Best starting place for a JRPG noob?

Kingdom Hearts 1 + 2 >>> Any "Tales" game listed above >>> Final Fantasy 7 >>> Final Fantasy 9

Avoid the rest until you grasp the ones mentioned above. Especially Xenoblade, Persona, and Final Fantasy 12.

Out of the games you've listed I'd recommend starting with Dragon Quest 8, it's easy to get into and is a great game. If you want more action-based gameplay and not turn-based then I'd recommend Tales of Symphonia, again it's easy to get into and is a good game.

I'd play the games from oldest to newest, same way most of us did. You get the feeling of how the genre evolved.. or devolved in some cases. Final Fantasy VII is a good start. Add Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross to your collection. Two amazing JRPGs. Make sure you play trigger first if you do though.

Out of the games listed, I'd recommend either Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 9: battle systems are not complicated, both have an enjoyable atmosphere, great story, and some of the best music in the Final Fantasy series. Plus, it'll introduce JRPG mechanics that make up the majority of JRPGs.

Though, I'd stay away from the Shin Megami Tensei games until you absolutely feel comfortable with how JRPGs work, because games such as Digital Devil Saga are not very forgiving and require the player to exploit weaknesses or other mechanics of the system.

I'd say the Tales Of Series is a good place to start. Battles are never really difficult to the point of frustration and there is nothing very confusing to get your head round. I've got a few of my friends into JRPG's with this series and they are hooked.

Whatever you do don't start with Earthbound...all jrpgs after that will become a dissapointment. Including Chrono Trigger.

If you have some JRPG that you bought. Play them. Since you have played Final Fantasy X continue with the Sequel FF X2.

Final Fantasy VII. One of the best RPG games out there. It's old but it's still fu*king awesome. I spent will over 99 hours on that game.

I'm in the mood for a good RPG. I bought several a few years back, but never got round to playing them. I'm not very experienced in this genre at all. The only turn based JRPG I've ever spent significant time with was FFX when it was first released. The RPG's I have are... Tales of Symphonia Tales of the Abyss Digital Devil Saga 1 + 2 Persona 3 FES Persona 4 Baten Kaitos Origins Baten Kaitos Rogue Galaxy 3D Dot Game Heroes Final Fantasy 12 Lost Odyssey Dragon Quest 8 FFVII Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Final Fantasy 9 Xenoblade Chronicles Kingdom Hearts 1 + 2 Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Where do you think would be the best place to start? Something that won't leave me dazed and confused, lol. Any of these? Or can you think of something better that isn't listed?x-2tha-z

FF7 wouldn't be a bad start, but it can be a very long game and I'm not sure how a new rpg person would like that.

Of those listed, I'd say Xenoblade. Very user friendly and easy to get into.

Of those not listed, Pokemon. Very basic but fun and addicting JRPG.

Final Fantasy IX, not only because I think it would be a great start, but also because it was my first traditional JRPG, so I know it's a good start. :P

Out of the ones you have, Crisis Core, Xenoblade and the Tales games are probably the most immediately accessible, so I'd start with those.

I say Final Fantasy IV. That was a great one. I hated RPG's my whole life, I couldn't understand them. FF4 is the one that got me into it. I suggest something on super nintendo.

Earthbound.

final fantasy vii

The entry point for a large portion of JRPG fans was Final Fantasy VII, so that should be a good starting point.

Dragon Quest VIII. All the oldschool awesome, none of the oldschool tedium and headache.

Or Chrono Trigger, which is in a league of its own. I played that before I knew what JRPGs were and loved it.

If you want something slightly more unconventional...Earthbound, Soul Blazer, Terranigma, Valkyrie Profile (personally I hate it but a lot of people disagree with me), The World Ends With You, Super Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga, Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 Portable,

If you want generic pablum, try Final Fantasy IV or VI (don't bother with any others except maybe 1 if you're really bored).

If you want to just say F*CK IT and play some awesome stuff, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, Phantasy Star II and IV, Xenosaga series, Super Robot Wars series...yep.

And Mother 3. Except that requires some...finagling.

It's not on your list, but I can't recommend Phantasy Star IV highly enough. Nismology