>>717057489
>>717057672
It's just the difference between using a certain kind of story, and relying on it as a crutch to make a completely pre-baked no thought setting. It's too easy to write and the tropey, stereotypical writing appeals the audience that wants to consume it like comfort food.
It's like how terminator is cool, but then there was a shitload of crappy robo-executioner type movies about a dude walking stiffly with a motorcycle helmet on that all sucked ass. Doesn't mean a robot from the future is a bad concept though.

>>717057751
I'm not a big jrpg guy, but I am a mecha fan and I keep getting burnt by finding cool designs and then it turns out to be an rpg for the pc98 or something. That one's Vain Dream but I can't find how much the mechs have any real presence in it though.
I recommend looking for artists that worked in games during that era, you can track their history. Kow yokoyama for example did a bunch of art for mecha tactics games, though usually more scifi. Also check out vanguard bandits.