This was very interesting to me as I have a similar video game history to Jenn, mostly limited to the original Game Boy and a little bit of N64. I got back into gaming during the pandemic and have been JRPG-curious for a while now (hence my being a viewer of this channel). Coincidentally, I also tried to start my JRPG journey with Final Fantasy IV as I really like the 16-bit aesthetic and I also ended up being overwhelmed by the active time battle system on top of everything else happening in the menus. The JRPG that finally clicked for me as a beginner was Persona 3 Reload, on normal difficulty believe it or not. Go figure 🤷♂️ Was also happy to hear the recommendation for Undertale as I bought it a while ago as cool-looking indie game but haven't gotten around to trying it out yet!
What a lovely couple. Here's my gaming couple experience: My wife loves videogames but never played Nintendo games (she always played Xbox, mostly FPS), when we got married and moved together she started to watch me play Zelda TOTK, I was 70 hours in and she just liked to watch but one night she asked me of she could play a little of Zelda, I had no issue with it so after a little tutorial about the controls I let her explore the massive world at her will. Next thing I know, she was 272 hours in, with almost all armors and all of the map clear and I had to settle with just play a bunch of old JRPGs in my Retroid Pocket 3 (which is totally awesome too by the way). 😂 Now we are tag team playing Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, she loves to explore and grind but not to fight against the bosses, she immediately hand me over the control 😂. Anyway, great video, is lovely to see couples bond trough games, specially JRPGs.😊
Thanks for sharing this experience. For suggestions, you might consider smaller/indie/non-commercial games. They tend to be much smaller, but still hit the same beats. - "FRANKEN" by splendidland touts itself as having "the most rudimentary battle system imaginable" and a play time of 30-60 min. - "Warrior Dragon" by Lumental is a(n OLDER) free PC download that a light parody of the original Dragon Warrior.
You should make this a series, if Jenn is willing. Do another set of 3 JRPGs each time and follow the same format, but refining as you go. As she gets exposed to more games she will perhaps start to build a little of that prior genre knowledge we are talking about, it would be interesting to see if she improves in that way and enjoys other games more because of it. There are so many different games with different tones, settings, art styles, appeal, etc that surely she will find ones she likes and gets invested into more. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest checking out Razbuten’s “Gaming for a non-gamer” series of videos here on TH-cam. He also takes his wife through a series of games and sees how she fares with them, it’s basically the same concept. Maybe it would give you inspiration.
Branden, this was great. Big thanks to Jenn for taking part in your little experiment. I would definitely agree that JRPGs have so much breadth that knowing your target audience is super important. I introduced my wife to JRPGs with Persona 3 FES while we were dating, based on her interest in dark fantasy stories (we met working at Barnes & Noble). She wound up loving it, with the characters and story being what drew her initially. While the core systems (fusion, battles, time-management) took her some time to adjust to, she wound up extremely invested in them by the time she finished her first playthrough. As someone who considers FF4 to be my favorite comfort food RPG, it caused me actual pain to hear Jenn's first experience with it was so abrasive. Don't forget that you can adjust the battle speeds for the ATB bars in the menu; slowing things down as much as possible at the beginning could be very helpful! I 100%ed the PR in 15 hours, shortest game in the collection by a lot. I still haven't properly played Undertale, but my wife 100%ed it in about 20 hours (I accidently murdered my surrogate mother during training and fled in shame...).
I’d think Chrono Trigger over FF 1-6 as an intro from that style, especially since your wife seems to like cozy games. There’s a lot of options in the beginning in terms of what you can do, if you like playing mini games, exploration, fighting, talking to npcs, it’s all there and also has such an accessible feel to it. Put fantastic art style and music on top of all that, and then nailing the pacing. Narrative style I can see why though. Super Mario RPG already has that light hearted feel, with Undertale I much prefer the narrative when getting more serious while still looking like a charming game
this video is so sweet, interesting and novel for me ❤ there's even a doggie on the couch back there 🔎 it's funny that my boyfriend and I are somewhat opposite of your video's idea😂 I play 99% JRPG games, including gacha ones, but I ask him to play Resident Evil or Silent Hill games, so that I would watch it like a movie. I'm a huge horror fan of any kind of media, but I'm afraid of the action happening in horror games while holding a gamepad 😂 anyways, thanks for the video and sending good vibes to your family ❤
I can see your wife’s perspective when it comes to Final Fantasy 4, since I just played through and beat it for the first time about a month or two ago and had a great time. The ATB system rushes the player and easily punishes the player for making mistakes, but that’s what I kind of like about it. I like the “anxiety” I get from frantically rushing through the menus for the right option so I can beat the enemy before they can attack. The thing about FF4 is that it’s not a good starting point for RPGs as a whole, but is probably the best starting point for getting into Final Fantasy, since many of the fan favorites in the series use the ATB system that originated from 4. i think the idea of you playing while she experiences the story is great, since she found FF4’s story the most interesting and can be used for future games you play, where the gameplay isn’t clicking but she’s enjoying the story, also she might pick up on what you’re doing and try to emulate it or you could guide her through the gameplay with some friendly backseating Now, Super Mario RPG. This might be my bias speaking, but I think your wife might have a better time with “Paper Mario” or it’s sequel “the Thousand-Year Door” which is available on the switch. It keeps the action commands and humor. It has an appealing Art style. Only 1-2 party members to manage. Also, puzzles to solve. Not to mention no isometric camera and getting an advantage by attacking enemies in the field/overworld. I remembered a there was a guy I think his name was Razbuten who was also trying to introduce his partner to video games and this video reminded me of it, because he also tried JRPGs, so if you’re looking for inspiration might want to check him out Also, as a fan of the Ace Attorney series I hope the two of you have fun with that and enjoy it as much as I did when I first experienced them. As for recommendations, going off of what her history with gaming is I would suggest staying away from action RPGs like Tales and I’m not sure of your stances on strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem if you’re down for that I’d suggest an entry with the “Casual Mode” that removes the permadeath mechanic. So, let’s just stick with turn based since those seem more her bread and butter She plays: Dragon Quest 5 Easy to understand gameplay and beloved story in the Dragon Quest community Earthbound She likes Undertale, this inspired Undertale, might as well check out the inspiration Paper Mario Already went over Pokémon Crystal/Soul Silver This game is meant to be played more casually like Animal Crossing because there are events that only trigger on specific days of the week. It also features a lot of the original Pokemon. Pokemon is also regarded as baby’s first baby JRPG Final Fantasy 10 I mention this one since you can actually see the turn order and I remember that being an issue for her in the other games. She may or may not like the story; it differs from person to person. Other drawback might be the Sphere Grid, but it’s not the most complex imo Paper Mario the Thousand-Year Door Went over earlier, but I will say every chapter feels like a parody of movie genres and it works because it’s Mario Pokémon Black & White I mention this entry because it is the most story heavy entry in the series, and there were no returning Pokemon so it works pretty well in vacuum Persona 5 Royal The vanilla version of the game made me realize I like RPGs/want to try out more of them, so it might click with your wife. The premise is cool, there are the social sim aspects that might appeal to her. The knockdown system is pretty easy to understand. Only drawbacks might be option overload for what to do when the player finally gets to plan out their day and understanding demon negotiation and fusion. I also personally prefer the themes of 3&4 over this entry Dragon Quest 11 I’ve only played the demo and enjoyed my time with it, haven’t been able to get around to getting the full version, but I have friends who have played it and loved it. Also, dragon quest is jrpg comfort food Yakuza Like A Dragon It’s a wacky zany game that I think has a good message She experiences (i.e. just along for the story while you play/pass the controller back and forth): Final Fantasy 6 It’s just an iconic entry, but I feel like she might have an issue with the magicite system and ATB system Final Fantasy 7 Again another icon for JRPGs with a great, yet complex story. Again I feel like she might have issue with the movement controls, materia, and ATB system Trails/Kiseki Just all of it Phenomenal story that she can digest in the correct order, but it is a massive time sink so idk how much time you’ll have for it. Well that’s everything that I have to share, sorry if it’s too much just trying to help. In conclusion, I would stick to either simple turnbased RPGs with easy to understand mechanics or games with good stories that she’d be interested in. It would also be cool to hear Jenn's thoughts on the games after finishing them, idk how well it would do, but I'd watch it.
There's so much love and respect in your marriage; it's so great to see! As far as suggestions so, I would recommend Dragon Quest 1 or maybe Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. The latter was on the SNES and is only available through ROM sites but it's pretty straight forward and easy while introducing many concept that have become JRPG standards.
My wife saw me playing P5R when it released. She liked the way it looked and the music and tried it. She's since beat it, strikers, and P3R. I'm hoping i get her to expand beyond the persona series
I think another good RPG for beginners would be Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Story is automatically charming since Studio Ghibli is involved and with the battle system, it gives a nice balance of using both Mele and Magic attacks since you get familiars to help you out. Playing this game is what got me to give Pokemon a try lol. Plus, there's an Easy mode and it IS pretty easy. I don't like playing difficult games anymore (which has led me into the Cozy genre myself), so while I am a JPRG vet, I find myself gravitating to easy games like that now. It got remastered on the PS4, so I am sure you can play it on a PS5. It got an XBox Series X/S port too. So it's easy to get. As always, I recommend getting a physical version (if it's available).
I would say FFX remaster would be the best FF for beginners. Fully turn based, voice acting/not a lot of reading, somewhat modern graphics, and a great story and music.
I started my journey with JRPGs this year. (And subbed to this channel because of your earlier jrpg recommendations). Looks like ill be adding more games to my backlog. After finishing all the trails games of course.
That was awesome! I woud love to have an future update hearing about Jenn and your adventures together to see what games are good for newbies or for gaming together!
Thanks for sharing this, and it was interesting to hear Jenn's perspective as I think for those of us that have been playing these games for years, we take things for granted when recommending something to some one that does not have as much experience. I hope the Trails in the Sky remake is good and gets a dub because as a general rule of thumb, those games are not to hard when set to easy mode. We will see how the Lunar remakes turn out as those games are not too hard and are on the short side. I know you have the PS1 versions, but I suspect the remakes will see some quality of life improvements.
If you guys do a 2nd one of these videos I think you should try out Final Fantasy X, the opening cutscene is a good way to get into the story right away and it doesn't use the ATB system. OR!!..... since she seemed to like the timed button presses with Super Mario RPG then I would also recommend *ahem* Legend of Dragoon!!! *ahem*. Just saying ;) Now it's time for a video of her teaching you to paint as well!
This was really fun and a fascinating watch as a fellow JRPG veteran. I myself struggle with Real Time Strategy games (among myriad other genres, lol), so I totally get her pain point with FF4's ATB. I wonder if she might have a better time with Bravely Default or even Octopath Traveler, even if they're so long she likely wouldn't finish. I just recall them being pretty decent about displaying attack and item information and not having ATB. Also obligatory "try Pokemon" comment, of which I'd recommend Pokemon X or Y, since they are far and away the easiest games. The biggest hurdle here would be the Type chart, which I can understand folks getting stumped by. 18 types, each Pokemon can potentially have two Types, and every single attack has its own Type as well, so there's a lot behind-the-scenes math going on there. I'd still would recommend them though since it's cute and fun. Plus, in these games you can eventually customize your player character, which is always a nice touch!
For sure! I initially was going to recommend FireRed/LeafGreen, since that seems to be a common entry point. It's the first remake of the OG games. Another option would be Crystal. It's missing some minor QoL from later games, but the mechanics are a bit simpler. The game overall is shorter than others too. Gold/Silver/Crystal did get remakes in HeartGold/SoulSilver, but the DS pokemon games are notorious for running very slowly and it incorporates some of the newer mechanics that might be confusing.
The Let's Go games are honestly pretty great for new folks since it was intended to bridge folks coming over from the Pokemon Go mobile game, but it does incorporate motion controls/timing of button presses. If she's good with that, I'd just go for the Let's go games. :)
@@JustTheGems the Let's Go games change the core gameplay significantly. Like, there's no wild encounters. Just trainer battles. The rest of the game is capturing with motion controls and you level up Pokémon by making your dupes into candy like in Pokémon Go. May not be a bad entry point to Pokémon especially for people used to Go but as an introduction to the JRPG aspect of the series it really doesn't work, in my opinion. With Pokémon honestly biting the bullet of the performance issues and going with Scarlet/Violet might be the best introduction that doesn't involve going for 10+ year old games. They're pretty solid games marred by terrible optimization. It's not broken like the internet memes make it look like, but it's not a smooth experience by any means. On the other hand, there are modern conveniences and QoL older games will lack. With older games my recommendation is Black/White on DS. Beginner friendly without being overly handholdy and not plagued by the slow engine the other DS games have (poor optimization and Pokémon is sadly nothing new...).
Thank you for making this video It's actually very helpful for game design thoughts It's very rare to come across people exploring a new genre, especially in the hardcore gamer spaces I find myself in I'll definitely keep some of this inherent physiology of what the player does and thinks on base reflex and the actual appeal of a JRPG if I ever make a game in the genre She definitely was alot more engaged by Undertale, which was kinda designed to cut the bloat of 90s RPGs and keep the base appeal of it It's very interesting
Thank you for the video! This is such a great idea my son loves to watch me play JRPGs but is more of a fighting and sports game player. I’m going to try the trade off method to see if he enjoys playing JRPGs himself. I definitely agree that Mario RPG probably would have been my first suggestion as it was my gateway into JRPGs. I understand the 2.5D navigation can be a pain. Maybe Thousand year door would be worth a try? I also get that the ATB system can be stressful. I like to have time to think while fighting an enemy maybe DQ 11 would be a good entry to play as well although it’s an extremely long game. Also just because I love Trails maybe the first Cold Steel game. I feel like it’s beginner friendly but it’s hard to know for certain because I’ve been playing JRPGs for decades now.
You know, I wonder if Paper Mario TTYD would be better in general than the original Mario RPG for her... I may have to give it a try. They're both funny games, but I remember TTYD being funnier.
@@JustTheGems My 6 year old daughter and I started playing through Mario RPG and while she liked it at some point she stopped asking to continue playing it. With thousand year door it's a different story she was relentless to finish it and we are now allready on a second playthrough because she wants to revisit cool moments. So I think that's a hard recommendation right there.
Great video. I'm in a similar dilemma trying to introduce my nephew to jrpgs, but super mario rpg was too hard as English is not our native language, so I think I'll have to wait a few more years with him 😆 Now, for games I think would be a good fit for a beginner... Dragon Quest XI It's just a great classic jrpg with modern aesthetics, so a great place to see where jrpg's came from and learning the basics. Sea of Stars A modern take inspired by games like chrono trigger. Not actually gotten around to this one myself yet, so I can't talk about its difficulty. But being a new game gives it an edge on quality of life stuff I would imagine, hence recommending this instead of the games that inspired it. Reccetear: an item shop's tale This one is just one of those hidden gems, in my opinion. I think it's good as the combat aspect of the game is very simple, and not the main premise. The story is both pretty straightforward but also funny and sweet, and the main goal of the game is to run a successful item shop in a jrpg world (aka, selling potions, armour and weapons, etc) Manga/Anime adapted to a jrpg Hey, playing in a familiar setting with characters you already know and love can be a good motivator to get over some of those learning curve bumps. There are some decent jrpg adaptations out there, so just look if there is a decent jrpg of a manga or anime you love 😊 Star Ocean: Till end of time If you want to play a jrpg, but also want some sci-fi in your fantasy. There are newer entries and remakes of older ones, but this PS2 classic is still my favourite. It's action combat, so be aware of that, and this particular game in the series has a very slow start if I remember correctly. I'm grasping at straws here why this would be a good beginners jrpg, other than it being sci-fi (eventually) if that is i portant to you 🙂 And adding anything else would just be a "i liked these games, so i want you to like them too" list, so I'll end it there 😊
I guess one of the Pokémon games would have been a good option as well. Also, I think that for someone who's not really into videogames nice graphics are an important point, so I think Dragon Quest XI would be an optimal alternative
I was just about to suggest any of the Pokemon games as well. It’s probably a great way to introduce her to the turn-based combat system of old JRPG’s, as well as some of that old school base strategy of those games (finding Pokemon that can exploit another’s weakness while also not weak to that opposing Pokemon) but without a timer like the many of the pixel FF games. Still has fun puzzles and mini games. If she wants a Pokemon game with a story, Black and White is very good! Glad she enjoyed Undertale and can see herself continuing to play it!
I’m curious if Jenn might enjoy FF9. The character design and appeal is really strong, the systems can be interesting without getting super crazy, and it’s pretty lighthearted, especially early on. If she can get over the ATB (or is there an option to turn it off? Can’t remember), that might be a winner.
Aside from Mario RPG, I would also consider Ni no Kuni 1-2, DQ8 (DQXIs), Tales of Vesperia are good intros in jrpg. Which would anyone get a taste of turned based, action jrpg, monster taming in simple terms.
Hey Brenden and Jenn, first of all Jenn is much more cute without the mustache! But that was fun to watch, interesting choice for her first JRPG, I guess I would have go with Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, for one of them! But, thanks for that!
The single biggest issue with introducing people to JRPGs is the trade-off between Quality of Life features and ease of understanding of the game's systems. When I was a kid, the original Final Fantasy and the original Dragon Warrior were fun games, with absolutel8y terrible quality of life features. The original Dragon Warrior had a spot where you had to push up against a black wall to find a secret passage, and this was before that kind of thing happened in games and there was no in-game warning or directions to figure that out. Basically, one person in our class figured it out one night by pure luck and told everyone else. Those old games had terrible quality of life features, but, to be fair, that was the wild west of video games when no one really knew that quality of life features were important. As games have progressed, quality of life features have gotten better, but game systems have gotten much better. 30 years ago, tutorial levels were not a thing, but now, they're common. These days, any new mechanic will have a tutorial battle where they'll show you how to use it, and then, of course, you completely forget how to use something 10 seconds later, but at least the tutorial battle was there, so that's something. Modern games are better at teaching players more complex systems, but you do need to have that background, that muscle memory, in a lot of cases, for anything to make sense.
This was such an interesting take on the JRPGs for beginners topic! In terms of recommendations, Gurumin comes to mind (that game is even shorter than Super Mario RPG!).
I would recommend Suikoden 1 as it teaches a lot of the basics with a compelling story and isn't too long. Once the remaster is out I think it would be a great choice.
Fully agree with FF4 being on the list. I've said it many times that FF4 to me is the best starting RPG. The story isn't too complex, its a nice introduction to turn-based mechanics, and its difficult to get stuck. It's also something you can finish in under 6 hours if you wanted to, and you know where to go.
If it was the original ff4 on snes or ps1, she could control a single character in the game while you fight with the rest. I played it that way with my daugther so she felt more invested than just looking at me play.
Sorry to be contrarian but Xenoblade 2 was the first JRPG I ever finished and what ultimately got me into the genre. I’d tried a few final fantasy games before this but the ‘mashing A’ gameplay was so monotonous I couldn’t stick with them. The layering complexity of systems in xc2 kept things fresh and engaging many hours in.
I really love anecdotes like this. It's such and interesting thing to me, and it's refreshing to hear this over someone saying FF7, or Chrono Trigger swayed them into the genre.
No, I'm actually glad to hear that! I think it's a fantastic game, but knowing Jenn, I have a feeling it would not work for her. But it's good there are folks out there who can connect with it without a strong JRPG background (that's how you grow a fanbase after all)
not to be rude, but imo and coming from a similar place as Jenn -- what sorts of stories is Jenn drawn to? what sort of art style/visuals does she find most appealing? i think anyone can play anything as long as there's a draw to play it, even if the systems are weird or complex. i think its a bit silly to rely on any core foundational knowledge/games when people are more than willing to play out of their wheelhouse and get use to new gameplay if, frankly, the game looks cool enough. (also from one ace attorney fan to another -- another code on switch and, if you have a ds, hotel dusk. also also nancy drew sea of darkness iykyk.)
Jenn here…I am drawn to mystery, puzzles, and empathetic stories. I also seem to be drawn to stories that deal with grief but rarely in the head space to actually play them. I have a small backlog of switch games that fit that category. Visually I am drawn to games with unique art styles. I enjoy a minimalist look. I also like with things look like a painting or sketch.
@@snoopychick822 Hi, Jenn! sorry this took a sec I wanted to get a second opinion on some of these and also wasnt expecting a response lol. Specifically jrpgs: 1. Persona 3. My recommendation is the original Persona 3 or Persona 3 FES on PS2, specifically for the art direction, moodiness, and artistry which isn’t really echoed in the remake of the game on modern consoles. If you’re looking for a version that’s more accessible I would recommend Persona 3: Reload over Persona 3 Portable as P3P removes open travel in trade for menu based navigation. The theme of the game is “memento mori”/ “remember you will die” and all the characters deal with some aspect of that related to their backstories. Pros: combat is relatively straight forward turn-based. Combat is not timed, and in Persona 3 & FES you can’t control your party members directly (both a positive and negative). Characters have story beats/relationships that happen outside of the main protagonist which give them more depth. Cons: As with all modern Persona games (P3, P4, P5, and Metaphor), the game uses a calendar system which sets time limits to accomplish dungeon climbing before that month ends. Dungeons are pretty visually empty. Social linking (hanging out and getting to know your party members) is limited to female party members specifically because they’re dateable. Non-party members are not gender locked wrt their social links. 2. The Atelier Dusk Trilogy on Switch. I can only vouch for Ayesha, but I think it does a lovely job imitating the artist (hidari)’s storybook/watercolor-esque art style. Dusk is a darker take, focused on a world slowly but surely heading to its unnatural end. Though the characters are bright and goofy, the world itself has a very ominous, disquieting air about it. You play as Ayesha, an unmotivated alchemist whose sister one day is spirited away because of unknown circumstances. On a visit to her sister’s gravesite, Ayesha meets a surly alchemist on the run, Keithgriff, who begrudgingly hints to Ayesha that she can save her sister if she starts to take alchemy seriously. Pros: 3-D models do a surprisingly good job of translating hidari’s art into the game. Music is unbelievably good, and fits with both the humor and unsettling tone of its world and characters. Characters are bright and funny, and their dialogue/interactions really create a lived in feel. Combat is turn based and very, very simplistic. Cons: Game is time based -- you have a set number of years to save Ayesha’s sister. Once she’s saved you can play out the post-game for the remaining amount of time you have. Alchemy can be esoteric and confusing. Having a guide isn’t necessary, but recommended if you want to beat it completely in one play through. A lot of Atelierheads say its worth playing the first playthrough without guidance, and then using what you know and a guide to complete everything in new game plus (the game is on the shorter side so this is more feasible than some other jrpgs). There’s a lot of dialogue which can be good and bad. There’s also some, to put it kindly, weird 2013 writing jank. If you’d like to have basically no time limit, but still have the settling and art style of Ayesha, then Atelier Shallie has all of the above. The only con to this is it’s the 3rd game in the trilogy so you’ll be missing out on some reoccurring character interaction and overarching story beats. Atelier Escha & Logy has a main character with a small hat. I can’t speak more favorably about this game, honestly. It feels like a step back from Ayesha, and doesn’t capture hidari’s art as well as its predecessor. The opening theme is soooo good, though, and the map theme is 10/10. 3. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia on 3DS. This is a strategy/tactical RPG, and plays out in a way similar to something like D&D. For battles, each of your characters is placed onto a map with various enemies and is given a movement range and limited set of actions they can do each turn, after which the enemy responds in kind. The story focuses on the intertwining narratives of Alm and Celica, childhood friends who are both working to stop a corrupt empire currently waging war upon their continent. Each character starts on separate journeys with their own unique party, but meet up later on and join together to end the war. Like the Atelier Dusk trilogy, the art is done by hidari, and his style brings a lot of elegance and flair to the swords-and-sorcery fantasy of Fire Emblem. Pros: As stated previously, gameplay is turn-based and akin to a tabletop or board game. Because of its turn-based nature and a number of resources that let you replay turns and try different strategies, each battle is like a puzzle, with many solutions available. Characters are fun to follow and learn more about, and will make relationships with each other by engaging in combat together. Art and music and incredibly well done and a joy to experience. Cons: By default, characters who fall in battle will die and disappear from the story and game completely. However, this can be turned off in the difficulty settings, meaning characters will retreat and still be available for later maps if they hit 0 HP. 4. Golden Sun 1 & 2 on Switch. I’m specifically including this here as a middle ground between story, art, and puzzle dungeons, though I would say the tone on this is less somber than the previous two. The first game follows a group of characters on a quest to prevent the restoration of alchemy to the world at the direction of a guardian entity called The Wise One. Unfortunately, they are in direct opposition to a mysterious group intend on restoring alchemy to the world by lighting the Elemental Lighthouses. The characters all have psynergy (basically psychic abilities) that are usable in and out of combat, and collect elemental creatures called djinn which power up their psychic abilities in various ways. The second game is a continuation of the first game, but from the point of view of the group actively working to bring alchemy back, putting you against the group you were originally playing as. Pros: a personal favorite, with an intricate story and very fun, easy to understand turn-based combat. Psynergy is used for solving puzzles in the town and in dungeons. Character sprites and the world itself are vibrant and lovely. Cons: regrettably you’ll need a guide for portions of the game, most notably to collect the djinn. Since this is an older game, the gameplay isn’t the best at giving direction. Random encounters can be annoying, and the characters aren’t going to be as complex as other games. When I first played this, I really struggled solving the puzzles lol. 5. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition on PS4/Switch. Another middle ground between story, art and characters. The story follows Yuri Lowell, an ex-knight, as he works to find the person responsible for stealing a piece of technology used to power the lower class’s fountain/water supply. After a chance meeting with the kingdom’s princess it does not stay this simple lol. Pros: World is bright and colorful, art style is cute and simple, characters are charming and well-realized (which is part and parcel of the Tales of series), combat is real-time action - not turn-based and you primarily control one character in a group of four. Most Tales of games allow for co-op. There is some puzzling in the game dungeons. Cons: Combat is, unfortunately, a little rough around the edges. Story falls flat in the back-half. In order to get the complete story and all character side stories it’s recommended to use a guide. For non-jrpg recommendations based on story stuff that you like: 1. 999: 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors (DS/PC/PS4/Vita) (***written gore warning**) 2. Nancy Drew: Sea of Darkness (PC) (imo the best, most consistent Nancy Drew experience) 3. Nancy Drew: Thorton Hall (PC) (spooky warning!!) 4. Another Code: Recollection (Switch) (I would personally recommend Trace Memory which is the original DS version of the first game from this collection specifically for art direction.) 5. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (DS) 6. A Short Hike (PC/Switch) 7. Gorogoa (PC/Switch/PS4) 8. Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk (PC/Vita) (**deals with a lot of heavy/semi-heavy topics. It bills itself as a romance/otome, but is not really.**) 9. Fragile Dreams ~Farewell Ruins of the Moon~ (Wii) (*deals with semi-heavy topics, loss is large focus of this game.*) Hope some of these catch your eye and that you like them!!!
@@potato-i2z thank you so much for your thoughtful response! I really appreciate you taking the time to break them down with the pros and cons. I will have to take a closer look at these. In response to your non jrpg list: I had a few Nancy drew books as a kid, so this might be up my alley. I have actually played Goragoa and enjoyed it. Hotel Dusk sounds familiar. I can’t remember if I watched Branden play that one or if I started to play it, maybe I finished it? I’ll have to revisit it. Thanks again!
@@snoopychick822 glad to hear and hope you find something you like! nancy drew is def a series that gets slept on in terms of solid point and click mystery games, but the developer, her interactive, is a real powerhouse in the genre imo. they'll also often times take an original nancy drew mystery and twist it to make the plot for a game so you'll see a lot of inspiration from the original books. the series is definitely less serious, but has a lot of charm to its writing and stories. if youd like some highlights: sea of darkness, ghost of thorton hall, warnings at waverly academy. and if you dont mind some older graphics last train to blue moon canyon is phenomenal and i recommend it the most. and (non-nancy drew) i havent played it myself but shadow of destiny seems really neat. i played and enjoyed the director's other point & click, time hollow, and thought it was fun if definitely lacking the budget to really make it go places. the ds, imo, is the high point for point and click mystery games in general (and a lot of the most experimental/interesting idea games too) if thats what you find yourself drawn to. rip cing we didnt deserve you. EDIT: OMG I FORGOT -- OKAMI!! Okami I think hits all the points you're looking for if you haven't played it yet, though its more an action/adventure game similar to Zelda. Also 1000% recommend the switch version. The controller rumbles when the main character (a cute wolf) runs. The art style is gorgeous and simple, the story is engaging and honestly pretty straightfoward, pulling from a bunch of different japanese myths, and the combat is simple and rewarding. It's also super easy to play in small bursts.
Really cool video, i think you should have pick up Dragon quest 1 from the snes cause is the best jrpg for begginers but besides that good picks and good video.
Hmm, I find myself wondering how Jenn would feel about Bug Fables, since it was inspired by Mario RPG but has a different kind of storyline. Then again, the play/combat style of all three party characters from BF being different might be off-putting for someone new to command-line games. I'm curious to see if my wife might like Bug Fables. She was okay with trying Chicory, but she eventually got bored of it and dropped it.
Tales of Symphonia might be harder to get IF he doesn't have a Gamecube (or a Wii, it has backward capability). While the game did get a remaster recently, I heard it was a horrible one (otherwise I would have gotten it myself). But I think it would be decent too, it's not too bad on the difficulty level.
IMO I think DQ11 is rather hit or miss. Dragon Quest is very good at setting the exactly correct foundations for the genre (unsurprising, it is dragon quest) but as far as actually engaging a new player it's definitely gonna vary with game to game. I wouldn't be surprised if a solid chunk of new players would find 11s intro too boring to pursue, but that's just my guess. I can't really say there's a definitive single choice, so maybe it's not the best for a first game to hook someone into the genre, but as a series I think it's a strong choice to introduce early on for a very strong foundation.
FF4 was first FF i truly got into, via DS remake. But FF9 was first FF i actually beaten and also loved too. I'm experiencing the pixel remakes first time, having me fall in love with JRPGs all over again. Adored FF1 so much, and just beaten FF3. FF4 is next, excited to reexperience it once more but in 2D.
The time is kind of odd since she has played Animal Crossing (which some have spent 100s of hours on that). DnD experience changes things, not quite a newb. Which there are more things that a player can do in DnD than in things like FFIV, but yeah I guess you have time between things. To talking to all the NPC's I remember doing that back in the day but that was due to lack of internet. Now generally NPCs just backdrops like a building to me, unless they have an icon over them. XBC2 would be good for a neet, but they might have already have played it. XB is one of those that might work with two people, since the storyline is good but combat would be annoying. I debate that Undertale is an RPG and closer to action/adventure like Zelda.
The best JRPGs for beginners are Knights in the Nightmare, Xenoblade Chronicles X,Resonace of Fate,UNLIMTED Saga,The Last Remnant, Valkyrie Profile,Star Ocean Till The End of Time and Tales of Zesteria.
I think 2 out of 3 choices are excellent for beginners, but I would take Undertale out and replace it with Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, if you have a way to play it (emulation?). Undertale is a fine game, but its bullet hell shooter style combat isn't the typical way to learn the genre. FF Mystic Quest is an OK game, but perfect for beginners to understand turn based mechanics.
I think having a game that hooks somebody is ultimately more important than having a game that teaches you the "standards" of the genre, at least at the very start. You're not gonna have motivation to learn if you haven't had a fun experience yet.
I have a great suggestion, Baldur’s Gate 3. Even though it’s fun, it feels a lot like work sometimes. If she makes or uses a lot of spreadsheets at work, then there’s nothing quite like playing a game that makes you feel like you pulled an all-nighter the next day. A real suggestion though, she might enjoy playing Diablo 4 in co-op, honestly. When I was deployed in the military, I noticed a lot of infrequent gamers had a blast playing Diablo 2 (because the Internet connection to our laptops made dial-up speeds look like a Maserati, and broadband was like unlocking fast travel. I would just suggest casually playing through the acts, and avoiding events meant to level you up quickly, because the skills and stats are more than manageable, but making a build can’t happen until you have a decent conceptual understanding of how all available skills can actually go together, and whether your gear is conducive to said build. But that’s also what’s so great about co-op, you guys will encounter plenty equipment that can’t be used for you, but would be great for her.
I have a strong dislike for FFIV and all subsequents FF for that very reason, losing a turn based battle because my reflexes or speed are not good enough is really frustrating. I think FF3 would be the ideal for beginner friendly, it introduces the job system but it doesn't overwhelm you with it.
Yay! Its always lovely to see Jenn make an appearance 😄
Agreed.
She's the real reason we all here. Her undercover/impression costume segments are the best.
@@midgetsparkle I couldn't agree more. We need more Jenn on this channel!
You guys are adorable!
Thanks for humoring your nerdy husband Jenn.
This was very interesting to me as I have a similar video game history to Jenn, mostly limited to the original Game Boy and a little bit of N64. I got back into gaming during the pandemic and have been JRPG-curious for a while now (hence my being a viewer of this channel).
Coincidentally, I also tried to start my JRPG journey with Final Fantasy IV as I really like the 16-bit aesthetic and I also ended up being overwhelmed by the active time battle system on top of everything else happening in the menus. The JRPG that finally clicked for me as a beginner was Persona 3 Reload, on normal difficulty believe it or not. Go figure 🤷♂️
Was also happy to hear the recommendation for Undertale as I bought it a while ago as cool-looking indie game but haven't gotten around to trying it out yet!
It's great to hear you found something that worked for you!
What a lovely couple.
Here's my gaming couple experience:
My wife loves videogames but never played Nintendo games (she always played Xbox, mostly FPS), when we got married and moved together she started to watch me play Zelda TOTK, I was 70 hours in and she just liked to watch but one night she asked me of she could play a little of Zelda, I had no issue with it so after a little tutorial about the controls I let her explore the massive world at her will.
Next thing I know, she was 272 hours in, with almost all armors and all of the map clear and I had to settle with just play a bunch of old JRPGs in my Retroid Pocket 3 (which is totally awesome too by the way). 😂
Now we are tag team playing Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance, she loves to explore and grind but not to fight against the bosses, she immediately hand me over the control 😂.
Anyway, great video, is lovely to see couples bond trough games, specially JRPGs.😊
Thanks for sharing this experience.
For suggestions, you might consider smaller/indie/non-commercial games. They tend to be much smaller, but still hit the same beats.
- "FRANKEN" by splendidland touts itself as having "the most rudimentary battle system imaginable" and a play time of 30-60 min.
- "Warrior Dragon" by Lumental is a(n OLDER) free PC download that a light parody of the original Dragon Warrior.
This is actually really helpful, thank you! I appreciate it!
You should make this a series, if Jenn is willing. Do another set of 3 JRPGs each time and follow the same format, but refining as you go. As she gets exposed to more games she will perhaps start to build a little of that prior genre knowledge we are talking about, it would be interesting to see if she improves in that way and enjoys other games more because of it. There are so many different games with different tones, settings, art styles, appeal, etc that surely she will find ones she likes and gets invested into more.
If you haven’t seen it, I suggest checking out Razbuten’s “Gaming for a non-gamer” series of videos here on TH-cam. He also takes his wife through a series of games and sees how she fares with them, it’s basically the same concept. Maybe it would give you inspiration.
I appreciate that, and thanks for the suggestion!
@@JustTheGems It's fascinating to see games from a fresh perspective. Turning this into a series is a great idea!
No suggestions, but you two are an adorable delight!
very cute couple if if i'm allowed to say that. :D
Thank you! :)
I'll allow it :)
Branden, this was great. Big thanks to Jenn for taking part in your little experiment.
I would definitely agree that JRPGs have so much breadth that knowing your target audience is super important.
I introduced my wife to JRPGs with Persona 3 FES while we were dating, based on her interest in dark fantasy stories (we met working at Barnes & Noble). She wound up loving it, with the characters and story being what drew her initially. While the core systems (fusion, battles, time-management) took her some time to adjust to, she wound up extremely invested in them by the time she finished her first playthrough.
As someone who considers FF4 to be my favorite comfort food RPG, it caused me actual pain to hear Jenn's first experience with it was so abrasive. Don't forget that you can adjust the battle speeds for the ATB bars in the menu; slowing things down as much as possible at the beginning could be very helpful! I 100%ed the PR in 15 hours, shortest game in the collection by a lot.
I still haven't properly played Undertale, but my wife 100%ed it in about 20 hours (I accidently murdered my surrogate mother during training and fled in shame...).
That's a good point, I hadn't thought about adjusting the ATB speed, might actually be worth a try.
I’d think Chrono Trigger over FF 1-6 as an intro from that style, especially since your wife seems to like cozy games. There’s a lot of options in the beginning in terms of what you can do, if you like playing mini games, exploration, fighting, talking to npcs, it’s all there and also has such an accessible feel to it. Put fantastic art style and music on top of all that, and then nailing the pacing. Narrative style I can see why though. Super Mario RPG already has that light hearted feel, with Undertale I much prefer the narrative when getting more serious while still looking like a charming game
Yeah, I agree, that will definitely be a good one. Hopefully we can give it a try soon
this video is so sweet, interesting and novel for me ❤ there's even a doggie on the couch back there 🔎
it's funny that my boyfriend and I are somewhat opposite of your video's idea😂 I play 99% JRPG games, including gacha ones, but I ask him to play Resident Evil or Silent Hill games, so that I would watch it like a movie. I'm a huge horror fan of any kind of media, but I'm afraid of the action happening in horror games while holding a gamepad 😂
anyways, thanks for the video and sending good vibes to your family ❤
I can see your wife’s perspective when it comes to Final Fantasy 4, since I just played through and beat it for the first time about a month or two ago and had a great time. The ATB system rushes the player and easily punishes the player for making mistakes, but that’s what I kind of like about it. I like the “anxiety” I get from frantically rushing through the menus for the right option so I can beat the enemy before they can attack. The thing about FF4 is that it’s not a good starting point for RPGs as a whole, but is probably the best starting point for getting into Final Fantasy, since many of the fan favorites in the series use the ATB system that originated from 4. i think the idea of you playing while she experiences the story is great, since she found FF4’s story the most interesting and can be used for future games you play, where the gameplay isn’t clicking but she’s enjoying the story, also she might pick up on what you’re doing and try to emulate it or you could guide her through the gameplay with some friendly backseating
Now, Super Mario RPG. This might be my bias speaking, but I think your wife might have a better time with “Paper Mario” or it’s sequel “the Thousand-Year Door” which is available on the switch. It keeps the action commands and humor. It has an appealing Art style. Only 1-2 party members to manage. Also, puzzles to solve. Not to mention no isometric camera and getting an advantage by attacking enemies in the field/overworld.
I remembered a there was a guy I think his name was Razbuten who was also trying to introduce his partner to video games and this video reminded me of it, because he also tried JRPGs, so if you’re looking for inspiration might want to check him out
Also, as a fan of the Ace Attorney series I hope the two of you have fun with that and enjoy it as much as I did when I first experienced them.
As for recommendations, going off of what her history with gaming is I would suggest staying away from action RPGs like Tales and I’m not sure of your stances on strategy RPGs like Fire Emblem if you’re down for that I’d suggest an entry with the “Casual Mode” that removes the permadeath mechanic. So, let’s just stick with turn based since those seem more her bread and butter
She plays:
Dragon Quest 5
Easy to understand gameplay and beloved story in the Dragon Quest community
Earthbound
She likes Undertale, this inspired Undertale, might as well check out the inspiration
Paper Mario
Already went over
Pokémon Crystal/Soul Silver
This game is meant to be played more casually like Animal Crossing because there are events that only trigger on specific days of the week. It also features a lot of the original Pokemon. Pokemon is also regarded as baby’s first baby JRPG
Final Fantasy 10
I mention this one since you can actually see the turn order and I remember that being an issue for her in the other games. She may or may not like the story; it differs from person to person. Other drawback might be the Sphere Grid, but it’s not the most complex imo
Paper Mario the Thousand-Year Door
Went over earlier, but I will say every chapter feels like a parody of movie genres and it works because it’s Mario
Pokémon Black & White
I mention this entry because it is the most story heavy entry in the series, and there were no returning Pokemon so it works pretty well in vacuum
Persona 5 Royal
The vanilla version of the game made me realize I like RPGs/want to try out more of them, so it might click with your wife. The premise is cool, there are the social sim aspects that might appeal to her. The knockdown system is pretty easy to understand. Only drawbacks might be option overload for what to do when the player finally gets to plan out their day and understanding demon negotiation and fusion. I also personally prefer the themes of 3&4 over this entry
Dragon Quest 11
I’ve only played the demo and enjoyed my time with it, haven’t been able to get around to getting the full version, but I have friends who have played it and loved it. Also, dragon quest is jrpg comfort food
Yakuza Like A Dragon
It’s a wacky zany game that I think has a good message
She experiences
(i.e. just along for the story while you play/pass the controller back and forth):
Final Fantasy 6
It’s just an iconic entry, but I feel like she might have an issue with the magicite system and ATB system
Final Fantasy 7
Again another icon for JRPGs with a great, yet complex story. Again I feel like she might have issue with the movement controls, materia, and ATB system
Trails/Kiseki
Just all of it
Phenomenal story that she can digest in the correct order, but it is a massive time sink so idk how much time you’ll have for it.
Well that’s everything that I have to share, sorry if it’s too much just trying to help. In conclusion, I would stick to either simple turnbased RPGs with easy to understand mechanics or games with good stories that she’d be interested in. It would also be cool to hear Jenn's thoughts on the games after finishing them, idk how well it would do, but I'd watch it.
Thanks for all the great suggestions! I'm definitely going to check out a few of these with her.
There's so much love and respect in your marriage; it's so great to see! As far as suggestions so, I would recommend Dragon Quest 1 or maybe Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. The latter was on the SNES and is only available through ROM sites but it's pretty straight forward and easy while introducing many concept that have become JRPG standards.
We stan a queen who plays chicory and unpacking
Great video and concept! Thanks Jenn for participating!! Hopefully she does finish FFIV. It holds up in my nostalgia mind!
My wife is a lost cause, but this is a great video for me to figure out what to introduce to my daughter!
My wife saw me playing P5R when it released. She liked the way it looked and the music and tried it. She's since beat it, strikers, and P3R. I'm hoping i get her to expand beyond the persona series
I think another good RPG for beginners would be Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Story is automatically charming since Studio Ghibli is involved and with the battle system, it gives a nice balance of using both Mele and Magic attacks since you get familiars to help you out. Playing this game is what got me to give Pokemon a try lol. Plus, there's an Easy mode and it IS pretty easy. I don't like playing difficult games anymore (which has led me into the Cozy genre myself), so while I am a JPRG vet, I find myself gravitating to easy games like that now. It got remastered on the PS4, so I am sure you can play it on a PS5. It got an XBox Series X/S port too. So it's easy to get. As always, I recommend getting a physical version (if it's available).
Oh good call, I do have that one (both original and remaster) so maybe we'll take it for a spin in the next one!
Just the Jenn’s!
🥳
You’re a very lucky man, Branden.
Wow you actually got her to play some jrpgs? I hope Jenn can continue to enjoy the genre and all that.
I would say FFX remaster would be the best FF for beginners. Fully turn based, voice acting/not a lot of reading, somewhat modern graphics, and a great story and music.
I started my journey with JRPGs this year. (And subbed to this channel because of your earlier jrpg recommendations). Looks like ill be adding more games to my backlog. After finishing all the trails games of course.
That was awesome! I woud love to have an future update hearing about Jenn and your adventures together to see what games are good for newbies or for gaming together!
Absolutely, you got it!
Playing games for 20 years really shows how much everything is just muscle memory
DQ11 would have been really interesting and maybe more fitting since it's both very traditional and basic and very visual appealing game !
Thanks for sharing this, and it was interesting to hear Jenn's perspective as I think for those of us that have been playing these games for years, we take things for granted when recommending something to some one that does not have as much experience. I hope the Trails in the Sky remake is good and gets a dub because as a general rule of thumb, those games are not to hard when set to easy mode. We will see how the Lunar remakes turn out as those games are not too hard and are on the short side. I know you have the PS1 versions, but I suspect the remakes will see some quality of life improvements.
If you guys do a 2nd one of these videos I think you should try out Final Fantasy X, the opening cutscene is a good way to get into the story right away and it doesn't use the ATB system. OR!!..... since she seemed to like the timed button presses with Super Mario RPG then I would also recommend *ahem* Legend of Dragoon!!! *ahem*. Just saying ;)
Now it's time for a video of her teaching you to paint as well!
This was really fun and a fascinating watch as a fellow JRPG veteran. I myself struggle with Real Time Strategy games (among myriad other genres, lol), so I totally get her pain point with FF4's ATB.
I wonder if she might have a better time with Bravely Default or even Octopath Traveler, even if they're so long she likely wouldn't finish. I just recall them being pretty decent about displaying attack and item information and not having ATB.
Also obligatory "try Pokemon" comment, of which I'd recommend Pokemon X or Y, since they are far and away the easiest games. The biggest hurdle here would be the Type chart, which I can understand folks getting stumped by. 18 types, each Pokemon can potentially have two Types, and every single attack has its own Type as well, so there's a lot behind-the-scenes math going on there. I'd still would recommend them though since it's cute and fun. Plus, in these games you can eventually customize your player character, which is always a nice touch!
I'm wondering if maybe an older Pokemon might be an okay entrypoint. Or even that Let's Go Eevee or whatever on the Switch.
For sure! I initially was going to recommend FireRed/LeafGreen, since that seems to be a common entry point. It's the first remake of the OG games.
Another option would be Crystal. It's missing some minor QoL from later games, but the mechanics are a bit simpler. The game overall is shorter than others too.
Gold/Silver/Crystal did get remakes in HeartGold/SoulSilver, but the DS pokemon games are notorious for running very slowly and it incorporates some of the newer mechanics that might be confusing.
The Let's Go games are honestly pretty great for new folks since it was intended to bridge folks coming over from the Pokemon Go mobile game, but it does incorporate motion controls/timing of button presses. If she's good with that, I'd just go for the Let's go games. :)
@@JustTheGems the Let's Go games change the core gameplay significantly. Like, there's no wild encounters. Just trainer battles. The rest of the game is capturing with motion controls and you level up Pokémon by making your dupes into candy like in Pokémon Go. May not be a bad entry point to Pokémon especially for people used to Go but as an introduction to the JRPG aspect of the series it really doesn't work, in my opinion.
With Pokémon honestly biting the bullet of the performance issues and going with Scarlet/Violet might be the best introduction that doesn't involve going for 10+ year old games. They're pretty solid games marred by terrible optimization. It's not broken like the internet memes make it look like, but it's not a smooth experience by any means. On the other hand, there are modern conveniences and QoL older games will lack.
With older games my recommendation is Black/White on DS. Beginner friendly without being overly handholdy and not plagued by the slow engine the other DS games have (poor optimization and Pokémon is sadly nothing new...).
Trails in the sky 1st is in my opinion a great start into jrpgs. I sometimes hear that it was too slow paced but for me that's definitely not the case
Yeah, I'm kinda wondering if the remake would be a good time to try and get her onboard, or if that will introduce too much complexity.
Thank you for making this video
It's actually very helpful for game design thoughts
It's very rare to come across people exploring a new genre, especially in the hardcore gamer spaces I find myself in
I'll definitely keep some of this inherent physiology of what the player does and thinks on base reflex and the actual appeal of a JRPG if I ever make a game in the genre
She definitely was alot more engaged by Undertale, which was kinda designed to cut the bloat of 90s RPGs and keep the base appeal of it
It's very interesting
"One thing I noticed is that in towns, you spoke to everyone"
She's a hidden Trails fan 😂
Gtreat video. Compelling subject. Love this video with both of you! ❤
Thanks so much Cathy!
Thank you for the video! This is such a great idea my son loves to watch me play JRPGs but is more of a fighting and sports game player. I’m going to try the trade off method to see if he enjoys playing JRPGs himself. I definitely agree that Mario RPG probably would have been my first suggestion as it was my gateway into JRPGs. I understand the 2.5D navigation can be a pain. Maybe Thousand year door would be worth a try? I also get that the ATB system can be stressful. I like to have time to think while fighting an enemy maybe DQ 11 would be a good entry to play as well although it’s an extremely long game. Also just because I love Trails maybe the first Cold Steel game. I feel like it’s beginner friendly but it’s hard to know for certain because I’ve been playing JRPGs for decades now.
You know, I wonder if Paper Mario TTYD would be better in general than the original Mario RPG for her... I may have to give it a try. They're both funny games, but I remember TTYD being funnier.
@@JustTheGems My 6 year old daughter and I started playing through Mario RPG and while she liked it at some point she stopped asking to continue playing it. With thousand year door it's a different story she was relentless to finish it and we are now allready on a second playthrough because she wants to revisit cool moments. So I think that's a hard recommendation right there.
Great video. I'm in a similar dilemma trying to introduce my nephew to jrpgs, but super mario rpg was too hard as English is not our native language, so I think I'll have to wait a few more years with him 😆
Now, for games I think would be a good fit for a beginner...
Dragon Quest XI
It's just a great classic jrpg with modern aesthetics, so a great place to see where jrpg's came from and learning the basics.
Sea of Stars
A modern take inspired by games like chrono trigger. Not actually gotten around to this one myself yet, so I can't talk about its difficulty. But being a new game gives it an edge on quality of life stuff I would imagine, hence recommending this instead of the games that inspired it.
Reccetear: an item shop's tale
This one is just one of those hidden gems, in my opinion. I think it's good as the combat aspect of the game is very simple, and not the main premise. The story is both pretty straightforward but also funny and sweet, and the main goal of the game is to run a successful item shop in a jrpg world (aka, selling potions, armour and weapons, etc)
Manga/Anime adapted to a jrpg
Hey, playing in a familiar setting with characters you already know and love can be a good motivator to get over some of those learning curve bumps. There are some decent jrpg adaptations out there, so just look if there is a decent jrpg of a manga or anime you love 😊
Star Ocean: Till end of time
If you want to play a jrpg, but also want some sci-fi in your fantasy. There are newer entries and remakes of older ones, but this PS2 classic is still my favourite. It's action combat, so be aware of that, and this particular game in the series has a very slow start if I remember correctly. I'm grasping at straws here why this would be a good beginners jrpg, other than it being sci-fi (eventually) if that is i portant to you 🙂
And adding anything else would just be a "i liked these games, so i want you to like them too" list, so I'll end it there 😊
Bold of you to assume I have a partner, or will ever get one lol
I guess one of the Pokémon games would have been a good option as well. Also, I think that for someone who's not really into videogames nice graphics are an important point, so I think Dragon Quest XI would be an optimal alternative
I hadn't thought about Pokemon, but that might be worth a shot!
I was just about to suggest any of the Pokemon games as well. It’s probably a great way to introduce her to the turn-based combat system of old JRPG’s, as well as some of that old school base strategy of those games (finding Pokemon that can exploit another’s weakness while also not weak to that opposing Pokemon) but without a timer like the many of the pixel FF games. Still has fun puzzles and mini games. If she wants a Pokemon game with a story, Black and White is very good!
Glad she enjoyed Undertale and can see herself continuing to play it!
Great video! Loved that you got the feedback from the missus
Glad you liked it! We had fun making it.
I’m curious if Jenn might enjoy FF9. The character design and appeal is really strong, the systems can be interesting without getting super crazy, and it’s pretty lighthearted, especially early on. If she can get over the ATB (or is there an option to turn it off? Can’t remember), that might be a winner.
I started my wife with FFX (although she had me do stat progression) and then she beat DQ11 all on her own!
Aside from Mario RPG, I would also consider Ni no Kuni 1-2, DQ8 (DQXIs), Tales of Vesperia are good intros in jrpg. Which would anyone get a taste of turned based, action jrpg, monster taming in simple terms.
Hey Brenden and Jenn, first of all Jenn is much more cute without the mustache! But that was fun to watch, interesting choice for her first JRPG, I guess I would have go with Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, for one of them! But, thanks for that!
The single biggest issue with introducing people to JRPGs is the trade-off between Quality of Life features and ease of understanding of the game's systems. When I was a kid, the original Final Fantasy and the original Dragon Warrior were fun games, with absolutel8y terrible quality of life features. The original Dragon Warrior had a spot where you had to push up against a black wall to find a secret passage, and this was before that kind of thing happened in games and there was no in-game warning or directions to figure that out. Basically, one person in our class figured it out one night by pure luck and told everyone else. Those old games had terrible quality of life features, but, to be fair, that was the wild west of video games when no one really knew that quality of life features were important.
As games have progressed, quality of life features have gotten better, but game systems have gotten much better. 30 years ago, tutorial levels were not a thing, but now, they're common. These days, any new mechanic will have a tutorial battle where they'll show you how to use it, and then, of course, you completely forget how to use something 10 seconds later, but at least the tutorial battle was there, so that's something. Modern games are better at teaching players more complex systems, but you do need to have that background, that muscle memory, in a lot of cases, for anything to make sense.
This was such an interesting take on the JRPGs for beginners topic! In terms of recommendations, Gurumin comes to mind (that game is even shorter than Super Mario RPG!).
Thanks Milla! Gurumin is on my list of games I'd love to have but I've never come across it.
I can recommend it because it's just really cute
It's alot like Mega Man Legends
Very good choice
I would recommend Suikoden 1 as it teaches a lot of the basics with a compelling story and isn't too long. Once the remaster is out I think it would be a great choice.
Oh yeah, that completely slipped my mind, but I bet that one would be pretty good to get her into!
Fully agree with FF4 being on the list. I've said it many times that FF4 to me is the best starting RPG. The story isn't too complex, its a nice introduction to turn-based mechanics, and its difficult to get stuck. It's also something you can finish in under 6 hours if you wanted to, and you know where to go.
If it was the original ff4 on snes or ps1, she could control a single character in the game while you fight with the rest. I played it that way with my daugther so she felt more invested than just looking at me play.
Lunar remake coming out; i think it is a good starting point since it is a simple love story.
Ghost Lion on the NES is a great RPG for a beginner.
Sorry to be contrarian but Xenoblade 2 was the first JRPG I ever finished and what ultimately got me into the genre. I’d tried a few final fantasy games before this but the ‘mashing A’ gameplay was so monotonous I couldn’t stick with them. The layering complexity of systems in xc2 kept things fresh and engaging many hours in.
I really love anecdotes like this. It's such and interesting thing to me, and it's refreshing to hear this over someone saying FF7, or Chrono Trigger swayed them into the genre.
No, I'm actually glad to hear that! I think it's a fantastic game, but knowing Jenn, I have a feeling it would not work for her. But it's good there are folks out there who can connect with it without a strong JRPG background (that's how you grow a fanbase after all)
Did you ever play the rpg guardian's crusade for ps1? Its pretty good and worth checking out although it is basically an rpg for beginners
Such a cozy video ❤
not to be rude, but imo and coming from a similar place as Jenn -- what sorts of stories is Jenn drawn to? what sort of art style/visuals does she find most appealing?
i think anyone can play anything as long as there's a draw to play it, even if the systems are weird or complex. i think its a bit silly to rely on any core foundational knowledge/games when people are more than willing to play out of their wheelhouse and get use to new gameplay if, frankly, the game looks cool enough.
(also from one ace attorney fan to another -- another code on switch and, if you have a ds, hotel dusk. also also nancy drew sea of darkness iykyk.)
Jenn here…I am drawn to mystery, puzzles, and empathetic stories. I also seem to be drawn to stories that deal with grief but rarely in the head space to actually play them. I have a small backlog of switch games that fit that category. Visually I am drawn to games with unique art styles. I enjoy a minimalist look. I also like with things look like a painting or sketch.
@@snoopychick822 Hi, Jenn! sorry this took a sec I wanted to get a second opinion on some of these and also wasnt expecting a response lol.
Specifically jrpgs:
1. Persona 3. My recommendation is the original Persona 3 or Persona 3 FES on PS2, specifically for the art direction, moodiness, and artistry which isn’t really echoed in the remake of the game on modern consoles. If you’re looking for a version that’s more accessible I would recommend Persona 3: Reload over Persona 3 Portable as P3P removes open travel in trade for menu based navigation. The theme of the game is “memento mori”/ “remember you will die” and all the characters deal with some aspect of that related to their backstories. Pros: combat is relatively straight forward turn-based. Combat is not timed, and in Persona 3 & FES you can’t control your party members directly (both a positive and negative). Characters have story beats/relationships that happen outside of the main protagonist which give them more depth. Cons: As with all modern Persona games (P3, P4, P5, and Metaphor), the game uses a calendar system which sets time limits to accomplish dungeon climbing before that month ends. Dungeons are pretty visually empty. Social linking (hanging out and getting to know your party members) is limited to female party members specifically because they’re dateable. Non-party members are not gender locked wrt their social links.
2. The Atelier Dusk Trilogy on Switch. I can only vouch for Ayesha, but I think it does a lovely job imitating the artist (hidari)’s storybook/watercolor-esque art style. Dusk is a darker take, focused on a world slowly but surely heading to its unnatural end. Though the characters are bright and goofy, the world itself has a very ominous, disquieting air about it. You play as Ayesha, an unmotivated alchemist whose sister one day is spirited away because of unknown circumstances. On a visit to her sister’s gravesite, Ayesha meets a surly alchemist on the run, Keithgriff, who begrudgingly hints to Ayesha that she can save her sister if she starts to take alchemy seriously. Pros: 3-D models do a surprisingly good job of translating hidari’s art into the game. Music is unbelievably good, and fits with both the humor and unsettling tone of its world and characters. Characters are bright and funny, and their dialogue/interactions really create a lived in feel. Combat is turn based and very, very simplistic. Cons: Game is time based -- you have a set number of years to save Ayesha’s sister. Once she’s saved you can play out the post-game for the remaining amount of time you have. Alchemy can be esoteric and confusing. Having a guide isn’t necessary, but recommended if you want to beat it completely in one play through. A lot of Atelierheads say its worth playing the first playthrough without guidance, and then using what you know and a guide to complete everything in new game plus (the game is on the shorter side so this is more feasible than some other jrpgs). There’s a lot of dialogue which can be good and bad. There’s also some, to put it kindly, weird 2013 writing jank.
If you’d like to have basically no time limit, but still have the settling and art style of Ayesha, then Atelier Shallie has all of the above. The only con to this is it’s the 3rd game in the trilogy so you’ll be missing out on some reoccurring character interaction and overarching story beats.
Atelier Escha & Logy has a main character with a small hat. I can’t speak more favorably about this game, honestly. It feels like a step back from Ayesha, and doesn’t capture hidari’s art as well as its predecessor. The opening theme is soooo good, though, and the map theme is 10/10.
3. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia on 3DS. This is a strategy/tactical RPG, and plays out in a way similar to something like D&D. For battles, each of your characters is placed onto a map with various enemies and is given a movement range and limited set of actions they can do each turn, after which the enemy responds in kind. The story focuses on the intertwining narratives of Alm and Celica, childhood friends who are both working to stop a corrupt empire currently waging war upon their continent. Each character starts on separate journeys with their own unique party, but meet up later on and join together to end the war. Like the Atelier Dusk trilogy, the art is done by hidari, and his style brings a lot of elegance and flair to the swords-and-sorcery fantasy of Fire Emblem. Pros: As stated previously, gameplay is turn-based and akin to a tabletop or board game. Because of its turn-based nature and a number of resources that let you replay turns and try different strategies, each battle is like a puzzle, with many solutions available. Characters are fun to follow and learn more about, and will make relationships with each other by engaging in combat together. Art and music and incredibly well done and a joy to experience. Cons: By default, characters who fall in battle will die and disappear from the story and game completely. However, this can be turned off in the difficulty settings, meaning characters will retreat and still be available for later maps if they hit 0 HP.
4. Golden Sun 1 & 2 on Switch. I’m specifically including this here as a middle ground between story, art, and puzzle dungeons, though I would say the tone on this is less somber than the previous two. The first game follows a group of characters on a quest to prevent the restoration of alchemy to the world at the direction of a guardian entity called The Wise One. Unfortunately, they are in direct opposition to a mysterious group intend on restoring alchemy to the world by lighting the Elemental Lighthouses. The characters all have psynergy (basically psychic abilities) that are usable in and out of combat, and collect elemental creatures called djinn which power up their psychic abilities in various ways. The second game is a continuation of the first game, but from the point of view of the group actively working to bring alchemy back, putting you against the group you were originally playing as. Pros: a personal favorite, with an intricate story and very fun, easy to understand turn-based combat. Psynergy is used for solving puzzles in the town and in dungeons. Character sprites and the world itself are vibrant and lovely. Cons: regrettably you’ll need a guide for portions of the game, most notably to collect the djinn. Since this is an older game, the gameplay isn’t the best at giving direction. Random encounters can be annoying, and the characters aren’t going to be as complex as other games. When I first played this, I really struggled solving the puzzles lol.
5. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition on PS4/Switch. Another middle ground between story, art and characters. The story follows Yuri Lowell, an ex-knight, as he works to find the person responsible for stealing a piece of technology used to power the lower class’s fountain/water supply. After a chance meeting with the kingdom’s princess it does not stay this simple lol. Pros: World is bright and colorful, art style is cute and simple, characters are charming and well-realized (which is part and parcel of the Tales of series), combat is real-time action - not turn-based and you primarily control one character in a group of four. Most Tales of games allow for co-op. There is some puzzling in the game dungeons. Cons: Combat is, unfortunately, a little rough around the edges. Story falls flat in the back-half. In order to get the complete story and all character side stories it’s recommended to use a guide.
For non-jrpg recommendations based on story stuff that you like:
1. 999: 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors (DS/PC/PS4/Vita) (***written gore warning**)
2. Nancy Drew: Sea of Darkness (PC) (imo the best, most consistent Nancy Drew experience)
3. Nancy Drew: Thorton Hall (PC) (spooky warning!!)
4. Another Code: Recollection (Switch) (I would personally recommend Trace Memory which is the original DS version of the first game from this collection specifically for art direction.)
5. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (DS)
6. A Short Hike (PC/Switch)
7. Gorogoa (PC/Switch/PS4)
8. Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk (PC/Vita) (**deals with a lot of heavy/semi-heavy topics. It bills itself as a romance/otome, but is not really.**)
9. Fragile Dreams ~Farewell Ruins of the Moon~ (Wii) (*deals with semi-heavy topics, loss is large focus of this game.*)
Hope some of these catch your eye and that you like them!!!
@@potato-i2z thank you so much for your thoughtful response! I really appreciate you taking the time to break them down with the pros and cons. I will have to take a closer look at these.
In response to your non jrpg list: I had a few Nancy drew books as a kid, so this might be up my alley. I have actually played Goragoa and enjoyed it. Hotel Dusk sounds familiar. I can’t remember if I watched Branden play that one or if I started to play it, maybe I finished it? I’ll have to revisit it. Thanks again!
@@snoopychick822 glad to hear and hope you find something you like!
nancy drew is def a series that gets slept on in terms of solid point and click mystery games, but the developer, her interactive, is a real powerhouse in the genre imo. they'll also often times take an original nancy drew mystery and twist it to make the plot for a game so you'll see a lot of inspiration from the original books. the series is definitely less serious, but has a lot of charm to its writing and stories.
if youd like some highlights: sea of darkness, ghost of thorton hall, warnings at waverly academy. and if you dont mind some older graphics last train to blue moon canyon is phenomenal and i recommend it the most.
and (non-nancy drew) i havent played it myself but shadow of destiny seems really neat. i played and enjoyed the director's other point & click, time hollow, and thought it was fun if definitely lacking the budget to really make it go places.
the ds, imo, is the high point for point and click mystery games in general (and a lot of the most experimental/interesting idea games too) if thats what you find yourself drawn to. rip cing we didnt deserve you.
EDIT: OMG I FORGOT -- OKAMI!! Okami I think hits all the points you're looking for if you haven't played it yet, though its more an action/adventure game similar to Zelda. Also 1000% recommend the switch version. The controller rumbles when the main character (a cute wolf) runs. The art style is gorgeous and simple, the story is engaging and honestly pretty straightfoward, pulling from a bunch of different japanese myths, and the combat is simple and rewarding. It's also super easy to play in small bursts.
Really cool video, i think you should have pick up Dragon quest 1 from the snes cause is the best jrpg for begginers but besides that good picks and good video.
How do I trick my 60 year old dad into playing video games
Whenever I enter a new town in a JRPG I always talk to everyone and look around
very insightful vid
I❤TB! Great show!
Hmm, I find myself wondering how Jenn would feel about Bug Fables, since it was inspired by Mario RPG but has a different kind of storyline. Then again, the play/combat style of all three party characters from BF being different might be off-putting for someone new to command-line games. I'm curious to see if my wife might like Bug Fables. She was okay with trying Chicory, but she eventually got bored of it and dropped it.
I would have picked games like Tales of Symphonia, DQ 11 or even Pokemon as first JRPG rather than the ones you mentioned...
DQ11 is a great start for sure 👌🏻
Tales of Symphonia might be harder to get IF he doesn't have a Gamecube (or a Wii, it has backward capability). While the game did get a remaster recently, I heard it was a horrible one (otherwise I would have gotten it myself). But I think it would be decent too, it's not too bad on the difficulty level.
I've heard a couple recs for DQ11, I'll have to add that to her list.
IMO I think DQ11 is rather hit or miss. Dragon Quest is very good at setting the exactly correct foundations for the genre (unsurprising, it is dragon quest) but as far as actually engaging a new player it's definitely gonna vary with game to game. I wouldn't be surprised if a solid chunk of new players would find 11s intro too boring to pursue, but that's just my guess. I can't really say there's a definitive single choice, so maybe it's not the best for a first game to hook someone into the genre, but as a series I think it's a strong choice to introduce early on for a very strong foundation.
I would have picked Dragon Quest xi,Ni no kuni, and Visions of mana
FF4 was first FF i truly got into, via DS remake. But FF9 was first FF i actually beaten and also loved too. I'm experiencing the pixel remakes first time, having me fall in love with JRPGs all over again. Adored FF1 so much, and just beaten FF3. FF4 is next, excited to reexperience it once more but in 2D.
I really loved the FF4 DS remake, I always wished they had redone all six of the OG games that way instead of just 3 and 4.
The time is kind of odd since she has played Animal Crossing (which some have spent 100s of hours on that).
DnD experience changes things, not quite a newb. Which there are more things that a player can do in DnD than in things like FFIV, but yeah I guess you have time between things.
To talking to all the NPC's I remember doing that back in the day but that was due to lack of internet. Now generally NPCs just backdrops like a building to me, unless they have an icon over them.
XBC2 would be good for a neet, but they might have already have played it. XB is one of those that might work with two people, since the storyline is good but combat would be annoying.
I debate that Undertale is an RPG and closer to action/adventure like Zelda.
Dragon quest 11
The best JRPGs for beginners are Knights in the Nightmare, Xenoblade Chronicles X,Resonace of Fate,UNLIMTED Saga,The Last Remnant, Valkyrie Profile,Star Ocean Till The End of Time and Tales of Zesteria.
True and real!!!
Pokemon is the best one for beginners.
I think 2 out of 3 choices are excellent for beginners, but I would take Undertale out and replace it with Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, if you have a way to play it (emulation?). Undertale is a fine game, but its bullet hell shooter style combat isn't the typical way to learn the genre. FF Mystic Quest is an OK game, but perfect for beginners to understand turn based mechanics.
I actually have the Mystic Quest cart, so that's definitely an option to consider
@@JustTheGems yeah, if your wife was having trouble with FF4, Mystic Quest maybe could ease her into the genre a bit easier.
I think having a game that hooks somebody is ultimately more important than having a game that teaches you the "standards" of the genre, at least at the very start. You're not gonna have motivation to learn if you haven't had a fun experience yet.
@@twincherries6698 thats true, but the first JRPG I ever played was Ultima Exodus, didn't hook me, Final Fantasy 1 a few years later did.
I have a great suggestion, Baldur’s Gate 3. Even though it’s fun, it feels a lot like work sometimes. If she makes or uses a lot of spreadsheets at work, then there’s nothing quite like playing a game that makes you feel like you pulled an all-nighter the next day.
A real suggestion though, she might enjoy playing Diablo 4 in co-op, honestly. When I was deployed in the military, I noticed a lot of infrequent gamers had a blast playing Diablo 2 (because the Internet connection to our laptops made dial-up speeds look like a Maserati, and broadband was like unlocking fast travel.
I would just suggest casually playing through the acts, and avoiding events meant to level you up quickly, because the skills and stats are more than manageable, but making a build can’t happen until you have a decent conceptual understanding of how all available skills can actually go together, and whether your gear is conducive to said build.
But that’s also what’s so great about co-op, you guys will encounter plenty equipment that can’t be used for you, but would be great for her.
Oh nooooo… a JRPG that’s *shorter* than Mario RPG… this genre is not for her lol😅
Haha … partner
🤠
You don't talk to every NPC when you get to a new town? Come on. That's half the fun of a town.
Lol I know, I know 😅🫠
I have a strong dislike for FFIV and all subsequents FF for that very reason, losing a turn based battle because my reflexes or speed are not good enough is really frustrating. I think FF3 would be the ideal for beginner friendly, it introduces the job system but it doesn't overwhelm you with it.