GamesJRPGJapanese solo dev behind surprise Steam mega-hit weighs in on the term JRPG: “This is a term I heard for the first time since it’s not used in Japan"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesJRPGJapanese solo dev behind surprise Steam mega-hit weighs in on the term JRPG: “This is a term I heard for the first time since it’s not used in Japan"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Keizo)
The past year or so has seen an uptick in discussion about the accuracy, validity, and appropriateness of the term JRPG, commonly used primarily among English-speaking audiences as a shorthand for themes and design sensibilities common to, and initially incubated within, RPGs made in Japan.
The term JRPG can be traced back to the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but today encompasses turn-based games likePersona 3 ReloadorLike A Dragon: Infinite Wealthas well as action games like Tales of Arise orFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, extending beyond an anime aesthetic or specific combat styles. Millions and millions of people seek out JRPGs looking for a specific experience, and it seems like every year the term’s umbrella gets wider.
Final Fantasy 14 boss Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshidaisn’t a fan of the termand once considered it “discriminatory.” In a comment (via translator) last year, he explained that “we don’t go into them thinking that we’re going to be creating JRPGs, we just go into them thinking we’re going to create RPGs.”
Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiyais generally warmer on JRPG, and argued that Japanese developers should be proud of it. “It’s more the unique differences in our culture and how our influences affect our creativity,” he said, “the fact that Japanese creators have this unique sense when we do create content.”
Final Fantasy veterans Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase, two production leads on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,were split, with Nomura saying he’s “not too keen” on it.
“When we started doing interviews for the games that I started making, no one used that term – they just called them RPGs,” he toldThe Guardian. “And then at some point – I can’t remember exactly when – people started referring to them as JRPGs. And I’m not really sure what the intent behind that is. It just always felt a bit off to me, and a bit weird. I never really understood it – or why it’s needed.
Kitase, meanwhile, doesn’t see it as problematic and veers closer to Kamiya’s reading. “If [JRPG] is only used in terms of differentiating – maybe showing off a slightly different approach to games or a unique flavor in terms of Japanese-made games – I’m absolutely fine with that,” he said.
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