Nearly two weeks have passed, so I expect that you’ve completed all of my former JRPG recommendations. If for some reason you found none of the previous RPGs appealing, then perhaps one of these obscure titles will make you high.
An Amalgamation of The Matrix and Urban Japanese Lifestyles
In recent years, there have been numerous disgruntled Square-Enix fans disappointed in the company’s practice of milking their two main franchises. For those tired of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest spinoffs, The World Ends With You is like skipping your least favorite class to play video games — it’s a rush that’s totally recommended.
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What makes this DS RPG special is its unique real-time battle system that utilizes both DS screens. When you engage an enemy, you’re taken to a separate screen where you’ll fight spirit-like creatures called ‘Noise’ using both the stylus and the d-pad. This system requires superb hand-eye coordination, because you have to execute a variety of stylus strokes in addition to playing a DDR-like mini-game on the top screen.
TWEWY’s unique battle system is reason enough to check out one of the DS’s best titles, but it’s also well-regarded for its urban art style, hip-hop soundtrack, and story line that deals with inner struggles, human conflict that arises from differences, and materialism. These factors combined with an interesting cast of characters and numerous plot twists will keep your hands glued to your DS even while taking a dump.
How to play it: Purchase it for $20 on Amazon.
Looking for another unique DS RPG? Try Black Sigil. Just be prepared for an assault of never-ending random battles.
A Perfect Game For Elf-Lovers and Puzzle Addicts
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JRPGs commonly feature puzzles, but let’s be honest: They rarely make you feel intelligent. That’s not to say that all of their puzzles are horrible, but they’re typically timewasters instead of brainteasers. For those of you who’re geniuses, you’ll probably want to skip JRPG puzzle shallows and dive right into the ocean.
Just as in the real world, there are a few JRPG oceans that represent its puzzle-titans, but the most recent I can recommend is the two-part GBA series known as Golden Sun. These Game Boy Advance classics (which are about to receive a sequel) may feature silent characters, but they make up for this loss of dialogue with a variety of puzzles you’ll solve through your characters’ psychic powers.
Some of Golden Sun’s puzzles (such as pushing a boulder to create a stepping stone) only require the use of a single spell, but others force you to perform a chain of events such as reading the minds of several villagers to locate a criminal. Puzzles like the latter may be tortuous to some, but most players will find these trials and tribulations, rewarding.
Golden Sun also has a delightful soundtrack that puts you in the mood for an adventure. The quest itself (other than the puzzles) is fairly standard, but at least it’ll work your mind.
How to play it: Buy Golden Sun and its sequel on Amazon or Ebay.
Looking for more mindbenders? Then try: Wild Arms 1 & 2 on PSN and Lufia 2 for the SNES.
Non-Linearity In My JRPG? No Way!
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When gamers complain about JRPGs they usually say one of two things: “There are too many clichés” or “JRPGs are too linear.” Well, I’m about to end their whining, permanently, with a little known title called Valkyrie Profile (not to be confused with Valkyria Chronicles).
This RPG that accompanied the beginning of the new millennium was overshadowed by high profile releases such as Final Fantasy 9 and Chrono Cross, so it was only several years later that gamers realized they had missed something special. What made Valkyrie Profile unique was your role of ‘servant of the gods.’ As a Valkyrie, you were tasked with recruiting humans whose lives had recently ended to fight alongside a set of gods that’d hopefully emerge victorious in the inevitable war that would end all existence.
Valkyrie Profile gave players a significant amount of freedom by allowing them to choose missions in any order, decide on a difficulty level, and pick their own recruits. This non-linearity was a breath of fresh air to those tired of linear trappings, and players who completed the game were rewarded by a trio of endings which encouraged them to return to this Tri-Ace classic more than once.
How to play it: Purchase the PSX or PSP version on Amazon or Ebay.
Not enough non-linearity? Then try Valkyrie Profile 2 for the PlayStation 2.
Hopefully this fifth entry has transformed you into a JRPG missionary, but if not, stick around for part six which will resurrect another trio of obscure titles.