The effect that Evangelion had on the cultural zeitgeist of Japan really can't be overstated. Its influence can be felt through various works like Xenogears, Code Geass, Persona 5, Naruto, Serial Experiments Lain, and hundreds more, all seeking to expound on, refute, or answer the primary theme of Eva, and one of the central paradoxes of humanity: the hedgehog's dilemma. I think we'll look back on Eva as Japan's version of The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a work that shaped an entire generation of storytelling.
i think you're taking in on the wrong side. Eva was what had to happen to Japan. humanity's history doesn't really work just with what can be seen, like something exists--->enormous influence on the things coming after in a big generational way. it's a bit more complex than that. i'm of course not saying Eva didn't have influence, it was indeed enormous, but it's more because it had to be. if it wasn't Eva, it would've been something else. the other things after it wouldn't "not exist" if Eva wasn't here. they also would have, differently. it's something that was there, in Japan. it's something that was getting out, and Eva was a catalyst for it. we cannot overstate the importance of humanity's inner boiling energy. it's like jazz or mostly anything else, it had to happen, whatever the seed of its beginning. it's always the same, humans are multiple to have the same ideas at the same time (on a very conceptual level or more concrete), or with a slight time gap.
Its baffling how Ys 8 started as a shipwrecked, trapped in an island kind of thing. You would think it's gonna be a case of explore this island make a boat and bolt outta there, but once you explore the other half of the island, oh boy are you in for a ride. One of the best games I've played in terms of storyline. Its slow burn, but a really good burning.
I guess I never really got to the story in Ys 8 - I tried a couple times but I just remember being stuck and running around in a circle after getting to the initial island. After doing the same thing like 10 times I pulled out the game and tossed it...One of these days I might pull it out again.
Xenogears will always be my number one for story telling as well, but really glad to see Ys VIII on this list. That was a game I started up on a whim thinking "ah it will be a fun action RPG but probably nothing to right home about" and it ended up being of my favorite RPGs of all time.
Love your content so much. Just finished Crossbell Arc and bought a Steam Deck and I am 20 hours in Trails from the Sky. I love Estelle so much. Thanks man. You encouraged me. Love these other games. Omori is now on my wishlist.
Love your picks and clearly I really need to get to Ys VIII! I at least have it now so zero excuses!!! I play JRPGs for the stories so it’s a HUGE factor for me!
Clicked on the video because I was pretty surprised to see Ys 8 in the thumbnail. That games story doesn't get enough attention, its seriously impressive for an Ys game and it blew me away. The twists and turns had me hooked. You are right about it being way better than the narrative in previous entries. It was the one thing that was slightly lacking in other games, now we have the complete Ys package. My absolute favorite in the series.
Yeah, and I'm glad they're continuing in that direction (at least it seems that way). I didn't love 9 QUITE as much as 8, but it's still on the right track.
Love that you included Xenogears, I have a similar experience with that game. I played it over and over on my PS1 it was my favorite game of all time, and I also loved NGE. As a teen I identified with Shinji hating himself. JRPGs hit a lot harder as a teen, I remember when completing a game like FF7 or FF8 or XG I would get really sad for days and miss the characters in them as if they were real people. To this day I still have a hard time listening to Small Two of Pieces because of the memories and emotions it brings back up. In a way I miss those times, but also would never want to go back.
I still feel like that right now as a grown ass man lol. Going through it all again now with FFVII:Rebirth! even harder now that the characters look more realistic and have way more personality lol. I don't want this to ever end!
Yeah, the amount of emotional investment we could afford as kids just can't quite compare with the way it is today for me either, I know what you mean.
@keblin86 lucky!! I don't have PS5, I've moved to primarily PC gaming plus switch. I'm so so jealous about FF7 (and God of war) though. Can't wait for the PC ports!
ikr! I was trying so hard not to buy a PS5 as I am mostly PC player too but I can't resist when it comes to FFVII lol. I only bought the PS5 for this really! I will probably buy Rebirth again on PC too because it's so damn good! @@whatismyname5151
Oh yeah, both Lunar 1 and 2 are top-tier stories for sure!
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Another banger of a list! Still waiting on my copy of Harvestella and I promise to keep you posted! Ps. Your video skills, your editing, and your delivery have gotten so, so good. Keep doing a great job and raking in those subscribers!
I actually think FF9 was the series peak. 6 will always mean more to me because it was the first game to show me that games aren’t just fun, they’re truly art and maybe the pinnacle of it when done right. I want them to redo 6… but I don’t lol. I don’t think it’s possible. There’s so much I want them to explore. Spoiler I want so badly to see Terra converse quietly with her dad’s magicite and explore her feelings more. There’s so much that could be fleshed out and explained with the characters. There are story moments that don’t exactly make sense, that could be explained better or redone to not be cringy or slightly creepy. Like Setzer is introduced as actually a bad guy, I think we could do better at justifying his actions when we’re introduced to him. I think some view Locke as also creepy, but he never struck me that way. Just extremely guilty and desperate to make things right.
Omori was a welcome surprise, and it is truly a hidden gem. Though, my goodness, is the story heavy! The cutesy, clever gameplay and colorful characters helps offset the weight of it though.
I'm so glad you included Xenogears. That for me is still the most ambitious storytelling ever seen in a JRPG. Only Trails manages to come close in terms of shocking plot twists and dark themes. Other stories I really like include Lost Odyssey and Persona 5.
Yeah, especially if you think about Xenogears' place in the overall story Takahashi wanted to tell -- the whole Xeno universe has the potential to be close to the same level of epicness as Trails.
Ive played every Trails and Xeno game, in my opinion Xenosaga is the best of them all in terms of story. Trails does too many things I started to not like in the Cold Steel series which is a shame because Sky and Zero were so well done. Xenogears and the Xenoblade series are better games than Xenosaga but Xenosaga, story alone, I still consider the best story in all of gaming and I've played and beaten hundreds. Nier isn't a jrpg but the connected stories of Drakengard and Nier are also incredibly interesting and unique stories.
@@joeyisabsb1I do respect the overarching narrative of trails series but man does it do so many things that pisses me off to the point where it even fell off my top 10 fav jrpgs, there is very little to no consequence, the pacing is often very bad and the plot armor is pretty much a joke that is extremely hard to take the game serious.
@@نونيم-ي4ح I was just about to ask which Trails game has a good story. Lol I've never played one but whenever I ask, someone always talks about how good the "lore" is over the actual story and characters
JRPG stories I love are Eternal Sonata on PS3 which is still stuck there and Ni Nu Kuni which both just really emotionally moved me. Final Fantasy IX with beautiful disney esc character designs and loveable characters. Fire Emblem Echoes is stoll my favorite story for that series. Thanks Brandon.
Granhistoria for the Super Famicom has one of my favorite and complex JRPG stories out there. For a pretty unique story hook, the player possesses first-hand knowledge of all major story events as they happen all the way up to the end of the world, but your choices along the way have a striking effect on the unfolding narrative. The mood of the story is rather melancholic and bittersweet, with the game's overall art direction reminding me of movies like Nausicaä or Wings of Honneamise. The game's not translated into English as of yet, but I really hope a fan translation of it gets made one day.
I still havent played Harvestella but I fell in love with the cover the moment it was announced and cant wait to play it especially after hearing your thoughts about it!
I love it when your videos start, and you're miles away from the camera 🤣 Awesome list though, Lacrimosa of Dana is unbelievable, I absolutely love that game ❤️
Lacrimosa of Dana isn't just one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played... it's one of the greatest *video games* I've ever played. In nearly every RPG I've ever played, there's always a few members of the main cast I don't care for. In FF9, I never felt much for Quina, Amarant or Eiko. FF8 had Zell, Selphie and Irvine fall flat for me. In Ni No Kuni 2, pretty much only Roland and Evan I found endearing. And Sea of Stars made me want to beat Garl over the head with a chair. But Ys VIII? Every. Single. Character. I ADORED them. Adol, Hummel, Laxia, Ricotta, Sahad and, of course, the titular Dana. This cast was so immensely loveable and charming, and they were all fun to play as. I love Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. It was a crown jewel experience.
13 SENTINELS AEGIS RIM, Xenogears, the Xenoblades, FF6-7-10 (my dirty secret is I consider 10-2 very much a part of 10) and probably FFT too, definitely Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology yeah, Undertale if it counts, CHAINED ECHOES if it counts, Triangle Strategy tries a bit hard but I love it, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, all the Suikodens, Trails in the Sky. Honorary mention to Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Arise, but I think both are flawed. Abyss has weird pacing since it puts a bazillion twists in the first third or so, and Arise is ... if you've played Arise I feel like why it's flawed is so obvious lol but I love love love both. I adoooore Ys VIII but let's just say I'm very surprised to see it on this particular list lol.
Omori was such a surprise addition to my favorite switch games. Didn't expect so many...feels. Regarding the RE trilogy of FF7, I suspect it'll be something similar to the Rebuild of Evangelion movies. A half-sequel, half-shenanigans and a definitive ending. Until the creators are strapped for cash again.
Hahaha yes, I was just thinking that it's crazy I'm still experiencing stories with these characters I loved as a kid, now that I'm a middle aged man, and I was wondering if I would STILL be experiencing new stories with them when I'm like 60 😅
I'm a story & character guy as well, so I may have to check out a few on your list that I haven't played. For me the standouts are the Trails Series, Dragon Quest V, and Suikoden II. I agree that FF VI & Chrono Trigger should always be included in a list such as this as well. For an underrated recent game that I think should be up there, I'd throw in Triangle Strategy.
I wish I felt anything like you about Undertale. In my review of the game, I think I gave the story a 3 or 4 out of 10. It did nothing for me except make me laugh a bit haha.
A great list! I think Breath of Fire 2 would be on mine. I just remember how intrigued and drawn in I was at the really sad start to that game's story as a kid 😊
I honestly think it depends. If a game has a meh story or an outright BAD story, if the gameplay is great, then I'll probably still have fun with it. But it won't engage me on the same level as even a game with subpar gameplay but an excellent story.
I think the story from Tales of Berseria stuck with me more than just about any other game. It's not that the story is so deep but it has a high emotional impact and the ending...well enough said.
Two more I recommend, for story: 1) Infinite Space on the DS. The gameplay and graphics will turn many off, but you start as a young man on a backwater planet with dreams of traveling through space and develop into the captain of a fleet of ships taking on intergalactic conquerors and omnipotent super beings...but it does so in an incredibly deep way. You build a crew, family, you fight pirates and help nationstates solve conflicts, you research space anamolies, at one point you're an outlaw / pirate yourself, etc. There is a timeskip in the game that follows a dramatic, universe changing event and you become a much more mature, focused, capable individual (think DQ5). There are also branching storyline. They dint change the overall narrative, but do expose you to different cultures, crewmembers, equipment, etc., depending on your choices. For a story, I can't recommend it enough. 2) Ni No Kuni. I didn't love the gameplay of Ni No Kuni, but the art and story kept me invested. It deals with loss and love in a way few games can, and had me wiping away tears a couple of times.
I literally almost looked ahead in the timeline, oops lol. Good choices of best stories all around! I probably would've put Shadow Hearts up there too, but I just like all the mythos around Roger Bacon haha.
I’m a massive fan of Tetsuya Takahashi’s work - Xenoblades 1-3 +DLC was my favorite stories - it was massive and sad even at the “end” 800+ hours and worth every minute - love your list 😊❤
Ya had me scared that you'd feature a list with Harvestella but not Xenogears, but you came through! Hahaha jkjk But I'd definitely put The World Ends With You on a list like this. It's one I don't see get mentioned very often, but I think the characters and themes they explore really make it some of Square's top notch story telling!
Phenomenal list and video. I’d like to submit: SMT/Persona series Mother 2 and 3 Xenosaga series Xenoblade chronicles 1 and 3 Valkyria chronicles Steambot Chronicles Final Fantasy Tactics, 9-10, 14 Suikoden series Nier Series And some honorable mentions: Star Ocean second story Vagrant Story Shadow Hearts series Parasite Eve
@@JustTheGems when I first played Steambot I remember vividly thinking two things. “This game makes me feel nostalgic for a time that never existed” and “I wonder if that says something about the nature of our society and capitalism or why we feel nostalgia for times like these?” And I thought these things very early on before much of the story even played out. At that moment I thought this was just a random little JRPG and didn’t think that it would concern itself with any real themes. The rest of my time with that game would confirm that those feelings I had were very intentional. It still impresses me and baffles me that the creators of that game were able invoke very specific ideas in my brain from the first few hours.
Here are my top ten, in order tho haha (I haven't played every game on your list so 😂). I know I'm missing some of the absolute best of the genre, but hey, I gotta save some good games for later 😂 10. Dragon Quest XI 9. Tales of Vesperia 8. Final Fantasy VIII 7. Paper Mario: The Origami King 6. Final Fantasy X 5. Octopath Traveler II 4. Final Fantasy IX 3. Blue Dragon 2. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch 1. Lost Odyssey
This reminds me that I gotta get back to Ys VIII eventually. I was enjoying the game but the game is a crime to the eyes on Switch so I gotta get it on Steam so it actually looks acceptable lol.
A fellow story lover! Love to see videos about game stories and I agree with most of these picks especially Y8 I loved the setting and concept Tho is does break my heart not seeing Nier automata on the list jk😅 if you haven’t played it I highly recommend for its story
I really like the trails series. I started YS 8 a few days ago. Not even through the first chapter. I am glad to hear the story will be this amazing. Personally, I would add Suokoden 2, but perhaps I am biased since it is my favorite game of all time.
You know, it's been years and years since I played Suikoden 2 in its entirety. I really want to play it again, but I wanted to wait for the remaster and... Well, you know how that's been going so far. 😣
When it comes to my fav JRPG stories, here's my favs- Eternal Sonata- No surprise that my fav game has one of my fav stories. It's not afraid to get philosophical and makes you think! I would only recommend this game for those who like deep stories and mindsets because it's not easy to understand at times. Grandia 2- First JRPG and it turned me into a better person because of the story. It starts out as your basic JRPG where you think everything is black and white, but then things start to unravel and you realize nothing every IS black and white. I still think Ryudo has one of the best char arcs in gaming. Tales of Symphonia- Man the lore in this game goes pretty deep. You think one simple task to 'save the world' would be a one and done deal, but NOPE, far more complex than that, and how the chars' stories connect to overarching plot is great too. So many plot twists too it's nuts.
I never had too emotional of a feeling playing Chrono Trigger and its story, but there's one story element I respect, and I've never seen a game quite like it: its pacing. It's perfect! I've seen nothing quite like it before that or since, it wastes no time
is YS 8 really that worth it, i dont really want to sucked to jrpg rabbit hole again, already give up on trails since its too expensive and time consuming to complete, can you play ys 8 without playing other title wether before or after?
I Would Add XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition, XenoBlade Chronicles 3 with the Future Redeemed DLC, Fire Emblem Three Houses Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload
I'm not finished with the video yet but can you place both FF's in the same list? There's such a debate when it comes to those two that I feel like it's not possible. However both of them do have great stories so maybe it's allowed here. All right, time to finish the video.
It's funny I've only finished one game mentioned here and 2 others I've only spent a few hours in. I'll be honest I'm surprised that Crystar wasn't mentioned, personally that would make my Top 10 without doubt that and Triangle Strategy, Blue Reflection Second Light, Yakuza 0 as well as the Xenoblade Chronical games just to name a few. And at the moment I'm playing through Mary Skelter 2 and I'm really looking forward to finding out how the two games are connected. I've so many questions.
I think I'm going to have to give Chrono Trigger a shot one day just because I've been hearing about it for years and haven't actually been able to play it. However, Xenogears sounds REALLY interesting to me and I'm curious to see what that's ALL about
The most amazing thing about ff6 having a great story is that it does so with one arm tied behind its back. If the WoR was as polished as the WoB, it would be one of the best stories inside or outside of gaming
Yeah, I think WoR was sort of an experiment, the whole open-world, non-linear thing was relatively new, and they were figuring things out as they went. I bet they'd knock it out of the park today.
Harvestella yassss. Complete hidden gem and doesn’t get the credit it deserves! Critics complain about lack of customization etc but it makes up for it with so much character development and plot. Best Unicorn ever too.
I would put FF 7 (just that game, none of the stuff that came after it) as the fourth best story FF; I rank 6, then 9, then 10, and then 7, and 6 and 9 are really close, with there being a gap between 9 and 10. FF 7 came along at the right time; it was a massive step up in graphics and it was the first playstation FF. I remember that I was the only person in my entire High School who loved FF 6 and Chrono Trigger, but I also remember that everyone was playing FF 7 in my college dorm. FF 7 was so hyped, and it was such a massive step up for the series into mainstream cultural relevance that JRPGs had never had before. It got all the additional stuff because of when it came along. Don't get me wrong, those top 4 FF are all amongst the greatest games I've ever played, being the fourth best FF is still absolutely an elite all-time game. However, I think FF 7 was a product of perfect timing; you can't become what it's become without being a fantastic game, but FF 9, which I feel is a better game, had the exact opposite happen: FF 9 was the product of the worst timing imaginable. Ys 8 and the Trails series have completely ruined Action RPGs and turn-based RPGs for me, respectively. I played Star Ocean: Second Story when it first came out years ago, and I loved it, and right now, I'm playing through Second Story R. The remake is a 10/10 remake, but now, when compared with the Trails series and Ys 8, the flaws of the original Star Ocean Second Story becomes painfully apparent. The way the story just drags on in the second half; the way the plot is resolved with techno-babble "magic" with little in the way of consistency and how it undermines choices and consequences just completely stick out. That's not something I noticed before Trails, but once you've played Trails, it's hard to ask a man to go back.
Yeah, I've noticed that it can be a challenge to go back to older games now that there have been so many generations' worth of refinement in development and storytelling. Games like Trails and Ys really have done a lot to move things forward, so it's a shame that they are both still sort of underrated by a lot of people.
@@JustTheGemsIt's not just story refinements, gameplay mechanic refinements also make the older titles harder to play. Ys 8 has a great crafting system, and once you've tried that, you see all the massive flaws of Star Ocean's crafting system. Luck based crafting systems need to disappear, they are terrible game design. They don't require skill and they don't reward exploration, all they do is incentivize save scumming and produce endless monotonous and tedious game play that sucks all the joy out of playing video games. I love Star Ocean, but I can't believe they released a game with a luck based crafting system in 2022, that doesn't make sense.
Ok here are some games i think that also had good stories: Xenosaga Ep1 to Ep3, The Lost Child(You can also try El Shaddai), Parasite Eve 1, Secret of Evermore, Shadowrun, Shadows Awakening, Chrono Cross, Shelterra the Skyworld, FF12, Crystar, and Deus Ex Mankind Divided.
Great list! Here is mine, and 3 from the same series: 1. Suikoden II. 108 characters and somehow its the best character game to me. I love the setup and delivery for the entire game. And I fell apart when Nanami...well spoilers. 2. Final Fantasy 6. For me 7 doesn't even get close and 8 is better than 7. The sheer epic of the world and what happens to it is amazing. I loved the characters and the opera scene...chefs kiss 3. Persona 2 both: Not many people have played this, but for me was the best marriage of SMT and the "new thing" there is a monumental sacrifice to the story and I'm a suckered for that 4. Suikoden III. A pretty decent game, with some characterizations that are realistic and atypical...I can't give it away, but I love the subtle way the characters react to things that happen, and how uncertain you are of who really is the good guy...then they dare to put you in the shoes of the man that caused it all...the Luc arc makes Suikoden III 5 Xenoblade chronicles: I'm one of those strange people that actually thinks this is better than Xenogears...which is blasphemy. 6. Trails in the Sky SC: an incredible leap in story quality from the setup of first chapter to everything is gold second. What a game, what a ride. 7. Trails to Azure. Who wouldn't cry after this game. It ups the stakes into the stratosphere, and to the very end, you not only feel for the heroes, you feel for the villains as well. 8 Suikoden 5. When this released, I thought it was a return to form. Instead, it would be the last good one. It's still an amazing story, finishing and adding to stories given in the previous games. 9. Final fantasy tactics: a final fantasy that was anything but typical, giving us political intrigue equal to the apocalyptic nature of other Final fantasies. Of course it's just ogre battle...meaning it's fantastic. 10. Dragon quest V. What was it? 4 generations in one game? And the way everything is a generational struggle, the incredible obstacles overcome and the unique aspect of the main characters (your not the chosen one...your the father of the chosen one...) ...I love this game and finished it several times. Special mention: Phantasy Star IV...a masterpiece of the old, old generation that's been forgotten too soon. RIP Yoshitaka Murayama...and thank you
I need to go back to VC1. I played it up until the part where you fight that one blue-haired lady (I'm blanking, it's been years) and she CRUSHED me, and I got so disheartened I didn't go back...😅
That us a good list. I need to get on the ball and get Harvestella before it become one of those expensive games that gets over looked. I would probably put Chrono Cross on my list as for me, it is one of the best games on the original Playstation. My issue with Xenogears is how it is clear they ran of time or money to finish it, and it falls flat on itself (plus, I am still salty to this day about trying to beat the final boss and never being able to).,
I really see why you put Xenogears, FFVI and VII, Radiant Historia and Undertale on this list. Also Ys VIII for being phenomenal in general (I don’t think it’s story is sooo impressive though, would have preferred if they stayed with the simple „escape the island“ premise). Don’t see what the rest on this list is doing here though.
Final Fantasy XIV has one of the best stories in any media. People look past it because it's an MMO, but Natsuko Ishikawa and Banri Oda (the lead writer and her loremaster) have crafted an absolute masterpiece that shouldn't be ignored.
My Top 10 JRPG Stories 10. Grandia II - A complete contrast to the grand adventure vibes from the first Grandia game but Grandia II took things in a darker direction and because the game is very 100% complete friendly it makes the story stick with you more. 9. Xenogears - while folks will say “Good game but disc 2 sucks.” 100% disagree, I feel the challenges and circumstances revolving around Xenogears development actually enhanced the story, the plot twist with Fei and a certain character on Disc 2! still has me chocked up. 8. Persona 3 FES - Along with Nier Automata the most depressing game I have ever played story wise but deals with anxiety, depression and other complicated themes really well. 7. The Legend of Dragoon - For a single entry game, Legend of Dragoon has such rich lore and story beats its the reason why so many folks want a pre-quel or sequel 6. Nier Automata - This is the JRPG that even none JRPG fans love, a game with multiple endings could end in a giant mess but Nier handles everything beautifully 5. Final Fantasy X - The weight of Sin causing that much pain and suffering to Spira for decades and decades and decades still holds up as one of the most interesting narratives in the series 4. Final Fantasy VI - Ticks every box, multi-cast narrative done to perfection (even though technically the Ted Woosley Uncensored version is still the best way to experience it 🤔😂) Opera scene, Celes and Locke, magic story telling 3. Chrono Trigger - The greatest time travel story ever told in fiction, I played the SNES version for the first time back in 2016 and STILL holds up today. 2. Tales of the Abyss - I know Tales of the Abyss is considered in the Tales of holy trinity with fans but I feel Tales of the Abyss doesn’t get enough respect as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, Luke’s arc in the entire game is so authentic and masterfully done, spoilt amnesia prince to down to earth sympathetic hero by the end, many video games these days would spread TOAT narrative across multiple entries and fail, while TOAT does it within one and succeeds so well. 1. Kingdom Hearts Xehanort Saga - Here me out lol …. I know KH gets dogged one a lot for its story but I personally believe something like MGS gets praised for its complicated story because ‘guns are cool’ while KH is deemed convoluted because it’s disney. I do concede the mobile/PC/Back Cover movie portion of the series did mess up a PERFECT narrative… BUT if you play all the KH games (minus the mobile/PC games and the back cover movie) and include MOM, TWEWY, Neo TWEWY, and Smash Ultimate world of light mode as Sora…… not kidding, the greatest adventure ever told about a boy ‘Sora’ sacrificing himself to save his friends, true love, and the entire world. 🍻
This is a great list! I for one have really wanted to get fully absorbed into Kingdom Hearts, but just like so many people are scared of things like the Trails series because of all the entries, I kinda feel that way about KH! 😅 But I own all of them, so I'll get to them one day.
@@JustTheGems If we ever meet for a bevy or a coffee you have to teach me the Trails way!! 😂😂 so much praise, yet i haven’t taken the dive yet, sounds like im missing out, I gotta fix that 🍻
I don't know if it qualifies, but amongst the games I've played from the Final Fantasy series (most but not all), the very best story for me has been FFXIV. None of the other games had so many moments that had me in tears or left me with my jaw dropped.
I've tried a couple of times to get into 14, and I really want to -- but I just have such a hard time with the gameplay loop. Maybe I should try it on console instead of PC, since I'm almost 100% a console gamer.
@JustTheGems I tried to switch from PC to console when the PS5 version dropped, but I was too entrenched in KB/mouse control scheme. But I know so many console players that are great and have a blast. The story is fantastic
Decent list, major props for including Harvestella that game is SUCH an underrated gem it's tragic that it didn't sell better, and we probably won't get a sequel because of that (it ends on a pretty awesome cliffhanger and I want to see where that may lead) And while I agree about Xenogears being on the list, I would contend that of all of Monolith's games, Xenoblade Chronicles deserves it the most. Persona 5 Royal (the whole franchise really) also deserves a spot, and as far as final fantasy games go... Eh, despite Zack being my favorite character alongside Aerith, I don't actually think the compilation is as compelling as you make it out to be. Especially not compared to the stories and lore found in Vana'diel & Ethryis, the worlda of 11 and 14 respectively. Those are without equal, the best works in the franchise the only others that come remotely close are 6 and Tactics (even though Tactics is ostensibly just Berserk with an FF makeover.)
@@JustTheGems that's fair, they aren't for everyone, and 11 is particularly notorious for being unfriendly to newcomers. The world building is unbelievable in both though.
@@JustTheGems good thing you are the underwhelming, ignorant and uneducated minority. Lunar Remastered announced less than 24 hours later for Spring 2025 for the overwhelming majority that can/did. Admittedly the Sega CD OGs were better but still it's better than every trendy, inferior game and story on this trash list. m.ua-cam.com/video/mQ01e5PkiA8/v-deo.html
It's not true that you won't be able to put down the Trails series. I started last February, then I put it down last August... Well to be fair, that was because I finished all 10 English localized games in original release order. But still, I stopped. Pay no attention to those withdrawal symptoms...
I'm on the same journey, replaying them all (I'm in the middle of Azure now, I started back in January -- got distracted with Rebirth for a bit, but now I'm back on.)
I only played Chrono Trigger this year. I can guarantee you the story sticks with you. I have nostalgia for this game. But i think about it a lot. It is 100% an S Tier story
Xenosaga is, in my opinion, still the best story ever told. Chrono Trigger I played for the first time about 5 years ago so even with no nostalgia attached I still consider it one of the best games ever made.
Mother 3 deserved a place on here. Final Fantasy VII story was good, until it got hacked apart and glued back into a Frankenstein monster in the remake. I appreciate the concept of multiverses, however, if that is the trope you use so your story will make sense, should probably go back to the writers room.
Can't help but notice those are mostly somewhat dated games! Is it nostalgia ? Is it because these games influenced modern day JRPGs so much that these original stories seem unoriginal to the contemporary gamer eye? Is it because story isn't a big marketing point anymore? Is it because such great games just happen every so often? Your video made me want to try some of these out, but honestly I have a hard time playing dated games like these, nowadays. I feel like I don't have enough gaming time available to play both modern, more attractive experience AND those classics that sound mind blowing yet somewhat unappealing. But I hope they get somewhat remastered, ported, or even remade like FF VII has been, at some point, because I really want to be able to experience these I think I kinda would have appreciated if you gave a general idea of what these games may have inspired (story or gameplay wise) compared to more modern options. This way I would either have been even more compelled to try these out, or would have tried a more modern "equivalent". Tho I guess it could quickly turn into implicit spoilers to do that... Also kinda surprised not to see a mention of the Tales of or the Persona series in there. But I guess you couldn't cover anything and everything, with so many options Any way, cool vid
Xenogears is that one game that I can still play, today, without any mods Okay, that's an exaggeration; virtually everything with hand drawn art is still on the table. Doubly so if it's pixel art. But, gfd... Xenogears hits just as hard as the year it came out.
Here’s my list of both JRPG and RPGs that have the best stories 1. Final Fantasy 7 2. Final Fantasy 9 3. Final Fantasy 10 4. Tales of Berseria 5. Tales of Arise 6. Legend of Dragoon 7. Ni No Kuni 8. Persona 5 9. Fire Emblem Awakening 10. Fire Emblem Azure Moon 11. Fire Emblem Crimson Flower 12. Fire Emblem Cindered Shadows 13. Dragon Age Origins 14. Dragon Age 2 15. Dragon Age Inquisition 16. Dragon Age Veilguard 17. Baldur’s Gate 3 18. Divinity Original Sin 2 19. Hogwarts Legacy 20. Fenyx Immortal Rising 21. Greedfall 22. Fable 1 23. Fable 2 24. Fable 3 25. Diablo 2 26. Diablo 4 27. Banner Saga Trilogy 28. Dungeon of Naheulbeuk 29. Persona 3 30. Warcraft 3 31. Ys 8 32. Xenoblade Chronicles
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The effect that Evangelion had on the cultural zeitgeist of Japan really can't be overstated. Its influence can be felt through various works like Xenogears, Code Geass, Persona 5, Naruto, Serial Experiments Lain, and hundreds more, all seeking to expound on, refute, or answer the primary theme of Eva, and one of the central paradoxes of humanity: the hedgehog's dilemma. I think we'll look back on Eva as Japan's version of The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a work that shaped an entire generation of storytelling.
Absolutely - it was paradigm shifting for media in general.
It's also pretty wild how much influence Berserk had
Shitty generation of anime tier writing is more what really has been going on since the 90’s
@@JustTheGemsoh this is the most extra statement ever 😂
i think you're taking in on the wrong side. Eva was what had to happen to Japan. humanity's history doesn't really work just with what can be seen, like something exists--->enormous influence on the things coming after in a big generational way. it's a bit more complex than that. i'm of course not saying Eva didn't have influence, it was indeed enormous, but it's more because it had to be. if it wasn't Eva, it would've been something else. the other things after it wouldn't "not exist" if Eva wasn't here. they also would have, differently. it's something that was there, in Japan. it's something that was getting out, and Eva was a catalyst for it. we cannot overstate the importance of humanity's inner boiling energy. it's like jazz or mostly anything else, it had to happen, whatever the seed of its beginning. it's always the same, humans are multiple to have the same ideas at the same time (on a very conceptual level or more concrete), or with a slight time gap.
Radiant Historia was amazing. Got the true-true ending on it. It was so peak.
Omori was great too
I was blown away by that game.
Its baffling how Ys 8 started as a shipwrecked, trapped in an island kind of thing. You would think it's gonna be a case of explore this island make a boat and bolt outta there, but once you explore the other half of the island, oh boy are you in for a ride. One of the best games I've played in terms of storyline. Its slow burn, but a really good burning.
Totally, you do NOT see where things are going when you start this one!
I guess I never really got to the story in Ys 8 - I tried a couple times but I just remember being stuck and running around in a circle after getting to the initial island. After doing the same thing like 10 times I pulled out the game and tossed it...One of these days I might pull it out again.
@@Raphtor13 nah man your first impression was correct. leave that game in the dustbin and play something else instead.
@@dangox3370 games good the stories ass though
@@dangox3370Must suck to be you.
Xenogears will always be my number one for story telling as well, but really glad to see Ys VIII on this list. That was a game I started up on a whim thinking "ah it will be a fun action RPG but probably nothing to right home about" and it ended up being of my favorite RPGs of all time.
Me too, it really just snuck up on me!
You will obviously need to play more RPG’s then. For reals 😂
Shame about that last disc though.
@mwells219 even still the story was amazing
Love your content so much. Just finished Crossbell Arc and bought a Steam Deck and I am 20 hours in Trails from the Sky. I love Estelle so much. Thanks man. You encouraged me. Love these other games. Omori is now on my wishlist.
Excellent! You'll have to tell me what you think of the Sky arc when you're done!
You're always in your element whenever talking about JRPG stories. Great video Branden!
Thanks Emily! This was a fun one to make.
Love the selection of games here! My personal list would have to also include Xenosaga and Tales of Berseria.
Berseria is one of my favorite Tales games, and Xenosaga is incredible - Takahashi can't be beat!
Love your picks and clearly I really need to get to Ys VIII! I at least have it now so zero excuses!!! I play JRPGs for the stories so it’s a HUGE factor for me!
I hope you like it! To me, 8 and 9 both do a great job of striking a good balance between action and story.
Clicked on the video because I was pretty surprised to see Ys 8 in the thumbnail. That games story doesn't get enough attention, its seriously impressive for an Ys game and it blew me away. The twists and turns had me hooked.
You are right about it being way better than the narrative in previous entries. It was the one thing that was slightly lacking in other games, now we have the complete Ys package. My absolute favorite in the series.
Yeah, and I'm glad they're continuing in that direction (at least it seems that way). I didn't love 9 QUITE as much as 8, but it's still on the right track.
I'm a little shocked you didn't mention behind your left shoulder. Lunar SSSC and EB are right there with these.
The Lunar games are spectacular, as are the Grandia games, for sure! Game Arts knew what they were doing.
The two omissions I'd place in would be Xenoblade 1 and Suikoden II.
Yeah, the Xenoblade games for sure, as an extension of the Takahashi-verse, and Suikoden as a series is spectacular.
Love that you included Xenogears, I have a similar experience with that game. I played it over and over on my PS1 it was my favorite game of all time, and I also loved NGE. As a teen I identified with Shinji hating himself. JRPGs hit a lot harder as a teen, I remember when completing a game like FF7 or FF8 or XG I would get really sad for days and miss the characters in them as if they were real people. To this day I still have a hard time listening to Small Two of Pieces because of the memories and emotions it brings back up. In a way I miss those times, but also would never want to go back.
I still feel like that right now as a grown ass man lol. Going through it all again now with FFVII:Rebirth! even harder now that the characters look more realistic and have way more personality lol. I don't want this to ever end!
Yeah, the amount of emotional investment we could afford as kids just can't quite compare with the way it is today for me either, I know what you mean.
@JustTheGems yeah and I wish we had trails at that age. It's good now but I can't imagine 14 year old me getting to experience it.
@keblin86 lucky!! I don't have PS5, I've moved to primarily PC gaming plus switch. I'm so so jealous about FF7 (and God of war) though. Can't wait for the PC ports!
ikr! I was trying so hard not to buy a PS5 as I am mostly PC player too but I can't resist when it comes to FFVII lol. I only bought the PS5 for this really! I will probably buy Rebirth again on PC too because it's so damn good! @@whatismyname5151
Vagrant story ?? I know it’s more linear and small but the storytelling quality is so high
Yeah 100%, I would say it's a highly story-focused game and it tells it in such a dramatically appealing way.
I came to the comments section to say this, but you beat me to it. It's also WAY more cinematic than it had any right to be for that time
FF6 is my favorite game of all time I thing Lunar Sliver song would be a nice add to this list. Great video.
Oh yeah, both Lunar 1 and 2 are top-tier stories for sure!
Another banger of a list! Still waiting on my copy of Harvestella and I promise to keep you posted!
Ps. Your video skills, your editing, and your delivery have gotten so, so good. Keep doing a great job and raking in those subscribers!
Hey thanks man! And yeah, definitely let me know what you think of Harvestella!
I actually think FF9 was the series peak. 6 will always mean more to me because it was the first game to show me that games aren’t just fun, they’re truly art and maybe the pinnacle of it when done right. I want them to redo 6… but I don’t lol. I don’t think it’s possible. There’s so much I want them to explore. Spoiler
I want so badly to see Terra converse quietly with her dad’s magicite and explore her feelings more. There’s so much that could be fleshed out and explained with the characters. There are story moments that don’t exactly make sense, that could be explained better or redone to not be cringy or slightly creepy. Like Setzer is introduced as actually a bad guy, I think we could do better at justifying his actions when we’re introduced to him. I think some view Locke as also creepy, but he never struck me that way. Just extremely guilty and desperate to make things right.
Omori was a welcome surprise, and it is truly a hidden gem. Though, my goodness, is the story heavy! The cutesy, clever gameplay and colorful characters helps offset the weight of it though.
Yeah, I think the pacing of going back and forth between the whimsy and the heaviness really helps you get through it all.
I love Ys 8, it totally surprised me with its quality
Right?? It's such a glow-up from the previous games in the series!
I'm so glad you included Xenogears. That for me is still the most ambitious storytelling ever seen in a JRPG. Only Trails manages to come close in terms of shocking plot twists and dark themes.
Other stories I really like include Lost Odyssey and Persona 5.
Yeah, especially if you think about Xenogears' place in the overall story Takahashi wanted to tell -- the whole Xeno universe has the potential to be close to the same level of epicness as Trails.
Ive played every Trails and Xeno game, in my opinion Xenosaga is the best of them all in terms of story. Trails does too many things I started to not like in the Cold Steel series which is a shame because Sky and Zero were so well done. Xenogears and the Xenoblade series are better games than Xenosaga but Xenosaga, story alone, I still consider the best story in all of gaming and I've played and beaten hundreds.
Nier isn't a jrpg but the connected stories of Drakengard and Nier are also incredibly interesting and unique stories.
@@joeyisabsb1 Nier is a JRPG.
@@joeyisabsb1I do respect the overarching narrative of trails series but man does it do so many things that pisses me off to the point where it even fell off my top 10 fav jrpgs, there is very little to no consequence, the pacing is often very bad and the plot armor is pretty much a joke that is extremely hard to take the game serious.
@@نونيم-ي4ح
I was just about to ask which Trails game has a good story. Lol
I've never played one but whenever I ask, someone always talks about how good the "lore" is over the actual story and characters
JRPG stories I love are Eternal Sonata on PS3 which is still stuck there and Ni Nu Kuni which both just really emotionally moved me. Final Fantasy IX with beautiful disney esc character designs and loveable characters. Fire Emblem Echoes is stoll my favorite story for that series. Thanks Brandon.
Oh I'm glad to hear you liked Echoes, that's the next Fire Emblem I want to tackle.
Granhistoria for the Super Famicom has one of my favorite and complex JRPG stories out there. For a pretty unique story hook, the player possesses first-hand knowledge of all major story events as they happen all the way up to the end of the world, but your choices along the way have a striking effect on the unfolding narrative. The mood of the story is rather melancholic and bittersweet, with the game's overall art direction reminding me of movies like Nausicaä or Wings of Honneamise. The game's not translated into English as of yet, but I really hope a fan translation of it gets made one day.
I still havent played Harvestella but I fell in love with the cover the moment it was announced and cant wait to play it especially after hearing your thoughts about it!
It's amazing. I hope you like it!
22:00 That's FROG KNIGHT! 🐸
🎵 Theme plays in the background 🎵
I love it when your videos start, and you're miles away from the camera 🤣 Awesome list though, Lacrimosa of Dana is unbelievable, I absolutely love that game ❤️
Haha yeah man, that's the establishing shot!
Lacrimosa of Dana isn't just one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played... it's one of the greatest *video games* I've ever played.
In nearly every RPG I've ever played, there's always a few members of the main cast I don't care for. In FF9, I never felt much for Quina, Amarant or Eiko. FF8 had Zell, Selphie and Irvine fall flat for me. In Ni No Kuni 2, pretty much only Roland and Evan I found endearing. And Sea of Stars made me want to beat Garl over the head with a chair.
But Ys VIII? Every. Single. Character. I ADORED them. Adol, Hummel, Laxia, Ricotta, Sahad and, of course, the titular Dana. This cast was so immensely loveable and charming, and they were all fun to play as.
I love Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. It was a crown jewel experience.
Agreed, they knocked it out of the park with that one. Check out the novel, too, if you haven't already, it's really well-written.
13 SENTINELS AEGIS RIM, Xenogears, the Xenoblades, FF6-7-10 (my dirty secret is I consider 10-2 very much a part of 10) and probably FFT too, definitely Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology yeah, Undertale if it counts, CHAINED ECHOES if it counts, Triangle Strategy tries a bit hard but I love it, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, all the Suikodens, Trails in the Sky.
Honorary mention to Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Arise, but I think both are flawed. Abyss has weird pacing since it puts a bazillion twists in the first third or so, and Arise is ... if you've played Arise I feel like why it's flawed is so obvious lol but I love love love both.
I adoooore Ys VIII but let's just say I'm very surprised to see it on this particular list lol.
Excellent list! Yeah, I think even very flawed games can have a place on a list like this (not that there's really any game that ISN'T flawed, really)
Hey, it's the Trails guy!
It's me! Trails 4 Life!
@@JustTheGemsTrails guy CONFIRMED
@@JustTheGemsbased
Radiant Historia story was an eye opener, so much parallel with real life things (human conflict, ambition, politics etc)
Yeah 100%.
Omori was such a surprise addition to my favorite switch games.
Didn't expect so many...feels.
Regarding the RE trilogy of FF7, I suspect it'll be something similar to the Rebuild of Evangelion movies.
A half-sequel, half-shenanigans and a definitive ending. Until the creators are strapped for cash again.
Hahaha yes, I was just thinking that it's crazy I'm still experiencing stories with these characters I loved as a kid, now that I'm a middle aged man, and I was wondering if I would STILL be experiencing new stories with them when I'm like 60 😅
When you opened with ‘Radiant Historia’, I was glued.
I'm a story & character guy as well, so I may have to check out a few on your list that I haven't played. For me the standouts are the Trails Series, Dragon Quest V, and Suikoden II. I agree that FF VI & Chrono Trigger should always be included in a list such as this as well.
For an underrated recent game that I think should be up there, I'd throw in Triangle Strategy.
Oh I really need to play Triangle Strategy. It's been on the list for a long time now and I love the aesthetic so much
Thank you for the list. Compelling stories, rich worlds and fun characters, all with a good dose of drama make JRPGs sooo much easier to enjoy lol
I wish I felt anything like you about Undertale. In my review of the game, I think I gave the story a 3 or 4 out of 10. It did nothing for me except make me laugh a bit haha.
A great list! I think Breath of Fire 2 would be on mine. I just remember how intrigued and drawn in I was at the really sad start to that game's story as a kid 😊
I never made it very far in BoF2 (it was a rental for me as a kid), but I find the introduction SO freaking intriguing.
So.. I'm not really a story guy. But in your opinion, do you think that games with "bad" stories are better or worse than games with "meh" stories?
I honestly think it depends. If a game has a meh story or an outright BAD story, if the gameplay is great, then I'll probably still have fun with it. But it won't engage me on the same level as even a game with subpar gameplay but an excellent story.
I think the story from Tales of Berseria stuck with me more than just about any other game. It's not that the story is so deep but it has a high emotional impact and the ending...well enough said.
Oh absolutely, the story really resonated with me on an emotional level, it's fantastic.
Two more I recommend, for story:
1) Infinite Space on the DS. The gameplay and graphics will turn many off, but you start as a young man on a backwater planet with dreams of traveling through space and develop into the captain of a fleet of ships taking on intergalactic conquerors and omnipotent super beings...but it does so in an incredibly deep way. You build a crew, family, you fight pirates and help nationstates solve conflicts, you research space anamolies, at one point you're an outlaw / pirate yourself, etc. There is a timeskip in the game that follows a dramatic, universe changing event and you become a much more mature, focused, capable individual (think DQ5). There are also branching storyline. They dint change the overall narrative, but do expose you to different cultures, crewmembers, equipment, etc., depending on your choices.
For a story, I can't recommend it enough.
2) Ni No Kuni. I didn't love the gameplay of Ni No Kuni, but the art and story kept me invested. It deals with loss and love in a way few games can, and had me wiping away tears a couple of times.
This is excellent idea for a video. Stories are my number 1 priority for choosing the games I play!! 🥰
Mine too! A great story does so much for a game, it's hard for me to measure it.
Awesome video man!! I can feel the passion for every game you mentioned
I appreciate that! These are all pretty special games to me for sure.
I literally almost looked ahead in the timeline, oops lol. Good choices of best stories all around! I probably would've put Shadow Hearts up there too, but I just like all the mythos around Roger Bacon haha.
Dude, Shadow Hearts is awesome! I especially loved Covenant, but the whole series is fantastic.
I’m a massive fan of Tetsuya Takahashi’s work - Xenoblades 1-3 +DLC was my favorite stories - it was massive and sad even at the “end” 800+ hours and worth every minute - love your list 😊❤
Thanks! Yeah, Takahashi is truly incredible.
Ya had me scared that you'd feature a list with Harvestella but not Xenogears, but you came through! Hahaha jkjk
But I'd definitely put The World Ends With You on a list like this. It's one I don't see get mentioned very often, but I think the characters and themes they explore really make it some of Square's top notch story telling!
Loved TWEWY! I've been making my way through the anime adaptation recently and just kinda reliving it through there, it's awesome.
Phenomenal list and video. I’d like to submit:
SMT/Persona series
Mother 2 and 3
Xenosaga series
Xenoblade chronicles 1 and 3
Valkyria chronicles
Steambot Chronicles
Final Fantasy Tactics, 9-10, 14
Suikoden series
Nier Series
And some honorable mentions:
Star Ocean second story
Vagrant Story
Shadow Hearts series
Parasite Eve
Nice! There are some on that list I really want to play (Steamboat Chronicles, Mother 3).
@@JustTheGems when I first played Steambot I remember vividly thinking two things. “This game makes me feel nostalgic for a time that never existed” and “I wonder if that says something about the nature of our society and capitalism or why we feel nostalgia for times like these?” And I thought these things very early on before much of the story even played out. At that moment I thought this was just a random little JRPG and didn’t think that it would concern itself with any real themes. The rest of my time with that game would confirm that those feelings I had were very intentional. It still impresses me and baffles me that the creators of that game were able invoke very specific ideas in my brain from the first few hours.
Here are my top ten, in order tho haha (I haven't played every game on your list so 😂). I know I'm missing some of the absolute best of the genre, but hey, I gotta save some good games for later 😂
10. Dragon Quest XI
9. Tales of Vesperia
8. Final Fantasy VIII
7. Paper Mario: The Origami King
6. Final Fantasy X
5. Octopath Traveler II
4. Final Fantasy IX
3. Blue Dragon
2. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
1. Lost Odyssey
This reminds me that I gotta get back to Ys VIII eventually. I was enjoying the game but the game is a crime to the eyes on Switch so I gotta get it on Steam so it actually looks acceptable lol.
Haha yeah, it's cool that they got it on the Switch at all, but it definitely has its struggles
Xenogears is number 1. Played it in 98 as a 13 year old.. I was like “ not sure what that was but let’s play it again “
Haha same, it sort of blew my mind.
A fellow story lover! Love to see videos about game stories and
I agree with most of these picks especially Y8 I loved the setting and concept
Tho is does break my heart not seeing Nier automata on the list jk😅 if you haven’t played it I highly recommend for its story
Oh yes, Nier and Nier Automata are truly spectacular too! And now I'm hearing we may be getting a third...?
That's a good list. Ys 8 has been on my backlog for a while. Also support the Xenogears mention 100%!!
Ys VIII! It's awesome, I hope you like it!
I really like the trails series.
I started YS 8 a few days ago. Not even through the first chapter. I am glad to hear the story will be this amazing.
Personally, I would add Suokoden 2, but perhaps I am biased since it is my favorite game of all time.
You know, it's been years and years since I played Suikoden 2 in its entirety. I really want to play it again, but I wanted to wait for the remaster and... Well, you know how that's been going so far. 😣
Lufia II the ending made me cry....
Me too!! 😭
Final fantasy X also has an amazing story
When it comes to my fav JRPG stories, here's my favs-
Eternal Sonata- No surprise that my fav game has one of my fav stories. It's not afraid to get philosophical and makes you think! I would only recommend this game for those who like deep stories and mindsets because it's not easy to understand at times.
Grandia 2- First JRPG and it turned me into a better person because of the story. It starts out as your basic JRPG where you think everything is black and white, but then things start to unravel and you realize nothing every IS black and white. I still think Ryudo has one of the best char arcs in gaming.
Tales of Symphonia- Man the lore in this game goes pretty deep. You think one simple task to 'save the world' would be a one and done deal, but NOPE, far more complex than that, and how the chars' stories connect to overarching plot is great too. So many plot twists too it's nuts.
Did you catch the xenogears reference with Valimar's first words and his barehands fighting style?
Chrono Trigger is so good
It's just incredible
Some games I expected, some games I've already have the chance to play...and then Harvestella and Radiant Historia. Perhaps I'll give them a try.
No Xenoblade chronicles 1-3 or chained echos or any tales of games on this list is a complete violation.
- *sees video title*
- *checks if Xenogears is in*
:D
It's GOTTA be!
I never had too emotional of a feeling playing Chrono Trigger and its story, but there's one story element I respect, and I've never seen a game quite like it: its pacing. It's perfect! I've seen nothing quite like it before that or since, it wastes no time
is YS 8 really that worth it, i dont really want to sucked to jrpg rabbit hole again, already give up on trails since its too expensive and time consuming to complete, can you play ys 8 without playing other title wether before or after?
Yeah, you can absolutely play 8 without playing any others. The Ys games are only sort of loosely connected.
I Would Add XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition, XenoBlade Chronicles 3 with the Future Redeemed DLC, Fire Emblem Three Houses Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload
I'm not finished with the video yet but can you place both FF's in the same list? There's such a debate when it comes to those two that I feel like it's not possible. However both of them do have great stories so maybe it's allowed here. All right, time to finish the video.
Their fans do tend to fight, but I think they sit super comfortably next to each other as siblings! 😁
@@JustTheGems That's an excellent way to describe them. Siblings 😀
As a die hard Trails fanatic. Thank you for mentioning my favourite series
As a fellow die hard Trails fanatic, you're very welcome!
Chomping at the bit to play Harvestella!
I hope you like it!!
Ys 8 is wonderful. Something else always draws me away after I few hours. But Ys 1+2 is my favorite.
It's funny I've only finished one game mentioned here and 2 others I've only spent a few hours in. I'll be honest I'm surprised that Crystar wasn't mentioned, personally that would make my Top 10 without doubt that and Triangle Strategy, Blue Reflection Second Light, Yakuza 0 as well as the Xenoblade Chronical games just to name a few. And at the moment I'm playing through Mary Skelter 2 and I'm really looking forward to finding out how the two games are connected. I've so many questions.
Totally, I think if this was a list of 15 I'd have Crystar on there for sure!
If I may give some criticism, the background music is too busy/invasive my ADHD mind is having trouble focusing on your words.
Noted, thanks! 😁
I think I'm going to have to give Chrono Trigger a shot one day just because I've been hearing about it for years and haven't actually been able to play it. However, Xenogears sounds REALLY interesting to me and I'm curious to see what that's ALL about
The most amazing thing about ff6 having a great story is that it does so with one arm tied behind its back. If the WoR was as polished as the WoB, it would be one of the best stories inside or outside of gaming
Yeah, I think WoR was sort of an experiment, the whole open-world, non-linear thing was relatively new, and they were figuring things out as they went. I bet they'd knock it out of the park today.
Harvestella yassss. Complete hidden gem and doesn’t get the credit it deserves! Critics complain about lack of customization etc but it makes up for it with so much character development and plot. Best Unicorn ever too.
Harvestella fans unite!
I would put FF 7 (just that game, none of the stuff that came after it) as the fourth best story FF; I rank 6, then 9, then 10, and then 7, and 6 and 9 are really close, with there being a gap between 9 and 10. FF 7 came along at the right time; it was a massive step up in graphics and it was the first playstation FF.
I remember that I was the only person in my entire High School who loved FF 6 and Chrono Trigger, but I also remember that everyone was playing FF 7 in my college dorm. FF 7 was so hyped, and it was such a massive step up for the series into mainstream cultural relevance that JRPGs had never had before. It got all the additional stuff because of when it came along. Don't get me wrong, those top 4 FF are all amongst the greatest games I've ever played, being the fourth best FF is still absolutely an elite all-time game. However, I think FF 7 was a product of perfect timing; you can't become what it's become without being a fantastic game, but FF 9, which I feel is a better game, had the exact opposite happen: FF 9 was the product of the worst timing imaginable.
Ys 8 and the Trails series have completely ruined Action RPGs and turn-based RPGs for me, respectively. I played Star Ocean: Second Story when it first came out years ago, and I loved it, and right now, I'm playing through Second Story R. The remake is a 10/10 remake, but now, when compared with the Trails series and Ys 8, the flaws of the original Star Ocean Second Story becomes painfully apparent. The way the story just drags on in the second half; the way the plot is resolved with techno-babble "magic" with little in the way of consistency and how it undermines choices and consequences just completely stick out. That's not something I noticed before Trails, but once you've played Trails, it's hard to ask a man to go back.
Yeah, I've noticed that it can be a challenge to go back to older games now that there have been so many generations' worth of refinement in development and storytelling. Games like Trails and Ys really have done a lot to move things forward, so it's a shame that they are both still sort of underrated by a lot of people.
@@JustTheGemsIt's not just story refinements, gameplay mechanic refinements also make the older titles harder to play. Ys 8 has a great crafting system, and once you've tried that, you see all the massive flaws of Star Ocean's crafting system. Luck based crafting systems need to disappear, they are terrible game design. They don't require skill and they don't reward exploration, all they do is incentivize save scumming and produce endless monotonous and tedious game play that sucks all the joy out of playing video games. I love Star Ocean, but I can't believe they released a game with a luck based crafting system in 2022, that doesn't make sense.
I'm starting to think he likes Harvestella. 🤔
Oh no, they've discovered my secret!! 😅 lol
I came for Chrono Trigger, and I wasn’t disappointed 😎
You know homeboy's gotta throw some CT love out there in the world.
Ok here are some games i think that also had good stories: Xenosaga Ep1 to Ep3, The Lost Child(You can also try El Shaddai), Parasite Eve 1, Secret of Evermore, Shadowrun, Shadows Awakening, Chrono Cross, Shelterra the Skyworld, FF12, Crystar, and Deus Ex Mankind Divided.
Such a great list!
Thanks Milla! This one was a lot of fun to put together.
Great list! Here is mine, and 3 from the same series:
1. Suikoden II. 108 characters and somehow its the best character game to me. I love the setup and delivery for the entire game. And I fell apart when Nanami...well spoilers.
2. Final Fantasy 6. For me 7 doesn't even get close and 8 is better than 7. The sheer epic of the world and what happens to it is amazing. I loved the characters and the opera scene...chefs kiss
3. Persona 2 both: Not many people have played this, but for me was the best marriage of SMT and the "new thing" there is a monumental sacrifice to the story and I'm a suckered for that
4. Suikoden III. A pretty decent game, with some characterizations that are realistic and atypical...I can't give it away, but I love the subtle way the characters react to things that happen, and how uncertain you are of who really is the good guy...then they dare to put you in the shoes of the man that caused it all...the Luc arc makes Suikoden III
5 Xenoblade chronicles: I'm one of those strange people that actually thinks this is better than Xenogears...which is blasphemy.
6. Trails in the Sky SC: an incredible leap in story quality from the setup of first chapter to everything is gold second. What a game, what a ride.
7. Trails to Azure. Who wouldn't cry after this game. It ups the stakes into the stratosphere, and to the very end, you not only feel for the heroes, you feel for the villains as well.
8 Suikoden 5. When this released, I thought it was a return to form. Instead, it would be the last good one. It's still an amazing story, finishing and adding to stories given in the previous games.
9. Final fantasy tactics: a final fantasy that was anything but typical, giving us political intrigue equal to the apocalyptic nature of other Final fantasies. Of course it's just ogre battle...meaning it's fantastic.
10. Dragon quest V. What was it? 4 generations in one game? And the way everything is a generational struggle, the incredible obstacles overcome and the unique aspect of the main characters (your not the chosen one...your the father of the chosen one...) ...I love this game and finished it several times.
Special mention: Phantasy Star IV...a masterpiece of the old, old generation that's been forgotten too soon.
RIP Yoshitaka Murayama...and thank you
Fantastic! This is an excellent list. And I remember being blown away with all the Luc revelations in Suikoden 3. Man, that was a great time.
Great list. I really enjoyed Valkyria chronicles. 1 and 4 are great games though I think I prefer 1’s story more
I need to go back to VC1. I played it up until the part where you fight that one blue-haired lady (I'm blanking, it's been years) and she CRUSHED me, and I got so disheartened I didn't go back...😅
That us a good list. I need to get on the ball and get Harvestella before it become one of those expensive games that gets over looked. I would probably put Chrono Cross on my list as for me, it is one of the best games on the original Playstation. My issue with Xenogears is how it is clear they ran of time or money to finish it, and it falls flat on itself (plus, I am still salty to this day about trying to beat the final boss and never being able to).,
I remember struggling SO LONG against the last boss in XG.......
It's about time Radiant Historia got some recognition
Great joke about the order at the start 😂 im gonna steal that. Just subd
I would add Suikoden I (haven't played the others), Persona 5, and FF4
Heck yes! I especially want to do a replay of all the Suikoden games sometime soon.
I really see why you put Xenogears, FFVI and VII, Radiant Historia and Undertale on this list. Also Ys VIII for being phenomenal in general (I don’t think it’s story is sooo impressive though, would have preferred if they stayed with the simple „escape the island“ premise). Don’t see what the rest on this list is doing here though.
Skies of Arcadia
Final Fantasy XIV has one of the best stories in any media. People look past it because it's an MMO, but Natsuko Ishikawa and Banri Oda (the lead writer and her loremaster) have crafted an absolute masterpiece that shouldn't be ignored.
The length of time it takes to experience it alone detracts from any interest I have in experiencing it.
So I've heard! I'd love to experience it, maybe if/when they make it fully solo-playable I'll be able to do it (I think that's coming at some point)
My Top 10 JRPG Stories
10. Grandia II - A complete contrast to the grand adventure vibes from the first Grandia game but Grandia II took things in a darker direction and because the game is very 100% complete friendly it makes the story stick with you more.
9. Xenogears - while folks will say “Good game but disc 2 sucks.” 100% disagree, I feel the challenges and circumstances revolving around Xenogears development actually enhanced the story, the plot twist with Fei and a certain character on Disc 2! still has me chocked up.
8. Persona 3 FES - Along with Nier Automata the most depressing game I have ever played story wise but deals with anxiety, depression and other complicated themes really well.
7. The Legend of Dragoon - For a single entry game, Legend of Dragoon has such rich lore and story beats its the reason why so many folks want a pre-quel or sequel
6. Nier Automata - This is the JRPG that even none JRPG fans love, a game with multiple endings could end in a giant mess but Nier handles everything beautifully
5. Final Fantasy X - The weight of Sin causing that much pain and suffering to Spira for decades and decades and decades still holds up as one of the most interesting narratives in the series
4. Final Fantasy VI - Ticks every box, multi-cast narrative done to perfection (even though technically the Ted Woosley Uncensored version is still the best way to experience it 🤔😂) Opera scene, Celes and Locke, magic story telling
3. Chrono Trigger - The greatest time travel story ever told in fiction, I played the SNES version for the first time back in 2016 and STILL holds up today.
2. Tales of the Abyss - I know Tales of the Abyss is considered in the Tales of holy trinity with fans but I feel Tales of the Abyss doesn’t get enough respect as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, Luke’s arc in the entire game is so authentic and masterfully done, spoilt amnesia prince to down to earth sympathetic hero by the end, many video games these days would spread TOAT narrative across multiple entries and fail, while TOAT does it within one and succeeds so well.
1. Kingdom Hearts Xehanort Saga - Here me out lol …. I know KH gets dogged one a lot for its story but I personally believe something like MGS gets praised for its complicated story because ‘guns are cool’ while KH is deemed convoluted because it’s disney. I do concede the mobile/PC/Back Cover movie portion of the series did mess up a PERFECT narrative… BUT if you play all the KH games (minus the mobile/PC games and the back cover movie) and include MOM, TWEWY, Neo TWEWY, and Smash Ultimate world of light mode as Sora…… not kidding, the greatest adventure ever told about a boy ‘Sora’ sacrificing himself to save his friends, true love, and the entire world.
🍻
This is a great list! I for one have really wanted to get fully absorbed into Kingdom Hearts, but just like so many people are scared of things like the Trails series because of all the entries, I kinda feel that way about KH! 😅 But I own all of them, so I'll get to them one day.
@@JustTheGems If we ever meet for a bevy or a coffee you have to teach me the Trails way!! 😂😂 so much praise, yet i haven’t taken the dive yet, sounds like im missing out, I gotta fix that 🍻
Old school retro rpgs are the best ones Branden, everyone knows that silly man. 😮
My nostalgia will always agree with that.
I don't know if it qualifies, but amongst the games I've played from the Final Fantasy series (most but not all), the very best story for me has been FFXIV. None of the other games had so many moments that had me in tears or left me with my jaw dropped.
I've tried a couple of times to get into 14, and I really want to -- but I just have such a hard time with the gameplay loop. Maybe I should try it on console instead of PC, since I'm almost 100% a console gamer.
@JustTheGems I tried to switch from PC to console when the PS5 version dropped, but I was too entrenched in KB/mouse control scheme. But I know so many console players that are great and have a blast. The story is fantastic
YS VII was a great intro into the YS Games. Good stuff. Though I won’t Lie. YS 6 Ark is So DAMN HARD! And it can be seen as sorta a Prequel to YS VII.
I hate that I hate the combat of xenogears so much. lol I’ve only managed to play through it once and I was pretty young.
My opinion is that the Shadow Hearts series, especially 1 and 2, has the very best story to me. Also, Suikoden 2.
"Track this one down in any way you can" aka Hshop
I would NEVER 😂 Nintendo don't come and kill me!
Decent list, major props for including Harvestella that game is SUCH an underrated gem it's tragic that it didn't sell better, and we probably won't get a sequel because of that (it ends on a pretty awesome cliffhanger and I want to see where that may lead)
And while I agree about Xenogears being on the list, I would contend that of all of Monolith's games, Xenoblade Chronicles deserves it the most. Persona 5 Royal (the whole franchise really) also deserves a spot, and as far as final fantasy games go... Eh, despite Zack being my favorite character alongside Aerith, I don't actually think the compilation is as compelling as you make it out to be.
Especially not compared to the stories and lore found in Vana'diel & Ethryis, the worlda of 11 and 14 respectively. Those are without equal, the best works in the franchise the only others that come remotely close are 6 and Tactics (even though Tactics is ostensibly just Berserk with an FF makeover.)
I wish I could get into the MMOs, but I've tried a few times and I keep bouncing off of them.
@@JustTheGems that's fair, they aren't for everyone, and 11 is particularly notorious for being unfriendly to newcomers.
The world building is unbelievable in both though.
Lunar Silver Star and Lunar 2 Eternal Blue Sega CD beat this entire list on their own.
Don't quit your day job.
I couldn't get into them
@JustTheGems requires an education, literacy and an IQ North of 50. By your list alone you clearly do not qualify for any of the above.
@@JustTheGems good thing you are the underwhelming, ignorant and uneducated minority.
Lunar Remastered announced less than 24 hours later for Spring 2025 for the overwhelming majority that can/did. Admittedly the Sega CD OGs were better but still it's better than every trendy, inferior game and story on this trash list.
m.ua-cam.com/video/mQ01e5PkiA8/v-deo.html
I'd also include Suikoden 2 on this list. Some other personal preferences but overall pretty good.
Thank you! Yeah I need to replay Suikoden 1 and 2, but I'm waiting on the remaster. And waiting. And...
It's not true that you won't be able to put down the Trails series. I started last February, then I put it down last August... Well to be fair, that was because I finished all 10 English localized games in original release order. But still, I stopped. Pay no attention to those withdrawal symptoms...
I'm on the same journey, replaying them all (I'm in the middle of Azure now, I started back in January -- got distracted with Rebirth for a bit, but now I'm back on.)
I only played Chrono Trigger this year. I can guarantee you the story sticks with you. I have nostalgia for this game. But i think about it a lot. It is 100% an S Tier story
Xenosaga is, in my opinion, still the best story ever told.
Chrono Trigger I played for the first time about 5 years ago so even with no nostalgia attached I still consider it one of the best games ever made.
That's good to hear that people are still able to really see the beauty in Chrono Trigger even if they didn't grow up with it.
Mother 3 deserved a place on here. Final Fantasy VII story was good, until it got hacked apart and glued back into a Frankenstein monster in the remake. I appreciate the concept of multiverses, however, if that is the trope you use so your story will make sense, should probably go back to the writers room.
tbh we don't know much about the "multiverse" yet, I have a feeling it's cuz of the lifestream and not an actual multiverse
Can't help but notice those are mostly somewhat dated games! Is it nostalgia ? Is it because these games influenced modern day JRPGs so much that these original stories seem unoriginal to the contemporary gamer eye? Is it because story isn't a big marketing point anymore? Is it because such great games just happen every so often?
Your video made me want to try some of these out, but honestly I have a hard time playing dated games like these, nowadays. I feel like I don't have enough gaming time available to play both modern, more attractive experience AND those classics that sound mind blowing yet somewhat unappealing. But I hope they get somewhat remastered, ported, or even remade like FF VII has been, at some point, because I really want to be able to experience these
I think I kinda would have appreciated if you gave a general idea of what these games may have inspired (story or gameplay wise) compared to more modern options. This way I would either have been even more compelled to try these out, or would have tried a more modern "equivalent". Tho I guess it could quickly turn into implicit spoilers to do that...
Also kinda surprised not to see a mention of the Tales of or the Persona series in there. But I guess you couldn't cover anything and everything, with so many options
Any way, cool vid
Xenogears is that one game that I can still play, today, without any mods
Okay, that's an exaggeration; virtually everything with hand drawn art is still on the table. Doubly so if it's pixel art.
But, gfd... Xenogears hits just as hard as the year it came out.
It's amazing. I just replayed it about a year or so ago and I loved it even more than I did before.
Here’s my list of both JRPG and RPGs that have the best stories
1. Final Fantasy 7
2. Final Fantasy 9
3. Final Fantasy 10
4. Tales of Berseria
5. Tales of Arise
6. Legend of Dragoon
7. Ni No Kuni
8. Persona 5
9. Fire Emblem Awakening
10. Fire Emblem Azure Moon
11. Fire Emblem Crimson Flower
12. Fire Emblem Cindered Shadows
13. Dragon Age Origins
14. Dragon Age 2
15. Dragon Age Inquisition
16. Dragon Age Veilguard
17. Baldur’s Gate 3
18. Divinity Original Sin 2
19. Hogwarts Legacy
20. Fenyx Immortal Rising
21. Greedfall
22. Fable 1
23. Fable 2
24. Fable 3
25. Diablo 2
26. Diablo 4
27. Banner Saga Trilogy
28. Dungeon of Naheulbeuk
29. Persona 3
30. Warcraft 3
31. Ys 8
32. Xenoblade Chronicles