Battle systems are what make the majority of gameplay in a JRPG, aside from running around entire countries and doing tedious mini games and side quests. There are so many different aspects to look at when looking over a game and ironically actual gameplay is given a stool in the corner. A good story is important, but this would all be moot without a great battle system. Aside from good natural puzzles and court room dramas, the games I play usually contain good natured battles and bloody combat, which is the format for almost all action games.

Turn-based combat is the traditional format for the majority of JRPGs. From its humble beginnings in original Dragon Quest all the way to other games in the family, turn-based combat has had its fair run through multiple systems. Aside from tra

 

Adolescence is one experience we all can relate to in one way or another. Stories abound about this, the most awkward time of life, but never have I seen it so vivid than in JRPGs. Most take on the classic plot line: adolescent male leaves a familiar surrounding for a bigger life. You can’t throw a rock in the JRPG section of your favourite video game store without hitting a game with this sort of hero.  So why are they so widely used, and what makes them interesting even after all this time? Most main characters in JRPGS very rarely reach past eighteen. They find themselves answering the call to adventure at a very young age. We have to suspend our disbelief with more than just the heroes of these games, since their worlds are filled with magic and wonder which we ar

I was planning on saving this article for a later date, but with the release of Pokemon Black and White, I feel there is no better time than the present to talk about Monster RPGs. So let’s put down our swords, and treat our monster brethren like one of our own.  To be quite honest, I don't know what to call them: Monster RPGs, Monster Raising games, Pokemon clones. These types of games are not novel, and are as popular today as they were back when they were created. The mechanics are quite simple: Monsters are not just for experience points, but become more vital part of the combat, leveling up much like an RPG hero. They are fun, incredibly addictive, and allow you to express yourself through a large cast of different creatures.  These games are not designated by th

 It was thirteen years prior to today that I received my first ever gaming device, the humble Nintendo Gameboy, and in terms of shock over value, one of the greatest Christmas presents I have ever received.  It was that portable piece of technology that was to combine my further escapades through the realm of gaming into my being; That one fateful gift that was to turn me into a gamer. In another five years, my father bought me a Sony PlayStation, which truly solidified my nerd foundations. After eight years of pure console carnage, and only barely maturing, I found my hands gripping tightly to a thread of hope, praying that all my favoured childhood memories would stay in pristine mint condition. But I soon found that nostalgia was as cruel as it was warm and comforting. The JRP