JRPGs or American RPGs

Which do you prefer? I personally prefer JRPGs because I've always liked the battle systems and they always tell a good story. Although, Oblivion is quite good and I've heard good things about Bioshock. Also, Neverwinter Nights.

My favorite JRPGSs are Final Fantasy X, VII (also the most over-rated to some), VII, Tales of Symphonia, and Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga.

I was under the impression both have equally bad and good games.

Originally Posted by Luke Groundwalker

I was under the impression both have equally bad and good games.

I understand, but many people have a preference, as I prefer JRPGs to American RPGs. They're different on so many levels, it's like being asked if you prefer fighting games over racing games.

I personally do not like turn based systems so I perfer Western style RPGs however Im not much of an RPG officianado

I don't have any particular preference when it comes to RPG's, unless my Final Fantasy fanatacism comes into play.

Oh, and I really loved The Legend of Dragoon. What type of the above RPG's was that one?

Originally Posted by Blizzaga

I don't have any particular preference when it comes to RPG's, unless my Final Fantasy fanatacism comes into play.

Oh, and I really loved The Legend of Dragoon. What type of the above RPG's was that one?

I believe the Legend of Dragoon is a Japanese RPG or JRPG. JRPGs focus on story-telling and battle systems much like Final Fantasy. American RPGs are more free-roaming and open-ended like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. They both rely on stats of some sort, however.

Gaming has evolved to the point where the plot is truly an important part of the game, just as sound or gameplay or art direction is. Therefore, seeing as Japanese RPGs tend to have deeper, better plots than Western RPGs, while still allowing a large amount of depth in gameplay (although not as open-ended as Western RPGs), Japanese RPGs are superior.

I generally prefer Japanese RPGs. I don't really like games like KoTOR, Fable, or Oblivion.

Originally Posted by Andross

Gaming has evolved to the point where the plot is truly an important part of the game, just as sound or gameplay or art direction is. Therefore, seeing as Japanese RPGs tend to have deeper, better plots than Western RPGs, while still allowing a large amount of depth in gameplay (although not as open-ended as Western RPGs), Japanese RPGs are superior.

Quite honestly, I'd say most American RPGs consist of better plots in general. Your average japanese plot is not nearly as amazing as your average American plot. There are, of course, several exceptions to this rule. While most Japanese plots essentially come down to a "I must find the Sword Of Faith in order to destroy the final boss! storyline, the average american plot of a common american RPG is mainly deeper.

Those are my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by Lieutenant Lollipop

Quite honestly, I'd say most American RPGs consist of better plots in general. Your average japanese plot is not nearly as amazing as your average American plot. There are, of course, several exceptions to this rule. While most Japanese plots essentially come down to a "I must find the Sword Of Faith in order to destroy the final boss! storyline, the average american plot of a common american RPG is mainly deeper.

Those are my 2 cents.

I agree for the most part. But I just don't like American RPGs.

Logically, there's also a matter of personal preference.

I, personally, prefer American RPGs for the most part. American RPGs tend to be far more open-ended and less linear than Japanese RPGs, but don't get me wrong; I've played some great Japanese RPGs in my life.

Originally Posted by Lieutenant Lollipop

Quite honestly, I'd say most American RPGs consist of better plots in general. Your average japanese plot is not nearly as amazing as your average American plot. There are, of course, several exceptions to this rule. While most Japanese plots essentially come down to a "I must find the Sword Of Faith in order to destroy the final boss! storyline, the average american plot of a common american RPG is mainly deeper.

Those are my 2 cents.

I disagree; generally, American RPGs have "forge your own adventure"-type plots, and most of them revolve around dungeon-crawling and killing generic bad guys/monsters (Often times, from what I've played, they are either "pure evil", without many gray areas). Many don't have set plots at all, and put you into an open-ended environment with scattered quests, here and there. Also, many Western RPGs have strictly traditional fantasy and/or strictly traditional sci-fi atmospheres; you don't see the two genres mix to create more unique atmospheres as much as Eastern RPGs do. I've played many Western RPGs, and few have had plots that surpass the excellence of Eastern RPGs. Of course, there's always exceptions, but I don't see many Final Fantasies come out of the West.

Agree to disagree, I guess; opinions will always differ.

There are some really great American RPGs such as Oblivion (or any Elder Scrolls) or Neverwinter Nights, but it's probably the story-telling I like the most in a JRPG. I usually really like the battle systems, though. Especially if there's some sort of customization such as the GFs in FF VIII. By the way, I was thinking of trying FF IX, does anyone think it's as good as VII or VIII?

I like the game-play in some J-RPG's (such as FF or Fire Emblem), but I prefer American ones, such as KotOR and Oblivion. Better stories in my opinion.

Which RPG type is EarthBound and Mother 3?

Originally Posted by Blizzaga

I don't have any particular preference when it comes to RPG's, unless my Final Fantasy fanatacism comes into play.

Oh, and I really loved The Legend of Dragoon. What type of the above RPG's was that one?

It was made in Japan, so it's a JRPG.

Originally Posted by Bobby Emerald

Which RPG type is EarthBound and Mother 3?

They're made in Japan, so they're JRPGs, though a completely different kind to the FF games.

I like a lot of the RPG games from both countries. I'm currently playing Oblivion and enjoying how much choice and freedom I have over the environment and the amount of interaction I have with it. I can legally proceed through the game and become famous and powerful, or I can rob palaces of all their possessions and then sell them off. It's just so fun :3

I also like games such as the Final Fantasy series and Legend of Dragoon (which the username I signed up to ZU on, Divine Dragoon, is based on), especially for the storytelling. I also enjoyed the combat system of Legend of Dragoon and wish they'd bring it back for other games.

Of course, there are other completely different style JRPGS, like Harvest Moon, which have no real plot or combat whatsoever. I still find these extremely fun and addicting.

I can't really say that one of the styles are better than another, sine I enjoy them all, just in different ways.