Poll: Which JRPG would you have me play?

[Balvale]

I typically despise turn-based rpgs. That being said, Persona 4 was a great experience. So that, I guess.

 

[Vault Citizen]

I suggest you start with Eternal Sonata.

 

[Akihiko]

Out of that list, from best to worst -

Tales of Vesperia > Final Fantasy XIII > Magna Carta 2 > Eternal Sonata > Star Ocean TLH

(Though naturally that's my opinion, so yours may vary)

Edit: A bigger descrption on my opinion -

Tales of Vesperia - Excellent battle system, great characters/story and stunning graphics/music.
FFXIII - Very linear, but if you can get past that the battle system becomes extremely fun. The only character who I didn't like was Vanille really, and the story managed to stay entertaining for the most part. It isn't really until the final chapter or so when the story goes down hill.
Magna Carta 2 - Story and characters are decent, but nothing amazing. What brought it up for me was the world and the gameplay. Vast world with enough quests to keep you busy, and an enjoyable battle system.
Eternal Sonata - Another linear game. Decent characters and story which falls apart nearing the end. Battle system is pretty fun too.
Star Ocean TLH - The battle system and the worlds are amazing, but unfortunately they didn't make up for some of the most grating characters I've ever encountered. It doesn't really help that some of the cutscenes lasted up to an hour.

 

[trollnystan]

I actually liked Eternal Sonata. The story was ridiculously emo and over the top of course - in one scene it takes someone stabbed in the gut 6 minutes of monologuing and flashbacks to FUCKING DIE ALL READY - but the game play was fun! And it has co-op of sorts; one of you controls the lead character all the time but in battle two of you can play.

If you do ever play it, I suggest choosing the Japanese VO; I started with that one, then tried English for a few minutes and came away wanting to kill every single character with a dull spoon. *twitch twitch*

Being that ES is the only one I've played of the ones on your list I can't recommend any of the others. Although if what my friend says is true I'd stay the hell away from FFXIII, just saying. She likes to point out that the intro is 20 hours long.

 

[Jabberwock King]

The Tales of series is the biggest reason for me to consider getting a PS3, among other things. Tales of Graces F: originally on the Wii, and to my knowledge it was not released outside of Japan, but now a vastly improved version is coming to the PS3 and America. I don't know about other countries though. Then there is Tales of Xillia(?) which is the newest installment in the series.

 

[thatgeekbronnie]

Eternal Sonata is good. I've actually replayed it a couple of times

 

[RandomHer0]

Chrono Trigger is fantastic and you may not need a console for it anymore... although ebay it for the DS for ten bucks like I did.

Persona Series is godlike, If you haven't touched the series, 3+4 are easy enough to come by and are pretty easy to approach.

Blue Dragon also doesn't get enough love. its probably ten bucks too.


To avoid of the modern console JRPGs: Eternal Sonata, Infinite Undiscovery, Final Fantasy 13 (i know so much hate for this game, but the story, the thing I want from my JRPG was flat and only at times engaging, especially compared to FFV and FFIV)

 

[Axyun]

Thanks for the recommendations. It seems like Tales of Vesperia is coming out on top.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

The only one I know about is Final Fantasy XIII, and the consensus is that it takes about 20 hours to get good. Unless you've waited that long for other games, don't bother with it.

 

[Aiden Raine]

quality (or at least decent) 360 JRPGs:
Tales of Vesperia
Resonance of Fate
Magna Carta 2
Enchanted Arms
Eternal Sonata (screw what people say. it was a good game with some great music. although the PS3 version is better, since the story is actually complete. but then again, same can be said about Vesperia. except the 360 vesperia still makes complete sense. just missing a few things. but US doesn't get PS3 Vesperia because PS3 Eternal Sonata flopped... go figure.)


360 JRPGs to stay away from:
Final Fantasy XIII
Star Ocean 4
Infinite Undiscovery
Blue Dragon
Lost Odyssey

hey now blue dragon and star ocean TLH are both really good, but i cant say the same for enchanted arms.(the game play leaves much to be desired) as for your thing with eternal sonata my only problem is it was it decided to be both a tales game and a final fantasy game which just didnt fell right to me.

Blue Dragon was incredibly dull... the story was bare bones, and horrible. the combat was the most basic turn-based battle system with absolutely nothing to spice it up....

Star Ocean.... ugh. the gameplay is.... ok I guess. SO:TET was the only game in the series that actually had great combat. the biggest problem with SO4 though, is the story and characters. the story is schizophrenic, and packed full of plot holes galore. the characters..... don't even get me started.

 

[Comic Sans]

Try the indie game Cthulu Saves the World. It looks and plays like an old NES/SNES JRPG, and from what little I have played so far is brilliant in both gameplay and humor. Also, if you have access to a PS2 get Dragon Quest 8. A bit slow to start but a fantastic game.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Out of the list the only one I've played is FFXIII, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Although if you are a fan of JRPGs you do owe it to yourself to get Lost Odyssey, and it should be dirt cheap now.