My Top 10 JRPGs


#10. Kingdom Hearts
Score: 8 out of 10 - Great
Console: Playstation 2  Released: 03/28/2002

Pros:
+Engaging and exciting battle system.
+Great voice acting.
+Well executed meshing of original story with familiar Disney stories.
+A cast of popular Disney and Final Fantasy characters.
+Great music.
+Large variety of character visuals and weapons.
+Fun easter eggs, cameos, and sidequests.
-Non-linear gameplay.

Cons:
-Disney characters can take away from seriousness of game.
-Sometimes difficult to figure out where to go.
-Gummi ship customization can get tedious.

#9. Golden Sun
Score: 8 out of 10 - Great
Console: Game Boy Advance  Released: 11/11/2001

Pros:
+Engaging story.
+A cast of interesting and likable characters.
+Djinn are cool and make battles more exciting.
+Executes JRPG cliches in a good way.

Cons:
-Turn based battle system can get tedious.
-Random encounters can get annoying.

#8. Final Fantasy Crisis Core
Score: 8 out of 10 - Great
Console: Playstation Portable  Released: 03/24/2008

Pros:
+A cast of very likable characters.
+Many recognizable faces and elements for fans of Final Fantasy VII.
+Awesome cut scenes.
+Provides a lot of insight into Final Fantasy VII.

Cons:
-Very linear gameplay.
-Battle system based on slots is unique but disruptive.
-Sidequests can become tedious.

#7. Harvest Moon
9 out of 10 - Amazing
Console: Super Nintendo Entertainment System  Released: 08/09/1996

Pros:
+Very unique farm-life theme.
+Changing seasons and weather.
+Large variety of crops and livestock.
+Fun dating-sim element with marriage and child
+Useful upgrades for tools.

Cons:
-Extremely repetitive gameplay.
-Can't water the crop in the middle of 3x3 squares.

#6. Pokemon Red & Blue
Score: 9 out of 10 - Amazing
Console: Game Boy  Released: 09/28/1998

Pros:
+Addictive gameplay with a large number of catchable pokemon.
+Choice of three starter pokemon.
+Legendary pokemon to find and capture.
+Link battle capabilities and trade capabilities.

Cons:
-Not all pokemon are capturable without trading between versions.
-Some pokemon require trading to evolve.
-Very linear gameplay.

#5. Seiken Densetsu 3
Score: 9 out of 10 - Amazing
Console: Super Nintendo Entertainment System  Released: 09/30/1995

Pros:
+Mix and match from a cast of 6 playable characters.
+Each character has a background and a story that intertwines with the rest.
+Fun battle system with action RPG and JRPG elements.
+Great class change system with light/dark pathways.
+Great music.
+Large variety of interesting environments.
+Non-linear storyline.

Cons:
-Limited character dialogue.
-Must revisit some environments multiple times.

#4. Riviera: The Promised Land
Score: 9 out of 10 - Amazing
Console: Game Boy Advance  06/28/2005

Pros:
+Unique battle system.
+Eye-catching character design.
+Exciting boss battles.
+Great voice acting in English or original Japanese (PSP version only).
+Fun dating-sim element with multiple endings.

Cons:
-Extremely linear storyline.
-Characters fall into typical stereotypes.
-Limited number of usable items in battle.
-Limited inventory space.

#3.  Summon Night Swordcraft Story
Score: 9 out of 10 - Amazing
Console: Game Boy Advance  Released: 07/26/2006

Pros:
+Fun battle system.
+Player controlled stat distribution.
+Large variety of craftable weapons.
+Choice between male and female lead.
+Choice between 4 guardian beasts.
+Fun dating-sim element with multiple endings.
+Extra content after the end.

Cons:
-Generic story.
-Limited number of environments to explore.

#2. Grandia II
Score: 10 out of 10 - Masterpiece
Console: Dreamcast  Released: 12/05/2000

Pros:
+Engaging battle system.
+Engaging story.
+Great music.
+Lovable characters.
+Engaging and fun dialogue.
+Good voice acting.
+Fun dating-sim element.

Cons:
-Unsatisfying ending.

#1. Tales of the Abyss
Score: 10 out of 10 - Masterpiece
Console: PS2  Released: 02/14/2012

Pros:
+Exciting battle system.
+Engaging story.
+Cool bosses.
+Monster encounters visible on screen.
+Great anime cut-scenes.
+Good voice acting.
+Incentives for replaying the game.
+Satisfying ending.

Cons:
-Initially unlikable main character.
-Slow story progression.
-Semi-long loading times.

*Honorable Mentions: 
Skies of Arcadia, Dual Orb II, Secret of Mana, Tales of Phantasia, Fire Emblem.

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