Coffee Dog
Banned
Well, he did ask for a jrpg. :^)
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Help a newbie pick a JRPG
- Thread starter Thewonandonly
- Start date
Well, he did ask for a jrpg. :^)
This is what I came to recommend. If you don't like that, I don't know what you would like. That's the pinnacle of JRPG.
Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest 8, and Persona 4 are great JRPGs for your first as well.
Cornbread78
Member
Kick it old school with FFVII or action oriented with Tales of Zestiria on PS4 or Tales of Hearts on Vita.
Aaronrules380
Member
As a fan of the series, I feel obligated to point out that trails in the sky, trails in the sky sc, and trails of cold steel are all playable on a vita and you should try them immediately, especially if you're looking for good stories
Ivory Samoan
Member
PS4: Bloodborne + Final Fantasy X Remastered (includes X-2 also)
Haven't got a WiiU myself, but heard only great things about Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Haven't got a WiiU myself, but heard only great things about Xenoblade Chronicles X.
LimitedTimeGamer
Member
Rogue Galaxy.
The Game literally gives you a ultimate weapon in the first 5 minutes of playing.
The Game literally gives you a ultimate weapon in the first 5 minutes of playing.
Elfforkusu
Member
Chrono Trigger.
huh?
anyway, assuming you're not inexperienced with RPGs in general, look into Xenoblade Chronicles X
game is excellent
OpinionatedCyborg
Member
Don't play Persona. This is yet another case where the film is VASTLY superior to the videogame adaptation. Watch it. 100 hours of tedium vs 80 minutes of bliss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySa4fK9SqII
Aaronrules380
Member
Uh, what? The film is the adaption, not the game
it really is a shame about the combat, all it needed was something simple and functional and the game would have been amazing in my eyes
i have no clue what they were going for, but it didn't resonate with me in the slightest, and the entire familiar system suffered greatly because of it
InvertedComposer
Banned
Since you don't like Persona, I guess that's out of the book...
I'd go with more final fantasy since XV inspired you to play more.
I recommend IX, VII, and X. I'm biased toward X since thats my first JRPG.
White Knight Chronicles (1&2), the Souls Series
Also the Tales and Ys Series are worth taking a look into, playing Tales of Zestiria for now, it's nice.
Def Chrono Trigger though, GOAT.
I'd go with more final fantasy since XV inspired you to play more.
I recommend IX, VII, and X. I'm biased toward X since thats my first JRPG.
White Knight Chronicles (1&2), the Souls Series
Also the Tales and Ys Series are worth taking a look into, playing Tales of Zestiria for now, it's nice.
Def Chrono Trigger though, GOAT.
T.Slothrop
Member
I don't think many people have played Phantasy Star 4 since it was like $100 on the Genesis and has seen like one insignificant rerelease. Which is too bad. From what I played of it, it seemed pretty fucking epic. Going to give it the time it deserves at some point soon.
chaosblade
Unconfirmed Member
The perfect opportunity to recommend Ys: Oath in Felghana, PSP verison is playable on Vita. Or PC, if you have one that isn't a pile of trash from 2004. Simple mechanically (complete opposite end of the spectrum as something like Xenoblade X), action-heavy, fairly short, and a good entry point for the Ys series.
Come on, the OP isn't that long of a read.
Thewonandonly
Junior Member
Allrigit so I decided to I'm going to get final fantasy 7 for the ps4. Then I currently have persona 4 golden downloading on my vita tonight. After those I will play chrono Chross or trigger which ever one is first. Then after those I'm going to play mother and earthbound on the wii u. I made it my New Years resolution this year to try and play some of the classic well known games that are easy to play. So more suggestions are welcomed but thank you guys for all the suggestions already I really appreciate it. I will update on how I feel about the games once I beat them.
Good choices. Probably the best picks for a newbie to the genre. I'd also recommend FF4, it's a relatively straightforward game that still has a ton of charm, and fantastic music.
Blue Dragon is also a pretty decent pick if you have a 360. It's not very challenging, relatively straightforward, and looks nice. Even if the story and characterization isn't on par with some of the other games suggested.
Do not agree with all the people who suggested Xenoblade X. Game is extremely complex, has an overwhelming number of systems and quests... I've been playing RPGs for 25+ years and never have I been so overwhelmed as I have with Xeno X.
Or Phantasy Star 2... it's my favorite game of all time but it is PUNISHING. Long, sprawling, challenging dungeons and a steep grind. I definitely recommend playing it if you're in this for the long haul, though.
entremet
Member
The PS4 version allows you turn of encounters, max your level and gil. It's has some nice beginner friendly options. It also has a fast forward option, making the game much shorter.
JetSetRadio
Banned
Ni No Kuni is the answer.
It could be on that silly PS3 streaming service for PS4.
It could be on that silly PS3 streaming service for PS4.
lemonlyman
Member
It's not.
Skulduggery
Banned
More of you guys need to play Dark Cloud 2, so I'm recommending that.
Sheriff_Battlesnake
Banned
Is turn based combat your thing? Chrono Trigger is always my go to. Charming, extraordinarily paced, fun characters, and has a strong sense of identity. It feels like a classic tale while doing a few things here and there that set it above what it lends from. But blah blah blah this is probably the most popular suggestion.
If you want something more modern and have a 360, go grab Tales of Vesperia. Or if you play on Steam, grab Symphonia when it comes out. These, along with PS1s Tales of Destiny, are the strongest Tales titles. They are pretty tropey, but it's fun and breezy and sometimes actually pulls off the twist they seem adamant about including.
If you want something more modern and have a 360, go grab Tales of Vesperia. Or if you play on Steam, grab Symphonia when it comes out. These, along with PS1s Tales of Destiny, are the strongest Tales titles. They are pretty tropey, but it's fun and breezy and sometimes actually pulls off the twist they seem adamant about including.
The12thGripper
Member
Xenoblade on Wii (U). Start out with one of the best out there, you owe it to yourself.
If you're going to play Souls game though, I recommend renting one to see what you think of it because they're pretty garbage imo.
If you're going to play Souls game though, I recommend renting one to see what you think of it because they're pretty garbage imo.
Aight, for the PS4 I'd recommend FFVII and Bloodborne, for the WiiU I definitely think Xenoblade Chronicles X and Xenoblade Chronicles Wii via Eshop download are definitely worth checking out.
I'd honestly recommend the last (Xenoblade Chronicles Wii via Eshop download) the most. Fantastic JRPG and it does have a lot to offer if you can get past the low resolution textures.
I'd honestly recommend the last (Xenoblade Chronicles Wii via Eshop download) the most. Fantastic JRPG and it does have a lot to offer if you can get past the low resolution textures.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Both of the Xenoblades are pretty complicated mechanically and very different than the JRPG norm so I wouldn't recommend them for someone new to the genre. Good games though so definitely save them for later.
Persona 4 Golden would be my choice - it's very high quality, it has multiple difficulty levels (quite easy on the lowest setting, fairly hard on the highest), and it's dirt cheap right now ($9 for PS+ members). And once you beat Persona 4G, you'll be well equipped to take on pretty much any other game.
Outside of Xenoblade X on the Wii U, Tales of Zestiria & Disgaea 5 on the PS4, and some lower budget fare on the PS4, there's not a whole lot in the way of JRPGs on the current gen consoles at the moment. Vita & 3DS are where it's at.
Persona 4 Golden would be my choice - it's very high quality, it has multiple difficulty levels (quite easy on the lowest setting, fairly hard on the highest), and it's dirt cheap right now ($9 for PS+ members). And once you beat Persona 4G, you'll be well equipped to take on pretty much any other game.
Outside of Xenoblade X on the Wii U, Tales of Zestiria & Disgaea 5 on the PS4, and some lower budget fare on the PS4, there's not a whole lot in the way of JRPGs on the current gen consoles at the moment. Vita & 3DS are where it's at.
Bloodborne and P4 are horrible suggestions for a first JRPG. Talk about throwing someone into the fire. I wouldn't even suggest my favorite Ni No Kuni.
Start with some classics in the SNES and PS1 era like Chrono Trigger, FF6, or Super Mario RPG to get introduced to fundamental mechanics.
If you want to dive right into current generation try Child of Light. Something with good turn based combat mechanics that'll teach buffs, debuffs, and the elemental RPS magic systems.
Start with some classics in the SNES and PS1 era like Chrono Trigger, FF6, or Super Mario RPG to get introduced to fundamental mechanics.
If you want to dive right into current generation try Child of Light. Something with good turn based combat mechanics that'll teach buffs, debuffs, and the elemental RPS magic systems.
Final Fantasy is a great place to start. Depending who you ask most of would say the he series has very few stinkers, the earliest game I think people will universally praise is FF4. The NES ones are a little less naritivley driven, seems like people don't like ff2 that much, V is so under rated because it never saw a release here until years after the fact but is maybe the best designed game in the series. 6 is universally loved. 7 has its detractors but is fun, perhaps a bit too easy. 8 seems to be he most decisive game in the series perhaps followed by 9 because 9s pace and more naive throwback to the earlier games. After that the universal praise is less consistent. But try them out. They become very different after 9.
I would start with 4, or 7. But don't skip 5 and 6, personally they are my favorites.
Also there is a psn sale going on now, bound to be something there worth getting.
Earthbound, Suikoden, and persona are also great series.
I would start with 4, or 7. But don't skip 5 and 6, personally they are my favorites.
Also there is a psn sale going on now, bound to be something there worth getting.
Earthbound, Suikoden, and persona are also great series.
The Steam version of Grandia 2 is excellent. 60fps across the board, super nice looking.
Underrated
Member
I would go with FF7 on your PS4. Perfect RPG for beginners IMO. I think you'll like it.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
P4G is noticeably easier than the original P4 AND has even easier difficulty options if you want to tone it down even more. My teenage daughter loved the game and she wasn't exactly an RPG master when she started it. Last I heard, she was trying to defeat Margaret on one of her repeat playthroughs (aka the ultra hard optional boss) - how quickly they grow up!
The problem with recommending something like Chrono Trigger or FF6 these days is that they're ancient. Combat is slow & brutally simple and you have to like pixel art (or whatever FF6 mobile's graphics are) and chiptunes. Not really ideal as an introductory game for somebody new to the genre, but obviously worth playing if they determine that they like the genre and want to try out the classics.
nadnerb 64
Neo Member
Get a vita on the cheap and play Persona 4 Golden.
Thewonandonly
Junior Member
where would you recommend I play it then and should I play it before chromo cross or after.
I've only sunk about 10 hours in, total, but Monster Hunter is awesome. Especially if you play a lot of multiplayer.
You have a vita? Muramasa Rebirth:
ARPG with two protagonists, so you can switch between stories if you get bored. I'd absolutely recommend this if you're interested in jrpgs but aren't too into the anime side of things. If you're ok with anime, I'd recommend P4G or Trails of Cold Steel, for sure.
ARPG with two protagonists, so you can switch between stories if you get bored. I'd absolutely recommend this if you're interested in jrpgs but aren't too into the anime side of things. If you're ok with anime, I'd recommend P4G or Trails of Cold Steel, for sure.
If you want to start with one of the best, you should stay away from Xenoblade. That's just ok I think. Xenoblade's story and characters were very boring. All the customization, the gem crafting, the pages of collectables and random items, having to unequip gems at the shop just to do comparison shopping, and the quests were really tedious.
Xenogears would be a better choice.
If you owned a ds that version has the best controls and translation. Otherwise the Snes for control and or iOS because it wasn't butchered like the other square games and just suffers from touchscreen controller emulation which isn't too bad because it isn't a reflex heavy game. Though I'm assuming that game is fine, personally I only know a friend who's played a bit of the iOS version.