Do JRPGs Really Need to Innovate to Survive?

Chad Awkerman Writes: "Frankly, innovation is overrated. The word “innovation” seems to be put up on this high and mighty pedestal as something that games in general – not just JRPGs – need to do to be relevant. The problem here is perception and expectation. If you perceive innovation to be needed, then you come to expect it. But, we really shouldn’t perceive it to be needed at all. Why?"

[Godmars290]

the problem is most game rely on the tried and true mechanics of Dragon Quest.

[majiebeast]

Yeah and for good reason Dragonquest VIII is 1 of the best JRPG's ive played next to Chrono trigger. Nothing this gen beats it, i loved Xenoblade and Ninokuni but DQ8 is in a league of its own.

@Kalkano

If it aint broke dont fix it.

[Donnieboi]

Persona series, SMT, and any JRPG by Atlus or NIS, has revived my interest in JRPG's.

[ApolloTheBoss]

Damn right. Ni No Kuni and P4G MADE me a JRPG fan.

[3-4-5]

* Stop including annoying characters...Nobody wants to hate the game they just spent $60 on.

* Get creative with the story, but have the dialogue be more real.

* Use unique Art Styles

* The Music better be awesome

[rataranian]

You know you can't wait until FFXIII-IV. =D

[kewlkat007]

If innovating involves dumbing the game down..so whiners can play it then, NO!

[patterson]

I miss turn based RPG's.

[Xer0_SiN]

not really just give us an intriguing storyline, likeable characters, and good game mechanics. thats all we ask for. were not asking for companies to reinvent the wheel. i mean hell, most of us rpg fanatics are asking for remakes from past systems to be wowed all over again. now doesnt that tell you something.

[whamlollypop7]

That genre is waaayyy too lengthy, Ni No Kuni is cool but it's soooooo long.

[Snookies12]

No. Why do you think Call of Duty keeps getting more and more sales even though they do nothing to change the formula? JRPGs don't need to change to survive, I do however like to see when they take risks with things.

[LordHiggens]

JRPGs do not need to change...in fact changing is the problem...GOD GIVE ME BACK MY TURN BASED SYSTEM. Final Fantasy X had it down bros...it had it DOWN. As far as I'm concerned if every JRPG had something similar like that in it...I'd be living the life of Riley.

btw who was Riley and why did he have such a good life?

[crazysammy]

They don't need to change the formula, but like any genre they need to make good games. Playing current RPGs with few exceptions are just not that good. Its a combination of story, open world exploration, secrets, characters, and side missions that make games great but lately not many seem to be putting in the effort. Most likely because they are trying to be different.

Ni No Kuni was great though.

[Inception]

From the articles:
"Then we have the abomination that was Resonance of Fate. I do not know what kind of drugs the developers were on at the time, but the narcotics didn’t do them any favors based on the horrible, convoluted battle system that resulted from their night in the clouds. While the setting and characters were pretty neat, the “innovative” battle system completely ruined that title for me, and many others."

There's nothing horrible/convoluted with Resonance of Fate battle system. What you only had to do is training in the arena for half or maybe one hours just to adapt with the system.

See, this one of the problems for people/journalist who always screaming JRPG need to innovate. When games such as Resonance of Fate comes, this people are lazy to learning how to play the game properly. They think it's just like a walk in the park. But they just mad when the enemies kick their ass because they too lazy to learn the battle system. They only blamed the game is broken, but not themself.

It is the same case with people who said Demon's/Dark Souls are bad games because they too lazy to learning why they died over and over again.

[Timesplitter14]

JRPGs just need actual good stories and not those retarded japanese stories with completely ridiculous characters that we've been seeing recently

[izumo_lee]

It depends on what JRPG one is talking about.

There will always be the very niche JRPG games that cater to a very specific crowd. Those games are often quite unique but due to the subject matter (loli, japanese inuendos etc.) are ignored by the mainstream masses. Dedicated lovers of these games know what to expect from these & enjoy them for what they are.

Then there are the AAA JRPG brands that are well known to the mainstream gamers. Series like Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Tales of games vary on innovation. Sometimes it appeals to the gamers, sometimes it is polarizing. Fans of Final Fantasy are looking for a more traditional game, however Squarenix has turned a blind eye to this request. Innovating the games to something that barely resembles a Final Fantasy game.

Change is welcomed if done right but for the most part the majority of JRPG fans are pretty much ok with something traditional.

[FRA85]

I've not enjoyed any JRPG's recently. Years ago i got into them because the storylines were great and told very well plus sometimes i didnt want to play an all action all the time type of game.

lately when i play them they seem tageted at 12 year olds and the story's have been shallow and either predictable or just plain silly. i get they're trying to appeal to a wider audience but they losing the real fans of the genre.

i'd love to see an JRPG with a darker more grown up style and story aimed at adults. if u know any already out let me know.

[RoseSapphire]

Define innovation. Every genre is stagnant to some degree and relies on the same tropes and ideas it has since creation. The games that stand out, stand out because of the additions they make to the formula and quality of their story. There is also something to be said for actual design quality - within the levels, the characters, and the background mechanics.

There is nothing wrong with the old-school, turn based JRPG formula. The problem lies in the quality of the JRPG's that have been released in the past few years. Even the quality of store, something RPG's are supposed to be the leaders in, have been lacking.

A bad game, is a bad game, is a bad game. Build a solid game experience around the core mechanics of a genre people enjoy, and the idea of JRPG doesn't matter. It's just a good game.

[MilkMan]

Yep, most desperately. Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story is heading in the right direction.

[CLOUD1983]

I don't know who they have in their minds those companies who try to innovate & at the end they ruin everything but in my case I prefer my JRPG old-school, that means as traditional as it gets with turn based battles, world map, villages, stores, npc's , exploration, secrets & most of all EPIC stories & LIKEABLE/INTERESTING characters, I have learn to value a good story & a good soundtrack much more than graphics but unfortunately companies continue to focus on visuals &not in what truly matters & that's the reason they keep on failing.