I really really really want to play Ni No Kuni. (love ghibli)
But it's gonna be hard to top Xenoblade.

This is great to hear.

I bought the game on launch day but have been working on beating DMC so I haven't had time to jump in on it. Lost Odyssey is my current favorite JRPG this generation.

I really want to get a hold of this one, but I have a huge backlog and time right now is not enough.

I have to agree that it is certainly the best JRPG the PlayStation has seen this generation. I didn't get the chance to play many JRPG's on the xbox or wii. But on the PS, this is the crowning jewel for JRPG fans! While it has ALMOST everything I look for in these type of games, one of the biggest things that would/could rank it higher in my book, is a more adult theme/situations. Sure this game has charm, and I love that about this game, but for my personal tastes, I like a bit of charm that's found in a more mature theme (as I'm a 30 year old father of 3 girls...I get almost all the "cute" I can handle and then some) Other than the them and game being a bit "youngish" for my tastes, it's easily digestible, when you have all this fantastic JRPG goodness to wallow in as you go.

Not sure how quickly some people progress through these types of games, but I've always been one to really take my time. Explore every nook and cranny, double back if necessary to ensure nothing was missed, or to make sure I'm as prepared as I can be for the battles to come. So I just now reach the ship that you get to sail the open seas on, and I've logged 17 hours. For me that wasn't rushed, or going unusually slow, just taking it all in, in a manner befitting a solid JRPG journey. How does that logged time, stack up with you guys? Have you beaten the game in 17 hours? Or just scratched the surface? Curious.

haven't played ni no kuni so far,but blue dragon is imo a strong competitor.

the graphics are 2 levels below ninokuni but story and gameplay are great.

I'm so glad that I'm not only one whe love Blue Dragon. It felt like a old school SNES JRPG in a next gen package.

That for sure but Xenoblade and Valkyrie Chronicles are no push over either.

It's a good one for sure, but I wouldn't place it in the top bracket. Lost Odyssey, Xenoblade, VC, XIII-2, TLR (for me), Arc Rise Fantasia are all better. The biggest detractor is the story. It's really dull overall.

Im about 17-20 hours so far and I just finished up Old Smokey.

i have preordered Ni No Kuni and am just waiting for the release in Denmark on february 1st, so i will be a happy camper come this weekend :D