Ten JRPGs You Should Go Back and Play

Well, it’s been a while since Obstructed Views has written anything, so OV thought, why not do an article about something that OV really enjoys? The first game that ever caught our eye was Final Fantasy. Since then, OV has been completely addicted to those awesome JRPG games. Now, without further ado, obstructed views will give you a list of ten JRPGS you should go back and play. And if you have never played them, well, what the hell are you thinking?

[Kamuymintar]

I want to add Valkyrie Profile to the list instead of recent games.

And I love these Japan-exclusive and unknown (even for the Japanese) masterpieces of JRPGs in 1990's:

- Tenshi No Uta II: Datenshi No Sentaku
- Illusion City
- Linda Cube (aka Linda Cube again)
- Ore No Shikabane o Koeteyuke

[Crazay]

I'd put Lunar 1 and 2 in there as well as the original Suikoden.

[Wigriff]

And Grandia 2.

[khellendros1]

So many people who started out with FF7 missed on what I think is the best Final fantasy in 6. Kefka is a lunatic, lol.

[zippycup]

FF6 is one of my top rpg's

dragon warrior also holds a place at the top

[klecser]

Fire Emblem and Disgaea are not JRPGs. They're SRPGs.

Sheesh, its like anything that is made in Japan and has CHARACTERS in it gets labelled a JRPG.

[klecser]

The one thing you have right is that gamers disagree. I think you are in the minority with your definitions.

People that actually play strategy RPGs do not lump them in with JRPGs.

[Hicken]

An SRPG can still be a JRPG.

[Snookies12]

If the game is an RPG that comes from Japan or has a decidedly Japanese style, it's a JRPG. Regardless of whether it's turn based, action, or strategy.

[Misaka_x_Touma]

JRPG = Japanese RPG that plays and has Anime Like Characters.

[KingofGambling]

Suikoden II.

[JeepGamer]

"4: Final Fantasy VII

Wait, what? He didn’t put Final Fantasy VII at number one! How could he? "

No, he's got this wrong.

That game doesn't belong on the list at all.

[TronEOL]

And clearly, you don't know video games.

I'm guessing your top JRPG list probably only includes completely obscure and poorly received JRPG's because that's what cool kids do.

[JeepGamer]

First of all, I'm old. Old enough that I played Final Fantasy when it was a new game. To say that I've played a lot of JRPGs would be a vast understatement.

You will notice that I singled out that game from his list for criticism without being critical of the entire list. That would be because it's a fairly broad spectrum of what's what in JRPGs, and most of those games are actually quite good.

FF7 was crap. The story was crap. The characters were crap. The game play was crap. The graphics were crap except for the FMV sequences which were pretty good in the day it was made.

My top favorite RPG? I've always liked Final Fantasy 4 out of the FF series best but FF6 was up there too. The only 'obscure' RPG I think is fantastic and never gets the place it deserves on these lists is Dark Cloud 2.

[DVAcme]

@TronEOL Damn right, Dark Cloud 2 is an unsung gem. It's actually amazing how many Level-5 RPGs get overlooked when they're such an excellent game JRPG developer. Rogue Galaxy, Dark Cloud 2, Jeanne d'Arc, and even Ni No Kuni are amazing games that are massively overlooked.

[InsaneChronos]

Where is Valkyria Chronicles, Xenosaga and Chrono Cross?

[DVAcme]

-Valkyria Chronicles. One of the most heartfelt, beautiful RPGs ever made.
-Rogue Galaxy. SERIOUSLY underrated, with lots of charming characters, a rock-solid real-time battle system, loads of item crafting and secrets to find, Chrono trigger-style combination attacks and awesome voice-acting.

[Son_Lee]

Legend of Legaia: Never gets the recognition it deserves.

Legend of Dragoon: More popular, but still never credited enough.

Illusion of Gaia: If you can find it, play it!

Phantasy Star II: The game that got me into RPGs.

[Misaka_x_Touma]

Xenoblade Chronicles
Final Fantasy VIII
Tales of the Abyss PS2 or 3DS
Radiant Historia
Fire Emblem Awakening
Chrono Trigger DS
Golden Sun
Skies of Arcadia
Arc Rise Fantasia