A great JRPG is like a fine wine that’s been imported from Japan. The greatest of the genre get better with age and prove their systems to be utterly timeless. Their characters are on par with that of a Greek Tragedy, even if most of their final bosses typically end up becoming insanely over-powered, god-eating beings. However, as time progresses and tastes changeJRPGs have begun to streamlinemuch of the more tedious aspects that have turned some off from them in the past. Take for example the Pokémon series, which in recent years has essentially begun to fast track players through its games.
Looking back toPokémon XandPokémon Yversion players are given a new starter Pokémon at the beginning of the game. Then, later on in the game, another starter from the original trio of Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle is also given to the player. Even later in that same game, the player is given a Lucario, just because. Players can only hold six Pokémon at a time when they go out and about, meaning that the game has essentially given the player half of their lineup. Add in the rampant return of the Exp. Share item in each version of the game since and not only has Game Freak given away Pokémon, but also absolved players of really even having to train them. It makes the game move at a brisk pace, but players are spoiled in the sense that they don’t have to endure the grind of the older games in the series.
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How can olderJRPGs avoid the pitfall of player expectationsand not burn them out with a classic grind? It’s simple; adapt these incredible stories into anime series. Players may not want to take the plunge on an 80-100 hour game, but they certainly wouldn’t mind binging a television series with a reasonable length of 10-13 episodes per season. It’s essentially like how a sculptor works away at a block of marble, removing the unnecessary pieces of the original slab and revealing only the crucial aspects beneath the surface that make it a work of art. Here are the games that would work best with such an adaptation.
Chrono Trigger
As JRPGs go,Chrono Triggeris actually quite short. If one were to rush through the main story of the game it would only take around 20 hours. What a story it is too, blasting through many time periods and featuring robots, wizards, and an epic battle for the very nature of existence.Chrono Triggerdoesn’t need a remake, it’s practically a perfect game. But as an anime series, it could further capitalize upon the art by Akira Toriyama ofDragonballfame and spread itstimeless tale of time travelto entirely new audiences.
Suikoden II
Suikoden II has been referred to by players as something of a JRPG equivalent toGame of Thrones.That’s not to say that the ending is disappointing or divisive, but that there is anepic tale with a large cast of charactersfull of intrigue, magic, and betrayal. The story centers around the invasion of City States by a neighboring Kingdom. Given that it would fit the tone ofGame of Thrones, this would be the ideal property for a team like the one behind Netflix’sCastlevaniato adapt into an anime series.
Grandia
Given that HD remasters of the originalGrandiagames were recently released, now is the optimal time foran anime adaptation of this JRPGseries. Additionally, the main character of the game, Justin, is an unapologetic optimist. This personality and the general nature of the adventure he embarks upon actually would mean that an anime adaptation ofGrandiawould fit perfectly within the Shonen genre. It remains to be seen if sales of the somewhat lesser know franchise would spur such an adaptation, but fans can hope.
Ys (Series)
It may be tough to adapt a game that most people who’ve never heard of it would have trouble saying correctly,theYsseries is still a perfect choicefor an anime series. Pronounced like “ease” but with more of a snake’s hiss than a “z” sound at the end. The action-JRPG series has much in common with something likeFinal Fantasy.It has several numbered entries for fans to enjoy, with each containing its own unique cast of characters and story. Most of the games already have an anime art styling, so an adaptation just feels natural. An anime adaptation could help to bring more of a mainstream audience.
Magical Vacation
This is a game that actually did not make it over to the United States,but is known among Gameboy Advance fansas one of the finest games with a fan-translation around. It features a unique cast of characters in a magic school who go on a class trip to a beach where students from other schools are known to have gone missing in the past. This kind of intrigue and the magic, plus the presence of spirits that the main character has the ability to talk to make this the perfect property for the team behindAvatar: The Last Airbender.
Mother 3
Mother 3is notorious for never having been releasedstateside despite fans screaming at Nintendo for over a decade. There’s a fantastic fan-translation that’s been making the rounds online, but Nintendo still will not release anything official. An anime adaptation would be the perfect way to bring this story to fans while also still not requiring Nintendo to go all out on a remake. The art style of the original game lends itself to anime well, with bright colors and a loveable cast of characters like Caesar the monkey.
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