JRPGs that took big risks that paid off

The trajectory of the JRPG genre into modern gaming is fascinating to witness. After becoming popular on classic consoles, the release of Final Fantasy 7 Making the PS1 the epicenter of these amazing experiences cemented the genre as profitable in the eyes of many.

However, the genre's appeal has waned over time, only for modern players to integrate everything from visual improvements to gameplay innovations, ensuring that JRPG fans can enjoy a wealth of replays in the genre. Some of the best JRPGs are the ones that took big risks and paid dividends.

8

Yakuza: Like a dragon

Changed the gameplay loop of the established series and attracted new fans

The gameplay changes dictate the story of an April Fool's joke Yakuza The series may be overblown, but this rumor proves just how risky the move was. Real time combat Yakuza The series was a joy to experience, and fans wanted to see how the Dragon Engine could enhance action gameplay.

However, the mainline series decided to make a dramatic swerve with new heroes and battle mechanics that changed. Yakuza: Like a dragon In a classic turn-based JRPG, combined with a job system. In hindsight, it shouldn't come as a surprise that a skillful and skilled developer like RGG Studio would do justice to this gameplay change and let players enjoy one of the best modern JRPGs of all time.

7

Final Fantasy 7

Arguably the first AAA game that invested a ton of money in marketing in the West

Final Fantasy 7 Hailed by many as the first-ever AAA game in the industry, it's easy to see why this is the case. Prior to this title's release, JRPGs occupied a small niche in Western markets and didn't exactly appeal to gamers beyond Japan's borders.

However, SquareSoft was so confident in the title that the marketing budget ballooned to let everyone and their moms know about the epic adventure. Final Fantasy 7 Can take players. It was a risky strategy that eventually paid off Final Fantasy 7 It broke all records to become one of the most popular PS1 titles of all time, ushering in the golden age of JRPGs on Sony's console.

6

Personality 5

The impact of the art style and improved dungeons were all worth the delay

Personality 5 Players were doing something special with the many previews they got to enjoy. The art style was stunning and the gameplay looked cool, but the game's ambitions caused it to face so many delays that fans wondered if the final product was worth the financial strain on Atlus.

It is abundantly clear at this point that the polish Personality 5 It was a smart decision to help JRPGs break new ground for the genre on modern consoles. Amazing visual flair, snappy gameplay, addictive life-sim elements, and an unforgettable cast of characters ensured that players will remember. Personality 5 After a long time the adventures of the Phantom Thieves came to a close.

5

Earthbound

An anti-JRPG that slowly turned into an influential cult classic

Players just have to watch EarthboundLook at the risky game Nintendo is playing in its marketing strategy. The lack of any high fantasy elements combined with the message that players would hate the game was a bold way to market one of the most innovative JRPGs of all time.

EarthboundSales were lukewarm when the game launched, but it was only a matter of time before more and more players experienced its brilliance firsthand. This anti-JRPG was revolutionary and continues to influence modern gaming, as do the titles Undertale and Omori Inspired by this masterpiece.

4

Misleading story

A unique JRPG that came on the tail end of the PS1 with a bold combat system

This is a shame Misleading story Released so late in the PS1's lifetime that most players never got to experience this amazing title for themselves. It expands the lore of Ivalice and lets players control a single character in a JRPG without traditional leveling mechanics or party members.

Instead, players simply control Ashley Riot and use powerful tools to ensure they can take on powerful enemies without feeling like they're one step behind their opposition. Poor sales were a disappointment, but players need only hear the abundant praise thrown towards this title to realize how ahead of its time it was. Misleading story was

3

The world ends with you

Modern Tokyo made the most of the DS to let players enjoy a unique combat system

Real-time combat in JRPGs can always be a sore point for fans who find these systems to be a bit too button-heavy and random at times. but, The world ends with you Shows how innovative a combat system like this can be when it tries something different.

Wars in the The world ends with you Both took place on DS screens, with players using buttons for one character and the touchscreen for the other. It was a chaotic but satisfying combat system that paired well with the game's stylish presentation, turning it into a beloved JRPG that continues to receive updated releases on modern consoles (even if these re-releases had to make compromises to simplify the combat system. Play on a single screen ).

2

Xenogears

Despite failing to achieve its lofty ambitions, it elevated Takahashi's name and the Xeno series to new heights.

It's easy to label Xenogears As a letdown, the game promised to show the moon on the first disc, forcing players to wade through tedious paragraphs of text in the second half of the game. It was a product and a victim of Tetsuya Takahashi's ambition, which meant experience as a video game developer. Xenogears It flattened out long before its end.

However, the game was still a huge success Xeno series, with its ambitious creator never giving up and creating his own company to make this vision a reality. Fast-forward to today, and it's clear the risks Xenogears laid the foundation stone for Xenoblade Chronicles A must-play first-party title on Nintendo's hardware.

1

Final Fantasy 12

A great gameplay switch for the Final Fantasy series that made for a unique experience

Final Fantasy 12 The first is a high-risk game serving as a mainline single-player final fantasy The game after the SquareSoft and Enix merger. Used the lessons learned from it Final Fantasy 11The development allowed players to enjoy a hybrid combat system where players were required to decide the preferences of party members with a gambit system to win.

Final Fantasy 12 It may seem difficult to enter at first glance, but the world of Dalmascia is so beautiful and immersive that fans will easily lose themselves in these vast environments. The epic narrative and ensemble cast ensure that the central conflict is never overshadowed by a single party member, simulating many things. Final Fantasy 6 Such a special title.