JRPGs are currently enjoying a massive resurgence, with record-breaking sales and a wave of new remakes hitting the market. However, a significant portion of the genre’s history remains inaccessible to modern players, trapped on older consoles with no official ports or remasters. GOG has been working to address this through its Dreamlist, an initiative that allows the community to vote for the titles they most want to see preserved and released on PC.
Editor Murillo Zerbinatto recently highlighted 10 specific JRPGs that deserve your vote, with Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness topping the list. Despite a mixed critical reception—holding a 58 on Metacritic and originally launching on PlayStation 4 in 2016—the case for its preservation is rooted in its gameplay.
Why Star Ocean 5 Deserves a Second Look
While the title faced criticism upon release, Zerbinatto argues that its shortcomings were largely due to budget constraints rather than a lack of design quality from developer tri-Ace. For those interested in the series, it remains a notable omission from the PC platform. Along with the original Star Ocean, it stands as one of the few mainline entries in the franchise currently unavailable to digital storefront users.
Though some fans might prioritize Star Ocean: First Departure R, Zerbinatto suggests that Integrity and Faithlessness offers an incredibly fun gameplay loop and a crafting system consistent with the high standards of the series, making it a worthy candidate for a PC release.
Other JRPGs Currently Trapped on Legacy Hardware
The list of requested titles extends well beyond the Star Ocean franchise, focusing on games that have never received a modern port. Other high-priority requests on the GOG Dreamlist include:
- Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII: While criticized for clunky mechanics, it remains essential for fans looking to understand the complete Final Fantasy VII lore and the history of Deepground.
- Grandia III: With the first two games already available in the Grandia HD Collection, fans are pushing to have the third entry rescued for modern systems.
- Suikoden III: While the first two games received remasters, Suikoden III remains stuck on the PS2; fans are advocating for its release on GOG to preserve the classic experience.
- Eternal Sonata: This hidden gem from tri-Crescendo masterfully blends real-time action and turn-based strategy, yet it is currently unavailable due to a lack of backward compatibility on modern Xbox systems.
- Shadow Hearts: Known for its unique Judgment Ring combat system, this horror-tinged JRPG is a frequent request for those seeking titles with innovative, reactive inputs.
- Parasite Eve: A blend of horror and action-RPG, this Square classic is highly regarded for its unique tone and setting, though it has remained inaccessible for years.
- Dragon Quest: As the origin of the genre, the original NES version remains a top priority for voters, despite the availability of newer HD-2D remakes for later entries.
- Xenogears: Boasting over 10,000 votes on the Dreamlist, this PS1 classic is widely considered one of the finest JRPGs ever made, and its arrival on PC could potentially pave the way for the Xenosaga trilogy.
- Breath of Fire III: As a personal favorite of Zerbinatto, this Capcom title is cited for its timeless pixel art, deep dragon transformation systems, and exceptional soundtrack.
While voting on the GOG Dreamlist does not guarantee a release, it serves as a powerful signal to publishers that there is a dedicated audience waiting to revisit these classics. Whether these games receive full remasters or simple digital ports, the goal remains the same: ensuring these titles are not lost to time.