Top 10 Ways to Fix JRPGs

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

Scoobes said:

Kenryoku_Maxis said:

Scoobes said:

Kenryoku_Maxis said:

Senlis said:
@ Kenryoku_Maxis

When I can so easily describe all JRPGs (w/ a few exceptions) with one stereotype, doesn't that support my argument?

That's my whole point.  And has been the point of every post I have made.  You and many other people keep thinking you can summerize the entire JRPG genre, whether its in one sentence or a paragraph.  And I'm telling you everything you've been saying has massive exceptions, not just a 'few'.

Can you think up a word that summarizes and stereotypes WRPGs in the same way pople in this thread have done with JRPGs? JRPGs really haven't evolved much recently. At the end of the day, WRPGs have evolved more than their Eastern counterparts in recent years.

Have you not been listening?  Both WRPGs and JRPGs have games that follow stock formulas for their genres and people point to as being 'stale'.  I've already pointed out some multiple times for both sides in this thread.  But I've also stated that trying to simply summarize an entire genre into generalizations or stereotypes is a path to failure, as there's always exceptions.  And yes, that includes JRPGs, as I've already pointed out JRPGs in this thread which are an exception to all of the phrases and generalizations people have tried to create for JRPGs in this thread.

I agree, but the fact that so many people seem to do it suggests there sin't as much variety in the genre as there should be. I'm of the opinion that many of the JRPGs that do show variety just haven't been publicised enough for people to play them. However, Looking at this and the last gen of JRPGs I don't see much having changed and I still think WRPGs have more variety in them in general. Quickly off the top of my head:

Perspective: FP/TP/Over the top

Main character: Pre-determined main characters/ completely user-created character

Type of world: Open-world/select areas/world map

Battle system: Dice roll battles, real-time, semi real-time

I'm hoping White Knight Chronicles, Demon Souls and possibly FFXIII will help change my mind.

For JRPGs this gen, you should look elsewhere beyond the Consoles.  Since the majority of actual 'innovative' ones aren't on Consoles and most of the console JRPGs seem to be the 'side series' or 'experimental' titles.  In other words, they're hit or miss. 

Games that are looking to do better on innovating the JRPG genre with new forms of gameplay and player interaction are titles such as Dragon Quest IX, Final Fantasy Gaiden and the new Lufia Remake.  Games actually on the DS.  The system Japan is obsessed about.  The only real console title that looks to have done anything different this gen is Demon Souls.  Heck, even some of the Console JRPG titles people obsess over like Tales of Vesperia and Lost Odessey are VERY formulaic to the standard JRPG formula.  This might also be why many people think 'JRPGs are stale'.  But then, those people are probably only playing games on the HD consoles, where JRPGs are predominantly on the handhelds now (DS and PSP).  And, as I've shown, the more original JRPGs are on the handhelds.