Japanese Role-Playing Games That NEED PC Ports

Disclaimer: I'm not a PC Master Race douchebag.

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.

1. 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!).
2. 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!
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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!

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Sunday's Child: Gods and Religion in Games

A simple Norse village at the start of Black & White.

Hello, all you "bonnie and blithe and good and gay" Sunday's Children! Today I will be examining what I know is a sensitive topic for many - gods and religion - within the context of two video games.

Black & White - this is probably one of the more popular "god games", as it was developed by a studio that was headed by the (in)famous Peter Molyneux, one of the visionaries behind gems like Theme Hospital and Populous. This game literally casts you in the role of an all-seeing deity that aims to become more powerful by amassing worshippers, both non-believers and those of rival gods alike. You also have your very own gigantic creature, to use or abuse as you wish. This is a fairly simplistic representation of gods and religion, as no fictional or real religions are ever named in-game, and you can't, for example, set rules and punishments for your worshippers or creature to abide by. Still, the Artificial Intelligence of your creature is impressively versatile and malleable, as is the degree to which you physically shape the world that you hover over.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - this is a Japanese role-playing game in which you play the "God Slayer", literally someone that can kill gods. How this happens I will leave a secret, so as not to spoil the game for anyone. Along your merry path of myth murdering, you encounter various religious sects and political groups. The three main factions are Law, Neutral, Chaos, and the Divine Powers, aka one of the main antagonists of the game, because they seek to deliver everyone's souls into a recreated universe, even though this would result in billions of deaths. Interestingly enough, you cannot actually side with the Divine Powers, although you can take what is called the Massacre route, which basically allows them to achieve their goal and positions you as the "god" of the new universe. The game comprehensively covers real world religions, mythological beings and deities from all corners of the world in a generally neutral and reasonably accurate manner. What is disappointing is that it never really delves deeply into matters of personal faith, at least not until you face the TRUE final boss. The Law faction, led by the archangel Merkabah, also gets kind of shafted in their depiction, as they are shown to be arrogant and callous, without a shred of compassion for humanity. This makes them seem like rather one-dimensional, unsympathetic enemies. The Divine Powers, especially Krishna - their leader - get a much fairer shake. Krishna is a genuinely devious and likeable antagonist with a fabulous sense of style. I mean, just look at this gorgeous son of a b***:

Hell, even the Chaos faction, led by Lucifer, are easier to sympathise with, as they stand up to the tyrannical ways of the Law faction, even if their philosophy of the strong running roughshod over the weak is somewhat questionable. However, that relatively minor complaint doesn't shadow the fact that, overall, this game will at the very least educate you about the various religions and mythologies that exist, and will hopefully inspire you to re-examine what you believe in. It is proof that religion and gods CAN be depicted within the context of the videogame in thought-provoking and challenging ways.

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Tuesday's Child: "Grace" in Japanese Games

It is said that Tuesday's child is full of grace. Therefore I will take that saying and look at how this "grace" is depicted in Japanese video games, i.e. the social and cultural etiquette and customs.

A bath house scene from Tales of Zestiria.

1. Public bathing - public baths are segregated by gender in Japan, and games such as Tales of Zestiria often play up public bathing related transgressions for laughs, with the guys in the cast almost always being the ones transgressing, i.e. sneaking a peek at the girls, often resulting in the girls going apeshit and curbstomping the guys.
2. Bowing - this is the most obvious example, and can be seen not only games like Persona 4, which revolves around a (fictional) Japanese town with a blend of rural and modern Japanese culture, but also games like The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, which at first glance is set in a country that is based on an amalgam of Germany, Britain and other European countries, but also has the main protagonists (students) all doing things like rising and bowing at the end of each class.
3. The power of friendship/bonds - trying to go it alone is seen as big no-no in Japanese culture, and this is exemplified in many JRPGs, such as Final Fantasy XV, in which Prompto, Ignis, Gladiolus and Noctis all share an extremely close, brotherly bond with one another, despite not actually being related by blood.
4. Praying for good fortune - it is considered polite in Japanese culture to pray for someone's good fortune and even tell them that you will do so - not necessarily praying to any particular god or for anyone of a particular faith though. This custom often pops up in visual novels such as Cherry Tree High Comedy Club.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd - Spoiler-free Review

Although Joshua and Estelle's story came to a satisfying conclusion in SC, this game effortlessly continues their stories, as well as delving deeper into the stories of Kevin Graham and Ries Argent. It also explores matters of faith, love and regret with a delicacy rarely seen in the realm of games.

💌 I loved:

• The music - some of the best tunes in the Trails series can be found right here, including Cry for Me, Cry for You, and the title screen theme.
• The characters - Kevin is love, Kevin is life. Oh, and Anelace is cool too I guess.
• The combat - this aspect is the most refined and arguably the most challenging out of all the TiTS games, although the turn effects can feel a little unfairly weighted towards your enemies' advantage, even on Easy.
• The story, which has some genuine tears-inducing moments in Renne's Moon Door (not a spoiler!) and the various amusing little moments of banter between your party members, e.g. Olivier and his pervy creeper ways! The party members' and NPCs' constant banging on about the goddess Aidios and how wonderful she is do get a bit grating though - the only people that seem to have any sort of criticism or issue with the church are the villains! What gives?

😕I was ambivalent about:

• The reused areas from FC & SC - although these are justified by the narrative, it can be a little dull to trek through so many dungeons from previous games, particularly when the developers apparently couldn't be bothered to do anything more than reverse the map or add a few glowing barriers. At least these areas don't overstay their welcome (for the most part), and there are a couple of new dungeons, albeit basic ones.

💩I disliked:

• Not being able to change the difficulty mid-game - why tho Falcom? I can understand this sort of nonsense in MMORPGs and other online games, but in a single player game? No. Just no. This is exactly why I stick with Easy mode in all Trails games.
• The overly random nature of the fishing and gambling mini-games - because screw you fishing lady and Gambler Jack. None of them are required to beat the main story though, and they're actually pretty fun when RNGesus isn't screwing you over.

OVERALL: A must-play JRPG for those that liked or even loved TiTS FC & SC, and a shining example of how to do a moving, thoughtful narrative right.

You can buy this game from GOG! Do eet!

Five Awesome Story-Rich JRPGs

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.