JRPG General - Video games were never meant to be shorter than 50 hours.

[HexFag]

It's been out on GOG for a while, just get it there.

I just find it surreal that after all of the shit Steam gave Rance for not being on Steam and how Steam moderation is towards games like this, that the entire series in full is just magically on there. I'll probably stick to my pirated copies anyway.

If we're speaking smut, I still highly recommend Demons Roots for being really amazing, even the hardcore smut stuff does horror way more effectively than most games.

In general VNs/JRPGs with smut that I recommend:
* Bladr Sky - Really fun customizing your robot, makes you feel like a god by the end.
* Kamidori alchemy meister - See the Ssseth review.
* Aselia the Eternal - Pretty sure it has a patch for it, really fun tactical battle that while being more rock paper scissors, has enough elements in it to not feel braindead.

Playing Demons Roots and yeah it's pretty good and funny. I'm not super far into it though.
I'm recommending Black Souls and also Black Souls 2 because Black Souls 2 is genuinely one of the best RPGMaker games I've ever played even if the difficulty curve from base game to DLC3 is ridiculous.

I'm surprised this game never got an anime because it literally has multiple arcs with clearly defined beginnings, climaxes and conclusions. Billy's arc is my favorite so far, it is literally the only example of the "Evil Church" trope I can think of that was actually done really well.

The whole sequence where all of the kids work together to get Billy's gear out like its routine is the funniest part of the game. Renmazuo is also the coolest gear ever, capes are sick as fuck.

 

[Poop A Loop]

Just finished Grandia (the HD remaster). That game was full of soul and a whole lot of nostalgia. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside at the end before falling out of my chair during the end credits sequence.

I will say, I have no idea how the game got the reputation for being easy. Maybe I was fighting the wrong way or maybe I'm just stupid but Grandia was pretty difficult towards the end. The system for gaining magic levels was definitely a first iteration and could have used some more thought or flexibility. I'm sure it wouldn't have been a big deal back when I was a kid but now I've got a family and a full-time job to take care of so the last thing I wanted to do with run around in circles trying to level up on enemies that provided way too few EXP for both character levels and magic levels, even taking into account exploiting casting group magic on large groups of enemies.

Still a solid and enjoyable nostalgia trip.

 

[HexFag]

Just finished Grandia (the HD remaster). That game was full of soul and a whole lot of nostalgia. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside at the end before falling out of my chair during the end credits sequence.

I will say, I have no idea how the game got the reputation for being easy. Maybe I was fighting the wrong way or maybe I'm just stupid but Grandia was pretty difficult towards the end. The system for gaining magic levels was definitely a first iteration and could have used some more thought or flexibility. I'm sure it wouldn't have been a big deal back when I was a kid but now I've got a family and a full-time job to take care of so the last thing I wanted to do with run around in circles trying to level up on enemies that provided way too few EXP for both character levels and magic levels, even taking into account exploiting casting group magic on large groups of enemies.

Still a solid and enjoyable nostalgia trip.

This and Grandia 2 can be broken pretty easily as long as you keep interrupting the enemy that's about to attack in the order. I'd play Grandia 2 if you haven't because that turn based combat is some of the best in the genre, even if the game loses a bit of soul.

 

[LucasSomething]

I just find it surreal that after all of the shit Steam gave Rance for not being on Steam and how Steam moderation is towards games like this, that the entire series in full is just magically on there. I'll probably stick to my pirated copies anyway.

I think Fear and Hunger broke the floodgates and steam doesn't care about rape/pedo as long as it's censored and it makes money. They sneaked black souls in during the whole visa card controversy.

 

[Fcret]

I genuinely don't know how, but the Rance series is coming to Steam. No this is not a joke.
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If they somehow get these on Steam completely uncensored then I will kneel. It will be the sign of Mary's ultimate demise and the triumph over troonery.

So I'm about an hour into disc 2 of Xenogears and I can immediately tell they were really rushing to compress the story of multiple games down into one which is sad because the story of disc 1 alone is basically a masterpiece.

I'm surprised this game never got an anime because it literally has multiple arcs with clearly defined beginnings, climaxes and conclusions. Billy's arc is my favorite so far, it is literally the only example of the "Evil Church" trope I can think of that was actually done really well.

Also, Jesiah is the coolest character.
View attachment 8350570

As bad as the decade-long dev cycles we have nowadays are, 90s Square was equally retarded in its "two years max" policy for game dev.

I think Fear and Hunger broke the floodgates and steam doesn't care about rape/pedo as long as it's censored and it makes money. They sneaked black souls in during the whole visa card controversy.

I also think the card processors have been taking their feet off the gas after the entirety of the American political spectrum turned on them simultaneously for the various dick moves they've pulled over the years.

 

[X Prime]

Mary's ultimate demise

I'm sorry, what?

 

[HexFag]

The Tales of Series' Remaster Project is continuing on to 2026, there's still hope that an actual PS2 game from the series will be remastered (Article Link)

 

[Fcret]

I'm sorry, what?

Mary's one of the reviewers at Valve who hates Japanese games and blocks them from the store. At least according to legend.

The Tales of Series' Remaster Project is continuing on to 2026, there's still hope that an actual PS2 game from the series will be remastered (Article Link)
View attachment 8352365

I want the PS1 games remastered as well - Phantasia's PS1 version, Destiny, and Eternia.

 

[Namekian George Floyd]

So do those Rance games have loli in them? The rape doesn't bother me, from what I've been told it has a comedic tone when Rance does it anyway but rape and pedophilia? Nah nigga, I gotta draw the line somewhere.

I'm sorry, what?

He's talking about the sequel to Daisy's Destruction

 

[verissimus]

So I'm about an hour into disc 2 of Xenogears and I can immediately tell they were really rushing to compress the story of multiple games down into one which is sad because the story of disc 1 alone is basically a masterpiece.

I'm surprised this game never got an anime because it literally has multiple arcs with clearly defined beginnings, climaxes and conclusions. Billy's arc is my favorite so far, it is literally the only example of the "Evil Church" trope I can think of that was actually done really well.

Also, Jesiah is the coolest character.
View attachment 8350570

Disc 2 really is something else isn't? The game basically goes from being a good RPG where you're figuring out what's going on as you're playing the game to having the story basically told to you all the while being pretty much unable to explore anything.

Just finished Grandia (the HD remaster). That game was full of soul and a whole lot of nostalgia. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside at the end before falling out of my chair during the end credits sequence.

I will say, I have no idea how the game got the reputation for being easy. Maybe I was fighting the wrong way or maybe I'm just stupid but Grandia was pretty difficult towards the end. The system for gaining magic levels was definitely a first iteration and could have used some more thought or flexibility. I'm sure it wouldn't have been a big deal back when I was a kid but now I've got a family and a full-time job to take care of so the last thing I wanted to do with run around in circles trying to level up on enemies that provided way too few EXP for both character levels and magic levels, even taking into account exploiting casting group magic on large groups of enemies.

Still a solid and enjoyable nostalgia trip.

Well, shoot. One of my brothers gave me this along with a few other games a few days ago, and quite honestly the first thing I thought when I looked at it was "wth is this, I'm probably just going to sell this without touching it".

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Disc 2 really is something else isn't? The game basically goes from being a good RPG where you're figuring out what's going on as you're playing the game to having the story basically told to you all the while being pretty much unable to explore anything.

I wonder if the game would have had as much of an impact if disc 2 was actually complete but done badly.

 

[verissimus]

I wonder if the game would have had as much of an impact if disc 2 was actually complete but done badly.

Complete but done badly? I'm not exactly sure what you mean. The only thing I'll say is that I think the game would have had to screech to a halt at some point simply so we can finally figure out what the hek has been going on in the story. Xenogears story was just too much for its own good. Far too much background information, characters to flesh out, subplots to deal with, etc.

 

[LucasSomething]

Complete but done badly? I'm not exactly sure what you mean. The only thing I'll say is that I think the game would have had to screech to a halt at some point simply so we can finally figure out what the hek has been going on in the story. Xenogears story was just too much for its own good. Far too much background information, characters to flesh out, subplots to deal with, etc.

I think they mean in the sense that Xenogears gets excused and praised for "what it could've been" most of the time and fans ignore the rushed/unfinished part. I have seen multiple people call it as "The best story ever written, shame the second half sucks".

It's also a near 30 year old game with no rerelease so it became a bit of a sacred cow within jrpg community circles and people who never touched it (like me) join in the praise.

You don't see xenosaga get this much leeway cause i had 3 very long games (it was meant to have more), and xenoblades dont get as much praise while being finished stories.

https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/1pp1kle/day_7_the_best_jrpgs_of_all_time_which_jrpg_has/

btw here is an unrelated but fun pic. There was a vote for the best JRPGs ever in the r/jrpg subreddit. They are exactly what you would expect from redditors.

 

[Tor Lugosi]

Yeah, I feel there's an appeal to wondering what could've been and constructing what you think could've happened in your head. I think Xenogears does benefit from that.

 

[synthetic_glazer]

There was a vote for the best JRPGs ever in the r/jrpg subreddit. They are exactly what you would expect from redditors.

Good grief. Maybe I'm way too much of a purist, but just because a game has RPGs elements as is developed in Japan, that doesn't make it a JRPG. I wouldn't even consider FFT to count imo, tactical RPG is a distinct genre, but I'll concede I might be in the minority on that. To me, maybe like half of the games listed that I'm familiar with should count as jrpgs

And how did the redditors miss the chance to include Persona 5 somewhere? Isn't that one of the few video games these people have actually played watched some nobody streamer play?

 

[LucasSomething]

Good grief. Maybe I'm way too much of a purist, but just because a game has RPGs elements as is developed in Japan, that doesn't make it a JRPG. I wouldn't even consider FFT to count imo, tactical RPG is a distinct genre, but I'll concede I might be in the minority on that. To me, maybe like half of the games listed that I'm familiar with should count as jrpgs

And how did the redditors miss the chance to include Persona 5 somewhere? Isn't that one of the few video games these people have actually played watched some nobody streamer play?

The subreddit can be elitist too and a lot don't consider E33 jrpg, but it has tactical and action sections so in this context maybe, but automata on OST breaks it and i don't take this as an honest attempt. The user who made these posts is a bot that posts ads and shit, it was 100% created to farm engagement and scan trends. No human would put a "best sidequest" and "best minigame" section when both have nothing to do with jrpg gameplay.

I feel r/jrpg has a unique breed of circlejerk filled with nostalgia and pseudo-maturity. For all the praise persona 5 gets, it's not old enough to beat nostalgia faves, not fresh enough to blind praise and considered too overexposed nowadays.

Heck, look back at this list and you'll see how the sub only likes 3 companies and a 3 franchises.

9 Square games, 6 final fantasies and no dragon quest
3 Atlus games and it's 2 yakuzas ("persona for adults") and no smt/persona
2 Trails, and only because the oldest one got a remake
And... chained echoes... that is inspired by xenogears and chrono trigger.

 

[X Prime]

Bah, I have played Xenogears to completion multiple times. I want to say at least three.

The storyline is not "that" good and never fucking was. Half the reason people think so is because when they were kids back during the PS1 era, the journos like IGN kept showing crops of the art of naked Elly hiding her nipples and swearing it was some deep masterpiece at risk of being held back by the fundies.

That's what's actually going on. It was many Westerners' first JRPG with stuff like post-coital nude sprites and so on (Ramsus and Myyah/Miang).

 

[HexFag]

I think they mean in the sense that Xenogears gets excused and praised for "what it could've been" most of the time and fans ignore the rushed/unfinished part. I have seen multiple people call it as "The best story ever written, shame the second half sucks".

It's also a near 30 year old game with no rerelease so it became a bit of a sacred cow within jrpg community circles and people who never touched it (like me) join in the praise.

You don't see xenosaga get this much leeway cause i had 3 very long games (it was meant to have more), and xenoblades dont get as much praise while being finished stories.

https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/1pp1kle/day_7_the_best_jrpgs_of_all_time_which_jrpg_has/

View attachment 8355180

btw here is an unrelated but fun pic. There was a vote for the best JRPGs ever in the r/jrpg subreddit. They are exactly what you would expect from redditors.

View attachment 8355196

I have a lot to say about this but Best Action not having a single Tales Of game hurts me and me personally.

 

[Namekian George Floyd]

Yeah, I feel there's an appeal to wondering what could've been and constructing what you think could've happened in your head.

I just finished it and now I'm reading the translation of the Perfect Works book just to gleam any extra information out of it, I'm not very far but it at least already gave a good idea of what each episode was going to be and is recounting events that we got a glimpse at but were never really expanded upon in the game. I am hoping that by the end, I have a more complete picture of the entire Xenogears universe.

The storyline is not "that" good and never fucking was.

I just finished the game and I completely disagree, the only thing holding this game back from being my favorite story in all of JRPG's is the fact that it's unfinished and disc 2 was extremely hit or miss mostly due to lack of details that made a lot of stuff sound really dumb when it probably wouldn't have been if it was expanded upon.

Half the reason people think so is because when they were kids back during the PS1 era, the journos like IGN kept showing crops of the art of naked Elly hiding her nipples and swearing it was some deep masterpiece at risk of being held back by the fundies.

I'd say this is extremely fitting since the majority of the story in-game wouldn't even have happened if 2 dudes weren't so severely thirsty for some holy maiden pussy.

Tell me this isn't literally Krellian.

 

[augment]

The concept of Myang was scary to me. At any given point and without warning, any random woman can become this pre-programmed entity inheriting her objective and her faculties.