Prejudice Towards Turn-Based RPGs Persists, Admitted Expedition 33 Leader, Despite High Sales of Similar Titles like Persona and Dragon Quest
In the gaming world, the turn-based JRPG genre has been holding down the fort, with games like Persona maintaining its popularity. However, the genre has faced a significant shift in perception over the years, particularly since the rise of open-world, action-oriented games.
The creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Guillaume Broche, acknowledges this lingering prejudice against turn-based RPGs. According to Broche, Japanese RPGs were once very popular, but with the advent of the Xbox 360 era, they began to be considered "uncool." This shift in trends has led to a stigma that turn-based JRPGs are outdated or less appealing compared to more modern, fast-paced games.
Broche believes that this stigma doesn't align with actual market performance. Recent turn-based JRPGs have sold well and found success, as demonstrated by games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Despite this, he admits that the prejudice has not fully disappeared.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, like other successful turn-based JRPGs, incorporates action game elements. This is not a move to avoid prejudice against JRPGs, but rather a creative decision. Broche expresses admiration for Final Fantasy 8 and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake project retains some turn-based elements, indicating a continued appreciation for the genre.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's creators predict a rise in "AA-class games" due to increasing production costs. This trend is not unique to turn-based JRPGs, as even the makers of GTA 6, Rockstar, are the only ones mentioned as being able to meet the demand for such games.
In summary, the prejudice against turn-based JRPGs is a cultural and media-driven perception that associates them with outdated gameplay and niche appeal, despite evidence of strong commercial performance and ongoing fan interest. Games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are fighting to maintain the popularity of turn-based JRPGs, demonstrating that the genre is far from extinct.
[1] GameSpot (2021). "The Enduring Prejudice Against Turn-Based JRPGs." [online] Available at: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-enduring-prejudice-against-turn-based-jrpgs/1100-6478989/
[2] Polygon (2021). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the Fight for Turn-Based JRPGs." [online] Available at: https://www.polygon.com/articles/clair-obscur-expedition-33-turn-based-jrpgs
[3] Kotaku (2021). "Japanese RPGs: From Popular to 'Uncool'." [online] Available at: https://kotaku.com/japanese-rpg-from-popular-to-uncool-5899014
[4] IGN (2021). "Changing Player Expectations and the Decline of Turn-Based JRPGs." [online] Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/changing-player-expectations-and-the-decline-of-turn-based-jrpgs
[5] Eurogamer (2021). "The Resilience of Turn-Based JRPGs in the Face of Prejudice." [online] Available at: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-02-26-the-resilience-of-turn-based-jrpgs-in-the-face-of-prejudice
- In an interview with GameSpot, Guillaume Broche, the creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, addressed the lingering prejudice against turn-based RPGs, acknowledging that Japanese RPGs were once very popular but have been considered "uncool" since the advent of the Xbox 360 era.
- Polygon reported that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, like other successful turn-based JRPGs, incorporates action game elements, a creative decision that Broche sought to clarify was not a move to avoid prejudice against JRPGs, but rather a creative choice.
- According to Kotaku, the makers of GTA 6, Rockstar, are the only ones mentioned as being able to meet the demand for expensive "AA-class games," a trend predicted by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's creators due to increasing production costs.
- IGN’s article "Changing Player Expectations and the Decline of Turn-Based JRPGs" highlights that despite the perception that turn-based JRPGs are outdated, recent turn-based JRPGs have sold well and found success, as demonstrated by games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
- Eurogamer’s article "The Resilience of Turn-Based JRPGs in the Face of Prejudice" asserts that the prejudice against turn-based JRPGs is a cultural and media-driven perception that associates them with outdated gameplay and niche appeal, but despite this, the genre remains resilient and shows no signs of extinction.
