The Best JRPGs Where You Start With Nothing

Key Takeaways

Some JRPGs start with characters at rock bottom, like
Code Vein
, making players prove their worth.
Final Fantasy 12
features Vaan, a street kid, who doesn’t end up a chosen one, but follows events instead.
Link in
Ocarina of Time
starts completely empty-handed, unlike the usual
Zelda
formula of having some gear.

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of humble beginnings and hard-earned victories, I must say that these games truly know how to throw a player into the deep end. Each title on this list masterfully immerses us in the character’s struggles, making every triumph feel all the more satisfying.

When the topic of common themes in JRPGs arises, one immediately thinks of the hero’s journey, a narrative where the young protagonist discovers a new power or destiny and embarks on a quest to unravel its mysteries and save the world. Consequently, players have grown accustomed to guiding a main character who has some initial edge, though they must grow stronger throughout their journey.

In these JRPGs, the game doesn’t always begin by assigning the player a character who is already special or powerful; instead, it starts them off without any particular advantages, sometimes even in unfavorable situations.

8 Code Vein

Slaves To The Blood

In the bleak realm of Code Vein, we find ourselves in a post-cataclysmic era where half-human beings called Revenants scour for a scarcely available resource named Blood Beads. Initially, you begin as a mere servant, compelled to gather these Beads not for personal gain but for your oppressors. The situation grows dire as you traverse monster-ridden wastelands, armed only with a basic lead pipe for protection.

It’s true that Code Vein leans heavily on the “chosen one” archetype later in the game. After defeating their first boss, players find they can absorb others’ Codes, serving as the foundation for the game’s character classes. However, it should be noted that players begin at a very disadvantaged position initially.

7 Shenmue

9 To 5 Simulator

As a devoted fan, I’d say that Shenmue immerses you in an epic tale of revenge reminiscent of martial arts cinema epics. The narrative unfolds as I, the protagonist, am left grappling with the tragic demise of my father. With scant clues to guide me, I embark on a relentless pursuit to unmask his killer and find justice, navigating through a world filled with intrigue and danger.

In Shenmue, the protagonist, Ryo, finds himself at ground zero after both losing his father and facing the daunting tasks of gathering clues, earning money, and building his strength – all before he can seek vengeance. What sets Shenmue apart is its focus on the mundane details of Ryo’s life, like his work and training routine, that many games would gloss over in a montage-like fashion.

6 Final Fantasy 12

Starting From The Streets

Among all the mainline “Final Fantasy” games, it seems like my character in “Final Fantasy 12,” named Vaan, begins in quite a challenging position. After the game’s opening, I find myself as a street-smart kid, eking out a meager existence with the help of an elderly man. Essentially, I spend my days trapping rats for survival.

What initiates Vaan’s journey, along with his companion Penelo who’s also a street kid, is a strong desire to break free from their ordinary lives. This sets off an adventure that eventually brings together the rest of the party. Notably, Vaan isn’t extraordinary by nature; instead, he gets swept up in bigger events and strives to do what he believes is right as they unfold.

5 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Link Is Left Empty Handed

In the Legend of Zelda series, Link’s power-building strategy frequently mirrors that found in Metroidvanias. By solving riddles or uncovering hidden elements, Link acquires a new skill or item which enables him to explore previously inaccessible areas on the game map. Initially, he typically possesses some means of defending against enemies as well.

In “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” Link begins with nothing but his wits and must work his way through an initial tutorial puzzle to acquire his sword. Any additional equipment he possesses needs to be either earned or purchased. The game initially places Link in a challenging position, but as the story progresses, he gains powerful abilities that can even manipulate time.

4 Dark Souls

Prisoner Of Fate

As a passionate fan, I’d like to share that in every Souls game, I have the freedom to begin my journey with absolutely nothing if I wish. The “Deprived” starting class and its counterparts are vital for level 1 runs and various other trials. In the original Dark Souls, even if I select an equipped starting class, I must navigate the Undead Asylum before I can retrieve my gear.

This, of course, includes a run-in with the Asylum Demon, in one of the most memorable tutorial area intros in all gaming. The setup gives players a taste of how harsh and intimidating the world of Dark Souls is going to be, well before they’re even equipped to deal with it.

3 Persona 4

Everyday High School Drama

In the Persona series, there’s a common structure for the main characters. They are usually thrust into a new town, take up residence with a relative, and enroll in the local high school. Unlike Persona 5, where players get an initial peek at Joker’s abilities, Persona 4 drops players right into the shoes of an ordinary high school student from the start.

In Persona 4, players find themselves starting from scratch in a brand new town. They don’t have any friends or money initially, and might need to get a part-time job for some cash. The main plot doesn’t fully unfold until later, with the protagonist discovering their abilities as a Persona user. Before diving into the supernatural, players must navigate through high school life, building relationships, and meeting new people first.

2 Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Left For Dead

In the Yakuza series, players are frequently challenged to rise from modest origins. Compared to other games, relatively few have subjected their main character to as much initial hardship as Ichiban Kasuga experiences.

In the opening of “Yakuza: Like A Dragon“, Kasuga is freed from prison after being wrongfully imprisoned for a crime another person had committed. However, his troubles don’t end there as his own boss shoots him in the head and leaves him for dead. He finds himself stranded in a new town, without a home or friends, until he’s rescued by a fellow homeless man named Nanba.

In essence, the narrative of the game primarily centers on Kasuga’s journey toward self-reliance. Given the circumstances unfolding in the game, he needs to grasp the art of earning and surviving independently at a swift pace.

1 Bloodborne

Beasts All Over The Shop

In Bloodborne, FromSoftware demonstrates their preference for challenging the player from the get-go, as evidenced by its intriguing start. Following a mysterious prologue involving a contract and an unusual blood transfusion that plunges you into a nightmarish world drenched in blood, players find themselves in what appears to be an abandoned hospital.

Soon enough, players encounter a monstrous, werewolf-like creature feeding on a deceased body downstairs. They must decide whether to engage in an unarmed combat with this beast or flee. If they stay, they risk losing their lives; if they run towards the nearby lamp, they’ll be transported to the Hunter’s Dream, where they can rest for a while and arm themselves with their initial weapons.

Indeed, the game Bloodborne includes a corresponding deprived class known as Waste of Skins for players seeking to embark on the most humble beginnings. The chilling atmosphere and feeling of vulnerability during the initial stages of Bloodborne would seamlessly blend with any survival horror title.

2024-11-13 19:34