save the world in skyrim=ok, but save the world in a jrpg=cliche (so mark down)?

Is this hypocrisy?

I feel that there is inconsistency and hypocrisy when western reviewers, review jrpg's.

They complain jrpgs are all the same and mark them down for having a "save the world" story, or not going out of their basic formula.

But they dont complain the same for games like COD, which is just the same **** again and again with a generic story about an invasion all the time.

Or games like Mass effect or Skyrim which is about saving the universe or world (from dragons in skyrim).

so my question is, do western reviewers show hypocrisy and inconsistency when reviewing jrpgs?

i would even suggest a hint of racism or discrimination, or possibly a superiority complex

Is this hypocrisy?

I feel that there is inconsistency and hypocrisy when western reviewers, review jrpg's.

They complain jrpgs are all the same and mark them down for having a "save the world" story, or not going out of their basic formula.

But they dont complain the same for games like COD, which is just the same **** again and again with a generic story about an invasion all the time.

Or games like Mass effect or Skyrim which is about saving the universe or world (from dragons in skyrim).

so my question is, do western reviewers show hypocrisy and inconsistency when reviewing jrpgs?

i would even suggest a hint of racism or discrimination, or possibly a superiority complex

cloud3601

Hi. I agree with the Western reviewers, because every single japanese rpg is about saving the world. Maybe you're right about COD and Mass Effect but those are exceptions. There are a bunch of other games like F.E.A.R.3, Payday: The Heist, Portal, Mafia II, Grand Theft Auto and others that don't have saving the world as main objective.

That doesn't worries me, I've played a bunch of Final Fantasy games, all with the same 'Save the world objective' but so what? The games were fun and I enjoyed them. Who cares about america's opinion about jrpg's? You like them, play them and nothing else matters.

I agree there seem to be some type of favoring to the western games. There seem to be those that call character that are broods a lot in a JRPG as poorly made emo character, and they call that character broods a lot in a WRPG as a good deep character.

JRPGs had there place, now it seems MMO is more sought.

I agree there seem to be some type of favoring to the western games. There seem to be those that call character that are broods a lot in a JRPG as poorly made emo character, and they call that character broods a lot in a WRPG as a good deep character.

wiouds

[QUOTE="wiouds"]

I agree there seem to be some type of favoring to the western games. There seem to be those that call character that are broods a lot in a JRPG as poorly made emo character, and they call that character broods a lot in a WRPG as a good deep character.

[QUOTE="cloud3601"]

[QUOTE="wiouds"]

I agree there seem to be some type of favoring to the western games. There seem to be those that call character that are broods a lot in a JRPG as poorly made emo character, and they call that character broods a lot in a WRPG as a good deep character.

Brean24

Most Japanese RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most western RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most video games are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Is it right for a reveiwer to attack one type of game for using that as their basic and not attack a different game for the same thing?

I wasn't aware Skyrim had a "save the world" premise.

[QUOTE="Brean24"][QUOTE="cloud3601"]Yeh, i always thought all western game characters, especially those in fps. are just simple and generic. not even memorable

Most Japanese RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most western RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most video games are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Is it right for a reveiwer to attack one type of game for using that as their basic and not attack a different game for the same thing?

Comman place. Now that's the truth. It's a comman thing!

If the road getting there is full of adventure and excitement, I don't mind saving the world one bit.

[QUOTE="Brean24"][QUOTE="cloud3601"]Yeh, i always thought all western game characters, especially those in fps. are just simple and generic. not even memorable

wiouds

Most Japanese RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most western RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most video games are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Is it right for a reveiwer to attack one type of game for using that as their basic and not attack a different game for the same thing?

[QUOTE="wiouds"]

[QUOTE="Brean24"] Thats completely subjective and has no basis in fact. Regardless of your personal taste, JRPGS do have a very common theme and even art style which isn't a bad thing, but it does differ from western games. Call of Duty isnt known for its singleplayer anymore, and apart from Mass Effect and a few other bioware and otherwise developed games, most western RPGS and games in general are not about saving the world.Brean24

Most Japanese RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most western RPGs are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Most video games are about something evil is happening and a person/group become involved in stopping it.

Is it right for a reveiwer to attack one type of game for using that as their basic and not attack a different game for the same thing?

I just change the generalization. Saving the world is very generalized.

Okay, almost all of the WRPG that I have played did not involved saving the world just a region from evil. Out of all the WRPG I have played I can say there is only a few that does not deal with that.

Is it acceptable for a reviewer reduce the score because it a JRPG about saving the world and not reduce a WRPG score when it is about saving the world? I say no. That is like taking points off from GTA games for being about revenge.

yeh i agree, i dont mind saving the world a thousand times, if between the time you save world and explore world has excellent story and is enjoyable

I think Enzo needs a new golden eye.

(ie. Crysis, Rage, Arkham [oh no the city is going to be destroyed and become a haven for criminals again!] uhhh...Assassins Creed, Gears of War, Resistance, Mass Effect)

I think it's gotten to the point where picking on jrpg cliches, has become cliche.

I think it's gotten to the point where picking on jrpg cliches, has become cliche.Archendrus

I love jrpg's and western rpg's.

The only thing I that really gets me in jrpg's are the characters, and the characters dialogue. Take the latest star ocean for example.

I love jrpg's and western rpg's.

The only thing I that really gets me in jrpg's are the characters, and the characters dialogue. Take the latest star ocean for example.

ristactionjakso

I have yet to beat The Last Hope, but good grief, the voice acting is just horrible. "I'm just warming up, bring it on!" That kind of voice acting makes you want to cringe! Some characters can be really annoying and you wish they wouldn't exist whatosever, it's those type of characters that need to be gone, like the case of Final Fantasy XIII, who pretty much remain forgettable and downright boring to be a part of for that journey. On the other hand, RPGs like Lost Odyssey have a great cast and at times, a hero worth wanting to know more, like Kaim, whose memories are worth reading, for they are completely heartbreaking or joyful, depending on the tale. Most of it is pretty sad and I almost cried at a few memories, because I felt bad for Kaim and what he went through in his lifetime as an Immortal. I need to go back and continue my adventure, for I've yet to beat it, but you get my point, right? Some characters you wish were never made and others you can't live without!

Thank you gamerguy, finally an objective point of view.

I love jrpg's and western rpg's.

The only thing I that really gets me in jrpg's are the characters, and the characters dialogue. Take the latest star ocean for example.

ristactionjakso

It is hard to keep the dialogues working when they translate it.

That Star Ocean cast was strange group and a little over the top.

Out of all the RPG I have played I can say that the cast that I dislike the most is the Mass Effect 2 cast.

Some characters can be really annoying and you wish they wouldn't exist whatosever, it's those type of characters that need to be gone, like the case of Final Fantasy XIII, who pretty much remain forgettable and downright boring to be a part of for that journey. On the other hand, RPGs like Lost Odyssey have a great cast and at times,Metamania

It is funny I like the cast from Final Fantasy XIII more than the cast from Lost Odyssey.

wiouds

It'd be nice if it actually worked like that.

But no one has actually accomplished a type of full morality system of double entandre collapsible ethics with separate goals and endings.

Other then maybe EVE Online; but that's neither here or there.

It'd be nice if it actually worked like that.

But no one has actually accomplished a type of full morality system of double entandre collapsible ethics with separate goals and endings.

Other then maybe EVE Online; but that's neither here or there.

Justin_G

[QUOTE="wiouds"]smerlus

In most JRPG the games does not start out about saving the world unlike Oblivion. In most JRPG they start out with on one task and saving the world comes out of that later like Mass Effect 1. It is not uncommon for saving the world to be just a back drop to the real story.

Most of the time JRPG have their character grow while they get drag into saving the world a more naturally way. While WRPG it does not matter since the moral and dialog picks does not affect the game but for superfluous things. The moral and dialog picks character are the worst cliché in all over video game but I do not use that as a reason to reduce the score of game with those character in there.

Even If the game does or does not involve saving the world, it should not matter that much. It is not a valid port about complaining about a game.

[QUOTE="ristactionjakso"]

I love jrpg's and western rpg's.

The only thing I that really gets me in jrpg's are the characters, and the characters dialogue. Take the latest star ocean for example.

Metamania

I have yet to beat The Last Hope, but good grief, the voice acting is just horrible. "I'm just warming up, bring it on!" That kind of voice acting makes you want to cringe! Some characters can be really annoying and you wish they wouldn't exist whatosever, it's those type of characters that need to be gone, like the case of Final Fantasy XIII, who pretty much remain forgettable and downright boring to be a part of for that journey. On the other hand, RPGs like Lost Odyssey have a great cast and at times, a hero worth wanting to know more, like Kaim, whose memories are worth reading, for they are completely heartbreaking or joyful, depending on the tale. Most of it is pretty sad and I almost cried at a few memories, because I felt bad for Kaim and what he went through in his lifetime as an Immortal. I need to go back and continue my adventure, for I've yet to beat it, but you get my point, right? Some characters you wish were never made and others you can't live without!

Oh my lord. This x1000. I thought I was the only one who absolutely adored Kaim as a protaganist. The dream sequences are truly special.

[QUOTE="Justin_G"]

It'd be nice if it actually worked like that.

But no one has actually accomplished a type of full morality system of double entandre collapsible ethics with separate goals and endings.

Other then maybe EVE Online; but that's neither here or there.

smerlus

There does seem to be a decent amount hypocrisy that takes place. It's actually been going for a number of years now. I would say it got extremely out of hand once the current generation started and the FPS genre took off. I'm not blaming FPS for it just that, that is when it really took off it seems. It takes place even among western games of the same genre. Reviewers will quite easily and frequently give a huge hyped games a pass on several elements it has. However when a less known game comes along and has similar if not the same exact issues they will criticize it and knock off points. Or do it to a game that comes out before the big release and then ignore it in the big release.

There are no universal standards in the gaming media. They aren't "journalist" even though they might claim to be. What they write and how they conduct themselves show that to me. In a big way they show just how immature and young gaming industry is.

In the end I feel as long as gaming media sites remain dependent and indebted to the very companies and their products they are suppose to be covering (for content, access, etc) and reviewing this will only get worse and worse. It's why reviews from these locations mean nothing to me. There is a massive conflict of interest that exist.

LOL!^ Why are they horrible?

Fantasy nerds are the most forgiving section of nerds when it comes to tropes.

They've been living off the same stuff since Tolkien, why would they start to care now?

While WRPG it does not matter since the moral and dialog picks does not affect the game but for superfluous things. The moral and dialog picks character are the worst cliché in all over video game but I do not use that as a reason to reduce the score of game with those character in there.

wiouds

That there's a huge generalisation. Some games do them extremely well - check out anything by CD Projekt Red or Obsidian - and those tend to get marked up because of that. Other devs can't quite get them right, like Bioware or Bethesda, and you'd have a valid complaint against them.

[QUOTE="Metamania"]

On the other hand, RPGs like Lost Odyssey have a great cast and at times, a hero worth wanting to know more, like Kaim, whose memories are worth reading, for they are completely heartbreaking or joyful, depending on the tale. Most of it is pretty sad and I almost cried at a few memories, because I felt bad for Kaim and what he went through in his lifetime as an Immortal.

MLBknights58

Oh my lord. This x1000. I thought I was the only one who absolutely adored Kaim as a protaganist. The dream sequences are truly special.

I liked the game's premise, but that's one JRPG that quickly fell back onto the whole 'saving the world' cliche, even though the story was at its strongest when it was about the characters themselves.

I wish they'd taken more inspiration from the WRPG Planescape Torment, which also featured an immortal protagonist searching for his lost memories (and yet didn't have a save-the-world plot, or even any particular 'great evil' to conquer).

It's all a matter of degrees. You can tell a somewhat original story that ends with saving the world, or a completely cliched story that ends the same way. Doesn't mean they're both deserving of equal criticism.

I completely agree with you about shooters though. The complete lack of story in many of them should be a cause for much criticizm, but reviewers just let it slide. Which is one of the many reasons I don't pay any attention to reviews any more.

[QUOTE="wiouds"]

While WRPG it does not matter since the moral and dialog picks does not affect the game but for superfluous things. The moral and dialog picks character are the worst cliché in all over video game but I do not use that as a reason to reduce the score of game with those character in there.

Planeforger

That there's a huge generalisation. Some games do them extremely well - check out anything by CD Projekt Red or Obsidian - and those tend to get marked up because of that. Other devs can't quite get them right, like Bioware or Bethesda, and you'd have a valid complaint against them.

It is a generalisation but no more or less than the generalisation about saving a given area being common in JRPG. Most of the time saving a given area is just an excuse for the gameplay to have more powerful enemies and not the main reason for the story. I have played a number of WRPG that falls under save a given area.

While WRPG it does not matter since the moral and dialog picks does not affect the game but for superfluous things. The moral and dialog picks character are the worst cliche in all over video game but I do not use that as a reason to reduce the score of game with those character in there.wiouds

[QUOTE="wiouds"]While WRPG it does not matter since the moral and dialog picks does not affect the game but for superfluous things. The moral and dialog picks character are the worst cliche in all over video game but I do not use that as a reason to reduce the score of game with those character in there.El_Zo1212o

So if I can find on JRPG that does not have a moment about saving a given area then does it make so they are not allowed to reduce points from JRPG?

Even if I can not then should it really be that big of a problem to be even worry about?

Deam Soul is a action RPG, and not a WRPG or a JRPG.

lost odyysey actually sold well in the west.

as for ff, that gives a badi mpression of jrpg's since it just sucksfrom story to gameplay (except cutscenes)

i thini revirs pick on jrpgs unfairly since they ar prejudiced

Almost every single game story involves saving the world. More and more, that has become less true, but, for now, the all time "greats" are about saving the world or a person. Most of them.

lost odyysey actually sold well in the west.

as for ff, that gives a badi mpression of jrpg's since it just sucksfrom story to gameplay (except cutscenes)

i thini revirs pick on jrpgs unfairly since they ar prejudiced

cloud3601

I like FF 13. I foud the gameplay fun and the story was good.

I do agree the reveiwers are unfair to JRPG and they use for silly reason to reduce their score.

In most JRPG the games does not start out about saving the world unlike Oblivion. In most JRPG they start out with on one task and saving the world comes out of that later like Mass Effect 1. It is not uncommon for saving the world to be just a back drop to the real story.

Most of the time JRPG have their character grow while they get drag into saving the world a more naturally way. While WRPG it does not matter since the moral and dialog picks does not affect the game but for superfluous things. The moral and dialog picks character are the worst cliché in all over video game but I do not use that as a reason to reduce the score of game with those character in there.

Even If the game does or does not involve saving the world, it should not matter that much. It is not a valid port about complaining about a game.

It'd be nice if it actually worked like that.

But no one has actually accomplished a type of full morality system of double entandre collapsible ethics with separate goals and endings.

Other then maybe EVE Online; but that's neither here or there.