Why Do JRPGs Take So Long to Get Good?

"You just have to play it for 20 hours. Trust me, then it gets good!” If you're a JRPG fan, you've probably heard some version of that sentence before. In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest barriers people face when getting into certain JRPGs: the slow start. Some games take hours introducing characters, teaching mechanics, and setting up their stories before everything finally clicks. But how long should we really expect someone to stick with a game before it “gets good?” We discuss JRPGs that have gained a reputation for their slower opening hours, why some of those games take so long to get going, and whether that buildup ultimately pays off. 💬 Let us know in the comments: How many hours are you willing to give a JRPG before deciding it isn't for you? ✨ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join the JRPG conversation with us every week! ========================================= Timestamp: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:25 Final Fantasy XIII 00:12:55 Final Fantasy XIV 00:18:25 Final Fantasy 7-9 discussion 00:24:35 Trails series 00:31:52 Xenoblade series 00:49:00 Tactics games 00:51:27 Star Ocean 3 00:55:18 Golden Sun 00:57:00 Astria Ascending 00:58:33 Xenogears ========================================= Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @jrpg_pursuit   A podcast for all things JRPG! If you're not already, consider becoming a member of the channel - you'll get access to our exclusive Discord to hang out with likeminded people, and at the Pursuer level, you'll also get the Aftershow (4+ additional hours of content every month!). Emily: YouTube: @orbalology X: x.com/orbalology Bluesky: orbalology.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/orbalology Branden: YouTube: @JustTheGems X: x.com/_justthegems Bluesky: justthegems.net Instagram: instagram.com/_justthegems Abdallah: YouTube: @DallahGames X: x.com/dallahgames Bluesky: dallahgames.bsky.social Instagram: instagram.com/dallahgames