The Mega JRPG thread.

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

This is an offshoot of the Final Fantasy thread. All JRPG talk is welcome, whether Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest or Fire Emblem.

Feel free to compare your Final Fantasy Tactics to Fire Emblem: Three Houses to your heart's content. Bring in Shining force while you are at it.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the only Fire Emblem i like, for the life of me i have never been able to like the series, i always stop caring around 1/3 of the game before moving on to something else. Hell you can get me to play Tokyo Mirage Sessions over any mainline Fire Emblem game.

 

[OmegaPunch's icon OmegaPunch OmegaPunch]

Hot take (probably):
Final Fantasy VIII is not that bad.

 

[UnDubious]

Hot take (probably):
Final Fantasy VIII is not that bad.

Final Fantasy VIII is not bad at all, it's pretty great. The whole first disc feels like a sci-fi vacation with occasional missions and not at all like the typical RPG grind, I found it really refreshing after playing so many RPGs back in the day to be able to just take it easy in a cool world. Sure the later part is not quite as good but that's true of all almost every older FF (no idea about the newer ones, I don't keep up).

 

[Gorse]

As a complete non-FF fan, FFVIII is the only one I've ever even considered playing. I think the chicks in it are kinda cute, for girls in a 90s JRPG.

 

[BlissfulBandit]

A few days ago I started a new game of Metal Max just to take a screenshot and share here, then... I ended up deciding to replay it all over again, because why not? I just beat the Mutantdile and got the LAV.

 

[OmegaPunch's icon OmegaPunch OmegaPunch]

Final Fantasy VIII is not bad at all, it's pretty great. The whole first disc feels like a sci-fi vacation with occasional missions and not at all like the typical RPG grind, I found it really refreshing after playing so many RPGs back in the day to be able to just take it easy in a cool world. Sure the later part is not quite as good but that's true of all almost every older FF (no idea about the newer ones, I don't keep up).

Yeah.
I've found The Junction system and GFs to be really unique and really makes the game stand out.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

As a complete non-FF fan, FFVIII is the only one I've ever even considered playing. I think the chicks in it are kinda cute, for girls in a 90s JRPG.

Hot take (probably):
Final Fantasy VIII is not that bad.

Quistis, Triple Triad and the GF animations are the best aspects of FFVIII. Squall was a fool for turning her down.

 

[OmegaPunch's icon OmegaPunch OmegaPunch]

People always say that Final Fantasy VII is the best one.
But that doesn't mean it's a flawless masterpiece.

 

[J.F.C]

What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

 

[Gorse]

I hear tell that FF9 basically requires you to have played at least 7 and 8 before it to get the full experience. Is that true? I shouldn’t start with that one then, right?

 

[OmegaPunch's icon OmegaPunch OmegaPunch]

I hear tell that FF9 basically requires you to have played at least 7 and 8 before it to get the full experience. Is that true? I shouldn’t start with that one then, right?

Don't know.
Just start with whichever you like.
If you don't like it, play another one.

 

[J.F.C]

I hear tell that FF9 basically requires you to have played at least 7 and 8 before it to get the full experience. Is that true? I shouldn’t start with that one then, right?

It's fine as a starting point. Who the hell even told you that anyway? I'd say that 6 or 7 are better starting points for Final Fantasy but that doesn't mean that you can't play 9 first.

 

[MasterEn]

I hear tell that FF9 basically requires you to have played at least 7 and 8 before it to get the full experience. Is that true? I shouldn’t start with that one then, right?

hell no. if anything, 9 is one of the ones that you should start with.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

People always say that Final Fantasy VII is the best one.

Bro, my favorite FF is V, no one ever praises V unless they mean the job system.

What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

Its one of my favorite series.

 

[BlissfulBandit]

What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

It's a fantastic series, Nocturne is one of my favorite games of all time. Still hoping for someone to translate the PS1 version of SMT2.

 

[OmegaPunch's icon OmegaPunch OmegaPunch]

It's fine as a starting point. Who the hell even told you that anyway? I'd say that 6 or 7 are better starting points for Final Fantasy but that doesn't mean that you can't play 9 first.

The games are basically an Anthology series.
@Gorse Play them In any order you want.

View attachment 37033
What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

They're the greatest JRPGs I ever played.
My favorites are IV and Strange Journey.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

View attachment 37033
What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

I like Nocturne the best. The SNES SMT games are kind of rough. I also like Strange Journey and Devil Survivor on the DS.

 

[Noon]

There's so many awesome old and new ones I can't keep track of my favorite genre ?

I really love the feel of Linda Cube Again, That kind of cerebral vibe and non standard JRPG mechanic heavy setup is totally my jam.

Generation of Chaos V is super underrated, the mechanics, map design, unit variety are crazy. The Neverland Series is a master at giving a mediocre first impression though lol.

For newer ones, Relayer, Reynatis, The Good Life, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (I hate the project but I love the game) My backlog is Immense...

 

[Tengu Plant]

View attachment 37033
What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

Excellent series, one of my favorites.
The edgy (positive value judgment) cyberpunk setting and aesthetics, the well researched demons, the way the alignment system can be used in different ways between games, the difficulty and of course the great art and music.
It all just comes together so well.

Post automatically merged: Mar 5, 2025

I hear tell that FF9 basically requires you to have played at least 7 and 8 before it to get the full experience. Is that true? I shouldn’t start with that one then, right?

Well, it's not a sequel or anything, but it is meant as a return to the series fantasy roots in contrast to the scifi settings of 6, 7, and 8.
It's not a big deal though, you can start with any of them.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

For SMTs my favorite is Nocturne.

But i like the Spin-off games too, mostly the Raidou games, Digital Devil Saga is great too.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

Excellent series, one of my favorites.
The edgy (positive value judgment) cyberpunk setting and aesthetics, the well researched demons, the way the alignment system can be used in different ways between games, the difficulty and of course the great art and music.
It all just comes together so well.

I like the Law/Neutral/Chaos morality system and multiple endings. I dislike that it seems like the newer titles have moved away from that, it was one of the features that made the series unique.

 

[PrismRed]

View attachment 37033
What are your guys thoughts on SMT?

Back in my day when kids are busy hunting espers I was out there risking my life battling gods, deities, otherworldly beings, and flipping off YHWH.

 

[OmegaPunch's icon OmegaPunch OmegaPunch]

Excellent series, one of my favorites.
The edgy (positive value judgment) cyberpunk setting and aesthetics, the well researched demons, the way the alignment system can be used in different ways between games, the difficulty and of course the great art and music.
It all just comes together so well.

The music and art are my favorite things about the series.
Kazuma Kaneko (when he was still working as the character and demon designer) is such a great artist.
Shoji Meguro and Ryota Kozuka's compositions for the games are some of the greatest pieces of music I've ever heard.
And I love how SMT IV just feels like I'm playing an Old-school JRPG, as the developers said they wanted to evoke the style and feeling of the first SMT.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

Something i have been wanting to get off my chest:

I feel that the remake of SMT3 Nocturne is too clean, i feel like the PS2 version had a more oppressive and dirty atmosphere, it really does feel that you are in a strange world, and that the world is ending. In the remake it just doesn't feel like that, everything is too clean and neat.

Anyone else felt that?