Summary
Sonyhas not been dabbling as much into the JRPG genreas it used to with the earlier incarnations of the PlayStation. There are plenty of amazing JRPGs around, with a decent number released in recent years — but some of the best ones published by Sony will have players needing to check out some older titles.
Even though a game may be old, it doesn’t mean it is not worth playing. Games that left a mark in players' hearts are prime candidates for remakes, and those that don’t get them will always be worth revisiting for the nostalgia value — and some of them might give new gamers experiences they have never known.
White Knight Chroniclesgot a lot of criticism for its multiplayer elements. It received mixed reviews, and many players referred to it as a bad game. However, once these opinions are stripped away, what’s left is actually a solid JRPG experience.
The gameplay uses a timer that counts down to performing actions and features a mechanic where one of the playable characters, Leonard, transforms into a colossal White Knight. Players can also create their own village filled with characters they will be meeting during their travels. Releasing back on the PS3does make the game feel dated by today’s standards — with it in need of some quality-of-life improvements. However, at the time, it was a game well worth playing.
The Legend of Dragoonis seen by many players as one of the best JRPG experiences on the original PS1.This game features stunning lighting effects and background art, a classic JRPG-style story to enjoy, and one of the most engaging implementations of turn-based combat.
While the game is turn-based, there are prompts to hit once the attack is declared. Hitting every one of these prompts ensures players apply the most damage possible to that attack. This is represented by a thin blue square, making it harder to hit than modern quick-time events. The game features a slightly higher than desirable difficulty, a high encounter rate, and limits the number of items players may have. The game does let players know how close a random encounter is to triggering, allowing them to attempt to navigate away before it begins. Players can bust out an extremely powerful Dragoon form to always get a leg up if they feel an encounter is too daunting for their base party’s abilities — butplayers aren’t the only ones with multiple forms.
While the originalSaGa Frontierwas published by Sony, the remaster was handled by Square Enix. The game gives players several main characters, each with their own story. Fans will also play through quests that are featured in some of the other characters' stories, as they are all canonical in the game world’s setting. Players will also need to make their way through each character’s story to get the final one.
As players progress through the game and win battles, they will acquire new techniques, with some being obtained after learning several others first. The remastered version added additional features to the game, including numerous new characters. This franchise started back in 1989 and still has somemodern releases for fansto enjoy.
Wild Arms 3has some unique visuals thanks to its choices in how it stylizes everythingwith a Western motif— similar to how thePersonagames are so flashy. The game has a charming story, and its world setting will be well worth playing for those looking to sink their teeth into something they have not seen before.
The game uses a resource called Force Points, which will accumulate as characters deal and take damage. This will let them perform powerful force attacks. This makes the game have a higher focus on resource management than what JRPG players might be used to, but it also helps to give the game its own identity.
Rogue Galaxywas released on the PS2and has everything a JRPG enthusiast could ask for. The gameprovides an action combat system, but the player can stop time to select items, change their equipment, or select a powerful ability. The game is not a short affair, and players will have the freedom to tackle different parts of the main story in the order of their choice.
Each party member has a lot of personality, and the story is exceptional. This title is also playable on the PS4and PS5through the PlayStation Store, meaning anyone looking for a solid JRPG to sink their teeth into can give it a shot.
Arguably one of the most beloved JRPGs in PlayStationhistory isFinal Fantasy 7.It is no surprise that this title breaks the barrier to a review above 90. Its world setting, combat,truly outstanding story, and characters left a mark on all who played it. The game has spawned spin-offs, remakes, and even a feature-length film.
This is the crown jewel of JRPGs published by Sony, and something players can expect to see referenced and revisited for the foreseeable future.
