6 Bad Habits In JRPGs

[@TheKisekiNut]

Hi guys - first of all apologies for the sporadic release schedule. Some of you probably know that I've been having tech issues, and the new PC that I built appears to have a faulty power supply. Weirdly enough it was fine for a week after I tinkered a bit but just started to have the same problem again last night. So I'm probably gonna need to disassemble and get the old one sent off for a replacement - hopefully it'll all sort out soon and I can get back to my standard approach. Even with that though, I'm still working on projects and scripts in the mean time, so keep an eye out for those when they release - thanks for your patience!

[@Nikita_Akashya]

It's fine friend. My good buddy weapons just started uploading again too. He is finally at the ending of Trails to Azure and will be done in a couple of videos I guess. He made a Nutshell series for the sky games and a nutshell video for Zero. He also wants to make a nutshell series for Cold Steel. The bad thing about that is, that Cold Steel doesn't have 2D portraits. Do you think the 3D models have enough expressions for a nutshell series? I hope weapons can find a good joke for Rean. Estelle had the cop obsession and Lloyd the thing with his barrier speeches. Maybe Reans joke could be about depression or something. I hope you can fix your computer soon TKN. I don't know if it's interesting to you, but today I learned that there is exactly 1 Taco Bell in Deutschland. It's in Ramstein. But I feel you about the item hoarding. And the buying new equipment stuff and running out of money. The worst time I had with this was in Trails in the Sky the 3rd. Where I'd buy new equipment for everyone and then literally the next monument has better stuff and I just spent all my money. And yes, I never used those zeram capsules in true JRPG fashion. But as Excelblem said: We don't know if the credits will attack us when we beat the final boss? So just in case the game decides to spring a trap on us at the very last second, those 99 full heals and general full bag of every item you can buy is necessary. Yes, I hoard everything. Just in case, have you started Xenoblade 3 yet? I ran across a post that said how gold is useless. And sadly, it is. I still buy every item I find just to have it in my inventory. I just wish there was more stuff to buy. But at least I can be content that I do have stuff to buy once I start new game+ on xenoblade 2 one day. Then i can do all the salvagung until I'm rich as hell. I'm sorry for rambling. Btw, I am in chapter 5 of Ys 8 and it's still great. My all girls team is sadly a bit weak. The all boys is slightly better. Maybe because they have better utility. Or it's just that I'm more used to playing the boys. But anyway, I wish you a great rest of the weekend and will keep playing JRPGs here in my dads place in good old Deutschland.

[@yojimbo26]

The most problems I've had with PCs are the PSUs. Well to be fair shoddy fuse box did one in but yes I've had issue's with those. Mobo's are a close second. Most PSUs come with a guarantee so make use of that as you haven't had it long.

[@7blackm7md5]

My problem us when there a class system or builds in the game I just spent so much time on choosing and it's annoying same thing when games have character customization ( but not always ) but seriously job system stats builds appear I just spend so much time searching in it

[@tohruadachi9767]

Catching spoilers is the big one for me. Sometimes I don't even try to search, but some random KZbin thumbnail decides to ruin everything, because I googled OST once

[@makotoyuki345]

I’m honestly surprised I still know nothing about Xenoblade 3’s story beyond the trailers

[@ClaymanFlames]

@@makotoyuki345 Here's to staying pure from XB3 spoilers!

[@makotoyuki345]

@@ClaymanFlames ditto!

[@chuckchan4127]

As a rule if I care about spoilers, I avoid anything related to the game on the internet entirely.

[@FirstLast-mn4re]

*vague spoilers for the first Trails of Cold Steel game I guess* This happened to me with Trails of Cold Steel. I looked up the song Belief because it was a banger and then In the suggested videos I saw an upload of the Super Arrange version and in the thumbnail I saw a certain familiar character holding a certain weapon that was identical to the weapon used by a certain terrorist leader. Which kind of ruined a reveal towards the end of the game becuase it wasn't that hard to put 2 and 2 together after seeing that thumbnail.

[@lacasadedarkam]

My main bad habit in RPGs in general: Hoarding items expecting to use them at some point. Ending up beating the game with 9999 items still waiting to be used.

[@DumbestDumbFool]

I also guilty of this, even in games with refreshable items such as the souls series, I hold on to the potion and died too much.. Also games like genshin which rely on hitting the enemy to be able to use the better skills, I hold onto the burst until I felt it's necessary when I spend a lot more grindy item to heal rather than using the burst to heal. It feels like it is indoctrinated subconsciously from when I was little playing JRPGs, but then again they asked us to use the item as they gives them generously, it's baffling. I now has to consciously told myself to just use and spend the item to have better experiences with the game

[@sofaris576]

I have this habet but its very satisfaying to break out of them once in a while. In my first playthrough of FFIX I burned through a bunch of Elixirs and those where quite helpful. And in Fuga Melodies of Steel I use these limited SP recovery Items. I think the game is designed to bite me in the ass fore being to stingy with those. Running out of SP at the wrong moment sucks. There are certan enemies where losing a turn to heal up SP can hurt a lot. I dont think its a bad resource mangement system though. I can not buy them (only trait 3 weaker healing items agsinst 1 stronger one) but the game throws more on my way then I need. It would only punish me if I am too stingy.

[@yeontanseyebrows5588]

Been a bad habit of mine ever since I was a child. I remember playing pokemon games and always buying 100 revives before challenging the champion

[@anonymousfilipino3232]

ah yes just accidentally doing itemless runs

[@nickel7o740]

That's literally me. lol

[@DippoMagoo]

To add to the shopping one: I constantly have a habit in some games where you have multiple weapon/armor shops in a town, where I'll just buy the first new pieces of equipment I see in a store...... Only to then find another store in the same town that has better equipment. That happens surprisingly often, especially in Trails, LOL

[@TheKisekiNut]

All. The. Time.

[@timbtw3656]

honestly, sounds like game designer's fault.

[@Dhalin]

@@timbtw3656 I wouldn't say it is so much of a fault as it is "realism" because if you have a medieval city, I'm sure there will be more than one blacksmith selling weapons, and weapons from one shop might be of better quality than the ones from another shop. Kinda have to know or browse to figure out what's the best buy. Kinda like how you can buy a cheap lawn mower from Lowes, or you can buy that expensive Kubota from their store that is going to perform significantly better... at probably 5x the price.

[@mariachristi207]

Happened to me the first time I dove into Cold Steel, and since then I always check if they have multiple weapon shops in town before I decide to buy equipments LMAO X"D

[@PwnySlaystation01]

Hey here's some upgraded gear! >next shop over Same defense stats but with +spd +str and sometimes even cheaper lol

[@yoso378]

SMT 5 was actually pretty good with regards to getting the player to stop item hoarding. Every item in that game is incredibly useful, and the fights are tough enough to encourage you to use them if it will get you that win. Items have a limit to how many you can carry per item, and every item has a repeatable method to obtain it. It makes it easier to use them since you want to not be full so you can pick up more, and you feel safe knowing you can get more if you really need it.

[@Gensolink]

personally I use high tier items when I'm fairly far in a fight and dont wanna retry.

[@animemonsterx]

yeah, SMT and persona are pretty good at encouraging the use of items especially at max difficulty...i still hoard everything though, most of the time i would rather gamble on 1 hp than to use a heal item

[@Phoenixflara]

yeah SMT is that series that will make me dig in a bag looking for those last bead chains and chakra drops as opposed to Hoarding Fantasy

[@lucasbittencourtnogueira5858]

@Grhifen not at all, most of the games I end up never using beads or the mp healing items lol

[@Kenko_4]

I definitely developed a habit of talking to all NPCs after playing through the Trails and Ys games. While other series don't do it as thoroughly as Falcom games, I still enjoy talking to NPCs despite boring dialogue. It helps towns feel more inhabited even just slightly. I definitely fell into the bad habit of looking into some reviews/opinions before playing a game and had a preconceived view due to them. I thankfully have stopped that habit and make an effort to go into games completely blind (even music since hearing music in game for the first time can be incredible like in Xenoblade). Thanks for the interesting video TKN and I hope you get those PC issues sorted out soon!

[@yoso378]

It was dragon quest games that made me start doing that. Almost every NPC has something relevant to say either plot or gameplay wise, and those that don't usually have some legit funny dialog.

[@larcek.giglamesh]

bad habit, or some may call it a skill, i tend to always walk the right way. many games don't have an exclusive indicator on which way is the right way and whenever i want to actually explore, there's a high chance for me to encounter the next plot sequence and if i'm really unlucky, that can block me out of the previous area at times. excluding checking how long a game is, that list is easily mine as well though.

[@armorvil]

Yep, the wrong way is always the right way! 😂😂

[@liamarie2187]

I have this 'luck' as well. Most of the time I somehow go straight into the boss' room/area while trying to explore which triggers the cut scene leaving me with no choice but to fight without saving first.

[@Atlessa]

And that's why I am VIOLENTLY in favor of games having a 'go here for plot' indicator of some description.

[@mohamadshehab4162]

I keep those rare items under the mentality "if i use it in this fight and end up losing i will lose it for nothing and too lazy to reload to get it back", and thus 100 hours go by and my collection saved in that virtual bag forever to not be used.

[@PloysMaw]

I ended up being spoiled for 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2' when I was looking up which Blades were the best. Ultimately I realised it dosen't really matter which ones you use because every one has it's uses for different playstyles and it's a matter of figuring out what works best for your own method. For those who haven't played the game as of yet, some are tied too story progress and lead to some of the better moments in the story so looking at information might ruin key story points.

[@ComfyCherry]

I mean generally if you are looking up which is "the best" anything in an rpg it'll be a late game item, if not post game, and you're likely to be spoiled

[@Ovalishperogative]

@@ComfyCherry thats like asking to be spoiled...

[@michielmanders9766]

I mean, it for sure matters which one you use. Can you use any blade to beat the game, yes. Is there a massive difference in performance? Also yes. Some are objectively much better. For some people, playing optimally is fun and for us we have use for things like Blade tier lists.

[@ComfyCherry]

@@michielmanders9766 sure but expect to be spoiled, save the optimisation for post game content and really, with the Xenoblade Chronicles series the main story is so easy that sub optimal isn't noticeably bad until directly compared to what is good, with xc2 I beat the highest level superboss, lvl 130, at lvl 80 just with the best stuff I happened find (I didn't even use food at that point because I tend to horde consumables unless I know they're worth using) and then learned some better stuff on youtube, I'm not some super gamer and certainly that feat isn't brag worthy or anything, (some of the lower lvl superbosses are much much harder) I'd already put ~200hrs in by the time they introduce BoC mode so maybe in that difficulty blade choice matters somewhat but idk if you can even play that without having beat the game already, and even then afaik that mostly just nerferd combo attacks because everything could be easily beaten with an instant combo when optimised. If someone elses optimisations are more important than the story, first of all I'd say question your priorities, but there is no "right way" to play games as weird as they may seem to me but nobody can rightfully complain about being spoiled when they are prioritising finding out what the absolute best gear in the game is over completing the story.

[@michielmanders9766]

@@ComfyCherry What do you mean with "someone elses optimisations?"

[@mizusaucemix]

So for me one of my bad habits is I have too do side quests. Even if that side quest isn't rewarding I still have too do it because at least for me I feel accomplished in doing so

[@TheKisekiNut]

XC1 was where I drew the line - many of those quests are just filler at best.

[@mizusaucemix]

@@TheKisekiNut funny enough I'm playing XC1 rn and this was what I was referring to, when I wrote this comment.

[@DarkGraid]

It happened to me in XC1 as well. In one moment I have cleared all the quests that I had in the quest list... only to discover even more quests in the last part of the game. I was so burned with side quests that I rushed to complete the game after reaching LV5 in all areas of colony 6.

[@ViolinChick5]

Funnily enough, I’m also playing Xenoblade 1 for the first time and having the exact same struggle. I like that most quests don’t require you to physically track down the questgiver again and turn them in…but jeez, most of them seem to be filler. And yet I’m still compelled to do them for completion’s sake lmao

[@shytendeakatamanoir9740]

@@TheKisekiNut That's why I never even leaved the first town. There's too much side quests to do before continuing, and fomo hit myself hard. If I ever replay through the game, I'll probably won't be that hard on myself...

[@amurter19]

Seeing 99 megalixirs in my inventory at the final boss in Chrono Trigger kinda broke the hoarding for me. I do always tend to Google like 'trails of cold steel tips' and see what problems might arise before they actually do out of worry I'll miss something or play wildly inefficient.

[@flameshana9]

Chrono Trigger was the one that did it for me too. I was like "Maybe I'll need it someda--oh wait, this IS the final boss."

[@jacobmonks3722]

Once I learned you could farm the ridiculously powerful items including Megalixirs from the Black Omen, I made no qualms about using items willy nilly.

[@VioletRM]

Chrono Trigger hands out enough items and sells them at prices cheap enough where you never really feel bad for using them, besides, moneys not really used for much else anyways

[@flameshana9]

@@VioletRM And yet we still hoard them. Our brains kinda forget logic and only think "MUST SAVE"

[@calweeb1282]

I relate these habits easily as a JRPG fan. All six habits are so accurate especially the last one since I always stocked up on items for the Trails series. Also, I look up on game wiki to help side quests and tips on how to defeat difficult boss battles. Thank you so much for your hard work on explaining JRPG habits!

[@jesserivera2043]

I think I've seen it in the comments, but a big habit of mine is going through extensive reviews of games before buying, since I don't have too much time in my life to play, and as a result I get spoiled on plot elements. And my runner-up habit is not being attentive enough when a plot is about to develop, and as a result I miss a lot of side quests

[@drowningin]

Talking to every single NPC in every town, every time one updates I check every NPC again. Send help 😵 I've actually broke the never using items thing. I use them now the moment I need them, it was very liberating

[@TaiketsuG]

I can totally agree that ever since i touched upon the Falcom universe i started talking and re-talking to every NPC to see what happens etc. Sadly outside of Falcom games that is mostly a waste of time so i try to not do it but old habits die hard at this point. The issue with items never use, never lose is also a very bad habit i have so i feel with you D:

[@jclosed2516]

Yeah - I guess that saving items stuff comes from the older games I played (like Baldurs gate, Dragon Age Original, Dungeon Siege, Icewind Dale, the Risen series and so on), and having that habit transferred to the JRPG genre. And Yes! After playing those Falcom games I noticed I also developed the habit to talk to every NPC in other games. Very often with disappointing results, but still...

[@HybridAngelZero]

My most long-running bad habit is also the one you highlighted at no. 6, I am a compulsive item hoarder, and while I have gotten better about it in recent years, I have many a final boss slain with a full stock of Megalixirs in hand My worst one, which I thankfully got over, was trying to do a "perfect" run on my first playthrough of a game. I would make sure I got every chest, item, side quest, talk to every NPC, etc, and eventually started using guides to do that... which made games absolutely miserable for me, and a lot games I never finished because playing by the book (literally) was sucking out all the fun and thrill of discovery. Thankfully, I now try to into as many games as I can as blind as possible.

[@ShadowPKMNcz]

The "Just play it" part is probably the one I struggle with the most. Example: The Pokemon series. When Lets Go and Sw/Sh both released (hell even before the got released) they got a pretty big wave of backlash and I was swept up in it especially around Sw/Sh. So when I got the game I played it and convinced myself that I hated it. When IoA released I got it day one, I didn't follow most of the news I just knew that there were going to be more customization options and that was my justification for getting the Expansion Pass and you know what? I loved it. It was a lot of fun. Then I wanted to get some of the alternate forms and get all the Galar Pokemon so for that I needed another save and when I played again I also really liked the base game. On the opposite spectrum we have: Platinum, B/W and B2/W2. I heard so much about all of these games, about how they were the best games in the series and what not. Guess what? I couldn't even get past the 4th gym in Platinum and playing B/W was a slog that took multiple months as opposed the like week it would take me normally, hell in the case of FR and Emerald 2 days even. Nowadays I do really like all of these games after I've given them another shot this time with adjusted expectations and yeah I also loved them but man I thought something was wrong with me then. Sorry for the long comment :) but basically the moral of the story is play the games yourself so you can make your own opinion and take the Pokémon communities opinion with a lot of salt because they like to overeaggarate how good or bad a game is.

[@DiabolicCrusher]

My probably worst habit is using only 1 save slot per plathrough.

[@cabssoprano]

Not using items is definitely a bad habit of mine, as well as looking up something on my phone and getting distracted and turning a 50 hour game into an 80 hour one

[@julieannefowler5768]

This is something that adds to my love of FFXII. Instead of battles flat out giving you gil, you get loot to sell for the bulk of the gil you get in the game and in turn it unlocks things that you can buy made from the loot you sold. It taught me to be discerning about what weapons, armor, and consumable items I purchase in the course of the game. Great video.

[@NathanYoungLibrary]

Oh man, the stock of clincher items in inventory at the end of the game is SO HIGH every time I play an RPG. I take such weird pride in finding them...and somehow also take such weird pride in not NEEDING them in the end. Having a giant stack of "save me!" items in my bag post big baddie is like a little mark of having figured out the game systems + leveling really well.

[@sofaris576]

I actully take pride in using them. It makes me feel smart using it to my advantage even though its a basic game mechanic.

[@MagusCrys]

My worst habit is probably avoiding the story at every single opportunity to see if there is anything I might have missed on the way or see if there is anything to discover a little earlier. A habit formed by games kicking me out of areas every so often in the past, usually ebds up with exploring each area twice instead. Or like, five times.

[@leshyaedawnfire]

One of my favorite JRPG's is Legend of Dragoon, but I have a really bad habit of never using the games biggest mechanic, the Dragoon Transformations, except in boss battles. This is actually a bad idea, as it draws out the combat and one of the characters has an insta-kill spell in her Dragoon form that is designed specifically for mobs and does not work on bosses.

[@DamaNovus]

can't remember the last time i heard someone mention My Hero lol, classic. god these habits are so accurate to a lot of us, just a part of the JRPG experience i guess lol, it's like the genre has wired our brains to be this way. definitely trying to fight my brain these days and play through games more organically and less "structured", like not stressing too much if i didn't speak to every NPC in the area, not stopping to grind and optimize character gear etc, sticking to choices and not reloading even if the outcome is kinda regrettable... JRPGs are such a love/hate relationship lol

[@TheKisekiNut]

My Hero is a classic! Many great comedies from that era.

[@genesisno1918]

I shall 100% agree on items. I usually will go through smt games without items cause I forgot I had any. My bad habit in jrpgs will always be thinking that I can go through a game with the three-four party members I like best. Only for the game to say I have to use someone under leveled, undergeared, and will certainly die.

[@Wabasi]

The just play it habit definitely struck home for me. To add to it I'd probably say that looking at an abundance of trailers also never helped me, builds up excess hype and expectations from my experience. Nowadays I typically just watch the reveal trailer and maybe one gameplay trailer if the reveal didn't have any. Then check how long the game is before starting. This has helped me immensely in getting enjoyment out of a game without being influenced by others whether they say a title sucks or it's a 10/10. For me personally even just hearing the overall opinion before diving in has led me to unintentionally look for those flaws or lack there of throughout the experience than taking the game for what it is. Great video as usual. Sorry to hear about those consistent PC problems, sadly that's just part of the experience. I think almost every friend I know that's built a PC has at least one nightmare story of a faulty part or some hiccups they encountered. Hope it gets resolved soon!

[@sunname6252]

On "Just Play It" I tend to have the issue of wanting a permanent missables guide in front of me. I don't have the energy to sink to full cycles into a game because of nonsense like Vesperia's Brionac questline.

[@rudidellama3718]

I guess that a pretty accurate list, talking to NPCs in non-Falcom games is very true, also I get slight anxious when I see a game with multiples ends/paths, knowing that I'll probably want to know every story piece (if I like the game)and I'll need to replay the whole thing, because of that I usually evade thoses games

[@wesnohathas1993]

Honestly I'd blame the unused item situation on the game being too easy in most cases. Unless of course having all those items and no need to use them is a result of obsessive grinding.

[@arhra]

I definitely feel you on the mashing through dialogue problem. Luckily the modern consoles all have retrospective video recording functionality, so you can just hit a button after realising you've missed something, then watch back through and try to pause on the text box you skipped. Which is great until you find yourself playing a Switch game that turns out not to support it (looking at you, Xenoblade 2).

[@boltinabottle6307]

I bet you're glad you held onto your Burst Orbs in Azure. The final boss is practically unbeatable on higher difficulties without them (just finished a hard mode first run, and I needed them). I read a guide that stated you won't die from the "game over" spell the boss casts if you're in stealth, but it doesn't work. Also, play Cold Steel 3 or 4 with Soft's nightmare mods. I guarantee you'll use all of the DLC Zerams before the finale.

[@iwakurabaikaiya2760]

When I was younger, I used to do as you did and read tons of reviews and go through tons of wikis to decide if I actually wanted to play a game or not. Of course, I didn't have much money for games, so I wanted to make sure I was getting my money's worth. Now, I usually just check a short review if it is not something I am sure I would enjoy.

[@revaryk6868]

4:48 My problem is that I think I save way too often, even in games that autosave a lot. In Dragon Quest XI I saved almost every time I went to a church, even when the game autosaved a bit earlier. Probably a habit I built from playing the other DQ games where saving at the church was the only way you could save. (That and saving a lot is a good habit to have in case of game crashes, assuming a game has a problem with that in the first place)

[@ThenosM_]

As far as the buying new equipment first chance you get, I tend to spend all my cash pretty easy, and miss out of gear I want to have going into a dungeon. However, this can serve as a blessing in disguise (or a massive canister of copium) where it forces me to grind to get enough materials to have said gear, making my party on par with the level range of the dungeon or slightly overleveled.

[@flameshana9]

All according to plan.

[@VideoGameVillians]

Even when I'm on the final boss I have a hard time convincing myself to use items. It may seem obvious that it's now or never, but even if the boss is actually quite hard I'm still always like "But what if I need it later, like later in the fight or something..." Then the boss dies and I still have all my items, so... I guess now my character can sell them and retire?

[@WolfyzGaming]

Funny thing about the items in bag moment (especially Zeram Capsules, this is directly related to those) is I like to force big moments in games I play. Literally at the end of CS4 I had so much stuff saved up that I put my 3 teams together for the final fight based entirely around what I thought was cool to do, including putting the main heroes all on 1 team and once the enemy was low on health, I'd pop as many capsules as I could to fire off final S-Crafts one after the other in the order the games released. Really hits home with how no matter what time I did it, the music always managed to swell at the right moments and send off the game.

[@chasingtheambitions669]

I can relate to this on so many levels its crazy and the fact that most of them are now the norm for me really means its time to change but I doubt I will. Another bad habit(thanks to the Trails games) is that I tend to search each area thoroughly due to the fear of missing out any special items or enemies.

[@jclosed2516]

I blame those hidden treasure chests with powerful weapons/armor for that habit. Especially when you see an LP where the player finds that stuff and don't get slaughtered in the upcoming boss battle, like myself...

[@chasingtheambitions669]

@@jclosed2516 Yep that's another thing too.

[@TheKisekiNut]

I think another issue in Trails especially at least in the earlier games is that there are loads of unmarked quests you can easily miss without a guide. So you kind of want to check it all.

[@chasingtheambitions669]

@@TheKisekiNut Oh right!! The hidden quests are also another culprit of that, drove me insane because I often tend to 100% these games.

[@kazukitakamura1311]

A bad habit for me would be staying later than expected to play a game. This happens when the story is getting exciting and I have work the next day. Also I like the new end card.

[@SKaede]

The problem with jrpg items is that using them waste a turn in combat which usually not worth it. Items that cure status and give minor buff should be giving free action 1 per turn so it can overshadow skills that cost nothing. Why would you waste 2 turns to do a 120% dmg attack when you can just attack twice for 200% damage.

[@ricardodarcangelo2437]

Hmm... while that is true, there's 2 points to consider: In many of the more challenging "traditional" jrpgs, battles can be quite prolonged. Whether due to inflated hp or stats of them enemy, caught in a "revive loop", or having many "phases". In longer battles, that 20% (as an example) will pay dividends well beyond what you do without it, even factoring in the turn you spend to use item (or skill), they still add up way more. The 2nd point, is that in games with difficulty selection (trails, shining force/fire emblem, tales, etc), playing on the hardest difficulty frequently, will quickly break those hoarding habits. I never got into SMT, but I understand that in those games, you've gotta use every tool in your arsenal. Forcing the player to use every tool they have, some with a cost to do, is good design objectively. Some games don't do this well though, and that should be criticized. And of course, this strategic style of combat where you're forced to use everything you've got, isn't for everyone. Some players don't like that style, and that's perfectly fine. But curing a status being a free turn, completely nullifies statuses as a threat altogether, and just equates to a free no damage turn for the player; which would be pointless. Might as well have the enemy just attack then. If buffs didn't have an opportunity cost to use, again, it just amounts to free bonus damage for the player, with no drawback. Thereby making regular attacks or skills without buffs, obsolete. That's why it's designed as it is. The opportunity cost to use these things, (a turn, in this case) is necessary because it forces the player to choose, creates variety and strategy. A game that didn't have opportunity cost to use items, buffs, etc, would amount to "oh, a boss fight started? I'll just watch TV while I keep hitting X and I win". I want to emphasize: if that's what a player enjoys, more power to them. There's plenty of games that would fit that bill, and that's totally cool; to each their own. But Jrpgs have always been about strategy, tactics, developing characters (as well as world building, art direction, and of course, story), removing strategic considerations, would remove the heart of an rpg.

[@AzureKyle]

My biggest issue occurred when I was younger (I don't do this anymore.) I would get so invested in a JRPG's story, that I would start skipping all combat that was starting to get tedious, just so I could get to the next story segment. This usually left me severely underlevelled by the end and I would either be unable to beat it, or really struggle at it. And during the PS2 era (where this usually happened) I would then look up cheats to boost my character's level. And in one case (.hack//G.U. Vol. 3) it ended up backfiring and glitching, to where I ended up way over-leveled beyond what the game should have allowed (level cap was 150, I somehow got boosted to 9999), and was able to one-shot even the game's superboss.

[@xsilentshadow4x]

I usually save 2 files and alternate between them every couple hours bc in some games may have been underleveled but stuck not able to go find any enemies to level up with.

[@windwaker0rules]

With the items, you usually get like 50 elixers in the final dungeon. Just use them on the hard boss.

[@LightMageMike]

Man. The skipping through dialogue gets me because I always, inevitably, get to the point where I start to overestimate my reading pace. Like, I basically start skimming and assume I retained the information only to find out five lines later I did not in fact. I basically need text logs at this point.

[@Neroveris]

I also hoard items. By the time I would use items, I usually reach the threshold where they're mostly pointless. Say I decide to finally use a Potion or Apple Gel and my HP is over 3000 so it doesn't quite get me out of danger anymore. Though on harder difficulty runs I will attempt to force myself to use items more.

[@eluvianii]

Honestly, the saving one is something I actively like. Recently I started a habit of using one save slot per game session. That way I can look back at the list and see how long my sessions were, how long it has been since I started the game, stuff like that. It adds another layer to the journey

[@frozenmana]

I think that for the last one, that's normally a big issue for me but when i played octopath I discovered that the final boss is literally a superboss and I had to get all of that stuff to even stand a chance lol.

[@GamesofFuturesPast]

The mashing dialogue one was particularly relevant to me. I also struggle with reading and processing text at the same time so often I finish games with only a basic understanding of what happened.

[@TheKisekiNut]

Multiple endings are my bane for that reason - so easy to miss if you're not aware of the conditions. And some are so obtuse it makes it worse.

[@GamesofFuturesPast]

@@TheKisekiNut I liked how Nier replicant did it where you only have to replay the second half of the game rather than starting a whoooooooole new file.

[@Aarolei]

Once you start popping items you just can't stop! But seriously, they are a real help in smoothing out battles in so many ways. More JRPG players should use the item menu option more in general. Giving options to buff or heal to characters who might not naturally have that option otherwise is super wonderful. My experiences and what team compositions I can build also widen with the power of items. This was a great video! We probably all have at least one of these habits and we need to break them. x) PS: Mine is the pressing A button too fast one! I'm a fast reader but sometimes I mess up and miss out on important info that isn't repeated again! Worst feeling in the world and not every RPG has a guide these days~

[@jakkurinjactenderjakala4129]

"More JRPG players must use items". That's (honestly) so true!!

[@novaausakura5898]

If a game doesnt push me into a situation where i need to use items, then im not going to. Using Dragon Quest 11 as an example, when i got past the first chapter, i found healing items were pretty much useless in battle, especially in the late game. Best healing i could get from items was about 90 hp when characters are sitting near 500 and all but 2 people have healing spells that cost next to nothing for full healing. Mp Recovery items also didnt really feel useful in battle unless they were full mp refills, so i always used items for out of battle restoration. I only just now started the post game so i dunno if they fix that problem, but i find most modern games only really have their items be useful in the early game.

[@RushStudios101]

My biggest bad habit is skipping sidequests so I don't become overleveled. This usually ends up with me missing out on strong rewards or interesting worldbuilding because I was too afraid about becoming overleveled and making the game too easy. Xenoblade is really great for making sidequest EXP an optional consumable instead of immediately adding it to your characters, it helps motivate me to do every sidequest without fear of outpacing the game's difficulty curve.

[@skynet0912]

This is not exactly JRPG specific, but i find myself doing it more in JRPGs than other games for whatever reason... If the map or compass tells you to go to a specific location to continue the story, i MUST then go and do LITERALLY everything else first! There are open world games where i have basicly routed out everything on the map as soon as i get out of the tutorials, and only when i run out of things i can feasibly complete will i begrudgingly go do the next story part... I mostly picked this trait up when i played Trails of Cold Steel 1 for the first time (my first Trails game), and found out that the game locks you out of amazing items if you don't get them before the end of a chapter, so now i have this fear that if i don't do EVERYTHING when it comes to sidecontent as soon as it's available, i might be locked out of getting it!

[@gremlinn7]

This is a rule/precept that for years I've called "Talk to the King last" - meaning that to see everything, you need your last interaction to be the focus that most obviously moves the main story forward (stereotypically, in a fantasy RPG, going up to the throne and talking to the king).

[@pouse4]

To me, the break glass in case things go really wrong items, those should be seen as trophies. If you don't use them, well at least you got to hold onto a rare item.

[@King-2077]

My bad habits are everything you mentioned and being so perfectionist that I did all of the sidequests and attainable items as early as I could and then Not finishing the game because I love it so much that I didn’t wanna see the ending lol.

[@durandus676]

I caught the ending photo spoiler from XBC3 from a youtube thumbnail like 5 days after launch, LIKE THATS TOO SOON FOR A 100 HOUR JRPG. In aterlier Ryza I used an item that you need for the closing portal thing bit and i couldnt find another no matter how much i grinded so im just stuck

[@TheKisekiNut]

Didn't even go near YT when I was playing XC3 - I knew something would pop up.

[@ripwitch9833]

For me, I hoard items. I do actually sell old weapons when upgrading, but I keep the weapon they join with so it more or less balances out lol. Being hesitant in using consumables even if it's like a health potion (like what if I need it later, or worse for an upcoming boss).

[@jakkurinjactenderjakala4129]

Yeah, people must DEFINETLY pay more attention to their healing potions!!

[@kooljoshboy8210]

I always tend to the breaks of weeks at a time for JRPGs. It helps me appreciate it the game more when I eventually get back to it. Currently Xenoblade 1 is on break, while I mindlessly cut through enemies in Fire emblen 3 Hopes

[@gremlinn7]

I guess this counts as a bad habit. In games where the map fills in up to a certain radius of everywhere you've travelled, I tend to zigzag back and forth across every new zone I reach, making sure to get it all filled in, even when I can see there's nothing of interest in a certain area. In Star Ocean 3, you at least got a bonus for doing so on each map, but I also felt compelled to do so in XC3 (until a certain very large zone, if you know what I'm talking about - skipped doing it for that).

[@playahsan]

The first one is a habit I long since quelled, because +2 to def is usually not worth the money I spend on it. And then I played Ys9 Monstrum Nox and expected to find armors here and there, only to then realize that I start chapter 3 and my team still has starter armos... whoops. No wonder I kept taking so much damage.

[@ssjdennis6058]

My worst habit: wonder around and around, never to hit the final part of the game. Happened to me so often, just not feeling strong enough, while in reality I would've been. Never finished FF7, 12 and others because of this. At some point I even picked up older save files and rushed the remainder just to be done with it. I also feel your items issue, but have it much less after SMT V. Still items in pokemon.... why would I ever need them, if even the E4 doesn't test you...

[@ThePotatoWitch]

I definitely do the 1st one on the list, but honestly, I don't mind, since I plan for needing new equipment anyway, so whatever I happen to find in the next dungeon area just feels like bonus money at that point. Also, dang, I feel so called out with the last thing on the list. I hoard items like mad. Going into the final boss? Fantastic, I have the max amount of Potions, Hi-Potions, Max Potions, freaking every healing item I can get, just in case something happens and I need to... heal 99+ times in the fight, I guess?

[@weridplusho]

Yup, hoarding and not using items is possibly my worst bad habit. It's so bad that it extends to other features too. A lot of the time I've made things harder on myself simply because I don't even think to use any items beyond healing or any skills beyond the basics (which may or may not include dodging). I have to remind myself that the items are there to enhance, not be collectables!

[@vcool122]

meh, if you end up hoarding them (and I do as well) it just means you didn't need them in the first place.

[@0nearmedbandit]

I do have the 6th habit for sure. But I've been playing through the Trails in the Sky series for the first time recently, but since I'm on hard mode, I actually DO use my Zeram Capsules a lot, especially when I get stuck on a boss, and i'm looping the fight over and over on turbo trying to hope that RNG doesn't crit me this time or something.

[@unimaginativexhandle]

A hilarious bad habit of mine in a case of art mimicking life, if the game sells books, I will buy them all before anything else. Then by the time I get around to the important equipment/item shop I am surprised to see I don't have money for the progression items. It doesn't matter if the books are lore based, just a good laugh, or skills they will all be mine.

[@TheKabuto90]

I managed to break myself of this kind of thing thanks to pokemon. Character customization can get very expensive very quickly.

[@ironuru526]

My personal worst will be the shopping, i spend every last penny in new gear, and, if i don't have enough, i start selling and farming. My second one are the use of the healing items, i buy them, but i never, NEVER use items in battle, nor deffensive or offensive, and rarely use healing items

[@jakkurinjactenderjakala4129]

You really need to start using items, like: How can someone complete X game without using any Healing Potion at all!?

[@ironuru526]

Seriously, aside of reviving items, i don't use items in battle, i always make sure to have, at least, one character (other than the medic mage) with healing spells as a back up. I think that use an item is a waste of the turn, the same goes for buff items. Outside of battle i don't have any issue using them.

[@koopakape]

The last one is definitely the first thing I thought of for my own bad JRPG habits, one that many others I've known do as well and I've honestly had a lot of relief and fun getting myself to break that habit over the years. USE ITEMS anytime it'd be even slightly convenient to, or at the very least sell surplus -- it saves so much time and makes so many RPGs *SO* much smoother and more enjoyable to play. And if you feel you need extra at the end to beat the last boss, there's almost ALWAYS some way to farm them up-- and doing some farming for the final challenge feels a lot more natural and comfortable than all the extra you'd have had to do early on to get by as scrooge-ishly as possible. I'd argue that two of these, though, one that you agree with despite putting it up here, are actually *not* bad habits -- saving early and often, all the time, and even ahving multiple save files, I only see as a good thing, a smart thing and something we all have to eventually learn the hard way, though perhaps some of us veterans could cut down on it a *little* bit in modern autosave games and games unlikely to 'lock you out' of major stuff forever due to 'wrong' decisions (one thing i DON'T miss about the 90s era of games). And no, no no, DO talk to EVERY npc in EVERY game, I'll defend that one hard. Even if it's not some immaculate masterpiece of interwoven side-stories like LoH or Xenoblade, it's almost always worth it for various clues and tidbits or even just extra flavor and makes RPGs more rich and fulfilling imo, as well as with many games that have just funny, witty dialogue. I'd say to do it in every game only UNTIL or IF you feel that game's random NPCs aren't going to be worth it, THEN stop the habit only for that one game.

[@Femaiden]

with the pressing button to advance the dialogue. where it gets me is when the character is talking and they have a long one, with multiple sentences and the text does a crawl across and i press the button to make the dialogue just finish and then it says press button to go to the next page of dialogue and then the next page is just like, 2 words and i press the button just as they finish speaking and it skips the next page. basically, i'll accidentally skip a whole page of dialogue and then get confused because now i don't know what they are talking about. the worst is when they ask a question and i accidentally skip it and then a "yes/no" prompt appears and the question was on the previous page of text and i have no idea what they are even asking and if i should say yes or not

[@sylphsylph2118]

yo to fix the last habit the atelier series help a lot since if you don't get to certain milestones you restart and most your damage is from items you craft for the main char (especially in atelier meruru)

[@sneslive1556]

Took me years to actually start clearing JRPGs and the biggest hurdle for me to finish them was avoiding burning myself out. How I do it now is I'll be playing a JRPG alongside one or maybe even two other games that aren't JRPGs and I'll focus on the JRPG for a few days straight. Then I'll take a break. Usually the break lands on the weekend and I'll do basically anything other than play the JRPG. In doing it this way I get a much needed break from the JRPG loop but not a long enough break where I start to forget what I was doing. Granted, recent years the forgetting part has been mitigated by good journal systems but it was a problem for me with old FF games.

[@PenguinMasterKnight]

Oh I completely understand the "Always Save" and "Horde ALL the Items" mindset, I do that ALL the time. One of my bad habits is to run around and do EVERYTHING ELSE I CAN DO before advancing the story, Side quest?, Gotta do it, materials to upgrade my weapons/skills is available?, Gotta grind, paranoid about an upcoming boss?, Either mass grind levels or grind gold to buy a crap ton of HP/MP/Status Ailment items....

[@useless1]

my habits: visit every corner on every map, talk to every npc, get all the items/chests on the map, never use items, fighting as least enemies as possible so the bosses are challenging -> not being able to beat the boss (even tho i have a bunch of items) and then grinding. Kinda stupid.

[@vileBrenman]

ok here's a useful one BUMP UP THE DIFFICULTY when you fight the final boss if you've done all or almost all side quests. trust me nothing feels worse than doing everything only to beat the final boss in one hit like i want my items I grinded for to mean something not the exorbitant amount of exp and levels to win me the fight in a single turn

[@PwnySlaystation01]

haha Zeram Capsules for sure... They're basically an I-Win button so I always save them, then almost never use them. Even when I do end up needing them, I'll often try to get by with a powder instead

[@RukkuHeizen]

i definitely feel the accidental spoilers thing. I just recently spoiler Xenoblade Chronicles 1 when trying to find the best dialogue options for Heart to Hearts. As for hording consumables though... I use those things like candy in certain games.

[@evoLPFAN2011]

The switch version of Cold Steel 3 has times when it will freeze and if I have not saved, it makes re do, sometimes, an hour of story progressing

[@yuantheblue]

I have more than a few of these myself! I place great priority on shopping in town, knowing that down the line any duplicates that do come my way can go on other party members (looking at you Tales and Trails). Also constant saving (sometimes it helps to have one before an important plot point or quest just in case you want to get the correct sequence), as well as the hoarding of items.

[@Dhalin]

On the first point: Yes, sure, a weapon or armor (or even better) is found in the next dungeon, but you still have to fight your way to it, and fighting your way to it is easier if you had the equipment from the previous town. Also, not EVERY JRPG does this, there are plenty that don't. For example, Wild ARMs only has items in shops (90% of the time) with only a few exceptions. So, yes, in that game, buy all the shop items. Every time. Don't think you'll be getting new gear in a dungeon. On the 4th point "Just Play It" ... that's risky. Lots and lots of garbage fire Triple A games out there these days. You kinda need to do research to not get burned by a poorly made game.

[@danielbritoperez]

Very relatable, all of those points. To the point about searching info on the game beforehand, I would also add the specific info search about if the game has multiple endings, and if so what are the requirements to get every ending. Over half the time you get tons of spoilers. Maybe even the whole game gets spoiled for you on searching that info. Last time it happened to me? Just a month ago, with Digimon Survive

[@riesbyfe7511]

I can relate with every single one of these, but there is one habit I've noticed that I hate the most. I grind the game, and complete as many sidequest as possible, get the strongest gear (not all the time), and after 50+ hours in the game and even maybe beating that "secret boss", I feel accomplished and never finish the game Itself. The first time It happened I think It was when i got all the 100+ characters in suikoden V, I though: "Finally, I did it".... and turn it off......

[@Mclearmountain]

Wow great video and great variety of games shown. I appreciate all the showing of gameplay.

[@ComfyCherry]

I'm happy to say the only thing from this video that applies to me is not using consumables. While I do save often and generally in several slots, I'll only manual save whenever I have a break 1-3hrs depending on how into the game I am and when I play a game without auto save and then whenever I think something important/difficult is about to happen. I do occasionally skip dialogue but it's always an accidental double input or smth like that.

[@patrickholzer6415]

adding to the shopping habit: it may not be a bad habit to be decked out as much as possible in an JRPG, but I noticed that my friends quickly grew impatient with me whenever we played Borderlands 2. I am the type of guy to always check *all* the parameters of new gear before equipping it - that pretty much killed the pacing of multiplayer...

[@GalaxyJakeYT]

I haven’t watched it yet, but some for me are: 1. Skipping battles to save time and being under leveled 2. Doing little to no side quests 3. Not trying out new things and systems, or switching classes if that’s avaliable 4. Accidentally throwing away good items instead of bad ones 5. Getting lost in dungeons 6. Not buying recovery items

[@Kio_Kurashi]

OH! What about a game where the final boss scales in difficulty based on how full your inventory is. Maybe even include a mechanic to check if you just sold everything off just before the fight to counter act that strategy.

[@R.Williams]

I'm guilty of all these except checking wikis to see playing time. I figure I'll be playing forever as I do every side quest (Trails of Cold Steel I'm looking at you). Especially the constant saving. Because it takes me so long to get through a game I don't want to have to replay anything. And who knows, you just might need those 99 mega potions for the final boss!

[@rafaomegax]

"The Elixir Syndrome" I can't remember where I found that name but it just fits perfectly. I have that bad habit as well so I porposefully use things that seems useful at the time and damn it makes things mych smoother /easier than hoarding them and handicapping myself at that certain time.

[@RMarr-uy9hf]

I realized that I never use powerful rare item in Rpg cause very quick in the game I forget that I can use them. I never learn the situations where they can be helpful cause I never take the chance to waste them in early game. That is dumb.

[@deusvlad2.083]

Speaking of trails off topic but does anyone know what order to play the new ones coming Trails to Azure, trails into reverie, and trails from zero? I'm still on trails of cold steel part 3

[@michaelc.1710]

Mine is getting halfway through and being so eager to move on to the next game that I rush through to end, find myself way underprepared for the final dungeon and end up watching the ending on KZbin.

[@flukeditgaming]

I have a habit of occasionally not progressing the story when I feel like a big moment is about to happen, so I end up grinding or doing side missions etc, and eventually just end up putting the game down as I get bored instead of doing continuing the story. And then because I put it down, I can't remember where I was or what I was doing, so I have to start all over again :(

[@Lilitha11]

The worst version of the last one, is when you struggle and load a save to go through a battle multiple times, just to save the magic item/potion or whatever. Like it could of made that battle a lot easier, but you just need to save it for later, then you never do end up using it in a later battle either.

[@isaackarr6576]

In a turn based boss fight it helps to remember the 13 turns rule. If you can make the boss fight last 13 turns it's dragging on.

[@panaceaartist]

trails from zero is releasing soon w/ the geofront translation! 4 weeks out? cant wait but still a little worried it may release in an unplayable state as is the case w/ a lot of those nis classics releases and CS 3 and 4 on switch. i will be getting the switch version

[@panaceaartist]

i only finished sky FC but i basically have all the games in some form. im just getting old [im 44] and theres so many games. TKN keep up the good work your content helps me- good luck on the pc repairs

[@Xeros_VII]

start doing A, follow up with B to be able to do A, then get distracted by C, and then D as well, before a sudden event makes you do E and then you completely forget about A.

[@johnnywu8708]

Since I know I tend to hoard, I actively remind myself to use potions and the like around the time I get them, trusting the devs that they will not punish me for using those items. I also have a habit of talking to every NPC, just because I want to learn what goes on. When I started Atelier Sophie, I was hit with barely any new dialogue, and for that, I learned to just check in every once in a while, or when the main story progresses. My other habit is that I stubbornly refuse to check character guides solely out of the reason that I want to do everything blind, and really make my playthrough of the game my own, but it also makes for some needlessly challenging fights, and as someone who likes to do things efficiently, this goes against that very concept.

[@Gensolink]

you know that's why I like tales of synthesis system at least the early incarnation of it, it allows to effectively shop for gear for free if you have the materials and the weapons could be a few tiers better iirc. it's also a good way to get some healing items without grinding money for ten years in the beginning

[@TheLeetCasualGamer]

My biggest bad habbit is not using talent points and/or use stat increasing items. You should see my convoy in Fire Emblem Three Houses and Three Hopes. It's got nothing but stat increasing items.

[@thelightningking8772]

So for the save slots one: I have lost two months of in game time in Persona 4 due to save file corruption before, so I always make multiple saves. As for items one, I agree… unless there is new game plus, then you save those bad boys

[@TheDoc73]

#6: Yes, this. I never use ANY of my items EVER. At first it's because I might need them later. Then it's because 'oh, well, I waited too long and it's useless now'. There are two games where this was not true. The first was Final Fantasy VIII where Omega weapon was so tough that I had to go out and complete special quests for specific items that turned me into a virtual god (for one turn). The second was Shadow Hearts 3. This was the ONLY game series where I used items on a regular basis. And at the final boss, I don't know if I could have defeated it if I had not saved up all those 7th and 5th keys along the way. For anyone who hasn't played this series, it's possibly the greatest hidden gem of the PS2 era. Quirky, yes, but rich and filled with outstanding gameplay as well as respectable puzzle-solving.

[@DavJoestar]

I feel exaggeratedly identified with each point of this top, especially with saving the items and never using them 😅

[@aionicthunder]

I know exactly what really started the "save every 10 minutes" habit. It's something that you didn't mention and is luckily not really a problem in modern RPGs, but, as for older RPGs? Way too many games did it. Kick you back to the title screen when you get a game over. From Final Fantasies I-XII (except XI, because it's an MMO), to Persona 3 (and 4, I think, but Golden fixes that), to Chrono Trigger... so many games boot you back to the title screen, sending you to your last save and forcing you to redo a bunch of stuff all over again. It has ended numerous Persona 3 play sessions early because I'd forget to save before entering Tartarus, get ambushed and die because I wasn't given a chance to do anything and have to redo, like, a week of social life. That was not fun... And neither is rewatching unskippable cutscenes (looking at you, FFX)