GameDynamo - "The Japanese gaming industry has been getting a lot of flak as of late. First, we've had the creator of Mega Man himself, Keiji Inafune, publicly stating that Japan has lost its fighting spirit. After that, Team Coloblind's Ben Ruiz flat out called modern Japanese games trash. And, just recently, we have Hideo Kojima, the man behind the Metal Gear Solid series, criticizing Japanese games in general.
All of these arguments hold the same criticisms: that Japan has lost its creative spark. That the industry there now only appeals to a small minority, rather than a larger, worldwide audience. And for each person that has spoken out about this issue, they have received a serious backlash from their peers and gamers alike.
The truth is, however, is that those men are actually right."
Plenty of unforgettable games have completely messed up their players throughout the years, all the way back from the PS1 days to the dark recesses of the modern internet.
Replaying Skyrim after 13 years is a reminder of the progress made in western RPGs over the last decade, but also what's been lost.
RPGs are often huge, sprawling endeavours. With limited playtime, we have to choose wisely, so here's the best western RPGs available today.
"I started playing games yesterday" the List... Meh!
How about a few RPGs that deserve some love instead?
1 - Alpha Protocol - Now on GOG
2 - else Heart.Break()
3 - Shadowrun Trilogy
4 - Wasteland 2
5 - UnderRail
6 - Tyranny
7 - Torment: Tides of Numenera
And for a bonus game that flew under the radar:
8 - Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Not only glorious jank, but the idea that the story can completely change depending on what you do, or say, or side with, makes it one of the most forward thinking games ever. The amount of story permutation is the equivalent of a Hitman level but in Story Form. And it wasn't just that the story changed, no, it was that you met completely new characters, or missed them, depending on your choices. Made Mass Effect feel static in comparison.
Alpha Protocol was absolutely glorious, indeed. And it was, and still is, more Next Gen than most anything out there these days. In this regard at least.
Pity.
More like its inability to establish itself on HD consoles.
Japanese developers have failed to catch up with the HD gen of gaming.That's why many of them have moved over to handhelds.
Poorly written article.
First, there's Japan-phobia.
The new youth don't like Japanese characters anymore (manga/anime lover are considered awkward people nowadays)
Second, Japan wants to westernize their products ending up in disappointing that little fanbase they had left.
Sorry, but this article is 100 percent ridiculous and half truthed
just like japanese devs say there thing, plenty of western devs say the same thing about the west
And your going to talk to me about lack of innovation? Thats what the west majors in. And thats what your asking japan to do? no thanks
You talk about how japanese rpgs are in a rut, and then you bring up skyrim.
Didnt 38 say all bethesda games are exactly the same?
didnt they?
"It was a Japanese game, but it didn't strictly feel like one, because it had such an original premise, an engaging story, and spectacular gameplay. Developed by the same team behind Persona 4, it wasn't made just with the Japanese audience in mind, but rather for all audiences of all regions to enjoy."
this is just complete BS I cant even deal with that
So the next time peter M calls the west nothing but generic riskless entities, or kojima, who insults the west far more than japan says something. Dont post half truths
this article is an abomination
This article does nothing but generalize, lie, mis represent opinon, and give half truths........ you say all japanese rpgs are like that? Then I say all western rpgs use a realistic style are all action rpgs, and only allow you tyo control a single character see what happens when you generalize? you sound like a moron This writer should be fired flat out today
now lets look at the top games of last year really skyward sword was the best game of the year flat out. The best rpgs all came out of japan pokemon black white was the highest selling rpg and wonderful then you have trails, disgaea, radiant historia, tales of xillia and others, and what does the west have? the same generic stuff
While Japanese games may not be as popular in the West as they used to be, I'd argue that every developer has their own faults. Bethesda may have made a great game in Skyrim, but it gets repetitive and the game launched with major glitches.
I'd like to see some of the more exclusive Japanese games come Westward, but their developers don't release them because they don't think people in the West would like them. A lack of creativity is a problem all over the world though, the difference is that what is known to work in the West is being done by the West and what is known to work in Japan is being done there. And in my opinion "Game of the Year" awards are useless and not definitive of whether a game is good or not.