I think a lot of that was a holdover from how new 3D controls were, that lasted well beyond the time it was necessary. But it was the whole medium, not games from any one region. Except maybe Eastern Europe, they didn't give a fuck. They'll drop you into a hell world and you figure it out yourself
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You can also check out SAGA on the gameboy, the first successful GBA RPG, monster evolution party building, and the reason Pokemon got funded.