Best JRPG's "last" generation?

[BulletMagnet]

I haven't played Graces f but IIRC players didn't like the too cheesy/dumb characters and story.

As someone who can't bring himself to touch Dragon Quest in this day and age I can submit that while there are plenty of tropes and whatnot in here (sort of a series hallmark, from what I know of it), thankfully the developers (and localizers) are self-aware about it, so if you're able to stomach the overall generic-ness of various elements you can still enjoy the game for what it is, especially since most of the technical stuff is tuned pretty well. Mind you, there are some eye-rolling moments to be had (not helped by the fact that you start off playing as kid versions of the characters, who are more obnoxious than their adult counterparts), but there are some fun curveballs too; just as one example, the obligatory amnesiac character is in here, but this is the first time I can remember seeing the rest of the cast occasionally using the condition as an opportunity to mess with the character a little, and put all manner of thoughts into that head that can come out at inopportune times.

Again, not everyone will be able to get past the veneer, but for whatever it's worth I was surprised at how much I liked the cast in the end, even the lunkhead protagonist.

[Xyga]

Yes I think I can get over this as long as the game is fun and balanced enough. Most Tales games have a very generic story and cliché teenage characters anyway.
The only thing that can really turn me off in a j-rpg is the lack of freedom of movement and random exploration which is mandatory for the feeling of great adventure / travel.
I love big overworld maps, any good classical j-rpg should have one.

[BulletMagnet]

Yeah, that's one thing Graces doesn't truly have, though the game is still pretty big, especially if you like scouring for all the extra events and whatnot.

[Some-Mist]

I was actually going to mention Borque, but I figured it didn't count.

For whatever reason Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story have been namedropped since the first two posts, so why not?
Actually Pandora's Tower has got some role-playing traits. Think Onimusha 2. The real-time action is half-Ico, half-Onimusha, not as good as either so far (I'm working on the 2nd tower), but I gather you try to score with only one gal and your endeavours in this regard determine which ending unfolds.

It'd be like saying EarthBound on Wii U is the best jrpg for next gen. Wasn't sure if ports counted. But it's definitely a fantastic game.

[Obiwanshinobi]

EarthBound on Wii U is most likely emulated. Baroque for the PS2/Wii is most certainly re-made.
Whether the Wii version was ported over from PS2 or was it multiplatform from the start is a rather academic question.

[Some-Mist]

ehhh w/e. the remake has my vote then.

[Cuilan]

Eternal Sonata/Trusty Bell - Pretty much an honorary Tales game with a unique semi-real time battle system, and the strange story hook of being set in Frederic Chopin's dream during his final moments (he eventually enters his dream to join your party). Thanks to its great pacing, combat balance and characterization, it outclasses the Tales series. The later PS3 version has added content that was never made available on 360.

This right here is my favorite RPG of last gen, and really one of my favorite games ever. Absolutely loved the battle system, the art direction, the music, the story, and the length/pacing. That said, it definitely wasn't perfect: extremely linear, some annoying dungeons, low enemy variety, and sub-par storytelling at times. I would love to see a sequel/spiritual sequel that improves upon all the strengths and addresses the weaknesses.

Blue Dragon - Sakaguchi's three-disc epic was a standout early exclusive for the 360, and would have been a runaway phenomenon in Japan if not for the system's unpopularity. It plays like a refined version of FFX, and has the appearance of the most gorgeous Dragon Quest ever. The only real problem is that there's too much of it, and the plot sometimes drags.

This one I didn't like much. Annoying characters, boring story, music that ranges from terrible to serviceable, useless hidden items scattered all over the place, and a very "empty" look/feel to everything. I did like the battle system, encounter system, and skill progression system though. Lost Odyssey was much better in almost every category IMO.