I Think JRPGs Will Forever Be My Favorite Type of Games

 My love for video games existed for as long as I can remember. Even as a young kid in the 90’s, I could be found playing Mario games on the Super Nintendo and Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis.

 While I have consumed all kinds of media through my life: movies, books, TV shows, etc. enjoying them all thoroughly, none of those forms have quite captured my attention like video games (although board games are a close second, if not a first depending on the day). Video games excel at bringing the player into their worlds, worlds that are so different from our own, and, most importantly, at giving the player a sense of agency other forms of media cannot give in their static format. Even within these early, 2D platformers, the agency was still present and captured my attention the most.

 I eventually moved from the Super Nintendo to the Nintendo 64 with its PHENOMENAL graphics that just blew my socks off; the low poly graphics were just so real. On a serious note, I did find a deeper love for games on the N64 through discovering The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I became completely engrossed in the game and living as Link in the world of Hyrule. While Ocarina of Time is not a JRPG directly since it misses many of the key elements, it did broach on several features in JRPGs that appeal to me: the anime art style, the vibrant colors, the fantastical world, the good vs. evil story, and the narrative driven plot (even if looking back now that plot was paper thin). 

 Specifically, on the last point, I learned I am immensely more satisfied from a game where I am invested in the world and story, especially compared to the games I had played previously where the plot was just a device to allow the player to play the game.

Next, enters the PlayStation 2 in all of its glory. A turn for actual, realistic graphics (at least for the time), a deep archive of unforgettable games, and a boot sequence that still hits me with a 50 ton sack of bricks worth of nostalgia when I see it, teleporting my soul through the astral plane back to my childhood room where I spent an unfathomable amount of hours slaying monsters and saving the world. Is that an extreme run on sentence? Yes. Do I care. No.

 It was in this era that I played my first JRPG games. Some of note were: Final Fantasy X, Dark Cloud 1 & 2, Kingdom Hearts, .Hack//GU; but this list is obviously not all-encompassing and there were many more. While I already enjoyed video games before, this was when I truly realized how deep and meaningful games could be rather than just a fun hobby.

 These games were designed to transport the players to fantastical and imaginative worlds unlike our own, grip them in the clutches of their world-ending stakes, and capture their hearts with the wide array of characters imagined up full of struggles emanating between them. This formula certainly worked on me.

 And, these games had soul. At least, that is how it felt to me. In today’s gaming market full of remakes and repeats, gotchas and micro-transactions, algorithms and analytics, it can often feel like we are just seeing the same slop on repeat. But it did not feel that way during the PlayStation 2 era. And I don’t think that was true of only JRPGs, either, but they still had the most soul in a time when games had a soul.

 All this fostered a deep love for JRPGs growing up and, even now, I still find myself being drawn more to them than other games. I will still branch out and try other games but, no matter what other types I try whether it be metroidvanias, FPS’s, straight up action games, or anything else, I always finding myself being drawn back to the sweet, sweet bosom of JRPGs. They have always resonated with me most deeply of all games and that continues to be the case, even if with the rise of micro-transactions and free-to-plays there are some absolute garbage games. The only types of games that come even remotely close to creating the same kinds of feelings are cozy games, but I have only recently been playing those, so JRPGs has the advantage of nostalgia on their side. Thisallows them to typically win out in my overall favorite type of game, whether that is fair or not (not to mention so many cozy games nowadays are just ripping off each other and doing the same thing over and over, but I digress).

 So, what exactly do I love so much about JRPGs?

 Well, pretty much the defining characteristics of what makes a JRPG a JRPG sums this up. And, in case you didn’t notice from my list above, I don’t consider turn-based combat a necessity in JRPGs so if that makes revokes my title of JRPG purist… oh well. If anything, I am happy to see a change to more action based combat.

 Outside of that, here are the characteristics I enjoy the most:

 Lets break each one down:

 JRPGs always have a heavy narrative focus, at least good ones do. And, while there are some deviations from the grand level of stakes normally present, there are usually massive implications for the main characters from the plot, wether it is their country being invaded by another country or escalating all the way to deity-like beings causing world-ending events. While this is not something I want in every game I play, it certainly helps keep my interest and wanting to know how it will play out.

 Within this epic plot, usually staunchly between good and evil, the world will also be opening up to the main character and his party. I’ll touch more on that later but the main point for the narrative focus regarding this is as the player goes along, while the characters are still working towards their ultimate goal, the game designers will create smaller stakes throughout the different pockets of the world. Not only will the player be working towards the ultimate goal but the game will present smaller narrative moments throughout the world as the characters explore, connectingthe player more to the main character, party, and the world itself.

 All of this combines into something, when done well, truly capturing the player’s engagement and keeping them interested in continuing the game and, ultimately, completing the story.

 Now, this one is not necessarily true of all JRPGs but, observing the majority of the ones on the market, they usually take place in a fantasy-like world drastically different from our own. And, better yet, though they are often fantasy-like, they are not your typical Western RPG, European-Medieval inspired type, enabling more interesting opportunities for creative worlds.

 Exploring these worlds is so enjoyable because players can find things so unlike our own world like: airships, imaginative creatures, giant mechs, sky islands, technology blended with magic, strange landscapes, and crystals... so many crystals.

 Even when the world has a more “modern” feel to it, like Final Fantasy VII, it is still so completely unlike our own reality; the player will find sword wielders fighting gun users and magic wielders alongside mechanical vehicles, dragons flying alongside giant mechs, and so much more. These always feel more imaginative, “genre-bendy,” and fun to explore compared to the typical Western games we see that usually fall into just one of the broad categories: “sci-fi, fantasy, western, etc.”

 Speaking of exploration, JRPG worlds are sprawling, begging to be explored. As the narrative unfolds, so does the world. The main party will come across a variety of different locations in their travels, usually having some tasks that need to be done or smaller story to take place in these locations before the overall narrative progresses.

 It is a satisfying experience that, while your characters and party progresses, so does your knowledge of the world. And, combining this with the previous point of how imaginative the worlds are, this aspect is difficult to experience in many other kinds of media. 

 Especially since, as I mentioned in the beginning of this post, the agency belongs with the player specifically. If you are familiar with anime/manga then you will see many similar themes and ideas across the two media types but a major difference is that anime and mangas are static while JRPGs, and video games in general, are dynamic based on the player’s choices as the character(s). 

 This plays a significant role in the world exploration. While many games can be linear in their exploration, even within the linear ones, where your path is predetermined, how the player explores each location and what to avoid vs. interact with is completely up to them, changing the experience each time they play. Not to mention, there are games where the characters’ path is not predetermined, so the player can explore the world completely at their own pace, making the experience even more dynamic based on their choices and preferences. And, this not only applies to the exploration of the world but also to the choices the characters make, but more on that in a moment.

 The world exploration is a wonderful experience thanks to the imaginative worlds created in JRPGs and, coupled with the agency given to the player, it is difficult to find a similar experience outside of these games.

 Now, this aspect is certainly a personal preference for myself and I can understand why it is a make-it or break-it factor for many people depending on what art styles they like, but I love anime and anime-inspired aesthetics. I know, I know, I’m a weeb through and through.

 Obviously, if you are completely against this kind of aesthetic then it makes sense why this genre is not for you. But, as a huge fan of the aesthetic, this is a major appeal to the genre for me. And, not only the character design that is typically associated with it, but also the colors being so vibrant and using a wide mix them to create scenes. I enjoy this kind of art style way more than the typical dark, gritty, realistic art style associated with so many different western games.

 There isn’t much more to say on this one, you either love it or hate it.

 Now, this is where JRPGs shine the most. Sure, they are always going to have a great narrative to carry the plot, an enticing world to explore full of vibrant inhabitants, and little pockets of narrative to explore in each location but, is any of this fun if none of it has an impact on the main party of characters? Or if those characters don’t have any depth?

 No... the answer is no. JRPGs shine because they have characters with already fleshed out backstories, motivations, goals, etc. These already being thought of creates an interesting dynamic between the main characters and the world at large. While exploring the world is exciting and fighting enemies is fun (hopefully), some of the best moments in these games are when the characters just have quiet moments to interact with one another. I mean, come on, doesn’t just viewing a still image of the campfire scene in Chrono Trigger hit you right in the heart strings? Or, in Final Fantasy VII, don’t the emotional stakes created by the intimate moments Cloud has with the other party members between missions, like remembering being young with Tifa, give the player something to feel for these characters?

 It is in those smaller, quiet moments that JRPGs really shine. It isn’t just action, action, action all the time (even if there is a lot of action) but these smaller moments between big moments help the players better understand the characters, what they care about, and what they are fighting for.

 This is just not as possible with the “blank-slate” characters so common in other RPGs. I certainly understand the appeal of this, and why so many players prefer character creation today: you can make up the character in your head and decide the type of story they will have, but this is usually at the cost of emotional narrative impact since the game itself doesn’t necessarily know your character’s motivations or desires.

 Now, don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy playing a game with a “blank slate” type character, I just find they typically don’t have as much emotional depth compared to a story where the characters and their motivations are well thought out. It allows the game designers/developers to flesh out what the characters are going through and the impact the story has on them. Just go watch the end of Final Fantasy X and tell me I’m wrong. You can’t pull that off with a blank slate, silent protagonist character.

Lastly, some of these games will also allow for the characters to make choices that impact the ultimate outcomes for the characters and the world at large. While this is not just true of JRPGs, it is still an amazing component when included and gives the player even more agency, creating an experience unlike almost any other form of media. So, when it is included in a JRPG, since they are already emotionally deep and impactful as is, it typically just adds another layer of impact.

 This is where the main focus of a JRPG should be. The main stakes and plot should not be completely neglected, but they should be utterly intertwined with how they impact the characters and the characters’ interactions with each other. More than any other category, this is what separates the good from the great in terms of JRPGs.

 Now, what would be an RPG game of any type without some good ol’ progression? And, in a JRPG, it’s gotta’ be in the form of combat. Will there be other types of progression to supplement? Maybe. Is it a JRPG if the main progression isn’t about some form of smashin’ baddies and upgrading items. I’m gonna’ say no, no it’s not.

 Traditionally, this has been in the form of turn-based combat but we are seeing more and more games go for an action-based combat system and, as I mentioned before, I am all for it. I do not think turn-based combat is a defining feature of JRPGs. But I do think there should be some form of combat.

 This combat should also lead to your characters getting stronger, purchasing stronger items, letting the player determine what strengths each character focuses on in their party, and open up new abilities while fighting. The progression system should be well though out and scale effectively so that you can fight more difficult enemies as you progress and give a sense of accomplishment for the whole party.

 Leveling up in skills should scale with the plot playing out and the character development of each character, weaving into a beautiful tapestry that leaves you speechless, and perhaps tearful, by the end of it.

 In the current market where I am fearful for where games are headed, I hope there are still some holdout studios, whether AAA, Indie, or anywhere in between, that are committed to making great games with the players in mind.

 Within all of this, I hope standout JRPGs continue to be made and enjoyed. They have such a special place in my heart and memories and I hope they do not get swept up in the seeming frenzy of easy cash grabs, gatchas, and whatever other money-making schemes the industry can come up with. Do I want gaming studios to make money for well-crafted games? Yes. Do I want these studios to make money at the cost of well crafted games and, ultimately, the players. No.

 I hope we are coming into a resurgence of good games and a renaissance of the gaming industry, though I won’t hold my breath. Whatever does come, though, there are still so many out there that I have yet to play and I can always go back to the classics.

 Either way, these are the reasons I love JRPGs and hope they continue to be made. Let me know what some of your favorite JRPGs are or, if you have JRPGs, let me know why you don’t like them.