In the world of videogames the role playing or RPG genre is one of the most favorite and most played genres. Players love to sit back and play a game where they can feel the story and immerse in its unique gameplays. The Japanese RPG or JPRG as we would come to know it has had its boom back in the late 80’s, mid 90’s and early of the 2000’s. It is arguable that JRPGs today have lost their luster and you can only find a few tolerable ones but that’s not to say that the specific RPG genre which is JRPG has gone stale enough.
In its tenure in the past, JRPGs have always had their shine and interest within them. One of the primary contributions to a JRPG’s success is its immense story. These games are usually sought after for good story lines. They aren’t like any other genre because JRPGs can be played for hours with some stretching to a hundred if you include the side materials other than the main content. Story is one thing which makes a JRPG successful. That story is accompanied by a cast of lovable characters, memorable places and events that leave a warm spot in your heart for years to come.
One other contributing factor to a JRPG’s success is its innovative gameplay. The more common gameplay mechanic is either divided into tactical or action. Action RPGs back then are more focused on fast paced action and real time movements. Several examples of JRPG action games are the Legend of Zelda, Mana series, Devil May Cry and others. Tactical JRPGs involve a much slower pace of action as well as thinking of your next move. These can be either time based or the free time of turn based system. This gameplay allows you to be tactical and think of the next step ahead. Several examples include the Final Fantasy series, Persona series, Dragon Quest series and others.
Finally the other contributing factors to a JRPG’s success are all the other little things. These would include the music tracks playing that add to the game’s personality. This also includes the breathtaking visuals or cinematics that would play during the beginning, middle and end of these games. It could also be the small plot interest points found in these games making the overall production better. It’s no doubt that JRPGs have gained their popularity in the past while still making strives today. It’s a bit questionable if JRPGs have lost their luster today which why next time we’ll take a look at this alleged downfall of the genre but maybe it’s just a matter of personal taste and opinions as to how the genre is really viewed today.
