JRPG they've been around since pretty much the dawn of gaming and will (hopefully) exist long after the PS5 and Switch 2 are distant memories. Similar to any other genre, Japanese role-playing games have undergone many developments over the decades, especially when it comes to their visuals. As technology advances, developers begin to push the boundaries of what consoles and PCs can do. While not really associated with high-end graphics, JRPGs are responsible for some of the most visually stunning games ever, some of which have aged so well as to achieve timelessness.
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Aside from perhaps the crude 3D visuals of the PS1 era, every generation has had a few JRPGs with eternally gorgeous graphics. The 2D sprites that defined the SNES era have stood the test of time absurdly well, but there are also plenty of more modern releases that still look amazing thanks to their choice of art style. Let's take a trip into JRPG history and highlight a few games with truly timeless visuals.
9
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
That Studio Ghibli Magic
This awesome monster taming JRPG developed by Level-5 is a great example of how important art style and graphics can be to a video game. They joined forces with Studio Ghibli in order to create a visual identity for this title and it worked extremely well.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch it looks like a lost Studio Ghibli movie. Its art style is truly fantastic, with cel-shaded graphics and the studio's classic character designs. While its sequel and its remaster obviously look better, the 2010 original still holds up remarkably well, to the point where it's comfortably among the best-looking PS3 games.
8
Pokemon Black And White
The pinnacle of 2D Pokemon
Pokemon fans are currently dissatisfied with the 3D models of modern games. They don't look bad per se, but most feel that the classic sprite-based look was better. This is mainly due to the last generation that used 2D sprites, Pokemon black and white and their continuation, Black 2 and White 2.
Freak game finally took full advantage of the Nintendo DS abilities and created impressive sprites for Pokémon; they are full of detail and actually move during battles. On the other hand, most of the world map was created with 3D graphics, so the two styles ended up blending impressively well. The Pokemon black and white the games still look amazing today and are comparable to modern ones HD-2D RPG like Octopath Traveler.
7
Personality 4
Best looking game on PS2
Nowadays titles like Person 5 and Persona 3 Reload they are constantly praised for their excellent visual qualities and colorful art styles. But there's an argument to be made that if that wasn't the case, the series wouldn't be where it is now Personality 4.
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This game was released exclusively on the PlayStation 2 in 2008, 2 years after the PlayStation 3 had already been released. It was a bold decision by Atlus and it was worth it in the end because Personality 4 is probably the best-looking video game in the PS2 library, so they definitely knew how to use the console's technology to their advantage. The original edition still looks so good that its enhanced version, Persona 4 Goldhe didn't really change his graphics.
6
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Mario's best paper adventure
Every role-playing game in Mario the series holds to some extent, as Super Mario RPG or Mario and Luigi series. Between Mario however, the fans are nothing better than Paper Mario series, of which the most popular entry is the second, known as The door of a thousand years.
Like its predecessor, this game uses a unique paper art style with 2D models in a 3D environment that looks like nothing else in the industry, to the point that many indie RPGs have tried to replicate it. Although not as powerful as its contemporaries, the GameCube The door of a thousand years still, it managed to look really impressive, so it's no wonder that its upcoming remaster doesn't seem to change the visuals much.
5
The heart of the kingdom
That classic Disney magic
When Square Enix joined forces with Disney to create a unique 3D video game with recognizable characters, they were smart enough to bring the studio's classic animated magic as well. To make everything come together smoothly, the original The heart of the kingdom features cel-shaded graphics that make both Square Enix and Disney characters look equally good. Not to mention all the colorful worlds that Sora, Donald and Goofy have to visit.
The franchise just transitioned to HD graphics only in 2019 with the release Kingdom Hearts 3. Before that, every other game in the series used the same timeless cartoon graphics as the first title. It worked perfectly because all these games look really remarkable on the console they were released on.
4
Breath of Fire 4
A different perspective
The fourth entry in Capcom that is now forgotten Breath of fire franchise, Fire Breath 4 it may not be the best game in the series, but it's definitely the best looking overall. This is a perfect example of how the original PlayStation was better suited to 2D sprite based games than 3D experiences.
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Capcom games usually look beautiful, but the sprite works Fire Breath 4 is truly excellent. The characters and monsters look equally great; their sprites are extremely detailed but also manage to convey a lot of emotion. The isometric view helps the player see everything better, which is definitely worth it.
3
Suikoden 2
A beautiful cult classic
Suikoden II
- Released
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September 29, 1999
- ESRB
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M For adults 17+ due to mild violence, obscene themes
Suikoden may not be the most popular JRPG series, but it has managed to gain a cult following for many reasons, one of which is their beautiful sprite-based graphics that still look fantastic today and Suikoden 2 is the best example of their quality.
Suikoden 2 originally didn't garner much attention because it was released at a time when games like Final Fantasy VII revolutionized the industry with their 3D graphics. Many years later, these 3D graphics have aged terribly, while the detailed sprites Suikoden 2 they still look amazing. This is why there is barely any difference between the original PS1 release and its recent HD remaster. This game just looks good.
2
Chrono Trigger
Akira Toriyama's Magnum Opus
Squaresoft's Super Nintendo outings are said to be the best era for the JRPG genre. That was when Chrono Trigger was first released, which is often considered one of the best role-playing games of all time, with its timeless sprite-based graphics being one of the many reasons for its success.
Chrono Trigger has a charming art style designed by Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball a glory that makes it look like no other game that has come before. All of this is especially impressive because this game features a time-traveling story that takes place in different time periods, yet all the levels and characters manage to blend together seamlessly. It's no surprise that all subsequent re-releases of this game have retained their original art style.
1
Final Fantasy 6
The most timeless Final Fantasy Game
Final Fantasy VII it was always in dire need of a remake because its 3D graphics were getting old, but most fans didn't feel the same way Final Fantasy 6. It was the last entry in the franchise's main line to use 2D sprites, and as a result is one of the best looking Final Fantasy games of all time.
The sprite is working Final Fantasy 6 is truly one of Square's best. Every single character, creature, and environment looks incredible. It even makes clever use of Mode 7, culminating in a climactic battle against Kefka Palazzo that somehow looks like a beautiful painting that was created on the Super Nintendo. This is why many fans prefer to play the original version instead of the subsequent re-releases, as the art style just looks much more timeless.
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