Why do PC gamers think all Japanese RPGs are linear and are Final Fantasy style?

Alot of PC gamers here seem to think that all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and Gameplay is like Final Fantasy style or some similar turn based RPG.

But not all Japanese RPGs are the same!!!

Take the greatest Japanese RPG SERIES EVER(and greatest RPG series along with The Elder Scrolls):

SAKURA WARS

Unlike Final Fantasy and the steriotypical JRPG,Sakura Wars is the most unique RPG experience(and series)you will ever play.

Unlike Final Fantasy,where you spend much of your time traveling and fighting random encounters,in Sakura Wars you spend most of your time interacting with very pretty anime like girls.There is a Turnbased Strategy Combat system that appears in each episode in the game,but you really spend most of your time trying to interact with the awesome gorgeous girls of the games including samurai lady Sakura Shinguji,Rich lady Sumire Kanzaki,Badass Russian ex soldier Maria Tachibana,Psychic French girl Iris,and Karate Blackbelt tough lady Kanna Karisshina.A;sp the leveling up system is the most unique in all of RPGs.Instead of earning experience points from battles like Final Fantasy,how you raise the levels of the characters in game is based on trying to increase the affection of each girl in the game.The more a girl likes the stronger she will be in battle.The more she hates you the weaker she will fight in combat.The simdating part completely interacts with the leveling up system.What decisions you make when interacting with the girls affects how much they are fond of you.You have to be careful when making decisions to raise the dispositions of each of the girls because while one action may make one girl like you more,it may decrease how fond another girl in the game is of you.

Also the Sakura Wars series is not linear.It has an open ended story where your decisions when you interact with the girls could affect yhe story branches.Sakura Wars also contains multiple endings,which will appear based on which girl is most fond of you(and is probably also in love with you by the end of the game).

So what is up with PC gamers thinking all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and has the Final Fantasy style gameplay?Not all Japanese RPGS are the SAME!!!

Sakura Wars is the greatest RPG series ever along with The Elder Scrolls.

I simply just love both series so much!!!

What the hell are you talking about? Final Fantasy games are awesome. Especially the ones on PSX.

I'm not saying I hate Final Fantasy.I love the 4th,5th,and 8th installments especially.I'm just wondering why almost every PC gamers seems to think all Japanese RPGs are linear and are exactly in the same gameplay Final Fantasy is.

Because most of them are...

Play Sakura Wars and you will find an experience unlike any you ever seen in RPGs.

Here is a review about the series as a whole:

http://diehardgamefan.com/2009/09/09/30-days-of-dreamcast-day-9-sakura-taisen-complete-box/

[QUOTE="psychobrew"]Once you've seen one anime, you've seen them all. jRPGs don't really exist on the PC for a reason. The Elder Scrolls series dies with Oblivion.Lucifericus

I agree with Lucifericus. I couldnt get into morrowind at all. Oblivion just feels like a better game to me over all. I felt that it was much nicer to the players who had never played it before.Iantheone

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]I agree with Lucifericus. I couldnt get into morrowind at all. Oblivion just feels like a better game to me over all. I felt that it was much nicer to the players who had never played it before.psychobrew

I tend not to think about Japanese RPGs at all. They just don't appeal to me. :/

@ RobertBowen-Play Sakura Wars and you will find an experience unlike any you ever seen in RPGs.

Here is a review about the series as a whole:

http://diehardgamefan.com/2009/09/09/30-days-of-dreamcast-day-9-sakura-taisen-complete-box/

Anywhoo, does anyone know of any good japanese RPGs for the PC?Iantheone

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="Iantheone"]I agree with Lucifericus. I couldnt get into morrowind at all. Oblivion just feels like a better game to me over all. I felt that it was much nicer to the players who had never played it before.Lucifericus

The one RPG series I really miss is the original Might and Magics. The truth is I still compare every RPG I play to The Worlds of Xeen (MM 4 and 5), and they always come up short. I remember seeing the Dark Messia and thinking "OMG!! A new Might and Magic game!!!!!" and bought it without researching it only to find out it totally sucked. I almost cried :(

@lantheone-Get the PC ports of Sakura Wars which are as every bit as good as the original Sega Saturn and Dreamcast versions.

Play Sakura Wars and you will find an experience unlike any you ever seen in RPGs.

Here is a review about the series as a whole:

http://diehardgamefan.com/2009/09/09/30-days-of-dreamcast-day-9-sakura-taisen-complete-box

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]Anywhoo, does anyone know of any good japanese RPGs for the PC?Lucifericus

Anywhoo, does anyone know of any good japanese RPGs for the PC?Iantheone

[QUOTE="Lucifericus"][QUOTE="Iantheone"]Anywhoo, does anyone know of any good japanese RPGs for the PC?psychobrew

@psychibrew-Sakura Wars series on the PC is probably the best JRPG experience you will find.It does not suffer from keyboard controls(since the game was better to play with a Saturn or Dreamcast mouse instead of controller in the first place) and has absolutely gorgeous graphics,the best musical score in RPGs,Wonderful characters,and the best voice acting in videogame ever.Give it a try!

Here is a review of the complete box set containing all four games in the main series:

http://diehardgamefan.com/2009/09/09/30-days-of-dreamcast-day-9-sakura-taisen-complete-box/

[QUOTE="psychobrew"][QUOTE="Lucifericus"] Final Fantasy VII & VIII, The Last Remnant and Grandia II is all I can think of right now. Iantheone

@psychibrew-Sakura Wars series on the PC is probably the best JRPG experience you will find.It does not suffer from keyboard controls(since the game was better to play with a Saturn or Dreamcast mouse instead of controller in the first place) and has absolutely gorgeous graphics,the best musical score in RPGs,Wonderful characters,and the best voice acting in videogame ever.Give it a try!

Here is a review of the complete box set containing all four games in the main series:

http://diehardgamefan.com/2009/09/09/30-days-of-dreamcast-day-9-sakura-taisen-complete-box/

@psychobrew-You are saying things about a gamin franchise you don't know ANYTHING ABOUT!!!

First of all Sakura Wars won't suffer on PC BECAUSE THE GAMEPLAY WAS PERFECT TO BE USED WITH AMOUSE!Although the default was playing with the Saturn or Dreamcast controller,the series was so perfectly suited to play with a mouse that Sega made limited Sakura Wars Saturn and Dreamcast Editions!!

And no Sakura Wars is not primarily an anime franchise.It started out as a JRPG and is Sega's most popular franchise they ever hard and is one of the top 5 most popular videogame series in Japan.

There were anime made for Sakura Wars but they were created to be supplemental story material for fans of the games.

And PLEASE READ THE REVIEW before saying anything about my BELOVED SAKURA WARS!!!

I LOVE THIS FRANCHISE TOO MUCH!

@psychobrew-You are saying things about a gamin franchise you don't know ANYTHING ABOUT!!!

First of all Sakura Wars won't suffer on PC BECAUSE THE GAMEPLAY WAS PERFECT TO BE USED WITH AMOUSE!Although the default was playing with the Saturn or Dreamcast controller,the series was so perfectly suited to play with a mouse that Sega made limited Sakura Wars Saturn and Dreamcast Editions!!

And no Sakura Wars is not primarily an anime franchise.It started out as a JRPG and is Sega's most popular franchise they ever hard and is one of the top 5 most popular videogame series in Japan.

There were anime made for Sakura Wars but they were created to be supplemental story material for fans of the games.

And PLEASE READ THE REVIEW before saying anything about my BELOVED SAKURA WARS!!!

I LOVE THIS FRANCHISE TOO MUCH!

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]Anywhoo, does anyone know of any good japanese RPGs for the PC?Lucifericus

Do you play Sakura Wars?

Right Sakura Wars...a good game that apparently was never meant for a market outside Japan seeing as its been handled over the years.

@Psycho-Didn't you read my facts?The Sakura Wars series was perfect to play with a mouse!!!!

Why do you think Sega made limited Edition Saturn and Dreamcast Sakura Wars mouses?The game is perfect with a mouse.

The PC version of Sakura Wars was actually graphically superior to the console versions.

Much of the game deals with selecting the right words to say and the combat is a tactical Turn based strategy(which is best played with a mouse).

So how would playing a game that requires selecting the right words and Turn Based strategy be a hassle to play on PC(which comes with the perfect controller for this kind of game:THE MOUSE)!!!

In fact Sakura Wars is much harder to play with a Saturn or Dreamcast controller(Imagine trying to move a mouse like command curser with a controller).
I played both the PC version and console versions and I could assure you that the game was far more easier and enjoyable to play with a mouse.

BTW:Here are some trailers for Sakura Wars and openings:

Sakura Wars1
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Sakura+Wars+opening&search_type=&aq=f

Sakura Wars 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmtTHB3cN4

Isn't the art ****and character designs absolutely fantastic?And isn't the opening song so epic and simply amazing?

@ rzepac-They are going to release Sakura Wars 5 in North America on the Wii and PS2 this January 2010.

I'm so damned excited!!!

there is too much ignorance and bias on this thread.

seriously, this thread doesn't belong to PC game forum, maybe system war? because there are very few JRPGs on PC; that is, most of the discussions are about console games.

btw, there must be some other JRPGs to recommend than Sakura Wars games? that particular art styIe may attract some, but might as well put others off. what's next? Mana Khemia? or even Memories off?

games like Tir Na Nog and Berwick Saga look more interesting to me.

@Psycho-Didn't you read my facts?The Sakura Wars series was perfect to play with a mouse!!!!

Why do you think Sega made limited Edition Saturn and Dreamcast Sakura Wars mouses?The game is perfect with a mouse.

The PC version of Sakura Wars was actually graphically superior to the console versions.

Much of the game deals with selecting the right words to say and the combat is a tactical Turn based strategy(which is best played with a mouse).

So how would playing a game that requires selecting the right words and Turn Based strategy be a hassle to play on PC(which comes with the perfect controller for this kind of game:THE MOUSE)!!!

In fact Sakura Wars is much harder to play with a Saturn or Dreamcast controller(Imagine trying to move a mouse like command curser with a controller).
I played both the PC version and console versions and I could assure you that the game was far more easier and enjoyable to play with a mouse.

BTW:Here are some trailers for Sakura Wars and openings:

Sakura Wars1
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Sakura+Wars+opening&search_type=&aq=f

Sakura Wars 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlmtTHB3cN4

Isn't the art ****and character designs absolutely fantastic?And isn't the opening song so epic and simply amazing?

STXSambodog

Look, I started watching some videos, but they reminded me about everything I hate about jRPGs -- they are way over the top and I just don't like anime. I apreciate that others enjoy the game ****and I'm not some kind of a tool that thinks all jRPGs must die, but Sakura Wars looked worse that Final Fantasy, and I can't stand Final Fantasy. Can you just agree our tastes are different?

I used to play the pen and paper RPG games when I was a kid (ok, my older brother and friends dragged me in to it), and I just think wRPGs are truer to the real thing (though recent console RPGs are killing the wRPG genre). Maybe I'm too set in my ways (if you haven't guessed bynow, I'm in my 30's -- I'm old), but to me, a real RPG tries to mimmick what the pen and paper series started and what the original cRPGs were. I have no problem with jRPGs, but they just aren't for me.

Because those games are the most well known, and those most often ported to PC.

there are several really good JRPGs, that are not of that "JRPG" mold, that PC gamers usually get mental pictures of when you mention them, sadly they are rare to find on the PC, where as the ones that basicly looks like redone/reskinned versions of the same game, comes out fairly often. (As often may be a poor choice of words here)

,in Sakura Wars you spend most of your time interacting with very pretty anime like girls.There is a Turnbased Strategy Combat system that appears in each episode in the game,but you really spend most of your time trying to interact with the awesome gorgeous girls of the games including samurai lady Sakura Shinguji,Rich lady Sumire Kanzaki,Badass Russian ex soldier Maria Tachibana,Psychic French girl Iris,and Karate Blackbelt tough lady Kanna Karisshina.A;sp the leveling up system is the most unique in all of RPGs.Instead of earning experience points from battles like Final Fantasy,how you raise the levels of the characters in game is based on trying to increase the affection of each girl in the game.The more a girl likes the stronger she will be in battle.The more she hates you the weaker she will fight in combat.The simdating part completely interacts with the leveling up system.What decisions you make when interacting with the girls affects how much they are fond of you.You have to be careful when making decisions to raise the dispositions of each of the girls because while one action may make one girl like you more,it may decrease how fond another girl in the game is of you.

Also the Sakura Wars series is not linear.It has an open ended story where your decisions when you interact with the girls could affect yhe story branches.Sakura Wars also contains multiple endings,which will appear based on which girl is most fond of you(and is probably also in love with you by the end of the game).

So what is up with PC gamers thinking all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and has the Final Fantasy style gameplay?Not all Japanese RPGS are the SAME!!!

Sakura Wars is the greatest RPG series ever along with The Elder Scrolls.

I simply just love both series so much!!!

STXSambodog

Are you sure this is a RPG? It sounds like a dating sim with some RPG mechanic attached to it.

I agree with Lucifericus. I couldnt get into morrowind at all. Oblivion just feels like a better game to me over all. I felt that it was much nicer to the players who had never played it before.Iantheone

I started with morrowind and i found it painfully boring and slow. So i turned into oblivion.

Are you sure this is a RPG? It sounds like a dating sim with some RPG mechanic attached to it.

_Pedro_

Sakura wars games can be seen as Strategy (dating sim) RPG (leveling up specialized skills). there are actually combat. then there are pure dating sim, LVG, like memories off series; the art styIe is all the same...if grown men play this kind of games, I tend to use a very bad term to call them.

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]I agree with Lucifericus. I couldnt get into morrowind at all. Oblivion just feels like a better game to me over all. I felt that it was much nicer to the players who had never played it before.dakan45

I started with morrowind and i found it painfully boring and slow. So i turned into oblivion.

Oblivion does nothing special, rather it restricts the freedom which Daggerfall and Morrowind had created. The problem most people had with Morrowind and Daggerfall is exactly the reason why Oblivion is loved so much. Not everyone will like a game which quite literally tells you nothing else but :"Play the game". Especially in the beginning it offers nothing but tiny clues, but for most people this means there is no goal which makes it boring and slow. Oblivion on the otherhand tells you "kill this" or "kill that", "go there and talk to him/her", it's a guided adventure wrapped into a mask of freedom.

Now I don't hate Oblivion. I thought it was a fun game but the restrictions on freedom made the game seem rather 2 dimensional.

[QUOTE="dakan45"]

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]I agree with Lucifericus. I couldnt get into morrowind at all. Oblivion just feels like a better game to me over all. I felt that it was much nicer to the players who had never played it before._Pedro_

I started with morrowind and i found it painfully boring and slow. So i turned into oblivion.

Oblivion does nothing special, rather it restricts the freedom which Daggerfall and Morrowind had created. The problem most people had with Morrowind and Daggerfall is exactly the reason why Oblivion is loved so much. Not everyone will like a game which quite literally tells you nothing else but :"Play the game". Especially in the beginning it offers nothing but tiny clues, but for most people this means there is no goal which makes it boring and slow. Oblivion on the otherhand tells you "kill this" or "kill that", "go there and talk to him/her", it's a guided adventure wrapped into a mask of freedom.

Now I don't hate Oblivion. I thought it was a fun game but the restrictions on freedom made the game seem rather 2 dimensional.

Alot of PC gamers here seem to think that all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and Gameplay is like Final Fantasy style or some similar turn based RPG.

But not all Japanese RPGs are the same!!!

Take the greatest Japanese RPG SERIES EVER(and greatest RPG series along with The Elder Scrolls):

SAKURA WARS

Unlike Final Fantasy and the steriotypical JRPG,Sakura Wars is the most unique RPG experience(and series)you will ever play.

Unlike Final Fantasy,where you spend much of your time traveling and fighting random encounters,in Sakura Wars you spend most of your time interacting with very pretty anime like girls.There is a Turnbased Strategy Combat system that appears in each episode in the game,but you really spend most of your time trying to interact with the awesome gorgeous girls of the games including samurai lady Sakura Shinguji,Rich lady Sumire Kanzaki,Badass Russian ex soldier Maria Tachibana,Psychic French girl Iris,and Karate Blackbelt tough lady Kanna Karisshina.A;sp the leveling up system is the most unique in all of RPGs.Instead of earning experience points from battles like Final Fantasy,how you raise the levels of the characters in game is based on trying to increase the affection of each girl in the game.The more a girl likes the stronger she will be in battle.The more she hates you the weaker she will fight in combat.The simdating part completely interacts with the leveling up system.What decisions you make when interacting with the girls affects how much they are fond of you.You have to be careful when making decisions to raise the dispositions of each of the girls because while one action may make one girl like you more,it may decrease how fond another girl in the game is of you.

Also the Sakura Wars series is not linear.It has an open ended story where your decisions when you interact with the girls could affect yhe story branches.Sakura Wars also contains multiple endings,which will appear based on which girl is most fond of you(and is probably also in love with you by the end of the game).

So what is up with PC gamers thinking all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and has the Final Fantasy style gameplay?Not all Japanese RPGS are the SAME!!!

Sakura Wars is the greatest RPG series ever along with The Elder Scrolls.

I simply just love both series so much!!!

STXSambodog

My...MY EYES!!! THEY'RE BLEEDING!!!

Seriously :| Did you really have to write such a painful post? Trying to convince us not all JRPGs are like FF bringing forth a game where your main focus is to interact with anime girls :? ?

And it being greatest RPG series *EVER* along with TES...you have all my compassion and sympathy :|

Because the more mainstream ones are.

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]Anywhoo, does anyone know of any good japanese RPGs for the PC?Lucifericus

[QUOTE="STXSambodog"]

Alot of PC gamers here seem to think that all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and Gameplay is like Final Fantasy style or some similar turn based RPG.

But not all Japanese RPGs are the same!!!

Take the greatest Japanese RPG SERIES EVER(and greatest RPG series along with The Elder Scrolls):

SAKURA WARS

Unlike Final Fantasy and the steriotypical JRPG,Sakura Wars is the most unique RPG experience(and series)you will ever play.

Unlike Final Fantasy,where you spend much of your time traveling and fighting random encounters,in Sakura Wars you spend most of your time interacting with very pretty anime like girls.There is a Turnbased Strategy Combat system that appears in each episode in the game,but you really spend most of your time trying to interact with the awesome gorgeous girls of the games including samurai lady Sakura Shinguji,Rich lady Sumire Kanzaki,Badass Russian ex soldier Maria Tachibana,Psychic French girl Iris,and Karate Blackbelt tough lady Kanna Karisshina.A;sp the leveling up system is the most unique in all of RPGs.Instead of earning experience points from battles like Final Fantasy,how you raise the levels of the characters in game is based on trying to increase the affection of each girl in the game.The more a girl likes the stronger she will be in battle.The more she hates you the weaker she will fight in combat.The simdating part completely interacts with the leveling up system.What decisions you make when interacting with the girls affects how much they are fond of you.You have to be careful when making decisions to raise the dispositions of each of the girls because while one action may make one girl like you more,it may decrease how fond another girl in the game is of you.

Also the Sakura Wars series is not linear.It has an open ended story where your decisions when you interact with the girls could affect yhe story branches.Sakura Wars also contains multiple endings,which will appear based on which girl is most fond of you(and is probably also in love with you by the end of the game).

So what is up with PC gamers thinking all Japanese RPGs have linear stories and has the Final Fantasy style gameplay?Not all Japanese RPGS are the SAME!!!

Sakura Wars is the greatest RPG series ever along with The Elder Scrolls.

I simply just love both series so much!!!

Mograine

My...MY EYES!!! THEY'RE BLEEDING!!!

Seriously :| Did you really have to write such a painful post? Trying to convince us not all JRPGs are like FF bringing forth a game where your main focus is to interact with anime girls :? ?

And it being greatest RPG series *EVER* along with TES...you have all my compassion and sympathy :|

I like some jrpg's. 90% of them are crap though, the only final fantasy i liked was ff6 for the snes. That was a great game. Others i liked were shadow hearts,xenogears,star ocean(snes) and a few others. Basically though i dislike them apart from a few on psx and ps2 but imo the best jrpg's are on the snes without a doubt.

TC's post reminded me of just how much I hate JRPGs.