10 JRPGs That Aged Really Well -Part 3-

These 10 JRPGs have aged really well, they're still enjoyable to play even today. This is part 3.
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[@mastergodai]

I really hope we get a modern release of Popful Mail and the Lunar games!

[@jeredwagner9132]

100% agree! I would love Dark Wizard as well ^_^

[@ithydoodles]

Ugh. We'd probably just get another port of only sss... I was so disappointed when the psp only got silver star harmony.

[@AlastorShadow0]

​@@ithydoodlesyou prefer the 2nd one?

[@computervision557]

If no DEI crap involve, I would like to buy a remake

[@dartz005]

I remember playing Lunar on the PS1, Arc the Lad Twilight of the Spirit & Xenosaga back in the day. Those are all amazing games. I remember putting way too many hours into Arc the Lad & was excited for its PS4 rerelease. I still have physical copies of the Xenosaga trilogy, & love the games. (Episode 2 less than the other 2 games) I'm hoping that the Saga trilogy does get an HD remaster 1 day. With Baten Katios a month away from its HD remaster release, there is hope for Xenosga.

[@BigmanDogs]

Suikoden 1 and 2 aged quite well due to no more or less 0 grinding.

[@anonamatron]

If you don't like "grinding" it means you don't like fighting battles, which was the core gameplay element of RPGs in the beginning. If you don't like that I think you should probably find a visual novel or something, not an RPG. It's like "I looooooooove Mario, except for the part where I keep having to jump on the enemies and over the pits to beat the levels!! I just want to see the next cutscene already, come on...."

[@cleangoblin2021]

​@@anonamatron🤓

[@Weensx]

People who hate grinding need to stick to action adventure games

[@BigmanDogs]

@@anonamatron So Suikoden is not a real JRPG? How much filler/padding grind content does a JRPG need for it to count as a JRPG? I assume you are talking about JRPG's. Because what you said is otherwise utterly laughable. Most western RPG's have 0 grinding.

[@BigmanDogs]

@@Weensx So Suikoden is not a real JRPG? What about Baldurs gate 3? It has no grinding, but I'm still not allowed to play it because I don't like grinding?

[@teefa85]

All amazing RPGs to talk about! I actually still have most of the swag that came with the Lunar games back in the day.

[@AmazingFrenchman]

I completed Popful Mail on Sega CD as a kid and I was always found of the super expensive stuff and hard ass bosses. Go Working Design!!

[@jscriber100]

Not the first to come to mind, but I gotta say Megaman BN. As an 11-year-old I loved BN Colonel/Protoman so much that spent entire days playing it. The story actually took itself seriously, encouraging us to do so. The gameplay was simple enough for anyone, but enemies with unusual movement patterns and superpowered chips amped difficulty. I think my favorite part was running around ACDC as Lan and running around the net as Megaman!!

[@SycosenMerihem]

They rereleased the entire series on PS4/PS5. See if you feel the same way playing it, I tried playing it recently and it was a giant dud for me after loving it so much as a youngin.

[@spencer1531]

Mother 3, from art to battle system to traversal to writing and pacing, feels like it came out yesterday

[@dwaynemcfadden731]

Can definitely agree on xenosaga aging really well I find myself playing it from time to time along with mana khemia when I'm feeling nostalgic.

[@Wolfdogg]

The PS1 versions of the Lunar games are actually ports of the Saturn versions.

[@shayne604]

Been playing path of radiance again... And it's amazing still to this day! And looking forward to playing the sequel radiant Dawn for my first time! Can't believe I never played it

[@vivilover9409]

FF8 aged well, every time i play it i love it more

[@juanortiz9123]

I gotta say the knight of Lodis is easier than the first one. That's a big plus.

[@jenswohlgemuth6961]

This series "jrpgs that aged well" is your most interesting series imo.

[@cireza_]

I personally prefer the SEGA-CD versions of Lunar 1 & 2, especially for 2. Lunar 1 also has instant load times for the fights on SEGA-CD, and they are very fast paced. But both remakes are great, that's for sure. They are getting fan-translated on Saturn as well.

[@jimkirk2527]

Xenosaga was such a blast to play. Time for a remake of 1-3!

[@ScootMootE]

Fantastic list, sir.

[@tamodolo]

I often encounter these lists that keep mentioning Lunar Silver Star Story as a very good game. I agree that this game is good but it's also basic. The story is mainly the hero's jorney. As I played both games I must say that Eternal Blue is WAY better. The story telling of the second game is much more dense than first one! Hiro and Lucia are great characters! Also, that epilogue with the true end was very rewarding! Great ending!

[@LimYamishan18]

Good Morning Everyone. such a nice video

[@thaipankatima658]

xenosaga will always have a special place in my childhood. The story was very square enix, but still followable-ish. It combined xenogears and saga frontier, hence the name into one awesome game. Though the sequel titles couldn't hold a candle to the first.

[@Raximus3000]

I wish i could tell you my opinion but since they have not released them in anything except ps2 i cannot play them!!!

[@celticspike2522]

Yeah the first one was incredible, but i would actually argue that the 3rd game is best in the series. I think it took the things that worked best from 1 and 2 and just refined it all to perfection. but still its an incredible series, yes even the 2nd one has its merits. for the LOVE OF GOD NAMCO give us a HD remaster.

[@Raximus3000]

@@celticspike2522 Or ANY RELEASE!

[@tommyzorera]

8:7/4:3 content stretched to 16:9 is morally objectionable.

[@rigelothello709]

I love how you include Terranigma in here. Not only the battle system is good, but I love how the world building in Terranigma; Starting from saving the MC Village (Resurrect all of the Village's resident), and later, resurrect the world (When we came to the world 1st time, it's really a barren land almost without any living beings. But with the progress, we release the Plant Kingdom, Bird Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and finally Humanity). It's really interesting, and I really like the idea. About Lunar... Well, to be honest, I only played Lunar Silver Star Story, so I can't say anything about the 2nd Game. It's a good game, but maybe it's just nothing special for me. And about Ogre Tactics, played it but never finished it. Still more prefer Ogre Battle.

[@glmasters3425]

Great list as usual! I have a PSP 1000 and have lots of classic games from my childhood days and I'm loving it :) thank you for the list, there are games that I dont remember anymore and your lists helps a lot :) I guess my only suggestion is to put timestamp on the video

[@Sorondo80]

eric, make a video talking about MS saga PS2 RPG game, talking about tips and what do you think about the game

[@davidarkan]

Ojala volvieran esos juegos, sobre todo la saga Lunar.

[@ElKintaro27]

a los chibolos de ahora les gustan los shooter nomas

[@Sweetestsadist]

You could just say SNES and PS1 JRPGs. It's really hard to go wrong when picking one.

[@WhiteFangofWar]

Loved Lunar 2 on the PS1 despite never being able to defeat the final boss. And apparently that isn't the final boss and the game goes on for a while longer until Hiro and Lucia can be reunited. The first Mario & Luigi in particular had some excellent humor too. Not just 'I Have Fury' Fawful, but nearly everyone in the BeanBean kingdom is prone to some legit funny moments.

[@anonamatron]

So you couldn't beat the final boss that wasn't the final boss. Makes sense.

[@Icelord877]

I remember I tried lunar with my brother and we were blown away without reason and only played it nothing else for months

[@butterletto]

ONE OF THE BEST VIDEO SERIES

[@OmegaBladeAlpha]

I just couldn't do the PSP version of Lunar because they didn't get the original voice cast. They were too integral to the experience for me. Especially Ghaleon.

[@ivanbluecool]

Tales of graces combat aged well. It's still quick and fun if i started it up again as combos are a delight to get off.

[@michaelclifton9498]

Would love a port of that and tales of destiny director's cut plus ToD2

[@ivanbluecool]

@@michaelclifton9498 i honestly wish all the non console games got tales of vesperia ps 3 where all the dlc content comes with the game or bonus content to it. I'd love that as abyss and older games didn't need dlc

[@PS1Fan1991]

For me, I personally prefer the original Wild Arms over the second game. I prefer the main characters and their interactions and I liked the villains and music more. I do not say this to take anything away from the characters and music from 2. They are awesome, but I just prefer the original.

[@blinky840]

Oh man I have dreamt of a Xenosaga remake since the PS4 era. I hope they remake it soon i feel like the time is right.

[@IXArcanine]

So the criteria is the games have to be twenty years old. That's when most of the great games came out. I feel like I'll strongly agree with these lists.

[@GhibliNova]

Lunar 1 on Saturn is awesome. It go an English Translation a little while ago

[@xeykron]

I love Terranigma, it's really a masterpiece

[@mike1989libra]

Hopefully we get a remaster to xenosaga and cenogewrs

[@antoniojsanchez7892]

the xeno community is theorizing that a remake or reboot of xenosaga may come for nintendo since at the end of the dlc future redeme whe see the logo of vector industries and in the "radio scene" we hear the name of yuri and in the credits whe see namcobandia soo they are willing to give nintendo the rights maybe nintendo can do the reboot /remake

[@armandostockvideos8386]

I played Breath of fire V: Dragon Quarter for the first time earlier this year, and that game aged pretty damn well. As a matter of fact, it aged way better than other ps2 jrpgs that I've played, such as SMT 3 Nocturne, Persona 3, and Xenosaga ep 1. Speaking of which, I think Xenosaga ep1 is kinda unplayable without fast-forward, those flashy attacks become annoying after a while.(Also combat is pretty repetitive)

[@johnofthewired]

great video as always! A note to be said though, lunar 1 for the PS1 had a horrible system where the bosses power was based off the MC level, making the game VERY hard at certain parts! the PSP and Saturn ports of the games didnt have this system though!

[@roguerifter9724]

Ugn Illusion of Gaia. Easily my least favorite SNES Quintet game. I remember renting it a few months after it came out and getting destroyed by the first boss. So I thought I would grind to get my stats and HP up only to find that for some insane reason that wasn't an option. So I spent the rest of the weekend beating my head against the first boss brick wall (Who in the name of all that was ever sane thought giving the first boss so many HP was a good idea?!"). I probably would of never played it again if an aunt hadn't bought it for me a couple of years later and I eventually beat it but I never liked how limited your ability to increase stats was.

[@Llortnerof]

You sure you didn't just play the first boss utterly wrong? I certainly have my own beefs with the game, especially the excessive linearity compared to Soul Blazer and Terranigma, but it wasn't exactly the most difficult. Though i'd argue it's more of an Action-Adventure than a JRPG.

[@roguerifter9724]

All I know is I lost track of how many times I got close to finishing it off (within a few hits) only to not quite make it and after enough tries that became more frustrating then a fun challenge.

[@docblade3270]

I loved xenosaga, too bad the sequels didn't made it justice! I LOVED to see a remaster of xenogears, but that will never happen!

[@SzymonSaysStuff]

"Terranigma still looks beautiful" shows it stretched to 16:10 🥲

[@10k-Noodles]

Knight of Lodis was my favorite. What was the Lunar game on PSP? I assumed it was just the first game with added content. But not sure. Nvm. You mentioned it. I somewhat remember seeing a prototype for FFVI on N64 and it looked a lot like Wild Arms visually. Baten Kaitos is getting remastered so why not Xenosaga's trilogy? Only question is whether or not it's Switch exclusive, and if bad Square is gonna pull a Konami upon hearing about Eiyuden and mess with Xenogears. Xenogears is my #1. I don't want Square touching it. I'd honestly prefer that they not touch Chrono Trigger, or any older Final Fantasy at this point. They've lost the plot.

[@anonamatron]

It's the first game but the graphic style is really different. All the dungeons are cut down very short, and there's no overworld. It looks kind of decent but I think it got way over simplified. I see some people think it's the best version but it's kind of not even the full game. It has some extra story, but the overall experience is really incomplete. It's like cliff's notes. I mean they basically made a mobile version... it was on the PSP so I guess that makes some amount of sense.

[@ifrit1937]

My choice for this list would probably be Tales of Symphonia GC (and yes it counts as it was released August 2003 in Japan even if the West got it a year later). Ya the combat is dated if we're talking in terms of Tales games combat systems but as far as action systems go, especially from 2003, it was definitely among the better/more complicated fast paced action combat systems for jrpgs at the time due to incorporating a lot of fighting game mechanics and the core system mechanics allow the game to be fun even today regardless of how many additions later games added to the system (free run, whatever gimmick was particular to the game, more aerial options, etc). And graphically while the chibi art style was a questionable choice the cel shading art style makes it mostly a timeless art style (unlike realististc art styles even as far back as late PS3 that now look like ass) just like Windwaker/Tales of Vesperia which also use Cel shading (granted, may be due to my standard/huge cube TV that I play older systems on or something up with my Gamecube but my GC version does get kinda fuzzy looking on the characters' outlines, granted this is a non issue in the PS3/PS4/PC/and maybe Switch versions (I say maybe due to how many issues Switch version specifically had...personally the one I'd recommend most outside of GC would be PS3 due to being able to get Dawn as well so more value for your buck. Granted all other versions besides GC are 30 fps but quite frankly it barely plays differently imo and in some cases it may even play better for specific characters such as Regal for whatever reason (I feel i can combo better on PS3 than on GC lol))). Granted in 5 years the undisputed Tales game that aged well the best will definitely be Vesperia (even if I rank the game on the low end due to the story's final act the visuals were great and combat system more than solid to hold up even with the better systems in the series (Xillia 2/Arise)). While Symphonia's graphics aged well enough Vesperia's graphics are on part with anime style games being made even today...if anything isn't on part it'd be the animations of characters in cutscenes (mainly cause the characters just do what older games did and stand around more than anything while talking...Tales didn't really have good in game engine cutscenes with a lot of action going on until Xillia tbh and even after the Xillias a few games still had more stand in place cutscenes than they probably should've (Arise in particular had a lot for some story scenes that didn't have fighting involved...not as much as pre Xillia but still more than I thought there'd be...not to mention some more important dialogues that were not even voiced as well)).

[@simonefiumicini]

I tried to play phantasia on gba but it lost all the charm it had on snes, it's really a punch in the eyes and pierces your ears

[@ifrit1937]

@@simonefiumicini Ya...probably the worst port of the game (wait no there's mobile so maybe not) but only one available to the west and was bad due to poor translation (from all accounts, granted I don't know Japanese so not sure how accurate that claim is)...wish they'd port the Nakiri Dungeon X port which made some huge improvements on top of adding a new character and made combat feel a bit more fluid (at least from what I've seen in videos it looks at least as fluid as Eternia or Legendia which is a huge step up from Phantasia GBA/Destiny PS1 speed/fluidity) or if not a port of that version remade the game from scratch FFVIIR/Destiny DC style/Trials of Mana remake as an example.

[@mike1989libra]

Blue dragoon

[@DeTintasyPixeles]

Jessica❤

[@guruthosamarthruin4459]

How is the PSP remake of Lunar Silver Star Story? It seems like they butchered the soundtrack, but how is the rest of it?

[@deatho0ne587]

I thought Xenosaga 1 thru 3, had slow-moving characters back then and I still think it does. The reason why is the areas do not match the character's size. Characters are big compared to their environment most of the time. There is a chance Xenosaga 1-3 remaster, due to the end of Xenoblade 3 FR ending. Maybe just wishful thinking but there was a Bandi Namco logo in the credits.

[@Westile]

"This video was sponsored by MY books!" What a shill.

[@Wildezz]

He five star reviewed one of his own books on Amazon too - one of the 2 reviews for one of them lol

[@Westile]

@@Wildezz I meant my comment in jest but he reviewed his own book? lol

[@nikolaikolev8433]

The only worth playable version of Lunar is the PSP one. The ps1 version aged like shit actually.

[@OMEGAID181]

I think this term has aged badly too shallow. because everything will grow old. and a lot of times it's the person who didn't understand the game system and goes around saying that he aged badly.

[@OMEGAID181]

@@AsphyxX-cx3kf exactly. there are games that are bad on launch day and not that it aged badly.

[@soysaucavenger]

Looking for a good tentacle JRPG hentai game from the late 90's to play. any game that holds up?

[@RFZ93]

Final Fantasy 7? Megaman Battle Network? Pokemon? Secret of mana? Persona/Shin megami tensei? Dragon Quest? You missed alot

[@John-nb6ep]

I don't think Lunar has aged well. It's got long slow and boring dungeons that eat up your magic. I'd replace it with Grandia.

[@fleitzgamers8202]

😂

[@zieraq]

Back then i tried my best to like Xenosaga but never did. Character is always so stiff & conversation always felt dull & boring. Man & android is indistinguishable from each other & the mech look & animate like toys than majestic beast. Gameplay is just average to me. The only cool thing is cosmos design, not even the personality is anything special. Also i never like grid based RPG. The grid always break immersion for me, it always felt like solving puzzle & constantly keeping up with bars & statistics. Other than that, list is great.

[@chloeryanvtuber]

Superstar Saga is the best RPG! In my opinion the combat has so much skill involved, its very engaging. Also, it's a game that any rpg fan can enjoy, even without being a huge fan of Mario... or mario fans that aren't fans of rpg might enjoy it, too

[@tomascarrasco9892]

Lunar also had a psp release as well and graphics were better then ps1

[@mattikuokkanen]

Seven Shadows? I know a Japanese novel series (adapted for manga & anime) where 7 characters are called that. The Eminence in Shadow if you care.

[@r_valkyrie7635]

Golden Sun: The Lost Age should be on the list of well-aged JRPGs.

[@josephkasak4963]

I am so glad I emulated terranigma back in the day because it IS an actual banger

[@leolightfellow]

Great list. Lunar, Arc the Lad, Wild Arms... so many of my favorites in here. :)

[@platformingames2967]

Can you do a video on top 10 puzzle jrpgs

[@timmer919hep]

I dunno bout y'all, but I love the low poly look of Wild Arms

[@PS1Fan1991]

I do too. While for the enemies, there were some oddities, I think that for the characters it actually looks quite charming and it was adorable seeing Cecilia do that unique victory animation.

[@timmer919hep]

@@PS1Fan1991 i love low poly stuff in general tbh. The N64 / PSOne era is my favorite.

[@PS1Fan1991]

@@timmer919hep There are Indies who make low poly games that look interesting.

[@timmer919hep]

@@PS1Fan1991 there are some good ones like Frogun, Signalis, Toree 3D 1 and 2, etc...not to mention that low poly horror games have been booming for a few years.

[@vieques2007]

Love to see Illusion of Gaia get some love. It is one of my favorite games of all time and I make time to play through it once every year!

[@JetBlack2024]

I always tried to get into wild arms games but never could. I played most of em just not a series I found that interesting overall. But I do like some of the music so there’s that.

[@PS1Fan1991]

Even though I love Wild Arms, just knowing that someone who isn't a fan still likes the music makes me happy as that to me is the best part about it.

[@Bajolzas]

Final Fantsy X was the best looking RPG of its time and wouldnt be toped probably until XII

[@baalfgames5318]

3:26 "It's a game that focuses n the patterns and methods to defeat them rather than button mashing." *Proceeds to stun-lock a boss by mashing buttons.*

[@MatthiaGryffine]

(looks at thumbnail) Ugh, no.

[@maurindioalessandro4259]

I love so much Lunar 2 and tERRANIGMA.

[@Vulpas]

Knight of Lodis is the best Ogre Tactics game ever.

[@DonutSwordsman]

Arc the la LD 1/ 2 hold up well and it helps they are super short

[@simonefiumicini]

Susperstar saga is a fucking masterpiece

[@TheOswards306]

No Tales of Symphonia?

[@krisnantoprayogosantoso4033]

Lunar 1 and Arc the Lad 2 in PS 1 has one common annoying thing: limited inventory space. Strangely, I'm not annoyed at Suikoden 1 and 2 despite sharing that one annoying trait.

[@David_Alvarez77]

Interesting video. I think there are some good observations here, such as the enduring value of 2d 16 bit style graphics or the PS2's establishing of what would become the standard way of doing 3d jrpg's (something which is true of other game genres as well). As for what aged well, I think I largely agree with the list given here, except that I do not think Xenosaga aged too well with regard to the slowness and clunkiness of the battles as compared to Xenogears. It was notable even back then and reminds me of how slow and tedious Suikoden 3 battles were compared to Suikoden 1 and 2. Other games such as Lunar and Illusion of Gaia aged very well technically, but as I go along, I think that Illusion of Gaia's story is not really the best and so many story or plot elements of Lunar Silver Star did not age well, such as Alex wanting to marry what is effectively his adopted sister (such a creepy plot idea) or the fact that Ghaleon is correct about the goddess Althena becoming a romantic idiot who has forgotten that it is her divine power that makes Lunar livable at at and if she gives it up, all the people are up a creek with no paddle, but she still wants to just a be a human, marry her adopted brother, and be goofy. The main plot just did not age well.

[@binglee8000]

Great video

[@JetBlack2024]

Xenosaga my love. Still got all three games. Can’t wait to play through them again…. Well maybe not episode 2.

[@joshbessey9647]

More videos like this please!

[@angelganon8213]

Is it true he doesn't read or react to comments

[@Wildezz]

Yeah he has actually openly admitted and said in other videos on this and his other channel that he doesn't do either. I think all he really cares about is the sub count and click count going brrrrrrr and that's it.

[@mjdf122]

JRPG Time

[@Ruzland]

Lunar on the Playstation had bosses level up with you which made the game unplayable. I owned the Sega CD version and it was much better; especially the music.

[@ngcastronerd4791]

I played Terranigma when it came out on the SNES. Definitely was released in NA.