The more I think about it, rather than the combat or the boss battles, it’s the downtime that really defines the greatest JRPGs. When I remember Final Fantasy 8, I picture strolling through Balamb Garden; in FFX, it’s those tranquil little sequences in Besaid and Kilika. Everyone loves going to the tavern in Monster Hunter. The entire Persona series is based on hanging out with your friends. Originally released in 2012, Fantasy Life is the epitome of the pastoral RPG. And now, more than a decade later, Fantasy Life is suddenly back with a totally new sequel that’s already earned tens of thousands of players and close to immaculate reviews.
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