Not going to lie, I kind of see compilation lists and top 10 lists as kinda clickbaity ideas to get views but… I can’t deny the usefulness this video was for me. I feel like I know so much about video games yet I haven’t heard of Zanki Zero despite being a major Danganronpa fan. Thank you for the video.
I’m personally not a fan of lists. So whenever I try to make one, it has to be either relevant with what’s going on right now, or something not a lot of people talk about. One merit of lists is that it allows me to talk about a bunch of games that I either don’t really have much to say about, games that I do want to talk about - even for a little - or ones that I’ve already reviewed! Zanki Zero is definitely the latter! Yes, they can be clickbaity. But I think there’s ways to make them that are more responsible and interesting! That creative challenge is something that appeals to me!
Zanki Zero has some dark hilarious humor in it. There were times where I just couldn’t stop laughing. It’s not for everyone for but that game really got my attention.
I see resonance of fate, I comment and like. Such an underrated gem but definitely hard to get into cause the combat system really takes some getting used to.
Cool list, Alex! The Conception in SMT Nocturne is one of the standout atmospheric moments for me in all of gaming. It's kind of wild how many interpretations of a post-Apocalypse world we have gotten, but given that Japan has experienced several of the most destructive events in modern history, it makes sense.
Wild Arms 3: While in Wild Arms 1 the world is dying, in Wild Arms 3, the planet has died already and became a giant desert. Terranigma: The game is set after an apocalyptic event and you have to restore the continents and all life on earth and that is only the beginning of this masterpiece of an action rpg.
Just realized that some of the games mentioned are my all time favorite jrpgs and that might mean post - apocalyptic is one of my favorite jrpg settings
Solid list I was not expecting Crytalis to be in that list! Also sorry to be that guy but it's Yasunori Mitsuda and he's the main composer of the CT OST
There are a couple of Final Fantasy games that could be mentioned. There's an obvious one that's too much of a spoiler (how old does a game have to be where it's safe to discuss?!?) so I'll mention FFX. The world has recovered somewhat but it is a setting where it was an advanced civilization that destroyed itself
Glad to see Phantasy Star in there. (and even respect for 3!) The Ar Tonellico games are another good post apocalyptic setting. The first two games are solid though low budget titles. The third game, though... Just pretend it doesn't exist is my advice. Ar Nosurge is a big step up from there, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the first two games, even if it feels like it had a real budget at that point. Many JRPGs have ancient lost civilizations that leave ancient magic/technological ruins behind. Whatever those societies were, you could consider their decline as an apocalypse of sorts.
Good call on Ar tonelica. Didn't think about those. I loved the first 2 games, but the third was a huge letdown like you said. Never played Ar nosurge, but I've got a copy laying around that I don't remember buying.
I always hoped Resonance of Fate was going to get a sequel. I found the battle system unique and hoped for more, even with a tweak or two. But it looks like it will remain a dream.
I love post-apocalyptic theme more than fantasy setting in video games or movies. I am sucker for well-made post-apocalyptic content. Thank you for making this video. As a newcomer to Jrpg genre, this gives me idea for my upcoming games.
Fragile dreams, in the wii is another post-apocalyptic action rpg hidden gem. Ff x too. And the entire etrian odyssey saga. The 7th dragon saga too. Soul blazer and terranigma. Breath of fire 5 too... in fact there are more than it seems. I loved to see resonance of fate, as one of my favourite rpg of its generation which is deeply overlooked.
The Metal Max series is not very well known in the West, but it's definitely a post apocalyptic series of JRPGs. Might also be the first to include vehicular combat beside on foot combat. It's obviously very Mad Max inspired while sticking to classic JRPG tropes. I don't think any of them are must play, but they're definitely interesting to look into if post apocalyptic scenarios are your thing. Keep in mind only a couple have been localized or even fan translated over the years, Metal Max Returns on the SNES being one of them (it's a remake of the first game which was on the NES)
I think this is the first time I have seen my two absolute favorite games of all time, those being Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and Phantasy Star IV, mentioned in the same video and it doesn't come as a surprise that you would be the one to do it. 😆 Of course, games like Chrono Trigger, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Crystalis, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are also among my favorites. NieR: Automata and Lisa the Painful are currently in my backlog and it looks like I will also need to be adding Zanki Zero: Last Beginning and Resonance of Fate to it in the near future. Something interesting about stories in a post-apocalyptic setting in comparison to those trying to avoid a catastrophic event is that they are focused on characters trying to change the world to create a better future for people rather than attempting to preserve the world that currently exists. In that sense, they have a sort of revolutionary feel to them.
Besides Ar nosurge/Ar Tonelico series there is another game from GUST. Despite it's layback (at first glance) atmosphere, Blue Reflection Tie/Second Light actualy takes place in post-apocaliptic world.
As a fan of Shin Megami Tensei I would say SMT 3 Nocturne was definitely the right pick for this video! But I would also like to recommend playing the SMT Digital Devil Saga duology and SMT V after playing Nocturne. The Demi-Fiend is actually a secret boss in those games.
This is such a cool idea for a JRPG top list! Love me some Xenoblade, but what I really want to play from this list is Zanki Zero. Great video Alex, enjoyed this one quite a bit 👏
My favorite JRPG is also postapocalyptic but its so far afterwards that a new civilization has been established to the point that at first glance you can not tell its post apacolyptic. But yeah humanity is toast in that game series.
Some other games I feel should be on this list also include Metal Max Xeno and its remake Metal Max Xeno Reborn. I also feel Scarlet Nexus would qualify on this as well, unless there is something I don’t know about it. Relayer could be another one too?
I've played most of these. IMO Phantasy Star III's post apocalypse elements are much more important then the ones in IV. I'm surprised neither Metal Max nor Metal Saga made they list because they are the first thing to come to mind when I think Post Apocalypse JRPGs Spoilers ahead Mother 3 is actually post-apocalyptic as well which is one of the big factors while I wish you could let the antagonist win in that game. Sure he's a selfish jerk but IMO his plan for the future is still better then that of those in charge before he came along.
What is the time frame for post-apocalyptic, how long afterwards still counts, less than a millenium? I might have more depending on that. My picks are Code Vein, God Eater, Legend of Legaia, the Gaia trilogy, Ar Nosurge and Ar Tonelico. Stellar Blade will definetely count as that.
It's not time, it's state of things. Post-apocalypse starts when things are not going down anymore and ends when civilization rebuilds to a comparable level of control over the world to the pre-apocaliptic one.
Really recommend looking into metal max series specifically returns, 3 , and 2 reloaded. Metal saga is ok, and xeno is honestly pretty bad by standards of the other games.
Nier Automata isn't satisfied being just post-apocalyptic. It is post-post-apocalypse-apocalypse-post-apocalyptic. Why? well... It's "post-post-" for being far far after an apocalypse. 7-8000 years later. It's not a world struggling after directly experiencing the apocalypse. The dust has settled and everyone has moved on into the newer, but now quite old world order. Then "apocalypse-apocalypse-" for having a double apocalypse. The first being the direct aftermath from the events of Nier Replicant. Going into it would be spoilers for both games. But then after that by another 1000 or so years and a separate event entirely was the alien invasion of Earth. That's not a spoiler as it is base setting information for Automata, and still some 6000 years before the game. Then another "post-apocalyptic", because Nier Replicant itself is post-apocalyptic due to the events & aftermath occurring from a Drakengard ending spilling into modern day Earth and having disastrous consequences. But that's Yoko Taro for you.
Crystalis is an underrated classic. More people should try that game. And Chrono Trigger of course, is the GOAT. Have to disagree in Phantasy Star 4 though. I played it for the first time last year it did not hold up well. Certainly better than PS1-3, those were atrocious, unplayable even. Anyway, there much better games to play. I'm interested in Resonance of Fate. It really does look good. It's just that the developer, tri-Ace, is really inconsistent. Half the games are good to great, half are terrible. Nier Automata never looked that interesting to me, but maybe I should try it sometime anyway. It gets universal praise and all.
WHOOPS! For some reason, I said that 'Yasumi Matsuno' worked on the soundtrack for Chrono Trigger! That would be 'Yasunori Mitsuda!' My bad!
Not going to lie, I kind of see compilation lists and top 10 lists as kinda clickbaity ideas to get views but… I can’t deny the usefulness this video was for me. I feel like I know so much about video games yet I haven’t heard of Zanki Zero despite being a major Danganronpa fan. Thank you for the video.
I’m personally not a fan of lists. So whenever I try to make one, it has to be either relevant with what’s going on right now, or something not a lot of people talk about.
One merit of lists is that it allows me to talk about a bunch of games that I either don’t really have much to say about, games that I do want to talk about - even for a little - or ones that I’ve already reviewed! Zanki Zero is definitely the latter!
Yes, they can be clickbaity. But I think there’s ways to make them that are more responsible and interesting! That creative challenge is something that appeals to me!
Zanki Zero has some dark hilarious humor in it. There were times where I just couldn’t stop laughing. It’s not for everyone for but that game really got my attention.
13 Sentinels has one of the best Sci Fi stories in any medium I’ve ever seen. It’s actually fantastic.
There’s a reason why it still remains on my channel banner!
It’s been in my backlog for a while, maybe it’s time to get around to it!
@@Jmerithew87yeah same with me. I really should get to it.
Such an insane and creative story.
I see resonance of fate, I comment and like. Such an underrated gem but definitely hard to get into cause the combat system really takes some getting used to.
It's a detail that's often overlooked because the world is so vibrant, but Final Fantasy X does take place in a post-apocalyptic world.
Glad to see Phantasy star 4 here, more people need to give this franchise a chance
Cool list, Alex!
The Conception in SMT Nocturne is one of the standout atmospheric moments for me in all of gaming.
It's kind of wild how many interpretations of a post-Apocalypse world we have gotten, but given that Japan has experienced several of the most destructive events in modern history, it makes sense.
Xenoblade 3 is jrpg perfection. Especially the dlc
I can’t wait for penny blood
Yooooooooo was cool to see 8 and 16-bit games in this video
Wild Arms 3: While in Wild Arms 1 the world is dying, in Wild Arms 3, the planet has died already and became a giant desert.
Terranigma: The game is set after an apocalyptic event and you have to restore the continents and all life on earth and that is only the beginning of this masterpiece of an action rpg.
Fabulous list! I feel like I really gotta bite the bullet and play Zanki Zero!
13 sentinels is a masterpiece!!!!! best sci fi story EVER
Just realized that some of the games mentioned are my all time favorite jrpgs and that might mean post - apocalyptic is one of my favorite jrpg settings
Solid list I was not expecting Crytalis to be in that list!
Also sorry to be that guy but it's Yasunori Mitsuda and he's the main composer of the CT OST
I gotta check now to see what I said lol
There are a couple of Final Fantasy games that could be mentioned. There's an obvious one that's too much of a spoiler (how old does a game have to be where it's safe to discuss?!?) so I'll mention FFX. The world has recovered somewhat but it is a setting where it was an advanced civilization that destroyed itself
Lisa the painful is free on the Epic Store from today (March the 26th, 2024) up to the second of May
Glad to see Phantasy Star in there. (and even respect for 3!)
The Ar Tonellico games are another good post apocalyptic setting. The first two games are solid though low budget titles. The third game, though... Just pretend it doesn't exist is my advice. Ar Nosurge is a big step up from there, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the first two games, even if it feels like it had a real budget at that point.
Many JRPGs have ancient lost civilizations that leave ancient magic/technological ruins behind. Whatever those societies were, you could consider their decline as an apocalypse of sorts.
Good call on Ar tonelica. Didn't think about those.
I loved the first 2 games, but the third was a huge letdown like you said.
Never played Ar nosurge, but I've got a copy laying around that I don't remember buying.
I always hoped Resonance of Fate was going to get a sequel. I found the battle system unique and hoped for more, even with a tweak or two. But it looks like it will remain a dream.
I love post-apocalyptic theme more than fantasy setting in video games or movies. I am sucker for well-made post-apocalyptic content. Thank you for making this video. As a newcomer to Jrpg genre, this gives me idea for my upcoming games.
You’re very welcome! Hope you enjoy them!
Fragile dreams, in the wii is another post-apocalyptic action rpg hidden gem. Ff x too. And the entire etrian odyssey saga. The 7th dragon saga too. Soul blazer and terranigma. Breath of fire 5 too... in fact there are more than it seems.
I loved to see resonance of fate, as one of my favourite rpg of its generation which is deeply overlooked.
Lisa the Painful is a fantastic game.
The Metal Max series is not very well known in the West, but it's definitely a post apocalyptic series of JRPGs. Might also be the first to include vehicular combat beside on foot combat. It's obviously very Mad Max inspired while sticking to classic JRPG tropes.
I don't think any of them are must play, but they're definitely interesting to look into if post apocalyptic scenarios are your thing.
Keep in mind only a couple have been localized or even fan translated over the years, Metal Max Returns on the SNES being one of them (it's a remake of the first game which was on the NES)
Ok, I wanna try Zanki zero now
I think this is the first time I have seen my two absolute favorite games of all time, those being Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and Phantasy Star IV, mentioned in the same video and it doesn't come as a surprise that you would be the one to do it. 😆 Of course, games like Chrono Trigger, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Crystalis, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are also among my favorites. NieR: Automata and Lisa the Painful are currently in my backlog and it looks like I will also need to be adding Zanki Zero: Last Beginning and Resonance of Fate to it in the near future. Something interesting about stories in a post-apocalyptic setting in comparison to those trying to avoid a catastrophic event is that they are focused on characters trying to change the world to create a better future for people rather than attempting to preserve the world that currently exists. In that sense, they have a sort of revolutionary feel to them.
Besides Ar nosurge/Ar Tonelico series there is another game from GUST. Despite it's layback (at first glance) atmosphere, Blue Reflection Tie/Second Light actualy takes place in post-apocaliptic world.
As a fan of Shin Megami Tensei I would say SMT 3 Nocturne was definitely the right pick for this video! But I would also like to recommend playing the SMT Digital Devil Saga duology and SMT V after playing Nocturne. The Demi-Fiend is actually a secret boss in those games.
I featured Digital Devil SaGa in my recent Underappreciated JRPGs list!
Sweet! I’ll give that a watch.
This is such a cool idea for a JRPG top list! Love me some Xenoblade, but what I really want to play from this list is Zanki Zero. Great video Alex, enjoyed this one quite a bit 👏
You gotta prepare yourself for Zanki Zero! Those reveals are trigger-ey!
Im missing Harvestella. Haven’t finished it but it had a really nice, very post apocalyptic story
I'm currently playing that and came here to say it.
I had that in a previous list, so I wanted to give the opportunity for other games! Also, technically, that reveal could be considered spoilers…
Not quite RPG ig but Armored Core 6 is one of the best post apocalyptic Japanese games ever
My favorite JRPG is also postapocalyptic but its so far afterwards that a new civilization has been established to the point that at first glance you can not tell its post apacolyptic. But yeah humanity is toast in that game series.
So… it's not post-apocalyptic.
Some other games I feel should be on this list also include Metal Max Xeno and its remake Metal Max Xeno Reborn. I also feel Scarlet Nexus would qualify on this as well, unless there is something I don’t know about it. Relayer could be another one too?
Yea.😊 Crystalis . I had that on nes. Great old game. So good ☺️
Make me happy
I've played most of these. IMO Phantasy Star III's post apocalypse elements are much more important then the ones in IV. I'm surprised neither Metal Max nor Metal Saga made they list because they are the first thing to come to mind when I think Post Apocalypse JRPGs
Spoilers ahead
Mother 3 is actually post-apocalyptic as well which is one of the big factors while I wish you could let the antagonist win in that game. Sure he's a selfish jerk but IMO his plan for the future is still better then that of those in charge before he came along.
Shin Megami Tensei x 10
I said that in the video!
the way my mouse cursor shot to this video. WWW vid🤟
Code Vein, Final Fantasy 6, Terranigma are a few more post-apocalyptic JRPGs.
I think both blue reflection games are good post apocalyptic games.
What is the time frame for post-apocalyptic, how long afterwards still counts, less than a millenium? I might have more depending on that.
My picks are Code Vein, God Eater, Legend of Legaia, the Gaia trilogy, Ar Nosurge and Ar Tonelico.
Stellar Blade will definetely count as that.
The time frame is:
Something really bad destroys the entirety of the world or a massive area (an apocalyptic event)
Post-apocalypse begins
It's not time, it's state of things. Post-apocalypse starts when things are not going down anymore and ends when civilization rebuilds to a comparable level of control over the world to the pre-apocaliptic one.
Really recommend looking into metal max series specifically returns, 3 , and 2 reloaded. Metal saga is ok, and xeno is honestly pretty bad by standards of the other games.
Terranigma, baby
My kingdom for a PC port of 13 Sentinels 😭
Nier Automata isn't satisfied being just post-apocalyptic. It is post-post-apocalypse-apocalypse-post-apocalyptic. Why? well...
It's "post-post-" for being far far after an apocalypse. 7-8000 years later. It's not a world struggling after directly experiencing the apocalypse. The dust has settled and everyone has moved on into the newer, but now quite old world order.
Then "apocalypse-apocalypse-" for having a double apocalypse. The first being the direct aftermath from the events of Nier Replicant. Going into it would be spoilers for both games. But then after that by another 1000 or so years and a separate event entirely was the alien invasion of Earth. That's not a spoiler as it is base setting information for Automata, and still some 6000 years before the game.
Then another "post-apocalyptic", because Nier Replicant itself is post-apocalyptic due to the events & aftermath occurring from a Drakengard ending spilling into modern day Earth and having disastrous consequences.
But that's Yoko Taro for you.
👍🏾👍🏾💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💪🏾👍🏾
Crystalis is an underrated classic. More people should try that game. And Chrono Trigger of course, is the GOAT.
Have to disagree in Phantasy Star 4 though. I played it for the first time last year it did not hold up well. Certainly better than PS1-3, those were atrocious, unplayable even. Anyway, there much better games to play.
I'm interested in Resonance of Fate. It really does look good. It's just that the developer, tri-Ace, is really inconsistent. Half the games are good to great, half are terrible.
Nier Automata never looked that interesting to me, but maybe I should try it sometime anyway. It gets universal praise and all.