Why Do People Care About JRPGs?

Regardless of how you feel about them, there’s no disputing that Japanese-developed and Japanese-inspired RPGs have a devoted fanbase, and that’s prompted Kotaku to pose the question, “Why do people care about JRPGs?”. In the article, they break down the mechanics that define a JRPG, some of the subgenre’s greatest achievements, the titles we should be looking forward to in the future, and more:

What if I’ve never played a JRPG before? What game should I play?

Good question! Let me give you a few options:

Final Fantasy VI – The best game in the most popular RPG series on the planet. It packs one hell of an emotional wallop. Its characters are subtle, interesting, and hilarious. And that music.

Suikoden – A fast-paced, politic-heavy game that places you in the shoes of a rebel out to fight against a nasty, oppressing empire. It’s a little rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. And it’ll help you segue into my favorite game of all time, the illustrious masterpiece Suikoden II.

Mother 3 – Charming, easy to get into, and poignant as hell.

Lost Odyssey – Old-school sensibilities in a new-school package. If you can get past the awful voice acting (and a few annoying characters), you might really enjoy this console JRPG. Worth playing if only for the dream sequences, which make up some of the best writing I’ve ever seen.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky – About as awesome an adventure as you can find nowadays. A little too text-heavy for some peoples’ tastes, but I love it to death.

Final Fantasy VII – You might as well see what all the hype is about.

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Okay, seriously, I can’t find a single JRPG story that keeps me engaged. Why are they all so awful?

Because you have no soul. Also, maybe you just haven’t found the right story for you. Check out Final Fantasy Tactics, a Shakespeare-inspired tactical RPG with a plot that rivals Game of Thrones in betrayal and medieval badassery. Or Xenogears, a sci-fi masterpiece that’s up there with the most ambitious (and strongest) RPGs ever.

If you want a simpler, more romantic tale, check out the aforementioned Trails in the Sky or Mother 3. The Suikoden series is also chock full of masterful storytelling.