JRPGs are stale

[Defense]

Let's please not talk about actual quality here.

From what I've seen, JRPGs have largely used different battle systems, and they also had more original settings. I can understand recycled character archetypes(although it's hardly a reason the genre is called stale), but JRPGs are the only games that actually get called on this despite companies like Bioware doing the same thing.

On the other hand, most WRPGs that I've seen were pure science fiction or were had strong Tolkien elements. A lot of WRPGs also used D&D mechanics instead of having their own battle system.

Of course I am generalizing, but it does seem like this is the rule.

 

[Alleged_Alec]

Let's please not talk about actual quality here.

From what I've seen, JRPGs have largely used different battle systems, and they also had more original settings. I can understand recycled character archetypes(although it's hardly a reason the genre is called stale), but JRPGs are the only games that actually get called on this despite companies like Bioware doing the same thing.

On the other hand, most WRPGs that I've seen were pure science fiction or were had strong Tolkien elements. A lot of WRPGs also used D&D mechanics instead of having their own battle system.

Of course I am generalizing, but it does seem like this is the rule.

And this post has been done before more times than I could count...

 

[Quaidis]

Have to admit, it was good seeing a topic flipping on its head like that.

My worry over people screaming about how jrps suck and are crap is that licensees are listening to the douchebags and, therefore, not exporting any more from Japan. They think that, just because the room full of jeering assholes that aren't happy about anything hate jrps, that therefore the rest of the populace doesn't like them as well. It infuriates me.

 

[Scow2]

The problem with JRPG "staleness" is from the lack of replayabilty and actual character customization: What if I want CecilGriffin (Thank you Namingway) from FFIV to be a dual-wielding dervish instead of sword+board paladin?

Western RPGs generally go for thin "framing" plots and overarching goals, instead of stupid little things... "Hopeless Boss fights", Cutscene In/Hypercompetance and gameplay-to-story segregation is minimized in WRPGs in favor of overarching goals and leaving you to your own devices to achieve them, making your gear, weapons, and loot part of the narrative, as opposed to shiny extras.

 

[wooty]

This whole rant here is just puuuuuuure speculation, but it seems everything is getting to be stale these days if you listen to enough people.

"All fps's are generic"
"All JRPG's are getting stale"
"Why the need for all these driving games"
"WRPG's are near enough the same"

JRPG's are designed and tailored to suit the Japanese market and playing style, in return WRPG's are done the same way to suit their locality, and most people seem happy with that.
When I was in Tokyo, I saw enough WRPG's and FPS's unsold, going at high discount rates or even just flung in the bargain bins, new games too.
The problem is that it seems its easier for Japan to get flooded with all sorts of "western" games, the good and the bad, but not a lot of good JRPG's make it over here, which to be honest baffles me.

Of course this could just be one reason why JRPG's seem stale to our eyes, we only get the same stuff usually because it seems developers dont want to risk spending money to localize the goob but lesser known JRPG's (Mother 3, Tales of Vesperia PS3). Their thinking just possibly could be "they wont want this game, they've got Call of Duty".

Personally, its a tad annoying.

 

[Defense]

Let's please not talk about actual quality here.

From what I've seen, JRPGs have largely used different battle systems, and they also had more original settings. I can understand recycled character archetypes(although it's hardly a reason the genre is called stale), but JRPGs are the only games that actually get called on this despite companies like Bioware doing the same thing.

On the other hand, most WRPGs that I've seen were pure science fiction or were had strong Tolkien elements. A lot of WRPGs also used D&D mechanics instead of having their own battle system.

Of course I am generalizing, but it does seem like this is the rule.

And this post has been done before more times than I could count...

*snore*

Nothing to see here folks, move along, just the same fucking thread all over again for the billionth time... Jesus, couldnt you have just posted in one of the other 2000000000000000000000 threads with the exact same topic?`

Clearly two very high quality posters we have in this thread. Thank you for directly answering my question and offering sound logic.

The problem with JRPG "staleness" is from the lack of replayabilty and actual character customization: What if I want CecilGriffin (Thank you Namingway) from FFIV to be a dual-wielding dervish instead of sword+board paladin?

Western RPGs generally go for thin "framing" plots and overarching goals, instead of stupid little things... "Hopeless Boss fights", Cutscene In/Hypercompetance and gameplay-to-story segregation is minimized in WRPGs in favor of overarching goals and leaving you to your own devices to achieve them, making your gear, weapons, and loot part of the narrative, as opposed to shiny extras.

Replayability doesn't sound like a reason for an entire genre to be labeled 'stale'; I can see how many games would be considered stale for having limited replayability, since the experience is largely the same.

 

[Zaik]

Quick, the op has just realized that water appears blue because it's reflecting the sky, someone mobilize the gestapo.

 

[Weaver]

This whole rant here is just puuuuuuure speculation, but it seems everything is getting to be stale these days if you listen to enough people.

"All fps's are generic"
"All JRPG's are getting stale"
"Why the need for all these driving games"
"WRPG's are near enough the same"

JRPG's are designed and tailored to suit the Japanese market and playing style, in return WRPG's are done the same way to suit their locality, and most people seem happy with that.
When I was in Tokyo, I saw enough WRPG's and FPS's unsold, going at high discount rates or even just flung in the bargain bins, new games too.
The problem is that it seems its easier for Japan to get flooded with all sorts of "western" games, the good and the bad, but not a lot of good JRPG's make it over here, which to be honest baffles me.

Of course this could just be one reason why JRPG's seem stale to our eyes, we only get the same stuff usually because it seems developers dont want to risk spending money to localize the goob but lesser known JRPG's (Mother 3, Tales of Vesperia PS3). Their thinking just possibly could be "they wont want this game, they've got Call of Duty".

Personally, its a tad annoying.

A lot of the old time gamers in Japan complain about JRPG staleness as much as we do.
When you have people like Keiji Inafune and Yoichi Wada damning the Japanese industry for lack of creativity and referencing western games for their fresh ideas it doesn't bode well for the industry there.

 

[wooty]

This whole rant here is just puuuuuuure speculation, but it seems everything is getting to be stale these days if you listen to enough people.

"All fps's are generic"
"All JRPG's are getting stale"
"Why the need for all these driving games"
"WRPG's are near enough the same"

JRPG's are designed and tailored to suit the Japanese market and playing style, in return WRPG's are done the same way to suit their locality, and most people seem happy with that.
When I was in Tokyo, I saw enough WRPG's and FPS's unsold, going at high discount rates or even just flung in the bargain bins, new games too.
The problem is that it seems its easier for Japan to get flooded with all sorts of "western" games, the good and the bad, but not a lot of good JRPG's make it over here, which to be honest baffles me.

Of course this could just be one reason why JRPG's seem stale to our eyes, we only get the same stuff usually because it seems developers dont want to risk spending money to localize the goob but lesser known JRPG's (Mother 3, Tales of Vesperia PS3). Their thinking just possibly could be "they wont want this game, they've got Call of Duty".

Personally, its a tad annoying.

A lot of the old time gamers in Japan complain about JRPG staleness as much as we do.
When you have people like Keiji Inafune and Yoichi Wada damning the Japanese industry for lack of creativity and referencing western games for their fresh ideas it doesn't bode well for the industry there.

I've only ever heard rumblings about that, certainly its not as vocal as when western devs/players comment on the state of the industry.

But if both sides are facing the same crisis, could there be a way to meet in middle?
The west can bring in the graphics tech and the mechanics, where as the Japanese can bring in the imagination and the story structures. These are the main areas where I personally see both sides of the industry striving in.

 

[Ando85]

Let's please not talk about actual quality here.

From what I've seen, JRPGs have largely used different battle systems, and they also had more original settings. I can understand recycled character archetypes(although it's hardly a reason the genre is called stale), but JRPGs are the only games that actually get called on this despite companies like Bioware doing the same thing.

On the other hand, most WRPGs that I've seen were pure science fiction or were had strong Tolkien elements. A lot of WRPGs also used D&D mechanics instead of having their own battle system.

Of course I am generalizing, but it does seem like this is the rule.

When it boils down to it I think any genre could be accused of the same thing. I don't really find it a bad thing, if something works don't fix it. Sure we seem to have some recycled archetypes, but each game has enough variety and brings something new to the table. I can play JRPGs til the end of time and never get bored.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Let's please not talk about actual quality here.

From what I've seen, JRPGs have largely used different battle systems, and they also had more original settings. I can understand recycled character archetypes(although it's hardly a reason the genre is called stale), but JRPGs are the only games that actually get called on this despite companies like Bioware doing the same thing.

On the other hand, most WRPGs that I've seen were pure science fiction or were had strong Tolkien elements. A lot of WRPGs also used D&D mechanics instead of having their own battle system.

Of course I am generalizing, but it does seem like this is the rule.

Bioware absolutely gets called out on being strictly formula. And TBH, everything has formulaic elements these days - it's essentially impossible to use unique imagery or tell a story in a truly unique way. Tropes are not bad, and all [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TropesAreTools?from=Main.TropesAreNotBad].

 

[Defense]

And, when you open a thread that has been (etc see the previous sentence), that makes your post low quality, not mine.

Posting a thread that was posted before=low quality
Not answering a thread even though it should be fairly easy to answer=not low quality

Gotcha boss.

This whole rant here is just puuuuuuure speculation, but it seems everything is getting to be stale these days if you listen to enough people.

"All fps's are generic"
"All JRPG's are getting stale"
"Why the need for all these driving games"
"WRPG's are near enough the same"

JRPG's are designed and tailored to suit the Japanese market and playing style, in return WRPG's are done the same way to suit their locality, and most people seem happy with that.
When I was in Tokyo, I saw enough WRPG's and FPS's unsold, going at high discount rates or even just flung in the bargain bins, new games too.
The problem is that it seems its easier for Japan to get flooded with all sorts of "western" games, the good and the bad, but not a lot of good JRPG's make it over here, which to be honest baffles me.

Of course this could just be one reason why JRPG's seem stale to our eyes, we only get the same stuff usually because it seems developers dont want to risk spending money to localize the goob but lesser known JRPG's (Mother 3, Tales of Vesperia PS3). Their thinking just possibly could be "they wont want this game, they've got Call of Duty".

Personally, its a tad annoying.

A lot of the old time gamers in Japan complain about JRPG staleness as much as we do.
When you have people like Keiji Inafune and Yoichi Wada damning the Japanese industry for lack of creativity and referencing western games for their fresh ideas it doesn't bode well for the industry there.

Dragon Quest is still a huge deal in Japan though. Dragon Quest X is one of the most hyped games in Japan, even though there's no information out for it. The Japanese even complained when Square Enix announced Dragon Quest IX was going to be an Action RPG.

Other than the few game development celebrities, the Japanese don't seem to mind the supposed stagnancy whatsoever.

 

[jacobythehedgehog]

I personally Love JRPG's. Final Fantasy XIII was just plain amazing

 

[Ando85]

Burn the poster who created a topic that is similar to a topic that has been done before at the stake!

Come on. This is a very active forum and posts go past page one pretty quickly. I don't see why all you elitist snobs can't just ignore the topics you might have seen before. It isn't like you are obligated to go through the hardship of responding again. No one is forcing you to read and reply to every topic.