Which JRPG story stuck with you long after you played it?

[NachoChi]

I'm curious to see everyone's responses/experiences. For me it has to be Shin Megami Tensei II.

Hear me out. I know that the gameplay isn't everybody's cup of tea and I don't necessarily blame them. What got me hooked was the fact that I come from a background of Monster Capture RPGs like Pokemon/Digimon/Dragon Quest Monsters etc. The game definitely doesn't disappoint with that feature, which goes deep for an early 90s. It does have it's difficulty but it's not the third installment iykyk.

To keep it spoiler free: It basically takes place in a post apocalyptic Tokyo that's been overrun by Demons. You're the hero with a path carved for you with certain events that happen. The twist is that you can go the Law, Neutral, or Chaos path depending on your choices throughout the game. You are accompanied by a law hero, chaos hero, and the heroine on top of whatever monsters you have at your disposal. The story gets so wild at certain intervals man and really puts every and all religions and their respective mythos into the fray. Even a good amount of conspiracy theories are in there. You can literally have Loki, Amaterasu, and Ganesh in your party, and that's just to name a few. If playing through the game isn't your thing, I'll link this video that goes over the story and the guy does a pretty good job describing the experience in detail. I beat the game back in 2011 after I graduated high school. I still think about it to this day. I've beaten the other ones but this one has stuck with me the most. Especially since I'm always waist deep in esoteric studies and whatnot

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

the story of SMT 2 is by far my favourite out of all the SMT games. the twists in that game are absolutely enthralling. I also love the final boss of the Law route (IYKYK heheheh)

I own it on PS1 as well, tho i kinda rlly want the super famicom version

 

[Amakuchi]

SMT 1, Koudelka, FF9 and Shadow Hearts all live pretty rent free. Really enjoy those narratives. If we're stepping away from turn-based stuff then the King's Field trilogy is another alongside King's Field 4.

 

[VillainViran]

Recently beat Ys X. I played 8 as my first entry years ago, reached peak of the mountain for one of the big narrative reveals and was so moved I quit to play the series in the director's intended order. One of my fav themes in Ys X is yesterday's villain being tomorrow's hero. It kinda resonated with me as I've known people pre and post "bad person" phase of their lives and it reinforces my belief that behind every saint is a past and every sinner has a future.

Nier Automata I played with an old roommate in a time when I felt pretty disconnected from people around me. I was living like clockwork and the game was a light then. I remember the title drop and credit roll hours and hours in blowing me away. The idea of continuing on despite context really helped me out.

I just thought Racing Lagoon was the coolest shit ever lol it and Ridge Racer R4 were great back to back. Turns out I don't dislike cars, I just think cars are ugly today :D

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

Recently beat Ys X. I played 8 as my first entry years ago, reached peak of the mountain for one of the big narrative reveals and was so moved I quit to play the series in the director's intended order. One of my fav themes in Ys X is yesterday's villain being tomorrow's hero. It kinda resonated with me as I've known people pre and post "bad person" phase of their lives and it reinforces my belief that behind every saint is a past and every sinner has a future.

Nier Automata I played with an old roommate in a time when I felt pretty disconnected from people around me. I was living like clockwork and the game was a light then. I remember the title drop and credit roll hours and hours in blowing me away. The idea of continuing on despite context really helped me out.

I just thought Racing Lagoon was the coolest shit ever lol it and Ridge Racer R4 were great back to back. Turns out I don't dislike cars, I just think cars are ugly today :D

have you played Ys Origin? thats my all time favourite Ys game. Also im a BIG shill for Ys Books 1 and 2 on the PC Engine SUPER CD

 

[VillainViran]

SMT 1, Koudelka, FF9 and Shadow Hearts all live pretty rent free. Really enjoy those narratives. If we're stepping away from turn-based stuff then the King's Field trilogy is another alongside King's Field 4.

King's Field 4 was so much fun to play through. So immersive, and going from micro wrestling with controls to dealing with enemies with meta in mind was so neat. If the old armored core games count then I'd list em too. I'm a sucker for characters wading through a dystopic world.

Post automatically merged: Today at 2:20 AM

have you played Ys Origin? thats my all time favourite Ys game. Also im a BIG shill for Ys Books 1 and 2 on the PC Engine SUPER CD

Yeah! It reminded me a bit of what I liked when I played Xanadu Next. Fast intuitive combat and a mysterious setting that pulls you in.

Going between 1+2, O, X, and now Celceta is a little confusing when controls change xD

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

Yeah! It reminded me a bit of what I liked when I played Xanadu Next. Fast intuitive combat and a mysterious setting that pulls you in.

Going between 1+2, O, X, and now Celceta is a little confusing when controls change xD

Xanadu Next is FANTASTIC!!!! that game does NOT get enough love TwT

my personal favourites order for Ys is:
Origins
Ys 1
Ys 2
Oath in Felghana
Ark of Napishitm
8
everything else

im not much of a fan of everything past the Ark/Oath/Origins engine games. the gameplay got way too easy for me and much less about pattern recognition.

the field song from Ys 1 and the opening intro cinematic for the PC Engine version of that game will forever echo in my head until the end of time (so forever)

 

[MasterEn]

FFIV, dot hack, final fantasy 9, tales of symphonia and phantasia; digimon world 1 and 2; and skies of arcadia.

 

[valosagutas]

Radiant Historia

You play as a soldier who is responsible for your country, then you become responsible for the future of the world. These responsibilities rather cliche I know but what's striking is despite you have power to travel in time that can give you a sense of "wow I'm so powerful I can do whatever I want" you gain an unique perspective of how life is not so simple as "if X had happened we would all live happily ever after" for one good thing sometimes can cause end of the world so for good outcome you have to endure lots of bad results and sacrifices. The game makes you question you could have a worse life than you currently have despite whatever you wanted didn't happen so it makes you think your life is in the "bad timeline". We all may have wished to change some part of our pasts sometimes but this game educated me on how dangerous time travel can be so I'd rather not change my past lol.

The game is very immersive by making players travel back and forth between the past and future of multiple parallel universes to figure out the solutions to "correct the future" as it should be as all the stories I experienced in different timelines had a big impact on me that I have never experienced anything like it. I have lived many lives of different pasts and futures and I witnessed all the possibilities that can happen to people, the country and the world I care about. IMO game has gone beyond of typical "save the world" cliche for me, it was a great many experiences as if I played tons of games in one. I've witnessed nameless people trying to save the world against selfish nations that only care about their own existence by ignoring the signs that the end is near. In my way to save the world the threat wasn't some supernatural monster but ordinary politicians. There was no dragon to slay to save the day, I had to deal with the stupidity of humanity that no weapon can defeat so no wonder how powerless I was even with the ability to travel in time.

Additionally what I liked is that the main bad guy is not a cliche bad guy, nothing is binary and simple in this game. You have no enemy in this game, there are only misguided fools trying to do what is best for themselves and their own people. And that's Radiant Historia for ya.

 

[jon2]

 

[NachoChi]

Radiant Historia

You play as a soldier who is responsible for your country, then you become responsible for the future of the world. These responsibilities rather cliche I know but what's striking is despite you have power to travel in time that can give you a sense of "wow I'm so powerful I can do whatever I want" you gain an unique perspective of how life is not so simple as "if X had happened we would all live happily ever after" for one good thing sometimes can cause end of the world so for good outcome you have to endure lots of bad results and sacrifices. The game makes you question you could have a worse life than you currently have despite whatever you wanted didn't happen so it makes you think your life is in the "bad timeline". We all may have wished to change some part of our pasts sometimes but this game educated me on how dangerous time travel can be so I'd rather not change my past lol.

The game is very immersive by making players travel back and forth between the past and future of multiple parallel universes to figure out the solutions to "correct the future" as it should be as all the stories I experienced in different timelines had a big impact on me that I have never experienced anything like it. I have lived many lives of different pasts and futures and I witnessed all the possibilities that can happen to people, the country and the world I care about. IMO game has gone beyond of typical "save the world" cliche for me, it was a great many experiences as if I played tons of games in one. I've witnessed nameless people trying to save the world against selfish nations that only care about their own existence by ignoring the signs that the end is near. In my way to save the world the threat wasn't some supernatural monster but ordinary politicians. There was no dragon to slay to save the day, I had to deal with the stupidity of humanity that no weapon can defeat so no wonder how powerless I was even with the ability to travel in time.

Additionally what I liked is that the main bad guy is not a cliche bad guy, nothing is binary and simple in this game. You have no enemy in this game, there are only misguided fools trying to do what is best for themselves and their own people. And that's Radiant Historia for ya.

Oooo I love when the story does well with the time travel context. That was like for me with Chrono Trigger. I always wanted to play through that game! I still have my 3DS copy so when I'm done with Tales of Rebirth I'll play it!

 

[jiyuuboyetsvi]

Radiant Historia

You play as a soldier who is responsible for your country, then you become responsible for the future of the world. These responsibilities rather cliche I know but what's striking is despite you have power to travel in time that can give you a sense of "wow I'm so powerful I can do whatever I want" you gain an unique perspective of how life is not so simple as "if X had happened we would all live happily ever after" for one good thing sometimes can cause end of the world so for good outcome you have to endure lots of bad results and sacrifices. The game makes you question you could have a worse life than you currently have despite whatever you wanted didn't happen so it makes you think your life is in the "bad timeline". We all may have wished to change some part of our pasts sometimes but this game educated me on how dangerous time travel can be so I'd rather not change my past lol.

The game is very immersive by making players travel back and forth between the past and future of multiple parallel universes to figure out the solutions to "correct the future" as it should be as all the stories I experienced in different timelines had a big impact on me that I have never experienced anything like it. I have lived many lives of different pasts and futures and I witnessed all the possibilities that can happen to people, the country and the world I care about. IMO game has gone beyond of typical "save the world" cliche for me, it was a great many experiences as if I played tons of games in one. I've witnessed nameless people trying to save the world against selfish nations that only care about their own existence by ignoring the signs that the end is near. In my way to save the world the threat wasn't some supernatural monster but ordinary politicians. There was no dragon to slay to save the day, I had to deal with the stupidity of humanity that no weapon can defeat so no wonder how powerless I was even with the ability to travel in time.

Additionally what I liked is that the main bad guy is not a cliche bad guy, nothing is binary and simple in this game. You have no enemy in this game, there are only misguided fools trying to do what is best for themselves and their own people. And that's Radiant Historia for ya.

Man I gotta play this now. The cartridge for that game is sitting inside my shelf rn

 

[Jediuser]

For me...

Nier Automata. That one is just a real mindScrew. The way it ends is totally unsatisfying....until you realize you haven't actually beaten it. You've just gotten started. It's a game that continually piles on loads of thematic resonance and existential angst.

 

[Skeleben]

 

[KirboDeku]

Breath of Fire III. Though I highly recommend you play it if you haven't already, as it's one of my favorites of all time.

Spoiler: BOF3 Story... Duh

First of all, the relationship with Ryu, Teepo, and Rei really gets me, not to mention the lore of the brood and their pride as a race. A lot like Mother 3 with the way it really goes deep with family, that hits really deep for me. Another character I found deeply interesting was Garr. He starts off as someone interested in Ryu to kill him, as its his sacred duty as a Guardian. He tries during the first part of the game, and then Ryu is sealed away until he grows into an adult. But then he starts having doubts in his God and saves Ryu to find out the truth. Ultimately, he found out, and without any doubts he dies at the end. The reunion with Teepo is especially dramatic, even more so than with Rei. And the good ending... Oh, this is really unique. You could argue that Ryu is a villain by endangering the lives of millions by letting the Desert of Death spread across the whole world and allowing ancient WMDs to be built once more, all so he can continue to live with power. But... You could argue that what Ryu did was the only way people could move forward, that they could progress without being hindered into stagnance by an overprotective mother forcing them into complacence... It's just so beautiful, and it's far more deep than your typical Save the World plot.

Seriously, you should play this game NOW!!!

 

[Adrastia]

Phantasy Star 4. It's my favorite game. I love the mix of sci fi and magic.

 

[glokglakglak]

ironically, in modern times, ff14
i know it's an mmo, but i really believe shadowbringers had one of the strongest finales in jrpg history
one thing that blew my mind was how the last zone was more of a very deep and introspective look into everything we've come to know, and what we have never known, which is very far detached from the usual "THIS IS THE LAST ZONE GUYS LET'S GO, OUR FINAL SHOWDOWN WILL TAKE PLACE HERE, CHAAAAAAAAARGE!!"
i feel like the game honestly could've ended there, but then endwalker came and it didn't have as strong a finale as shadowbringers, but it had the most highs spread throughout everything in between

i quit recently after the recent patch 7.2? dropped, cos i honestly don't fucking care about dawntrail anymore it's like if luffy had already found the one piece, YET the journey is still going on? like duuude no more, that's it, that's the end, just stop already

but ff14 aside, games that have really stuck with me throughout the years are:

• Radiata Stories (game had so much lore here and there)
• Persona 4 (i know this is quite a generic pick but i was in highschool back then when i played this, so i really felt like it resonated with me )
• FF9 (i'm a big sucker for this specifically, cos i really loved all the characters, and the story has some really deep and messed up parts, a certain youtube video explaining the lore and story kinda opened my eyes to all that i didn't know)
• Star Ocean 3 (when i found out that their whole world and everyone in it was just
  Spoiler

  inside a simulation of the "gods" (programmers)
  , it just really kinda changed how i saw life in general)

i never finished Star Ocean 3 through legit means though, cos the last battle was WAAY too fucking hard, i had to use gameshark unfortunately cos i just wanted to finish the game (it's been months? since i was stuck on it) lol

 

[Antilocal123]

Skyrim.

 

[moonbits]

Skyrim.

your own story is the best story

 

[Sinmenon]

Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts Covenant will always have a special place in my heart. The adventures of Yuri and Alice are great fun, as well their journey of confronting both their enemies and their own personal demons - in every sense of the word. Then SHC comes with a punch to your heart and makes it extra painful, twisting the knife. To learn how to deal with grief is a very hard lesson that is very hard to grasp sometimes.

Persona 2 Innocent Sin and Persona 2 Eternal Punishment. The first one talks about growing up, the expectations of becoming an adult and dealing with the pressures your family puts you throughout that could even lead to some trauma, and the end is also a very strong lesson. The second game deals with the pressures of being an adult, how sometimes you need to pivot your dreams due to life circumstances and how being an adult is pretty much just winging it and gritting your teeth to deal with some situations. And both talk about how powerful our memories can be and how rumors and hearsay can change our lives.

Shin Megami Tensei II is another of these games. I don't think I need to elaborate after what was already said.

Raidou Kuzunoha VS King Abandon. Sometimes we have to carry burdens much bigger than our own, either from family or other obligations. And sometimes, no matter the path you pick, all options suck. There is no black or white, and even sometimes the shades of gray you need to make do.

 

[SorenFireEmblem]

Specifically Kanji's everything surrounding Kanji in Persona 4.

It isn't often that media address the topic of masculinity in such an emotional way. Understanding the expectations of masculinity and how it makes men who would be perfectly fine without it seek it in such a dangerous, scary way. I've seen it before and I know as long as guys are the apples of my eye I'll continue to see it.
It stuck with me heavily, as masculinity was something I worried about a lot as a gender-curious 16yo going through one of the hardest times of his life. I figure if I didn't play P4 I would have become a much different, likely scarier person. So, thanks P4. You weren't a perfect game, but you did some good.

 

[Sinmenon]

There was a replay of Persona 4 that hit me extra hard. I was moving back home after living for a while on my own, and there was also a very emotional moment in my life that I was never the same after. But the bonds that I made during that time? Still with me so many years later.

 

[MetalSharkPlayer]

Xenogears, Chrono Cross, Lunar 1 and 2, Legend of Legaia, Shadow Hearts 2, Persona 5...

 

[klintamins]

Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile, Parasite Eve, Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga. I like the JRPG stories that also have a memorable soundtrack tied to them. Probably why I bought some of their CDs. As soon as certain songs from them plays, it transports me back to the emotions I felt- what tugged at the heartstrings if you will about that part of the game's story. Quite a few of the other JRPGs mentioned above me are also ones that stuck with me after I played them because of good story + memorable soundtrack. Heavy Spoiler warnings for the videos I linked to for those 5 games / series.

 

[Hourai]

D E M O N S R O O T S
E
M
- okay I'm not doing it that way on a forum. But I really want to.

A year ago, that game changed my life for the better. It pulled me out of the pit I spent most my life in and ensured I didn't slip back in before I was able to stay out through my own power. It is so much to me.