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Are RPG Fans Open-minded Enough?

Are RPG Fans Open-minded Enough?

Head to just about any general gaming message board, and you’ll hear the same argument about role-playing games. Japanese RPGs are stuck in the past, while Western RPGs are innovating and are leading the genre into the future. This sentiment has been repeated so often that many gamers seem to think it’s true even if they haven’t really examined it in years. Where does this idea come from, and is it true? As a huge fan of RPGs from all over the world, I’m pretty much a neutral party, so I’d like to argue on behalf of JRPGs today. The idea that they’re stuck in the past is based on flawed and out of date assumptions, and while it’s struggling in some ways, today’s JRPG industry is producing some of its finest games ever.

Why do people think the genre is stuck in the past? Partially I think it’s a matter of taste. Some folks just don’t enjoy turn-based combat, which is still found in some JRPGs. Others prefer open worlds or branching storyline paths over more linear experiences, and of course those are more common in WRPGs as well. But does that mean turn-based, linear games are hopelessly outdated? Not necessarily. And do all JRPGs even fit in those categories? I’d like to look at things a different way. Rather than argue over personal preferences, let’s look at whether JRPGs are innovating and moving the genre forward. I’d like to argue that they absolutely are.

To start with, I have two words for anybody who says that JRPGs are irrelevant in today’s market: Dark Souls . I think a lot of people forget that Dark Souls comes from Japan, but it does – and it not only innovated, it pretty much spawned a new RPG sub-genre. You know you’ve made it when people start cloning your game, and there are Souls -alikes all over the place these days. The Souls games may in certain ways be a callback to days of yore when games were more challenging, but they do it in a thoroughly modern way – especially with the game’s multiplayer options.

But even more traditional RPGs can be innovative. My current favorite series is The Legend of Heroes , which you can find on Steam and PS3/Vita (it takes a while to localize it in English). It may be a turn-based series with a linear structure and an anime art style, but don’t be fooled. Its creators are masters of world building and character development. Their attention to detail, to fantasy socioeconomics, and to finding subtle ways to demonstrate how characters grow over time is almost frighteningly intense. The series is full of crazy plot twists that you’ll love even as they make you pull your hair out, and the mysteries underlying its world have been plotted out so thoroughly that huge nerds like me can find foreshadowing of events in the current games way back at the start of the series. If you love complex worlds and have the patience for slow-burn games, this series is doing fantastic things on a level I’ve never seen before.

Are RPG Fans Open-minded Enough?

What about upcoming games? Well, Final Fantasy XV has had a long and troubled development period, but we’re hearing really great things about its final build. Its unique action combat system has finally come together, allowing players to pull of crazy combos and aerials that make battles exciting. I can’t wait to find out what has come of the team’s many years working to marry open world design to Final Fantasy storytelling. Even if it’s probably not perfect, its development team has been experimenting like crazy with modern design concepts, and that’s something we should cheer for.

Then there’s Persona 5 . I’m sure we’ll find plenty to love about this one, but don’t overlook one innovation we can already laud: its interface design. The P5 interface oozes style and personality, adding to the game’s character instead of taking away from it. Instead of trying to solve the problem of boring interfaces by simplifying an RPG so much that they’re hardly needed, Persona 5 is embracing its RPG-ness while showing other developers just what can be done when real thought and artistry is put into a game’s user interface. I love it, and you can bet that developers everywhere are looking at it with envy and interest.

We might like to think that Western RPGs are the future and the true innovators of the genre, but I don’t believe that’s true at all. We have some great, forward thinking Western companies like CD Projekt, some that put out recycled junk, and yet others that are in danger of resting on their laurels like Bethesda. Similarly, Japan has some companies that churn out dull retreads and others that are doing new and exciting things. We as RPG fans should really keep an open mind, research some of the lesser known but excellent Japanese series like the Legend of Heroes games, and spend some time with the best RPGs Japan has to offer. It’s really worth the effort, and I believe that Japan will be home to exciting and vital RPG developers for years to come.

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