"Outgrowing" the JRPG

[FantasiaWHT]

Lost Odyssey started out (and had through most of it) a really great, deep, mature story line that I enjoyed. Then for about the last 1/3 of it it totally devolved into complete cliches. But the story sequences (when Kai dreams/remembers things that have happened over the last 1,000 years of his life) are really good. They all focus around the theme of life and death, and really give you an idea what it would be like to be someone who can't die.

[FantasiaWHT]

Valkyrie Profile is also an excellent suggestion

[Arkhan]

Whats funny is the story writers for these games are all obviously >20 years old.

Its a culture difference really. The western RPGs of the 80s/early 90s were all more adult-oriented story wise. Everything was and still is more "mature". Its all serious, its all adults running around yelling and or swearing

Ultima for example has always had old dudes running around. Elder Scrolls has never been very kid-oriented..

and then...

Japanese stories have always been what they still are today, which is a bit more sensitive/dramatic/tear jerky/lovey dovey and crap.

Im 21 and still watch sailor moon. Suffice to say, kiddy teenager stories in RPGs are perfectly good in my book.

screw growing up.