My first experience with a JRPG was FFVI for the SNES, which is one of my favorite games for that system and one of the finest rpgs to this day, though it was on the PS1 where I really went wild with the genre, buying and playing so many of them.At the time it had become my favorite genre, playing FFVII, VIII and IX, Xenogears, Breath of Fire III and IV, Legend of Legaia, Lunar, Star Ocean 2, Chrono Cross, Grandia and others.

Then, by the time FFX came out, I was a bit burnt out on the genre, but I still enjoyed the game, though I felt it wasn´t as good as previous FFs.Around 2003 or 2004, I started getting interested in the genre again, but sadly, the games I was playing on the PS2 just weren´t on par with the ones I had enjoyed so much on the PS1..Star Ocean 3, Xenosaga, FFX, FFXII (skipped FFXI because I don´t care about MMOs) and others weren´t as good as Star Ocean 2, Xenogears and the PS1 FFs, for example...as far as I was concerned, the genre had peaked during the PS1 days.

Then, in the last gen it all changed, a lot of JRPGs started going to handhelds (I don´t like handhelds) and I had found new enjoyment with WRPGs...but didn´t forget about JRPGs.

Sorry about that bit of history there haha..anyways, finally getting on topic here..my favorite series and games were Xenogears, Grandia, Star Ocean 2 and Final Fantasy series, and their current state...we all know, Grandia doesn´t even exist anymore as far as I know, the last Star Ocean released was the worst entry I played, Final Fantasy is sad compared to the past and Xenogears...what ever happened to the team?...are they the same team that made Xenoblade and are currently working on X?

To be honest, the only bright spot in all of last gen, as someone who doesn´t care about playing on tiny screens, was Lost Odyssey, though I heard Tales of Vesperia was really good, but for some reason I never got around to trying it...in fact, I´ve never played any Tales games.

Last I heard, the Tales series is growing in popularity in the West, while Final Fantasy has been suffering a long decline, despite the good relaunch of FFXIV.

Unless you say no Final Fantasy this will quickly turn into a lets bash Final Fantasy thread.

Final Fantasy and it has turned into utter shit, specially in the FFXIII series... I would have never thought that the FF name would mean buy with caution but it is what it is. Heres hoping that SE has smartened up with FFXV but I will buy it with caution

My favourites?
Been playing Ys Celceta (vita) and Ys oath in felghana (psp) recently and Ys has become one of my favourite series.

Also P4G is pretty great, looking forward to Persona 5 (hope it delivers).

Other than that Dragon Age (yes the second one as well)

and i'm having high hopes for Witcher 3 and Transistor for when i get a ps4.


As for what i don't like, i couldn't get warm with Skyrim, i thought FF13 was decent (my first FF) tried FF7 and 1 recently and thought they sucked (aged badly) and i think that's about it. Oh and i also gave up on that last Star Ocean game (also my first in the series).

The Tales games are still good to me, their stories aren't as great but they've improved the combat by alot.

Ar Tonelico is being followed up by Ar nosurge although we might never see it >.>

I have nothing to say about FInal Fantasy at this point

Ys (more of an action game) still has that awesome soundtrack and good gameplay

This is exciting! Let's see:

Persona! P5 is one of my most anticipated games, period.

Though I liked FF13, I've never been less excited about a Final Fantasy game than FF15. The 'boy band' atmosphere has left me completely apathetic thus far.

Suikoden! Suikoden is awesome and I can't wait for the next ... uh.

Valkyria Chronicles! When more of these come out ... hm.

The next Breath of Fire ...

Making grown men cry right here ;_;

Persona - and it's in a decent state just they won't make enough of them ;_:
Final Fantasy - Garbage and trash
Dragon Quest - switching over to mobile phones =
Level 5 RPGS - They seem to focus on 3DS now a days

Grandia - My all time favorite series is just non existent sadly. I have not even heard rumors Square Enix is remotely interested in the series. What I would give to see it resurrected.

Breath of Fire - Now this is mainly the first 4, with 4 being my favorite. Capcom are doing some browser game which is either as bad or worse than just ignoring it.

Suikoden - As far as I know Konami has no plans for the series so much like Grandia it is just sitting there.

Tales of - This series has moved up over the years because Namco has bothered to keep it alive. Honestly it is my favorite active JRPG series at this point

Shin Megami Tensei - SMT IV finally released last year on 3DS and Persona 5 is announced for PS3 so the series is on the rebound after bit of a lull with mainly re-releases.

Final Fantasy - While X killed the series in many respects for me I find the XIII games to be fine if I do not expect a return to SNES/PS1 glory days.

Overall it is hard to ignore now that SNES/PS1/PS2 era many of us JRPG fans got spoiled. The genre has struggled to keep up with increasingly development costs leading many to go to handheld or even mobile or browser route. It is a shame because when you see a Tales of Xillia or Ni No Kuni last year it really excites the possibilities only to know odds are will see less and less major console release in the coming generation.

Shadow Hearts... dead
Xenosaga... dead
Final Fantasy... dead to me (just kidding, at least there is some hope left, no not that one...)

Ah well, listing old favorites never bores.

Xenogears, Parasite Eve, Vagrant Story, Lunar, Star Ocean...

I am currently playing Tales of Xillia to see if that's where I need to focus my gaming habits.