You should give Crystal Project a go if you like non linear exploration, jumping puzzles, skill trees, good combat and interesting itemization. What it does not have is a strong story, companions or writing in general.
Always great to see love for Wild Arms. It always gives me a warm feeling inside. I did a second playthrough and when I was coming to the end I was getting emotional that it was almost over. Imo, we need more games like it. I will add that while the 3D wasn't perfect, the models for the protagonists imo looked charming especially with the eyes and there were backdrops that looked good pairing up well with the music. I think that if Wild Arms could be modded like the original FFVII and have the 7th Heaven treatment for the battles where the character models are replaced with 3D versions of the cover art, that would take the game to another level. I would also like to see changes to the screen when it is meant to be night time.
@zacharyessey5904 yea, there could definitely be some enhancements and changes done to make it a little more aesthically pleasing. But it is definitely a game that deserves more love and discussion. And having it released along the same time as FFVII was a bad move back in the day, I think it would've done much better if it came out at a different time.
@@gabegoforth Agreed. Releasing alongside a Final Fantasy game, especially the one to bring in the new era of Final Fantasy games was never going to bode well for them. Wild Arms has its fans, but it feels so empty compared to Final Fantasy groups which have regular discussions. It is a shame because its setting is something else. I love when you get to Malduke and it has this hauntingly beautiful look to it.
Haven't played most of these, so I'll have to give them a try. Ever play the Breath of Fire or Golden Sun games? Both great and underrated series. Also the Illusion of Gaia was a pleasant surprise. Game is tough though.
@TheMissingLink2 the Breath of Fire games are fantastic. They are very underrated and should get more love. I've only played the first Golden, it is a great little game, though. I really need to check out the 2nd entry with it being on NSO now.
@@gabegoforth The second game is tops. Expands the world much more and continues the story of the first game. And improves on the first game in many ways. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll enjoy the 2nd even better. They are the part 1 and 2 of the same story. The third installment of the series is kind of the black sheep of the family. Mixed feeling from the fandom for many reasons but not a bad game.
Oh wow! I've played ALL of these! "Earthbound" is the only one I didn't finish; it was a rental and we had a surprise visit from friends that ate up my play time. But yes, they were all great samples of the genre. I'd even agree with the order you've ranked them in.
@justinmargerum2559 the "rentals" bring back some good memories. Found so many great games, especially JRPGs based solely on the box art before renting it for the week.
@WilliamScavengerFish great list as well! I love Terranigma, one of the best action/rpgs out there. Made a video about it a while back. That definitely deserves more recognition.
My number one favorite has to be Final Fantasy X! That story just gets me EVERY TIME! But there are a couple of your favorites here that I've never played - just heard about - so maybe I should give them a try? Might find a new favorite! ... All your videos are great! Keep up the good work!!!
@LePetitPereRobert if I did a top 10, FFX would definitely be up there! It is a great game, for sure. The story is fantastic. And thank you so much, I really appreciate that.
@@gabegoforth But I can't say the same for Final Fantasy X-2, of course! WHAT HAPPENED TO YUNA!? And Rikku!? Crazy. And from what I've read, I'm glad the "Eternal Calm" novelette hasn't been officially translated into English - no, thank you! ; D ... And would they please hurry up and remaster Final Fantasy Tactics!? ; )
@slantindicular when I first played Chrono Cross, I just couldn’t get into it. I judged it harshly and wanted it to simply be Chrono Trigger 2. But after playing it again when I was older, I appreciate it for what it is, and have come to really enjoy it!
@kevintappminville195 Well, I definitely disagree. But I can see it not being for everyone. However, I think what it does as far as storytelling, gameplay, and music is fantastic.
@@gabegoforth I disagree on everything. The music gets weird a some point, some, not like, distorted, but out of tune, twisted thing. All the songs are variations on the same song almost. The Elw music really caught me, like goosebump kind of stuff. And then fucking trumpet with violin??? Dafuq. Mother is like "You're all gonna die." and everybody are like "Oh okay cool, let's continue." There was some pretty cool high points, but so few and far between it was a pain. I must admit the ending sequence with the golem having some sort of conscience and sacrificing himself was a high point. But again. Nothing much. I appreciate it was Golden Sun before Golden Sun, but halfway through, i dreaded the game and finishing it was a chore. Still, 10times better that Ledjun of Dragqueen...
Never heard of Alundra, but I've played the others. I played Lunar Eternal Blue for the Sega CD, but didn't get too far. Seemed alright, but nothing too special. Wild Arms was kind of the same. I don't remember it much. Earthbound really didn't do it for me personally, but Chrono Trigger was an A+
I've beat all 4 jrps on the list, and I'm playing through Alundra now. Earthbound and Chrono Trigger are definitely top 5. Lunar is very good, and Wild ARMs is good but flawed. My top 5 are probably 5) Breath of Fire 3 4) Final Fantasy IV 3) Earthbound 2) Shining Force 2 1) Chrono Trigger Honorable mentions Golden Sun + GS Lost Age, Grandia 2, Final Fantasy Tactics, Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, and Azure Dreams
When I think of "My favourite JRPGs" the honest answer is the first 3 Dragon Quests and Mother 1, and then I don't know what to put in No. 5, too many things competing for that spot... But frankly, that's not a very interesting list, cuz more than half of it is taken up by one series, and they're all 8 bit games... When I think of what RPGs I consider "Must Play" then well... It's less about "my faves" and more about what games I think truly define the genre, while also holding up well enough to most fans. Based on that, I think I HAVE to include both a Dragon Quest game, and a Final Fantasy game, as those are the two big pillars of the genre, as for which ones, well, just about any of them should be fine enough, but if I have to pick specific ones, then for Dragon Quest, it really depends on how much of a stomach you have for OLD old RPGs, cuz if you like those, then by all means, DQ1, and then play the whole rest of the series in order, but if you're more of a modern RPG fan, then DQ5 all the way (DS version) great story, VERY approachable to just about anyone who's played just about any turn-based RPG, and it's just a very good game every way you look at it! As for Final Fantasy... I think the best introduction to the series for anyone who hasn't played any of the games is probably FF4, as that's, in my view, the most influential game in the series, with most of the games in the series since taking LOTS of cues from FF4 for their story structure, character development and gameplay loops. (But let's be real here, you probably already played a Final Fantasy game) And well, I more-or-less feel obligated to also include the love-child of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, which is Chrono Trigger, but there's nothing I can say about it that hasn't been said before... And then... Hmm... It's kinda hard to say once I've already mentioned the obvious ones, but I guess an action RPG is worth mentioning, and for this pick I'm gonna go with a lesser-known one, that being Swordcraft Story, which I consider to be THE Best action RPG series ever, because for one, the battles are almost fighting-game-like (albeit not 1v1) with LOTS of movement and combat options, and the weapon type you choose fundamentally changing the way you fight, and for two, you have direct control of both party members, so no CPU-controlled party-members to potentially mess with your strategy! Oh and, the stories in both games are absolutely fantastic! The characters are really well-written and get lots of development! (Still waiting on that Swordcraft 3 fan-translation) And then uhh... I dunno... I guess Mother 3? Like, Mother 1 is my favourite, but it's an acquired taste for most, whereas Mother 3 is instantly approachable for just about anyone, and yadda-yadda emotional quirky and influental, y'know the spiel already, just quit waiting for an official English release and play the Fan-Translation if you haven't already... But I'll say this much, I think you appreciate the series more if you play all 3 games in order.
@Michirin9801 I have a lot of love for the Dragon Quest series as a whole. Dragon Quest 11 is one of my favorite games of all time, and 5 is up there as a near perfect game, IMO. The earlier games are a bit rough around the edges, but I grew up with 1, 2 and 3 and have such fond memories of me and my older brother staying up late trying to beat each one. With the HD-2d remakes on the way, it'll offer a new introduction to younger fans of the genre, and I'm really excited for those stories and characters to receive the love they deserve.
You should give Crystal Project a go if you like non linear exploration, jumping puzzles, skill trees, good combat and interesting itemization. What it does not have is a strong story, companions or writing in general.
@@scullyy awesome, thanks for the recommendation. I'll try it out.
This was a really good video. Hope to see more JRPGs videos from you! :)
@@noalei Thanks!
0:48 That’s Misato from nge, nothing can convince me otherwise.
@viewerguy10 lol, it could be!
Always great to see love for Wild Arms. It always gives me a warm feeling inside. I did a second playthrough and when I was coming to the end I was getting emotional that it was almost over. Imo, we need more games like it. I will add that while the 3D wasn't perfect, the models for the protagonists imo looked charming especially with the eyes and there were backdrops that looked good pairing up well with the music. I think that if Wild Arms could be modded like the original FFVII and have the 7th Heaven treatment for the battles where the character models are replaced with 3D versions of the cover art, that would take the game to another level. I would also like to see changes to the screen when it is meant to be night time.
@zacharyessey5904 yea, there could definitely be some enhancements and changes done to make it a little more aesthically pleasing. But it is definitely a game that deserves more love and discussion. And having it released along the same time as FFVII was a bad move back in the day, I think it would've done much better if it came out at a different time.
@@gabegoforth Agreed. Releasing alongside a Final Fantasy game, especially the one to bring in the new era of Final Fantasy games was never going to bode well for them. Wild Arms has its fans, but it feels so empty compared to Final Fantasy groups which have regular discussions. It is a shame because its setting is something else. I love when you get to Malduke and it has this hauntingly beautiful look to it.
CHRONO TRIGGGERRRRRRRRR
@madkaiser4887 lol! It's a timeless game, still finding new stuff to love about it.
GOLDEN SUN 1&2
@CommanderSal yea, I really need to play the 2nd game. I loved the first Golden Sun and recently played through it again on NSO.
Haven't played most of these, so I'll have to give them a try.
Ever play the Breath of Fire or Golden Sun games? Both great and underrated series.
Also the Illusion of Gaia was a pleasant surprise. Game is tough though.
Breath of Fire III is one of the best RPGs i've ever played, and i've played a lot of them.
@TheMissingLink2 the Breath of Fire games are fantastic. They are very underrated and should get more love. I've only played the first Golden, it is a great little game, though. I really need to check out the 2nd entry with it being on NSO now.
@@gabegoforth The second game is tops. Expands the world much more and continues the story of the first game. And improves on the first game in many ways. If you enjoyed the first one, you'll enjoy the 2nd even better. They are the part 1 and 2 of the same story.
The third installment of the series is kind of the black sheep of the family. Mixed feeling from the fandom for many reasons but not a bad game.
If a person is going to mention illusion of Gaia, they must mention Terranigma.
@@WilliamScavengerFish Never played it but looks like something worth checking out.
Oh wow! I've played ALL of these! "Earthbound" is the only one I didn't finish; it was a rental and we had a surprise visit from friends that ate up my play time. But yes, they were all great samples of the genre. I'd even agree with the order you've ranked them in.
@justinmargerum2559 the "rentals" bring back some good memories. Found so many great games, especially JRPGs based solely on the box art before renting it for the week.
EarthBound is such a classic! Awesome list man, you've got some great choices on here!
@@uppernimbus thanks dude, I appreciate it!
I recommend the following: Bahamut lagoon, treasure of the rudras, romancing saga 3, Terranigma...
@WilliamScavengerFish great list as well! I love Terranigma, one of the best action/rpgs out there. Made a video about it a while back. That definitely deserves more recognition.
My number one favorite has to be Final Fantasy X! That story just gets me EVERY TIME! But there are a couple of your favorites here that I've never played - just heard about - so maybe I should give them a try? Might find a new favorite! ... All your videos are great! Keep up the good work!!!
@LePetitPereRobert if I did a top 10, FFX would definitely be up there! It is a great game, for sure. The story is fantastic. And thank you so much, I really appreciate that.
@@gabegoforth But I can't say the same for Final Fantasy X-2, of course! WHAT HAPPENED TO YUNA!? And Rikku!? Crazy. And from what I've read, I'm glad the "Eternal Calm" novelette hasn't been officially translated into English - no, thank you! ; D ... And would they please hurry up and remaster Final Fantasy Tactics!? ; )
Chrono Cross is a strange duck and not for everyone, but it was formative for me. (Greetings from the Bluegrass!)
@slantindicular when I first played Chrono Cross, I just couldn’t get into it. I judged it harshly and wanted it to simply be Chrono Trigger 2. But after playing it again when I was older, I appreciate it for what it is, and have come to really enjoy it!
Wild ARMs starts ambitious, and never gets good...
@kevintappminville195 Well, I definitely disagree. But I can see it not being for everyone. However, I think what it does as far as storytelling, gameplay, and music is fantastic.
@@gabegoforth I disagree on everything.
The music gets weird a some point, some, not like, distorted, but out of tune, twisted thing. All the songs are variations on the same song almost. The Elw music really caught me, like goosebump kind of stuff. And then fucking trumpet with violin??? Dafuq.
Mother is like "You're all gonna die." and everybody are like "Oh okay cool, let's continue."
There was some pretty cool high points, but so few and far between it was a pain. I must admit the ending sequence with the golem having some sort of conscience and sacrificing himself was a high point. But again. Nothing much.
I appreciate it was Golden Sun before Golden Sun, but halfway through, i dreaded the game and finishing it was a chore.
Still, 10times better that Ledjun of Dragqueen...
Octopath series is my favorite JRPG’s of all time.
@SharkyLovedOne Octopath is definitely one of my favorites as well. I'd say Octopath 2 is one of the best-looking JRPGs in the last decade.
@@gabegoforth octopath 2 is seriously a perfect game. Absolutely stunning, incredible stories and best battle mechanics in a JRPG.
Never heard of Alundra, but I've played the others.
I played Lunar Eternal Blue for the Sega CD, but didn't get too far. Seemed alright, but nothing too special. Wild Arms was kind of the same. I don't remember it much.
Earthbound really didn't do it for me personally, but Chrono Trigger was an A+
Shining Force 1 & 2 for me
@raphaelzorina3051 I played the first Shining Force as a kid at a friend's place and remember really enjoying it. I'll have to check them out again.
I've beat all 4 jrps on the list, and I'm playing through Alundra now. Earthbound and Chrono Trigger are definitely top 5. Lunar is very good, and Wild ARMs is good but flawed. My top 5 are probably
5) Breath of Fire 3
4) Final Fantasy IV
3) Earthbound
2) Shining Force 2
1) Chrono Trigger
Honorable mentions Golden Sun + GS Lost Age, Grandia 2, Final Fantasy Tactics, Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, and Azure Dreams
@@sheldonzs hey great list! I need to check out a few that you mentioned as well.
No Grandia II?
@@Onryo25 hah, nope.
When I think of "My favourite JRPGs" the honest answer is the first 3 Dragon Quests and Mother 1, and then I don't know what to put in No. 5, too many things competing for that spot... But frankly, that's not a very interesting list, cuz more than half of it is taken up by one series, and they're all 8 bit games...
When I think of what RPGs I consider "Must Play" then well... It's less about "my faves" and more about what games I think truly define the genre, while also holding up well enough to most fans.
Based on that, I think I HAVE to include both a Dragon Quest game, and a Final Fantasy game, as those are the two big pillars of the genre, as for which ones, well, just about any of them should be fine enough, but if I have to pick specific ones, then for Dragon Quest, it really depends on how much of a stomach you have for OLD old RPGs, cuz if you like those, then by all means, DQ1, and then play the whole rest of the series in order, but if you're more of a modern RPG fan, then DQ5 all the way (DS version) great story, VERY approachable to just about anyone who's played just about any turn-based RPG, and it's just a very good game every way you look at it!
As for Final Fantasy... I think the best introduction to the series for anyone who hasn't played any of the games is probably FF4, as that's, in my view, the most influential game in the series, with most of the games in the series since taking LOTS of cues from FF4 for their story structure, character development and gameplay loops. (But let's be real here, you probably already played a Final Fantasy game)
And well, I more-or-less feel obligated to also include the love-child of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, which is Chrono Trigger, but there's nothing I can say about it that hasn't been said before...
And then... Hmm... It's kinda hard to say once I've already mentioned the obvious ones, but I guess an action RPG is worth mentioning, and for this pick I'm gonna go with a lesser-known one, that being Swordcraft Story, which I consider to be THE Best action RPG series ever, because for one, the battles are almost fighting-game-like (albeit not 1v1) with LOTS of movement and combat options, and the weapon type you choose fundamentally changing the way you fight, and for two, you have direct control of both party members, so no CPU-controlled party-members to potentially mess with your strategy! Oh and, the stories in both games are absolutely fantastic! The characters are really well-written and get lots of development! (Still waiting on that Swordcraft 3 fan-translation)
And then uhh... I dunno... I guess Mother 3? Like, Mother 1 is my favourite, but it's an acquired taste for most, whereas Mother 3 is instantly approachable for just about anyone, and yadda-yadda emotional quirky and influental, y'know the spiel already, just quit waiting for an official English release and play the Fan-Translation if you haven't already... But I'll say this much, I think you appreciate the series more if you play all 3 games in order.
@Michirin9801 I have a lot of love for the Dragon Quest series as a whole. Dragon Quest 11 is one of my favorite games of all time, and 5 is up there as a near perfect game, IMO. The earlier games are a bit rough around the edges, but I grew up with 1, 2 and 3 and have such fond memories of me and my older brother staying up late trying to beat each one. With the HD-2d remakes on the way, it'll offer a new introduction to younger fans of the genre, and I'm really excited for those stories and characters to receive the love they deserve.
In truth, you don't HAVE to play anything. Some games have a more general flavour. Some games have a more niche flavour.
That's a given. But youtubers need catchy headlines that simplify things.
You don't have to leave a comment, and yet here we are.
🤡
I think this is worth saying, yes UA-camrs need their catchy names but if we don’t watch it we will have more of a hate keeping problem in this hobby.
Alundra 2 was also pretty good, completely different and abit weird though
@coop8549 haha, Alundra 2 was... "interesting". While I don't think it held up to the first entry, it is still a fun play.
Alundra is not a jrpg.
My top 5 (in no preference order) :
Persona 3
Breath of fire 3
Golden sun
Final Fantasy 7
Skies of arcadia
@grutfrut5817 Nice list! I've never played Skies of Arcadia, I'll have to give it a shot.