[Liquidus Zeromus]

(Original post by FinalFlash)
Shadow of the Colossus anyone?



Can't wait for this to be released in HD for PS3.

Heard of it, not played it.

I'm somewhere on Pokemon SoulSilver at the moment, as well as half-way through Final Fantasy XIII

[FyreFight]

(Original post by Facticity)
Well that is not true though is it? Because all western RPGs have stats and most are filled with action and there is most definitely adventure. Most RPGs fall into the Action Adventure category. Furthermore, I'm not sure what you mean it isn't an RPG, considering RPG simply stands for Role Player Game.

So I am not sure what you mean

(Original post by Hylean)
And why is not a true RPG?

You don't create your character. You don't customise your character beyond stats. You don't influence the story. You don't influence the world. You often don't explore the world. You don't make decisions or in any way assume any part in any sort of role play, unless you take 'playing as a character' as role playing. In which case everything from Crash Bandicoot to Fifa 2011 are RPGs.

You just take the character you're given then run down endless corridors, while the pre-defined plot plays itself out in the precise, engineered way the developers designed it.

[kingrudding]

In terms of JRPGs in the strictest sense, the most enjoyable that I have played was Shin Megami Tensai: Lucifers call on PS2, it was a great blend of a very deep storyline combined with a ver interesting game play dynamic that blended traditional turn based JRPG battles with a pokemon-esque demon ally system.

[Hylean]

Ico and Shadows of the Colossus. Two games I have but have yet to play.

(Original post by FyreFight)
You don't create your character. You don't customise your character. You don't influence the story. You don't influence the world. You often don't explore the world. You don't make decisions or in any way assume any part in any sort of role play, unless you take 'playing as a character' as role playing. In which case everything from Crash Bandicoot to Fifa 2011 are RPGs.

You just take the character you're given then run down endless corridors, while the pre-defined plot plays itself out in the precise, engineered way the developers designed it.

That entirely depends on which game you're playing. If you've only played Final Fantasy games, I can understand why you would think so, but many JRPGs have character creation, branching storylines, immersive worlds, etc. Dragon Quest has character creation and customisation, Suikoden has branching storylines, etc., Final Fantasy games have, in certain ones, extensive character customisation. Many Western RPGs are just as bad for the endless corridors, you know, and often they suffer heavily on the storyline because of the nature of the game. Thankfully Bioware seem to be changing that.

[Facticity]

(Original post by FyreFight)
You don't create your character.

The point is that there are a set of hero's you grow to like and really get to know. You may not create it but there is normally enough breadth and depth to each one to find a favourite. I certainly know every character I have played with in my Kingdom Hearts or Eternal Sonata, I have conncected and liked much more than anybody from Elder Scrolls per se. Don't get me wrong though, because I love elder scrolls. It is just that creating characters doesn't really have meaning. Furthermore, you don't really create characters in RPG but use the pre set renders and shades and shapes, which a lot of the time are limited. In oblivion you create him but he never moves his face, in Fallout you never see the face, in Dragon Age your character is lifeless. At least in JRPG the characters are alive and very deep.

You don't customise your character.

Yes you do. LOADS.

You don't influence the story.

Yes you do. Many modern JRPG are turning with Western RPG. In fact, you influence the story a lot more. Star Oceans for example had 10 different endings to unlock. Furthermore, the story always ends up the same regardless in most RPG, you have influence over minor details but not much. I don't see your point really.

You don't influence the world.

I'm not sure what you mean. But if you mean in terms of interactions with AI, yes you do influence them. By partaking in various extra aspects of the game. Many good JRPG will allow you to do so, in much more depth than western RPG. Western RPG you again only have minor if no-control over anything apart from yourself.

You don't explore the world.

Are you joking? JRPG's are famous for their massive world and universe travels. You explore whole maps, travel around the universe, and certainly the scenery is so much more detailed and sophisticated. Try comparing a Final Fantasy scene scape to a Fallout one. Western RPG tend to rotate upon a fixed continent on a map, so I'm not sure that even western RPG explore the world.

You don't make decisions or in any way assume any part in any sort of role play

Yes you do. LOADS.

Unless you take 'playing as a character' as role playing. In which case everything from Crash Bandicoot to Fifa 2011 are RPGs.

Humorously, Crash Bandicoot qualifies as an RPG. A western one at that

You just take the character you're given then run down endless corridors, while the pre-defined plot plays itself out in the precise, engineered way the developers designed it.

Nope, all of this bit above if fallacious. I do not think you have played very many JRPGs. I could give you many many JRPG's with much better ratings, much better maps, much better characters, much better scenes, much better exploration, much better plots and much more depth and breadth than western RPGs.

If you don't like JRPG then fair enough, but I think its a bit unfair to falsely label and generalise them.
I can think of some JRPG when you are right though. But I do not want to get into an argument over it. Everyone has opinions.

[kingrudding]

(Original post by Hylean)
Ico and Shadows of the Colossus. Two games I have but have yet to play.



That entirely depends on which game you're playing. If you've only played Final Fantasy games, I can understand why you would think so, but many JRPGs have character creation, branching storylines, immersive worlds, etc. Dragon Quest has character creation and customisation, Suikoden has branching storylines, etc., Final Fantasy games have, in certain ones, extensive character customisation. Many Western RPGs are just as bad for the endless corridors, you know, and often they suffer heavily on the storyline because of the nature of the game. Thankfully Bioware seem to be changing that.

I also think games such as star ocean have done a lot to try and give RPGs a sense of grandure. I remember when I was playing star ocean: til the end of time, I found the universe was beautifully realised and the story line had a lot of depth to it.

[Hylean]

(Original post by kingrudding)
I also think games such as star ocean have done a lot to try and give RPGs a sense of grandure. I remember when I was playing star ocean: til the end of time, I found the universe was beautifully realised and the story line had a lot of depth to it.

Right now, ignoring Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, which remain relatively static in terms of evolution, JRPGs are evolving in such amazing ways. Hopefully they'll learn from games like Dragon Age: Origins and the Mass Effect series and make some truly remarkable games in the future. Still prefer JRPGs over Western ones, as much as I love the two I mentioned above.

[Facticity]

(Original post by kingrudding)
I also think games such as star ocean have done a lot to try and give RPGs a sense of grandure. I remember when I was playing star ocean: til the end of time, I found the universe was beautifully realised and the story line had a lot of depth to it.

Which star oceans? I've only landed 3&4, I am pining for the original 2.

Star Oceans 4 though blew me away with the depth and the battling and the story length and progression. However the overly clichéd characters did hinder it quite some. I mean, it was a power-ranger situation where colours co-ordinates to ability. It seemed very generic, I prefer style and originality.

[kingrudding]

(Original post by Hylean)
Right now, ignoring Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, which remain relatively static in terms of evolution, JRPGs are evolving in such amazing ways. Hopefully they'll learn from games like Dragon Age: Origins and the Mass Effect series and make some truly remarkable games in the future. Still prefer JRPGs over Western ones, as much as I love the two I mentioned above.

I go with what feels fun to play. Right now I have got the latest star ocean and fallout NV on the go. Each has their own joys and I love both of the series as well. I remember getting into JRPGs on the snes with the likes of chrono trigger.

[Facticity]

(Original post by Hylean)
Right now, ignoring Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, which remain relatively static in terms of evolution, JRPGs are evolving in such amazing ways. Hopefully they'll learn from games like Dragon Age: Origins and the Mass Effect series and make some truly remarkable games in the future. Still prefer JRPGs over Western ones, as much as I love the two I mentioned above.

However I think Zelda, Dragon Quest and FF actually rely on being static. A lot of the time, changes to the franchises are greeted with caution because fans like what they have always seen as great. Simply look at the split from when FFVIII came out with the TB system, FFXII put me off with its system and FFXIII got a big split from the intensely linear map and Paradigm system. Though I feel they evolve in many other respects, and agree they could stand to take a leaf from Dragon Age: Origins or even Demon Souls.

There are quite a few promising titles to already have done so though

[kingrudding]

(Original post by Facticity)
Which star oceans? I've only landed 3&4, I am pining for the original 2.

Star Oceans 4 though blew me away with the depth and the battling and the story length and progression. However the overly clichéd characters did hinder it quite some. I mean, it was a power-ranger situation where colours co-ordinates to ability. It seemed very generic, I prefer style and originality.

Til the end of time was the last one that was on PS2, I think it may have been 3.

I think the revelation was the battle system, which was such a change from the old style of turn based battles. It was also the feel of it as well, even compared to the likes of final fantasy, the scope of star ocean has always been so huge.

[kingrudding]

(Original post by Facticity)
However I think Zelda, Dragon Quest and FF actually rely on being static. A lot of the time, changes to the franchises are greeted with caution because fans like what they have always seen as great. Simply look at the split from when FFVIII came out with the TB system, FFXII put me off with its system and FFXIII got a big split from the intensely linear map and Paradigm system. Though I feel they evolve in many other respects, and agree they could stand to take a leaf from Dragon Age: Origins or even Demon Souls.

I think a lot of the time fans of a series grow accustomed to certain staples of a game. Look at FF up until 10, although you had different ways in which abilities were gained, the leveling structure was largely the same. With FFX, the sphere grid introduced a completely different way of levelling, where a character's stats could be customised depending on preferance. Of course, this did mean that in the end characters did work out near identical, with the exception of the limit breaks (I forget what they are called in FFX) and Yuna being able to summon. On the plus side though, FFX did have the greatest mini game in the entire series.

[Enoch.]

Hey guys

[skipp]

I'll return when I have more time for games until then I'll be lurking

[Enoch.]

Playing Castlevannia Lord of the Shadows atm.

Any tips are welcome

[Facticity]

(Original post by skipp)
I'll return when I have more time for games until then I'll be lurking

There is always time for JRPGs Feel free to join the soc while you lurk

[Facticity]

(Original post by kingrudding)
I think a lot of the time fans of a series grow accustomed to certain staples of a game. Look at FF up until 10, although you had different ways in which abilities were gained, the leveling structure was largely the same. With FFX, the sphere grid introduced a completely different way of levelling, where a character's stats could be customised depending on preferance. Of course, this did mean that in the end characters did work out near identical, with the exception of the limit breaks (I forget what they are called in FFX) and Yuna being able to summon. On the plus side though, FFX did have the greatest mini game in the entire series.

Completely agree. FFX was my favourite next to FFVII, I liked the new sphere grid, and whilst your characters could turn out quite identical in their stats, they did however vary quite greatly (if you plan right) and everyone could unlock their own specialised skill sets as well. Finally, Blitzball was single-handedly the greatest minigame I have ever played, no doubt it pushed FFX up a lot.



I spent a lot more time playing FF than I should have, simply because of Blitzball.

[Facticity]

(Original post by kingrudding)
Til the end of time was the last one that was on PS2, I think it may have been 3.

I think the revelation was the battle system, which was such a change from the old style of turn based battles. It was also the feel of it as well, even compared to the likes of final fantasy, the scope of star ocean has always been so huge.

The world is huge. And I do not know if you have completed Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope but it honestly is a huge game and the battle system is full and unyielding.



The Graphics were superb and the environments very beautiful. I thought it was a great game overall. The only let down as I said was the generic characters and lack of realistic facialisation. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something different, with good story and graphics, but wants a break from turn based systems.

[Jim-ie]

I'm not really sure what a JRPG is tbh, I've only played the Final Fantasy series, would have thought action adventure games are more western and the more tactical games are Japanese.

Either way, played FFXI for years and my server was mainly Japanese

[Facticity]

(Original post by Jim-ie)
I'm not really sure what a JRPG is tbh, I've only played the Final Fantasy series, would have thought action adventure games are more western and the more tactical games are Japanese.

Either way, played FFXI for years and my server was mainly Japanese

Well if you liked FFXI that much I would strongly recommend FFXIV, it has all the charms of its predecessor however improves on the combat, the flow and overall the graphics look much more cut and stable. It is a very nice game which I think, if you're willing to pay the monthly costs, you could rack up hundreds of hours on. Whilst I don't have time for MMORPGs like FFXIV, I have played it somewhat and could not help but be impressed. I think it would be quite a nice buy.

Well, JRPGs expand much further out than Final Fantasy. Things like Dragon Age: Origins, Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Mass Effect being obviously western RPG. However in the JRPG section there is a diverse collection. From games like Eternal Sonata, The World Ends With You, Lost Odyssey to Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, Infinite Indiscovery, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts. There is loads more as well, but I think as the name suggests they are just Japanese RPG but obviously there is a marked difference in the game style.

But if your a fan of any JRPG, join the soc and feel free to join in.