Can Final Fantasy save the JRPG?

Can the Japanese role-player survive in the new generation and does its only hope lies with Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XV.

[EXVirtual]

'Can Final Fantasy save the JRPG'
The JRPG Genre does not lie in the hands of Final Fantasy. FF is one IP. A whole genre should not be judged by one series.
The Tales series, Ni No Kuni, Xenoblade, The Last Story, Pandora's Tower... they're all great JRPGs.
I love FF with a very strong passion, but there are loads of JRPGs out there that make the genre so awesome for me.

[HelpfulGamer]

Depends on the Easiness of PS4 Game Development.

PS3 complexity and its install base growth is the main reason dampening JRPG development. Thankfully the Wii retains some of the talents. Hopefully the PS4 could reflourish JRPG...Sony get tools, software, plugins ready, get the PhyreEngine 4.0 game engine done for JRPG sake!

[Godmars290]

But until this gen and FF13, maybe last and FF12, it could be said that the series set the benchmark of what a JRPG should be. FF7 and 10's where clearly copied for other series, just as FF1 "borrowed" from dragon Warrior and Ultima.

Doesn't look like anyone will be copying from the series now however. From things like Project Phoenix at least, the genera will be stepping back to PS1/PS2 era presentation.

[Feralkitsune]

I feel the best JRPGs in the last decade or so have been the Persona games.

[DarkLordMalik]

JRPG is pretty much alive and well. The question is: "Will Final Fantasy XV rejuvenate the series?"

Answer: TOTALLY! Nomura and Tabata can never let us down.

[Snookies12]

Agreed, with Nomura in charge I already know this will be spectacular.

[MuhammadJA]

if it's what they promised (open world, ...), then yes.

[Knightofelemia]

Maybe if developers released more JRPGS Final Fantasy as a title can't save it alone. I found watching threw the PS3 generation JRPGS weren't pumped out as much as they were on the PS2 and PS1. The DS received more JRPGS than the PS3. Only way to save JRPGS is to localize more titles and have developers release some of the old franchises like Wild Arms, Breath of Fire, Grandia, Soukoiden. Are just some great franchises that need new life and brought to the PS4 not as HD remakes but as new titles built from the ground up. But as it sits kinda hard to do a JRPG when everything is flooded by FPS.

[Hicken]

That implies they need saving in the first place, and I'm of the opinion that they do not. It may not be the PS2 era, but the games coming out are still quality.

[Knightofelemia]

Jrpgs are coming out and some of them are great but PS2 had great titles coming g out every month. New jrpg franchises are great and the older franchises are great. But new jrpgs are not coming out as much as they use to.

[Hicken]

Games not coming out as frequently doesn't mean the genre is in need of saving.

And do the research: games take longer to make now, period. More money, as well. That's why so many JRPGs, in particular, were developed for handhelds, rather than this generation's consoles. With that said, there are as many or more JRPGs making their way out of Japan than ever before, and the quality is on the same level as in previous generations... they just happen to be on handhelds instead of home consoles.

If your sole determining factor for whether or not the genre is dying is based on release frequently specifically for consoles, then sure, they're dying. But most people would be speaking of quality and innovation, rather than volume of product.

[Jubez187]

This article had to be written by someone who doesn't play JRPGs. FFX came out in 2001...that would mean that realistically, FF hasn't been relevant in TWELVE YEARS. I can also assure you that I've played MANY great JRPG's in the past twelve years rofl. And FFXV doesn't even look like a Final Fantasy or a JRPG..

[dorron]

...but who can save the Final Fantasy series?