Japanese role-playing games, AKAJRPGs, are a fascinating and impactful genre in the gaming world. From Final Fantasy to Persona franchises, the genre has lured fans across decades with incredible storytelling, iconic characters, and beautiful worlds and designs. But what features make for a good JRPG?
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“Good” is subjective, though. Some JRPGs thrive on characterization and building relationships, while others focus on epic boss battles or simply stylized artwork. It’s not easy finding a single game that has everything. Still, agood JRPGshould haveat leastone of the features below to build a loyal fanbase.
Even some of the best JRPGs don’t have every element mentioned here. Many only have one or the other, or a combination of a few features. So, nothing here is ranked. They’re merely features or themes that I typically find can elevate any JRPG.
8A Pleasing Design
Distinctive and Captivating Art Style Means Everything
A good JRPG is incredible to look at and admire from a distance.Chrono Triggerstill leaves its mark in the gaming world for numerous features including character design. Then you have the Yakuza series, which provides a more modern take compared to the fantastical settings other JRPGs feature.
Art style will always be a subjective discussion, but as long as it catches attention, it’s done its job. Whether 2D or 3D, realistic or cartoonish, looks reallyareeverything in JRPGs.
Chrono Trigger
7Good Storytelling
The Story Should Mean Something
JRPGs are quite known for having several tropes clogging up the plot, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t incredible gems with memorable storytelling. From the main plot to the side tales, having a reason to continue, a desire to see what happens in this world, helps players return time and time again.
Comfortable pacing goes hand-in-hand with storytelling. If things drag out too long, it runs the risk of players losing interest. Go too fast, and there’s no time to connect. Everything needs a nice balance to create something that’s a joy to play.
6Exciting Battle System
No Boring Gameplay Over Here
Some sort of fighting is usually given in JRPGs, and if you want a game that keeps a player’s attention, the battlemustbe engaging. Boring combat can quickly turn to disinterest or make any fighting period a chore.
Of course, this also depends on the type of JRPG we’re looking at. Something likeFire Emblemleans on strategy, while Final Fantasy relies onturn-based combat. Both types are more than valid but still require a smooth and versatile mechanic to keep it exciting.
Fire Emblem Engage
5Noticeable Progression
Development and Advancement
On the topic of the combat system, a good JRPG should also come with a solid progression system. We shouldfeelhow important it is to level up, evolve or adapt our skills. Perhaps we gain new skills as we progress or maybe we can finally tackle that high-ranked boss.
Progression can also connect naturally with character growth. The more we improve and go down a particular road, the more certain characters and their storylines expand and blossom. And characters, as we’ll follow up on next, mean quite a bit in popular JRPGs.
4Meaningful Characters
No Story’s Good without its Cast
A lot can be forgiven in a JRPG if the characters are strong. And we’re not talking about physically capable with incredible abilities (although thatdoeshelp). We mean strong personality-wise.
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A good JRPG features a cast you want to follow. Characters you’re eager to dissect and learn all about. If you’re not bonding with those by your side, what’s the point? We want lovable, dynamic, fun and even tragic characters. These can quickly turn an average JRPG into something more memorable.
3A Well-Played Soundtrack
Vibe with More Than Just the Game
If anything can sell an emotional moment or a character-defining boss fight, it’s the soundtrack. A score can take any game to another level and JRPGs tend to have phenomenal ones.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2is the perfect example of how music correlates with the storyline itself, lending itself to cheerful moments during the early times in the coming-of-age tale before maturing later on. A lot of classic music from JRPGs even found itself in Super Smash Bros., and when that happens, youknowthey’ve cemented themselves in gaming history.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
2Challenging and Fun Boss Battles
Hard Work Should Pay Off
This feature is yet another one that depends on the type of JRPG you play as visual novels will more than likely not have agrand boss battle. But if you’re pushing through something like Persona or Final Fantasy, then it’s expected to encounter a difficult boss at the end.
The difficulty should beearnedthough. A hyped boss battle in a JRPG should let you reap the benefits of all that leveling and skill-gaining you’ve done throughout the game. It makes the reward all the more satisfying even if that comes with a heroic sacrifice.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
1Exploration
A Massive World Waiting to be Discovered
For a certain set of JRPGs, open-world is key to the overall game. In this case, the exploration should match.Final FantasyXV makes you feel like you’re sitting in the passenger seat going along on this adventure-packed road trip. And Yakuza: Like a Dragon is colorful and full of life.
You can even look at titles within thePokemonfranchise to see how immersive and joyful it is to explore and see everything the unique world has to offer. If a JRPG claims to have world-building, then it’s only fair that they deliver on that promise.
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