SpaceMadness: Some JRPGs may have fairly large maps, but an open world structure is a rarity.
Dragon's Dogma is one of the few exceptions. In a way, it's an attempt at a Western-style action-RPG by a Japanese developer. At the beginning, you can create your character and that of a AI-controlled follower, their size/weight having in impact on their abilities like carrying capacity, stamina etc. There are nine classes to choose (3 for your follower), and you can change them whenever you visit a certain inn. It falls flat when it comes to story and character interaction. The strong points are the real-time combat, and freedom to explore. Unfortunately, the GOG version has not been updated with the latest patch, so may have to look into other platforms if that is important to you.
Developed in Germany, but
CrossCode takes a inspiration from a number Japense JPRGs and action-adventure games, including Alundra with it's many puzzles and vertically of level designs. There is a pretty large skill tree (most JRPGs are rigid when it comes to character builds) to build the protagonist in a number of ways. The game can challenging, and there is difficulty slider for puzzles and (real-time) combat, for people who are struggling.
I deeply appreciate this response (and all of the responses here). I've heard of Dragon's Dogma, I guess I should check it out! I'll also take a look at CrossCode. Thanks a million!
SpaceMadness: Some JRPGs may have fairly large maps, but an open world structure is a rarity.
Dragon's Dogma is one of the few exceptions. In a way, it's an attempt at a Western-style action-RPG by a Japanese developer. At the beginning, you can create your character and that of a AI-controlled follower, their size/weight having in impact on their abilities like carrying capacity, stamina etc. There are nine classes to choose (3 for your follower), and you can change them whenever you visit a certain inn. It falls flat when it comes to story and character interaction. The strong points are the real-time combat, and freedom to explore. Unfortunately, the GOG version has not been updated with the latest patch, so may have to look into other platforms if that is important to you.
Developed in Germany, but
CrossCode takes a inspiration from a number Japense JPRGs and action-adventure games, including Alundra with it's many puzzles and vertically of level designs. There is a pretty large skill tree (most JRPGs are rigid when it comes to character builds) to build the protagonist in a number of ways. The game can challenging, and there is difficulty slider for puzzles and (real-time) combat, for people who are struggling.
I deeply appreciate this response (and all of the responses here). I've heard of Dragon's Dogma, I guess I should check it out! I'll also take a look at CrossCode. Thanks a million!
AnimalMother117: Not on GOG, but Xenoblade X is pretty quintessential open world gameplay. Unfortunately, I have such an extreme love/hate relationship with the game that I have difficulty recommending it.
Xenoblade 1 is absolutely amazing to me, especially the soundtrack. Also not on GOG.
Alliance Alive is on GOG, love that game. I've played Bravely Default and Radiant Historia and I liked AA more. The story was more fun, I liked the battles more, the story had more respect for the player than Bravely Default. Turn based game with an ensemble cast.
I played Ys: Ark of Napishtim on the PS2, it plays kinda like an ARPG. (Probably does not translate to DIablo controls on the PC, haven't played it there.) I did not think it was particularly special in any way, but it was perfectly serviceable.
I tried both Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel, unfortunately, they were just not games I can love. If I were to recommend trying one though, it would be Trails in the Sky, I liked that one a little more in the music and battles departments, also turn based games.
Thank you, I'll definitely check those out! I've been hearing a lot of people recommend Trails in the Sky so that's one of the first ones I might check out!
SpaceMadness: Some JRPGs may have fairly large maps, but an open world structure is a rarity
dtgreene: I can think of a few older ones:
* On the NES, there's the early Dragon Quest games. 1 is open world throughout (though you won't be able to get very far with your starting level and equipment), while 2-4 and 6 have major open world sections at some point in the game. Also, Final Fantasy 2 allows you to explore most of the world, but you generally can't go into dungeons before the story sends you there.
* On the Super Famicom, there's the Romancing SaGa series, which is open world with something resembling enemy level scaling. Also, Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger, and to a lesser extent Final Fantasy 5, eventually get to a point where the linear storyline ends (except for a final dungeon), but there's an enormous amount of side quests that you're expected to do before the final dungeon.
* SaGa Frontier (PS1) and (to my understanding) Unlimited SaGa (PS2) may also be open world, depending on the character you choose and the point you've reached in the game. (Play SaGa Frontier as Lute, and it's very possible that you could end up in the final dungeon without realizing that, and with just 2 weak characters who don't have a chance against the final boss.)
AnimalMother117: Alliance Alive is on GOG, love that game. I've played Bravely Default and Radiant Historia and I liked AA more. The story was more fun, I liked the battles more, the story had more respect for the player than Bravely Default. Turn based game with an ensemble cast.
dtgreene: Some things to note about this game:
* Only the battles are turn based. Outside of battle, monsters will move in real time, and if one collides with you, a battle will start. (There's the possibility of chain battles, if there's other enemies close to the one that collided with you.)
* The growth system is SaGa-like, with technique sparking (called Awakening here), and not using the experience points and levels that most RPG players are accustomed to.
* Structurally, this game feels more like a traditional JRPG, complete with a world map, and even vehicles that allow you to explore it.
* There's also the fact that, after a certain point, you can recruit NPCs into the guilds; there are 5 guilds, and each NPC can be sent to 3 of them (though of course you have to choose 1 of the 3).
* There is an insta-fail stealth section that, it turns out, isn't actually mandatory. If you do not do it, there will be more enemies in the next part, but it turns out that losing a battle there is not a game over, and will instead allow you to skip straight to the boss.
AnimalMother117: I played Ys: Ark of Napishtim on the PS2, it plays kinda like an ARPG. (Probably does not translate to DIablo controls on the PC, haven't played it there.) I did not think it was particularly special in any way, but it was perfectly serviceable.
dtgreene: I think it's best to treat the Ys games as action games that have a few RPG elements in them, rather than the other way around. Boss fights, for example, consist of learning enemy patterns and dodging them, rather than the RPG style of stat boosting and health management (using healing abilities when needed). In fact, healing in some of the Ys games is limited to consumable items (or immediate pick-ups, which you can't save for later), and some of them don't even have that in boss fights.
The added tidbits are sincerely appreciated, thank you!
StingingVelvet: As someone really into Western RPGs who doesn't like JRPGs much I can tell you the ones I have enjoyed:
Final Fantasy 6: Cool setting, story with some cool themes despite some childish writing, not much anime.
Final Fantasy 7-9: Mostly interactive stories, but with a more open ended feel toward the end. There's just something about the presentation of these I like a lot, and they never quite hit that tone again for my money (though I haven't played 15). Also not annoying anime.
Ni No Kuni: Just beautiful and with some nice gameplay aspects, kind of anime but in a more fantasy style befitting the movies that inspired it.
I've been meaning to check out some FF games so I'll check out 6 through 9 first, thank you! I've also heard of Ni No Kuni but haven't really looked into it, I'll check it out!
