what is with jrpg hate?

topic wondering since alot of people this generation seem to hate them for no real reason or explaintion.but the reasonby those who say a reasonsome say it cliche but when i bring up how other genre or game that more cliche the tend to ignor or dismiss what i say or pull the comformist card out by saying that other reviewer also say it to. so here im asking why would some of you hate jrpg but give me a real reason why not some same old bs that i countine to hear that also tend to be in othermainstreamgenres.

"Hate" would be a strong word, imo.

I don't hate JRPGs, as I've played FF VIII, FF X, and FF X-2.

However, I don't run them now, for these reasons:

1. They are linear (no such thing as a "new game", simply put it's just a restart).

2. My PC has better gaming capabilities.

3. WRPGs are more enjoyable, due to open-world environment, no linearity, and decision-based choices affect the outcome.

4. You can install mods from player communities into some WRPGs.

I don't hate them, Lost odyssey was great and so were Eternal Sonata and ToV. I will say however this generation they have fallen behind wrpg's, Bioware and Bethesda alone have put most jrpg's to shame as they just dont seem to have grown very well.

Possibly because the hay day for JRPGs has gone. For me, that was SNES-PS1. And perhaps PS2 (but not really). And a lot of younger gamers just weren't brought up playing JRPGs.

From what I've seen, the hate mostly comes from PC and WRPG fans.

I personally just never liked turn based combat and random encounters. The only game to ever do that right was pokemon and even then the random encounters deffinetly detracted from the fun.

It's not my style, but I don't hate it.

I liked a lot of them when I was little, but it's worn off now. Yes they are chliche'd, (but what isn't these days) however the genre isn't very flexible; a lot of random encounters and too much focus on "the power of friendship" dont get any less tedious. But when an original JRPG gets released they can be very worthwhile, e.g. The World Ends With You and Phoenix Wright. Interestingly, there are always messed up hairdoes; that's the rule, not the exception.

The Final Fantasy series and to an extent, the Tales series have a very fun battle system.

In America, or maybe the whole Western world, the term RPG is synonymous with the table top games that people play like Dungeons and Dragons. This deals with actually acting out a role and 'fashioning' their own story, or something like that.

The "JRPG" games are about raising stats; levels are important. They're just like any other game like Zelda, or Devil May Cry. You don't 'choose' your path or whatever, you're experiencing someone else's story.

I don't know why linearity all of a sudden became a problem, but I for one loved Eternal Sonata. And I enjoyed Final Fantasy 10. You had 9 previous FF games where you can travel the world, so going on a set linear path is welcome for me.

However, my problem stems with the fact that... the stories aren't original. The games reflect Japan's culture, which I am not a fan of. If a game utilizes stat gains, is not a shooter, is not obsessed with being open world, and has great voice acting to boot, then I'm game. This combines aspects from WRPG's and JRPG's. Oh and no level scaling :x

Similar to the term "video games", maybe these labels need a change? I don't know.

I liked a lot of them when I was little, but it's worn off now. Yes they are chliche'd, (but what isn't these days) however the genre isn't very flexible; a lot of random encounters and too much focus on "the power of friendship" dont get any less tedious. But when an original JRPG gets released they can be very worthwhile, e.g. The World Ends With You and Phoenix Wright. Interestingly, there are always messed up hairdoes; that's the rule, not the exception.

pengo93

Anyway, it seems like hating anything Japanese is a trendy internet thing these days. It's incredibly annoying. You know the deal, if you like anything from Japan, you're a weeaboo. I think a lot of the hate probably stems from this. But let's be honest here, the style of JRPGs isn't for everyone. A lot of people just dislike the conventions and tropes commonly found in JRPGs. Just like I dislike the popular "Grimdark murder-everything-that-moves" style that a great many eat up like candy. To me, if you don't like the type of game, whatever, it's no big deal. It's senselessly disliking it just because it's Japanese that I find infuriating.

I grew up during the golden days of JRPGs. Final Fantasy series, Breath of Fire, Chrono series, Xenosaga and the Persona games are all favorites of mine. However you can only recycle the same game so much. They no longer have the appeal they once did. The strength of the JRPG genre relied mostly on the story, but how many times can you play as the hero with amnesia or the hero who's home town was destroyed by some new powerful army? It gets stale after the 1000th time. More recently with JRPGs Devs have stopped relying on a good story and put more emphasis on cinematics. I feel as though I play a game for 60 hours and at least 20 of those are spent watching some CG movie. I want to play the game, not watch the game.

Then there is the recycled game play. Sure ever series approached the battle system a little different, but it was still pretty much the same. Input your moves, execute them and then wait for the enemy to take their turn. I'm not saying other genres don't recycle their controls, it's just not as satisfying with JRPGs. I don't feel like I am part of the battle. There are a few JRPGs out there that try to give you an ARPG type feel, but it's just turned base in disguise. Another thing is that JRPGs used to be so much more open, now they've become very linear. I think that put the nail in the coffin for me.

I'm not saying other genres don't have the same issues. I think the issue really isn't the JRPG genre, but the Devs who won't try something new. Now there are FPS with WRPG elements, that freshened up the FPS genre for me. Until they started doing that I wouldn't touch a FPS with a 10 foot pole. If it wasn't for the open world elements of WRPGs I wouldn't touch those either, but I'm a sucker for exploration. RTS are fun especially with online play. To me RTS games are like a game of Chess and who doesn't enjoy a good game of Chess with a challenging opponent? I guess what I'm trying to say is that JRPG is a very old genre. An old genre that hasn't changed much since the days of SNES. Sure the graphics have gotten better, but that's all. I don't hate JRPGs . I find it sad that I don't enjoy a genre I grew up on and that's the issue. I grew up and JRPGs didn't.

[QUOTE="pengo93"]

I liked a lot of them when I was little, but it's worn off now. Yes they are chliche'd, (but what isn't these days) however the genre isn't very flexible; a lot of random encounters and too much focus on "the power of friendship" dont get any less tedious. But when an original JRPG gets released they can be very worthwhile, e.g. The World Ends With You and Phoenix Wright. Interestingly, there are always messed up hairdoes; that's the rule, not the exception.

drochnathair

Anyway, it seems like hating anything Japanese is a trendy internet thing these days. It's incredibly annoying. You know the deal, if you like anything from Japan, you're a weeaboo. I think a lot of the hate probably stems from this. But let's be honest here, the style of JRPGs isn't for everyone. A lot of people just dislike the conventions and tropes commonly found in JRPGs. Just like I dislike the popular "Grimdark murder-everything-that-moves" style that a great many eat up like candy. To me, if you don't like the type of game, whatever, it's no big deal. It's senselessly disliking it just because it's Japanese that I find infuriating.

I would say part adventure and part JRPG, but mostly original fun.

To your other statement, I haven't seen a lot of Japan-haters on the net. To the contrary, the amount of people who post haikus and anime sigs on their blogs are on the rise. Also katanas rock.

I hate JRPG games

I used to really enjoy them, grew increasingly weary of the combat systems in them though. Then with FFX I lost all interest entirely in that series. Theres too many characters that feel the need to explain long winded reasons for what they think, why they feel x and y. I haven't played FF13, I watched that long trailer for it though, and that alone was saying they have those long explanations. Don't get me wrong though, I love loads of dialogue and character developement, JRPGs though in my opinion try to teach younger people right and wrong, though perhaps thats just how I see it. Either way, it puts me off playing them.

I prefer western ones nowadays, as I much rather free-roam games than linear paths and random monster fights (oh how I hate them).

Turn-based RPGs in general aren't really my thing. I just don't like the idea of presetting my attacks and all that stuff.TAMKFan

it's a fashion or trend. it's 'cool' to hate on anything japanese at the moment. i think it's nonsense and pretty meaningless.

For me the jrpgs I have played this gen I could sum up in one word: Stale. I am not saying their bad I think its just i was expecting more.

Had to look up jrpg. To me, an rpg is an rpg, doesn't matter where it comes from. Searching for a definition of jrpg, all i could find was simply an rpg from japan. Don't they have various types or are they all turn-based?

Turn-based or real-time, i can go for either. I like games like Dragon Quest & FF (although i could never get into FF games, the combat is just fine). Although my gaming history suggests that i prefer rpg's like Grandia, Star Ocean, Dragon Age, KotOR, etc. Grandia is sort of both, i guess, since they've got charge times. Random battles don't always bother me, as many of these games have items or equipment that can reduce or eliminate them.

I love JRPG's and WRPG's. It's just a matter of taste I suppose; many people do prefer the open-world-ness of WRPG's. I don't mind turn-based at all ^_^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

TheDrunkenLord

I once witnessed a person defend the scene.

They don't evolve anymore. Since FF7 we're getting the same thing over and over again.

[QUOTE="TheDrunkenLord"]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

Nifty_Shark

I once witnessed a person defend the scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

TheDrunkenLord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

TheDrunkenLord

I don't hate JRPG and personally enjoyed Final Fantasy but then, I will have to add that I do prefer WRPG mainly because its not as linear and the story is more believable :P

[QUOTE="Nifty_Shark"]

[QUOTE="TheDrunkenLord"]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

TheDrunkenLord

I once witnessed a person defend the scene.

I don't think anyone like playing with grenade launchers. My only gripe would be that for most games the classification isn't warranted. Newer RPG are less and less RPG. Nothing but a shooter or action game in disguise.

Knowing what your opponent is going to do beforehand is because traditionally you choose your defense and counter-attack or other optionthen roll, otherwise they would make achoices based on their role and their role. The choices must be made beforehand in order for the game to be fair.

The problem with JRPGs is that they don't move forward like they should. They don't stick with what worked inpast games. When a game gets credited for having X feature, chances are an older game did it already; it's just that no other devs bothered to use and build upon it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU8-e-C4Uy0

THIS is why people hate JRPGs

TheDrunkenLord

What I found hilarious is the subtitles: "Tidus" is labeled "Jecht Jr.":P:lol:

The people that I know who don't like JRPGs have never played one. They take one look at the art style and liken it to a saturday morning cartoon and think it is too childish. I try to tell them that they could not be farther from the truth, but they don't ever listen.

Most of the shots at jrpgs are taken by wrpg apologists. They aren't a problem in the real world (as per the usual, FF13 sales were awesome, though a lot of people online spent a lot of effort prior to its Western release tearing it down). The problem is the many people whose appreciation of jrpgs begins and ends with FF.

I enjoy the FF games and commend Squenix for its willingness to take risks with the mainline games, but still there's a lot of other good stuff out there many jrpg fans miss because they never give them a shot (nods towards Megaten, Demon's Souls, Valkyria Chronicles, Valkyrie Profile, Shadow Hearts, Disgaea, etc).

The people that I know who don't like JRPGs have never played one. They take one look at the art style and liken it to a saturday morning cartoon and think it is too childish. I try to tell them that they could not be farther from the truth, but they don't ever listen.

Gnosis13

Super omega metero summon taking 5 minutes to cast and boom 45872HP damanges, and the weak enemy is standing in front of me. And the cling, random battle, wait for 30 seconds, ok play, I win, wait fo 30 seconds, back to map, and oopse cling random battle.magicalclick

[QUOTE="Gnosis13"]

The people that I know who don't like JRPGs have never played one. They take one look at the art style and liken it to a saturday morning cartoon and think it is too childish. I try to tell them that they could not be farther from the truth, but they don't ever listen.

UT_Wrestler

*Shakes head* FF12 was awesome, but the world doesn't begin and end with FF. Persona 3, Demon's Souls and Valkyria Chronicles all brought a lotto the genre.

Most of the shots at jrpgs are taken by wrpg apologists. They aren't a problem in the real world (as per the usual, FF13 sales were awesome, though a lot of people online spent a lot of effort prior to its Western release tearing it down).CarnageHeart

Good point. Their always is a healthy disconnect between internet drama and what actually happens out in the real world, and I'm very glad for it. Not once off the internet do I ever hear all this "JRPGs aren't evolving" (which is just internet forum code word for "JRPGs don't play exactly like WRPGs", as we both know) stuff. In fact, I don't ever hear a J or W at the start of RPG at all off the internet. Nor do I hear half so much about "innovation and freshness", it's just gamers enjoying great games for exactly what they are. Talking games in person is a refreshing experience for me, compared to all the psuedo intellectual fluff and hyperbole we have to put up with here that makes it so hard to know who you can take seriously, and who is just pushing some bizzare internet agenda to influence people.

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

Most of the shots at jrpgs are taken by wrpg apologists. They aren't a problem in the real world (as per the usual, FF13 sales were awesome, though a lot of people online spent a lot of effort prior to its Western release tearing it down).SteveTabernacle

Good point. Their always is a healthy disconnect between internet drama and what actually happens out in the real world, and I'm very glad for it. Not once off the internet do I ever hear all this "JRPGs aren't evolving" (which is just internet forum code word for "JRPGs don't play exactly like WRPGs", as we both know) stuff. In fact, I don't ever hear a J or W at the start of RPG at all off the internet. Nor do I hear half so much about "innovation and freshness", it's just gamers enjoying great games for exactly what they are. Talking games in person is a refreshing experience for me, compared to all the psuedo intellectual fluff and hyperbole we have to put up with here that makes it so hard to know who you can take seriously, and who is just pushing some bizzare internet agenda to influence people.

Just because I'm sick of cliched stories, mind-numbing linearity, grating characters, lack of innovation, and never-ending cut scenes of JRPGs doesn't make me a "WRPG apologist". I'm not defending any cause. I just enjoyed Fallout 3, Mass Effect 1 & 2 and Oblivion more than I did FFXIII, Lost Odyssey and Eternal Sonata. I think it's painfully obvious to everyone but "JRPG apologists" that WRPGs have made great strides in recent years, while JRPGs have largely stagnated and remained stuck in the 90s. I still enjoy turn based and Japanese RPGs, but there is always a slight sense of disappointment when I play one. The wonder I felt while playing FFVII and Vagrant Story on PS1 is missing. I find the choices, morality systems and non-linearity of WRPGs much more enjoyable. I'd love a great JRPG to come out and refresh the genre, but Japanese developers seem stuck in a time warp. They're unwilling or unable to change things up, and the genre is becoming largely irrelevant in the western market (for a very good reason), despite these awesome sales of FFXIII.

And Steve, that's pretty stupid. You're basically condeming people for prefering WRPGs. "Innovation and freshness" are pretty important in videogames. The fact is that most JRPGs are eerily similar to each other, right down to character design and cliched stories. It's only natural for people to get sick of the template eventually...