210°

Is the Japanese RPG Dead?

GameXplain Says: "Yesterday we looked at how 2011 looks to be the "Year of the Western RPG." But what about its eastern counterpart? Typically, Japanese RPGs have been known as "traditional" style (though they derive from the American Dungeons & Dragons) compared to the "western" style RPG that has been the king as of late on this side of the Pacific.

If you were to walk the store shelves of any gaming retailer today, this question "Is the Japanese RPG dead?"might arise. Outside of the DS and PSP, only barely pronounceable games have landed in the US on consoles this year, and were met with dismal sales success. Of course, portables are huge in Japan, but is that mentality killing the genre for the rest of the world?"

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gamexplain.com
Dash Reindeer5124d ago

They've been dead to me for 20 years

Biggest5124d ago

JRPGs were always niche. There are more people with websites to talk trash about them then there used to be. I've hear the same reasons I heard in the early 90s (when I first played a JRPG). Companies like SquareEnix would do well to make games they want to make and spend less time trying to appeal to wider audiences. The PSP and DS have proven time and time again that smaller budget games for gamers work more often than big budget games for people with websites pretending to be gamers. The people that loved the older formulas still love them. The people that hated the older formulas still hate them, and any new formula the developers try to create. Ignore them, please.

somerandomdude5124d ago (Edited 5124d ago )

They didn't have to die. Square Enix made them less relevant this generation by making horrible decisions.

The demand for jrpg's still exists, the developers just suck at executing them nowadays.

Don't forget how hyped and excited we all were for ff13, then SE let us down by not including traditional jrpg elements.,

TheDivine5124d ago

No ffvs13, ff13-2, last story, xenoblade exc. We had some of the best jrpgs ever this gen with Lost Odyssey, Vesperia, Blue Dragon, resonance of fate and others. They're few and far between but theres still life left in them. It seems they are now mostly on sd systems like wii, psp, ds/3ds though pbly due to rising costs and less sales as wrpgs become more popular. I think wrpgs were mostly pc until xbox brough out elder scrolls and kotor. Then the 360 hit and oblivian and mass effect became the best games and overshadowed the jrpgs which funny enough MS was puping out and heavily invested in. The xbox made western games more available to people. Sad ms dropped mistwalker, they are the best jrpg developers and one of the last who make traditional ones wich kick azz.

dktxx25124d ago

"Typically, Japanese RPGs have been known as "traditional" style (though they derive from the American Dungeons & Dragons)"

I don't think Japanese RPg's take all that much from Dungeons and Dragons. It seems like western rpg's are the ones that derived from it. I'm no rpg historian though.

Eternalb5124d ago (Edited 5124d ago )

The original Final Fantasy was heavily inspired by D & D and most Japanese RPG's were inspired by Final Fantasy as well as Dragon Quest.

Form the 1up article "30 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Final Fantasy"
http://www.1up.com/features...

"Final Fantasy might as well have called itself "Dungeons & Dragons: We Filed Off The Serial Numbers Edition." Its class system and magic spells were practically drawn straight from the tabletop game. Certain monsters were even more blatant rips. The "Sorcerer" was simply a weaksauce version of D&D's Ilithid (aka Mind Flayer), and the Death Eye was even worse: In the game's original Japanese release, it looked so much like D&D's iconic Beholders that Square meekly redesigned it before bringing the game to the U.S."

evrfighter5124d ago

Wow you just made quite a bit of weaboos cry...lol

dktxx25124d ago (Edited 5124d ago )

Thank you Eternal. I can now say I learned something on N4G today, for once.

DragonKnight5124d ago

Demon and Dark Souls both say hello.

DragonKnight5124d ago

LMAO! I guess those 2 games aren't proof that JRPG's are still wanted and successful judging by the disagrees. It's ok, you can have your lame Mass Effect and Dragon Age 2 games, I'll be over here playing real RPG's.

dragonknight45124d ago

Looking forward to Dark Souls as well as Tales of Graces F and Tales of Xillia. All published by Bamco. The huge irony.

BTW, nice name.

DragonKnight5124d ago

Agreed. And thanks, I've had this name for eons. Lol.

somerandomdude5124d ago (Edited 5124d ago )

Those games play more like wrpg's. Top jrpg's this generation are SO4, Tales, and Eternal Sonata.

DragonKnight5124d ago

A Japanese Role Playing Game is literally a role playing game made by a japanese developer. So no, top JRPG's this gen are Demon's Souls (soon to be Dark Souls) Valkyria Chronicles, and the like.

Eternalb5124d ago

So if a bunch of non Japanese people go to Japan and make a western-style RPG, but release it first in Japan does that make it a JRPG? It's developed and released in Japan.

DragonKnight5124d ago

@Eternalb: *sighing facepalm walk shaking head* Really? That's really your comment? Are you sure you want that to really be your comment?

Eternalb5124d ago

@DragonKnight
LOL... I hope you could tell that my comment was highly sarcastic.

Listen just because a game "literally" is developed in Japan, does not mean it can not be "western" in design.

You can call it a JRPG and I will call it a JRPG that is a WPRG in disguise.

somerandomdude5124d ago

Well to say the least. I think traditional jrpg's are taking on more westernized roots trying to make games more like Mass Effect, thus losing their more traditional eastern based roots.

Demon souls is a damn good game, but it isn't traditional.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5124d ago
Tex1175124d ago

Of course you are correct, but the distinction most people draw between wRPG and jRPG's is some form of turn based battle system.

Demon's Souls is my favorite game of the last decade and in my top 5 of all time.

Dark Souls is my most anticipated game of the year, and that is saying alot this year.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5124d ago
Lavalamp5124d ago

"Can Japan find their creative juices again"
They never lost it to begin with, and the awesome list of titles in the article can attest to that. Sales isn't a determinant of creativity. I mean, how well do WRPGs sell in Japan compared to JRPG sales in the west? The day the JRPG dies is the day Japanese culture dies, so I'm positive both forms of the RPG will continue to coexist.

Eternalb5124d ago

But when are they going to do well here? JPRGs need to sell well here for us non-Japanese speaking people to get a chance to play them. And when was the last creative/innovative JRPG (besides TWEWY)?

Lavalamp5124d ago

The Valkyria Chronicles and Persona series have been pushing the envelope, Birth by Sleep was a very solid title, Knights in the Nightmare = swag on infinity, and Demon's Souls really made some great strides in online functionality. And love 'em or hate 'em, the latest Pokemans (much more fun to spell it that way) made use of the C-Gear feature in some really neat ways.

Eternalb5124d ago

I'll give it to this first Valkyria and while Persona is amazing...it came out in 2008. Birth by Sleep and Pokemon are just iterations of their predecessors. Demon's Souls I'd argue is actually more western in design.

Believe me I love JRPGs (I worked for a company who's released their fair share) and if you read the article its not about sending them to their grave.

Lavalamp5124d ago

I picked Valkyria and Persona cuz I was trying to think of games that came out after Twewy (even if it was only be a few months :D). You're absolutely right about BBS and Pokemans (still callin' it that) being iterations, but I was specifically calling attention to things like Pokemans' C-Gear. And yeah, when you look at Demon's Souls, the last thing you think of is JRPG, but dem Japanese devs be packin' dat Phantom shizzy in dat game.

I read the article, and I'm definitely with you on its main message, but I was just pickin' at one quote in regards to creativity.

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100°

Six Times When Games Turned Into A Horror Game

Ever play a game a game only to discover at some point it transforms into a horror game? No? Well Netto's Game Room shares six games that do just that!

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nettosgameroom.com
P_Bomb37d ago

Immediately thought of the El Dorado zombie dudes in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.

raWfodog37d ago (Edited 37d ago )

Not necessarily a ‘horror’ moment, but I remember feeling really tense and anxious when the Flood were first introduced in the original Halo. I never felt more on edge or nervous in that whole game as that moment. I think it was the whole buildup that something terrible was coming but you didn’t know exactly what.

Another non-horror game that had me feeling it was Subnautica. The deep dark depths, and knowing that sea monsters were lurking nearby, had me jumping at every sound.

NettosGameRoom36d ago

That scene where you first see them attack is pretty crazy!

Relientk7736d ago

I remember being scared of the Asylum level in the most recent Thief game from 2014.

140°

Final Fantasy XV Datamine Reveals Hidden Chapter 14 Scene That Was Cut

A new datamine of game files from Final Fantasy XV has revealed a cut scene from Chapter 14 that didn't make it into the final release.

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twistedvoxel.com
gold_drake172d ago

always liked 15, but the development was shch a shitshow. it could have been so much more.

but Tabata did a good job with what he had regardless

DivineHand125171d ago

Ff15 was a missed opportunity from square as they transitioned from turn based to real time.

One of the issues is that it was 30 fps. The combat mechanics required precision dodges to activate Noctis teleport ability and it was difficult to do at 30 fps. I am glad they rectified that in FF16. The story and flow also felt like it went through a chopshop similar to how some live service games end up when they are trying to meet a deadline. Those extra episodes they sold as dlc should have been in the maingame.

FF15 is one of the weaker entries in the series.

Z501171d ago

Dodges don't activate the teleport ability. Teleport was R1 + O. Dodge was just the O button. Explain the Black Hood (the item that automatically Dodges for you)

TheNamelessOne171d ago

Ah yes; FF XV.
The beginning of me coming to the realization the series was no longer for me.

Michiel1989171d ago

16 was a lot better, I think 15 was just a big mess with how development went and all. The music though, one of the best in the series, probably the only reason I finished the game.

Cacabunga171d ago

At least FF15 had RPG elements . 16 was just an action game from beginning to end.

Michiel1989171d ago

I rather have a good action game than a bad rpg with 2 button combat

Cacabunga170d ago (Edited 170d ago )

Then call it something else then FF. I got scammed with FF16. Nothing of what i expected it to be.
Even the action is bad in it, especially after the demo section where absolutely nothing happens until the very end.

FF15 isnt a great game but it has some variety at least.

CrimsonWing69171d ago

That initial trailer with the Leviathan fight was the game I wish we got. The actual retail release was watchdogged to all Hell and while there’s enjoyment to be had in the game, it’s such an incomplete product and so many elements feel so slapped together without any cohesion.

Like, don’t get me wrong, I loved fishing, cooking, and the first third of the game, but I much rather they made a story that didn’t feel barely there and the the last third of the game didn’t feel so rushed and unfinished.

Becuzisaid170d ago

Every time a party member left for a period of time screamed future paid dlc. It was horrible.

Imagine Dagger and Steiner making the party go to sleep in Lindblum in FF9 disc 1 and then taking off to Alexandria by foot themselves, but then never playing their side of the adventure in disc 2 when they smuggle her through the South Gate in pickles, take the cable car and fight the Waltz, head to Treno and start the quest to find Supersoft. They just eventually reunite with the main party in the future without explanation of what went on in their adventure.

Or Sephiroth's backstory in the famous Kalm flashback being added as a dlc pack. Same goes for Vincent, Cid, or Yuffie for that matter.

Oh and anything to do with Jenova, the Ancients, Aerith, her mom and Gast, shoved into a 2 hour CG movie or 5 hour anime ministries that's considered required viewing for anything in the main game to make sense or have characters actually be interesting.

I enjoyed FF15 at the time, and finished it, but it's bright spots are marred by a bad development cycle and a worse marketing scheme.

CrimsonWing69170d ago

What’s sad is when I watched a vid on the entire story (that wasn’t properly told in the actual game)!it was really solid and could’ve been one of the most epic stories in any FF. I think a lot of the compilation and cross-media stuff really f*cked it all up.

gurp171d ago

FFXV was underrated in my opinion
I have played all of the final fantasy games, and I loved this game
turn based to me takes too long, I like active battle
the extra dlc and chapters should have been included in the original release, but it is nice that they fixed the game later

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80°

The Xenoblade Chronicles series has seen roughly 500% growth on Switch vs 3DS and Wii U

In a new financial presentation, Nintendo highlights Xenoblade Chronicles as one of several series seeing "dramatic sales growth on Nintendo Switch," joining Kirby, Pikmin, and Metroid. Compared to 1.41 million copies on 3DS and Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles has collectively sold 7.17 million copies on Switch between Xenoblade Chronicles 2, 3, and Definitive Edition.

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gamesradar.com
jznrpg219d ago

I have bought every game no matter the system. Hopefully the Switch 2 is powerful enough to give this world the detail it deserves

thesoftware730218d ago

The Switch games looked very pleasing, loved the style.

Goodguy01219d ago

Oh god they did have xenoblade on the 3ds lol.

SimpleDad219d ago

When you have a healthy platform...

Vithar218d ago

Iv'e bought SYSTEMS for this series, love love love Xeno

Venoxn4g218d ago

It is nice to see that Pikmin and Metroid are doing well too

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