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What makes JRPGs worth playing
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. It's easy to think of a role-playing game as an amalgamation of two main components, narrative and gameplay, jammed together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes they fit together nicely; other times they're as awkward and frustrating as that one weirdly-shaped Tetris block that always falls into the gap where you need an L. I'm sure you've seen the message board posts. Declarations like "well, the mechanics are OK but the story is great" or "the characters suck but I love the combat" are frequently dropped everywhere from NeoGAF to GameFAQs. Gamers have this tendency to turn games into mathematical equations, breaking them into lists of components like "presentation" and "mechanics" and judging each one on its own merits. The problem with this attitude is that it ignores everything that makes Japanese role-playing games great. When you cut a JRPG into sections, it is resoundingly subpar. Books have better stories. Platformers have more engaging mechanics. Movies have much more elegant presentation. So why do we play JRPGs? Because the good ones are better than the sum of their parts.
Jason Schreier12.09.2011
Why JRPGs should look at the NFL's playbook
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. Joystiq's Ben Gilbert once bemusedly pointed out that my taste in games oscillates between "kawaii!" and "yeah bro!" This is true. Two of the games I enjoyed most this year were Radiant Historia and Madden NFL 12, which is about as huge a disparity as you can get without diving into the terrifying click fields of games like FarmVille. But wait a minute. Are they really all that different? Sure, the National Football League athletes who lend their images to Madden might not have much in common with the anime-like sprites of a Japanese RPG, but in terms of game design, there are some striking similarities. As Kill Screen Editor-in-Chief Chris Dahlen pointed out in a GameSpy article last year, football is, at its core, a strategy role-playing game. Each team gets several turns to move the ball down the field, during which they can select from a variety of different attacks. Competing teams match wits over field position and strategy in an attempt to wrest an advantage. At the end of the game, whichever team does the most damage -- or scores the most points -- wins. Though it has been tweaked quite a bit over the past century, the core rules of football have remained the same since the forward pass was introduced over 100 years ago. It is America's most popular sport for a reason: it is an extraordinarily well-designed game. Perhaps it could teach JRPG developers a thing or two about combat.
Jason Schreier11.25.2011
Virtual Console's classic JRPGs: What holds up?
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. Last week, we dug into the PlayStation Network's library of old-school JRPGs, suffering through blocky graphics and annoying voice acting in a valiant effort to figure out what games are still worth playing in 2011. This week, we attack the Wii's Virtual Console. Granted, Nintendo hates American JRPG fans, as evidenced by the publisher's refusal to localize critically acclaimed games like Xenoblade, but its Wii Shop Channel has a surprisingly robust selection of classics, mostly thanks to the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. We had it good during the 16-bit era. Real good. Like last time, I'll be spending 30-60 minutes with each JRPG -- certainly not enough time to properly review a game, but enough to get a feel for whether it holds up today, and how it compares to my memories of it. (I've played each game to completion at various points over the past two decades. Some of them multiple times.) Let's roll.
Jason Schreier11.18.2011
PSN's classic JRPGs: What holds up?
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. "Hey Jason," you say, an innocent twinkle in your eye. "I've never played any old-school JRPGs. Where should I start? Which are the best ones? Do any of them hold up in 2011?" Excellent questions, my hypothetical friend. There are plenty of ways to get your paws on the classics, but it can be tough for newbies to tell exactly which ones are worth playing. You could try asking a more experienced JRPG fan, but he might be too blinded by nostalgia to discern whether or not his favorite game has aged well. So to help you sort through the chaos, I'll be delving back into a whole bunch of old JRPGs over the next couple of weeks. I'll spend about 30-60 minutes with each one -- certainly not enough time to properly review a game, but enough to get a feel for whether it holds up today, and how it compares to my memories of it. Today we'll start with the PlayStation Store, a veritable treasure trove of classic JRPGs.
Jason Schreier11.11.2011
Hey Japan, stop making me save the world
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. You've seen this play before. Some ragtag heroes are standing at the edge of some interdimensional space portal or subterranean crystal labyrinth or evil god's castle. They're holding powerful weapons -- acquired after hours of tedious mini-games -- and staring down some nasty monster or deity or demon squirrel. Their goal? Save the universe from imminent doom. If you're anything like me, you're probably already yawning. The go-forth-and-save-the-world trope is so worn out in video games by now that it's hard to muster up even an iota of compassion for all of the artificial people that need rescuing. Japanese role-playing games are the worst offenders of all, spitting out bombastic villains and supernatural events with reckless abandon and little regard for reality. Games like Tales of Vesperia and Lost Odyssey might start you off with small tasks and adventures, but at the end of the day, you know you're going to have to prevent the apocalypse.
Jason Schreier11.04.2011
The best JRPG you haven't played yet
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. Every good game has moments of euphoria, those revelatory points in an interactive adventure when we realize just how much fun we're having. They're different for everyone – some of us might be enamored by a combat system or nutty plot twist while others might find themselves romantically attracted to a main character's hair spikes – but everybody feels them. These moments are usually short and ephemeral, showing up every once in a while just to remind us that we're enjoying ourselves. As a general rule, the more time we spend thinking "Wow, this is great," the better the game. When something really blows us away, we're aware of it the whole time. Few JRPGs blow me away nowadays. For a while, I figured this was because I am cranky and cynical. Maybe this genre just isn't for me anymore, I thought to myself. Maybe I'll never enjoy Japanese role-playing games as much as I did when I was growing up. Maybe I'll never reignite that bliss I felt when I first delved into games like Suikoden and Xenogears. Maybe I'm too old. Then I played The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.%Gallery-119078%
Jason Schreier10.28.2011
How nostalgic JRPGs trick us into loving them
This week, we debut a new column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. It's hard to find an RPG fan who doesn't have fond memories of the "16-Bit Golden Age," that revered era when developers seemed to release nothing but instant classics. Twenty- and thirty-somethings all over the world love to wax poetic about the early 90s, a time when videogame production was driven more by creativity than graphical power, more by innovation than formula, more by TLC than DLC. Take a moment to flip through the App Store or Xbox Indie Marketplace and you'll find striking evidence of this obsession with the old-school; today's indie RPGs are packed to the brim with sprites and textures that wouldn't be out of place on a Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. The obvious explanation might be money – powerful graphics are expensive, and indie developers not named Notch are always broke. But is that the only reason iPhone RPGs like Guardian Saga and Ash aim to emulate that 16-bit style? Or is there something inherently appealing about classic turn-based gameplay? And then there's that million-dollar question: Were all those old-school RPGs really all that great, or is our perception just tainted by nostalgia? Psychologist Jamie Madigan, writing on his blog "The Psychology of Video Games," argues the latter, saying that we tend to have selective memory when it comes to our favorite old games. We only remember the good parts.
Jason Schreier10.21.2011
Lord of Apocalypse commands you to check out his screens, trailer
One of the two new games Square Enix announced for the Vita (in this case, also for the vanilla PSP), Lord of Apocalypse looks to be another JRPG affair, full of love, loss and betrayal -- at least, that's what we assume. All of this stuff is in Japanese! %Gallery-134117%
David Hinkle09.17.2011
Black Rock Shooter is actually an RPG, and NIS America is publishing it on PSP
Black Rock Shooter: The Game is a PSP RPG, one of Imageepoch's "JRPG" line of games. It's based on a growing media empire (anime, music manga) featuring a young woman who carries a cannon that fires rocks. So it's not just a clever name! As you might expect of a game with a cannon-wielding protagonist, Black Rock Shooter has elements of third-person shooting (like ... shooting), but it's alongside RPG-style leveling. NIS America plans to release Black Rock Shooter in America and Europe as part of its deal with Imageepoch. The company has yet to date these releases, "but we are working hard to get it out as soon as possible," said NIS's Jack Niida in the announcement. "Please look forward to this amazing game."
JC Fletcher08.25.2011
Aksys bringing 'otome' genre stateside with Hakuoki: Demon Of The Fleeting Blossom
Since this is the internet, most of you are probably aware that Japan produces a lot of games for genres that don't necessarily exist in other parts of the world. These games can get a little ridiculous at times, sure, but Aksys believes that the "otome" sub-genre of JRPGs is worth bringing to the western hemisphere. Idea Factory's historical RPG Hakuoki: Demon Of The Fleeting Blossom will be North America's first widely available "otome." The game follows the story of Chizuru Yukimura, who encounters the Shinsengumi samurai clan while traveling through Edo-period Japan on a quest to find her missing father. As luck would have it, the Shinsengumi are also searching for her father, and together they to travel to the city of Hakuoki, which contains "supernatural secrets." (Read: ghosts or something.) So, sounds like a JRPG, right? Why does this game land in the otome sub-genre, while others don't? Put simply, the "otome" (or "maiden") game is a romance novel for you PSP. In order to be considered an otome, a game must A) have a female protagonist, and B) also make obtaining the affections of a love interest as important as other main story goals. Unlike male-targeted dating sims, otome games contain little to no sexuality, as they are generally intended for female gamers in the pre-teen/tween/teenage demographic. Aksys plans on bringing big-haired samurai lovin' to any PSP owner interested in that sort of thing sometime during the first quarter of 2012. Who knows, maybe this will finally pave the way for that When Harry Met Sally game we've always wanted from Telltale.
Jordan Mallory07.03.2011
Imageepoch working on a ton of games
Last year, upon the foundation of its "JRPG" label, developer Imageepoch announced eight projects, including the PSP RPG Final Promise Story, a Black Rock Shooter game, two Chevalier Saga Tactics games and four other works mentioned only in teaser form. Speaking at a pre-launch event for Final Promise Story (which comes out on April 28), CEO Ryoei Mikage upped the number of total projects in development at Imageepoch to eleven-ish: Final Promise Story and roughly 10 more. New details about Final Promise Story were revealed at the event as well. Mikage wants the game to be as hard as '80s-era RPGs, such that it will be difficult to complete the game on Normal with all the characters surviving. FPS features two types of death: the normal variety, in which a character can no longer fight and must be revived, and the state of being "Lost," which takes the character out of the game permanently.
JC Fletcher04.18.2011
Gamigo opens the news floodgates
"Cry havoc, and unleash the titles of war" might as well be gamigo's cry, as today it has seen fit to give us what can only be termed as a new title news explosion. Aside from offering up an interesting tidbit on its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, the company has released information on a handful of other new titles that should pique the interest of gamers who are looking for something beyond the standard free-to-play MMO fare. Better still, some of these titles will be available in-browser, helping to open up more "jump in and game" free-to-play options. Grimlands offers something for players who have been waiting for a post-apocalyptic title that promises the ability to evolve their own playstyles -- and cities. UFO Online: Fight for Earth features a tactics-heavy browser-based MMO environment where players will battle against each other and enemy NPCs in a world overrun with gobsmackingly enormous amounts of aliens. Magic Campus offers adventure in a turn-based world where players build a powerful cadre of pets and mentor others in the ways of magic -- all in their browsers. Sound intriguing? Join us behind the break for a first look at screenshots and video from these upcoming gamigo titles!
Krystalle Voecks03.10.2011
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation arrives in North America on Feb. 14
15 years ago, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie launched in Japan, with a Nintendo DS remake of that game arriving last January. This coming February 14th, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation will launch in North America, effectively ending the 15-year exclusivity the game has endured and completing the trilogy of DQ remakes on Nintendo DS. The game arrives for Nintendo DS on Valentine's Day, bringing with it "new character options and enhancements." Nintendo gets more specific in the announcement, citing updated graphics as the main difference between the original release and the forthcoming update. But then, if the North American release is the same as the Japanese re-release on Nintendo DS, we expect to see an improved map system, a slime curling minigame, and several other revisions. Oh, and of course, there will be plenty of slimes. Relax.%Gallery-111712%
Ben Gilbert12.20.2010
Imageepoch launches 'JRPG' publishing label
Imageepoch, developer of RPGs like Luminous Arc and Sands of Destruction, announced a move into publishing at a press event in Tokyo today. The company detailed the first three games to be published under this new "JRPG" label, the first of which will be a strategy RPG for PSP, called Saigo no Yakusoku no Monogatari, or "Final Promise Story" -- yes, an "FPS" by JRPG. Imageepoch CEO Ryoei Mikage said that game is being designed around the concept of permanent character death (so the story changes if and when you lose a character). Final Promise Story has been dated for release in Japan on April 28, 2011. Later in 2011, Imageepoch will release another PSP RPG, this one based on the Black Rock Shooter anime, and then will come Chevalier Saga Tactics -- first as a free-to-play PC game, then later as a mobile and PS3 release (Imageepoch's first HD effort). In addition to these three games, Imageepoch teased four more projects, including a Type-Moon collaboration and a remake of a classic PC game; announced plans to work on smartphone apps; and confirmed that it will continue to develop for other publishers even as it self-publishes some titles. Currently, Imageepoch is working on a game for Sega, which will be assisting with distribution of the "JRPG" releases. Trailers for the first three JRPG ... RPGs are posted after the break.
JC Fletcher11.24.2010
Japanese Fallout: New Vegas ad pokes fun at JRPGs
In a fairly cheeky Japanese advertisement for its upcoming open-world action-RPG, Fallout: New Vegas, Bethesda Softworks assembled a group of mock protesters who have some mock concerns with a few JRPG tropes. Andriasang provided translations to some of their crudely-fashioned signs, which display such complaints as "when did games become something that you watch," "what's the point of playing again if there's no change to the story," and "I think it would be nice if the main character had a mission aside from just wiping out evil." It's a pretty clever advertisement, but we wonder if Bethesda has considered the possible repercussions. Like, for instance, Square Enix could run a similar advertisement where like, five million Dragon Quest IX players hold up signs which simply say, "yeah, so what?"
Griffin McElroy08.03.2010
PSP RPG adopts 'freemium' model in Japan
Acquire and Zero Div are working on a new PSP RPG -- and it'll be completely free. Bakumatsu Revolution will be free to download via PlayStation Network and will feature a full ten-hour quest, which can be played solo or cooperatively with up to three others (Monster Hunter style). According to IGN, players will even be able to freely distribute the game through PSP-to-PSP wireless connectivity. Of course, there's always a catch. While the core game will be free, for-pay add-ons, such as downloadable items and quests, will be available after release. Essentially, this is the "freemium" model that's been successfully utilized by many PC MMOs and casual titles, especially in Asian markets. Bakumatsu Revolution will be available on June 25 in Japan; but no plans for a North American release are currently in the works.
Andrew Yoon05.28.2010
Wild Arms dev working on PS3/PSP game with worldwide appeal
Media Vision, best known for the Wild Arms RPG series, is working on a new project for PlayStation 3 and PSP. New job listings suggest that the project is quite early in production, and is expected to be "a massive project that will span a long term." While the listing describes the Wild Arms series as being "representative of Japan," this new title for Sony platforms will be one that "appeals to users not just in Japan, but around the world as well." This new project is only the latest in a growing trend of Japanese RPG developers attempting to create a title with worldwide appeal. Most recently, Square Enix made two versions of Nier in an effort to better appeal to Western sensibilities. It'll be interesting to see what approach Media Vision takes for its new globally-focused project. [Via Andriasang]
Andrew Yoon05.26.2010
Dragon Quest IX launches in North America on July 11 [update]
Nintendo and Square Enix have announced that the North American release of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinel of the Starry Skies for DS has been set for June July 11, exactly a year after it launched in Japan. As was revealed in February, Nintendo will be publishing the game here -- although the English localization is being handled by Square Enix and not NOA's Treehouse team. Dragon Quest IX has sold more than four million copies to date in Japan, where the game's WiFi "Pass-By Guest" feature has proven very popular. North American gamers will get a chance to experience it as the renamed "Tag Mode," silently trading character stats, battle records and play data with other DQIX players simply by walking near each other with their handhelds in sleep mode. If you encounter a player who's logged more than 400 hours in the game, it's probably this guy. You'll find pre-order information (and a rather delightful trailer) on the game's official website. Update: Dragon Quest IX will be released in Europe on July 23. %Gallery-93250%
Randy Nelson05.19.2010
Final Fantasy XIII, Dragon Quest IX, Batman sales lead Square Enix fiscal year
Square Enix had a good fiscal year (ended March 31, 2010), but its games division had a very good year. Final Fantasy XIII sold over five million units globally during the period, with the Japan-only release of Dragon Quest IX coming in second with 4.26 million units. Thanks to the company's acquisition of Eidos last year, the company could count on some Batman: Arkham Asylum cash, with the pointy-eared detective's critically acclaimed title selling 3.24 million units -- it's a shame Square won't get a piece of the sequel. Squenix's games division had sales of ¥109.9 billion ($1.18 billion) in the last fiscal year, up an impressive 128 percent over last year. With the Dark Knight out of the picture, Square Enix will have to depend on its other western franchises, including Kane & Lynch, Deus Ex and the games of Ms. Croft. Source [PDF link] -- Results Briefing Session for the Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2010
Alexander Sliwinski05.18.2010
XSEED and Nihon Falcom bringing six Ys and The Legend of Heroes games to PSP
PSP owners have a lot of RPGs to look forward to. XSEED has announced a new partnership with Nihon Falcom that promises to bring six new games for the North American audience. Ys Seven, Ys: The Oath in Felghana, and Ys I & II Chronicles will all arrive on PSP, with Ys Seven the first title to be released under this new agreement. According to the press release, Ys Seven is the first iteration of the long-running JRPG franchise to be built "specifically for the PSP system," promising "virtually no load times" -- a problem that has plagued many of Falcom's previous PSP efforts. In addition to Ys, XSEED will also be publishing the next three chapters of The Legend of Heroes saga (known as Sora no Kiseki in Japan). "I couldn't be more pleased to announce a partnership with a development studio as renown by gamers for consistently putting out quality titles as Falcom," Jun Iwasaki, President of XSEED Games, said in the press release. "Their titles have always been some of the most requested titles so it is going to be our pleasure to oblige the North American fans by delivering an amazing line up of in-depth and gripping RPGs."%Gallery-93055%
Andrew Yoon05.14.2010