The recognition of Faults and Recovery of the JRPG

[Weegee]

Killiana1a said:

Mad55 said:

Killiana1a said:

Here is why I went from playing JRPGs in the 1990s and early 2000s to exclusively playing WRPGS:

1. Turn-based gameplay of "Attack, Magic, Item" in Final Fantasy, the biggest JRPG series.

Final Fantasy has never wavered from this formula and it is real hard to go back and enjoy them once you play a dynamic, real time WRPG along the lines of Diablo or Borderlands.

2. Linearity to the extreme

I like to explore and no, I don't care about all the 48 hours worth of cutscenes some hotshot Japanese director enjoyed and thought I would enjoy. I don't enjoy them, I want to play a game, not purchase a $60 dollar anime dressed up as a game where you shove your philosophical and political views down my throat.

3.. Overtly feminine males

Why does almost every single JRPG male protagonist look like a sexually confused emo hipster? Where are the scars, ugly faces, bulging biceps, and handlebar mustaches? Seriously, I cannot take seriously a male protagonist who looks like he has not even hit puberty to gain the muscle mass to swing that 20 foot sword he lugs around on his back.

4.. Grinding (stated in an earlier post)

I want to go where I want when I want no matter if I am risking getting 1-shotted. I do not want to spend half an hour in a dungeon or instance to find out that I am a level or five from being able to beat the boss. If I wanted to grind, then I would go back to the World of Warcraft where at least I can have a conversation with a guildie.

oh wow...not many jrps are as you have described.

I am redacting my formal statement because this a genre I love and a battle I will choose.

First, no not all JRPGs are exactly as I described. I am speaking mainly about the JRPGs I have played which include almost every single Final Fantasy game (I have played up till 10), Xenosaga, Suikoden, Brave Fencer Musashi, Secret of Mana, Earthbound, and on.

Not all JRPGs have every single fault I listed. However, all of them do have male protagonists or party member who falls into the sexually confused emo hipster stereotype. Furthermore, JRPGs do have more of an emphasis on leveling and character development before gameplay and exploration as is the reverse in WRPGS. You can play and be good at a Diablo type game spending only a third to half your current skill points. You will die easily and often if you do not level and develop your character properly in a JRPG.

Finally, linearity and a movie like game has become common with Final Fantasy games since Final Fantasy 7. It was very apparent in Final Fantasy 8 and is in your face in Final Fantasy 13. I have a friend who is playing Final Fantasy 13 and he had to get to Ch. 11 or so before he could freely explore the world map. We are talking close to 40 hours of linear gameplay here where the developer gives you no freedom until a certain point.

Earthbounds ? In earthbound no one is emo because the game is around courage and friendship and nobody look like feminine probably because the character are ugly lol.