The Future of Turn-Based Battles Looks Bright | JRPG Watch

[@MewCocoa]

I'm so excited for Metaphor, it's insane. Only one month left!

[@lowellbell]

Right? I’m harassing so many of my editors for an early code but it looks like staff writers have them all claimed…

[@MewCocoa]

@@lowellbell wow!! Crazy!! Hope you get one! That would be amazing to play early! I got the steam version preorderd :3

[@radiatos15]

@@lowellbell I hope you get one too!!

[@lowellbell]

@@radiatos15 Ya'll are too kind! Tentatively going to get a code for guides if the one outlet I write for has an extra.

[@Jimtherebel]

Bi-monthly, I can’t wait that long!!!

[@NoctisStrife88]

Resonance of fate was my shit. You good sir earned a sub

[@lowellbell]

Needs a sequel even all these years later

[@agroah7236]

Strong video bro

[@lowellbell]

Strong comment bro! Much appreciated

[@SuperiorPosterior]

I've already played through the Metaphor demo three times, and I'm scouring KZbin for every video talking about it that I can find because I really REALLY don't wanna ruin the game for myself by level grinding (I've already got a level 21 character! And I've seen the KZbin videos of people stuck in the same dungeon as me, who are level 30+, with all their Archetypes maxed! I don't wanna do a "level 99 in the first dungeon" run for my first playthrough!!), so I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on the demo!

[@lowellbell]

Haha you’re a machine!! I haven’t played it yet because I was at Tokyo Game Show all week. I will definitely be playing it once things settle down a little, though! And making a metaphor specific video shortly after launch.

[@JMrealgamer]

I literally just got inside of Lavos today in 12,000 BC. About to beat the game yet again for iOS. Im also about to get back to DQXIS to grind for seeds so I can be strong and beat the baddies in the 2D spirit world. I know Visions of Mana is t turn based but I’m enjoying that right now too. I highly recommend it if you love RPGs period. Refantazio is something I want to get but I will wait for the Switch version.

[@lowellbell]

That's awesome! Chrono Trigger is literally the best JRPG ever made, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. Looks like you got a lot of JRPGs on your plate so you don't need to pick up ReFantazio anytime soon.

[@HeribertoEstolano]

I know you're talking about JRPGs, but 2023 Game of the Year was ALSO a turn based game. The style is more alive than evar.

[@lowellbell]

That's a great point! I'm still playing a ton of BG3 instead of catching up on JRPGs.

[@kennyg752]

i really want to mention trails through daybreak 2 (kuro no kiseki 2) which i think should be coming out sometime in 2025 but it comes with a caveat of recommending new players start with the trails in the sky fc which is a huge ask, ill admit. but if one does, id say they experience the evolution of turn-based game play throughout a franchise and they get to witness in real time the kiseki series be one of the franchises carrying the genre since 2004. and though it might seem like a lot of time to get through, once you catch up, there's a good chance you'll be wishing there was more to play.

[@lowellbell]

I truly do believe people when they say the Trials games are by far some of the best JRPGs out there, and it's one of my life goals to play through them all. It's really hard when you're an adult though and JRPGs are just so damn long. Maybe I'll look into them more in a future episode!

[@kennyg752]

@@lowellbell relatable. i get it. you do you and whatever you think is the most fun at any particular moment. very neat video though. nice to hear someone talk about that back and forth trend between action jrpgs and turn-based ones.

[@WateringDNami]

lol you did a god, planet destroying, race wiping skill or combo on the enemy and he’s still standing xD

[@lowellbell]

It’s not a JRPG unless you cast a spell that destroys a planet but only deletes 0.3% of the enemy’s health bar

[@fighterroah]

Im still mad at the Lufia DS reboot, when i saw they abandoned the turn based game for that action rpg style i was furious. I love turn based rpg specially older ones mostly because i always loved the sprite work.

[@lowellbell]

Yeah I'd be heartbroken if they did that to like, Chrono Trigger in a remake. Hopefully Lufia gets a fully turn-based reboot again someday

[@supahmajoo]

Ngl i love these ff7 remakes, and i hope they will do it with ff9 and other ff games. But what i do miss in current ff games are the colorfull diverse characters we could play as and the turnbased combat off course. And i had a fun time with ff16 way more fun then with ff15 which i hated. But i really miss the fantastical colorfull characters and the fun in creating your team. And growing up i used to play a lot of ff and the turnbased combat was always very good, i miss that to. Hopefully someday we can get back to that or maybe another game will fill that gap for me. I am very excited for metaphor

[@lowellbell]

I agree -- I love that traditional collect-a-thon of colourful companions and really missed it in FF16. I didn't get around to FF15 myself unfortunately. I do like the FF7 remakes but can't beat some traditional turn-based fun.

[@supahmajoo]

@@lowellbell so true! Always been a big fantasy turn based game lover. So cant wait for the new games coming. Expedition 33 looks beautifull and fun. And off course metaphor cant wait for that one. I will follow you just because of this video❤️

[@lowellbell]

@@supahmajoo Excited but worried how I'm gonna play them all!

[@supahmajoo]

@@lowellbell haha yeah i feel you!!^^ thats why baldurs gate was soo good, it got all the time it needed. No other great games where around at that time

[@monado1761]

"The future of turn base looks bright" But does future of action rpg looks bright?

[@lowellbell]

Maybe a good topic for a future JRPG Watch??

[@monado1761]

@@lowellbell Hopefully you'll make video on it soon

[@nakazo9929]

I hope no game follows the Sea of Stars example. I found the gameplay and story boring while character dialogue was a little cringe. The only positive thing I found was the art direction and style. I don't understand how SoS got that overwhelmingly positive reception, for me it's a 5.5/10 at max.

[@lowellbell]

I’ve actually been surprised to find the JRPG community is so split on Sea of Stars. The JRPG subreddit has a thread bashing it daily but I loved it lol

[@tiagocosmos]

No mention of the SaGa franchise? It has been carrying the torch of excellent turn-based jrpg goodness for many years. edit: saw you mentioned Emerald Beyond, nice. I'm a huge fan of SaGa, and I no longer call myself a Final Fantasy fan. These days I make it a point to only support Square-Enix's jrpg franchises that stayed completely turn-based, I loathe what FF has become. I don't hate action rpgs, but I did not want FF to become action rpgs. Unless they make a pixel-art 2d turn-based mainline Final Fantasy XVII (which will never happen bc FF has been run by cowardice for many years), i have abandoned that series entirely just as it has abandoned me.

[@lowellbell]

I’ve unfortunately missed out on the SaGa games but like, so many JRPGs so little time. I’ve never been a big FF fan myself but yeah, I feel you - FF16 wasn’t even an RPG I’d argue. I had enough fun with it but never want to touch it again. For both our sakes I do hope they shift back to a more traditional style