A quick look at RPGs of east and west
Back when computer role-playing games in the west were considered to be for pimple-faced geeks that used to confine themselves in Dungeons & Dragons, Japan was crazy over Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and others that joined the bandwagon of the successful genre. America and Europe drooled over seductive elves and fought evil wizards for ages, while the land of the rising sun encountered bizarre creatures and embraced kids that eventually save the world.
Proving which of the two types is superior has been a hot topic for dedicated fans, making it interesting how what’s enjoyable to some is simply odd to others. Only a few wouldn’t favor one over the other, while the rest point at flaws apparent on both sides. Let’s take a look at the elements that make western RPGs (WRPG) so different from Japanese RPGs (JRPG), and what strong points they have that leave gamers craving for more.
WRPG and JRPG girls face-off
Characters
Almost all WRPGs place players in the shoes of the main character. It’s not an easy task (if not impossible) to name titles from renown developers like Black Isle Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and Bioware that don’t offer aspiring adventurers the option to create their own characters. We’ve always seen humans, elves, dwarves, and other races take up various classes like fighters, clerics, wizards, and thieves.
Some argue that JRPGs aren’t immersive because players are forced to play soon-to-be-heroes or warriors of light, but Japanese gamers seem to enjoy playing as someone else and are even able to relate with over-the-top personalities. Mute characters made to involve players in the story aren’t enough to silence nitpickers, yet they seem to be effective as proven by Chrono Trigger and Pokemon. Instead of having cookie-cutter races and classes persistent in RPGs from the other side of the world, Japan had young boys fighting aliens and troubled esper girls escaping slavery.
We’ve only touched on the element of character here, so if you want to read the rest of this quick peek at the differences of WRPGs and JRPGs, then head on to the full article.
Back when computer role-playing games in the west were considered to be for pimple-faced geeks that used to confine themselves in Dungeons & Dragons, Japan was crazy over Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and others that joined the bandwagon of the successful genre. America and Europe drooled over seductive elves and fought evil wizards for ages, while the land of the rising sun encountered bizarre creatures and embraced kids that eventually save the world.
Proving which of the two types is superior has been a hot topic for dedicated fans, making it interesting how what’s enjoyable to some is simply odd to others. Only a few wouldn’t favor one over the other, while the rest point at flaws apparent on both sides. Let’s take a look at the elements that make western RPGs (WRPG) so different from Japanese RPGs (JRPG), and what strong points they have that leave gamers craving for more.
WRPG and JRPG girls face-off
Characters
Almost all WRPGs place players in the shoes of the main character. It’s not an easy task (if not impossible) to name titles from renown developers like Black Isle Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and Bioware that don’t offer aspiring adventurers the option to create their own characters. We’ve always seen humans, elves, dwarves, and other races take up various classes like fighters, clerics, wizards, and thieves.
Some argue that JRPGs aren’t immersive because players are forced to play soon-to-be-heroes or warriors of light, but Japanese gamers seem to enjoy playing as someone else and are even able to relate with over-the-top personalities. Mute characters made to involve players in the story aren’t enough to silence nitpickers, yet they seem to be effective as proven by Chrono Trigger and Pokemon. Instead of having cookie-cutter races and classes persistent in RPGs from the other side of the world, Japan had young boys fighting aliens and troubled esper girls escaping slavery.
It might be easier to play the role of a character you actually designed to suit your personality, but that doesn’t mean RPGs with preset heroes are to be frowned upon. When a story is already determined and all that’s left is to reveal the tale, players have two choices – enjoy the ride like an interactive storybook, or be that teenager trying to defeat the dragon lord.
Help out the poor people, or save the singing damsel?
Game Worlds
When someone says WRPG, it’s almost inevitable to think about medieval-esque settings with barbarians, magicians, and taverns that supply ample amount of booze. Only in rare occasions do we encounter worlds void of depressing towns, not littered with turmoil and free from domination of evil. Living in Ultima‘s Sosaria or The Elder Scrolls‘ Tamriel pretty much means you’re screwed if dungeon crawling isn’t your thing, or if your house isn’t fireproof.
JRPG land can be as depressing, but most have vibrant cities despite evil sorcerers and insane clowns lurking around. It’s also pretty common to see technologically advanced areas where you can find futuristic machinery and the likes in what’s supposed to be a place where swords and bows define combat.
With that said, when you’re playing a western RPG, expect something to go terribly wrong when you embark on a journey; jungles will have shamans that placed a curse on a nearby village, and dungeons will have demonic artifacts that you’ll have to seize. Even if the same can be said with Japanese RPGs, WRPG worlds are often not as colorful. It’s common in JRPGs to find out who you’ll have to ultimately face early in the game, but there’ll be time to enjoy festivals and join hunts.
The party destined to save the world, and those who probably can if they try
Story
Trying to figure out where an RPG was made is not very daunting task, so you’ll only need a few pointers to get the hang of it. Your typical WRPG starts out when the main character is either introduced as an adventurer among many whose goals are similar to others, or when he leaves the pack in an attempt to make a name for himself. Whether you’re a prisoner who just received his release papers, or an unfortunate new recruit who ran into trouble during the first day of duty, someone else could’ve been in your place instead. You may discover along your journey that you’re actually a Sith Lord suffering from amnesia, but the chances are small.
In Japanese RPGs, consider it a miracle if your hometown remains unharmed. Unless you’re playing something lighthearted, don’t be surprised if your parents die or if you never had parents in the first place. Don’t worry though, because wonderful adventures with mystical creatures and even potential wives await. There’s a fat chance that you’re actually the human reincarnation of the strongest dragon ever, so never give up.
You should’ve caught the drift by now. If the first NPC you meet in a world of humans, dwarves, and elves asks for your name and states what people of your ilk does, put two cents on the game being a WRPG. Play along for a couple more hours – by that time, you should realize if you’re really just cannon fodder, or a destined warrior who will free the world of evil according to prophecies and ancient texts, then conclude it’s a JRPG you’re in.
Can you guess which is which?
Who’s who?
Characters, just like what surround them, make it easy to distinguish one type of RPG from another. Those spawning from the west have muscular barbarians and skinny wizards all over the place. Japanese developers usually come up with wacky RPG denizens, populating the world with young lads who can carry weapons three times their size and females that you’re likely to find on a girly teen magazine’s cover.
Your very own avatar in WRPGs can wield classic weapons like hammers and spears depending on the class you picked, while JRPG characters (from anorexic adolescents to joyful little girls that you never would’ve imagined) have access to strange equipment like gunblades and magical flutes.
Conclusion
It is quite clear that role-playing games from the west tend to be more serious and hospitable to hardcore fans of D&D and fictional books, but those from Japan aren’t to be taken lightly. The RPG savvy would tell you WRPGs are more on realism and dark tales, while JRPGs can be all about saving your high school or collecting hundreds of adorable monsters to accomplish your childhood dream, yet they often go deeper than what meets the eye.
Without a doubt, the two distant markets are used to different styles. However, when we look at upcoming titles like Mistwalker’s Lost Odyssey and Square Enix‘ Last Remnant, it’s difficult not to notice how Japanese RPG giants are adding a lot of western spices to their dishes. On the other hand, BioWare’s Mass Effect and other WRPGs show no signs of including angsty main characters or feminine male villains any time soon.
It seems like we can bet on more next-gen WRPGs with tried and true elements intact. Even when devs decide to work on a futuristic setting, fans of the genre still expect extensive character customization and a huge list of abilities to master. Japanese RPGs, while leaning towards the western taste, shouldn’t run out of unique stories told through protagonists with their own mind-boggling backgrounds and personalities. More customization here and there would be nice, but playing as the one born to to protect Earth is usually enough to be fun.