Fight, Magic, Items, Aidan Moher
Fight, Magic, Items, Aidan Moher
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Fight, Magic, Items
The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West

Author: Aidan Moher

Narrator: Eric Michael Summerer

Unabridged: 11 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/25/2023

Synopsis

The Japanese roleplaying game (JRPG) genre is one that is known for bold, unforgettable characters; rich stories, and some of the most iconic and beloved games in the industry. Inspired by early western RPGs and introducing technology and artistic styles that pushed the boundaries of what video games could be, this genre is responsible for creating some of the most complex, bold, and beloved games in history. In Fight, Magic, Items, Aidan Moher guides listeners through the history of JRPGs, exploring the technical challenges, distinct narrative and artistic visions, and creative rivalries that fueled the creation of countless iconic games and their quest to become the best.

Moher immerses listeners in the world of JRPGs, following the interconnected history through the lens of their creators and their stories full of hope and risk, from the tiny teams that built the foundations of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises; Reiko Kodama pushing boundaries with Phantasy Star; the team up between Horii and Sakaguchi to create Chrono Trigger; or the mashup of Disney with Final Fantasy in Kingdom Hearts. Filled with firsthand interviews and behind-the-scenes looks into the development, reception, and influence of JRPGs, this book captures the evolution of the genre and why it continues to grab us, decades after those first iconic pixelated games released.

About Aidan Moher

Aidan Moher is a Hugo award-winning writer and editor who has written about almost every niche facet of geek culture you can think of from Terry Brooks to Dungeons & Dragons. And whether he's penning wildly read essays on Lunar: Silver Star Story, the undeniable lasting power of Chrono Trigger (the best RPG ever made), or the forgotten history of Magic: the Gathering, he manages to infuse deep, personal, endearing hooks into every story he tells. He's written for outlets like Wired, Kotaku, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Uncanny magazine, Fanbyte, Tor.com, and more.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Nicholas on October 06, 2022

I loved this book. For me, a HUGE fan of JRPGs, it was pretty much unputdownable.......more

Goodreads review by Jorge on October 17, 2022

If you love JRPGs -but especially if you grew up playing JRPGs- you must read this book. It will grant you a deeper understanding of their history, of their creation process, of the people behind them and, consequently, of the games themselves.......more

Goodreads review by Felipe on February 25, 2023

The book aims to narrate the arrival of JRPGs in "the West" (read, the US), mixing the writer's childhood memories with some historical trivia, developer quotes and statements from a few experts. The problem is that the book clearly only covers things the author cares about - and he's somewhat of a n......more

Goodreads review by Beth on September 08, 2022

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Japanese RPGs saved my life. They made my life what it is today. Aidan Moher approaches the games with much the same passion and emotion, and his intimate analysis of the history and very experience of Japanese-influenced role-playing games......more

Goodreads review by Eric on July 18, 2023

I can’t help but compare this book to my recently read Chasing the Dragon, which was about the history of Dungeons & Dragons from a business perspective. This book uses bigger words and lacks that new “Twitter-short” style of journalism. There are more second-hand sources. And since this is based on......more

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