Western RPG'S vs. JRPG's

I prefer JRPG's, not all are turn based either. Take Tales of Symphonia/ Abyss/Eternia. Awsome games with action battle systems.

Eternal Sonatra due out this year is more action than turn based.

I prefer the style,characters,story in JRPG's.

I take a preference towards JRPGs.

I don't like the approach to combat that WRPGs take. Yes, there are many ways to combat. You can take melee combat, ranged combat, magic combat, a stealthy approach by stabbing your opponents in the back, lure them into a trap, and even just plain avoid them. My problem is that each one of them are just as effective as the other (well, maybe not avoiding). In WRPGs, you can plow through all your enemies as a warrior and burn your way through the same enemies as a mage no problem.

JRPGs on the other hand, you can try to plow through all your enemies using warriors only and try to burn through your enemies using mages. Chances are, you will suffer a terrible death. In many combat situations, you are forced to take a certain approach to combat because many enemies are very strong against your warriors while others are very strong against your mages. Also, unlike WRPGs, many bosses are seriously overpowered and require a lot of strategy because they can take you out in one or two attacks even when all your characters are level 99 or whatever the level cap is.

I take a preference towards JRPGs.

I don't like the approach to combat that WRPGs take. Yes, there are many ways to combat. You can take melee combat, ranged combat, magic combat, a stealthy approach by stabbing your opponents in the back, lure them into a trap, and even just plain avoid them. My problem is that each one of them are just as effective as the other (well, maybe not avoiding). In WRPGs, you can plow through all your enemies as a warrior and burn your way through the same enemies as a mage no problem.

JRPGs on the other hand, you can try to plow through all your enemies using warriors only and try to burn through your enemies using mages. Chances are, you will suffer a terrible death. In many combat situations, you are forced to take a certain approach to combat because many enemies are very strong against your warriors while others are very strong against your mages. Also, unlike WRPGs, many bosses are seriously overpowered and require a lot of strategy because they can take you out in one or two attacks even when all your characters are level 99 or whatever the level cap is.

Technoweirdo

I can only assume you have never played a WRPG in your life?!?!? What party RPG can u obliterate all your enemies without a balancd party?!?!? This is the strangest statement I've ever seen about a WRPG.

EDIT and are you criticising be able to approach a problem from multiple angles? Whats wrong with a thief picking a lock, a fighter bashing it or a mage using magic to unlock it? A troll blocks a passage, a fighter cuts him down, a mage teleports past and a thief sneaks past, again all good solutions whats wrong with that?I'm literally flabbergasted by this post lol

And inany WRPG if youenter a "boss" fight(i hate that term) if you don't use a strategy involving your party's/character's strength's you're going to get your ass handed to you.

[QUOTE="Technoweirdo"]

I take a preference towards JRPGs.

I don't like the approach to combat that WRPGs take. Yes, there are many ways to combat. You can take melee combat, ranged combat, magic combat, a stealthy approach by stabbing your opponents in the back, lure them into a trap, and even just plain avoid them. My problem is that each one of them are just as effective as the other (well, maybe not avoiding). In WRPGs, you can plow through all your enemies as a warrior and burn your way through the same enemies as a mage no problem.

JRPGs on the other hand, you can try to plow through all your enemies using warriors only and try to burn through your enemies using mages. Chances are, you will suffer a terrible death. In many combat situations, you are forced to take a certain approach to combat because many enemies are very strong against your warriors while others are very strong against your mages. Also, unlike WRPGs, many bosses are seriously overpowered and require a lot of strategy because they can take you out in one or two attacks even when all your characters are level 99 or whatever the level cap is.

blue_hazy_basic

I can only assume you have never played a WRPG in your life?!?!? What party RPG can u obliterate all your enemies without a balancd party?!?!? This is the strangest statement I've ever seen about a WRPG.

EDIT and are you criticising be able to approach a problem from multiple angles? Whats wrong with a thief picking a lock, a fighter bashing it or a mage using magic to unlock it? A troll blocks a passage, a fighter cuts him down, a mage teleports past and a thief sneaks past, again all good solutions whats wrong with that?I'm literally flabbergasted by this post lol

And inany WRPG if youenter a "boss" fight(i hate that term) if you don't use a strategy involving your party's/character's strength's you're going to get your ass handed to you.

I have played a few: Knights of the Old Republic, Knights of the Old Republic II, Jade Empire, Fable, Neverwinter Nights, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

It is my preference that I actually have difficulty getting through parts of a game rather than being able to blow through with little difficulty.

I take a preference towards JRPGs.

I don't like the approach to combat that WRPGs take. Yes, there are many ways to combat. You can take melee combat, ranged combat, magic combat, a stealthy approach by stabbing your opponents in the back, lure them into a trap, and even just plain avoid them. My problem is that each one of them are just as effective as the other (well, maybe not avoiding). In WRPGs, you can plow through all your enemies as a warrior and burn your way through the same enemies as a mage no problem.

JRPGs on the other hand, you can try to plow through all your enemies using warriors only and try to burn through your enemies using mages. Chances are, you will suffer a terrible death. In many combat situations, you are forced to take a certain approach to combat because many enemies are very strong against your warriors while others are very strong against your mages. Also, unlike WRPGs, many bosses are seriously overpowered and require a lot of strategy because they can take you out in one or two attacks even when all your characters are level 99 or whatever the level cap is.

Technoweirdo

So your arguement against WRPGs is that they offer too much choice? Oh dear, what a world! What a world!

I don't really enjoy RPGs, I kind of enjoyed Paper Mario for the first 3 or 4 parts, but then it got repetative and and started to bore me. Maybe I don't like leveling up or turn based (but I liked Adavnce Wars) or something, which is why I prefer games like Zelda. I did like Mario and Luigi 2 for some reason, maybe it was because it's portable or something.

I did enjoy Pokemon Red and Crystal when they came out, but Diamond bored me after awhile.

What? You said explain. :P

I really want to try out Oblivion, though.

[QUOTE="Technoweirdo"]

I take a preference towards JRPGs.

I don't like the approach to combat that WRPGs take. Yes, there are many ways to combat. You can take melee combat, ranged combat, magic combat, a stealthy approach by stabbing your opponents in the back, lure them into a trap, and even just plain avoid them. My problem is that each one of them are just as effective as the other (well, maybe not avoiding). In WRPGs, you can plow through all your enemies as a warrior and burn your way through the same enemies as a mage no problem.

JRPGs on the other hand, you can try to plow through all your enemies using warriors only and try to burn through your enemies using mages. Chances are, you will suffer a terrible death. In many combat situations, you are forced to take a certain approach to combat because many enemies are very strong against your warriors while others are very strong against your mages. Also, unlike WRPGs, many bosses are seriously overpowered and require a lot of strategy because they can take you out in one or two attacks even when all your characters are level 99 or whatever the level cap is.

Alaris83

So your arguement against WRPGs is that they offer too much choice? Oh dear, what a world! What a world!

WRPGs, many say are about choices and consequences, problem is, there aren't any consequences (aside from avoiding) for taking a different approach to take down an enemy because they're all equally effective.

I don't really enjoy RPGs, I kind of enjoyed Paper Mario for the first 3 or 4 parts, but then it got repetative and and started to bore me. Maybe I don't like leveling up or turn based (but I liked Adavnce Wars) or something, which is why I prefer games like Zelda. I did like Mario and Luigi 2 for some reason, maybe it was because it's portable or something.

I did enjoy Pokemon Red and Crystal when they came out, but Diamond bored me after awhile.

What? You said explain. :P

I really want to try out Oblivion, though.

dieworm

You'll probably love Oblivion then, since it has more in common with a game like Zelda than any RPG.

WRPGs, many say are about choices and consequences, problem is, there aren't any consequences (aside from avoiding) for taking a different approach to take down an enemy because they're all equally effective.

Technoweirdo

Obviously there has to be some balance to it. Otherwise some paths would not be worth playing, right? Also, saying all WRPGs have choices, but no consequences to follow up is a quite a broad generalization on your part.

WRPG's are alot better.

JRPG's are very boring, don't think I ever liked any JRPG's.

Fable is not an RPG IMO.

NWN again is not really a party game and is a poor shadow of the previous BG series. But the whole point of having minion NPC is to compliment your skills that are lacking (especially if you are a low lvl mage).

Oblivion is not a party game and its exactly why you need to able to approach tasks from different angles until your character is souped up and has a variety of skills. It lets people ROLEPLAY their character rather then being forced to play someone elses story.

WRPGs, many say are about choices and consequences, problem is, there aren't any consequences (aside from avoiding) for taking a different approach to take down an enemy because they're all equally effective.Technoweirdo

I'm not quite sure what you mean here? consquences and choices have to with the story line more than character build. WRPG's aren't just about powergaming.

EDIT for example in KOTOR II siding with refugees or the gangs open up very different plots on the world and can push your character down one path or the other

I notice in most Western RPGs, the monsters are usually the same, or revamped versions of the same thing.

Same old orcs, same old elves,same old goblins, same old wolves, same old genericdemons (with horns, hooves, and pitchfork), a lot of the monsters are the same, but all RPGS have them.

Then you look at JRPGS you find monsters that look completely crazy.Things like askeleton-mushroom-bacon-and-eggs-wizard-hamster-demon-looking thing. (pic unavailable on that one...because I just made that one up)

Don't get me wrong though. A lot of JRPGs have just as many generic monsters and enemies as western ones do. I just find it to be more common in Western RPGs.

EDIT: Those statements I made have to do with MMORPGs moreso than single-player RPGs.

I prefer all the way JRPGs, i prefer the japanese anime-like artwork over the "more real" western one, JRPGs tend to emphasize strategy over action in the battles (hence why I prefer turn-based over real-time), the story, while more scripted, tends to be more entertaining and complex, and overall I prefer the fantasy setting of JRPGs.

That's why, in the end, I've beaten dozens of JRPGs and enjoyed most of them, but i've only liked two WRPGs: KOTOR and Fable

What type of RPG do you prefer; The traditional Japanesse RPG like Final Fantasy or the Western type RPG like Oblivion.

I prefer Western RPG's. I never found turn based fighting fun or realistic at at all. Western RPG's like Oblivion and Mass Effect I find more interesting as they are more "role playing" and action based.

What do you think?

nikolajz1

Any honest gamer will tell you they both have positives and negatives.

I like Japanese RPGs because they are heavily character and story driven.

WRPGs are more free-roaming and open ended and many have way more character customization. However, I often feel this comes at the expensive of more character development and story. NOt that they are bad in those areas...just that the less linear a game the less central the story becomes.

In short, both are great for their own reasons.