To those that question the original poster of the thread:
There is a reason he's stating that more RPGs should be like ME, and I will ask you this question.
Between Dragon Quest 3, from the early 1990s, to Dragon Quest 8, of 2 years ago; what is the fundamental difference in the actual gameplay between both series?
I am an avid fan of the DQ series, I love it. However, the fact is, very few, if any major RPGs change their formula, ever. Chrono Trigger might be the best RPG ever, but why is it? It changed the formula. At a time when everyone lined up like revolutionary soldiers to fight, Chrono Trigger energized the scene with no random enemies, random ally/enemy placement, and various combat differences, introduced multiple plotlines/sidequests/stories and endings, and also provided a great central plotline. Unfortunately, every JRPG since then takes one of the big 3 (FF, CT, DQ), and then tries to merely refine the genre, rather than evolve the genre.
The fact is, I picked up DQ8, and from DQ3 to that, there was not a single difference in the game at all. Yes, alchemy was involved, and there weren't job classes that you could customize, but outside of that, nothing.
Even Blue Dragon, for as awesome of a game as it is, still follows a very similar path, and doesn't divert from it (even if it perfects it).
This is the diometrical propostion of eastern and western RPGs. Very few WRPGs are similar. Between Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest, there are not great deal of differences. Between Oblivion and World of Warcraft, there are huge differences, and it would be litterally impossible to grab ahold of both the style, and gaming differences.
This is what both makes WRPGs unique, and in some cases, better. If I were to take the 10 biggest RPGs of Japan, and the 10 biggest RPGs of America, in those 10 JRPGs, there would be many many similarties, both artistically, and with game play. In the same top 10 of American RPGs, I would each top 10 title to be totally different. Might & Magic is similar to the Elder Scrolls in only a handful of ways, but both are totally different that Baluders Gate, and Neverwinter Nights. Fallout is even stranger. They all have totally different styles, whereas the bulk (but not all) of JRPGs are almost "cookie cutter". This is not to say JRPGs are bad, because I grew up, and my favorite RPGs are almost always JRPGs, but Western RPGs are far more ambitious.
The reason I, and many others want Mass Effect is because we've played KOTOR before. Have you played, and beat KOTOR? KOTOR is what FFXII strived for, and could not do it - 4 years before FFXII was made (I love FFXII, don't get me wrong, best FF since 7).
What is Mass Effect going to introduce? Choices, tons of action in a turn-based environment (it's still turn based), better storylines, more interaction and emotion in the game, and all kinds of off the wall things.
JRPG developers should strive for the same.
The final comparison is this, JRPGs are almost always trying to perfect the wheel, whereas WRPGs are trying to invent a whole new method of transportation. Both are good in their respective ways, but one tries to just visually upgrade the product, and the other is trying to build a whole new product. Thats what makes some parts of WRPGs better.
Honestly? I like JRPGs more. I love isometric, and turn based action alot more than FPS games like Oblivion. The issue is, Oblivion added so much more into an FPS RPG than most JRPGs have in many many years.
Again, please, for those wondering what makes a WRPG so good, go play KOTOR. If the ending doesn't shock you (or atleast the near-end part), and think it's a great game, then I don't know what to say. Every game should strive for the mastery of storytelling that Chrono Trigger did, but the vehicle for the storytelling shouldn't always be the same thing every time. Because, when they just re-hash similar storylines, and methods, it makes me wonder if they are just trying to take people's money, or create a true new artistic vision for their game.
Also, if anyone says that it just looks like every other X360 game, please, go look at the videos. The NPC discussions look like friggin' cutscenes! Not only in the graphical way, but in the depth of interaction, and emotion the characters have in a simple conversation.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
