5 JRPGs I Can't Believe Are Still Going

[@ShadowEliteHD]

Who am I to question why these JRPGs are still going? I love most of them. But I sure did pose the question anyway!

[@seifeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee]

The legend of heroes has a very loyal fanbase and once you get hooked you have to play every single game because in every game it's mandatory that a lot of preivous characters show up as a cameo or temporal guest character. Like in the latest game in the west, Daybreak 1 , I was excited to play just to catchup with Zin, Renne, Walter and other characters that hasn't showed up in 20 years or didn't have a main role in the story. These games will end "soon" though because we practically gonna cover all of the zemuria continent.

[@SuperSupersoda]

After playing Daybreak, I can say, without a doubt, that I would 100% be down for a trails prequel game that was set in the Holy Iskan Empire. This Empire ruled the entire eastern half of Zemuria before its collapse around 1070 of the Septian Calendar, meaning it was much larger than either Erebonia or Calvard at its peak. Trails can casually name drop a long dead in universe empire and my first thought is "I'd be down to go there."

[@Ezekiel_the_roach]

I'm one of those. I started FC last year and am on Azure.

[@Ratorss]

And after you play every game you need to play everything again because now you will see all the foreshadowing and stuff.

[@10640404]

I agree it’s got a great cast of characters and a good story.

[@ProductionsFromBeyon]

In 2017, I binged a bunch of Shadow Elite videos talking about Trails, Diagaea, and Neptunia. Now it’s 2024 and I’m listening to Shadow Elite talk about Trails, Disgaea, and Neptunia (it’s a good thing).

[@nightwolf235]

love the podcast when they all get together its one of the few things I look forward to on youtube.

[@coconutologist]

Thanks for the video. My understanding was that these titles all enjoy success in Japan. It used to be that if they were successful enough there, they would be released here, but improvements in translation services have really opened up the markets.

[@mrfreddorenton]

My big mystery series is Paper Mario - We haven't had a good one since the Wii

[@Ubu90]

i agree

[@pite9]

I played my first Trails game in 2016. There were less games back then, but I never felt like I had to catch up. I simply wanted to. Every game in the series felt like a treat compared to other games I've played. I don't understand those who are intimidated or who complain that they release too many games. Noone is forcing you to play the entire series. Every standalone game is worth it. And if you feel like taking a break, or even quitting altogether, that's fine. I feel like these players are not enjoying games. They're just completing them.

[@ShadowEliteHD]

FACTS. When i play Trails I make sure I'm enjoying them first and foremost.

[@nightwolf235]

I will always say when starting with legend of heroes games always start at the beginning. Its becoming a pet peeve of mine seeing like 20 videos of ppl saying where to start when a new game comes out.

[@ChrisMS0815]

It's so simple but people seem to believe Sky didn't age well which is BS, they don't want to go back to an old game. I sae a post on Gamefaqs a while back saying he is starting with Trails into Reverie and he don't care what anybody says, to which I say "well don't expect any fan of the series to take your thoughts and opinions on the series seriously".

[@ChrisMS0815]

Also starting with the newest entry defeats the point of why we love the series, we like seeing the world and characters build up to a climax 8 games later. Starting with Zero, or Daybreak and going back to Sky later will spoil Renne's character development among other characters. Especially if you start with CS3, CS4 and Reverie.

[@nightwolf235]

@@ChrisMS0815 i think i seen that post on gamefaqs and honestly its probably just a troll trolling.

[@DaneElec256mb]

The first Trails in the Sky is getting a HD remake next year! I love that they're still pushing mainline games and polishing up the old PSP library.

[@jclosed2516]

I played the Legend Of Heroes - Trails series from the very beginning with Trails In The Sky. For me it is a game series that get you "hooked" or not. Personally I got the feeling (just like you) that the series had ended with Cold Steel IV, but after the great "come-back" wilt Trails Into Reverie and the even better Trails Through Daybreak, these series are strong as ever. It surprised me a bit that you left out the other big franchise from Falcom - The Ys series. There are already a lot of games in that long going series too. I really love the Atelier series. Sure - There are a LOT of them, but each has something that will draw you in if you like that type of game play. I started with Atelier Rorona (DX) many years ago, and I played all the games upon Atelier Ryza 3. That are 15 games in total. I have not played the spin-off Atekier Nelke, and the last Atelier Resleriana (I absolutely HATE gacha garbage), but I did played the remake of Atelier Marie. By the way - The next game (no gacha garbage this time) is already anounced for 2025 and is called Atelier Yumia. It will be a completely new protagonist. I still have to play the older games Atelier Iris 1,2,3 and Mana Khemia using a emulator. I like the Star Ocean series. I admit I have not played the older games, but I had a lot of fun with those games that where ported to the PC.

[@UNIWarriorThomas]

3:31 speaking facts right here- wait wait no keep cooking don't stop

[@sonny167349]

Ima be real, I hold myself from saying this whenever someone gives me "The games demand too much of my time!" excuse 😅

[@UNIWarriorThomas]

@@sonny167349 fair enough

[@acebreaker7]

I will say neptunia has been churning out mostly spin offs for years, a lot of subpar entries like goddamn can we get a new mainline game now

[@Realdeal958]

Overall, do you think the series is worth a shot? And if so what game would be a good place to start?

[@pablotomasllodra4423]

Wasn’t Sisters Vs Sisters a mainline game due to its plot being as nuanced as a main Nep game instead of the sillier spin-offs?

[@acebreaker7]

@@Realdeal958the games are dirt cheap on steam so yeah might as well, best starting point is rebirth 1

[@Realdeal958]

@@acebreaker7 bett I'll look into it. Thanks for the information

[@stinky_nut_blast]

@@Realdeal958 Try Fairy Fencer F. Best Compile Heart RPG imo.

[@Eclin]

I feel like there’s only 2-3 neptunia games that are worth to actually try.

[@arkachivanagand9915]

4:25 the character models look odd? Speaking as an outsider who never played a Star Ocean game... these models look damn good

[@ushireborn]

Trails games have a relatively low budget but have sold over 8 million in total. you can find this info online

[@ShadowEliteHD]

3:14 👌🏾

[@chrisrobertson7588]

atelier has always been GUST money maker, especially in japan. love them all, and a new one just got announced.

[@Taierisu]

7:36 a man of culture!

[@bluegrave4376]

I tried Neptunia, but I just settled on believing that they're just not for me. Just started the Trails games with FC. Loving it so far. Looking forward to playing all the games. Star ocean I'm kinda sad that I didn't like second story R. I didn't realize that the gameplay loop would be me spending most of my time in menus doing set up to try to break the game. Just didn't resonate with me. I have not tried any Disgaea games, so I have no comment on those. I also have not tried the Atelier games yet. I've wanted to (especially with that Ryza fanservice lmao), but I just haven't gotten to them yet. I wanna try Escha and Logy first.

[@ChrisMS0815]

@@bluegrave4376 You're in for a hell of a time with Trails, maybe I was lucky that when I decided to start Trails, only Trails in the Sky FC, SC and Cold Steel 1 were localized so it didn't seem as big a task. On the other hand I am jealous of guys who start now since all the games are now out to play in the order they were meant to be played, Zero and Azure barely got localized no long ago and they get mildly spoiled in CS2 and everything gets spoiled in CS3 and CS4, you are expected to know events and characters from all prior games. I had to play a fan translation of Zero and Azure before jumping into CS3 and CS4.

[@joaocbcneto]

@@ChrisMS0815 I got to play in order but I think it's fairly interesting how Crossbell and Cold Steel 1+2 are genuinely just written to spoil each other due to them happening at the same time. I did a second run of it that was the other way around and it was pretty interesting.

[@bluegrave4376]

@@ChrisMS0815 I've heard great things, so I'm looking forward to it. I've been a big fan of Falcom through the Ys series, but never took the plunge into Trails until now

[@ChrisMS0815]

@@joaocbcneto I don't consider Crossbell spoiling Cold Steel, it was meant to be played first so we were suppose to know that going into Cold Steel.

[@joaocbcneto]

@@ChrisMS0815 Considering how a few things like (Cold steel 2 spoilers) Osborne's death at the end of 1 and the whole "Osborne's body dissapeared" being played straight. I'm decently convinced Cold Steel was retroactivelly written so that both arcs can be "Inciting incident" and the second can be played as "I need explanations, what went down over in the Erebonia/Crossbell side?" especially after doing a rerun the other way around. Especially since Falcom at the time did convince XSEED to skip to CS1 and 2 specifically by going "yeah you can do it thought CS1/2" before pushing out CS3 with more returning characters which the localizers said was where they went "Oh shit, well there goes that thing."

[@HARBRINGERZERO]

I played the first Neptunia when it came out and it wasn’t great but it did make me laugh. I’ve bought many more in the series too.

[@__BlacklotuS__]

most of these series are fun, i love NepNep

[@ShadowEliteHD]

NepNep is a fun character. I do think her English VA nailed it.

[@TheNrat]

Those series still exist cuz they are that company flagship . Like idea factory is also the otome game factory. But still think of neptunia first . If etrian oddsey was not atlus flagship Sega would never green light them

[@starblaze27]

From the five you mentioned, I will agree that Neptunia, disgaea, and atelier series have gone for.quite a while and am still surprised they are still going. In the case of these three, Neptunia hasn't felt as fun as the earlier ones, Disgaea games just seem to go rather long, and Atelier just has so much(though I will admit the Ryza trilogy was nice. I just am not going to go and buy every Atelier game). The trails of heroes though, while going rather long, is still rather fun. I do admit though that it may be a good idea at some point to make one in the series that would be rather safe to be "the first one to start" so the player would not feel pressured to get the previous ones. Star Ocean though I kinda feel is, to me, not really still going. Yes we got the Divine Force a couple of years ago but it felt a little like a anniversary for the series and I don't see a new game in the series in the works... Although I would love to see a good Star Ocean sequel because I did like that series.

[@RegisSaikyou]

Idea Factory/Compile is far for being unfamiliar with churning out title after title of a single franchise, and that's long before Neptunia. They were always that dimes-a-dozen kind of company. Look into their Spectral/Nederland titles. Atelier can also be easily explained. Yes, Ryza got many-a-gazing, and no, this series was never as costly to make as some may think. However, I'd argue that there were 2 significant moves made that kept the series propped up as they were prior to Ryza: the move to 3D and the PC market. People forget, but Atelier stayed in the 2D space up until the PS3. That switch up gave new life with an audience over time the chance to look at this otherwise smaller/niche JRPG to the West franchise. The same happened again when they made their move to Steam and the PC market. I've always said this time and time again, but Sophie stood and walked so Ryza could run.

[@__BlacklotuS__]

ryza has an entire anime series

[@AyumuNarumi75]

@@__BlacklotuS__ Are you trying to use that to look down on Sophie? Escha and Logy had and anime series too, so it's not like Ryza is special for that.

[@andrewfennewald9465]

@@__BlacklotuS__ So does Escha and Logy though

[@patyos2]

Neptunia is Peak of course!

[@ShadowEliteHD]

TOP NEP LETS GOO!

[@patyos2]

@@ShadowEliteHD Nepu nepu !

[@Ultra-Niche-Gaming]

I disagree. You lost at the beginning. I still play them all because I still enjoy them all. Don't hate. If it sells then why stop making it? The supply and demand is still there.

[@ShadowEliteHD]

Hey man Neptunia dosen't have to stop. I was just wondering that's all. If you enjoy them have at it. 😆

[@UNIWarriorThomas]

I love neptunia but I will admit it's faults

[@n3r0n3]

ps. atelier games were time/resorce management games a la Princess Maker. Over time they transformed into run of the mill jrpgs where you have to save the world etc etc... I personally would encourage all of u to play Rorona for example where, among other things, the politically incorrect disgaea-ish sense of humour is still rampant - the lesbian alchemist teacher that hits on all girls including the dead one is golden! If u want a slightly "darker" or maybe better "emotional" story, Aysha. The most recent Atelier games became popular because they are mediocre standard JRPGs with pretty graphics. They are ok but are they worth your time when u have a 1k other better JRPGs to play?

[@graymars1097]

Well , these game keep going because of one very simple reason: they sold enough to prompt another release. Thats it! yes its that simple 😊 Goid video though, thanks for uploading

[@ShadowEliteHD]

It really might be the simple 🤣

[@Ubu90]

star ocean divine force was basically the final game, it didnt meet its golas

[@XenoSamurai]

I hope Star Ocean 2 remake saved the series, also divine force was pretty good, it's a shame it didn't do very well.

[@EssWebbie]

who is the girl with the glasses from the intro?

[@Shatterglass23]

Wait wait WAIT. Which Atelier game has the Blue haired dude at the end of Shadows video. That's a character I played on a PS2 JRPG and I'm a bit behind on Atelier games

[@ShadowEliteHD]

That's the dude from Mana Khemia 2

[@pite9]

Could be Raze from Mana Khemia 2. It's a spin off of Atelier.

[@matheu6848]

I tried to play the first Star Ocean game this years and It was a disaster, probably one of the worst jrpgs I have ever played in my life.

[@uchenna8885]

trails is 9 million currently

[@olemortensen3354]

3:00 Trails is never Borring, but I have sympathy for those who got the commitment to play this for having the fatigue kick in mid current finish line. Just know, you don't have to play 11+ games in one stretch. Sometimes a break and playing something else is a solution to make it through to the end.

[@TheHorribleCreature]

I'd really like a new Star Ocean with a real budget.

[@Zerberos22]

I would like a real budget main entry for Neptunia

[@TheHorribleCreature]

@@Zerberos22 Not gonna lie, that would be good too.

[@ColonelCarnage]

I put down bleach right before it got great- this guy

[@LilT2o00]

where tf is fire emblem lmao tried to play 3 houses 4 times couldn't get more than 5hrs into it before dropping it each time. Felt like a task than a game; didn't have fun was like nope

[@TravisBradley-m4s]

Okuneva Haven

[@warvenom2516]

I like dying in darksouls tho

[@Kozmo-Kamuy]

A game running a 30 fps me looking a most AAA games yeah they run the same your point is mute style over graphic

[@ShadowEliteHD]

LMAO Thought I wouldn't have to mention this: Most (Not all) AAA games are running at 30FPS because their graphical fidelity is high and are operating at much higher scope. Much higher than a game like Neptunia could ever reach. Try again.

[@f.b.l.9813]

bruh, Neptunia with it's PS2 graphics running at 30 on PS5 has no excuse.

[@n3r0n3]

all right but obviously play Elden Ring FIRST (that's the new Skyrim and it's a colossal masterpiece) ...then, if u have the time and you are curious, play trails of cold steel which, in terms of scope, is impressive. RPG stories normally only span a couple games but here u have multiple games all interconnected into the same epic 300 hours story.. this is what I mean by "scope". In terms of expectations the first game is absolute trash - at least up to chapter 5 - but If u manage to go through the first say 40 hours it starts to get decent... second game is better etc etc... I think the Trails series is so incredibly over-rated that people are put off when they face the reality of it. We should all be more reasonable in my op.

[@SuperSupersoda]

The most accurate thing anyone has posted on the internet ever is that meme of Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K from the original men in black telling Will Smith's Agent J that it's worth it, if you're strong enough. That's the trails series in a single soundbite, the barriers to entry are really high, but it's so worth it, if you're strong enough to overcome those barriers.

[@ShadowEliteHD]

Gotta spread the word. Make ppl strong! lol

[@nightwolf235]

“divin force was a dam good game” then he says the visuals were off models were ehhh and some mechaics didnt work well lol. Plus the subtitles and menu were like stupid small. thats my main reason for not trying the game

[@ChemicalXzibit]

More content from the GOD 🙏🙏

[@femtrooper]

Haha, oh man, I still want to give the Neptunia games a shot one day. Just maybe to see how bad they are??? LOL

[@shadowmaksim]

Well, if you ever do, hopefully you get at least some amount of enjoyment out of it. Even if only ironically from what it's sounding like. Geez, I forgot how much the Western JRPG community seems to hate this series.

[@f.b.l.9813]

Japan needs to make more anime styled BIG BUDGET games because seems like the only ones getting the budget are the ones with sorta realistic art styles, aka final fantasy-like, the Chinese are going to overtake them if they don't get off their asses.

[@ChrisMS0815]

Speaking facts about dudes making excuse to not play Trails, they also have time to replay games they already beat like 5 times such as Persona 5 or Kingdom Hearts yet can't make time for a new JRPG experience one that they don't even realize tops their all time favorites.

[@ShadowEliteHD]

It truly is a problem that they don't want to have a new experience. But maybe its their loss.

[@AlexanderMartinez-kd7cz]

if neptunia had ONE decent game designer on the team it wouls be the final fantasy of weeb games but alas. all it has is cute and funny stuff.

[@JRPGAntiquity]

One of these is not like the others, but yeah, I'd be perfectly fine if four of these series went away for good.

[@ShadowEliteHD]

YEESH. This man is out for blood 😆

[@92jdeg]

most of these can be answered with 1 word…….Japan.

[@basicallyanon]

you lost me with one piece

[@ShadowEliteHD]

You mean GOAT Piece??

[@kazenna]

Trails is such a miserable slog ngl, I got to like my fourth game and just stopped. So much of it is padded filler nonsense too

[@ShadowEliteHD]

oof hate to hear it. Its not for everyone maybe.

[@cius2112]

you have padded filler nonsense for brains.

[@martinde-serres8724]

If the Trails games weren't filled with like a billion lines of text each, XSEED and NIS would've have no issue translating them and bringing them to the West without causing launch gaps between them and with the Japanese releases Falcom should've listened to the Western fans and just chill with new releases cause this isn't CoD or some other crappy annual franchise People in the West need enough breathing room to play them instead of playing the ''we-need-to-catch-up-very-fast'' game with the Japanese releases Same goes for Gust with their almost-annual Atelier series cause, again, they're fucking RPGs: it takes a few dozen HOURS each to beat, so having 1 new release every few months is just too much to catch up Especially when people are taking their free time playing them, meaning it could take them weeks even months to even beat 1 due to IRL stuff outside of gaming At this point, someone like me will have to play every available entry of both series in the West on easier difficulties JUST to be caught up with the Japanese side, which is insane as both have about a dozen or so entries each, meaning playing over 24+ games in a very short notice before the Western releases of the next installments, which is INSANE AF Sorry for the rant even though I enjoy both series, but this release rush is just too ridiculously intense for not even 1 person to deal with

[@AyumuNarumi75]

The Atelier games start out as trilogies, and even then they always had a different main character(Ryza is the exception) so you could play them stand alone. Nobody needs to go play all the old ones first in order to play one of the newer ones. Do you feel you have to catch in order to play a new Final Fantasy game?

[@martinde-serres8724]

@@AyumuNarumi75 Not every saga started out as a trilogy, ya know Some don't even have 3 full games and then there's the Nelke one which is a crossover event-like entry as that original lead character crosses with the MCs from throughout the whole franchise Also, yeah you DON'T need to play all of them, but for someone who wants to experience the COMPLETE evolution of the franchise, they'll NEED to play them all Also also, I know each saga is set in its own world different from the others, but no one cares as they'll keep coming back for each new game that comes out, knowing whenever a change of MC and setting is inevitable I dunno why you are explaining me this like I DON'T even know the franchise, cause again I've played them myself and have done my own research prior to my comment You don't need to be a total prick towards someone who is a fan of the franchise

[@AyumuNarumi75]

@@martinde-serres8724 i started with the PS3 ones, and they all started as trilogies since then. I played Nelke, and was able to enjoy it without playing the ones before Rorona. My whole point is that they are stand alone games. That's probably why they don't put a number in the main title. Yes I know that for example Atelier Ayesha is refer to as A14 because it's a main game, but the main title isn't called Atelier 14 Ayesha. i didn't feel like my comment was that bad. Sorry if you felt that way. Your complaint could be used for any long series. That's why I brought up Final Fantasy. Someone new to the series can play Final Fantasy 16 without playing any earlier game. Just like somebody can play Atelier Ryza without playing any earlier game in the series.