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We spend a lot of time watching video game characters talk. Sometimes they’re perched in dimly-lit inns, plotting out their next moves over frosty mugs of Genuine Medieval Ale. Other times they’re exchanging snarky quips between rounds of troll-hunting or alien-squashing. Or sharing awkward pleasantries after robotic sexual encounters.
Some people believe that Japanese role-playing games are meant to be single-player experiences, enjoyed alone in the dim blue light of your living room during marathon binge sessions involving little to no contact with other human beings.
There’s this idea floating around. I’m sure you’ve heard it. It comes in many forms, most of them obnoxious.
“Japanese role-playing games are archaic and obsolete.” “They’re driven by nostalgia, not innovation.” “They really suck nowadays.” “lol JRPGs.”It’s all crap.
Currently doing rather well for itself on the Steam bestsellers chart, XSEED’s milk-eyed JRPG Ys: The Oath In Felghana has been recommended to me by various corners of the internet. If you can stand to hear me harp on for a moment, I can tell you a little about it. A little? Well, I only played about 60 minutes of it, but have one hour on me.
Role-playing games, Japanese ones especially, can be such long-winded things. They’re far more digestible when you cut out all the fluff and break them down into five-second minigames.
JRPGs are a predictable bunch. Spiky-haired youths, big swords, doe-eyed ladies and comic relief that’s either an ethnic minority or a robot. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all. Their soundtracks are no different.
