5 JRPGs That Break the Mold // Not Your Typical Role-Playing Games

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  • Опубліковано 19 чер 2024
  • I love a good traditional JRPG. But you know what else I love? Variety. In the spirit of stepping outside of our comfort zones, here are a bunch of JRPGs that dare to be different -- and are better for it. If I've overlooked any mold-shattering JRPGs, please let me know in the comments below!
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    00:00 Intro
    01:08 The First Game
    03:18 The Second Game
    06:17 The Third Game
    09:05 The Fourth Game
    11:28 The Fifth Game
    13:54 Outro
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 54

  • @logansaxby7224
    @logansaxby7224 Місяць тому +24

    I've been really enjoying your videos, they smooth and relaxing. I don't have friends to talk games with so it's nice to just listen to someone I have something in common with. Thank you

    • @XfitNerd
      @XfitNerd Місяць тому

      Not to oversell it, but the Patreon Discord for Just The Gems is my go to place for gaming chat.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      Thanks for saying that! I really appreciate it. That's a huge part of why I started the channel, because I'm in the same boat. It's cool to talk to other people about this stuff

  • @femtrooper
    @femtrooper Місяць тому +1

    YES! Glad there is a story mode in Zanki Zero, 100% getting it now!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      It's A CRAZY story, I hope you like it!

  • @S_Hyde
    @S_Hyde Місяць тому +2

    I used to think I could handle not having a screen protector on the DS.
    Then I played TWEWY.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      Haha, we're all carving deep gouges into our screens trying to survive those battles

  • @Morraak
    @Morraak Місяць тому +2

    I really wish 13 Sentinels was on Steam, would totally play that. I think the Fear & Hunger games really break the mold on the JRPG genre, maybe that's because the creator is finnish (it's made in RPG Maker though). I just like how creative the setting, monsters, and difficulty is. The first game is set in medieval times whereas the sequel is set in some time like the 1930s? You should check out the trailer for the 2nd game if you get a chance. A warning though, it's a VERY adult themed game, there is nudity and graphic violence. Also, I think the Hylics games break the mold as well, they're weird like the Fear & Hunger games but not graphic and as oppressive.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      I've picked up the first Fear and Hunger, and I LOVE the whole aesthetic and gameplay. I'm terrible at it, so I haven't ever gotten very far, but I've enjoyed watching lore videos on it, so I can at least enjoy the story vicariously...😅

  • @aleksay85
    @aleksay85 11 днів тому

    I highly recommend Labyrinth of Refrain, a game with unorthodox way of storytelling. I really hope more people get to know about this game :D. Thanks for the video!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  11 днів тому

      Thank you!! I'm looking forward to trying it.

  • @krantzrosen2589
    @krantzrosen2589 Місяць тому

    Thank you for mentioning Zanki Zero, great stuff, criminally underrated.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      Yeah, I remember hearing a tiny bit as it came out and then NOTHING

  • @ian6239
    @ian6239 25 днів тому

    Idk how 13 Sentinels is still in my backlog, lol. Glowing reviews and pretty much guaranteed I'm going to like it. Man, that art style looks fire, too.

  • @Jvstatusjax
    @Jvstatusjax Місяць тому

    Awesome video and concept for a video. So many great choices on this list

  • @MikatianaRPG
    @MikatianaRPG 28 днів тому

    I love your list and your style of presenting! Subscribed!
    When I saw Nier: Automata, I knew you were onto something (I also got really emotional). I really love TWEWY too💖 Will probably play all the games you mentioned at some point.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  13 днів тому

      Thank you so much! They're all definitely worthwhile.

  • @tendeant
    @tendeant 24 дні тому

    another great video. Quality stuff.

  • @brenthill2656
    @brenthill2656 Місяць тому

    Killer list! I’m currently playing 13 Sentinels! It more visual novel than I was expecting, but it’s not static or uninvolved like some. It has been incredible so far!
    The World Ends With You on DS is a masterpiece! I can’t bear playing Switch version because the combat feels so gutted. (The sequel on Switch is fantastic!)
    The other three games are already in my backlog, so I’ll try to get to them sooner than later!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      Yeah, the story aspects in 13 Sentinels at least give you some active engagement, I think that makes it extra enjoyable

  • @sarahlloyd119
    @sarahlloyd119 Місяць тому

    Brandon you are making me buy games again! Well this time just game. I already have all of these except Zanki Zero which was on my list but has moved up.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  27 днів тому +1

      Uh oh, I'm being a bad influence again! Well, not "bad" influence, but... influencing the spending of money! 😅 I hope you enjoy it!

  • @Spare_Ombres
    @Spare_Ombres 22 дні тому

    Hey Brandon! thanks for the video, I guess I should give Zanki Zero another chance!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  21 день тому +1

      It's SUPER interesting, if nothing else!

  • @johnathanrhoades7751
    @johnathanrhoades7751 Місяць тому

    I have been playing “The World Ends With You”. So good. I’m on the start of day 7.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      That game GOES some places. It ended up being way more than I expected.

  • @uppernimbus
    @uppernimbus Місяць тому

    Just like you, I'm not a fan of dungeon crawlers because of the whole maze navigation gameplay. However, Zanki Zero is the one dungeon crawler that I'm wanting to actually play due to its thematics and premise alone. Great video!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      Definitely, and I also don't feel like I ever really got lost, or found the dungeons too troublesome in that game. They really focused on the elements I enjoy.

    • @uppernimbus
      @uppernimbus Місяць тому

      @@JustTheGems That's amazing, and rather welcoming 💪

  • @owlyus
    @owlyus Місяць тому

    I like those molds in the thumbnail. They're good molds

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      I always love a good mold.

  • @threeswordssama
    @threeswordssama 27 днів тому

    I've gotta finish Nier. I played the first mission to try it out and didn't go much further after that.

  • @PloysMaw
    @PloysMaw Місяць тому

    Great list though I haven't finished it yet (so bloody close) 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is such an incredible experience. I really want to play Zanki Zero: Last Beginning, which I've known about since not long before it came out, I've been waiting for ages for a Switch version but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen so now I'm in the process of looking for a PS4 copy. Their is only one game I can think of off the top of my that falls under this umbrella: Little Witch Nobeta, a 1st person shooter JRPG but instead of guns it's magic and almost Souls like combat; the world itself is quite unsettling.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      Oh nice, I'm gonna look Nobeta up, I'm intrigued by the premise!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      Dang, this looks really interesting! I don't know how I've never heard of it before!

    • @PloysMaw
      @PloysMaw Місяць тому

      @@JustTheGems I hope you enjoy it, it fell under the raider for a lot of people. I think it was early access on Steam for a bit....the only reason I knew about it was it came up on my Steam recommendations before it came out. I heard the Switch version runs pretty well and the Collectors Edition is really cool and I'm slightly miffed I missed out.

  • @JesseDylanMusic
    @JesseDylanMusic Місяць тому

    I sure tried to like world ends with you! Got it the day it came out, attempted it on ds and even iPad (ew) and switch. it was one of the games that convinced me I just didn’t like tetsuya nomura games. that feeling has been reinforced over the years 😂

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      Honestly, I say good on you for giving it a more than a fair shot. I feel like so many people jump to judgments about a game without playing it, but you gave it more than enough of a chance to hook you. Nomura certainly has a very specific... style to his games... 😅

  • @madkaiser4887
    @madkaiser4887 Місяць тому

    MOM, TWEWY MENTIONED! GET THE CAMERA!

  • @toolman4745
    @toolman4745 Місяць тому

    I haven't played Nier Automata and even though everyone says it's amazing I just can't get up the desire to play it. All things being equal I prefer turn based to action RPGs and I'm not a fan of the drab sandy post apocalyptic scenery. Ugh I really should play it though.
    I haven't played 13 sentinels but all of Vanillaware's stuff was on big sale a couple of weeks ago so I bought it and Odin Sphere and Dragon Song (I think that's what it's called) so I'm going to play it soon because it looks amazing.
    I heard that the remake of The World Ends With You really screwed up the combat because it was made for the DS. But I haven't played it.

  • @jarathen1625
    @jarathen1625 Місяць тому

    13S is very inspired by VNs, makes sense to me. And yeah, it is the most non-RPG JRPG ever made, it gets honorary JRPG status.

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      Haha yeah I like that, like how some people get honorary degrees from universities. 13 Sentinels is an honorary RPG

  • @SolTheCleric
    @SolTheCleric Місяць тому

    I can't decide if the last few SaGa games are trying to break the mold or just doing the exact opposite...
    I mean, surely they're doing something very different (that I admittedly don't like very much) but, at the same time, they're doing it by condensing the classic JRPG formula to its absolute core.
    In a "used the stones to destroy the stones" kinda way. Maybe this ambiguity is reason enough to call them "mold breaking" now that I think of it...

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому

      I think you're right. They're operating within the framework of a JRPG, but they're highlighting aspects of them that most other games really don't.

  • @Chinco_NL
    @Chinco_NL Місяць тому

    Nice list, Fires! I have 13 Sentinels on my backlog, but I'll put it higher on the list now. Too bad I just started AI SOMNIUM FILES Nirvana Initiative... But the first one was a gem, so I'll probably like this on also.
    I started Zanki Zero, but a few hours in good bored with toilets.
    Not an rpg perse, but a nice story nonetheless : World's End Club. Warmly recommended!

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  Місяць тому +1

      Nirvana Initiative is brilliant, I'm sure you'll like it!

    • @Chinco_NL
      @Chinco_NL 18 днів тому

      @@JustTheGems I finished it today and loved it. Was a bit disappointed about the same plot twist by the science adventure series, but this ultimately wasn't true. Beating the fourth wall was on the edge.
      But the story telling, the somniums, music... I like it a lot.
      I now started 13 Sentinels. Let's see if this can grip me the same way AI SOMNIUM FILES did.

    • @Chinco_NL
      @Chinco_NL 18 днів тому

      Breaking, not beating.

  • @martinde-serres8724
    @martinde-serres8724 2 дні тому

    I own both versions of TWEWY, but to be bluntly honest, the Switch version is the weaker of the 2 due mostly to the controls: the touch controls are a bit wonky and even slightly unresponsive when using any stylus made for the console while the motion controls when playing in dock mode are HORRENDOUS and Square-Enix didn't even bother fixing them at all, especially for a game that has NO traditional control schemes whatsoever
    I'm not sure if the additional scenario you unlock after beating the main game is worth the trouble, but that's where UA-cam is for I guess lol
    I've only bought the Switch version to support the series, which is why we DID get a sequel for it after all these years and even an anime adaptation, but I think I'd rather not waste more of my time on it and just YT check those new cutscenes instead
    TWEWY is a really fun and unique game... just not on the Switch
    I haven't tried the mobile version, which the Switch version is based on btw, to even know if it's better, but if anything, the original DS version is the best one to play... IF you can find a copy at a decent price that is

    • @JustTheGems
      @JustTheGems  День тому +1

      I ended up watching a lot of the anime adaptation, which I didn't think was too bad actually. Not sure how popular it is, but it worked for me.