Help Getting Into JRPGs

[darthmunky]

For years, I've always greatly respected JRPGs but whenever I try to play them, I almost always lose interest and never finish. I don't know why exactly, it could be the level grinding and repetitive battles or it could just be that I have ADD... I own A LOT of JRPGs but I can honestly say that I don't remember ever completing one.

I got really far in FF6 on SNES but I stopped playing and when I tried to pick it up again, I had no idea what part I was at and/or what I was supposed to do. I've tried to play many FF games over the years, I have come to the conclusion that I CANNOT play any of the 3D ones (Any after FF6), I find them too complex. Chrono Trigger was the saving grace, I LOVE that game, I'm currently at the boss. All I have to do is kill him and I'm done.

So basically what I'm asking is; what JRPGs would you recommend to a beginner in the genre? I was thinking Dragon Quest/Warrior. I hear it's basically FF without the bullshit, it cuts to the chase.

EDIT: I'm looking for JRPGs with very minimal grinding and reading. Fast paced but still a great story is what I'm looking for. Also, I don't have a PS2 or PSP so please don't suggest games for those systems, thanks.

[BoringSupreez]

I have the same problem as you. I can't stay interested in a JRPG past the 20 hour mark, so the only ones I've ever gotten all the way through are Chrono Trigger and Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time. I'm halfway through the second disc of FF7, and 2/3rds of the way through Chrono Chross, but I've been that far through both for over half a year, and doubt I'll ever win either. I just can't stay interested that long.

For some reason though, I can get past the 20 hour mark on western RPG's and other game genres just fine. I've played through KOTOR and KOTOR 2 multiple times, even though it takes me on average 36 hours per playthrough. And I've sunk literally hundreds of hours into C&C Generals. It's just JRPGs I can't get through.

[darthmunky]

I hear you! I have over 100 hours in Oblivion and Morrowind and I've played both of those several times. Beat both KOTORs twice, beat Jade Empire twice, Beat Mass Effect 3 times, beat Mass Effect 2 almost twice, beat Fable twice. I don't know why it's just JRPGs.

[Xeogred]

3D FF's too complex? Eh... those are the easiest ones for sure.

Well if you haven't checked out Chrono Cross before, give it a shot since you like Trigger a lot. There's also Xenogears which is from the same devs from the Chrono team though it's pretty different and ambitious, very text heavy, but it's one of my top favorites bar none.

I don't think FF's are the pinnacle of JRPG's anyways. Maybe check out Breath of Fire IV or Suikoden 1-2, or consider checking out the first two Secret of Mana games on the SNES since it has a real time battle system, maybe that'll be more engaging for you and keep you interested (I wish there were more JRPG's like those, Secret of Evermore is pretty solid too).

So basically what I'm asking is; what JRPGs would you recommend to a beginner in the genre? I was thinking Dragon Quest/Warrior. I hear it's basically FF without the bullshit, it cuts to the chase.

I don't know what the "bullshit" is, but I can tell you even if I've barely even touched any of the DQ games, I know they are FAR more grind heavy than any FF game and most of them probably focus a lot more purely on the combat and gameplay. So if that interests you, maybe you'll like them more.

[darthmunky]

3D FF's too complex? Eh... those are the easiest ones for sure.

Well if you haven't checked out Chrono Cross before, give it a shot since you like Trigger a lot. There's also Xenogears which is from the same devs from the Chrono team though it's pretty different and ambitious, very text heavy, but it's one of my top favorites bar none.

I don't think FF's are the pinnacle of JRPG's anyways. Maybe check out Breath of Fire IV or Suikoden 1-2, or consider checking out the first two Secret of Mana games on the SNES since it has a real time battle system, maybe that'll be more engaging for you and keep you interested (I wish there were more JRPG's like those, Secret of Evermore is pretty solid too).

So basically what I'm asking is; what JRPGs would you recommend to a beginner in the genre? I was thinking Dragon Quest/Warrior. I hear it's basically FF without the bullshit, it cuts to the chase.

I don't know what the "bullshit" is, but I can tell you even if I've barely even touched any of the DQ games, I know they are FAR more grind heavy than any FF game and most of them probably focus a lot more purely on the combat and gameplay. So if that interests you, maybe you'll like them more.

I donno what it was about the modern FF games, maybe it's the menus... I got pretty far in Breath of Fire 2 a long time ago... Also by "bullshit", I'm not really sure, it was what I was told. I assumed it meant less reading, less emotional story/characters, faster paced, and less grinding. I should also point out that I don't have a PS2 but games on any other console are welcome for suggestions.

[Xeogred]

I donno what it was about the modern FF games, maybe it's the menus... I got pretty far in Breath of Fire 2 a long time ago... Also by "bullshit", I'm not really sure, it was what I was told.

... what.

The menu's up to at least FF9 have almost always traditionally been the same thing. Maybe you should ... just try these games out for yourself someday? Unless you have, lol. It doesn't really sound like it though. There's no problem not liking the 3D FF's or vice versa, but your reasoning against them just seems a little silly so far. I've got my preferences and rankings for them, but I think all the FF's up to 9 are worth checking out.

As for Breath of Fire IV, I can't stress enough how much more mature and better it is than the first three. II is still decent, and everyone seems to praise III, but I think IV completely destroys them and is probably the best RPG Capcom ever made. Damn good music too.

[jfrost]

So basically what I'm asking is; what JRPGs would you recommend to a beginner in the genre? I was thinking Dragon Quest/Warrior. I hear it's basically FF without the bullshit, it cuts to the chase.

I don't know what the "bullshit" is, but I can tell you even if I've barely even touched any of the DQ games, I know they are FAR more grind heavy than any FF game and most of them probably focus a lot more purely on the combat and gameplay. So if that interests you, maybe you'll like them more.

DQ cuts the bullshit story and cutscenes, at least. Generally DQ stories are much more down to earth and smaller in scope than those of FF. Also, mechanics are never really a problem, whereas FF games differ a lot in mechanics from one installment to the other.

[darthmunky]

The menu's up to at least FF9 have almost always traditionally been the same thing. Maybe you should ... just try these games out for yourself someday? Unless you have, lol. It doesn't really sound like it though. There's no problem not liking the 3D FF's or vice versa, but your reasoning against them just seems a little silly so far. I've got my preferences and rankings for them, but I think all the FF's up to 9 are worth checking out.

I've tried 1, 4, 6, 5, 7, and 12. I found 7 and 12 almost impossible to get into. Again, I just guessed it had something to do with the design as I don't really remember, maybe it's just the 3D game mechanics. I just found them to be too much for me. I tried to play 7 many times but I can't stand it for more than 10 minutes. The camera angles reminded me of the old RE games. I've seen people play 10 and 13 and they didn't look much fun to me. I got furthest in 4 and 6, I had a lot of hours in 6 though.

[Xeogred]

Well about what you said earlier in getting pretty far into FF6, but going back into it after putting it down for a long time I'd say that's just a bad idea for RPG's in general. Always kind of kills them for me as well if I don't play one for awhile. I just started up FFIV PSP and am going to make sure I don't get too busy with other games so I can just focus on this one and finish it again. An obvious tip though, lol. Just gotta have that time and patience.

A lot of PSX JRPG's used pre-rendered backgrounds and static camera angles for area's... so I guess that might be a big issue for you with a lot of them. If you didn't like FF7 though I'd take a guess and say you won't like FF8 either, but give FF9 a shot. It's a little more old school than 7-8 and seems to hit a soft spot for some fans.

Suikoden 1-2 are just top down and sprite based like SNES games, and here's a video that kind of shows off how BoFIV looks:

Maybe you'll dig those styles a little more than the 3D stuff.

There's also the Lunar games.

[pakopako]

For years, I've always greatly respected JRPGs but whenever I try to play them, I almost always lose interest and never finish... it could be the level grinding and repetitive battles or it could just be that I have ADD...

Most likely this.

Chrono Trigger was a lot more friendly about grinding and about introducing new stuff for you to do and keep track of.

So basically what I'm asking is; what JRPGs would you recommend to a beginner in the genre? I was thinking Dragon Quest/Warrior. I hear it's basically FF without the bullshit, it cuts to the chase.

NO.

Dragon Warrior was the opposite of Final Fantasy (when it started out) -- Final Fantasy was created to be a faster-paced and more western-oriented take. I can't vouch for post-PS Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest games, but they get grind HEAVY. The third game, re-released for the GBC, included plenty of things to do (job classes, gambling, idol searching), but it is also very combat-heavy. DW4/DQ4 broke the game down into chapters, which the later games in the series stick to.

I remember there was an introductory JRPG thread here. One of the favored suggestions was Pokemon. Very simple, straight-forward, and has optional OCD-quests. I also suggest Robotrek (SNES) for a decent and slightly more interactive RPG (combat can be menu driven, but it's sort of like a slower-paces "Tales of..." game). And then there's Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES) which is holding your hand the whole way through. (You can beat it in a few hours... literally, a few hours.)

Try Grandia (PS) or Grandia 2 (DC/PC/PS2) for epic battles everywhere (except boss battles, which are kinda boring in comparison).