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Criticism against Japanese RPGs:
In 1994, game designer Sandy Petersen noted that, among computer gamers, there was criticism against cartridge-based console RPGs being "not role-playing at all" due to popular examples such as Secret of Mana and especially The Legend of Zelda using "direct" arcade-style action combat systems instead of the more "abstract" turn-based battle systems associated with computer RPGs. In response, he pointed out that not all console RPGs are action-based, pointing to Final Fantasy and Lufia, and that some computer RPGs such as Ultima VIII: Pagan have also begun following the trend of adopting arcade action elements.[73] Another early criticism, dating back to the Phantasy Star games in the late 1980s, was the frequent use of defined player characters, in contrast to the Wizardry and Gold Box games where the player's avatars (such as knights, clerics, or thieves) were blank slates.[74]
The largely secular nature of Japanese culture results in heavy usage of themes, symbols, and characters taken from a variety of religions, including Christianity and Japanese Shinto. This tends to be problematic when JRPGs are exported to Western countries where the topics of religion and blasphemy remain sensitive, such as the United States. It is not unusual for a JRPG to exhibit elements that would be controversial in the West, such as Xenogears or Final Fantasy Tactics featuring antagonists that bear similarities to the Abrahamic God and the Catholic Church, respectively;[75] and Nintendo has made efforts in the past to remove references such as these prior to introducing their games into the North American market.[20]
In more recent years, several writers have criticized action JRPGs as not being "true" RPGs, for heavy usage of scripted cutscenes and dialogue, and a frequent lack of branching outcomes.[76][Turner] Japanese RPGs are also sometimes criticized for having relatively simple battle systems in which players are able to win by repetitively mashing buttons,[76][Turner] though it has been pointed out that Japanese RPG combat systems such as in Final Fantasy X and Xenosaga have become increasingly complex over the years, with more of an emphasis on strategy and timing, and with each new game often introducing their own rules and systems.[76][Nutt][77][Note 3] As a result, Japanese-style role-playing games are held in disdain by some Western gamers, leading to the term "JRPG" being held in the pejorative.[67][79]
Further, there is a belief among some—particularly in the West—that Japanese RPGs are stagnating or declining in both quality and popularity, including remarks by BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk and writing director Daniel Erickson that JRPGs are stagnating—and that Final Fantasy XIII is not even really an RPG;[80][81][82] criticisms regarding seemingly nebulous justifications by some Japanese designers for newly changed (or, alternately, newly un-changed) features of recent titles;[83] calls among some gaming journalists to "fix" JRPGs' problems;[84][85][86][87] as well as claims that some recent titles such as Front Mission Evolved are beginning to attempt—and failing to—imitate Western titles.[88] Finally, one recent advertisement by Obsidian Entertainment in Japan openly mocked Japanese RPGs' traditional characteristics in favor of their own Western title, Fallout: New Vegas.[89] This has produced responses such as ones by Japanese video game developers, Shinji Mikami and Yuji Horii, to the effect that JRPGs were never popular in the West to begin with, and that Western reviewers are biased against turn-based systems;[90][91][92][93] as well as "overly agitated responses" from among members of the sizable Japanese Internet discussion forum, 2channel.[86][94]
Nick Doerr of Joystiq noted that Bethesda claimed Japanese RPGs "are all the same" and "too linear," to which he responded that "there are some amazing non-linear titles from Japan," pointing to the Romancing SaGa games as examples.[72] Jeff Fleming of Gamasutra has pointed out that, while Japanese RPGs on home consoles are generally showing signs of staleness (though with exceptions such as the Megami Tensei series and Demon's Souls), this has not been the case for handhelds such as the Nintendo DS, which has had a wave of original and experimental Japanese RPGs released in recent years.[95] Jason Schreier of Kotaku argues that "JRPGs Are Not Stale, Old-Fashioned, Archaic, Obsolete, Out Of Touch Rehashes" and that "Today's Japanese role-playing games take more risks than any other genre," citing modern examples such as The World Ends with You, Half-Minute Hero, Nier, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Valkyria Chronicles, Inazuma Eleven, Mother 3, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Eternal Sonata, Radiant Historia, and Xenoblade Chronicles.[96] And despite criticisms, Japanese RPGs have continued to maintain a large fanbase,[67] and remain a popular source of inspiration for independent developers worldwide.[61]