Best JRPGs With Expansive Skill Customization

Key Takeaways

JRPGs now offer more customization, enhancing battle strategies.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel provides engaging storytelling and skill customization.
Final Fantasy 7’s materia system remains innovative and beloved for skill variety.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can confidently say that the evolution of Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) has been nothing short of remarkable. From the golden age of PS1 to the modern era, these games have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of customization and strategy.

Japanese role-playing games gained widespread popularity during the PS1 era, captivating numerous enthusiasts. The variety of exceptional standalone games, ongoing series, cherished spin-offs, and other related content within this genre is astoundingly vast. Fans of RPGs are fortunate to have a rich selection of fantastic games that continually innovate the genre and leave them yearning for more following their immersive and extensive journeys through timeless stories.

Modern JRPGs no longer adhere to the traditional character progression system where players have limited chances to alter a character’s development. Instead, an increasing number of games now offer players the ability to customize a party member’s skills, enabling them to execute impressive abilities in combat and reap significant passive advantages.

1 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel

Combining Different Quarts Makes For Simple Yet Fun Skill Customization For Each Party Member

In The Legend of Heroes series, you’ll find some exceptional narrative-focused JRPGs that gamers will love to play. Among them, Trails of Cold Steel doesn’t disappoint. You take on the role of students at Thors Military Academy, embarking on various missions as a thrilling mystery unfolds over the course of the game. This immersive experience is one major factor contributing to players becoming deeply engrossed in the initial installment of this lengthy saga.

Longtime series enthusiasts are familiar with the Quartz system, which allows players to purchase enchanted items and assign them to their team members for a variety of perks, including passive advantages and elemental attacks designed to overpower opponents. As gameplay advances, players will acquire impressive Quartz that empowers them to execute powerful moves and defeat enemies with flair.

2 Octopath Traveler 2

Changing Jobs Lets Party Members Synergize A Whole Host Of Passive And Active Skills

Octopath Traveler was a fantastic game, but it had certain areas requiring improvement for a flawless experience. These shortcomings were addressed in Octopath Traveler 2, a nearly flawless sequel boasting outstanding gameplay and an upgraded, finessed job system. Now, players can obtain multiple certifications for the same job, enabling them to create a team comprised entirely of warriors, if they so choose.

In this action-packed game, players can activate skills during battles by earning Job Points. These points enable them to quickly acquire potent moves for their principal role and a variety of secondary roles. As more abilities are unlocked for a job, passive advantages are also triggered, which the player can customize as desired. This results in each party member having a distinct fighting style since they utilize abilities from numerous jobs to harmonize with their inherent abilities and cause significant damage to enemies swiftly.

3 Persona 5 Royal

Switching Personas Changes Both Passive And Active Skills In A Jiffy

Each subsequent Persona game beyond the third mainline entry has refined the formula uniquely, blending life simulation elements and classic JRPG gameplay for an unbeatable experience. Persona 5 significantly surpassed its predecessors in terms of visual aesthetics and game mechanics, while Persona 5 Royal added even more enhancements to the mix. Players can experiment with various combinations of Personas to ensure they’re covered with Joker, who acquires the capacity to store more Personas as he advances in levels.

As a savvy gamer, I’ve found that each Persona I summon into combat comes with its own hidden perks that can tilt the battlefield significantly if I play my monsters right. On top of this, forging bonds with Social Links opens up additional covert advantages in battle, ensuring that my Joker feels one-of-a-kind with the assortment of abilities I can unlock through diverse gaming experiences.

4 Golden Sun

Combining Djinn Abilities Leads To Some Great And Unexpected Customization

It’s unfortunate that the popular Golden Sun series has been inactive for such a long time, given its significant potential. Though it might seem like a typical JRPG in certain aspects, what made it stand out was its unique integration of puzzles. These puzzles could only be solved by casting specific spells on the battlefield. This was accomplished by discovering and assigning Djinn with various elements to party members, resulting in intriguing combinations that added an enjoyable layer to gameplay.

By merging Djinn of various elements, gamers can unlock extraordinary spells that enable them to cultivate plants, manipulate objects, and engage with the game world in creative ways. As players accumulate numerous Djinn, they become deeply immersed in experimenting with these combinations, seeking to discover the most potent abilities for battle while also acquiring useful spells that simplify puzzle-solving.

5 Final Fantasy 7

Using Materia To Mix And Match Skills Has Aged Like A Fine Wine

To this day, the impact of Final Fantasy 7 remains unrivaled. Square Enix’s prized asset still produces numerous gems, as players continue to appreciate the blend of science fiction and fantasy, set within a narrative that portrays corporations exploiting the planet’s energy source, the Lifestream, for their selfish desires. The enigmatic figure of Sephiroth adds an ominous undertone to the backdrop.

Among the game’s most appealing features is the materia system, which enables the assignment of abilities and hidden benefits in a way that feels contemporary and groundbreaking within both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth. Mastering these crystalized Mako and locating scarce materia hidden throughout the world is always a delight, as it allows players to outfit their characters with a wide variety of powerful summons, materia that can learn enemy skills, transforming a character into a Blue Magic user.

2024-09-28 05:33