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The similarities and differences are far and too few. We hear people argue over the styles, games, and the theme’s of JRPG vs WRPG. But at the end of the day we know that we’ll have favorites on both sides.

The Role Playing genre is designed primarily for those who wish to fulfill a sense of escapism, and go on a voyage to a fantastic land such as the wasteland’s of Mul’nir, or the Grand station of Aseteria.

We often find ourselves immersed in the lives of these characters that we either create in our own image, or portray as Preset characters that the game provides. Living out their lives through the campaign, or the MMO experience is our passion.

We only stop to stretch, take a restroom break, or go to the refrigerator to grab another energy drink. We log countless hours hoping to level up to learn a new skill, or fight a new boss in the next area.

And now we are going to delve into further detail of the distinctions between all the Rpg’s, and their strength’s.

Well, yeah. Pretty much, i guess.

JRPG’S
Aside from a few select WRPGs the story of JRPG’S are designed to cater the artistic, and the fanatical fan base. It gives off the perception that the story is working on a much larger scale, and has more to offer, which depending upon what your preference for story or content, may or may not be true.

There are often much bigger battles to be had, and they tend to focus much more on the main story than their western brethren.

The story usually involves saving the world, or a town with much more appeal. It could have the character saving the world from oblivion, or a faction feigning for control of the world. They tend to have a distinct anime aesthetic, and a gaudy selection of customization options.

Some find this a turn off from JRPGs all together, as they opt for the realism of a game such as Elder Scrolls vs. Final Fantasy Vll. They also tend to have more color to their levels, and worlds because of the anime style.

The worlds, cities, and townspeople tend to have a structured look about them, meaning there is no free will amongst the NPC’S or the supporting cast. This is not always the case as some JRPG’S are designed to be a sandboxed style ie. Dragon’s Dogma, White Knight Chronicle’s I-II.

While some JRPG’S are focused upon the main story, other’s offer a plethora of freedom and choice selection. There are still many side quests to be adopted into the fold of your journey, and the level up system varies from game to game.

It can either decide for you where the points go and are assigned, or give you free will to shape your team and character’s as you wish.

They also tend to have more character development involved in the storyline. You really get to understand and relate to the person you are playing and their party members this way.

Unfortunately the personalities of most JRPG’S havent changed much over the years. They range from: The rouge, Super villan, Emotional reluctant hero, The Maverick, Low confident, and the ever-present Overbearing character we hope just dies.

The character’s usually are depicted as the hero with a sword and shield as a prince, a character of noble stature, a rouge, or a person of a disgraceful nature who becomes a hero. They sometimes find big power-up’s that cause them to evolve into a mystical armor or learn that their fate was to save the world due to their bloodline.

The female character’s usually are supporting, as Mage’s, Paladin’s, or Archer’s. They are pigeon-toed, and have low confidence, or are ditsy in nature to make the player feel as if they deserve pity in battle, or need to only be used for their primary creation a punching bag on the battlefield.

Sometimes we do end up with a female protagonist, but her role is often misunderstood by us in the west due to the dragging on of the grinding, or the long cutscenes: Final Fantasy Xlll-Xlll2, Xenosaga, Final Fantasy X-X2 just to name a few.

WRPG:
Many WRPGs tend to more focus on exploration and freedom. This opens up the world more and gives the player the choice to do what they want. The main story is not as much of a focus, and is more about what the player wants to do. They also tend to have a higher focus on the side quests that they offer as a break from the main story.

The leveling system is simplified as far as: The character, its abilities, their weapons, and their inventory. They usually allow you to be every character available or create a custom class from magic, and weapons of the sort. The gameplay also tends to be more action based with melee combat and not as much support abilities such as heal casting and magic.

You could go from fighting a dragon in the sky, to simultaneously dealing with a two trolls trying to rip you apart just as you walk down the path to your current goal. Dungeon crawling whenever available, is sometimes reaped with rewarding amounts of gold, and armor you probably already have.

Other times they are as disappointing as finding one very difficult enemy, and three healing potions. But you will grab anyway and all plunder for early funding to sell off cheaply. The landscapes blend together not really appearing to be different from the rest of the world.

The forest, snow, and rain all play a part in the world covering the earth and providing home to all manner of creature.

WRPG’S are usually always found in a medieval setting (for some reason never modern, or futuristic like JRPG’S), with elder armor, weapons, language, and craft skills. The Elder Scrolls, and World of Warcraft, are the best examples of this.

The story usually involves the player trying to side with a faction, or save the local royalty from losing their throne, or position. Side quests range from finding a weapon of significance, and recognition, to simply carrying out an assassination.

Character creation can be a little complex to ridiculous, since you can make yourself or make a random mix of whatever your choice is. The female character’s are never tight cast as weak or overbearing with femininity, but rather adjusted, as you the player see fit for their play style.

They can be as coy and ferocious as their male counterpart’s playing the bad girl who robs, and hunts all manner of creature or person, or being the warrior princess who uses her blade to right wrongs, and destroys evil.

The male character’s are usually the main character of the story by default and receive the best perks from the start of the game.

Kenay Peterson
The Gaming Ground