Top 10 Ways to Fix JRPGs

There’s a list of “ten ways to fix JRPGs” on IGN, though fans of Western RPGs will probably view the article as “ten reasons why I hate JRPGs”. For example:

One of the most important elements of the traditional JRPG was exploring the world map. After all, there was nothing quite as liberating as acquiring the key to your very first airship and taking to the skies, flying over vast oceans and sprawling mountains with an entire world to explore.

Although some JRPGs still attempt to keep this broad structure, many have been tragically limited. Players will often be nudged from Point A to Point B with almost no freedom to explore. Japanese developers need only look at the popularity of games like Fallout 3 to see that open worlds are greatly appreciated by gamers. Yes, a JRPG can still have a linear story, but that linear quality needn’t extend into the gameplay.