I can't remember its name. It was something Saga I think.

 

[Starnerf]

FFX showed characters with updated shields in battles.

 

[DuplicateValue]

It would be nice to be able to see that new expensive armor you just bought for your character, but I guess the game designers spent a long time designing that character. They probably don't want you covering up their good work with a big helmet, I guess.

In FFXII you could see your chosen sword and shield, so that's good enough for me.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Oh god, there was one that I know of but I can't remember its name. It was something Saga I think.

..Ether saga?

 

[Rafe]

Perhaps because they spend so much time with character design in JRPG's that they don't want you messing it up. They would need a heck of a lot of elaborate armour to keep the style of the original designs.

 

[Magnatek]

You just haven't played the JRPGs that do show the armor change. Radiata Stories is one example, with every suit of armor looking different. Wild ARMs 5 also has armor that changes appearance. Of course, these are usually secret sets of armor. You just have to find them. Also, the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles games for the DS have interchangeable armor. Every single piece of equipment (save for accesories) looks different.

 

[era81]

I think for the most part it was hardware limits that caused this.Dragon Quest8 had I think two characters who's image was altered by armor outside of that the only one I can think of is Legend of Lagaia I believe.

 

[LeonLethality]

Monster Hunter. That shows your armour changes, Though it falls under ARPG... maybe JARPG if that genre exists.

 

[LostintheWick]

I heard that Japanese gamers don't care much for the players ability to customize a characters look. Apparently, western cultures put more emphasis on a individual uniqueness then in Japan.

I don't know if this is true, but if it is why would a company put in extra dev time for a feature their audience could care less about?

 

[Heart of Darkness]

I don't mind, really. I know the Crystal Chronicles series does this, but I could care less. Developers already have enough to worry about than making interchangeable armor pieces for their characters and then making sure they don't glitch in battle or on the field.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Theres is that new Tri Ace game Resonance of Fate in 2010 though it's not really armour as much as it is customisable clothing/guns.

 

[Enderrr]

It's because of the large amounts of FMVs associated with JRPGs, it would look silly if your character was wearing one type of armor in gameplay and then a different one in the FMV cutscenes, which is why I think FMVs should be dropped altogether. In-game visuals are more than capable of impressing on their own steam, it would also allow your characters appearance to change through the game as you see fit.

 

[Jenova65]

Doesn't really bother me, it is the jam in the game rather than the bread and butter, by that I mean a good game is just that, a good game regardless of character appearance.

 

[A Raging Emo]

You should see all of the upgrades I bought for my Anti-Gravity Hairspray, my hair just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

 

[NeutralDrow]

Hmm...I know there's a couple of different outfits in some of the Tales games. Tales of the World avoids this entirely, I think.

 

[Charli]

They usually only update the weaponry in most of the ones i've played.

But yeah the tales series has some awesome costumes if you can be arsed to find them.

Making people fight in Swimming costumes and evening wear never gets old.

 

[Jared]

Dragon Age, thats pretty good at it from the WRPG side of things.

As for JRPG, prolly go with something like FFX

 

[awesomeemosewa]

Golden Sun changed sword and sheild but not armor.

 

[aarontg]

I dont know that must be some kind of tradition now, but I notice that wrpgs give you shoulder armour the size of cinder blocks and armour that appears to be about three inches thick which must be some kind of tradition here as well.