There are plenty of great JRPGs, WRPGs and adventure games slated to come out this year. I'm going to list off the ones I'm personally anticipating the most, and why.
Zwei: The Arges Adventure (Steam & GOG)
Hnnngh, so close to release! No pre-order XSEED? Y tho? Day One purchase for me, though, given my love for its sequel, Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection. The graphical style looks even MORE charming, the characters look even funnier, and XSEED are really going the extra mile to integrate and in some cases even improve on the little mini games and apps within the game. Buy this. Do eet. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Steam)
Yes, I know, NISA dun goofed with this, particularly when it comes to the PC release, but even they can't ruin what looks like another grand action RPG from Falcom - right? I loved Ys VII and what I played of Ys Origin, so NISA's fuckery hasn't killed my hype for this game just yet.
The Wolf Among Us: Season 2 (PC?)
I don't know much about this, but what I DO know is that I absolutely adored the first season of The Wolf Among Us (and not only because Mr Bigby Wolf is pretty hawt). The first season brilliantly adapted the characters of Fabletown and replicated the vibe of the half fairytale, half urbanised city in game form pretty much perfectly,while giving alternately tragic and hilarious backstory to Bigby and Snow White, amongst many other characters.
This was pretty much my jumping off point into the darkly weird and wonderful SMT franchise when it originally released for the Nintendo DS, and goodness what a jumping point! Sure, the integration of the alignment system into the battle system was kind of wacky (and a smidge unfair), and the difficulty was often cheap, but the story was a provocative look into the worst excesses of the human psyche, manifested as various surreal dungeons, and filled with the shocking,often gory moments that have become a hallmark of the SMT games. It is unfortunate, not to mention absurd, that Atlus has refused to provide an English dub for a game with characters of all nationalities and ethnicities, but it is hardly a deal breaker, and the extras - touched up graphics, a new route, a new character, a new dungeon, and new difficulties - make this pretty much an irresistible proposition for a JRPG whore such as myself.
Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition (Steam)
As controversial as the original release of this game was, Hajime Tabata and his team at Square-Enix do deserve credit for striving to expand on both the narrative and the game mechanics. The game also has some top-tier husbando material in the form of Ignis and Gladiolus, what can I say? I'm looking forward to experiencing this in glorious HD, remastered lighting and effects and all - no 4K for me thanks, 100 GB is going to be killer on both my HDD and internet connection, never mind 155 GB! Whether it is ultimately deemed as an abject failure or a legendary opus magnum by critical and popular consensus, one thing still remains true - a mainline Final Fantasy game is not to be ignored.
As of late, the PC market for JRPGs has picked up considerably, with the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy and X/X-2 HD remasters expanding it even further. However, there are still some glaring gaps in the JRPG library on PC. I will be listing a few, and giving my reasons for doing so.
Final Fantasy - this is probably the most obvious candidate, and yet for some reason, Square-Enix STILL hasn't gotten around to porting this milestone JRPG over to PC. Granted, it has not aged well, but that's all the more reason for a nice HD remaster in the vein of Final Fantasy IV The Complete Collection (yes, I know that's also not on PC!).
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King - now you may be asking, why not Dragon Quest I? Well, firstly, the Dragon Quest series is still relatively niche, and secondly, DQVIII is one of the best received and best-selling DQ titles in the entire series, so it makes too much sense for SE to bring it over, particularly as they have proven more than capable of doing HD remasters - just look at the grand job they did with FFX/FFX-2 HD Remaster!
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl - yes, yes I KNOW, this is a dual screen game! But just think about it - the 3DS is dying a slow, drawn-out death, and Nintendo has no plans for a dual-screen successor. Where else is the series going to go? Plus, dual monitor setups are a thing, so theoretically, one screen could be devoted to the first-person view, and another, perhaps a touch screen, could be used for the map! Alternatively, the map could be relegated to a (free) phone or tablet app. Just think of all the Wizardry and Might & Magic fans chomping at the bit to play this gem!
Persona 5 - another obvious choice, I know, but probably the most commercially viable, due to the fact that it was released a mere four months ago, and the PS4 version probably wouldn't be a massive hassle. The sheer amount of buzz in the emulation community surrounding this game should be enough of a clue of the thirst for this game to ATLUS, who seem determined to keep their heads buried in the sand.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - with the sequel coming out in less than a year, why not do a cheap and dirty port to keep fans' thirst temporarily sated? This JRPG has its issues, mostly with the combat, but it is still an incredibly charming and sweet game that deserves a larger audience.
So, that's my wishlist! Do you know any console-exclusive JRPGs that you would love to see PC ports for? Comment below with your thoughts!
There is an almost overwhelming abundance of JRPGs with great narratives out there, but I'm going to list off five really memorable/worthwhile ones (in no particular order):
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
A modern classic, with cheerful, jazzy music, and a narrative that burns slowly at the start, but soon builds up the tension and drama. It also has enough difficulty options (e.g. retry offset) for players of all skill levels. Buy it from GOG.com
Shin Megami Tensei IV
A dark, somewhat brutal game, but with a fascinating, choice driven narrative of Law, Chaos and Neutrality, set against a post-apocalyptic background, and buttressed with addictive demon negotiation and fusion mechanics. Buy it from the Nintendo eShop
Final Fantasy X
A somewhat divisive installment in the Final Fantasy series, perhaps, due to its linearity and occasionally cringeworthy acting, but still a very worthwhile JRPG experience, with a deep Sphere Grid system for character customisation, and an engaging narrative centred around faith, doubt, and duty. Get it from the PlayStation Store (Note: US PlayStation Store link provided)
Persona 3 Portable
A slightly stripped down, but still very worthwhile, PSP port of Persona 3, with refined game mechanics and the option of playing as a female main character, which opens up new Social Links. A narrative themed around facing death and making the most of life is enhanced by compelling characters and a sense of urgency. This article goes into the game's narrative a bit further.Buy it from the PlayStation Store
Costume Quest
Technically not a JRPG in terms of its origins, but certainly in terms of its battle mechanics and overworld. Cute and charming as all getout (how can you not love those costumes?), and doesn't take itself seriously at all. Plus, collecting all the Creepy Treats cards is a rabbit hole into addiction. Buy it from GOG.com
Feel free to comment below - give your thoughts on my choices, or even your picks for great JRPGs.
