JRPGG FAQ

Japanese Role Playing Game General
Frequently Asked Questions
Version "Stick of Truth is the best JRPG released in years" - Last updated 09/03/2014

- What's a JRPG?

JRPG stands for Japanese Role-playing Game, a type of game focused on rule-based combat, individual characters, narratives, and other trademarks of the old pen-and-paper game systems that were born with Dungeons and Dragons in the mid-20th century. The J represents the fact that these games are made in Japan - often, this carries with it a different meaning to other types of role-playing game, with different traits and stigmas attached, though this is not necessarily the rule. Games such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy are standard JRPGs.

- What's a good starter JRPG?

That all depends on you. The genre is so broad and varied that it can be difficult to find the right place to begin, and taking into account your own individual tastes may make that daunting task even harder.

The best place to start is generally with the most popular series you can find. If you like fast-paced combat with strong but clichéd storylines and anime-like aesthetics, the Tales series might be for you. If you're after a game with a slow, steady battle system that relies on strategy and tactics, Final Fantasy might be more to your taste. If you want fun and a waifu, maybe you'll enjoy Rune Factory. Either way, there's a lot of choice and a lot of freedom.

Check them out, and if this doesn't help, ask in the general; we're happy to advise.

- But which Final Fantasy do I start with? There's so many!

It's a tough decision! Opinions are split on exactly which, as the series has such a large and diverse following. However, the fact that it's very accessible and player-friendly means you can start pretty much anywhere, though we do have some recommendations for you in 1, 4 on the Playstation or PSP, 5 on the Game Boy Advance, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 or Mystic Quest. All simple and intuitive enough to start out well but not so difficult that players will be ramming their heads against the wall.

Words of advice! Some of these worlds, particularly those of 4, 7 and 12, are large and intricate. It can be difficult to wrap your head around the full scale of the setting, so be prepared to likely have to invest in other media set in those worlds too!

Otherwise, stay away from 2 (a good but very different instalment in the series) and remember to follow this guide, as some of the others - particularly the DS version of FFIV - can be infuriating!

- Where can I get my hands on these older games?

Older games can be hard to acquire, especially as physical copies. Emulation is always a possibility, however. Sites like http://emuparadise.me and http://www.emulator-zone.com are always good resources, however, and forums and the like can offer a lot of help too! Make sure to use Google and regularly check the Emulation General on /vg/ (which can be found at catalog.neet.tv/vg) for more tips.

Some useful tools for playing games with fan translations or games that are more difficult to acquire are:
http://www.romhacking.net/ - for translations, ROM tools and other utilities
http://superfamicom.org/ - a complete catalog of SNES games
http://www.beforeiplay.com/index.php?title=Category:Games - things to know before starting a game
http://theisozone.com - a popular ISO bank

- What about new games?

Aside from your local stores (remember to support them, they're often willing to make good deals if they know you well enough) and your usual haggling spots (flea markets, supermarkets, Craigslist, eBay and the like), there's always company-specific stores like the NIS Store, and Amazon should always be your default price checker. There's a reason it's such a big service - it's hard to beat on prices! If you can't find it on Amazon, look around. For fellow Britfags, use CeX, it's great, and if you're in the US, GameStop and other retailers often offer excellent preorder incentives!

Specific questions will be addressed here - feel free to ask in the general if you feel something should be added.

- When will SC be localised (A.K.A. "TITS ON STEAM WHEN)

XSeed recently announced the localisation of TitS: SC and a (PC release of the first TitS), undertaken by Carpe Fulgur (the localisation team responsible for Recettear and other EGS titles), to be available in 2014 on PSP and PC. No firm release date has been given.

It's a big game! Be patient.

- When will Final Fantasy Versus XIII be ready?

FFXV has finally been given a vague release window as a game in development for the PlayStation 4 in the future. Otherwise, we still know very little, so keep holding out hope.

- What if I have more questions?

Ask them in the thread! If there's something you feel should be added to this FAQ, mention that too.