Hi there! If you happen to notice some poor quality video when I cut away to the table, that's due to a technical issue that I've since sorted out. Unfortunately it's not like I could re-unbox the book. But the next video in this series will look much sharper I promise. Also, thanks Bitmap Books for sending this review unit. Check superderekrpgs.com/ethics/ for more information about my ethics and sponsorship disclosures! Order the book here: www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/products/a-guide-to-japanese-role-playing-games (Not an affiliate link)
Well Derek I just went through the whole JRPG book by bitmap and that is by far the most Complete and Comprehensive guide I have ever seen in terms of Console JRPGS. I mean it honestly covers everything. From traditional JRPGS to SRPGS, to strategy based games and even rogue rpgs. Dating from the 1970's on the DOS and Apple II or PC-88 and PC-98 to the modern era of Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch. It even covers many of the Niche titles as well. I don't even think there is a game that I can think of that is missing. Unless you count Erogue's and steam exlusives, but even he dedicated a chapter to covering some of those as well as popular MMO's. Absolutly amazing. My entire life all in one book lol
Wow! I wasn’t ready to pay 120$ Canadian for the book (not including shipping), but the way it was shipped to you made me change my mind. Can’t wait to get my copy! Thanks!
It's actually around $90 CDN with shipping (though if you combine with 1-3 other books, the per-book price becomes more reasonable). Can't understand why it's 7£ more expensive for shipping to Canada than to the US when it's both with DHL. My main concern with DHL is custom fees, though. :(
I. WANT. THIS. BOOK... I looked through the game list the book covers and I think I've played at least half, if not more of the games listed. So much nostalgia! It's a hefty $75, but then again, it's a hefty book, and such great quality! I definitely want to try to get this book sometime! Thanks for the review!
HUGE thank you Derek for the heads up. I absolutely love Bitmap Books and this edition is a dream come true. Fortunately, being in the U.K. I get free delivery by a decent courier and no additional fees. So much quality for a fabulous price. (I went for the standard edition like you).
So you finally odered one of these books huh Derek, nice. I think I recommended it at some point. Seeing as how you are a serous JRPG fan and your entire channel is dedicated to these types of games and you want to play everything under the sun. You will really enjoy this book i am sure of it. I consider my self an advid rpg fanatic but even I found games in here I have never even heard of before. There is SO much to scour through in this massive Tome of video game lore, history and reviews of jrpgs starting from the 8-bit microcomputer days to the modern era. So hope you get something out of it like I did.
Can’t wait for my copy to land. After watching your last video I immediately bought the Earthbound Handbook from FanGamer. Haven’t received it yet. But guaranteed it’ll help fill the gap after selling my OG Earthbound with box and guide years ago. Thanks Derek!
Septerra Core is a hard game to classify by a black and white standard of JRPG vs WRPG. It plays like a western point and click adventure game outside of combat, but the combat is basically a three division AT Turn-based Chrono Trigger style of combat with a bar that fills up based on the speed of the character (team of 3 and I think you can pick from 9) and allows you to cut at segments for a light, medium and heavy attack. The graphics are a weird hybrid of anime and the kind of photo realism WRPGs shoot for (they lean more towards anime with the characters, but objects and surroundings are less cartoon-like). The story is linear with almost no sandbox aspects typical of WRPGs despite being written by Americans.
Speaking of JRPGs made in the US, a friend of mine was a monster designer for the PSX game "Shadow Madness," made in Seattle. I've never played it, but I hear it's pretty bad. He didn't have a fun time working on it.
100% agree w/your opinion on JRPG classification. Artistic styles aren't limited by geolocation... To challenge you a little bit, I would be interested in a top 10 Jrpg's not made in Japan....if we really wanted to push a unique definition. Extra challenge if you exclude things like ff9 as it's still a Japanese publisher. Is Fable a Jrpg? It's focused on narrative more than big open world...would be cool to hear your thoughts on the stretched definition.
I agree with you. I've always assumed JRPG refers to an rpg style and not necessary made in japan. Is it really up for debate... Still a very interesting topic. Anyway, Happy I saw this. The book looks very awesome. I also appreciate their packaging.
Nice shirt. AYOTD was one of my favourite shows growing up even though it often weirded me out or gave me nightmares the way a Twilight Zone style supernatural horror anthology show should. The show must have really made bank from ad revenue after bumming a good amount of the production budget from the government up here in Canada.
Fun fact: AYOTD was also syndicated on Nickelodeon in the 90s, so even us Americans got in on the action, along with a myriad of other YTV productions. By far some of the best Canadian exports of my childhood. :)
@@SuperDerek IKR. That is why it really milked that Canadian film/TV subsidy. The whole subsidy was started because the government thought we were consuming too much American entertainment (but Friends and Full House and those other shows from the last heyday of sitcoms in the 90s still dominated so not so sure the grant achieved what it was supposed to aside from giving production companies free money).
“This isn’t a book, it’s a tome”
This looks AMAZING!!!
Great unboxing! Love the attention to detail. 👍
Thank you Britta!
Hi there! If you happen to notice some poor quality video when I cut away to the table, that's due to a technical issue that I've since sorted out. Unfortunately it's not like I could re-unbox the book. But the next video in this series will look much sharper I promise. Also, thanks Bitmap Books for sending this review unit. Check superderekrpgs.com/ethics/ for more information about my ethics and sponsorship disclosures! Order the book here: www.bitmapbooks.co.uk/products/a-guide-to-japanese-role-playing-games (Not an affiliate link)
Not a problem. Didnt even notice!
Well Derek I just went through the whole JRPG book by bitmap and that is by far the most Complete and Comprehensive guide I have ever seen in terms of Console JRPGS. I mean it honestly covers everything. From traditional JRPGS to SRPGS, to strategy based games and even rogue rpgs. Dating from the 1970's on the DOS and Apple II or PC-88 and PC-98 to the modern era of Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch. It even covers many of the Niche titles as well. I don't even think there is a game that I can think of that is missing. Unless you count Erogue's and steam exlusives, but even he dedicated a chapter to covering some of those as well as popular MMO's. Absolutly amazing. My entire life all in one book lol
I ordered this as soon as it was available. I'm so hyped!
An excellent collection of JRPGs! Fully support this book and Bitmap Books!
Such a cool book. Just ordered the collector's edition.
Thanks for the preview! Can't wait to hear your impressions.
Now make a version of the book that comes with every game included. ;)
Great video Derek! I ordered my copy a few days ago when they went live! Currently working through it on my iPad via the free pdf included!
Mine is on the way! I can't wait!
Wow! I wasn’t ready to pay 120$ Canadian for the book (not including shipping), but the way it was shipped to you made me change my mind. Can’t wait to get my copy! Thanks!
Ikr it’s way tooo much😭😭
It's actually around $90 CDN with shipping (though if you combine with 1-3 other books, the per-book price becomes more reasonable). Can't understand why it's 7£ more expensive for shipping to Canada than to the US when it's both with DHL. My main concern with DHL is custom fees, though. :(
mine should arrive on thursday but flipped through the pdf already and man this book is really really good :)
Great video Derek! I had no idea this was a thing now I’ll be getting it 😀
Ooh nice book! I went and ordered it. Thanks for the preview!
I. WANT. THIS. BOOK... I looked through the game list the book covers and I think I've played at least half, if not more of the games listed. So much nostalgia! It's a hefty $75, but then again, it's a hefty book, and such great quality! I definitely want to try to get this book sometime! Thanks for the review!
HUGE thank you Derek for the heads up. I absolutely love Bitmap Books and this edition is a dream come true. Fortunately, being in the U.K. I get free delivery by a decent courier and no additional fees. So much quality for a fabulous price. (I went for the standard edition like you).
I haven’t watched a video in awhile, but I’m astonished at your physical transformation! You’ve slimmed up quite a bit! Looking svelte, Derek!
Thanks Angel! :D
Love the shirt! Haha abs this new series is pretty sweet. Great idea!
So you finally odered one of these books huh Derek, nice. I think I recommended it at some point. Seeing as how you are a serous JRPG fan and your entire channel is dedicated to these types of games and you want to play everything under the sun. You will really enjoy this book i am sure of it. I consider my self an advid rpg fanatic but even I found games in here I have never even heard of before. There is SO much to scour through in this massive Tome of video game lore, history and reviews of jrpgs starting from the 8-bit microcomputer days to the modern era. So hope you get something out of it like I did.
He may want to play everything under the sun, but does he want to play everything under the... golden sun?
@@dynastystar5515 haha, nice.
Ordered a copy this weekend, looks awesome
Awesome shirt!
Scholarly Derek: what is a jrpg?
Drax: I’ll do you one better: why is a jrpg?
I love your top used to watch it when I was younger 😁
This reminds me of the CRPG book which is very similar but about the last 40 years of computer rpgs. I definitely need this for my collection.
Yeah! I've kind of been eyeballing that book too, to be honest. Same publishers! :)
This looks really rad. I'd actually love to pick this up
Yooo stellar shirt man! Are You Afraid Of The Dark is so cash money
True.
username checks out
You look AMAZING Derek! You've lost so much weight, I'm so proud of you! Congrats!
I so wonder who are those characters on the book cover ? One seems from Ys, other from Suikoden… the slime from DQ ?
Can’t wait for my copy to land. After watching your last video I immediately bought the Earthbound Handbook from FanGamer. Haven’t received it yet. But guaranteed it’ll help fill the gap after selling my OG Earthbound with box and guide years ago. Thanks Derek!
I like the shirt Derek. Looking forward to the impressions video.
Only the very best packaging for the holy grail of rpg books 😂
Looks like you've slimmed down, Derek. You gain: Agility +2
Septerra Core is a hard game to classify by a black and white standard of JRPG vs WRPG. It plays like a western point and click adventure game outside of combat, but the combat is basically a three division AT Turn-based Chrono Trigger style of combat with a bar that fills up based on the speed of the character (team of 3 and I think you can pick from 9) and allows you to cut at segments for a light, medium and heavy attack. The graphics are a weird hybrid of anime and the kind of photo realism WRPGs shoot for (they lean more towards anime with the characters, but objects and surroundings are less cartoon-like). The story is linear with almost no sandbox aspects typical of WRPGs despite being written by Americans.
Speaking of JRPGs made in the US, a friend of mine was a monster designer for the PSX game "Shadow Madness," made in Seattle. I've never played it, but I hear it's pretty bad. He didn't have a fun time working on it.
Aw man, working on a game you don't love sounds like a crazy bad time. For what it's worth I do get requests to review it some day. :)
@@SuperDerek He later got a job at Pixar, so he's doing okay.
Well now i know what i'm asking my wife for at Christmas!
Derek your shirt rocks!
Thank you! What an awesome series that was!
LOVE THE SHIRT
100% agree w/your opinion on JRPG classification. Artistic styles aren't limited by geolocation...
To challenge you a little bit, I would be interested in a top 10 Jrpg's not made in Japan....if we really wanted to push a unique definition. Extra challenge if you exclude things like ff9 as it's still a Japanese publisher.
Is Fable a Jrpg? It's focused on narrative more than big open world...would be cool to hear your thoughts on the stretched definition.
I agree with you. I've always assumed JRPG refers to an rpg style and not necessary made in japan. Is it really up for debate... Still a very interesting topic. Anyway, Happy I saw this. The book looks very awesome. I also appreciate their packaging.
Damn, that's the right way to pack a book!
Crazy right?! It just makes so much sense really! I can't believe more books aren't shipped this way.
Aaaaaaaaaah!!!! A namedrop for Shrine's Legacy! Thank you, Derek!
Omfg I've got to get myself this tome of knowledge!
Hm, so you have an unboxing knife! Maybe you and the Happy Console Gamer should challenge each other to an unboxing knife fight!
Maybe some day I should ramp it up to a comically large unboxing knife? Pull out the Master Sword for an unboxing knife? xD
@@SuperDerek Derek the Heavy Blade
Nice shirt. AYOTD was one of my favourite shows growing up even though it often weirded me out or gave me nightmares the way a Twilight Zone style supernatural horror anthology show should. The show must have really made bank from ad revenue after bumming a good amount of the production budget from the government up here in Canada.
Fun fact: AYOTD was also syndicated on Nickelodeon in the 90s, so even us Americans got in on the action, along with a myriad of other YTV productions. By far some of the best Canadian exports of my childhood. :)
@@SuperDerek IKR. That is why it really milked that Canadian film/TV subsidy. The whole subsidy was started because the government thought we were consuming too much American entertainment (but Friends and Full House and those other shows from the last heyday of sitcoms in the 90s still dominated so not so sure the grant achieved what it was supposed to aside from giving production companies free money).
Cool!
Sick.
Sick shirt!!
Thanks dude!
I heard you like wrapping, so I wrapped your wrapping with wrapping which is then wrapped with more wrapping