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Post by shiranui on Dec 9, 2010 9:06:07 GMT -5
Right. As I mentioned in the Final Fantasy X-2 thread a minute ago, we seem to have spent quite a bit of that thread talking about other FF games and the Persona series. So, I thought that since there are lots of folks around here who play JRPGs, we should have an all-purpose thread for all things JRPG related. Let's see if this gets to 20+ pages like my old Persona and Shin Megami Tensei thread...
In other words: discuss Final Fantasy, Shin Megami Tensei, Dragon Quest or... well, any Japanese RPG you want in this topic.
I'm currently playing Persona 3 Portable on the PSP and just started Final Fantasy XII from where I left off approximately three years ago. P3P is still a magnificent game, but exploring Tartarus yet again (I've played through Persona 3 twice already on the PS2) is starting to get a bit tedious. I do like the new social links and other stuff for the female protagonist, though.
As for FF XII... well, I still don't really like it all that much. It's not terrible or anything, but playing it just isn't that much fun. I also wish there were more save points, as the areas are huge and a lot of the monsters are kinda tough.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Dec 9, 2010 9:08:44 GMT -5
I've never played any of the Persona games. I have a PS2. Would any of the PS2 games be a good game to get started with? If so, which one would be the best?
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Post by aka Cthulhu on Dec 9, 2010 9:11:00 GMT -5
Okay, it's technically an SRPG, but decided to replay Disgaea 2 to check on something. While it's one of my favorite series, replaying it didn't do a lot for me, I guess. The worst ending definitely made me go "wait, what, seriously?" since it was a bit freaky.
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Post by shiranui on Dec 9, 2010 9:11:12 GMT -5
I've never played any of the Persona games. I have a PS2. Would any of the PS2 games be a good game to get started with? If so, which one would be the best? Start with Persona 3 FES, then move on to Persona 4. The games' stories are self-contained so you don't need to play 3 to understand what's going on in 4, but I can tell you from experience that going back to Persona 3 is hard once you've gotten used to the gameplay tweaks introduced in Persona 4. |
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Post by aka Cthulhu on Dec 9, 2010 9:16:02 GMT -5
I'll probably get P3P for myself this Christmas. Got to play 1, back when it was still in the PS1 (I was actually kinda surprised to see that the characters were originally Japanese after playing the PSP remake) and Persona 2 (I think it was Eternal Punishment) in the PS1 as well. Never got to play the other games since my PS2 was junk at that point, sadly.
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Post by El Cokehead del Knife Fight on Dec 9, 2010 9:19:05 GMT -5
Okay, it's technically an SRPG, but decided to replay Disgaea 2 to check on something. While it's one of my favorite series, replaying it didn't do a lot for me, I guess. The worst ending definitely made me go "wait, what, seriously?" since it was a bit freaky. Disgaea seems to have that kind of problem. Great fun on the first run through but once you know what happens, it kinda loses its kick. Anyways, I've been meaning to give Lost Odyssey another crack. I've kinda gotten bored at the end of the second disc and the dungeon there is just really dull. Also, Suikoden 2= greatest RPG ever. Nothing except Chrono Trigger and FF6 are even close. |
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Post by aka Cthulhu on Dec 9, 2010 9:26:41 GMT -5
Yeah, once you finish the game, there's not a lot to do in the game. The PSP remakes did add Etna and Axel mode, but it's still a bit short. Hell, the games can be pretty short, if you don't visit the item world often, due to a lack of sidequests.
Also finished playing Yggdra Union a while back. Fun game. Also a strategy game, but I generally consider those RPGs as well.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2010 9:45:19 GMT -5
I've never played any of the Persona games. I have a PS2. Would any of the PS2 games be a good game to get started with? If so, which one would be the best? Persona 3: FES It's an upgraded version of Persona 3. It's a bit trickier to play than Persona 4, because you can only control the main character. If you haven't played the other SMT games I recommend those highly also. A lot of people love Nocturne, but I think the Digital Devil Sagas are the best of the bunch. I just picked up Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army, which isn't really a JRPG I guess, but part of the SMT family, so I'm going to be starting that soon. As soon as I get a PSP I'll start Persona and P3P, which I already have. The last JRPG I played was Final Fantasy XIII. It was an agonizing experience. |
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Post by Chronos on Dec 9, 2010 10:20:16 GMT -5
I'll join this discussion wholeheartedly, as JRPGs are by far my favorite surviving genre of game. (My precious shooters are long since gone.  ) All of the Megaten games released over here, pretty much, are gold-standard good. Nocturne's final dungeon is my personal favorite ever in RPGs, and all of the games are challenging enough to keep you on your toes. The franchise also covers a very wide umbrella, yet all of the games have that "feel" (and extensive demon roster, natch) that lets you know you're playing a Megaten game. I'd actually recommend picking up Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon over the first Raidou game. They reintroduced demon conversation in a very satisfying way, cleaned up the combat system, and overall delivered a much more satisfying experience. (And you don't really feel that "in-the-dark" like you often do when playing most direct sequels first; I played Raidou 2 initially before the first game.) I'd also recommend all of Level-5's PS2 RPGs. Dark Cloud & Dark Cloud 2 (Dark Chronicle if you're outside the US), Dragon Quest VIII, and Rogue Galaxy are all absolutely stellar games, and are all definitely worth checking out. The Shadow Hearts series also deserves easy mention here. Absolutely excellent stories and characters, really unique dark/baroque atmosphere, real quirky and bizarre sense of humor. Also one of the most dynamic and interesting turn-based battle systems I've ever played. And they're set against the backdrop of early-1910s Europe and Asia (or Prohibition-era USA for the third game). The third game in the series is a departure; it's quite a bit sillier and goofier than the first two. But all three games are exceptional. I've heard they kind of gutted Persona 3 Portable and if you have FES it's not really a great buy. I know all of the stuff they added, but it doesn't really seem like that big of a deal considering the corners they seemingly had to cut with the game's actual design. Could someone refute/corroborate? About FFXII, Blaze, I can understand your complaints about the areas sometimes being a little too big for their own good, hahaha. The Tchita Uplands in particular seem like they're about the size of Jupiter. But FFXII's one of my faves in the series, because of the ridiculous bevy of optional content the game provides you. I loooooooove me some mark-hunting on FFXII, and I've spent about a billion hours doing it. It's weird; I've really always hated MMOs for their laconic pace and how much sheer time it takes to do anything, and yet FFXII, which takes so much inspiration from them, has never once bored me. Another easy mention: the Mother series. Words aren't enough here. |
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hassanchop
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Post by hassanchop on Dec 9, 2010 10:45:22 GMT -5
Since this is about Japanese RPGs let me rant this, I love Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, and when will they make a sequel? I kept hearing rumors about a sequel for years(I think it was called Chrono Break, I forget) and nothing came out, well unless you count Chrono Trigger DS, and then I heard there are no plans for a sequel.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2010 12:27:02 GMT -5
The Shadow Hearts series also deserves easy mention here, but be. Absolutely excellent stories and characters, really unique dark/baroque atmosphere, real quirky and bizarre sense of humor. Also one of the most dynamic and interesting turn-based battle systems I've ever played. And they're set against the backdrop of early-1910s Europe and Asia (or Prohibition-era USA for the third game). The third game in the series is a departure; it's quite a bit sillier and goofier than the first two. But all three games are exceptional. I disliked the third game because of how much of a departure it was. It was like it was trying to be a silly/dark RPG, but the silly parts overpowered the dark parts, and the silly parts weren't as funny, original, or entertaining as the previous two. Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts: Covenant are easily among my favorite games/RPGS (most of my favorite games are RPGS anyway). Loved the creepy vibe and the horrific monsters, and the dungeons usually increased the creepiness a great deal - the Doll House dungeons in particular were great for that. EarthBound is my absolute favorite game of all time. To me it's as close to perfect as a game will get. Maybe Mother 3 is better, but I don't know, since it's never been released here. Mother and Mother 3 making it to the United States are two of the things I want most in regards to video games. |
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Post by Cyno on Dec 9, 2010 12:47:16 GMT -5
I've been playing a bunch of older JRPG's lately. The SNES/SFC-era Final Fantasies, PS1 RPG's like the first Suikoden, Valkyrie Profile, etc. Mainly to try and wash the awful taste of the modern JRPG out of my mouth. Though you guys should totally pick up Ys Seven and Ys: The Oath in Felghana on PSP. Really fun action RPG's. |
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Post by Zabel Zarock on Dec 9, 2010 13:25:10 GMT -5
Just picked up Phantasy Star Portable 2, so much fun and such a damn improvement over the first. Really need to get Zettai Hero, hear it's a great Rouge Like for the PSP, something the DS has had a stranglehold on with Etrian Oddeyysy.
And personally I love FFXII, I just wish Vayne had gotten a bit more focus. And I never got the complaints about the Gambit system. Yes the game can play itself but only if you choose to let it.
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Post by Chronos on Dec 9, 2010 13:29:39 GMT -5
The Shadow Hearts series also deserves easy mention here, but be. Absolutely excellent stories and characters, really unique dark/baroque atmosphere, real quirky and bizarre sense of humor. Also one of the most dynamic and interesting turn-based battle systems I've ever played. And they're set against the backdrop of early-1910s Europe and Asia (or Prohibition-era USA for the third game). The third game in the series is a departure; it's quite a bit sillier and goofier than the first two. But all three games are exceptional. I disliked the third game because of how much of a departure it was. It was like it was trying to be a silly/dark RPG, but the silly parts overpowered the dark parts, and the silly parts weren't as funny, original, or entertaining as the previous two. Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts: Covenant are easily among my favorite games/RPGS (most of my favorite games are RPGS anyway). Loved the creepy vibe and the horrific monsters, and the dungeons usually increased the creepiness a great deal - the Doll House dungeons in particular were great for that. EarthBound is my absolute favorite game of all time. To me it's as close to perfect as a game will get. Maybe Mother 3 is better, but I don't know, since it's never been released here. Mother and Mother 3 making it to the United States are two of the things I want most in regards to video games. About SH: I think you're spot-on with your assessment, definitely. From the New World is lacking in comparison to the first two, and they did try a little too hard to make it a little too goofy. Part of the problem, too, is how jarring it would be transitioning from one of the silly parts to one of the darker parts sometimes; it'd be like smacking into a wall. Still though, the game's so-damn-far-out-there-isms appeal to me. And any game where you have to bust Al Capone out of Alcatraz at the behest of a talking cat deserves at least a cursory look in my book.  And another thing about Mother: Nintendo was originally planning on bringing the first game over here as Earthbound Zero. They even made a prototype, full English cart for it (which made its way into ROM hackers' hands and also serves as the basis for the English ROM), but for some reason, they pulled the plug at the very last minute.  And M.O.P., what constitutes the "modern JRPG" to you? For me it's Final Fantasy VII and beyond, and I'd like to hear your opinion since there's a wellspring of great RPGs since then if you look for em.  |
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Post by aka Cthulhu on Dec 9, 2010 13:32:18 GMT -5
Just picked up Phantasy Star Portable 2, so much fun and such a damn improvement over the first. Really need to get Zettai Hero, hear it's a great Rouge Like for the PSP, something the DS has had a stranglehold on with Etrian Oddeyysy. And personally I love FFXII, I just wish Vayne had gotten a bit more focus. And I never got the complaints about the Gambit system. Yes the game can play itself but only if you choose to let it. ZHP is pretty good. You'll see a lot of references on anime, kinda. Lots of level grinding there as well. Not a whole lot to do after you finish the game, though. |
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Post by Koda, Master Crunchyroller on Dec 9, 2010 13:33:49 GMT -5
I CANNOT wait for Atlus' next game in the Persona series, Catherine. Ok, so it isn't a true Persona game(it doesn't have Persona in the title, for one), and the game is most likely not an RPG, but an Adventure game, but I still count it as a Persona game, as the main character is Vincent, a character who shows up in Persona 3 Portable.
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Post by El Cokehead del Knife Fight on Dec 9, 2010 13:36:06 GMT -5
Speaking of Roguelikes, I've been giving Elona a decent play through and it seems like the Dwarf Fortress adventure mode has taken a crapload of drugs.
And I love it so.
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Post by Koda, Master Crunchyroller on Dec 9, 2010 13:43:02 GMT -5
Oh, and if any of you guys have an Xbox 360, I HIGHLY suggest downloading the Xbox Live Indie Game, Breath of Death VII.
It isn't a true JRPG, as I think it was made by a Western studio, but it plays just like your typical 16-bit JRPG from back in the days, and it is a fully on parody of not only the JRPG genre, but lots of other games. Honestly, it is the best RPG I've played all year long.
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Post by Chronos on Dec 9, 2010 13:47:49 GMT -5
I CANNOT wait for Atlus' next game in the Persona series, Catherine. Ok, so it isn't a true Persona game(it doesn't have Persona in the title, for one), and the game is most likely not an RPG, but an Adventure game, but I still count it as a Persona game, as the main character is Vincent, a character who shows up in Persona 3 Portable. It certainly will be interesting. It seems to deal in some of the same core themes as the Persona series, like the psychology of one's self, but it doesn't delve into the "identity" issue so much. Also, I love how Shoji Meguro described the music as "adult abs" ;D Another Atlus title I'm looking forward to is Radiant Historia for DS, which they've just announced for a February US release. Some of the Radiata Stories staff worked on it alongside some Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey guys, and time travel appears to be one of its core gameplay devices. Putting aside the huge Radiata and Megaten mark in me, it looks like a winner. |
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Post by Cyno on Dec 9, 2010 14:10:34 GMT -5
Good to see some other Shadow hearts fans here. I loved the first two games. Covenant's one of my favorite RPG's ever made. But From the New World just rubbed me the wrong way.
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