View Full Version : I don't like Japanese RPGs!
Trumpman
05-25-2006, 07:58 PM
Ok, so today after years of trying to play Japanese RPGs, I realized that I really do not like the genre. I can't stand random battles, and just get so bored in the games. I've played many, many of them, and even some of the best, such as Golden Sun, I can't get into. It's so weird, because I love Oblivion. Is there anyone else like this?
roushimsx
05-25-2006, 08:09 PM
Everyone says Gothic II is the pimp-shizzle, but I've yet to play it so I can't really comment, personally. Apparently the combat system is a bit wacky but the core game is the shit.
You may want to look into Arx Fatalis, and I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend checking out Wizardy 8. I hear Vampire:Bloodlines is actually pretty fun/playable now that PCs can actually run it and fans have been patching the shit out of the bugs (Trokia made some good games, they were just all buggy messes)
On the non-first person front, you can't go wrong with any of the infinity engine games (Baldur's Gate II, Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale, etc) and Fallout I and II are sheer brilliance.
Ok, so today after years of trying to play Japanese RPGs, I realized that I really do not like the genre. I can't stand random battles, and just get so bored in the games.
I think you mean turn based RPGs, but that might just be me.
ckendal
05-25-2006, 08:23 PM
I personally love the style, well at least most of them.
Here are a few you should definitely try:
1) Shining Force I and II (GEN)
2) Dragon Warrior I, II, III, IV (NES)
3) Dragon Quest V and VI (SFC/SNES)
4) Dragon Warrior VII (PSX)
5) Dragon Quest VIII (PS2)
6) Fire Emblem and Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones (GBA)
7) Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GCN)
All great games and the list goes on, but those are some of my favs! 8-)
njiska
05-25-2006, 09:40 PM
I'm ok with some JRPGs, but honestly i too can't stand the random battles. it was one thing wwhen you were moving around on a world overview map like in FF, but it's completely different when you're in DQVIII crossing an empty plain and all of a sudden you're in a battle with 4 freaks you should've seen comings. i mean what the hell?
Gapporin
05-25-2006, 09:56 PM
You should try out Shadow Madness (PSX). It's an RPG in the style of Japanese console games, but it's 100% completely made by American developers. I don't remember if it has random battles or not, though. It's a great game with lots of humor.
NE146
05-25-2006, 10:01 PM
Ok, so today after years of trying to play Japanese RPGs, I realized that I really do not like the genre... Is there anyone else like this?
Well sorta... I keep telling myself to eat healthy. So I keep trying to incorporate more stuff like bananas in my diet. But after years and years of trying to eat it, yknow what.. I realized I simply just don't like bananas. The taste makes me want to puke. So there ya go.
Shadow Madness has random battles!! It was a very close "clone" of Final 7....and was very enjoyable....if you weren't looking for Final 7.
Western or Japanese...I'm an RPGer that is fed up with the shit that passes for a modern RPG.....and I'm going to go ahead and include Oblivion in here. Yes I own it, yes I've clocked a few hundred hours into it (fourth character, fourth time through)....but at it's stripped down heart it's tame compared to some of the meat that was found in older RPGs. It's Elderscrolls Lite. I put it down one day and haven't picked it up since. I'm starting to think that we'll never see the golden age of RPGs ever again. They aren't a genre that give instant gratification. You have to think and plan and plot. You have to read. You have to manage things. You have to take your time. And that is precisely what the average "not enough time in a day" person doesn't want to know about.
Oh well. There's always FPS and racers. x_x
scorch56
05-26-2006, 02:56 AM
If I remember correctly you can see the enemies on the overworld maps in Xenosaga.. and avoid them if you choose.
Couldn't you also do that in FF VIII?
SkiDragon
05-26-2006, 03:34 AM
If I remember correctly you can see the enemies on the overworld maps in Xenosaga.. and avoid them if you choose.
Couldn't you also do that in FF VIII?
No.
Daria
05-26-2006, 10:14 AM
If you don't like the genre, then don't play it. You'll definately save yourself some pocket cash. Buy some PC RPGs such as the Fallout and Baulder's Gate series instead. Follow up with some Arcanum and you'll be set for months.
Or if that's too old play the Knights of the Old Republic series instead and follow that Jade Empire (heh I originally typed Jade Caccon... which is not a good title to play if you're sick of Japanese games). Try some Fable, or play through the rest of the Elderscrolls series. If you liked Oblivion you should enjoy Morrowind.
There's plenty of alternatives to the eastern RPG experience. Mostly you'll find them on PC.
roushimsx
05-26-2006, 12:33 PM
on the "kinda like a console jrpg but neither console nor j" train, Anachronox is a damned amazing game with two sad flaws:
1) The combat is a bit simple and combat animations feel unfinished
2) It's only the first half of the story and Tom Hall may never get to make the second half because of how poorly it sold.
It's a damn shame, because the game is otherwise amazing (some of the best dialogue and voice work you're going to find in a game) and it's hard to believe that it was built on the Quake 2 engine.
kevin_psx
05-26-2006, 12:42 PM
Ok, so today after years of trying to play Japanese RPGs, I realized that I really do not like the genre. I can't stand random battles, and just get so bored
Depends on the story. Many RPGs I never finish 'cause the story is just a lame "boy meets girl & saves the world" story.
Very rarely you get a game with an outstanding story & then the random battles are easy to play through.
Put another way:
99% of any genre is crap. JRPGs are no different.
smork
05-26-2006, 02:00 PM
Try strategy RPGs, if you haven't. No random battles -- hell, usually no overworld, just plot and fighting and fun. Look at Fire Emblem series, Tactics Ogre, FF Tactics, Disgaea, Phantom Brave, etc.
I don't like my RPGs too cinematic, i'd rather play a game than watch a movie with a game in it. But I do like quite a few jRPGs -- Skies of Arcadia, Megaten games -- and they have tons of random battles. So, yeah, I understand, but I guess I ain't the same... :)
Icarus Moonsight
05-26-2006, 03:01 PM
It's a love/hate affair for me. Some franchises are among my favorite games... ie; Phantasy Star and Dragon Quest. While others are among my most disliked... ie; Final Fantasy and Suikden. That is what RPG's mean to me.
Strategy games, on the other hand, I enjoy very much. I haven't found too many strat games (turn or real time) that I don't at least like enough to play the hell out of. :) So it's not the turn based gameplay that turns me off to most RPG's. I really liked Secret of Mana and Valkyrie Profile... but detested Tales of Phantasia. So action RPG's aren't even safe. I'm a picky basterd, I suppose. :P
No my friend, your not alone. RPG's, as a genre, rate one rung above sports games, which are one rung above the rest of the crap that sucks so bad they defy classification other than "Utter and complete trash".
Half Japanese
05-27-2006, 03:02 AM
I'm most definitely with you. I had a friend GIVE me a copy of FFVII hoping I'd play it. I gave it about 3 hours in and I hadn't had a drop of fun with it, so I cut it off and it's been in the case ever since. I went a little longer with Dragon Warrior VII before abandoning that one for good. I dunno, they're just too formulaic and boring to me ("fetch me the herb from danger mountain to help my dying son").
On the other hand, turn-based strategy games (Vandal Hearts, Final Fantasy Tactics) I LOVE and am always on the lookout for similar titles.
As it is, you definitely want to seek out a copy of Jade Empire. That's the game that popped my RPG cherry (first one I ever beat). Great game, and without the constraint of having to wrap itself around a license. Great real-time fighting and loads to do, see and collect. My utmost recommendation.
sharkbates
05-27-2006, 04:21 AM
In complete agreement with the OP.
Love the "action RPG", ie Zelda, Netopia, BG:DA series, Morrowind, Oblivion. Turn-based RPGs, tried for years to "get into" them but never have been able to. Now days they are so collectible, that's all I do with them.
Griking
05-27-2006, 11:09 AM
Though I'm partial to American RPGs I don't entirely dislike Japanese ones. I just hate the fact that almost all of the characters in them are feminine looking little boys.
EndlessChris
05-27-2006, 12:00 PM
I've played many, many of them, and even some of the best, such as Golden Sun
There's your problem, Golden Sun is a terrible game. Really over-hyped for having pretty graphics. Play Chrono Trigger, or Earthbound, or FFVII or some other tried and true classic.
Hell try Shadow Hearts.
Aussie2B
05-27-2006, 04:16 PM
There's a lot more to Japanese RPGs than random battles and turn-based attacks. Maybe you've been playing to many pre-PlayStation RPGs. Most of the US released RPGs prior to then were more or less clones of Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy. The genre had already expanded a lot in Japan, but the US didn't see the more niche titles until the PlayStation came around. It's a huge genre, and there are tons of sub-genres within it. While I'm sure there are people who won't like RPGs no way no how, I'm guessing it's more likely that most people would be able to find at least one style of RPG they find appealing. You might benefit from trying some strategy RPGs like others have recommended or some real-time RPGs like Star Ocean and the Tales of series. You'd could try a solid dungeon crawler like The Nightmare of Druaga or Azure Dreams, or a first person RPG-esque adventure game like King's Field or Shadow Tower. Or speaking of first person games, you could also try first person corridor dungeon RPGs like Arcana and the older Megami Tensei games (Persona, for one that came out in America).
Ed Oscuro
05-27-2006, 04:25 PM
Ys, Phantasy Star, and Sylvan Tale for the win.
tylerwillis
05-27-2006, 04:59 PM
Put another way:
99% of any genre is crap.
Wow. Do you even enjoy video gaming?
As for the OP, what else have you played besides Golden Sun? As EndlessChris noted, GS is not the creme of the crop.
Trumpman
05-27-2006, 05:43 PM
I want to get some strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem, because I love Advance Wars. But yeah, even while playing FFs at my friends' houses I just couldn't get into it. I played Final Fantasy 1 for GBA for 6 hrs, and just got so frustrated with the random battles. (I know that's not the best example of a good RPG either).
Jorpho
05-29-2006, 10:54 PM
Ok, so today after years of trying to play Japanese RPGs, I realized that I really do not like the genre. I can't stand random battles, and just get so bored in the games. I've played many, many of them, and even some of the best, such as Golden Sun, I can't get into. It's so weird, because I love Oblivion. Is there anyone else like this?
How very odd that you spent all that time playing many, many games of a genre you do not like. :hmm:
The genre does indeed have a staggering number of cliches (http://project-apollo.net/text/rpg.html), but in a way that's part of the fun. It's also nifty to see some of the various clever twists on turn-based fighting that can get thrown in.
I still plan to play Star Ocean one of these days.
tylerwillis
05-30-2006, 08:06 AM
I want to get some strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem, because I love Advance Wars. But yeah, even while playing FFs at my friends' houses I just couldn't get into it. I played Final Fantasy 1 for GBA for 6 hrs, and just got so frustrated with the random battles. (I know that's not the best example of a good RPG either).
Is it the random battle thing that most annoys? There's a few games out there without random battles, notably the Grandia and Lunar series - both of which are usually favored by most RPGamers.
Canadian Psycho
05-30-2006, 08:49 AM
Here are a few you should definitely try:
2) Dragon Warrior I, II (NES)
4) Dragon Warrior VII (PSX)
Great advice... if you want to turn him off the genre for good! I mean, the first Dragon Warrior is interesting from an historical perspective, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone today trying to like the genre. Again, DW II and most certainly VII are only for the hardcore of the hardcore. The latter is a mess too.
kevin_psx
05-31-2006, 09:18 AM
Put another way: 99% of any genre is crap. Wow. Do you even enjoy video gaming?
Yeah and I enjoy sci-fi tv too. But Isaac Asimov was right: "99% of any genre is crap". Only the top 1% is really, truly good.
Try Super Mario RPG which you can download to a Super NES emulator. That game is so cute & funny. Lots of fun.