Summary
Cel shading is one of the best ways to ensure a game’s art style ages gracefully. Games likeThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerandOkamishow the power of cel-shading, with these games being hailed among of the greats for many reasons, including their timeless visuals. So, it’s easy to see whymany JRPG fanslove the idea of playing through amazing games that make the most of this visual style to let players enjoy a piece of eye candy that takes them on an adventure for the ages.
There are many cel-shaded JRPGs that do justice to this art style while making the most of its genre’s trappings. While games that push the boundaries when it comes to state-of-the-art graphics should be praised, there’s something about using a different art style that ages better and attracts many players. Combining this with the tropes of Japanese role-playing games can lead to a memorable experience that can last for dozens of hours and leave fans wanting more after the journey ends.
The World Ends with Youwasone of the best games on the DS, making the most of the console’s dual-screen to let players enjoy a fun and invigorating combat system. The switch to a single screen was done pretty well in the updated releases, letting players enjoy Neku’s adventures as he tried to regain his memories while being forced to participate in a twisted game. So, it’s easy to see why fans were more than happy to see that a sequel to this game was finally greenlit in the form ofNEO: The World Ends with You.
While there are some aspects of the game that can feel shallow, the sequel is worth checking out for fans of the original. In a bid to modernize the title,NEO: The World Ends with Youemploys 3D environments and cel-shading to make the various locations of Shibuya look downright amazing to traverse. The visuals of the game are one of its strongest elements and will compel many people to stick with this spirited adventure till the very end.
Dark Cloudis one of the most underrated JRPGs of all time. It was made by the same developers known for their work on Professor Layton and theNi No Kuniseries. If players weren’t interested in this title, then the sequel did a great job of making massive improvements to ensure that more people were compelled to check out a JRPG that deserves all its plaudits and then some.
Thecel-shaded art stylehas gone a long way in ensuring that the game ages like a fine wine. There are so many gameplay facets to interact with that players can feel overwhelmed at times, butDark Cloud 2’s lengthy runtime means that players will get acclimatized to these systems in no time. It’s a beautiful JRPG that more people should check out if they want to check out quality games in this genre.
Players who owned a PSP know just how many quality games were loaded on this console, with one tactical RPG, in particular, combining fantasy with historical elements to let players enjoy a great time.Jeanne d’Arcis an underrated role-playing game players must check out, especially ifthey love the story of Joan of Arcand want to check out an original take on this story that lets players control this titular heroine as she fights off the demons threatening to destroy the world.
The in-game visuals feature a hefty dose of cel-shading, so it should be no surprise that this game was developed by none other than Level-5. The developer is experienced when it comes to this art style, and many people argue thatJeanne d’Arcwas able to work around the PSP’s hardware limitations by employing this art style to let players enjoy a great time with this title.
Most people know ofNi no Kunibecause of its art style alone, with fans of Studio Ghibli’s movies loving how similar this series looks to the animation style of this beloved studio. The first game in the duology is an excellent debut that deserves its time in the spotlight, but it’s the sequel that many fans hailed as one of the best cel-shaded RPGs players can get their hands on.
Revenant Kingdomserves as a massive improvement over its predecessor while employing the same cel-shaded visuals that got many fans excited forWrath of the White Witchin the first place. While some people argue that the story of the first game was more immersive, the enhancements to the combat system make the moment-to-momentgameplay ofRevenant Kingdomvastly superior to its predecessor.
Atlus wantedPersona 5to shatter the glass ceiling of the series and make it more mainstream than ever. This was accomplished by an engine overhaul coupled with a cel-shaded art style that was as stylistic as they come and madethe setting of modern Tokyocome to life in the best way possible. To make things even better, the updated release ofPersona 5 Royalironed out the kinks, made some much-needed translation updates, and included additional content to let players spend more time with the beloved Phantom Thieves.
It’s no stretch to state that the striking art style ofPersona 5 Royalis a major reason why players fell in love with this title. The visual style is perfectly in line with the upbeat nature of the narrative, injecting a lot of pizzazz into the game and ensuring that it captures a player’s attention till the very end of a JRPG where players will fall in love with the characters by the time the adventures of the Phantom Thieves draws to a close.
