It’s easy to get caught up in all the innovations of the RPG genre, specifically JRPGs, has made over the years that it’s easy to forget the roots.

Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Tales of, Mana, and many others have long left their humble roots as simple RPGs that crafted a foundation for what the genre is today. When I say simple, I mean smaller stories, simple combat, retro graphics, and other similar attributes.

Despite all the advancements, I do think there is still a place for these simple adventures that captured out imaginations either decades ago or in the recent past.

I am reminded of this idea as I enter the waning hours of my Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster playthrough. My first introduction to the genre was flashy combat, grandiose stories, and character studies that added strong emotional depths, something the first three Final Fantasy games lack.

Of course, times were simpler when the NES trilogy came out and gamers were in a different place than they are today. Still, I think having more games that are similar to this idea would only bolster the genre.

The indie realm does this really well as many games such as Ara Fell or Sea of Stars. What’s more is these games do a good job at taking the simple ideas of the past and adding some modern polish. More games like these would be a welcome sight.

Oftentimes, I think game developers are always chasing the next big advancement that they forget to strengthen their foundations. That’s not to say they should only focus on simpler games, but that the variety could strengthen the genre.

Furthermore, it could give newcomers like myself a taste of what many long-timers grew up on in their childhood. My first Final Fantasy games was in 2021 and it was FFVII, meaning I did not grow up with the franchise. I’ve loved playing the older titles as Pixel Remasters because I am seeing a simpler time in the genre.

Most importantly, they’re a blast to play. I thought playing those early games would be a slog despite the upgrades. After nearly completing the NES trilogy, I am having a lot more fun than I originally expected. I know others would feel the same.

There’s something relaxing and engaging about just traveling from town to town to solve everyone’s problems without some larger thread tying it all together. The through thread is the big baddie caused all these problems and that just makes for an easier story to follow.

I’m not advocating for this to be all the time as leaning into the innovations is a great approach to take. Rather, I’m saying it’s OK to slow down a bit and release a simpler game that will scratch an itch or introduce someone to the past.

Of course, not all attributes from yesteryear are desirable. Excessive grinding, lack of direction, and other challenges of the time should remain in the past. That said, you can still bring a lot of what made those early JRPGs so good forward and I’m sure many will eat it up.

The genre will continue to march forward, bringing bigger stories, complex characters, and more advanced combat. I’m totally OK with that approach.

What I hope to see is an acknowledgement of the genre’s roots and some older-style games aimed at a modern audience. There certainly is an audience for it and it doesn’t have to take up too much of an effort.

If the first three Final Fantasy games have taught me anything, it’s that these types of games can work for today’s audiences. The only question is if any developer is willing to take that risk.

What about you? Would you like to see developers embrace more older-style JRPGs? How would you bring these types of games to fruition? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Square Enix (via Nintendo World Report)

Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games

The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship show of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, and Pat Klein, as well as their friends, fellow creators, developers, and industry veterans, share their gaming experiences. They discuss what they’ve been playing, explore rotating segments, debate the Boss Rush Banter topic of the week, answer community write-ins, and more. Patreon subscribers at any tier enjoy exclusive access to the Boss Rush Podcast Patreon Show twice a month along with other perks and extras.

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