I've never been a big fan of the jrpg genre, although over the years I've occasionally given em a try and tried to play all the 'biggest and best' of the genre. Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6&7 (Tried 8 as well, but bluntly put; I detested it!) for example.
However it's 'western' rpg which I've grown up loving. From the Ultima series where good ol' Lord British game me quests to save the lands, to Wizardry and eventually Baldur's Gate and even the semi-rpg's like Heroes of Might & Magic 3 and fpsrpg like Deus Ex and System Shock. I've been a fan of the genre, the style and the settings for years. Hell, my head is like a compendium of trivial wrpg knowledge.
I still hold Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn as probably my all time favorite game. The combat is incredibly fun to me, the story fantastic, the characters likable and the art-style visually appealing even compared to todays 3D graphics. I really can't find any faults with the game, it's just so perfect! Planescape: Torment might have the better plot, and other games better combat, but BG2 was the only rpg that had it *all* and blended everything together so amazingly well.
As for jrpg's... never much liked em. I dislike the heavily narrated approach they usually take, and the simplistic character stereotypes that often apply and the oft just generally 'anime' feel to it all. Probably because I'm not a huge fan of anime itself either, indeed, I'm not a fan at all.
Still, one series or genre can't appeal to everyone. Whatever floats yer boat! For me? 'western' rpg.
