10 More Short but Great JRPGs EVERYBODY Should Play!

[@akoyisangpinoy4705]

I played Legend of Mana when I was a kid. PS1 Good times.

[@YhelloWish]

Glad that you mention the first Nier game because I think it's underrated, overwhelmed by Automata.

[@DairunCates]

I mean... literally no one played it, and then a physical copy shot up to like 80 bucks when Automata hit big. So, hard to blame people for not being as into it. I'm sure that'll change with the remaster. Although, people REALLY aren't ready for Yoko Taro game design and the number of pointless as hell side quests. I hope growing a lunar tear is like 5g or a bronze trophy.

[@bryan8638]

More people will get the experience now with the renake coming in 2021 👍

[@luisitoviii1090]

the father saving his daughter story is more compelling than the remake.

[@fancywaffles]

I don't really have anything to add, but man Nier was so good. That music is just, ugh, a masterpiece. I cannot wait for the remaster!

[@wohdinhel]

Nier is probably the single most influential experience that video games have ever gifted me

[@subwooferfreakk]

Xenoblade 2 expansion torna the golden county is a great 20 hour game to play along with the huge main game

[@Kiorra]

Child of Light isn't a japanese game, but is also a good option.

[@lucaswakefield4511]

That was the very first PS4 game I bought and played. It's fantastic.

[@mo_musashi_284]

Carlos Artur Sousa the music is beautiful so good

[@asmodeus58XX]

As is Cosmic Star Heroine.

[@TheOnlyFoxYouNeed]

true. i've come across several people that insist Child of Light is a JRPG despite being French-Canadian, not Japanese. pretty sure the J in JRPG is to signify that said title is Japanese in origin.

[@asmodeus58XX]

@@TheOnlyFoxYouNeed Well, what's the point of a description if it tells nothing about the important thing in a game, which is the gameplay? Why should anyone care where a game was developed? Isn't it more important to know how it's played?

[@halo5634]

Actually the remake next year for Nier is based on the Replicant version and not the Gestalt version which is the Nier that came out of Japan. Still would have been great if Square Enix could have given this version the same remake treatment as well.

[@DairunCates]

Always stan Papa Nier. I love Taro's team whatever they do, but brother Nier is just too much of a walking stereotype even for a Cavia/Taro joint for me to enjoy him over the fridge brilliance of Papa Nier and how Brother Nier's actions take on completely different meanings with a context shift.

[@TheAleatoriorandom]

Ragnarok tactics was such a gem to find! Thanks and great work!

[@Elboboch]

The Last Story in part 3 of course

[@neoandroid8586]

They need to port it to Switch

[@the13thjoker]

That trials of mana remake also very short.

[@thepaper888]

Such a dope intro, can't even skip it.

[@FalcusDead]

I've heard other refer to Gestalt being the one we didn't receive in the west, but the one we received in the west was Gestalt. The one that stayed in Japan was Replicant. I saw a review of the remaster of replicant stating that it was a remake of Gestalt, and it honestly makes me feel like I'm missing something.

[@masterofchaos7282]

Hey Erick, just started watching your videos and I’m really liking them so far. Good job. By the way, I was wondering if you could do a video on a group of RPGs that are almost completely impossible to get anymore: The chaos rings series. They were a series of square enix RPGs from around the beginning of the mobile app stores and were really good in my opinion. However due to updates to the devices, the games became incompatible and were eventually removed. The only game that still somewhat works these days is Chaos Rings 3, the other games (1, Omega and 2) are almost impossible to play anymore outside of emulation. The only legal way to play them these days (to my awareness) is to get a PS Vita, get a Japanese PlayStation account, import the Chaos Rings 3: prequel trilogy (which is kind of an insult to the games IMO) and then use codes to download the games as well as the English patches for them. It’s a shame that the games are almost completely gone and are pretty much completely forgotten by most people. I know it’s be a pain to go through but could you maybe do a video on them? I don’t want the only evidence of them existing being a couple of brief gameplay or music videos on KZbin.

[@toumabyakuya3498]

Some games I would suggest for a hidden gem list (seeing how little they are spoken about): Radiant Historia (a game with a gimmick similar to Chrono Trigger), Stella Glow (the swan song of ImageEpoch [the creators behind another hidden gem franchise called Luminous Arc] with memorable characters and wonderful voice actresses) and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans (a beautiful RPG centered on the Saiyan saga of the anime). Also, I don't know if the Mega Man Star Force franchise would fit the same list but I would like to see you review it someday.

[@jackyvanmarsenille8547]

I second that to Radiant Historia. And Atlus even updated it for the 3DS by adding voice acting.

[@EstaviusMarx]

The DBZ one is often overlooked. Loved the graphics.

[@toumabyakuya3498]

@@jackyvanmarsenille8547 Not only voice acting, but an entirely new storyline and ending.

[@СаняВен-е4с]

Nier took from me 40 hours, for the true ending, so...

[@MiamiSunrise]

My only main issue with Legend of Mana was my inability to not be lost after things start opening up. Outside of that, that is a beautiful game with a lot of meat on the bone. Every time I see an Ys entry in one of these lists, on this channel or elsewhere, the music just hits you immediately. The direction they went with the music for that series is legendary in my opinion and I think it really stands out from the pack. All of these seem to be great choices. Vandal Hearts was a personal favorite of mine many years ago, I thought that strategy battle system and overall experience was so satisfying to play. Great list!

[@Someguy-xu3oy]

Any day you release a new video is a good day :)

[@TheSwartz]

Consider making an online database of JRPGs with all your stats and lists and recs, etc. All people to search "best on xxx system" or "best short games", etc. Users could create lists (owned, wish lists, want to play, etc.).

[@garnetcess4652]

Legend of Mana will always be special to me and my sister. This is the game that introduced us to JRPGs and a remastered edition is coming to Switch!

[@WhiteFangofWar]

A lot of these short games seem to have stellar soundtracks. I didn't even like Legend of Mana for being too easy and dumbed down compared to the other Mana games, but its soundtrack is indisputably fantastic. He even ended the video with a great song from another great soundtrack- Devil Survivor. Future Suggestion: JRPGs with the best post-game content

[@tigmo55]

Nice video man! I haven't played most of the games on this list but I did recently pick up Vandal Hearts and that game was WAY better than I expected! Just a really enjoyable Final Fantasy Tactics-styled game which is the highest compliment I can give it. :)

[@cartoongamermatt9077]

I own all these games, but haven't played through them yet. If I had played through them without watching this video, the short lengths would have really surprised me.

[@rionugroho1403]

Damn, your videos really need more views! Calling all RPG lovers!!

[@eggmcsmurfin]

Was wondering why Vandal Hearts wasn't in the first vid, thankfully you made a second vid!

[@r3volution]

I love your videos Erick, but please please please lower the intro music volume...

[@r3volution]

TheOutkast4ever such a lame response, the video starts low and then the intro music kicks in like an explosion

[@kurniapermadi9424]

Erick the one that being remastered is Replicant version, not gestalt version

[@Pimpjira87]

Given his explanation I think he knew that but just got the titles mixed up.

[@lioneart19]

Yoko Shimomura also did the iconic Street Fighter II soundtrack.

[@acidwizard6528]

Solid list. I haven't played the top 2 games unfortunately, but the rest I can vouch for. Legend of Mana isn't that great, however as Erick pointed out the music and art style make up for the game's lack of focus/direction. I wish there were another way to play Nier since I don't own a PS3. Cool hat Erick BTW.

[@nuannathan5446]

You are the first one I've seen to mention ragnarok tactics lol, definitely a great game that doesn't deserve to be overlooked

[@Tanner_LaFond]

Nier is AMAZING - and I love seeing it mentioned here - but it will definitely take more than 20 hours to get the true ending. Probably more like 40 hours total. It's absolutely worth it though! Also, definitely worth playing the original Nier over the remake of it, because of the main character in the original.

[@yoelchris2596]

4:10 i've played Levant's side, and boy its Marvelous... Its kinda like Riviera but less darker... 😁

[@SwagimirPutin]

The only thing I can say is NieR might be short if you only want one ending, but if you're going for all of them, it takes a decent amount more time.

[@quintussilenius4324]

Well. it took me about 30 hours to beat Memories of Celceta, but that's only because i did most of the optional stuff. This might very well be the best game in the franchise, and a proof that it is in fact possible to take a borig and uninspired premise (such as amnesia) and build something unique and impressve upon it. But, that being said, my favorite will always be Ys 1, because of that "beautiful sadness" feel that no other game wil ever be able to replicate

[@toolman4745]

Vandal Hearts has always been one of my favorite rpgs.

[@everythingisbizzaaaaaro3694]

If u wake up and your hat is missing, it wasn't me.

[@mattasaurs]

I was happy to see Nier on this list, I love that game. Had a lot of fun getting all the endings.

[@theultimategamer95]

I actually did play Hexyz Force out of curiosity some months back. I gotta be honest, I felt quite bored after a while and it definitely has that feel of "what do I do?" a lot. So yeah, didn't actually make it far.

[@Thatonedude917]

I played Legend of Mana for about 6 hours before I realized the combat was never going to get better and quit It's a shame, it really is wonderful to look at

[@Muncheiy]

Heard that field music- INSTANT nostalgia

[@martinde-serres8724]

Dude, Yoko Shimomura isn't just a genius, she's a freaking GODDESS! :)

[@zennvirus7980]

She IS one of the Three legendary -ninjas- composers from Ol' Squaresoft, together with -Hironobu Sakaguchi- Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Mitsuda. 'nuff said.

[@martinde-serres8724]

@@zennvirus7980 Sakaguchi isn't a composer, I think you meant to say Nobuo Uematsu lol

[@zennvirus7980]

@@martinde-serres8724 Yep, Umeatsu. Sorry, 36 hour gamin' marathon... not thinking straight anymore. Will edit comment when coffee kicks in.

[@martinde-serres8724]

@@zennvirus7980 damn bro, hopefully you didn't get sick or something from all that

[@viniciusamaral4325]

Yoko Shimomura is also the composer for Street Fighter 2

[@princeleoofnohr583]

I love white knight chronicles. It has a very unique feel to it.

[@a.r.g.3515]

Ragnarok Tactics was an awesome find, thanks for sharing.

[@insaneasock3156]

Star Ocean First Departure R for the Switch took me about 24 but I grinded for a good 4-6 hours

[@SuperCred1t]

I loved I Am Setsuna. Maybe I'll try Sakura wars. Did you play Deaths End Re Quest 2?

[@animewatcha]

Legend of mana can be even shorter if you go the counterattack skill route.

[@animewatcha]

@@_tykee Sorry it's been a long time. I know one did 2 x damage. another did 4 x damage.

[@sneakyskunk1]

Neir: Replicant Is getting a remaster? That is huge! Thanks again for another great video.

[@alphonsokurukuchu]

thanks for the list, those who have lot of work and family can enjoy these, although I personally prefer longest games but I really appreciate these lists

[@yoelchris2596]

0:58 also tons of cool skills too !

[@luisvistrain888]

Saludos, interesante los juegos, que tal la pandemia por allá?

[@jackyvanmarsenille8547]

Sweet hat Erick. Have you played the new Sakura Wars yet?

[@jairoaldus6085]

Hi Erick you should do story recap!

[@Legushka]

You say "there's always grinding" when you talk about Vandal Hearts, but you can't do the missions again in VH, once you beat it it's over, there's no random missions also, so how can you grind in this game?

[@NSILY]

My fav bgm from legend of mana on the intro

[@kurniapermadi9424]

Good video as usual erick! Now you should make top 10 longest rpg to beat.

[@kurniapermadi9424]

I guess persona 5 would take the first spot

[@MrMatt0486]

How about dq7? They're both ridiculously long.

[@iniiloi6636]

For fast action you should play the new rogue like Hades on switch!

[@thepaper888]

I have First Departure R on switch, fun.

[@brunotamburro]

Vandal Hearts

[@belfosama]

Golden Sun and Summon Night Swordcraft Story for Part 3?

[@eremgame]

So surprised by I am setsuna :O I liked the beginning but there were some many floaws later on... Thanks god it's just a 20 hour game

[@andrewfennewald9465]

I liked the atmosphere (art style music ect) and the story was good enough for 20 hours. Battle system was fine. Yeah if it was a 40-50 hour game I would have lost interest but I enjoyed it at 20 hours.

[@GalanOfTruth]

Ys Celceta is a great game, HIGHLY recommended. However if you are new to the Ys series, do NOT start with it. At least play Naphistim or even Origin first, and play Seven as well.

[@kyethememer9836]

I started with YS VIII which was great. I'm probably gonna play origin next.

[@GalanOfTruth]

@@kyethememer9836 Not a bad start either. As good as Celceta is, as my first Ys game I had trouble getting into it for a LONG time. My wrong impression was that it was just a random Vita arpg with slightly blurry graphics with not great color contrast and very jumpy movement, I knew nothing about the incredible history of the series. I think my impressions would have been different had I played the ps4 version first.

[@engrjobilo]

hey, brother erick, do you played eternal eyes on ps1? what can you say about that game

[@nickwierenga987]

Star Ocean 2 was the first game I bought with my own money when I was a kid and I put over 99 hours into it and the damn game froze on final boss!! I still don't know know how it ends

[@logiclion3570]

Eric,have you ever played albert odyssey for the super famicom?

[@СаняВен-е4с]

First star ocean on the snes is not so short, pretty difficult and grindy game with high random encounter rate. But i prefer old snes style

[@jm4747-o5v]

Finally Setsuna Show Up

[@birdofhermest]

can you make a list for jrpc availible on pc and actualy work on modern sistems?

[@mo_musashi_284]

Steamworld 2: Hand of the Gilgamech 👍

[@insaneasock3156]

Legend of Mana's soundtrack is top notch

[@kurniapermadi9424]

Yup, the composer is Yoko Shimomura. You should check her others music composed by her such as Parasite Eve, kingdom hearts, and ff xv

[@duedecimal6622]

Vandal Hearts will forever have a special place in my heart, but NOT the sequel.

[@heathazegaming8534]

Holy crap! Erick wears a PlayStation a wide brimmed hat! Really missed out on a better video title there, lol. Jk. Love these videos!

[@teefa85]

I'm actually in the middle of a Nightmare Mode run of Legend of Mana myself. I also finally, after many years, made myself an amazing sword and armor set, more than just making a basic thing out of the strongest material. Seeing as I've played so many times I wanted to take it to the next level. Vandal~Hearts was the first M Rated game I brought (which is hilarious nowadays since it's so tame...but it was the 90s) back in the early 2000s. I was on a family shopping trip to the mall and remember excitedly telling my mother that I got carded for something (I'd just gotten my driver's license not long before that). Short definitely doesn't bother me. I mean, the first RPG I played on my own was FF Mystic Quest on the SNES! A good game doesn't need 100+ hours to be good. Heck, I'm an adult with less time now so it's nice to have a fun but short game to play (probably why I keep going back to old favorites).

[@something_kris]

Even Erick's cap is only in Japan now!?

[@charlestrudel8308]

i have the first star ocean, i will give it a go, i also am very close to beat alliance alive.

[@dannytkong3135]

I'm a couple hours in ys origin and I've got to say I like it a lot but not as much as 8 or felghana

[@yohachi0154]

Wait Legend of Mana is short? Edit: And yeah the older brother version of Nier has some fanservice for those "Onii-chan"

[@kowanoka]

Thank you for the video.

[@Mdgr_zolom]

Nice hat Erick!

[@chumbosaurio7099]

5:26 add USB loader no your Wii and have fun!

[@EstaviusMarx]

How do you do that?

[@chumbosaurio7099]

@@EstaviusMarx search for a tutorial , I use USB loader GX and nintendont to add games on a usb

[@luisalexiscarpiozamora2429]

I want to Nier (Gestalt)so bad, but the copies in the market are too expensive.

[@arenaaa7]

I really love your videos

[@Dresden0478]

Can you do a video of "Great jrpgs on pc"

[@Venoix]

White Knight Chronicles II is definitely not short. You have to do a ton of grinding in that game to even be able to stand a chance against some of the later bosses, because of the way that game takes away some of your most powerful abilities, in addition to making you get a game over if your guest character dies.

[@jhasdiaz1584]

Plzzz could you make a list of turn base RPG on PS4???

[@luklopskywalk]

Great content

[@dustinb5908]

I got my wish!

[@charlestrudel8308]

Your next video will be interesting since you hidden games are truly hidden away. Very curious in advance.

[@LeCoffreDuGeek]

I didn't play Nier Automata yet !

[@armandostockvideos8386]

I haven't played Nier automata yet

[@Ray_on_the_sky1]

Vandal Hearts is an amazing game. I didn't liked VH II, it felt like it was made by other creators....

[@ОксанаСнежинская-у9е]

You forgot eternal sonata man.

[@artminusme]

Literally playing Nier PS3 right now and..... I'm a completionest.... And the fetch quests are kinda taking me out of the game, very fetch questy

[@theosr93]

All Kemco games are short.

[@r.a.fgattaiguy845]

Ragnarok Tactics looks fun but damn 's it's so slow

[@starface2178]

To let you know I dislike all of the Nier series. I like a good blend of serious, light-hearted, humorous, good-narrative and enjoyable games. Not too overly-exaggerated, not too messed up, not too childish, not trying way too hard to appeal to specific audience and NOT have awful overused cliches.

[@_krbrs_]

No love for Dragon Quarter

[@knightshousegames]

Public Service Announcement: It's time to stop referring to action games as RPGs. Most of the mechanics that made RPGs distinct in the 80s and 90s like leveling systems and equipment systems no longer belong to that genre. The only mechanics that make RPGs distinct now are a turn based battle system. A turn based battle system is the most ineffable part of an RPG. Swords and Sorcery do not make a game an RPG. Nier is not an RPG, it is an action game. It has more in common mechanically with something like DMC or God of War than it does with something like Chrono Trigger. Also, everyone, stop saying JRPG, putting a game in a genre based on the race of the people who made it and seemingly nothing else is barbarism. It tells you nothing about the game itself based on what kind of games people will throw that label on, it literally only tells you Japanese people made it. This message is brought to you by the society of people who thinks names should actually mean something.

[@lnsflare1]

Counterpoint: RPGs are defined by the presence of leveling mechanics because lots of things that aren't RPGs (but probably *can* be RPG-ified) have turns, ie: most board games and golf. Chrono Trigger has more in common with Nier than it does with Backgammon or Go Fish despite sharing the concept of turns with the latter pair. Sincerely, The Alliance of The Society of People who Understand The Concept of Genre Blending, The World Nuance Organization, and The Wildlife Wrestling Federation.

[@knightshousegames]

@@lnsflare1 RPGs have their roots in board games. DnD has it's roots in wargaming simulations, of which games like Chess are the most ancient and basic abstractions of. The modern turn based RPG paradigm was basically an attempt to recreate DnD but for a single player. Final Fantasy took most of it's enemies straight out of a DnD book. So RPGs have way more in common mechanically with Backgammon and Go Fish than they do Nier. Turn structure is useful for managing time fairly between multiple units controlled by 2 or more agents, whether they be players or CPUs. The core of these style of games is managing multiple units at the same time so that a player can focus on strategy rather than just simple tactics. If we allow pretty much literally anything be called an RPG, the term basically loses all meaning. Pretty much every game has adopted experience based leveling and some level of cinematic storytelling, they aren't hallmarks of the genre anymore, they are just too versatile and useful. Games should be classified by the mechanics that make them unique, and if we want the term RPG to remain useful whatsoever, there needs to be a clear set of rules that determines just what an RPG is. Otherwise you get people running around saying Borderlands, Final Fantasy XV, and Breath of Fire 3 are all in the same genre, when they couldn't have anything less in common with each other.

[@charleswiltshire21]

Awww, i thought aliance would be long 😔

[@matthewedwards8996]

Are the top 3 troll picks?

[@brucesi]

I really couldn't get into I am Setsuna

[@civoreb]

It’s FFX story with Chrono Trigger combat

[@marc-ap4699]

I almost finish it after 20+ hours and suddenly lost interest... I might try it again maybe I wasn't in the mood at the time.

[@hyunztarou7053]

short jrpgs? most of them have more than 40 h to beat