The best JRPGs with extensive skill customization

Japanese RPGs captured the hearts of many fans when the genre exploded on the PS1. The sheer number of incredible one-off games, long-running franchises, beloved spin-offs, and everything else in the same vein that fans can enjoy when it comes to this genre is immense. Fans of this genre are spoiled for choice with a host of incredible titles that push the genre in a new direction and leave fans wanting more after experiencing a long, epic adventure for the ages.

While most JRPGs had rigid character progression where players didn’t have too many opportunities to change a character’s growth trajectory, this is no longer the case. Now, the sheer number of games that allow players to customize a party member’s abilities is immense, and players can take full advantage of these systems to allow their party members to perform impressive techniques and enjoy significant passive benefits in the battle.

1

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Combining different rooms makes skill customization easy but fun for each party member.

The legend of heroes features some of the best story-driven JRPGs fans can get their hands on, and Trails of cold steel is no exception to this golden rule. Controlling a group of students at Thors Military Academy and undertaking missions while a mystery slowly unfolds throughout the title’s run is quite engaging and a big reason why players found it easy to get involved in the first chapter of a long lasting bow.

Longtime fans of the series are well aware of the Quartz system and how players can purchase these magical items and equip them on their party members to enjoy everything from passive buffs to powerful attacks that use certain items to punish. their opponents. As the game progresses, players will get their hands on some incredible Quartzs that will allow them to use high-powered techniques to defeat their enemies in style.

2

Octopath Traveler 2

Switching jobs allows party members to synergize a host of passive and active abilities

Octopath Traveler It was a great game, but it had some issues that needed to be fixed for a perfect experience. This was achieved with Octopath Traveler 2A near-perfect sequel with incredible gameplay that allows players to play with an expanded and refined job system. Players can obtain multiple licenses for the same job, allowing them to go all out and form an all-warrior team if they wish.

Active skills that players can use in combat can be unlocked with Job Points, allowing them to unlock powerful techniques for their main job and numerous side jobs in a short time. Unlocking enough skills for a job unlocks passive buffs that can be mixed and matched however the player wishes, and the eight party members feel unique in combat as they use skills from multiple jobs to synergize with their permanent abilities and cause havoc against their enemies. instantly.

3

Persona 5 Real

Switching between personas changes passive and active abilities in a jiffy

Each Person The game following the third main entry has perfected the formula in its own way, with the life simulation elements and traditional JRPG gameplay creating a winning combination. Persona 5 was already a huge improvement over its predecessors when it came to visual design and gameplay, with Persona 5 Real bringing more positive changes into the mix. Players can mix and match various combinations of Personas to cover all bases with Joker, who gains the ability to store more Personas as he gains levels.

Most Personas come with certain passive bonuses that can be game-breaking if players are smart with the monsters they bring into battle. In addition to this, hanging out with Social Links unlocks passive bonuses that can be useful in battle, allowing the player’s version of Joker to feel as unique as possible with the abilities players can acquire through numerous avenues. of game.

4

golden sun

Djinn’s combination of abilities leads to excellent and unexpected customization

It’s a shame that the golden sun The series has remained dormant for so long despite its immense potential. While the game may seem like a cliché JRPG in some ways, the way it distinguished itself from the rest of the competition was by integrating puzzles that required certain types of magic to be cast on the field. This was achieved by finding and assigning Djinn of different elements to party members, which could make for some fun combinations.

Djinn’s combination of different elements can allow players to acquire unique spells that allow them to grow plants, lift objects, and interact with the environment in meaningful ways. After acquiring a large number of Djinn, players can genuinely get lost in these combinations as they try to unlock more powerful abilities that serve them well in combat while acquiring certain utility spells that make puzzles easier to solve.

5

Final Fantasy 7

Using Materia to mix and match abilities has aged like a fine wine

The legacy of Final Fantasy 7 remains incomparable to this day. Square Enix’s goose that lays the golden egg continues to lay many valuable eggs to this day, and players love the combination of sci-fi and fantasy elements in a story that revolves around horrible corporations that suck the life out of the world. Lifestream the planet to satisfy their greed, while the sinister presence of Sephiroth looms in the background.

One of the game’s biggest selling points is the materia system, a way of assigning abilities and passive bonuses that is so effective that it feels modern and innovative. Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Renaissance also. Mastering these crystallized mako and finding rare raw materials scattered throughout the world is a joy every time, allowing players to equip everything from powerful summons to raw materials that can learn enemy abilities to turn a character into a Blue Magic user. .