JRPGs and so forth, where to start?

[Lord_Jaroh]

I would also recommend Disgaea (the first is the best story, the third is the best gameplay), if not for it's deceptively easy gameplay, but also for the amount of depth it offers late in the game.

 

[j0z]

I am not a big player or fan of JRPGs, but I have played sever of the FF games (VIII, X, X-2, and XII to be precise), and my favorite by far was FF12, haven't beaten it yet, but it has a good story to it, but the enemies get very hard if you don't level properly (trust me, I know from experience) My biggest complaint is save points (or lack there of)

 

[BuckminsterF]

Golden Sun

 

[NeutralDrow]

Well, my real recommendation would be for Tales of Symphonia, if you ever get a Gamecube or Wii.

For PC...actual PC JRPGs aren't that common. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Septerra Core (which I did like, though the ending sucked). For PC, I'd find an emulator and go with what others are saying. Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, or Final Fantasy VI (FF3, for the English version) are good places to start.

 

[Worgen]

start with the persona series, specificly 3 and 4, they are awsome and have great stories unlike alot of jrpgs, or if you have a ds get super robot taisen endless fronter, its hardly traditional but its got a decent story and likable chars with some fantastic 2d animation

 

[RagnorakTres]

FINAL FANTASY V. It's the game that started me on the JRPG scene and it is still one of my favorite titles of all time. Disgaea, Shin Megami Tensei, whatever the series that has Riviera and Yggdra Union in it was called, KINGDOM HEARTS (also a favorite, especially 2) and Fire Emblem (strategy is fun!). That's a good list of games that I have enjoyed and replay on a semi-regular basis.

Also, listen to all the people above me, they seem to have played some I haven't (and will, consequently, check out. Thanks guys!).

EDIT: TALES! How did I forget Tales?! A great series of games, check them out. They're all titled "Tales of..."

 

[Flying-Emu]

Well, when I get a job, I plan to get started into JRPGs, especially ones like FF XIII, but I've no idea where to start.

I remember FF III DS, which was rather infuriating, so something to "ease me in" might be better. I don't own any consoles at the moment, but not against buying one so feel free to suggest them and games. My PC's able to run quite a few games, so again, PC suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

Get this game, whether it be on the Wii, Gamecube, or PS2. All of the Tales games are great, but this is my personal favorite; great story, easy to get into combat that scales in difficulty very well, well-written characters. Only real flaw is fairly mediocre voice casting (Except for the ever-lovely Jennifer Hale)

I don't beleive in "easing in" so I'm going to recomend two JRPG gems in a series of JRPG gold that will ***** slap you as much as they ***** slapped me, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VI

Yeah, FFX bitched slapped me with its incomprehensibly pretentious storytelling and absolute refusal to let me actually play the game. 4 hours of gameplay and three battles? Excuse me, but fuck no. And don't even get me started on FFX-2.

Contrary to popular belief, the Final Fantasy games are not the best jRPG's out there. Chrono Trigger (as mentioned above), Persona, and even Dot Hack (I have no idea how to do the little .//hack thing, so I just say Dot Hack) are superior in many ways. In fact, Dark Cloud, if you can find a copy of it, is an AMAZING jRPG. Definitely better than any FF game I've played.

Pick up Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn if you're into a more strategic sort of gameplay.

Golden Sun

Also this.

 

[superspartan004]

although you didn't like FF III on the DS, try FF IV, seriously almost anyone who's played FF IV on the DS will tell you it is much better and worth the buy (the game is very difficult though to warn you)

 

[KampfVerein]

CHRONO TRIGGER. CHRONO TRIGGER. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CHRONO TRIGGER.

Then try Earthbound, Chrono Cross, Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy VI (American naming convention) and afterward. Oh, and I enjoyed what time I spent with Lost Odyssey. Still haven't finished that one.

 

[UnravThreads]

I did *not* expect this volume of replies! Wow, thanks all! So, I'm basically looking at getting :

Chrono Trigger;
A Pokémon game;
Tales of Symphonia;
Final Fantasy IV;
A huge box of ibuprofen.

Would you say that, given the replies, is a good start? If I pick up a 360, I'll certainly consider Lost Odyssey, although I'm considering a PS3 'cos I think it's backwards compatible.

 

[LogicNProportion]

The PSP or GBA remake of Final Fantasy 1 & 2 are also very good JRPG's that will help you ease in. Plus, they're classics. ^^

It's wheres the ones that casts the spells that makes the peoples falls downs comes froms.

Note: PLEASE somebody get that reference. ><;

 

[Crowser]

Tales of Symphonia or FF3 (6 in Japan). I bet you could find an emulator for FF3 considering it was a game for the SNES

Wait I dunno if FF3 on the SNES is the same as FF3 on the DS lol. If it is disregard that and substitute Golden Sun, also a great JRPG.

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

Kingdom Hearts. all of them. for the PS2,DS and PSP.

Indeed my friend. Well said.

Lost Odyssey is decent, I liked Eternal Sonata, but it has a very good idea of it's audience. You either love it or hate it. Tales of Vesperia looks very neat. FFX was good (for me anyway). Don't bother buying FF12, bored me to tears.

 

[notsosavagemessiah]

I'd say DO NOT START. But if you must, CHRONO TRIGGER is THE place to start. Good story, unmatched music, great, if simplistic battle mechanics (with awesome tweaks that for some reason never caught on like combination spells) and plenty of game time. This game is the quintessential JRPG. There is nothing that even comes close(except CHRONO CROSS). Though if you want something of a decidedly darker fare, go with anything in the SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI series, but being that older games in the series are harder to find go with the following, PERSONA 3, DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA (1 and 2) and NOCTURNE. Last but not least, something from the current generation that isn't crap, and that's LOST ODYSSEY. It's made by the folks at MISTWALKER STUDIOS who are the ones behind the original FF's. You know, while the series was good? Other then these games, i don't recommend any JRPG's. Unless of course, you like androgynous emasculated man/boys who don't really do anything except cry. Seriously, stay the fuck away from JRPG's unless it's absolutely critical that you play one. There's so many of them, and so few of them are actually any good.

 

[UnravThreads]

So, notsosavagemessiah, what would you suggest I do instead?

 

[Hazy]

Chrono Trigger is a must.
Persona 3 is also a good buy.

And finally, the grandmaster of all JRPGS:

Spoiler: You totally knew this was coming..

 

[Rodger]

whatever the series that has Riviera and Yggdra Union in it was called

Department Heaven. Knights in the Nightmare is part of that series too but I don't recommend that in the slightest. SRPG meets Bullet Hell, basically. Its as crazy as it sounds.

 

[Hikikomori Ookami]

FFVIII, really hard to get a copy of but try get it; a PSX/PS2 and a PSX memory card and you will hopefully enjoy it as much as I did. Also if you get stuck there are lots of pretty decent walkthroughs online.
Or FFX on the PS2 is really good too.

If you don't mind using ebay there are all kinds of copies of FFVIII floating around. I just got one about a month ago that works fine...

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

I'd say start with one of the Pokemon games - they really are the basics of JRPGs in handheld format.

After that, go for Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest VIII and the Kingdom Hearts series, that should let you experience a wide range of JRPGs.

Perhaps when you feel up to it, you could go for one of the great Final Fantasy games, such as VI, VII, VIII or X. You could also try XII, that was a very different, but not unenjoyable, Final Fantasy experience.