Topic: I Sure do hope more great JRPGs get released stateside.

What about other MMORPGs? Or Rogue-Likes? or games like FFXII or .hack//sign?

I don't care about them.

i haven't played a rogue-like, but i've been reading up on them, and they sound cool. i like the idea of a randomly generated dungeon

has anyone played Baroque?

Yeah, I have. It's pretty good if you're into difficult rogue-likes, but it's a hardcore game. Casual fans of RPGs need not apply.

As for the definition of RPG, it has nothing to do with battles or stats... That's an oversimplification of it. The re are RPGs in the pen and paper world that feature almost no fighting, and no little to no stat development.

No, an RPG is where you take control over a character, and are responsible for that character's interaction within the game world, and his/ her development within that world. Essentially, in a true RPG, you aree writing a character's story, rather than following a story written for you by someone else.

Mind you, there aree very, very few games that actually do this. You have the Elder Scrolls series, Deus Ex and apparently The Witcher (which I haven't played). Most of the D & D games are RPGs, and games like The Dark Spire or Wizardry do this in a very primitive fashion. MMOs are close, but the extreme amount of meta-gaming that goes on within those games is counter productive to characterization, and therefore excludes them from being genuine RPGs - of course there are the RP servers.

So generally speaking, a genuine RPG is a sandbox game, or close to one.

JRPGs a almost never RPGs. They're watered down RPG conventions within an action or adventure game. They cani be good, but they're not really RPGs, by any reasonable definition of the genre. That's why they've evolved into their own sub genre.

And, of course, a simulation game like Rune Factory is neither. It's a farming game, with some light RPG elements. It's closer to Sims than Oblivion.

Which is why I'm saying I wish it got a Western release; so I could play it in English. But seeing as how Namco hates us, I gave up on it coming to the West.

The Wii has great RPGs, you just have to be able to come out of your comfort zone to play them. Monster Hunter and Sakura Wars are both great games. Muramasa and Fragile Dreams are great games too (as long as you don't mind short RPGs).

@Gamesake
I definitely wouldn't call Monster Hunter or Muramasa JRPGs, but action games with heavy RPG elements, I've never played Fragile Dreams, so I don't know about that one. Sakura Wars is a Dating Sim/SRPG, but I guess that one could be considered a JRPG, given its Japanese-ness

I heavily doubt Fragile Dreams can be considered a great game.

@WaltzElf: I really think though that the term RPG has evolved in meaning. I mean, say RPG and most people think Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, neither of which really fit your criteria.

@grenworthshero I know it's easy to dismiss Monster Hunter or Sakura Wars as RPGs (no Exp=no RPG), but they both have RPG elements and RPG fans are their target audience. However, Muramasa and Fragile Dreams are simply action/RPGs--like Okami and Super Paper Mario.

@zoipi Fragile Dreams is rough around the edges but the story makes it totally worth it. But I do think it's overpriced at $50.

@WaltzElf I'll throw in that Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment are all RPGs in the form you describe. Especially Neverwinter Nights, which has a really interesting multiplayer DM system.

Yeah, those games all have a fair case to make for being genuine RPGs.

And that's just sad, but still true.

RPGs has vastly changed as a genre lately, just like music genres change in the direction.

Anyway, I need to play that Opoona game soon...or perhaps that Muramasa: Demon Blade

I really need to pick up a few good JRPGs, since I'm way behind on them. My thing is that I hate starting a new RPG when I still have one to complete. I'm maybe 60 hours into Dragon Quest IX. I love it and I enjoy playing it... but I really want to play a different game right now... and don't want to rush to beat it. I may end up having to. I have Golden Sun: Dark Dawn and Final Fantasy The Four Heroes of Light to start. Would anyone recommend me starting one of those now while I pause Dragon Quest? Or do you have another good RPG for me to start?

Unless you haven't played Mother 3, I suggest rushing through it. If you haven't played Mother 3, stop reading this and play Mother 3 right now.

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if they are saving the english versions of Last Story and/or Xenoblade for super secret E3 announcements after last year's success at doing that.

I haven't played either yet and I loved Tales of symphonia and I knew that it's sequel isn't as good (not that sequels in rpg series that don't normally follow on from each other are) but is arc rise fantasia really better? While it looks like a decent game (and has a great soundtrack) it doesn't look that good.

I need to buy more RPG's
I dont know what ones I should get 1st I cant find DQ 5 anywhere as for DQ 4 I could get that next same with FF 3 and 4, I kinda want Phantasy Star 2-4.

@Otaku Your name and signature tell me you would enjoy Persona 3 and 4.

Funny you should mention that because an English version of Xenoblade was already announced