What are the differences between JRPGS and RPGS?

This topic is locked from further discussion.

Avatar image for chocolate1325
chocolate1325

33007

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 306

User Lists: 0

#1 chocolate1325
Member since 2006 • 33007 Posts

I would just like to know because I know what they both stand for but what are their differences.

Avatar image for Dudersaper
Dudersaper

32952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: -3

#2 Dudersaper
Member since 2007 • 32952 Posts
Mostly gameplay, JRPG's are usually turn-based battle systems, attacking using a menu where you select attacks, skills, items, etc. Don't focus as much (in general) on stat attribution and character creation, and are generally much more linear. While "RPG's" as you said, which I suppose you mean WRPG's, are more about character development and creation, mostly more open ended and usually have more lore to them.
Avatar image for drekula2
drekula2

3349

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

#3 drekula2
Member since 2012 • 3349 Posts

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

Avatar image for Dudersaper
Dudersaper

32952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: -3

#4 Dudersaper
Member since 2007 • 32952 Posts

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

drekula2
Seriously, how many JRPG's actually do that? JRPG's aren't anime, if we were talking about anime I'd agree. :P
Avatar image for Jakandsigz
Jakandsigz

6341

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#5 Jakandsigz
Member since 2013 • 6341 Posts

I would just like to know because I know what they both stand for but what are their differences.

chocolate1325
This depends. Early Jrpgs differences involved the lack of really customizing the character and an actual emphasis on exploration instead of having a large field that you can run around it that does not really have anything for you unless you follow the set script of the game. The games also seem more one dimensional, and the had a fast obsession with random battles while some early Wrpgs started to put battles on the same screens, which is a noticeable difference you will se by looking at screens of old games from each. Later Jrpgs pretty much kept the same concept, but decided to make the games have more linearity and a heavier focus on stories. Making it even more like a Tv show or book, giving you little control over characters, the outcomes, the effects etc. Modern Jrpgs are mixed, because there are plenty that still hold the same standards, but then there are a few that try to mix with other genres. this works for Wrpgs but when doing it with Jrpgs you get results like Last Remnant among others. As for Action Rpgs, Wrpgs and Jrpgs both had plenty of Action Rpgs early on, but Wrpgs went from the sideways and overhead Action Rpgs to FP action rpgs that would allow for more gameplay options among other benefits, while Jrpgs went for the overhead Action Rpg label. I say Label because many games that were more action adventure like were also considered Action-Rpgs at the time. Later Modern Action-Rpgs usually use the convention set by FP action-rpgs with very similar gameplay. Games like Oblivion, Skyrim, Dragon Age, among others use it. Even Eastern Devs are using this style more and more. There are a few that still use the overhead view such as YS. Strategy Rpgs are basically Jrpgs with strategy elements in them but would not be considered in some opinion as a good strategy game on its own. There are WSrpgs but most just put them under the strategy label, and they focus more on the tactics than the Rpg elements. Most eastern Strategy games are often just called Srpgs unless they go for realism in the aesthetics. But you must also realize that each has had games that have tried both elements. It's not all one sided, it's just divided like that. Certain thing combined would potentially make some of the greatest Rpgs of all time. Certain dev i like tried it woth a few games in the early and late 80's and these were gold to play.
Avatar image for Emerald_Warrior
Emerald_Warrior

6581

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 0

#6 Emerald_Warrior
Member since 2008 • 6581 Posts

Mostly gameplay, JRPG's are usually turn-based battle systems, attacking using a menu where you select attacks, skills, items, etc. Don't focus as much (in general) on stat attribution and character creation, and are generally much more linear. While "RPG's" as you said, which I suppose you mean WRPG's, are more about character development and creation, mostly more open ended and usually have more lore to them.Dudersaper

This basically covers it.

I just wanted to add what the initials literally stand for:

RPG = Role Playing Game

JRPG = Japanese Role Playing Game

WJRPG = Western Role Playing Game

Avatar image for voljin1987
voljin1987

1134

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#7 voljin1987
Member since 2012 • 1134 Posts

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

drekula2
to be fair its not entire true.. schoolgirls with big breasts and BLUE/PINK/RED hair color.. thats a JRPG
Avatar image for Lulu_Lulu
Lulu_Lulu

19564

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#8 Lulu_Lulu
Member since 2013 • 19564 Posts
Which makes me wonder, Aren't JRPG's just strategy games posing as RPG's ?
Avatar image for Spinnerweb
Spinnerweb

2995

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 92

User Lists: 0

#9 Spinnerweb
Member since 2009 • 2995 Posts
JRPGs are developed in Japan. RPGs is just a gneral term for both JRPGs, WRPGs, and the rest of them.
[QUOTE="drekula2"]

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

voljin1987
to be fair its not entire true.. schoolgirls with big breasts and BLUE/PINK/RED hair color.. thats a JRPG

And male characters with incredibly spiky hair :P
Avatar image for voljin1987
voljin1987

1134

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

#10 voljin1987
Member since 2012 • 1134 Posts
JRPGs are developed in Japan. RPGs is just a gneral term for both JRPGs, WRPGs, and the rest of them.[QUOTE="voljin1987"][QUOTE="drekula2"]

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

Spinnerweb
to be fair its not entire true.. schoolgirls with big breasts and BLUE/PINK/RED hair color.. thats a JRPG

And male characters with incredibly spiky hair :P

And "cool wannabe/emo" male characters with incredibly spiky hair :P
Avatar image for turtlethetaffer
turtlethetaffer

18973

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 144

User Lists: 0

#11 turtlethetaffer
Member since 2009 • 18973 Posts

The question should be "what's the difference between JRPgs and WRPGs?"

JRPGs are typically much more linear and narrative focused... They focus on exploiting some kind of battle system (there have been tons of different ones over the years) and many recent ones borrow aspects of anime (episodic series of events, etc.)  Typically, the lore is explained in the main story and it's more about overcoming some great evil.  The focus on narrative allows for more well developed characters, too.

WRPGs are more about building a character as you see fit... Making choices that impact the world and stuff like that.  They typically have more well thought out lore, but their narratives usually aren't as focused and the characters usually aren't as strong (not the case with all, just some).  

Each have their upsides and downsides, but I prefer JRPGs.  The Japanese have lots of cool ideas and they're really good at developing characters and keeping the player interested in the story, usually.

Avatar image for Gaming-Planet
Gaming-Planet

21050

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

#12 Gaming-Planet
Member since 2008 • 21050 Posts

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

drekula2
/thread
Avatar image for Trail_Mix
Trail_Mix

2579

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#13 Trail_Mix
Member since 2011 • 2579 Posts

[QUOTE="drekula2"]

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

Dudersaper

Seriously, how many JRPG's actually do that?

If it's such a rarity for you then you're playing all the wrong JRPGs. ;)

Avatar image for Dudersaper
Dudersaper

32952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: -3

#14 Dudersaper
Member since 2007 • 32952 Posts

[QUOTE="Dudersaper"][QUOTE="drekula2"]

schoolgirls with big breasts vs no schoolgirls with big breasts?

Trail_Mix

Seriously, how many JRPG's actually do that?

If it's such a rarity for you then you're playing all the wrong JRPGs. ;)

Fair enough, them name them.
Avatar image for Trail_Mix
Trail_Mix

2579

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#15 Trail_Mix
Member since 2011 • 2579 Posts

[QUOTE="Trail_Mix"]

[QUOTE="Dudersaper"]Seriously, how many JRPG's actually do that? Dudersaper

If it's such a rarity for you then you're playing all the wrong JRPGs. ;)

Fair enough, them name them.

Look up some of Compile Heart's games for examples.

Avatar image for Dudersaper
Dudersaper

32952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: -3

#16 Dudersaper
Member since 2007 • 32952 Posts

Look up some of Compile Heart's games for examples.Trail_Mix
Okay, I did what you said, and even looked up each one in the list to make sure, and I still don't feel like I was proven wrong. Only some, if any at all, use the "schoolgirl with big breasts" stereotype. (At least not from what I've seen of each).

Either way it's definetly not enough to consider that a stereotype within JRPG's, as I said, within anime in general, sure, within JRPG's, nope.

That and I'm definetly not the one "playing all the wrong JRPG's" if that's what's the norm for JRPG's. :P

Avatar image for Trail_Mix
Trail_Mix

2579

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#17 Trail_Mix
Member since 2011 • 2579 Posts

[QUOTE="Trail_Mix"]Look up some of Compile Heart's games for examples.Dudersaper

Okay, I did what you said, and even looked up each one in the list to make sure, and I still don't feel like I was proven wrong. Only some, if any at all, use the "schoolgirl with big breasts" stereotype. (At least not from what I've seen of each).

Either way it's definetly not enough to consider that a stereotype within JRPG's, as I said, within anime in general, sure, within JRPG's, nope.

That and I'm definetly not the one "playing all the wrong JRPG's" if that's what's the norm for JRPG's. :P

Well, it was just a joke in continuation to what that first person said. I don't actually believe it to be true. >_>

But you have to admit there are quite a few games in Japan, not necessarily RPGs, that are filled with fan service; which, in turn, helps fuel that stereotype.

I don't mind fan service though, so it doesn't matter to me anyway. ;)

Avatar image for Dudersaper
Dudersaper

32952

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 38

User Lists: -3

#18 Dudersaper
Member since 2007 • 32952 Posts

[QUOTE="Dudersaper"]

[QUOTE="Trail_Mix"]Look up some of Compile Heart's games for examples.Trail_Mix

Okay, I did what you said, and even looked up each one in the list to make sure, and I still don't feel like I was proven wrong. Only some, if any at all, use the "schoolgirl with big breasts" stereotype. (At least not from what I've seen of each).

Either way it's definetly not enough to consider that a stereotype within JRPG's, as I said, within anime in general, sure, within JRPG's, nope.

That and I'm definetly not the one "playing all the wrong JRPG's" if that's what's the norm for JRPG's. :P

Well, it was just a joke in continuation to what that first person said. I don't actually believe it to be true. >_>

But you have to admit there are quite a few games in Japan, not necessarily RPGs, that are filled with fan service; which, in turn, helps fuel that stereotype.

I don't mind fan service though, so it doesn't matter to me anyway. ;)

Oh I'm well aware there's tons of fan service in japanese games (or pretty much any Japanese media) :P And I know it was a joke but for some reason I just didn't take it in this time :P so I felt like defending JRPG's against the stereotype in this case. I'm mostly okay with fanservice myself, it's just that some of those games really don't look all that great to me :P
Avatar image for Blueresident87
Blueresident87

5896

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 8

#19 Blueresident87
Member since 2007 • 5896 Posts

There is no difference between 'RPGs' and 'JRPGs' as one is just a sub-genre of the other.

JRPGs for me are very difficult to take seriously many times, whereas I really appreciate the approach of most western RPGs. I play both, but I prefer western. 

Avatar image for turtlethetaffer
turtlethetaffer

18973

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 144

User Lists: 0

#20 turtlethetaffer
Member since 2009 • 18973 Posts

There is no difference between 'RPGs' and 'JRPGs' as one is just a sub-genre of the other.

JRPGs for me are very difficult to take seriously many times, whereas I really appreciate the approach of most western RPGs. I play both, but I prefer western. 

Blueresident87

What makes them difficult to take seriously?

Avatar image for Blueresident87
Blueresident87

5896

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 8

#21 Blueresident87
Member since 2007 • 5896 Posts

[QUOTE="Blueresident87"]

There is no difference between 'RPGs' and 'JRPGs' as one is just a sub-genre of the other.

JRPGs for me are very difficult to take seriously many times, whereas I really appreciate the approach of most western RPGs. I play both, but I prefer western. 

turtlethetaffer

What makes them difficult to take seriously?

Not all of them, there are many JRPG's I enjoy, and even some when I can't take them seriously.

But I cannot stand the slap-sticky stuff in a lot of them, the ridiculous character models, over-exagerrated facial expressions and reactions...

I'm not saying I hate the genre, I actually do appreciate it, but I don't prefer it.

Avatar image for turtlethetaffer
turtlethetaffer

18973

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 144

User Lists: 0

#22 turtlethetaffer
Member since 2009 • 18973 Posts

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

[QUOTE="Blueresident87"]

There is no difference between 'RPGs' and 'JRPGs' as one is just a sub-genre of the other.

JRPGs for me are very difficult to take seriously many times, whereas I really appreciate the approach of most western RPGs. I play both, but I prefer western. 

Blueresident87

What makes them difficult to take seriously?

Not all of them, there are many JRPG's I enjoy, and even some when I can't take them seriously.

But I cannot stand the slap-sticky stuff in a lot of them, the ridiculous character models, over-exagerrated facial expressions and reactions...

I'm not saying I hate the genre, I actually do appreciate it, but I don't prefer it.

I actually enjoy the slap sticky stuff since it's usually timed well enough to alleviate story tension... since the stories are usually really dark.

Avatar image for Blueresident87
Blueresident87

5896

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 8

#23 Blueresident87
Member since 2007 • 5896 Posts

[QUOTE="Blueresident87"]

[QUOTE="turtlethetaffer"]

What makes them difficult to take seriously?

turtlethetaffer

Not all of them, there are many JRPG's I enjoy, and even some when I can't take them seriously.

But I cannot stand the slap-sticky stuff in a lot of them, the ridiculous character models, over-exagerrated facial expressions and reactions...

I'm not saying I hate the genre, I actually do appreciate it, but I don't prefer it.

I actually enjoy the slap sticky stuff since it's usually timed well enough to alleviate story tension... since the stories are usually really dark.

I think a lot of people enjoy that stuff, and you're right sometimes it is very well timed. But not always.

I almost always enjoy the stories though, which is usually what hooks me with a JRPG; most of them do a very good job with that. 

Avatar image for byshop
Byshop

20503

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

#24 Byshop  Moderator
Member since 2002 • 20503 Posts

Pretty much everything everyone else has already said, but I also wanted to point out that Extra Credits did a very interesting 3 part series on the differences between JRPGs and WRPGs, as well as -why- there are even two categories of RPG when this doesn't appear to be the case with any other genre.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/western-japanese-rpgs-part-1

-Byshop

Avatar image for YoshiYogurt
YoshiYogurt

6008

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

#25 YoshiYogurt
Member since 2010 • 6008 Posts

There is no difference between 'RPGs' and 'JRPGs' as one is just a sub-genre of the other.

JRPGs for me are very difficult to take seriously many times, whereas I really appreciate the approach of most western RPGs. I play both, but I prefer western. 

Blueresident87
WRPGs tend to bore the crap out of me. Fallout 3 is just not fun to play to me and the only thing that kept me going was the setting and story. Mass Effect is just horrible IMO. Bad combat, bad exploration. I'll need to restart that game soon and give it another chance. Just a few examples. I have The Witcher(1) and I haven't tried it yet. It is Polish(hell yea) though, not American but I guess it is still Western.
Avatar image for Blueresident87
Blueresident87

5896

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 8

#26 Blueresident87
Member since 2007 • 5896 Posts

[QUOTE="Blueresident87"]

There is no difference between 'RPGs' and 'JRPGs' as one is just a sub-genre of the other.

JRPGs for me are very difficult to take seriously many times, whereas I really appreciate the approach of most western RPGs. I play both, but I prefer western. 

YoshiYogurt

WRPGs tend to bore the crap out of me. Fallout 3 is just not fun to play to me and the only thing that kept me going was the setting and story. Mass Effect is just horrible IMO. Bad combat, bad exploration. I'll need to restart that game soon and give it another chance. Just a few examples. I have The Witcher(1) and I haven't tried it yet. It is Polish(hell yea) though, not American but I guess it is still Western.

Mass Effect as a series isn't the best example of a 'strong' western RPG. The Witcher, however, is a great example. The original is hard to swallow for some, but the second one is a borderline masterpiece.

Avatar image for byshop
Byshop

20503

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

#27 Byshop  Moderator
Member since 2002 • 20503 Posts

Mass Effect as a series isn't the best example of a 'strong' western RPG. The Witcher, however, is a great example. The original is hard to swallow for some, but the second one is a borderline masterpiece.

Blueresident87

I like it but I wouldn't go that far. I spend way too much time in boss fights running around in circles while "Yakety Saks" plays in my head waiting for my signs to recharge. I love how so many of the quests have multiple outcomes but they often feel directionless and I have no idea how to get the good result or even what the good result is. I -do-, however, like that there isn't a binary "morality" bar and you can pretty much make your own morality.

-Byshop