Fight, Magic, Items

The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West

By: Aidan Moher

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

The Japanese roleplaying game (JRPG) genre is one that is known for bold, unforgettable characters; rich stories; and some of the most iconic and beloved games in the industry. Inspired by early Western RPGs and introducing technology and artistic styles that pushed the boundaries of what video games could be, this genre is responsible for creating some of the most complex, bold, and beloved games in history. In Fight, Magic, Items, Aidan Moher guides listeners through the history of JRPGs, exploring the technical challenges, distinct narrative and artistic visions, and creative rivalries that fueled the creation of countless iconic games and their quest to become the best.

Moher immerses listeners in the world of JRPGs, following the interconnected history through the lens of their creators and their stories full of hope and risk, from the tiny teams that built the foundations of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises; Reiko Kodama pushing boundaries with Phantasy Star; the team up between Horii and Sakaguchi to create Chrono Trigger; or the mashup of Disney with Final Fantasy in Kingdom Hearts. Filled with firsthand interviews and behind-the-scenes looks into the development, reception, and influence of JRPGs, this book captures the evolution of the genre and why it continues to grab us, decades after those first iconic pixelated games released.

©2022 Aidan Moher (P)2023 Tantor

A deep dive into the history of JRPGs

I was born in 1980 and basically experienced everything that was mentioned in this book. I found it extremely interesting, but this felt more like the history of Square Enix and at times felt like a term paper I did in high school with all of the references that was mentioned.

Again I really enjoyed, but at the same time I love learning about the history of video games.

Quick, snappy history of the JRPG genre

Good:
- Technical knowledge of console hardware and the relationship between business and art
- Focused on tentpoles of genre (Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest) and is in depth with the related genre.
- Efficient descriptions of individual games to get readers enticed to play them.
- Comprehensive history of the genre as it was popular.

Bad:
- While focus on business practices is strong at the beginning, tapers off towards modern era
- Not much speculation on hardware history when looking at JRPG MMOs
- Not enough history on how JRPGs changed as Japanese culture changed over the years.

what's with the random games and descriptions

the narrator will begin a chapter about Gameboy and then randomly, mid paragraph, start talking about a completely unrelated game like Genshin impact. It throws off the pace greatly.

Good storytelling marred by unwanted spoilers

While this book is clearly well researched and well written, I found the experience frustrating due to the frequent, unflagged spoilers from classic JRPGs I haven’t yet played. While listening to the audiobook, I had major plot points spoiled for me, including FFVI’s mid-game twist, Xenogears’ post-credit scene, and a subversive gameplay mechanic in Nier: Automata. The only spoiler warning provided was for FFVII’s mid-game twist, which made the lack of caution elsewhere feel inconsistent and careless.

As a result, I often felt disrespected as a reader, since the author never seemed to ask the question: “Could this be a spoiler for someone?” This approach forced me to skip any chapters covering games I haven’t yet experienced, out of fear of further spoilers. While the analysis itself is strong, the handling of spoilers significantly diminished my enjoyment of the book.

Excellent Deep Dive Into the History of JRPGs

Books like this are hard to find. Tons of information about a niche topic, well written, with a good narrator. If you love JRPGs or just gaming in general, you’ll love this book.