I thought DQ7 was a great jrpg. I like the class system. I like the monster soul/heart thing. (whatever it's called. Can't remember) But holy shit is that game really long as hell. I remember having to do a shit load of grinding to learn skills for my characters. I dedicated about 3 hours a day on average for 6 weeks to beat the game back in highschool (though I did do some extra things and I did do a lot of skill grinding). I can't invest that kind of time into one game anymore. It's a well designed game. It's just very, very time consuming.
@Ken
Why are you telling him to continue a very lengthy game that he is clearing not enjoying? He's already invested 50 hours into a game that wasn't enjoyable for him. And you're asking him to invest another 50 hours? He's better off playing something else than throwing so much of his free time down the drain just to get to the "good part". And honestly, I feel that if he doesn't enjoy the game 50 hours in, he's probably never going to enjoy the game. My memory is fuzzy but I take it he's already past the point where you are allowed to change classes and gain monster souls (or whatever they are called. You know, those things that allow you to learn monster skills) 50 hours in. I'm quite certain that comes much earlier on in the game. And that's (experimenting with class changes to customize skill sets for each character and hunting monster souls to gain monster-unique skills) is pretty much the meat of the game. If he doesn't enjoy that, then he won't enjoy the game.
I hate how it's common for jrpg fans to feel that you have to play through a game in it's entirety before you can have an opinion about a game. As if people are expected to soldier through something they don't enjoy for hours and hours just so that they can "earn" the right to have an opinion of the game in the eyes of the internets. Especially after investing something ridiculous like 50 hours. I used to force myself to brave through that time but then I just thought to myself that life was too short for that shit. When I played Star Ocean 4, after 5 hours of not liking it, I made the decision to drop it (good thing it was a rental). I see no point in forcing yourself to play something you do not like when there are so many games out there to choose from. If a game fails to grab the interest of the gamer immediately, the game is doing it wrong. Games are supposed to be about entertainment and fun. It's not a job. Unless you are a professional reviewer. Then yes, you have to brave through games you don't enjoy for that paycheque.
