JRPGs have been around for a long time, with many monolithic titles thathave defined the genreas one focused on story, worldbuilding, and compelling characters. Most JRPGs are narratively minded in this way, especially the many fantasy titles that have been crafted to give players a sprawling world to lose themselves in, one with its own cultures and customs, as well as its own threats that the player must work towards defeating.
But across all JRPGs, whether they’re 16-bit titles on the SNES or fluid, dynamicreleases on the PS5, gameplay and spins on typical turn-based combat have been paramount to a game’s success and longevity. Some titles incorporate new ways to utilize turn based combat, like timelines that reflect characters' speed and mix up the order of allies and enemies, or a break from turn based combat altogether. Some titles, despite having excellent narratives and worlds to explore, have fallen short when it comes to iterating on classic JRPG combat.
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code
TheStar Oceanseries has been a steadily thriving staple within the JRPG scene for decades now, with many consoles boasting one or two installments in thisinnovative sci-fi fantasyJRPG. This
game would be of particular interest to anyone who enjoyedStar Ocean: Second Story Ras the game takes place within the same timeline though 400 years in the future.
Rather than traditional turn-based combat, this game allowed players to experience real time gameplay when fighting enemies. Unfortunately, using both HP and MP as resources for skills, alongside targeting enemies' HP or MP, was a bit convoluted, and the game invited many criticisms that are uniquely centered around real-time action, such as the combat feeling weightless and awkward.
Today, players can findPaper Mariotitles standing among the bestJRPGs on the Switchcombining a fantastic aesthetic with novel, interesting turn-based gameplay. In the days of the Wii-U however,Color Splashwas panned by many fans, which is a shame considering the title’s vibrant world design is some of the best in the series.
There is some merit to fan complaints however, as the title doesn’t really know how to implement the new, confusing card system into its combat, and at a certain point of the game, the player is so inundated with resources, they basically never need to fight enemies besides the bosses needed to progress.
Ni No Kunihas two games under its belt now, and both of them are fantastic titles with much to offer. There are some changes to the JRPG formula that players willwant to be aware of, but the game’s story and fantastic host of Ghibli-drawn familiars will inspire a level of wonder in fans that can last a lifetime.
This game does have a glaring issue with its combat to many players however, as trying to combine real time combat alongside the menu-based actions in this title is - in a word - overwhelming. Players who can look past this will discover a great game, but if people are having to ‘look past’ the combat in a JRPG, then something isn’t right.
5Sands Of Destruction
An Excellent Story With Complex Combat
The Nintendo DS is home to some fantastic JRPG gems. People often underestimate the sheer volume of incredible titles that have been left on this console’s library, left behind while their comrades get sequels and Switch remasters.Sands of Destructionhas the makings of this kind of JRPG gem.
What holds it back, however, is a combat system that’s very complicated, with four separate upgrade slots for players to put ‘quips’ in, as well as skills and normal attacks, but then special skills that activate after a certain number of attacks… it’s a bit much.
Enemies Are Automatically Targeted With No Player Input
Lunar: Dragon Song
WHEN THE LEGENDS OF DRAGONS where first born, an age of darkness descended on the world of LUNAR.Join the untried hero Jian and his friends in their quest to save LUNAR from powerful forces of evil.Battle through an original adventure with Jian, Lucia, Gabryel, Rufus, and Flora.Collect Battle Cards to strengthen the skills, spells, and battle attacks for your entire team.Use your wireless connection to share rare and unique items with friends.
A sequel to a much loved title,Lunar: The Silver Star,Dragon Songdoes its best to innovate on the JRPG formula, but it does fall short in a few areas, despite the same worldbuilding and narrative style that made the first game so well-remembered.
Perhaps the biggest gripe players have with combat is that they cannot target enemies. The AI automatically selects which enemies to target. This might work in gameslikeUnicorn Overlordwith skills designed around it, but this game was essentially just a standard menu based battle system but someone else got to play the game while the player watched.
3Infinite Space
A Fantastic Sci-Fi JRPG, With Difficult Mechanics
Infinite Spacehas a cult following to this day for being a JRPG that takes on afantastic sci-fi aestheticand treats players to a space opera story seldom seen in this genre. The characters are all three-dimensional, and instead of recruiting them alone, players are recruiting their ships to add to a growing fleet among the stars.
The game’s combat does click eventually, but it only clicks once its many quirks have been identified and the player has gotten used to them. There are so many options in each battle and ship combat often gets cluttered with choices very quickly.
Square Enix are in their element withthis wartime JRPGthat has a unique setting, an interesting magical resource to push the plot along, and an overall unique story with characters that are more somber and amoral than players have come to expect from the JRPG scene.
The game’s most touted feature, the new real time spin on SRPG grid-based combat, is not up to scratch, however. Characters essentially walk around where the player dictates until they clash with an enemy, a bit like they’re saying “I’ll just spin my arms in the air, and if you get in the way, that’s your fault”.
1Xenosaga 2
A Fantastic Game Let Down By Sluggish Combat
TheXenosagaseries is a mainstay among fans of early PlayStation era JRPGs, and stands out with a few other titles in this list for an incredible subversion of the typical fantasy setting seen in JRPGs - opting instead for a slick sci-fi setting.
The game’s combat, however, is incredibly sluggish. Luckily, the graphics hold up surprisingly well, so the players will have some very pretty settings to admire as even the simplest of enemy encounters stretch on past the five or even ten minute mark.
