Summary
Japanese role-playing games have become all the rage in modern times. Players love the idea of embarking on an epic adventure with a group of close friends, as theytackle numerous adversariesthat threaten the safety of the whole world. These adventures usually have humble beginnings where players fight weak monsters and simple enemies before the combat system expands. Eventually, players develop their abilities and use some effective strategies to show enemies who’s boss.
As a result, some JRPGs can be a bit tough for players who don’t want to spend too much time learning the battle system or grinding to increase their party’s level. This makes most games in the genre pretty daunting to get into. With that in mind, it’s great for some JRPGs to let players focus on the story without getting players too confused with the details of the stories or gameplay. As long as players stick to the path of the main story, these games offer mindless action to get lost in.
Final Fantasy 15faced a ton of problems during its arduous development process. Most people were surprised that this game actually received a release date after being rebranded and reworked numerous times. While the incomplete story and lack ofan engrossing open worldmay be justifiable complaints, players who want to play a JRPG with spectacular real-time action combat will findFinal Fantasy 15to be right up their alley.
A lot of work and effort has been put into the animations of this game, which is apparent from the moment players control Noctis and see a walk cycle more lifelike than Clive’s inFinal Fantasy 16. The combat is ridiculously easy, but players won’t mind as long as they warp around and take out enemies in style. These cathartic battles can be mindless after a point, but players won’t mind as long as they slice and dice their enemies while casting some powerful magic.
Most people associate JRPGs with lengthy stories that can take ages to complete, and this assumption is justified given the length of some of the genre’s best games. So, it’s always nice for players tohappen upon a JRPGthat takes players on a fun adventure without even crossing the 10-hour mark. Such is the case withParasite Eve, a game where players control a single character in a simple yet fun combat system that combines elements of turn-based and real-time combat.
Moving around to avoid attacks can feel finicky at points, butParasite Evemakes this combat system work courtesy of a simple progression curve. Aya slowly gains access to abilities that use her Parasite Energy to heal herself, debilitate enemies, or harm them directly. It’s a short and sweet game that is full to the brim with relentless set-pieces that are paced immaculately. The story details surrounding mutated mitochondria are simple enough to understand on a surface level without making things feel too complicated.
It takes some serious courage for a series to move away from a core combat loop that worked wonders and shift to a turn-based structure instead. This is precisely whatYakuzadid with a brand-new entry that introduced a new protagonist. Ichiban loves role-playing games to the point where he envisions most battles unfolding in such a manner. It should make no sense, butYakuza: Like a Dragonis quirky enough for fans to buy into this concept.
The over-the-top action and wacky shenanigans that Ichiban can engage with makeYakuza: Like a Dragonone of the freshest titles in the series. The turn-based combat moves at a frenetic pace and has its fair share of problems, but most players will find it easy to overlook these issues once they see the incredible action unfolding on screen. This game turns the most mundane actions around into something extraordinary.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchis an excellent game with a Ghibli-esque vibe and memorable characters, coupled with a story that elevates it to new heights. The combat was the only aspect of the game that players considered to be a mixed bag, so it was nice to see the sequel improve in this department.Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdommay have lost a lot of charm from its predecessor, but players who care about action-packed gameplay will find the sequel to be a perfect fit.
Players didn’t have to worry abouttheir party members being downed too often. The combat felt satisfying without being too complicated, and powerful attacks could be unleashed without any unwanted friendly fire. The first game may have more going for it, but players who want to enjoy a mindless action game will loveRevenant Kingdom.
TheYsseries is known for featuring fun real-time combat that’s engaging without being overly complicated. The eighth game in the series features its fair share of gameplay strengths, making it worth checking out for players who want to wallop their foes to kingdom come without worrying about the right strategy.
Players do need to switch up their damage type from time to time to target the weaknesses of certain foes, but this is far from a headache and adds to the variety of the game’s combat. With multiple playable characters who sport unique playstyles, rewards for perfect parries or dodges, and a decent crafting system, it’s easy to see why playersseeking out a simple action JRPGwill loveYs 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana.
