This is why, slowly but surely, I'm leaving JRPG games on the shelves as they are released. Western devs like Bioware and Bethesda have just left them in the dust by continually evolving the way you play an RPG. JRPGs are really stagnating in my opinion. When was the last time you had a truly new experience in a JRPG?
Bioware brought us the ability to tap into our inner devil with the openness of the KOTOR series and are offering some great new conversation ideas in Mass Effect. Bethesda has continually evolved RPGs into a wide-open adventure that virtually has no limits and I fully expect them to carry on this tradition with Fallout 3. Fable is attempting to allow someone to live their life in a realistic manner that allows you to choose your own ending. Other western devs are exploring the possibilities of RPG elements mixed with FPS and adventure games.
Maybe it's just me but I'm growing very tired of playing another linear Japanese story with an effeminate male character/child that is put into an awkward situation where he has to save the world with a newer, bigger, better gun-sword-magic-thingy as his weapon. Blue Dragon's demo really let me down in this regard. I was hoping for something new but received more of the same-ol', same-ol' stuff.
Lost Odyssey may hold something new but I ain't holding my breath anymore. I'll focus on lusting over games like Mass Effect and Fallout instead.
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