The Theme of Love in JRPGs

[Xxain]

Torillian said:
I thought this was going to be a thread complaining about the pervasive themes of love and friendship in JRPGs. I personally think it's overused and that's why seeing a trailer on Tales of Graces F about the power of friendship makes me worry.

My personal favorite JRPGs don't have a love story as the central theme, but it can be a part of it. Like in Persona 4 you can get a girlfriend if you like, or Valkyria Chronicles there was a love story but the most emotional parts of the game had little to do with it. If you're going to have a love story as the central theme I think it's better done in something like an adventure game where it can be the main focus and not worry about the cognitive dissonance of a love story between killing goblins or whatnot. Something like To the Moon does a love story better than I think any jrpg really could. Perhaps one day I'll see a jrpg that goes against the grain and really tells a fantastic love story and focuses on that more so than saving the world.

This + Japan tends to force themes down our throat( Wild Arms series) Which makes it more obnoxious even the message is strong.