Topic: Western RPGs

I was thinking the other day, as someone whose favorite genre of games has always been RPGs, there has been this discussion for awhile about Western RPGs vs. JRPGs, but I'm actually not sure I have ever played a Western RPG. I know this is kind of a subjective question as, for example, many people consider Zelda to be an RPG while others do not, but what exactly makes a Western RPG different from a JRPG? And are there any on Nintendo systems (Wii or 3DS/DS) as those are the only ones I have?

When people compare the two, Western is seen as a game where you define the character you play as and how to interact with the story (Fallout 3, Skyrim, Mass Effect, etc.). Japanese is seen as a game where the character is defined for you, so you get to see his or her change over the course of the game, and the events of the game are more defined. Then there's differences in battle systems, but I feel the above is what really defines it.

Personally, I love both.

I play games, not genres.

Yeah western ones arnt my forte

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I know this is kind of a subjective question as, for example, many people consider Zelda to be an RPG while others do not,

Not really. A genre is a term we give to a specific set of characteristics that define a game, book, film, whatever as a piece of entertainment belonging to a specific category. You can't say a cat is a dog, and genres are meant to be as similarly defined. There there are more crossovers in entertainment as the lines tend to be blurred more (so, Catdogs), but a genre's general definition is not really subjective at all, except when people get it wrong.

Unfortunately a lot of people don't understand the characteristics that define a genre - so for instance people think that Zelda is an RPG. For genre to have any meaning whatsoever, this cannot be true.

JRPGs are very different to RPGs.

Moomoo's made a pretty good crack at the differences between the two. To simplify it even further: With JRPGs you follow a story that the developers give you. With RPGs you make your own story.

Western RPGs have been getting better, unlike some JRPGs today
Did enjoy the heck out of Skyrim more then FFXIII-2.

So are there any actually available on Nintendo systems? Having never played Mass Effect, Skyrim, or any Western RPG as far as I can tell, I think I could make a better distinction playing one as opposed to reading attempted explanations.

Yeah but Skyrim's got nothing on Atelier Rorona <_<

I think the closest on DS is sonic chronicles

Heroes of Ruin for 3DS. Planet Crashers on eShop (although I've heard it's not very good).

I don't follow the genré that closely so there are probably more than what I'm aware of.

He was simply asking if there were any WRPG's on recent Nintendo consoles. He wasn't endorsing or degrading any particular game or genré, so I see no reason for such snarky comments.

Heroes of Ruin for 3DS. Planet Crashers on eShop (although I've heard it's not very good).

I don't follow the genré that closely so there are probably more than what I'm aware of.

Heroes of Ruin is a Diablo clone - a hack 'n slash, not a WRPG.

Planet Crashers is a nothing game.

Being developed by a western developer doesn't make a game a "W"RPG. A RPG needs a non-linear story and needs to be about more than just killing stuff.

I can't think of any games on Nintendo's consoles that belong in the same genre as Skyrim or Dragon Age: Origins.

You're wearing a shirt in your favorite color.
I ask you what color is your favorite?
You say, "I wear shirts not colors."

I send you to Arkham.

People still wear clothes?

The closest thing to anything like a western RPG on a Nintendo system would I guess be Xenoblade Chronicles (yeah, recommending that again, SURPRISE). And that's just a JRPG with western RPG influenced ideas.

The Wii U will have Mass Effect 3 on it. Just wait two or three months and you'll be good.

Other than the plot, I would agree with you. The plot kinda ruins any claim to WRPGness though, being entirely linear and predetermined <_<

So excuse my ignorance, but it sounds basically like JRPGs play out the same regardless of what you do (no real choices) while WRPGs the story is different depending on what you do. But Chrono Trigger has many choices that although the ending may end up the same can change the way to story plays out, while most people have complained about the ending to Mass Effect 3, so that obviously has one set ending (before the DLC). So what's the difference?

Choices are a rarity in JRPGs. Chrono Trigger, the Star Ocean series (to a minor extent, usually), and a few select other JRPGs are among the few that do offer those kind of choices. Western RPGs also let you create your own character, though, so that may be the bigger difference in this case. Not even CT let you do that.

There are also Western RPGs that are linear, storywise, yet again, those are rarities in the genre.