Japanese Games

[Ryu Shimazu]

Link to original post: [drupal=4354]Japanese Games[/drupal]



I tried to make some cool name, but that's all I got. I mean really those two words describe what this user blog is about.

Let me start by saying I'm writing this while playing Breath of Fire II. I grew up on the Super Nintendo, playing FFVI, BoF, Mario, Zelda, etc. I grew up to Japanese gaming. It's been a major building block in my life, an I love Japanese games.

That being said, it saddens me to see how bad of a decline they are in. There are several reasons why, but the biggest one is Japan has been thinking "what's good for us is good for everybody" for far too long. This one flaw in thinking has gradually brought the decline of Japanese games upon themselves.

I will however take this time to say Nintendo itself is excluded. Though the Wii generation was very bland for hardcore gamers, I can't help but feel like Nintendo does a decent job at keeping their games in America and fairly successful. On top of this, Pokemon is the only IP that is -the exact- same (like no changes at all for the most part), and that's really what the fanbase wants anyways, so...

Now that Nintendo is cleared up, let me tell you who I'm talking about. 80% of this rant goes to Square Enix, one of the biggest Japanese gaming companies in the game. The other 20% can be divided up between things like Namco, Cavia(they were jp, right?), NIS America (or whatever), Level5, etc

* note Capcom is not in this list. There is a reason why.

Now that I've set the basis and called the names out, let me tell you where this is going. I can't help but feel that even though the tables turned on gaming, Japanese will make a comeback. What makes me think this you ask? The proof that at least one company is already doing it.

When you think of JRPG, the first image in your head, is most likely Cloud Strife. Maybe it's not, for me it's Ryu[Breath of Fire], but for most it is. And EVERYONE knows who Cloud is. Everyone.

This was the icon of JRPG, and still is for that time, but maybe not so much anymore. If you think of JRPG, what do you think of now since the decline? Most people quite literally think of Monster Hunter.

Now think, Cloud was the symbol because that game was amazing, it was a peak of Japanese gaming yes, but that game was "perfect" and Squaresoft were gods.

Monster Hunter = Capcom, and that's what my blog is about. At least one company is doing it right. JRPG is in an obviously decline, but from Monster Hunter to Dragon's Dogma, to the eventual revival of Breath of Fire, it's coming back.

Though I hate his image, DMC comes back with hopes to rival American Hack-n-slash.

Street Fighter has had several upgrades, and a new MVC is out. (Though I'm not a huge fan, I'll still add it)

I wrote this to just speak my mind, because a lot of people I know think Japanese games are terrible, and they need to quit being made. (Except Nintendo) I think half the reason why my friends say this is because they look at how bad Square Enix sucks and think "God..."

If I were to mention Monster Hunter, SSFIV, etc, they'd say that's different, think for a minute, and be like "Oh yeah Capcom is japanese, I forgot lol"

They forget because it's so appealing in America, which is rare for Japanese companies.

Cavia(idk if they are japanese, XD) don't exist anymore, Namco is...hanging in there?, NIS America has made few great things outside of Ar Tone Queco(sp), and Square Enix makes everything look worse.

But I look to Capcom with supreme optimism. I aee hope in them. I read somewhere they told Level5 they couldn't publish BoF because they had plans to use it someday. I can't help but feel Dragon's Dogma is a test to see if BoF is a good idea. (DD is meant to be more story based and rpgish than MH)

Though I hate the new look, DMC is an honest attempt at Hack-n-slash that can't be worse than Drakengard.

And while I prefer easier things like Melee/Mortal Kombat, their fighting games definitely are amazing to say the least.

Summary: I have faith to the revival of my childhood, though SE is pigheaded, maybe Namco and Co. will learn from Capcom's success

 

[Big-Cat]

Have you played Bayonetta? That's an epic hack-n-slash that came out last year from Platinum.

Funny thing that you mention Capcom though. Inafune had left Capcom to form his own company because of the way Japanese developers, and Capcom, work in general. The main culprit is that the individual workers aren't as motivated to produce high quality games since over there, once you have a job, you're on a payroll for life (or something like that). Not only that, but sequelitis is rampant in Capcom and new IPs are considered very risky.

We almost didn't get Dead Rising, but look what happened in the end, same thing with Street Fighter IV.

I, too, have grown up on Japanese games. As such, I typically don't find myself attracted to Western made games, sans Rare because they are often dark and realistic looking over the more typically vibrant and diverse looking Japanese games.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

^ That sucks. All I know is it seems they are doing things better than the other companies. Honestly Square was the icon of Japanese games and now it's just kinda meh.

I like FFXIII and stuff, that's not what kills me.

-Keeping a dead mmo[XI], one thats meh at best [Xiv] and making a new one???
-Lack of KH3
-etc

I could go on forever.

 

[Lythium]

I agree with you there.

Now it's more like Atlus and Aksys are bringing in all of the quality Japanese games nowadays.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

Yeah, my bad. I totally forgot Atlus, lol.

Capcom is just a huge name though, and I like what they do.

Also like I said, Ar Tone Qqueco(sp), is a good series.

 

[Deleted member]

Today's kids are being brought up on console FPS games from America rather than Japanese RPG's.

The amount of quality Japanese titles in the States will keep declining if this continues.

 

[Ryu Shimazu]

Well that's just a phase. Certain Genre's are more popular each generation of gaming.


That aside, they have a lot to learn, and I just love Capcom a lot here lately<3