When one talks about JRPGs and the consoles they have featured on, most people point towards PlayStation or Nintendo due to the massive support they provide to most Japanese titles in general. However, there’s one particular company that is unfairly discarded from this discussion due to their perceived lack of Japanese third-party titles: Microsoft and its Xbox consoles.
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The fact of the matter is that the Xbox line of consoles actually features a wealth of amazing JRPGs that have been ignored for the longest time. What makes this even worse is the fact that a few of these JRPGs feature some of the best battle systems in the genre, making them must-plays for any fan.
10Infinite Undiscovery
The Xbox 360 was the recipient of a string of JRPGs that were pretty decent in their own right, although their overall quality was pretty lacking in comparison to some other titles in the same vein.
Infinite Undiscoverywas one such title that faced this criticism, and rightfully so. However, the game’s combat was still a great experiment that entertaining players once they got the hang of it.
The combat system is quite reminiscent ofFinal Fantasy XV, in the sense that players only control the main character with other party members being governed by AI commands. However, unlikeFinal Fantasy XV,Infinite Undiscoverystill allowed for a decent level of challenge, meaning that gamers had to be tactical in their approach to every battle.
9Blue Dragon
The fact that Hironobu Sakaguchi ended up developing an excellent and underrated JRPG for theXbox 360is something that most people are blissfully unaware of. This is a shame sinceBlue Dragonis a brilliant game that harkens back to a simple time for JRPGs.
While some players might argue that this old-fashioned approach ends up holdingBlue Dragonback, fans of the genre will feel right at home with this title. The combat system might seem basic but it features enough nuances — such as a Charge system — to makeBlue Dragonan excellent title in its own right.
8The Last Remnant
The Last Remnantwas a console exclusive on the Xbox 360 for the longest time before its remaster was finally released on all home consoles, allowing a new wave of JRPG players to experience the brilliance of this title firsthand.
The combat system ofThe Last Remnantwas undoubtedly one of its biggest highlights. It featured a turn-based system with commands and large-scale battles, coupled with a morale system that allowed for certain bonuses on the battlefield as well.
7Star Ocean: The Last Hope
TheStar Oceanseries isa highly underrated JRPG series, and the series has some bright gems that any fan of the genre should definitely check out.
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Out of all these games, props should be given toStar Ocean: The Last Hopefor featuring a great evolution of the real-time combat system present in the series, while paying tribute to previous games in the best way as well. The use of Rush Gauges and Blindsides in battle made for a fun and unique experience, turning every battle into a fast-paced tactical affair.
6Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Fans of theFinal Fantasyseries were initially elated to hear thatFinal Fantasy Type-0was released for the PSP, only to be subsequently disappointed when the game didn’t make it over to the West.
Thankfully, an HD Remake ended up solving this problem by finally releasing this title worldwide and allowing gamers to experience the beauty ofone of the bestFinal Fantasyspin-offsfirsthand. The combat present in this game is excellent, with the inclusion of Break Sights and Kill Sights in a real-time combat system serving for some amazingly tactical moments indeed.
5Resonance Of Fate
It’s a shame thatResonance of Fatehas such a nonsensical story and drab art style since the game itself features one of the best combat systems ever seen in a turn-based JRPG.
The turn-based gunplay system allows for some truly flashy moves as the characters jump and spin around in their attempts to defeat enemies in the most flamboyant manner possible.Resonance of Fateis an excellent game that will satisfy any JRPG fan looking for a unique, fun, and extremely challenging combat system.
4Tales Of Vesperia
TheTales of…series has been woefully underrepresented on the Xbox line of consoles for the longest time. This is something that has irked the owners of these consoles to no end, especially sincethe games from this series that have been released on these platformsare nothing short of amazing.
Tales of Vesperiais a great example of this, serving as one of the better games in the franchise courtesy of a high-octane real-time Linear Motion Battle System that makes every battle feel fast-paced, organic, and a ton of fun to boot.
3Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The idea of theYakuzaseries adopting turn-based combat was something that raised some red flags in the minds of most fans. After all, one of the biggest reasons why theYakuzaseries was so popular was due to the over-the-top nature of the game’s brawling, and people didn’t understand how this would transfer over to a turn-based aesthetic.
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Sega delivered this answer in a brilliant fashion.Yakuza: Like A Dragonis an exciting title that uses the personality ofits charming protagonistand integrates it throughout all the facets of its gameplay to deliver a stellar experience that is quite entertaining in every sense of the word.
2Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
While theFinal Fantasy XIIItrilogy might not have been the greatest idea ever, some of the games did end up being quite excellent in their own right.The final entry in the seriessports an excellent combat system.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIfeatures what is quite easily one of the best combat systems in aFinal Fantasytitle. The Style-Change Active Time Battle System serves as a perfect mix of the battle systems inFinal Fantasy XIIIandFinal Fantasy X-2, allowing players to use a whole host of costumes to augment their skills and eviscerate enemies in style.
1Lost Odyssey
Not only isLost Odysseyan Xbox-exclusive JRPG, but it’s also arguably one of the best JRPGs of all time. With the legendary Hironobu Sakaguchi serving as the game’s supervisor, it was only a given thatLost Odysseywould be a thrill-ride from start to end.
Not only is the story great, but the combat system also feels like the perfect mix of age-old mechanics and new innovations. A great example of the latter includes an Aim Ring System for melee attacks to help players feel all the more involved in a battle.
