JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games) are often thought to be a dead genre, only appealing to a small subset of the gaming fanbase. That assumption is incorrect. Even though JRPGs aren’t as prominent in the West as they used to be, there is still a passionate audience for these titles who constantly gobble up any new release. Here is a list of five excellent titles in the genre that must be played, whether you are a JRPG aficionado or a virgin to the genre.
[promo title=”5. Shin Megami Tensei IV”][/promo]
Developer: ATLUS
Publisher: Nintendo
SMT IV is hardcore, and is only recommended for players who are up to the challenge. What a sweet, rewarding challenge it is though. With satisfying combat, the excellent demon fusion system, and a fully-voiced story, this is a treat for any fans of strategy RPGs. This game will kick your butt and will leave you coming back for more masochistic pleasure.
[promo title=”4. Fire Emblem: Awakening”][/promo]
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
The newest entry in the treasured Fire Emblem franchise introduces a casual mode for players who have been afraid of the previous games’ notorious permadeath system, and is all the better for it. This new mode allows for more casual game play tactics and ensures that your favorite characters will return in the next cutscene. Permadeath is still an option for hardcore fans of the series, requiring more strategic game play and imparting a sense of personal entitlement to each character. This is an essential purchase for any 3DS owner.
[promo title=”3. Tales of Xilia”][/promo]
Developer: Namco Bandai
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Tales of Xillia is the newest entry in the venerable Tales of series to hit Western shores. An enhanced battle system, phenomenal art direction, and fleshed-out characters easily make this an essential purchase for PlayStation 3 owners. This title is very newcomer friendly, and by the end, you’ll be salivating for the sequel, which is being released this year.
[promo title=”2. Lost Odyssey”][/promo]
Developer: Mistwalker Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Created by Hironobu Sakaguchi of Final Fantasy fame, Lost Odyssey is a masterpiece of its genre and one of the 360’s best exclusives. Epic cutscenes, gorgeous graphics, fantastic voice-acting, and an incredible story all back up a wonderful entry into the JRPG genre, and should not be missed by JRPG fanatics or Xbox 360 owners.
[promo title=”1. Tales of Vesperia”][/promo]
Developer: Namco Bandai
Publisher: Namco Bandai
The best Tales of game in this authors’ opinion, Vesperia is the jewel in the crown of the JRPG genre. With beautiful anime-inspired cutscenes, an addictive battle system, and great characters, this is a must-play game for any gamer out there, whether you enjoy the RPG genre or not. This game will easily consume 40+ hours of your life, but you’ll relish every second of it.