What is a JRPG?

[WoW Killer]

I find the strict geographical definitions to be pointless. If you describe a game as a JRPG in the sense of "an RPG made in Japan" then you've not actually said anything about the game that wouldn't have been said by simply calling it an RPG. If you make the distinction based on the avatars position to the story, like Extra Credits did, then at least that tells you something about the game you're describing.

That said, you can define terms like that however you like, so long as you're clear about what you mean. There are no right or wrong definitions. The silly bit comes in when someone says something like "game A is a JRPG, because JRPG means X" and someone responds with "no, game A is a WRPG, because JRPG means Y". Clearly A is a JRPG by definition X and a WRPG by definition Y; there's no need to be polemical about it.

 

[lRookiel]

What is a JRPG? A pile of shit that's what it is. IMO

I haven't enjoyed a single JRPG ever. I've even given the genre multiple chances to redeem itself and none have managed to.

 

[penguindude42]

Any RPG I've enjoyed playing. *cough*

 

[Sangreal Gothcraft]

Diablo= Ouch my Bloody Hands
Uncharted= Yay shoot Foreigners and steal treasures from ancient dead
Mass Effect= Shoot giant space Squids and have sex with Aliens
Dark Souls=FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!*bites off fingers*
Silent Hill= Physiological Horror.

 

[StylinBones]

It's an RP game that has unnecessarily long animations, ridiculous plot lines usually revolving around saving the world with a love story or two, complicated fighting systems, level up systems that rarely make sense, xp garnering, looting, inventory, and have made-up monsters and American looking protagonists. They're loads of fun.

 

[JasonKaotic]

I basically class a JRPG as a game in typical Japanesey style, with either some kind of random encounter system or just a command-based battle system. Well, any battle system that sets it apart from normal action games. Not necessarily an RPG made in Japan. Dark Souls isn't really a JRPG, just an RPG made in Japan. And I wouldn't really consider most JRPGs role-playing games either. It's more of a namesake to me.

 

[ThePuzzldPirate]

A JRPG is an RPG made in Japan, It doesn't automatically mean a manga/anime style. Dragons Dogma is a JRPG, looks nothing like what the above described.

This term to differentiate is silly in my opinion.

Also, I thought Extra Credits did a crap job of differentiating them.

This is correct and agree with you full heartily.

 

[JeffBergGold]

1.)Adrogynous looking protagonist or antagonist
2.)Motley crew coming together to take out a huge evil
3.)Romantic dynamic between adrogynous looking protagonist or antagonist with a female party member.
4.)Antagonist is usually pure evil with no redeeming qualities. May have been aligned with the protagonist at some point.
5.)Morality overtones usually you are allowed to make good or evil choices throughout the course of the game to get different endings.
6.)Tries to send some type of "message" at the ending.
7.)Unskippable in game movies

 

[Gatx]

Why do people think that Zelda is an RPG? Metroid has a similar approach to progression but no one ever says that it's an RPG. Is it because it's sci-fi themed rather than fantasy?

BTW: When Dragon Quest came out, they didn't call it "Japanese Console RPG". They called it RPG. The sub-genres labels were added later. JRPG is a new (and meaningless) term, created with the sole purpose of distinguishing the games geographically in order to discredit them in this gen.

Well yeah but it's not like these terms are set in stone or anything. This isn't the best example, but when DotA came out they didn't call it a MOBA but there's no argument that that's what it is now. As more RPGs as a whole begin to differ from each other in style it's a natural reaction to want to classify them.