Why are Japanese Developers so much better than Western developers at combat?

[TheFireCar]

It's a pattern I noticed. Most of the highly praised battle systems from various genre, especially RPG and Action titles originated from the hands of Japanese developers. Think about From Software, Platinum Games, Namco Bandai, Capcom, Atlus, Nintendo, Square Enix, Falcom, Tri-Ace, Level-5, Arc System Works, SCEJ, and so on. There's one thing common that these developers can do well fairly regularly, and that's in excellent combat design, but also comes at the cost of narrative and freedom in exploration.

Where as western developers excel at storytelling

CD-Projekt Red, Obsidian, Bethesda, Naughty Dogs, Eidos, Rockstar, Bioware, Rocksteady, Remedy, and so on, which are more narrative-driven games and for some coupled with a more open world approach and features combat which is generally weaker than its counterpart.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

Rocksteady kind of revolutionized gameplay with the Arkham titles even if its old news now

Naughty Dog did something really special with TLOU2

But I agree with the general premise. Alot of WRPGs have stale combat because the focus is on everything other than gameplay first

 

[Eternally Jaded]

Western publishers tend to focus on standardization of controls whereas eastern will give in to directorial oversight, giving you crazy quirky mechanics, where the "Japan is so crazy lol" thing comes from.

Also gamefeel is a priority for some development houses, where it's not a thing for others.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

I disagree. Flashy combos with big swords doesn't equal better combat

you just think in weeb brain

 

[Eternally Jaded]

I disagree. Flashy combos with big swords doesn't equal better combat

you just think in weeb brain

K.

Agree to disagree

 

[Khalil's_Black_Excellence]

I disagree. Flashy combos with big swords doesn't equal better combat

you just think in weeb brain

He named others that aren't flashy/big sword, such as your beloved soul series and even when slowed down, the sentiment remains true that Japan simply handles combat mechanics better. They animate them better, responsiveness is typically way better, they have more inventive ideas with what they do with it and often enough, there's incentives to them are just better. Only a select few western devs have/can do it as good.

 

[O³ (O cubed)]

I disagree. Flashy combos with big swords doesn't equal better combat

you just think in weeb brain

I can't think of a game made in the west that has equaled Bayonetta 1 or DMC5. Or even a Transformers Devastation for combat.

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

He named others that aren't flashy/big sword, such as your beloved soul series and even when slowed down, the sentiment remains true that Japan simply handles combat mechanics better. They animate them better, responsiveness is typically way better, they have more inventive ideas with what they do with it and often enough, there's incentives to them are just better. Only a select few western devs have/can do it as good.

souls games are the exception

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

I can't think of a game made in the west that has equaled Bayonetta 1 or DMC5. Or even a Transformers Devastation for combat.

likei said, button mash-y air juggling flashy combos. Just say you prefer anime style combat

 

[Eternally Jaded]

It's not anime style to prioritize 1:1 button press and response gameplay.

Their game feel is widely regarded as superior

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

It's not anime style to prioritize 1:1 button press and response gameplay.

Their game feel is widely regarded as superior

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

Because western games focus strongly on gun combat. I swear outside of some WRPGs, I see a hand and a gun more than actual smooth combat ala the games that OP posted.

 

[MeachTheMonster]

How many western games are actually character action games?

I can’t think of many. Western games are usually FPS or RPGs

 

[Detroit Wave]

Rocksteady kind of revolutionized gameplay with the Arkham titles even if its old news now

Naughty Dog did something really special with TLOU2

But I agree with the general premise. Alot of WRPGs have stale combat because the focus is on everything other than gameplay first

Rocksteady didn’t revolutionize shyt breh they just remixed the combat from the ps2 jet li game

 

[Detroit Wave]

I disagree. Flashy combos with big swords doesn't equal better combat

you just think in weeb brain

Royal guard from devil may cry 3 > every game you think has better combat