Why do some people call this game a JRPG?

[Huntson]

This game has been amazing, but I see some people calling it a JRPG. As far as I understand. A JRPG is usually given to game when it is either made in Japan, or has an anime art style.

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by Kapika96:

Originally posted by 0wnz0r:

theres a reason those games r more widely considered crpgs

Yeah. But you get my point though, right?

Turn based doesn't automatically mean JRPG. And turn based JRPGs aren't more "traditional" than western turn based RPGs either.

bro you're arguing with people who knows the difference the common man doesn't which is the entire point.

[ArmedTerror]

As a bunch of other people have pointed out, it's really just a way to classify a game's genre based on the type of gameplay that is in the game. I would definitely say this game is like a cross between JRPG's/Souls-like style of gameplay. No, I am not saying this game is a souls-like (it's not), but it borrows heavily from the mechanics in that genre.

[ValDeez]

You should go and play an JRPG.

Also, the whole combat mechanic is 1:1 JRPG combat with added bells and whistles.

[Tiasmoon]

Originally posted by Lionheartwolf:

Man, I never thought I'd see the day where Japan calls JRPG a deragatory term and French people call their games JRPGs. As much as I appreciate irony, I also wouldn't want to talk to those same people about the difference between Sparkling White Wine, and Champaign...

We just don't know what to do with it anymore, I kinda miss the days when people would argue it by saying, "you just know it when you see it."

This game isn't a JRPG, it's fine to pay homage to something, but it's about as much of a JRPG as Peppa Pig is an Anime.

If people in Japan think jrpg is a deragatory term they have been gaslighted by someone and conned into spreading that false believe. Its always been a term of respect.

[Hurricane]

It's true that JRPG used to imply "Japanese", because that's where the genre originated.
But that was back in the 80ies and 90ies.

Forgetting this game is French, it feels like a JRPG.

Key Differences Between JRPGs and occidental RPGs

Art Style

JRPG: Anime-inspired, colorful, stylized
RPG: Realistic, gritty, grounded designs

Storytelling

JRPG: Linear stories, heavily character-driven
RPG: Open-ended, player-driven with branching paths

Combat Systems

JRPG: Turn-based, menu-driven, or hybrid systems
RPG: Real-time action or tactical pause combat

Character Focus

JRPG: Predefined protagonists with personal story arcs
RPG: Create-your-own character, story revolves around your choices

World Design

JRPG: Segmented areas with story progression
RPG: Open worlds emphasizing exploration and freedom

Customization

JRPG: Limited customization; set classes and roles
RPG: Extensive character creation and skill trees

Moral Choices

JRPG: Often binary (good vs evil) or predetermined outcomes
RPG: Emphasis on moral ambiguity and meaningful choices

Examples

JRPGs: Final Fantasy, Persona, Tales of Arise, Dragon Quest
RPGs: The Witcher, Skyrim, Mass Effect, Baldur’s Gate 3


As you can see, the "anime style" is the only part where it may not be a match.

[Yume]

The term "jRPG" has never been meant to convey the same kind of "limitation" that "anime" does, hence the genre does include titles made outside of Japan.

[Hurricane]

Originally posted by Yume:

The term "jRPG" has never been meant to convey the same kind of "limitation" that "anime" does, hence the genre does include titles made outside of Japan.

"anime" is actually the French word "animé" (ah-nee-may) which is a short for "dessin animé" meaning "animated picture".
It's a generic term.

It's only around the mid 90ies, early 2000 that the word became synonymous with Japanese animation.

I suppose the fact that "animé" and アニメ sound almost exactly the same helped the association. (A lot of French and Japanese phonems sound exactly the same.)

JRPG on another hand originally meant it was a product from Japan. It only became the denomination of a game genre later.

[Seska Larafey]

i have many Deja-vu's of old JRPGS:

- The "Tales of" Series. The Camp Talks and Interactions
- Bravery Default Fighting Style
- Persona inspired GUI
- Final Fantasy X/10 Vibes

Also these Vibes give me the "JRPG" Emotion. But yeah. This is now more an FRPG.

Très bien réalisé

I assume this is a "Love Letter to JRPG's"

What could be next? some "Valerian und Veronique" Style/Vibe Game? But let them enjoy the moment, the Present and then they should think about the Future

p.s. They could sent one "Special Copy" to Larian's CEO. As a Gift. Just saying.

[Windfire]

Because it takes all the codes of JRPGs.

[F0RESK1N]

Originally posted by Hurricane:

It's true that JRPG used to imply "Japanese", because that's where the genre originated.
But that was back in the 80ies and 90ies.

Forgetting this game is French, it feels like a JRPG.

Key Differences Between JRPGs and occidental RPGs

Art Style

JRPG: Anime-inspired, colorful, stylized
RPG: Realistic, gritty, grounded designs

Storytelling

JRPG: Linear stories, heavily character-driven
RPG: Open-ended, player-driven with branching paths

Combat Systems

JRPG: Turn-based, menu-driven, or hybrid systems
RPG: Real-time action or tactical pause combat

Character Focus

JRPG: Predefined protagonists with personal story arcs
RPG: Create-your-own character, story revolves around your choices

World Design

JRPG: Segmented areas with story progression
RPG: Open worlds emphasizing exploration and freedom

Customization

JRPG: Limited customization; set classes and roles
RPG: Extensive character creation and skill trees

Moral Choices

JRPG: Often binary (good vs evil) or predetermined outcomes
RPG: Emphasis on moral ambiguity and meaningful choices

Examples

JRPGs: Final Fantasy, Persona, Tales of Arise, Dragon Quest
RPGs: The Witcher, Skyrim, Mass Effect, Baldur’s Gate 3


As you can see, the "anime style" is the only part where it may not be a match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw8nByS33To

[Ad Hominem]

It's a FRPG.

Whatever you want to call it, I'm digging it

[dathip]

Originally posted by Kapika96:

It's a genre. Country of origin/art style don't matter. The mechanics, story, characters etc. are what makes it a JRPG.

What about the The mechanics, story, characters make something a jrpg? Curious because I hear people calling games like dragons dogma 1 and 2 jrpgs despite having mechanics mostly from the west a jrpg. So their is some inconsistency.

[Meewec]

Originally posted by dathip:

Originally posted by Kapika96:

It's a genre. Country of origin/art style don't matter. The mechanics, story, characters etc. are what makes it a JRPG.

What about the The mechanics, story, characters make something a jrpg? Curious because I hear people calling games like dragons dogma 1 and 2 jrpgs despite having mechanics mostly from the west a jrpg. So their is some inconsistency.

my brain has always split things into jrpg and action rpg categories with a very fuzzy line dividing them

[Aris]

Originally posted by dathip:

Originally posted by Kapika96:

It's a genre. Country of origin/art style don't matter. The mechanics, story, characters etc. are what makes it a JRPG.

What about the The mechanics, story, characters make something a jrpg? Curious because I hear people calling games like dragons dogma 1 and 2 jrpgs despite having mechanics mostly from the west a jrpg. So their is some inconsistency.

I've never seen anyone call Dragon's Dogma JRPG. It's a similar case to Dark Souls: a japanese studio trying to make a WRPG. They're WRPGs.

[Nokturnal]

Originally posted by dathip:

Originally posted by Kapika96:

It's a genre. Country of origin/art style don't matter. The mechanics, story, characters etc. are what makes it a JRPG.

What about the The mechanics, story, characters make something a jrpg? Curious because I hear people calling games like dragons dogma 1 and 2 jrpgs despite having mechanics mostly from the west a jrpg. So their is some inconsistency.

Dragon's Dogma is a hybrid RPG, people wouldn't be wrong in calling it a JRPG as it's a Japanese made RPG. It's a genre, so a game doesn't have to tick off every single box to fit in that genre, just like with music, not every Metal band is going to be the same or Alternative music can sound really different too.

That said though, JRPGs are typically turn based, party RPGs, lots of anime tropes, "Killing gods with the power of friendship" is usually the story, main story is usually linear but with a lot of optional harder content for you to grind.

RPGs themselves encompass a lot of other genres into one.

-There's of course JRPGS (Most Final Fantasies, Tales series, Xenoblade and Persona series)

-There's CRPGs (Baldur's Gate series, Rogue Trader, Tyranny etc) standing for just computer RPG, but generally referring to a western top-down RPG where you build your own party, but still having turn based combat or real time with pause.

-There's also ARPGs, standing for Action RPGS. which can encompass a lot of different variety of games, anything from the Witcher to Diablo can be considered an ARPG. Typically they have real time combat, but that doesn't mean it's super in depth real time combat, sometimes it's just spamming 1 button over and over. Story in ARPGs can be almost non-existent or the entire point of the game. It's one of those genres where the games can be really different main factor is just real time combat and typically top down view.

Reason people distinguish JRPGs from CRPGs and ARPGs is besides being made in Japan is just the style, story, etc.