Japanese Games

I usually shun Japanese games. Why? Because Japanese anime culture is too crazy for me. I can't stand the insanity of half demons, reincarnated cats, and the twisted set of morals the Japanese have. Maybe I'm just closed-minded, maybe I've just been raised in a sheltered home. But there's just this thing I can't understand about Japanese anime culture, that characters seem to act normal for a while and then someone just goes and does something in a completely strange and weird way that just leaves me going, "What the heck was that for?!". Maybe it's this (unique?) craziness that makes a lot of us enjoy anime, but I just don't seem to get it. The Japanese come up with the most unique things sometimes, and there's really a lot of unique Japanese games I love, like Peace Walker, Final Fantasy, even Persona 3(I surprised myself with that one), and of course there's games like Wipeout, Ridge racer, and Gran Turismo, but those games don't really have the chance to have a crazy side.

But I've never been able to convince myself to try out a lot of JRPGs on the PSP, which is apparently one the system's fortes. I guess it's the horrible pictures that anime has given me, but whenever I read a review of a Japanese game, I'm scared off by the strange ideas in the story or characters.

About Persona 3: I am really enjoying the game right now, and even supposedly 'normal' school life animes looked crazy to me, so I was coming in with a very critical eye when I picked this one up. And a game where some highschoolers shoot themselves in the head to summon their inner gaurdians, that's crazy! North American devs never come up with anything that bad. But surprisingly, the game was presented in a smart and mature way, a vibe I really hadn't gotten when I watched anime with my friends.

The question is this: are there more games like P3P? Should I give a few Japanese RPGs a chance? Do they mess with your sanity the way anime does?

I'd like to hear from some people who aren't anime fans especially, not because I disrespect your tastes, but I want to know from people like me, who aren't used to Japanese culture.

Well, you see-

I'd like to hear from some people who aren't anime fans especially, not because I disrespect your tastes, but I want to know from people like me, who aren't used to Japanese culture.

Granpire

Well, you see-

[QUOTE="Granpire"]

I'd like to hear from some people who aren't anime fans especially, not because I disrespect your tastes, but I want to know from people like me, who aren't used to Japanese culture.

Nvm. :(

tekken220

Edit: And jedinat, it's not that silliness or strange ideas can't be a good thing, it's that I'm just the type of person that likes games in a mature, detailed style. Mass Effect is one of my favorite games because it explains itself perfectly and handles problems in an adult fashion, not some brash, cocky, "let's just blow them up" kind of way. Peace Walker is pretty good for this as well.

Edit: And jedinat, it's not that silliness or strange ideas can't be a good thing, it's that I'm just the type of person that likes games in a mature, detailed style. Mass Effect is one of my favorite games because it explains itself perfectly and handles problems in an adult fashion, not some brash, cocky, "let's just blow them up" kind of way. Peace Walker is pretty good for this as well.

Granpire

as an anime fan, i agree with you about how japanese culture is crazy and that most of the time it's plain stupid to common sense, even though i enjoy it, that doesn't make it any less of what it's truly is.

i've had my share with that craziness until i learned that the less i think about it, the more i enjoy a game (specifically mediocre JRPGs)

though i highly recommend you start watching an anime that matches your forte and start to give a few JRPGs a try, you know, not all anime's are "unique"

i'm guessing you watched some Kon or lucky star to get this idea...

If you are getting into JRPGS for the PSP, try Final Fantasy Tactics, and Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep.

You can also play Dissidia and Crisis Core. :)

I am not an anime fan. And I don't like any final fantasy. I don't even understand why bbs is so good!

as an anime fan, i agree with you about how japanese culture is crazy and that most of the time it's plain stupid to common sense, even though i enjoy it, that doesn't make it any less of what it's truly is.

i've had my share with that craziness until i learned that the less i think about it, the more i enjoy a game (specifically mediocre JRPGs)

though i highly recommend you start watching an anime that matches your forte and start to give a few JRPGs a try, you know, not all anime's are "unique"

i'm guessing you watched some Kon or lucky star to get this idea...

blazblue152

[QUOTE="blazblue152"]

as an anime fan, i agree with you about how japanese culture is crazy and that most of the time it's plain stupid to common sense, even though i enjoy it, that doesn't make it any less of what it's truly is.

i've had my share with that craziness until i learned that the less i think about it, the more i enjoy a game (specifically mediocre JRPGs)

though i highly recommend you start watching an anime that matches your forte and start to give a few JRPGs a try, you know, not all anime's are "unique"

i'm guessing you watched some Kon or lucky star to get this idea...

Granpire

just so you know, there are infinite possibilities when it comes to anime (main reason on why i watch it), there are so many plots and stories and characters to the point where you can nearly find any thing that tickles your fantasy, add as much combinations and thoughts to what you want to see and i'm sure you will find something that suits you.

and i'm surprised that you relate anime to JRPG, even though they have the same designs and themes, they are totally different concepts, so remember to keep that in mind next time when you pass another JRPG ;) also sadly i can't recommend a good JRPG that is friendly for new JRPG fans aside from persona and hexyz force and valkyria chronicles 2 which will be released soon, you see the psp is a heaven for traditional JRPG fans, so unless you are already addicted to regular JRPGs, you won't apperciate the console that made my PS3 collect dust.

if you want to get addicted to JRPGs, the psp isn't the greatest place to start seeing it's just filled with mediocre JRPGs, i'd highly recommend the PS2 library to start.

Thanks for the recomendations guys, but could you at least tell me what tells the game apart from other JRPGs? Heyxz Force sounds fairly solid, but the story looks pretty weak, and story is the main reason I play RPGs. I have been looking out for Valkyria Chronicles II since E3, it looked interesting on PS3, so it seems promising. I do enjoy RPGs with a bit more 'epic' if you know what I mean. :P

Thanks for the recomendations guys, but could you at least tell me what tells the game apart from other JRPGs? Heyxz Force sounds fairly solid, but the story looks pretty weak, and story is the main reason I play RPGs. I have been looking out for Valkyria Chronicles II since E3, it looked interesting on PS3, so it seems promising. I do enjoy RPGs with a bit more 'epic' if you know what I mean. :P

Granpire

epic themed JRPGs...well there are a few but they lack the story to be honest, monster hunter is a great example, although god eater (not yet released, but soon) does give a much better plot in my opinion.

in monster hunter you get to wear huge a** armor and have very large weapons and most importantly, very very large monsters, like dinosaurs and what not.

that's what comes to mind when i think of epic PSP JRPG

Honestly, the older JRPGs are the best. Lunar silver star harmony is okay. It is about magic and goddesses, but it's not WTF?

Also Valkyrie Profile is awesome. It's about Norse Mythology which is cool.