Long lost Xbox 360 JRPGs still stuck on Original Hardware

The words “JRPG” and “Xbox” aren’t ones you’d expect to go together, and I totally understand why.

For years, the Xbox console catered less to the JRPG population and more to Western audiences. It was home to Halo, Call of Duty, and the FPS genre in general. That’s not to say that the Xbox platform has lacked RPGs over the years; this was the place to play Morrowind and Oblivion back in the day on consoles. Microsoft even published the first Mass Effect game. Those are Western RPGs, however, and they’re more closely aligned with the general public’s perception of the type of games you see on Xbox versus what you’d see on a Sony or Nintendo console.

Over time, however, Microsoft tried to change that perception. We’ve seen exclusives like Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon on the Xbox 360. We’ve seen third-party classics like Tales of Vesperia make their way to the 360 ​​as well. While the JRPG genre will never reach the popularity you see elsewhere, Microsoft has made an effort to change that over the years. However, not every game that falls under this category is easily accessible today. Thankfully, gems like Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon can be purchased from the Xbox Store and played on modern consoles backwards compatible. There are also several modern re-releases of games, such as Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant, which give us a glimpse of what 360 owners have been able to enjoy in the JRPG genre.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for these Xbox 360 JRPGs, as they are still stuck on their original hardware.

4

Magna Carta 2

Good Idea, Bad Execution

Credit where credit is due: Magna Carta 2 isn’t the kind of game you’d expect to see released on the Xbox 360, never mind as a console exclusive, yet here we are.

Developed by Korea’s Softmax, Magna Carta 2 failed to set the world on fire. Its biggest flaw, without a doubt, is the game’s camera system. It’s difficult and always in the way, depressing what was once a fun, or flawed experience.

Having said that, once you get used to it (if you ever do, to be honest), you’ll be treated to a fun combat system and a story that, while somewhat cliché, is enjoyable enough. Sometimes it pays to hear these “bad” games. Magna Carta 2 has its fans for a reason: there is something important here.

Sure it’s a relic of the past, but sometimes it’s just what the doctor ordered. In a world where many JRPGs feel like they’re losing their roots, Magna Carta 2 offers an escape to simpler times. As long as you can deal with its problems, that is.

Magna Carta 2’s greatest legacy, is that the series designer, Hyung-tae Kim, went on to discover Shift Up and develop Stellar Blade. You can see similarities between Eva’s design and any other female character in Magna Carta, which can be thought of as some of the JRPG symbols.

3

Operation Darkness

WWII Tactical JRPG

When I was introduced to the JRPG genre by a fellow GameStop employee, I quickly learned one thing: always trust Atlus.

Yes, I now know that mindset is not a guarantee of success; while Atlus has put out a bunch of classics over the years, and also put out a bunch of duds. Or in this case, win and publish one.

In the eyes of many, Operation Darkness falls under the latter category despite its intriguing premise. It’s a refreshing take on the Western Tactical RPG genre with so much JRPG and presentation that, at times, it feels at odds with what it’s trying to accomplish. It’s almost as if Operation Darkness is trying to innovate and go further with the X-COM formula rather than sticking with what we know works.

The result is, at times, an overly difficult and janky experience that can lead to frustration more than fun. If you stick with it, though, you’ll be treated to one of the most unique JRPGs out there.

2

The Eternal Sonata

The Symphony

I know I spent my entire introduction talking about how the Xbox platform wasn’t known for its JRPGs, but in the mid-2000s it felt different.

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were concentrated attempts to draw big names in the genre and try to tap into the popularity of JRPGs. Microsoft was already successful at this with Western RPGs thanks to the success of games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Mass Effect, Fable 2, and Fallout 3. They were talking the talk, but it sounds like few other developers were willing to go along with them.

Apart from Bandai Namco, obviously, Eternal Sonata spoke to my loving heart of Tales of Symphonia with the same artistic style, alongside the interesting premise of using Frédéric Chopin and his music as a major part of the game’s story.

Although Eternal Sonata ultimately never lived up to the hype, it is a great example of what can happen when a game, regardless of genre, isn’t afraid to try something new and unique. Such a concept is very foreign today, but it’s a refreshing spin on the JRPG genre that’s worth checking out, as long as you have an Xbox 360 (or PS3) that is.

1

Enchanted Arms

FromSoftware’s Lost JRPG

Apparently, there was something in the water at Ubisoft in the mid-2000s.

Assassin’s Creed was a new franchise that everyone loved. Far Cry 2 was there strangebut in the best way. They also felt ashamed of the JRPG genre, too, because they published an exclusive XRPG for the Xbox 360 overseas with Enchanted Arms from then-unknown developer FromSoftware.

Now, if you put Enchanted Arms next to the FromSoftware library, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Not because it’s a really bad game, but because the storytelling is generic and not encouraged. Maybe that’s why FroomSoftware chooses a lively storytelling approach to their Soulslikes, but I digress.

Enchanted Arms is far from perfect, but it’s not afraid to try something new and different rather than keeping up with its peers. It’s a shame he didn’t get that memo when he told his story.

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