StickSkills said, "What’s left is a mechanically sound game with a narrative that continually stands in the way. It’s difficult to not get lost in using gathered materials to create items and exploring the substantial map in hopes to build a better kingdom, but lackluster dialogue continually finds a way to impede your enjoyment. If you haven’t had a chance to dive into this franchise and are in need of a well-made JRPG on modern consoles, Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland should satisfy all of your strange, turn-based needs. It’s a rewarding experience, but too similar to Gust’s past outings to suggest to fans."
Rice Digital takes a closer look at the amazing Atelier series character artist in action
The art for this series is gorgeous. So jealous of anyone who can create something like this.
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Digitally Downloaded writes: "And I must say that this generation of console hardware has been really good to the RPG genre – both in terms of western RPGs and their eastern equivalent (or the JRPG). I tell you what, this list has been a particularly good one – I could do a top 10 list on just PlayStation 3 games."
And Fallout 3, thats an awesome game, and Deus Ex 3, or is this a list of none shooter rpgs?
The first 4 games, Witcher 2, Dragon age origins, Skyrim, and Kingdom of amular, seem to be properly ranked.... It's always good to see Witcher 2 getting it's respect mostly.
But.... A lot of the other games seem to be very questionable except for demons souls. Does anyone really have Two Worlds ranked above Fallout 3 for example? And yes Dues Ex human evolution is a very good game; one of the best in the series imo.
I love jrpg's and actually prefer them to wrpgs. But, there is just no denying that wrpg's have done so much better this generation. I just can't justify ranking some of the jrpg's on a wii or handheld device over a big budget game like a Mass Effect. Honestly I feel a lot of these japanese developers are stuck in the ps2 era while wrpg's are jumping ahead (this doesn't mean the games are bad, just a bit behind).
@KingofGambling: and that's wrong. There are no roleplaying aspects to it at all.
Look at how the game is presented: you train and level up units, not characters. You only interact with the game when it comes to combat, by issue commands to individual units. You are not playing the role of any of the characters in the game... you assume the powers of an omnipresent, external force to dictate their actions.
That's a strategy game. Where's the role-playing element?
Look at how the narrative is presented. You open up a book with photographs, maps, and newspaper articles. You access cutscenes by clicking photographs, missions by examining maps. This is a very intentional way to EXTERNALIZE the player from the story. You are not -involved- in the war personally, you are learning about it through the book. Roleplaying games make the player participate in the ongoing story, strategy games can only let the player observe a story.
Once again, Valkyria very clearly sits on the side of "strategy."
The game has zero elements of the roleplaying genre. So why do so many people insist on labeling it as a "tactical roleplaying game," or insist on fastening that RPG moniker to it some other way?
Well, it's simple.
When Valkyria Chronicles was first announced, SEGA was not very clear about what kind of game it was. For a long time, all we had were a few screenshots. And a few videos. Even the reps from SEGA at shows didn't seem to know what kind of game they were showing off, and often used vague, unclear language.
The general assumption at first was that it was a JRPG with a new turn-based combat mechanic. That proved wrong.
And I think a chief reason why so many people still can't shake that "JRPG" concept from the game is because of the art style. Far too many people see that distinctive, anime art style and think, "JRPG!"
Replace all of the artwork and assets of Valkyria Chronicles with those of Company of Heroes, and -no one- would be claiming it was an RPG in any sense of the word, because once you remove the anime style, there's nothing there that's even remotely remiscent of the RPG genre.
VC's squad classes and members have leveled skills/abilities, weapons, and stats. Combat is turn-based, hits and damage are determined by statistics. There is a loot component. It is a plot-driven adventure. That's enough for just about any game to be loosely considered an RPG.
If that wasn't enough, the art and subject matter is close enough to many other Japanese tactical RPGs to make the label fit.
These semantic arguments are a pointless waste of keystrokes. It's an RPG because we say it is.
Yeah, I love values chronicles. I have to add dragons dogma. It may be all the little things or attention to detail but I am having so much fun. And it isn't prisoner of the moment. I stopped my 2nd playthrough of witcher 2 to try it out and haunt looked back. It just reminds me slot of experiences I have had with older rpgs and the pawn system is brilliant. & I haunt finished kingdoms yet either b/c of me3 but I am so lucky cuz after DD it's back to kingdoms.
...says, "Hi!"
Mass Effect(s) seems to be missing, too.
Dragon's Dogma is quickly becoming one of my favorite RPG's in a long time.
The Witcher 2 the most mature rpg this gen. Made by PC centric devs coincidence? Can't wait for cyberpunk!
Yes, finally some NIER love. What a fantastic game. I love it, it's one of the best games this generation.
Pandora's Tower is my favourite game out of the three Operation Rainfall games. Xenoblade is second, and The Last Story is, well, last. I hated most of the characters in the Last Story. Zael has to be the most boring main character in existence. The story didn't do anything for me either.
Dark Souls and Demon's Souls are probably my favourite RPGs this generation, they're perfect.
I have yet to play Kingdom of Amalur simply because the ye olde setting has been used so much lately that I'm simply sick and tired of the setting. I really would love a futuristic or steampunk setting in newer RPGs.
Oh, and let's not forget about Valkyria Chronicles. What a brilliant game. I love the characters, setting, gameplay and music. It is simply one of the greats of the generation.
