First some definitions or my understanding of terms.

JRPG - Story heavy, narrative driven games originating mostly from Japan with anime tropes and featuring turn based character battles commonly

Core gameplay - The main gameplay element of a game, for example Dodging, rolling and spacing combat in Elden Ring, Monster Hunter. Character placement, team builds, XCOM, TRPGs

Sub system - Mini games or the social systems in Persona games, a secondary gameplay element that is different and unrelated to core gameplay

I’ve enjoyed Yakuza Infinite Wealth, FF7 Rebirth and Persona these few years which led me to think that I enjoyed “JRPGS” so I booted up old “Tales of” game (action battle) and am having a hard time pushing through

I then realised that the JRPGs I’ve played have a lot of investment into sub systems, Yakuza basically being a collection of minigames polished over several series. FF7 adding even more mini games than the original in a 1/3 installment and also having a non turn based system and Atlus’ games having a large chunk of it being a dating sim on top of its flashy UI for the turn based battles.

I think the core reason is that other gameplay mechanics, from driving to shooting to RTS to combat have high skill ceilings such that people playing CS can transition to Overwatch and then to Marvel Rivals and maintain their level of training over years. RTS have high skill floors for PVP. Meanwhile for single player RPGs without deep builds and customisation, you should be able to complete the story and endgame with grinding or items or clever builds. The first 2 being the easiest and least ‘fun’

This has led to mainstream JRPGs needing sub systems to support the price tag while CRPGs like Baldurs Gate 3 have builds and branching stories to make it fun and replayable.

On the other hand Dragon Quest 3 hd-2d remake sold like gangbusters so maybe I’m off on this

  • MrScottyTayEnglish
    16·
    5 days ago

    OG FFVII is full of minigames. I don’t think rebirth has more than the OG, also it’s like half of the game not a third (the last disc is just the final dungeon, and the second disc is not as long as the first).

    When the OG does a minigame it’s often a one and done thing. Rebirth madness it feel like more because you can go back and do more of each minigame with increasing difficulties etc.

    I think subsystems just lend very well to JRPGs because they’re often trying to create a world, and adding such to their games makes their worlds feel more full. I also think the Japanese do their game development different to the west most of the time. Since a lot of these minigames are made because developers have finished the parts of the main game they were working on so they mess around trying to make something new and fun that might be able to be tacked on as an extra.