This looks great.  Nintendo would have my money if it wasnt for the 3ds region lock and the fact that its not out in the UK yet :(   

I'm sure i will like the gameplay, but how does the story stand up?   Generic as hell or characters you care about?

I dont think it is the names that are the problem.  I would say that artwork, character designs, japanese tropes are the inital first impression problem.   The only JRPG I can think of that "looks cool" is Dark Souls.   The anime look is still pervasive in so many others and I think that will put off many a casual buyer.

Its a shame as some great games have suffered because of this (cough Valkyria Chronicles cough), but i dont see anything changing out of Japan.   I think it is interesting in that it is not RPGs in general that are doing badly - just JRPGs.   Just look at Skyrim and the Project Eternity kickstarter.

As for me I still love all types of rpg but i find a lot of time i will overlook the bad story tropes and character designs in a Jrpg as long as i like the gameplay.   I get most of my titles by mail order, if an old timer like me had picked up Atelier Meruru in retail, i would look like a pedo.   

Sad news for us strategy rpgfans.  A great game series getting progessively worse.  Shame the third one never got brought over.   

Im ok with this.

Make a new Front Mission that isnt a FPS or another quality SRPG like Tactics Ogre.  (i wonder if the recent remake made a profit?).   Concentrate on good gameplay and story and dont spend a fortune on graphics/cut scenes.

I can't help feeling in recent years they've been going for massively bloated (and expensive) games which havent been worth the effort.

I was encouraged to hear about a sequel to TWEWY thats the sort of innovative game we need.

Im a regular podcast listener and as Im currently struggling with Dark Souls this one was especially interesting to hear your views.

I love it but also hate it.  I wish From had made it a bit more accessible and less annoying, maybe a few more bonfires or even "collective gasp of horror" a beginners Difficulty mode where things are a little less brutal.  When I die at a boss let me respawn at the fog gate for another try, not 10 mins sprint away!

On the other hand its really good to see a JRPG thats not generic chars, story and anime boobs.   If you guys are up for it, it would be good to have a Dark Souls post mortem on a future podcast.  I would be interested to hear how well (or badly) it has done sales wise in Japan, US, EU and compared to Skyrim.

Thanks for TOR beta talk.  As an ex WOW player who is now "clean" you have helped me decide what to do when that comes out.