Long-lost Xbox 360 JRPGs Still Trapped on Original Hardware

The words "JRPG" and "Xbox" aren't ones you'd expect to go hand in hand, and I totally understand why.

For years, the Xbox console catered less to the JRPG demographic and more towards Western audiences. It was the home of Halo, Call of Duty, and the FPS genre in general. That's not to say that the Xbox platform has lacked RPGs over the years; this was the place to play Morrowind and Oblivion back in the day on consoles. Microsoft even published the first Mass Effect game. Those are Western RPGs, though, and closer aligned to the overall public's perception of the type of games you see on Xbox compared to what you'd see on a Sony or Nintendo console.

Over time, however, Microsoft tried to change that perception. We saw console exclusives like Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon on the Xbox 360. We saw third-party classics like Tales of Vesperia make their way to the 360 as well. While the JRPG genre would never reach the popularity it sees elsewhere, Microsoft has made an effort to change that over the years. However, not every game that falls under this category is easily accessible today. Thankfully, gems like Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon can be purchased on the Xbox store and played on modern consoles via backward compatibility. There are also several modern re-releases of games, like Infinite Undiscovery and The Last Remnant, that give us a glimpse into what 360 owners were able to enjoy from the JRPG genre.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for these Xbox 360 JRPGs, as they're still trapped on their original hardware.

4 Magna Carta 2

Good Idea, Terrible Execution

Credit where credit is due: Magna Carta 2 is not the type of game you'd ever expect to see released on the Xbox 360, never mind as a console exclusive, yet here we are.

Developed by Korean-based Softmax, Magna Carta 2 failed to light the world on fire. Its biggest flaw is, without a doubt, the game's camera system. It's cumbersome and constantly in the way, detracting from what otherwise was an enjoyable, albeit flawed, experience.

Having said that, once you get used to it (if you ever do, to be honest), you'll be treated to an enjoyable combat system and a story that, while somewhat cliché, is enjoyable enough. Sometimes it pays off to experience these "bad" games. Magna Carta 2 has its fans for a reason: there's something of value here.

It's most certainly a relic from the past, but sometimes that's just what the doctor ordered. In a world where so many JRPGs feel like they're losing track of their roots, Magna Carta 2 offers an escape to simpler times. Provided you can deal with its issues, that is.

Magna Carta 2's biggest legacy, however, is that the series' character designer, Hyung-tae Kim, went on to found Shift Up and develop Stellar Blade. You can see the similarities between Eve's design and any other female character in Magna Carta, which can be considered by some one of the JRPG's hallmarks.

3 Operation Darkness

The WWII Tactical JRPG

When I was first properly introduced to the JRPG genre by a GameStop co-worker, I quickly learned one thing: always trust Atlus.

Of course, now I know that line of thinking isn't a way to guarantee success; while Atlus has released plenty of classics over the years, they've also released plenty of duds as well. Or in this case, championed and published one.

In the eyes of many, Operation Darkness falls under the latter category despite its intriguing premise. It's a refreshing take on the Western tactical RPG genre with so much JRPG presentation and flair that it, at times, feels at odds with what it's trying to accomplish. It's almost as if Operation Darkness tries to innovate and push forward with the X-COM formula rather than sticking with what we know works.

The result is an, at times, overly difficult and janky experience that can lead to more frustration than enjoyment. If you stick with it, though, you'll be treated to one of the more unique JRPGs out there.

2 Eternal Sonata

A Symphony

I know that I spent my entire introduction talking about how the Xbox platform wasn't known for its JRPGs, but the mid-2000s felt different.

Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon were concentrated efforts to draw in big names in the genre and try to move in on the popularity of JRPGs. Microsoft had already made headway in this regard with the Western RPG due to the success of games like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Mass Effect, Fable 2, and Fallout 3. They were talking the talk, but it felt like few other developers were willing to walk the walk with them.

Except for Bandai Namco, apparently, Eternal Sonata spoke to my Tales of Symphonia-loving heart with a similar art style, alongside the interesting premise of using Frédéric Chopin and his music as a major part of the game's story.

While Eternal Sonata ultimately never lived up to the hype, it's a perfect example of what can happen when a game, regardless of its genre, isn't afraid to try something new and unique. Such a concept is far too foreign today, but it's a refreshing spin on the JRPG genre that's worth checking out, provided you have an Xbox 360 (or a PS3) that is.

1 Enchanted Arms

FromSoftware's Lost JRPG

Clearly, there was something in the water at Ubisoft in the mid-2000s.

Assassin's Creed was a brand-new franchise that everybody loved. Far Cry 2 was weird, but in the best possible way. They were also feeling frisky with the JRPG genre, too, because they published an Xbox 360 exclusive JRPG overseas with Enchanted Arms from then little-known developer FromSoftware.

Now, if you placed Enchanted Arms next to the rest of FromSoftware's library, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Not because it's necessarily a bad game, but because the storytelling is generic and uninspired. Maybe this is why FromSoftware prefers the organic storytelling approach in their Soulslikes, but I digress.

Enchanted Arms is far from perfect, but it's not afraid to try something new and different rather than fall in line with its peers. It's a shame that it didn't get that memo when it came to its storytelling.