Which do you prefer: JRPG or WRPG?

[Michael-5]

I prefer the better game.

Yes like you said, WRPG's typically have you start off as a blank slate and you develop your character how you like it. JRPG's are more extravagent with their story telling, and give you a more rigid character role. JRPG's usually have a more interesting story's and really focus on character development, but at the same time WRPG's really vary more between games (FallOut is nothing like Dragon Age).

So I like the better game, the game which is just more interesting.

This usually tends to be JRPG's because JRPG developers aren't as focused on profits as they are sucessful art. However this is not always the case, I prefer Mass Effect over any JRPG this generation because it's so damn interesting, and because it's so ambitious. Also unlike most WRPG's, even though you decide the decisions of your character, the outcome really isn't that varied and most of you actions are limited (You have to look where they tell you to look, and are limited in decisions). However the uniqueness of the characters and difference races in this game, and the in depth plot, full of character unique character development makes it seem more like a JRPG then a WRPG. However it's a WRG, and it's pretty interesting. Just exploring different planets, reading on the history of various colonies, or seeing how different races treat each other is so damn interesting.

At the same token, XenoBlade and Lost Odyssey had really unique stories with unique endings. All those "Dreams" in Lost Odyssey were excellent little mini stories about an immortal living different lives over his lifetime, and XenoBlade being a JRPG focused on Revenge, unraveling a much grander scheme. Yet Last Story, Tales of, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy are pretty generic in their structure. I would even argue Persona games aren't that different from one another. However is this a bad thing? Pokemon has followed the same flawless formula since it debuted, and I'm not complaing (except the new Pokemon lack inspiration).

So it really depends on the game, which is just more interesting, which is more abitions, and which succeeds in portraying a specific artstyle, mood, setting, and overall gameplay. Just in general, the games which tend to be more artistic, the games which get other people in the room to stop what their doing just to watch you, these are the games which I like,

Favorite RPG's this gen:

JRPG's: Lost Odyssey, XenoBlade Chronicles, The Last Story, Valyria Chronicles 2, Fire Emblem: Heros of Light and Shadow, Pokemon Black/White

WRPG's: Mass Effect Trilogy, Fallout 3, Too Human, Fab....HA joking about the last one.