JRPGs have some of the most compelling stories in video games probably because they have more time to cook. The average playtime for a lot of them ranges in the forty-hour mark which can be a lot to take in for some players with busy lives. That said, some games need to be played just for the story alone.
The turn-based combat and graphics may also be compelling about some of these entries, but the narratives transcend the genre. Admittedly, they still won’t be for everyone given that Japanese games can at times be weird too thanks to anime influences. These examples should be given a shot at least.
Final Fantasy 7is among the top favorites for fans of the series. It beginswith a mercenary, Cloud, returning to Midgar where his old headquarters used to be. He used to be in SOLDIER, a top program for combatants within Shinra, the corporation that controls Midgar.
What begins as a simple series of eco-terrorist attacks turns into a plot revolving around Sephiroth, a man Cloud thought was dead, trying to destroy the world. There are twists aplenty from amnesiac episodes to stuffed animal spies to racing Chocobos. There’s so much to love about the story and the remake series has been doing a good job at translating this masterpiece for the modern age.
Persona 5involves a nameless teen getting transferred to a new city in Japan after a political scandal. Here he meets a coffee owner and family friend who helps him get into a new school. As this teen meets new friends, they get involved with magical powers that let them go into an alternate reality wherein they can change the hearts of truly corrupt individuals from a burger chain entrepreneur to a dastardly gym teacher.
The main plot is interesting but so are the little activities along the way as this teen can befriend side characters througha system called Confidants to form bonds. It’s a long RPG too and players will truly feel like they met a whole series of new friends by the end.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchis like playinga Ghibli movie. The plot involves a young boy, Oliver, who travels into a new world to rescue his mom. He’s helped by a magical fairy named Mr. Drippy who teaches him about the new world from lore to battle mechanics.
It’s a wonder to experience for any Ghibli fan who grew up with the films. While it may not be as tight of a plot as it is longer than a two-hour film, it still has all of the charm and heart that will make players weep with joy and sadness.
Parasite Eveis a good sci-fi horror plot that would work well as a big-budget Hollywood movie. For those curious, yes, there was a Japanese movie and it is overall based on a book. The game stars detective Aya Brea fromNew York Citywho witnesses a tragedy at an opera one night.
People burst into flames after a woman, Eve, starts to transform. Now people across the city are turning into ooze and animals are mutating into monsters. It’s a creepy story but excellently paced to make it thrilling with plenty of action along with grotesque scenes of horror.
Radiant Historiaisa time-traveling storyabout righting the wrongs of the past. Stocke and his small squadron get wiped out during a mission at the beginning but not all is lost. Magical beings grant him a grimoire that can help him travel through time repeatedly to solve puzzles to move the plot forward.
Keeping track of all the timelines can be tricky but satisfying all the same. The core cast of heroes, including Stocke, is small, meaning that players can get to know them easier than with a bigger cast making it a more intimate RPG overall.
Shadow Hearts: Covenantis a wild plot that rearranges history intoan alternate timeline. During World War 1, a group of heroes banded together to stop Rasputin from taking over the world. The influx of real-world characters is fun to see in a new light, especially the unhinged Rasputin.
Other characters include Princess Anastasia of the Russian Empire and the philosopher Roger Bacon. The plot is more silly than it is gripping and for that reason alone it is worth tracking down on the PS2.
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Machtis a trip and a half and anime fans will truly love it. What simplistically begins asa space horrormovie involving invisible aliens that can be fought with robots and mechs quickly turns into a space opera involving religion.
It can be incomprehensible at times as characters wax poetically about the universe in cutscenes that rival the length of Metal Gear Solidcutscenes. It’s the beginning of a trilogy and to get the full story, it’s recommended to play the entire thing. Unfortunately, it’s not easy tracking down this lost RPG trilogy as it never left the PS2 just likeShadow Hearts.
Yakuza: Like a Dragonis the seventh mainline game in theYakuzafranchise, not counting the prequel. It was a reboot of sorts with a new character, Ichiban. It also transformed the gameplay from action-based to turn-based.
After getting released from jail, Ichiban is trying to ingratiate himself back into the Yakuza who do not want him. Detached from society, Ichiban tries desperately to fit in and helps those less fortunate around town. He’s a goofy hero with a heart of gold and it’s hard not to smile with his good-natured shenanigans around Japan. This is the game to start with for newbies.
