At one point in the ever-shifting console wars, Microsoft ruled the market with its exciting Xbox 360 and terrific line up of titles. A seemingly strong new partnership with Square-Enix hinted that Microsoft would yield exciting new JRPGs exclusive to the 360.
If dug through deep enough, the Xbox library holds a number of JRPG gems, some of which are console exclusive. While some have crossed platforms recently, and while there are almost no exclusives in gaming anymore with most titles also on PC, this list will look at what exclusives the Xbox line has to boast.
10 Star Ocean 4
While Star Ocean 4 did eventually arrive on the PS3, it launched as an Xbox 360 exclusive that continued the strong partnership Microsoft had with Square-Enix. One of the best modern Star Ocean entries, 4 tells an epic tale that spans the entire sea of stars and features the ageless and classic combat system fans of the franchise have come to love.
In fact, Star Ocean 4 features some of the best combat the series has seen — period. Couple that with notable graphical improvements from Til the End of Time and a solid soundtrack, and Star Ocean 4 remains as one of the best JRPGs available on the Xbox platform.
9 Eternal Sonata
Another timed exclusive, Eternal Sonata tells a touching tale of the end of famed pianist Frederic Chopin’s life. While on his deathbed, Chopin creates a world filled with music. Each character is named after a piece of music theory (Crescendo, Beat, etc.), and the combat is a terrific combination of action and turn based gameplay that really has not been replicated.
Featuring an anime-esque aesthetic, an immaculate soundtrack based around Chopin’s compositions, and a world well worth exploring, Eternal Sonata is a must-play for fans of great JRPGs.
8 Spectral Force 3
A true Xbox exclusive, Spectral Force 3 is an Atlus produced and Idea Factory & XPEC developed strategy RPG in the same vein as Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea (or, really, a sequel to the plethora of Spectral games that came before). Fans of classic strategy RPGs will find a lot to love with Spectral Force 3.
Great battles, huge damage, and an intriguing story will keep SJRPG fans engaged for a multitude of hours, and exploring the backlog of games in the Spectral franchise could keep newcomers to the series busy for months.
7 Tales Of Vesperia
Sure, the HD Remaster dropped this classic Tales Of… JRPG on every platform. And sure, Tales of Vesperia released on PS3 in Japan. In the west, however, Tales of Vesperia, one of the best games in the Tales franchise, launched exclusively on the Xbox 360. Tales of Vesperia sees Yuri, an anti-hero of sorts, up against an entire kingdom — one of which he personally served as a knight.
More importantly, Yuri’s journey ensues in a tight cat-and-mouse chase led by Flynn, who Yuri once considered a friend and comrade. The story is deep, the combat is excellent, and fans of the franchise could only play it on Xbox.
6 The Last Remnant
Another title that began as an Xbox console exclusive (though it was available on PC), The Last Remnant did not sell or perform well enough on the 360 to warrant a PS3 release, which is an absolute shame and perhaps the beginning of the end of Microsoft’s exclusivity agreements with Square-Enix. The Last Remnant is a wholly unique experience well worth a play by any JRPG fan. It tells the story of a Johnny Yong Bosch-voiced Rush Sykes, who is attempting to save his sister from a menacing enemy.
Combat is a mix between a strategy and active turn-based system, where players control entire units of soldiers that are fully customizable in small-to-large scale battles where they can flank, disrupt, and engage with enemies head on. There can be a bit of a grind, but the combat and difficulty curve is both significant and rewarding. The HD remaster garnered the praise the game deserved.
5 Operation Darkness
Another unique Xbox exclusive that was essentially overshadowed by Sega’s Valkyria Chronicles, Operation Darkness is an active strategy RPG with sci-fi elements that mirrors the gameplay of Valkyria Chronicles. A fantastical take on World War II, Operation Darkness sees the player controlling a unit of transformative (into werewolves) British soldiers in their fight against Nazi Germany (and many zombies) and its allies in an effort to liberate Europe.
While the game absolutely bombed on release (IGN gave it a 2.5), it resonated with many gamers and is often considered a hidden gem. It is also one of the rarer Xbox 360 titles and a fun Atlus game to keep in the collection.
4 Infinite Undiscovery
Infinite Undiscovery is one of Square-Enix’s most overlooked titles. A two-disc Xbox 360 exclusive gem, Infinite Undiscovery told the story of Capell, who is mistaken for Sigmund, the Liberator, a hero attempting to break the chains holding the moon to the planet.
While the game can be as obscure as its name, it featured an action focused combat system that was surprisingly pleasant to engage in and consists of a relatively large roster of characters to flesh out Capell’s party. There are some pretty big deaths in this one, too, which always makes for a far more intriguing experience. There are not many exclusive RPGs on the Xbox, so each one is definitely special.
3 Magna Carta 2
While the first Magna Carta saw limited success on the PlayStation 2 as a turn-based RPG (with plenty of merit for itself), Magna Carta 2 graced the Xbox 360 as an exclusive from Bandai Namco. It takes the shape as an action JRPG and features the same art style that made the original so unique.
It does not have the most original storyline, but it can absolutely suck the player in for its 40ish hour run time — and it features enough twists and turns to make up for its less-than-original plot.
2 Blue Dragon
Often considered great in the same breath as Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon is one of the most memorable JRPGs on the Xbox, and it is one still worth revisiting today (and can be done so with backwards compatibility).
The art of Akira Toriyama (of Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball fame) already create a level of uniqueness to this title, but the story and gameplay from Mistwalker (the studio of Final Fantasy legend Hironobu Sakagutchi and composer Nobuo Uematsu) catapult this game to the top of this list. It exists in a world that is both fun and terrifying to explore, and the intricate plot is a joy to experience.
1 Lost Odyssey
What else could top this list? One of the greatest JRPGs of all time, Lost Odyssey is the culmination of years of top tier work from the creators of Mistwalker. The player assumes the role of Kaim, an immortal man who has lived a thousand years. He lives a tormented life after losing his daughter to a tragic accident. The world is gorgeous and feels like it could have been the next Final Fantasy or AAA RPG (in a sense, it was, being published by Microsoft Studios). Combat is an excellent turn-based system that utilizes precision timing to land powerful hits and strategy to conquer tougher foes.
What really makes this game interesting and takes it to the next level is exploring all of Kaim’s memories. Each memory takes the shape of a novella, and each one feels as heart-wrenching as the next. Imagining the burden Kaim carries, having lived through the lives and deaths of the people in most of his memories, is a tough pill to swallow. The end result is an emotional payoff built around the relationships of the characters met along the way and is truly one of the most memorable JRPG experiences ever.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
