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[Imp the Dimp]

I've been thinking about it. Lately, I've played a bunch of Japanese games. Resident Evil 7, Nioh, Yakuza 0, Nier Demo, The Last Guardian and I'm sure there were many more but there's only so much time available. Anyway, I really enjoyed most of them to an incredible extent (The Last Guardian certainly less than the others) and with the weekly "Is Japan back?" threads on GAF it leads me to believe many others on here felt the same about these games: Their quality is pretty amazing and the fact that Japan is reinstating a presence on stationary consoles seems to be a highly appreciated development by many. I enjoyed their PSP, DS and 3DS output just the same but I can see why that led to Japan feeling sort of left behind to some.

Needless to say, there are fantastic Western games as well that are no better or worse than the Japanese stuff I'm currently preferring but if you had to point out why you are enjoying Japanese game so much at the moment, what would that be? Plain availability with upper tier Western games being surprisingly underrepresented in Q1? That is certainly a viable answer I think (or I might have just lost focus on many good Western releases, it's hard to keep up).

In my opinion, I can definitely name two things Japanese games oftentimes have in common which draw my attention:

1. Tight controls. Most of these games are 3rd person games and I have honestly very little tolerance these days for floaty, weightless, unresponsive controls. It happens with Japanese games too, mind you. TLG is one of the worst offenders in gaming, west or east, when it comes to plain controls, but on average, Japanese devs absolutely nail it. Western devs accomplish that too sometimes, but I feel like it's less of a priority in 3rd person games. Surprisingly no problems when it comes to 1st person games however.
I love good controls and I think every single game would be well, WELL better if it steered nicely. Good movement and combat should be a priority more often.

2. Less ambition to recreate the real world. Very much a personal thing and many might see it differently, but I certainly love the level of abstraction Japanese games oftentimes offer. As with everything, there are contrary examples on both sides, but on average I feel like Japanese games are more gamey and don't mind exposing their video game origin. I'm playing Yakuza 0 at the moment and while relatively grounded in setting and story, my fists start to glow when I punch people in the face and my punches get stronger. I like that.

 

[daviyoung]

60fps

 

[AuthenticM]

I think it's the more elaborate gameplay mechanics and systems, and the attention to detail.

 

[GinoFelino]

Excessive nudity on female characters

 

[PandaShake]

Good games are good.

 

[Smooth Operator]

60fps
Gameplay first

 

[Imp the Dimp]

60fps

I wanted to include that and it certainly applies to console games, but as PC/PS4 combo player, I get to play virtually everything in 60 fps, east or west. Too easy an argument to deconstruct honestly.

 

[Screaming Meat]

Honour and shame are huge parts of it.

 

[kromeo]

Honour and shame are huge parts of it.

You sound like an expert

 

[Hayama Akito]

Charming and unique games with incredible attention to detail.

 

[emalord]

Even the worst-designed japanese Boss Fights are way better designed than the best western ones

 

[IlGialloMondadori]

Def agree Japan is back, and I'm very, very glad to see it.
Resident Evil 7 has a big western influence, but it still feels Japanese.

 

[sir_bumble_bee]

I think it's the more elaborate gameplay mechanics and systems, and the attention to detail.

This.

 

[Ferr986]

I tend to enjoy japanese games because gameplay and controls.

I feel they're more fluid instead on being tied to realism, and that makes them more fun to play. They are also usually better in combat mechanics (see PG games or NioH).

Tbf I'm tired of their storytelling and character designs, I kinda liked them 10-15 years ago but now I'm really tired of these anime stories and wacky designs (of course there's exceptions), but I'm still there because of the awesome gameplay.

 

[bob_arctor]

Still the king of action/action-rpg and fighting games. Still the king of level design. Tight, deep gameplay. That's enough for me.

 

[Aeana]

Based on my observations, I think the certain something is called boobs.

 

[PillarEN]

The subconscious and conscious way that the Japanese culture influences the games which are primarily made by people who are from Japan and only understand that culture as their mother culture.

Same reason why eastern European PC games have such a certain vibe to them. The people involved in development come from a perspective that is very typical from their world and world view.

EDIT: Oh and waifus are neat too I guess.

 

[Bloodporne]

Being the age I am, early 30s to be exact, I remember video games as being something intrinsically Japanese growing up I guess. There's a specific feel to that that I'm not sure how to describe.

When I play something like Nioh right now, it really brings me back to the quirkiness and idiosyncrasies of all that and it touches on a certain type of enjoyment factor in me. I guess it feels familiar and comfortable.

I've never given it enough thought to be honest to be able to really link it to mechanics or anything like that. One thing I do appreciate though are the seemingly more ridiculous anime/anything goes stories and themes.

 

[Naked Lunch]

For Japanese's best, its the combination of the controls and gameplay systems that give you the freedom to develop your own playstyle (ala Bayonetta, Vanquish, Sin & Punishment, Ace Combat) and wraping it up in challenge that makes the game worth playing through in the first place (Souls). So many western games are 'easy as pie, watch the story unfold' pointless affairs to me. From the top games, the quality and depth of actual gameplay is night and day still from east and west.

 

[Imp the Dimp]

I tend to enjoy japanese games because gameplay and controls.

I feel they're more fluid instead on being tied to realism, and that makes them more fun to play. They are also usually better in combat mechanics (see PG games or NioH).

Tbf I'm tired of their storytelling and character designs, I kinda liked them 10-15 years ago but now I'm really tired of these anime stories and wacky designs (of course there's exceptions), but I'm still there because of the awesome gameplay.

I love Japanese gaming at the moment, I'm not too fond of Anime however. Harem and/or loli garbage is almost a deal-breaker for me. I tolerate the harem simulator aspect of Persona 5 because I loved the mechanics of the predecessors, but other than that I tend avoid games like that. Overall, I'm really happy there are many Japanese games which don't resort to any of that. None of the games listed in my OP do.

 

[notaskwid]

Based on my observations, I think the certain something is called boobs.

I don't think Mortal Kombat is that popular on GAF.

 

[firelogic]

It's the quirkiness that many Japanese games have that Western developed ones don't. You can have deathly serious scenarios and then suddenly something totally off the wall kooky and funny. They juxtapose those instances really well. Yakuza 0 is a prime example. At least, that's what I like. The MGS franchise is another example. They're also not afraid to go over the top. Again, Yakuza is a game based on reality but some crazy fighting stuff happens. In a game like DMC3, even though it's fantastical, they still go that extra mile above and beyond and have Dante do some seriously, "WTF" kinds of things. I love that!

 

[mrmickfran]

They focus on the shit that matters

Fantastic gameplay and smooth framerates as opposed to cinematic experiences.
Bosses that actually feel like a test of gameplay as opposed to an interactive cutscene.
Music is unique and catchy and not some throwaway generic choir.

There are some Western devs that understand the points that I presented though. (Retro, Respawn, old-rare, Netherrealm)

 

[Jaguar Victory]

Based on my observations, I think the certain something is called boobs.

I'm ashamed. I think that's part of it.

I've also noticed with Anime especially they do a great job at world building and generate some cool unique fantasy settings. Elves, demons, swords and sorcery, typically the domain of D&D and western endeavors have been coopted by the Japanese and they're doing more with it now.

Of course, pairing it with boobs and booty shorts with boots.

 

[Princess Viola]

anime tiddays

 

[Sheentak]

Straight up boobs and cute guys

 

[Bloodporne]

Ah yeah, REAL bosses since others have mentioned it. I need those bosses with a health bar, all day please.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I think we have been beaten down by focus group me-too western design that this recent wave of Japanese games feels ultra fresh.

 

[TheSpoiler]

Being a weeaboo

 

[Manmademan]

Sounds like a personal preference. I've hit the point where wacky JP tropes in games is a turnoff, personally.

 

[JimPanzer]

Waifus

Spoiler

nah, for me it's complexity and depth

 

[cireza]

The way they design their games.

Crazy/original ideas.

 

[IlGialloMondadori]

Definitely feels like gameplay and level design are king, rather than cinematic experiences. This comes at the expense of story and writing sometimes, but I'm totally fine with that.

I'd rather a game really felt like a game, if that makes sense. Some of the arcade roots still showing.

 

[Kudo]

They're wacky enough to get their own genre.

 

[notaskwid]

Not being ashamed of being a videogame is a big part I think.

 

[asagami_]

I'd rather a game really felt like a game, if that makes sense. Some of the arcade roots still showing.

I was going to say this.

 

[Chao]

They seem to think about gameplay first, which makes games fun to, well, play.

Western developers are more obsessed about shiny shaders and make sure to make them look as good as possible, and then they throw a bit of gameplay there if they still have any time and/or budget left.

 

[DrArchon]

I feel like, on the whole, the games with the gameplay complexity and responsiveness that I love happen to be Japanese, while similar styled western games either don't exist or don't have nearly the level of depth that I crave. Look at a game like Bayonetta 2. Any Western games that are like that? Maybe the God of War games, but those aren't nearly as deep. Certainly nothing from EA, Ubi, or Activsion. Titanfall 2 probably has a much higher level of depth than a lot of FPS games, but I'm not the biggest fan of multiplayer shooters anymore.

Obviously this is just talking about the Western AAA scene. There are TONS of mechanically deep indie games out there, but Japanese action games typically have higher production values as well as deep mechanics. Truly the best of both worlds.

 

[FarFromAnyGame]

I personally don't like Japanese games. They feel very outdated. Bad graphics. Bad character animations, usually not realistic and very stiff, especially facial animations.

Sometimes they're too "gamey" I don't know. I like realistic, cinematic experiences.

Spoiler

I wish Yakuza is made by western devs.

 

[SaniOYOYOY]

definitely music for me

ambiance approach in many of western game just cant cut it

 

[Regiruler]

I believe it is proximity to Masahiro Sakurai's cat.

Thus, naturally, Masahiro Sakurai has the most special sauce of anyone on the planet.

 

[Silvard]

I feel like Japanese games are less limited by their narrative constraints and focus less on the setting/plot/etc than on pure, enjoyable, minute to minute gameplay experience.

 

[GinoFelino]

I personally don't like Japanese games. They feel very outdated. Bad graphics. Bad character animations, usually not realistic and very stiff, especially facial animations.

Sometimes they're too "gamey" I don't know. I like realistic, cinematic experiences.

Spoiler

I wish Yakuza is made by western devs.

:O

 

[TokiDoki]

Precision in gameplay . You don't get that kind of precision from MGS : Rising , Bayonetta , Devil May Cry , Vanquish and even Soulsbourne games in Western games . Geralt felt like a truck in comparison .

 

[Spukc]

turned base ?

 

[Imp the Dimp]

turned base ?

What about it?

 

[Ruruja]

Wackiness.

 

[Ratrat]

Based on my observations, I think the certain something is called boobs.

Quality post.

 

[LiK]

Japanese games always take more risks than the Western devs. It's a fact.

 

[kromeo]

Sometimes they're too "gamey" I don't know. I like realistic, cinematic experiences.

Spoiler

.

I play Japanese games to get away from this