Best Current-Gen JRPG: The Skirmish of Now

[lordryo]

Oh, well this is the only game forum I've been on so I didn't know what to expect.

[stealth20k]

of course I go against the grain.............

but back to the topic.......

within the last couple weeks 4 rpgs got announced for america this year. Its a good year for localization

[Neon01]

You'd have less count for them and probably more for games like Nier and Dark Souls.

Of course though, when you make a "Best JRPG" thread, expect to get a large amount Anime fans running in voting for their favorite 'moe' and animelized graphic style games.

That's pretty presumptuous. This aint exactly the Oscars here; it's a online opinion poll... You're going to get stuff like that. Doesn't make those games any less worthy.

But even assuming you're right for a second, I see maybe 2-3 titles that seem like mostly fan service on that list - even of the NISA titles. And the points they carry amount to maybe 5 votes, which certainly isn't enough to make or break any other game, assuming it's spread around (as it would be). It also doesn't mean that all of those points are going to be put behind the more "artsy" titles like Nier and Dark Souls. Hell, I loved Nier, but I'll admit it's flawed game, and I can easily see why people wouldn't pick it as a favorite (I certainly didn't).

Keep in mind we're not voting for video games as art here, we're voting for what we liked best. Big difference.

[vampko]

Also, CH barely makes 'ecchiservicey games' unless you count Agarest.

They advertise ecchiservice like crazy, but the actual games don't hold much.

Now, GUST, they don't advertise ecchiservice much, but they do deliver ~

Of course, they also have very solid gameplay, among other things.

I just felt it was needed to point out that CH's games really arent the 'ecchiservice fest' that people like to say they are.

EDIT
Even Agarest games don't push it that far, just further than GUST games. Unless you're Qoga

[stealth20k]

agarest rules

[Neon01]

Also, CH barely makes 'ecchiservicey games' unless you count Agarest.

They advertise ecchiservice like crazy, but the actual games don't hold much.

Now, GUST, they don't advertise ecchiservice much, but they do deliver ~

Of course, they also have very solid gameplay, among other things.

I just felt it was needed to point out that CH's games really arent the 'ecchiservice fest' that people like to say they are.

EDIT
Even Agarest games don't push it that far, just further than GUST games. Unless you're Qoga

I can't believe I'm agreeing with Stealth

Given that I'm the one that voted for it (again, fully recognizing that it's a flawed game overall that will appeal to a very limited number of people), I feel I should defend it. Though it has the "ecchiservice" bits tacked on, at it's core, it's a very solid game. It (as well as Zero) has a deep and winding plot that deals with many weighty issues of human morality, it's got great characters that are actually developed, it's got multiple branching paths and choices you can make that have substantial impact to how the story plays out/which characters you meet/etc, it has an excellent combat system with an incredible amount of depth, and last but not least, REAL challenge.

And those that have actually played it can tell you that the ecchi stuff was extremely overblown in the marketing. It's mostly subdued in the game, and really only comes to the fore in brief segments that are stuffed in between long segments of gameplay and story.

I'm also voting it one of the "best" because it took a LOT of chances for a game offered to the US market. No dubbed voiceover, somewhat eastern themes, almost no animation in character interaction, virtual novel-like plot exposition, and extremely long and technical gameplay add up to a lot of risk for Aksys/CH in NA. But they've done well, and effectively added options for NA gamers. And IMO, options are always a good thing.

[vampko]

Also, CH barely makes 'ecchiservicey games' unless you count Agarest.

They advertise ecchiservice like crazy, but the actual games don't hold much.

Now, GUST, they don't advertise ecchiservice much, but they do deliver ~

Of course, they also have very solid gameplay, among other things.

I just felt it was needed to point out that CH's games really arent the 'ecchiservice fest' that people like to say they are.

EDIT
Even Agarest games don't push it that far, just further than GUST games. Unless you're Qoga

I can't believe I'm agreeing with Stealth

Given that I'm the one that voted for it (again, fully recognizing that it's a flawed game overall that will appeal to a very limited number of people), I feel I should defend it. Though it has the "ecchiservice" bits tacked on, at it's core, it's a very solid game. It (as well as Zero) has a deep and winding plot that deals with many weighty issues of human morality, it's got great characters that are actually developed, it's got multiple branching paths and choices you can make that have substantial impact to how the story plays out/which characters you meet/etc, it has an excellent combat system with an incredible amount of depth, and last but not least, REAL challenge.

And those that have actually played it can tell you that the ecchi stuff was extremely overblown in the marketing. It's mostly subdued in the game, and really only comes to the fore in brief segments that are stuffed in between long segments of gameplay and story.

I'm also voting it one of the "best" because it took a LOT of chances for a game offered to the US market. No dubbed voiceover, somewhat eastern themes, almost no animation in character interaction, virtual novel-like plot exposition, and extremely long and technical gameplay add up to a lot of risk for Aksys/CH in NA. But they've done well, and effectively added options for NA gamers. And IMO, options are always a good thing.

I never said the game was 'bad', I just said it had more ecchiservice than typical GUST games. I also said that CH blows the ecchiservice out of proportion when they market.

Either way,

I think I will put Idolm@ster 2 (Not really, put me up there for Disgaea 4 )

[SaturnineTenshi]

How are NieR and Dark Souls artsy?

Also: if you want to vote on something, make it clear. So I don't become mired in text simply trying to extract what may or may not be a nomination.

[vampko]

How are NieR and Dark Souls artsy?

Also: if you want to vote on something, make it clear. So I don't become mired in text simply trying to extract what may or may not be a nomination.

Sorry

I just had to after someone nominated Catherine

[Obake]

1) Atelier Totori
2) Atelier Rorona
3) Abstaining. I can't choose between what I've played, haven't gotten far enough in mk2 to judge, and waiting to play Disgaea 4, Graces, Mugen Souls, and Meruru

[stealth20k]

agarest has made idea factory alot of money and done very well for aksyss

[SegaValkyrian]

But Venus is a chick.

Really? There goes my mancrush

[SaturnineTenshi]

Poll is up. I only included five games as there were too many with two votes.

[Shizuka]

Atelier Totori gets my vote.

[PringlesXD]

Sorry Totori, but I have to go with Vespy.