In case you’re unaware, the long-awaited first part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake is out today. Whether you can’t afford it, don’t have a PS4, or can’t play the game for any other reason, here are five alternatives for you get your RPG fix.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered
To replicate the colossal success of Final Fantasy VII will always be a monumental task, and for what it’s worth, Final Fantasy VIII managed to stand out as its own unique entry in the franchise. It may not have gotten a fancy remake like its predecessor, but the recent remastering of the game is worth reliving.
Featuring a grounded cast of high-school-aged mercenaries, the game was notable for being the first Final Fantasy game to center on a love story and the introduction of Gunblades as a weapon. The Junction system that is featured in the game’s battle system, which replaces the usual level progression system used in other games in the series, can be an intimidating part of the game, but internet guides are more accessible now since 1998, so use it to the fullest.
Indivisible
Made by Lab Zero Games, the studio that brought you Skullgirls, comes the action RPG Indivisible. The game is divided between 2D Metroidvania exploration, and turn-based battles inspired by the classic PlayStation title, Valkyrie Profile.
The game definitely has its own brand of challenges, especially when it comes to getting used to its fighting game-like battle mechanics and various platforming challenges. The latest update of the game also added co-op and New Game+ modes for the extra fun.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
The long-running Ys series (pronounced as “yis”) is just as old as Final Fantasy but never reached the stature of Square Enix’s signature franchise. Ys does, however, have a cult following, and the most recent game in the series, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, is a great place to start.
The eighth entry has a fast-paced action-oriented battle system, as well as a unique town-building mechanic where you barter and trade with NPCs instead of using money. The game was notorious for its awful localisation upon release, which has thankfully been patched, along with an added co-op mode and HD textures for the PC release.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore
A game that is also viable if you are also missing out on the recently released Persona 5 Royal, Tokyo Mirage can definitely be best described as Persona Lite. Starring teen pop idols instead of high school students, you explore distorted versions of Tokyo, all while summoning the spirits of Fire Emblem heroes old and new.
The combat system is definitely the best part - turn-based but extremely fast-paced, especially when you can chain attacks all together between allies, and end the combo with a duet of a J-Pop song. It’s exhilarating, chock full of Japanese pop culture references, and one of the most addicting JRPGs the Nintendo Switch has.
Trials of Mana/ Bravely Default II
While technically not out yet, now is a good a time as any to dip your toes into these two upcoming JRPGs that are coming out in the coming weeks after FFVII Remake. Demos of both Trials of Mana and Bravely Default II are out right now, and are looking to be two titles no JRPG fan should miss this year.
A remake of the once Japan-exclusive Seiken Densetsu 3, Trials of Mana offers three different storylines to play through, with six playable characters to choose from. If you ever wanted a sequel to the SNES classic, Secret of Mana, you won’t want to miss out on this when it releases.
Bravely Default II, on the other hand, is a lot more Final Fantasy than the Final Fantasy VII Remake. Featuring series staples like the Job system, a plot involving saving the four crystals of the world, and turn-based battles, Bravely Default II was made for people who want to relive the good old days of classic Squaresoft.
