The JRPG genre is still going strong as one of the most popular and beloved genres in gaming, with modern titles contributing to the evolution of this classic genre in the best way possible. From integrating fast-paced combat systems to reducing the downtime of the action present in these titles — something that people certainly have problems with — the JRPG genre has gone a long way in terms of drastically improving its gameplay.
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That being said, there’s a common complaint about most JRPGs that still holds true to this day — sometimes, the stories in these games can be so ridiculously convoluted that they lost a potential fan’s interest. The following ten JRPGs especially suffer in this regard, which is quite a shame since the combat in these titles is nothing short of stellar.
10Octopath Traveler
A must-play modern JRPG with incredible gameplay that makes even the simplest of encounters an absolute blast to get through,Octopath Traveleris a beautiful title whose combat, art style, and unique narrative structure are certainly quite strong draws indeed.
However, just because a narrative is unique doesn’t imply that it’s good, andOctopath Travelerdefinitely suffers in this regard. All the individual stories are hopelessly cliched, and the overarching plot isn’t revealed until the very end when a gargantuan amount of lore is dumped onto the player.
9The Legend Of Dragoon
The Legend of Dragoonis easily one of the most generic JRPGs of all time, with the plot certainly doing it no favors due to its by-the-numbers approach when it comes to the story.
However, one can’t deny the fact that the gameplay ofThe Legend of Dragoonis still quite engaging in its own right, especially once players unlock the Dragoon transformations for their party members!
8Bravely Default
One would expect any title with the word “Default” in it to not really tread any new ground in terms of a story, andBravely Defaultdefinitely doesn’t disappoint in this regard.
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That being said, the classic turn-based JRPG gameplay has been honed to a T inBravely Default, meaning that players would definitely be more than captivated by this deep and engaging combat system to even bother about the gameplay.
7Resonance Of Fate
A game with a drab art style and a rather nonsensical story, it can be rather hard to convince newcomers to get intoResonance of Fatedue to the initial hurdles it puts up… especially when it comes to the combat.
However, once players get the hand of scratch damage and other such mechanics in the game,the combat ofResonance of Fatebecomes such a blast that players can’t help but get into the meat of the game of their own accord.
6Final Fantasy VIII
It would be impossible to bring up the topic of JRPGs that have weak stories but great combat without mentioningthe massive JRPG phenomenonthat is theFinal Fantasyseries. Most games in the series are notorious for featuring mind-bending plots and nonsensical lore that’s meant only to set up major confrontations, boss fights, and the like.
The eighth mainline game in the seriesis no exception to this golden rule, featuring a convoluted time travel subplot that completely derails the storyline midway through the game. For what it’s worth, the in-depth Junction system and the involved nature of the combat mean that the proceedings don’t get boring anytime soon… although the story will test any JRPG veteran’s patience.
5Final Fantasy X-2
Square Enix has never been great when it comes to creating direct sequels to games in theFinal Fantasyseries, with their first-ever execution of this concept being absolutely lackluster and confusing from a plot standpoint.
For what it’s worth, the job system ofFinal Fantasy X-2is great andmakes combat scenarios all the more unique. It’s just a shame that the plot itself has absolutely nothing going for it.
4Final Fantasy XIII
Considered by many to be one of the worst mainlineFinal Fantasytitles, there are many reasons whyFinal Fantasy XIIIhas become the black sheep of the franchise. The lack of a well-told story and uninteresting characters — two facets of aFinal Fantasytitle that have been brilliant otherwise — have cemented the unfortunate reputation of this game.
However, that’s not to say thatFinal Fantasy XIIIis a complete mess — the combat system is fast-paced and requires a hefty dose of strategy to get through every encounter. Mastering this system is one of the few joys of an otherwise mediocre title.
3Final Fantasy XV
After a decade-long development cycle,Final Fantasy XVfinally released to great fanfare, albeit with a few caveats. The combat of the title — while somewhat easy — was certainly quite a blast to play through. This gameplay,coupled with the likable cast, made for the most enjoyable part of the game.
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What was quite a sticking point forFinal Fantasy XVwas the haphazard story, which would leave fans confused unless they saw a separate movie and anime series, the former of which is perhaps one of the most painstaking watches around.
2Final Fantasy VII Remake
While some fans might understandably be upset at the inclusion ofFinal Fantasy VII Remakeon this list, there’s no denying the fact that this game is painstakingly padded with filler, turning the 10-hour tightly-woven and enjoyable romp through Midgar from the original game into a 35+ hour slog, with only a sprinkling of what made the original so magical.
That being said, one has to give due props toFinal Fantasy VII Remakefor featuring an excellent combat system that completely fixes the problem of challenge present inFinal Fantasy XVand allows for hefty customization and strategic options.
1Pokémon
The reception to the latest line ofPokémongames is indicative of the downward spiral that the series has been going through ever since it shifted to 3D. Dated gameplay mechanics and phoned-in stories are generally labeled as perpetrators for the same.
That being said, one has to admit the story ofmostPokémongamesisn’t really the main draw of the title. It’s always been the wide roster of monsters and the variety of the game’s combat — both of which have suffered inPokémon SwordandShield.
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