Need help picking the best RPG's for each system
Does anyone know which RPG's are strategy, which ones are traditional and which ones are action? I'm not a fan of strategy or tactical like FF Tactics but more into traditional games like Dragon Warrior, Breath of Fire, etc. I looked up Suikoden 2 thinking it was more the traditional type but it looks like it has alot of strategy elements to it. The best RPG's I've played are for NES FF, DW 1-4, SNES FF 2 & 3 (4 & 6), CT, Secret of Evermore, Soul Blazer, PS1 DW7, FF 7-9, XB360 Fable 2&3. As you can tell my experience is limited but those are the types of RPG's I want in my collection. Any advice is appreciated
Comments
Originally posted by: LutherDestroysTheGond
Keep paying through all of the Dragon Warrior games. Skies of Arcadia, Bravely Default, and the Golden Sun games are a little more recent and fun
I do have Skies of Arcadia for for GCN but havent played it yet. Working on Tales of Symphnia now but I'll give it a shot
Originally posted by: LutherDestroysTheGond
Keep paying through all of the Dragon Warrior games. Skies of Arcadia, Bravely Default, and the Golden Sun games are a little more recent and fun
I second Golden Sun its fantastic and very traditional.
NES - Mother/EarthBound Zero, Final Fantasy
SNES - EarthBound, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Lufia 2, Secret of Mana, Secret of Evermore, Super Mario RPG, Terranigma
N64 - Paper Mario
GCN - Paper Mario Thousand Year Door, Tales of Symphonia, Baten Kaitos, Skies of Arcadia Legends
GBA - Golden Sun, Golden Sun The Lost Age, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga, Pokemon Emerald
DS - Pokemon Black/White, Pokemon Black/White 2, Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver, Radiant Historia
3DS - Bravely Default, Mario & Luigi Dream Team, Pokemon X/Y, Pokemon OmegaRuby/AlphaSapphire
For the record though I really liked the tactics parts in Suikoden II.
If you are looking for more traditional turn based RPGs (that haven't already been mentioned, I'd suggest...
- Lost Odyssey (XBox 360): It has a nice story, the combat is pretty straight forward and the length of the game can be drawn out pretty long if you are the type to do all the side missions/activities. This is not the world champion of RPGs, but it's still widely available for cheap and a really solid title.
I haven't found too many really good turn based RPGs for the Xbox 360, so this title really stands out for me.
- Wild Arms 3 (Playstation 2): Another turn-based RPG, this game mixes Wild West elements with a sort-of futurist steampunk feel. Again the upgrade system is pretty straight forward... Grind, collect loot, repeat. There is a timing mini-game with special attacks that rewards accurate timing with bonus damage.
One thing I LOVE about this game that you might not like is the inclusion of optional environmental puzzles that are secretly scattered across the world in Wild Arms 3. I always viewed them as "ancient tombs" that held great treasures.
The flavor of this game is not for everyone, but it still holds a special place in my heart for turn based RPGs.
- The Shadow Hearts Series [all 3 of them] (Playstation 2): These are bizarro turn based RPGs that combine "weirdness" and a touch of "spooky-ness" in both their stories and game worlds. The stories plow forward in the same traditional manner you are looking for with one little wrinkle...
...these games use what they call a "Judgement Ring." All this is - is after selecting which attack you would like to use vs. an enemy, a circle appears in the top of the screen with a spinning needle. If you time 3 button presses on the marked areas of the ring, your attack is super effective. Some attacks have bigger damage potential, but smaller sections on the ring to hit. Other attacks are weaker, but are more forgiving with the space allowed to land in.
This creates a great risk/reward system for every single battle in the game and adds (what I think) is a great layer to the standard turn based fare.
...if I can think of more, I'll post again.
Thank me later.
PS1 is just insane, but I think these are must plays: Xenogears, Suikoden 2 (the strategy elements are VERY minimal, it's mostly traditional), and Grandia. I rank those way above FFIX for example. Legend of Legaia is great as well.
PS2: Dragon Quest 8, Shadow Hearts, a wealth of Shin Megami Tensei games, Xenosaga ep 3 if you like cutscenes, and lots more I haven't played.
Dreamcast: Grandia 2
GC: Skies of Arcadia Legends
PS3/360: Nier, Lost Odyssey, Ni No Kuni
I've played a bunch of handheld ones as well, and Radiant Historia on DS stands out as one of the best. It's like a SNES/PS1 era game.
Ys: Oath in Felghana - PSP
Persona 4 - PS2/Vita
Chrono Trigger - SNES
Phantasy Star IV - Genesis
Tales of Vesperia - 360
Grandia - PS1
Neutopia (Not really a true "RPG") - TG16
Albert Odyssey - Saturn
And as dra600n also recommended, I strongly advise doing as many of the blue chip 8/16-bit RPGs before moving on to the 32/64 bit ones. That way you can better appreciate the graphics/sound and all that.
NES: Dragon Warrior III; Final Fantasy; Crystalis
Genesis: Phantasy Star II and IV
SNES: Final Fantasy IV and FFVI; Chrono Trigger; Secret of Mana; Earthbound; Super Mario RPG
PlayStation: Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX; Xenogears; Suikoden II; Vagrant Story; Chrono Cross
Nintendo 64: Paper Mario
Dreamcast: Skies of Arcadia; Grandia II
PlayStation 2: Final Fantasy X and XII; Kingdom Hearts I and II; Dragon Quest VIII; Dark Cloud 2; Xenosaga 1
Xbox: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic; Jade Empire; Fable
GameCube: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door; Tales of Symphonia; Skies of Arcadia Legends
If I had to pick only one per system, I'd go with Dragon Warrior III, Phantasy Star IV, Final Fantasy VI, Paper Mario, Skies of Arcadia, Final Fantasy X or Kingdom Hearts, Star Wars: KOTOR, and either Paper Mario or Tales of Symphonia.
Edit: To throw in some more recent consoles:
Xbox 360: Mass Effect 1 and 2; Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim; Fallout 3; Lost Odyssey
Wii: Xenoblade Chronicles; The Last Story
I was dividing up my collection into sub-genres, never finished PSX but it pretty much sounds like what you're looking for.
PS1: Xenogears, Lunar 1 & 2.
Thank me later.
^^^^!!!!This!!!!^^^^
Originally posted by: ToxieRules
Originally posted by: LutherDestroysTheGond
Keep paying through all of the Dragon Warrior games. Skies of Arcadia, Bravely Default, and the Golden Sun games are a little more recent and fun
I second Golden Sun its fantastic and very traditional.
Golden Sun is a must-play on the GBA; both games!
I agree with Dragon Warrior titles.
But as for the other systems:
PS1: Final Fantasy VII, VIII & IX
360: Lost Odyssey
Wii: Xenoblade Chronicles - Best JRPG experience I have felt in years.
GBA: Golden Sun or Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (If you're into the series)
PS3: Nier or Final Fantasy XIII (It's no way near as bad as everyone makes out)
Originally posted by: kingjohn3
I have secret of mana and just haven't given it much of a chance yet. It's on the list. I have all the US release snes rpg's but unfortunately haven't played them all yet. Im looking to get Terranigma, the DQ's and Squaresoft repros and whatever else we 'Muricans were denied. Anybody know much about Shadowrun?
You need to start playing those RPGs! They're some of the best games on the SNES.
Shadowrun is awesome, but it's more of an adventure game with light RPG elements. I beat it this past Halloween and kinda kicked myself for waiting so long. Definitely a stellar game and one worth writing home about.
Originally posted by: Steve
Originally posted by: kingjohn3
I have secret of mana and just haven't given it much of a chance yet. It's on the list. I have all the US release snes rpg's but unfortunately haven't played them all yet. Im looking to get Terranigma, the DQ's and Squaresoft repros and whatever else we 'Muricans were denied. Anybody know much about Shadowrun?
You need to start playing those RPGs! They're some of the best games on the SNES.
Shadowrun is awesome, but it's more of an adventure game with light RPG elements. I beat it this past Halloween and kinda kicked myself for waiting so long. Definitely a stellar game and one worth writing home about.
Sweet! I'll add it to the list. I have it CIB but never really realized what it was. I just collected and stored. I guess I'm a little overwhelmed with all the choices from SNES and PS1 on deciding which ones to get
For instance I'd put Xenogears above most of the games you mentioned.
Well Kingjohn, I'd say you'll just need to try a lot of RPGs and make your own decisions. Some of the stuff you list under 'others' and stuff you aren't even mentioning I feel are miles better than something like Parasite Eve, which is more of an action survival horror game with RPG elements (ie: barely qualifies).
For instance I'd put Xenogears above most of the games you mentioned.
Yeah I haven't played Xenogears but a friend of mine loved it. I'm trying to stick with Squaresoft and Enix first but am definitely interested in everything that's out there. I just need to ask you guys since Im not familiar with a lot of what's out there
Originally posted by: kingjohn3
Originally posted by: cirellio
Well Kingjohn, I'd say you'll just need to try a lot of RPGs and make your own decisions. Some of the stuff you list under 'others' and stuff you aren't even mentioning I feel are miles better than something like Parasite Eve, which is more of an action survival horror game with RPG elements (ie: barely qualifies).
For instance I'd put Xenogears above most of the games you mentioned.
Yeah I haven't played Xenogears but a friend of mine loved it. I'm trying to stick with Squaresoft and Enix first but am definitely interested in everything that's out there. I just need to ask you guys since Im not familiar with a lot of what's out there
Xenogears is from Squaresoft It was originally in consideration for a FF title, but that series couldn't handle the epicness
No love for dungeon crawls?
I have Wizardry for snes but was never a fan of those type of rpg's. You have any suggestions?
I wouldn't stick to just Square and Enix, there's tons of better ones by other companies out there
Yeah Ive noticed alot in searches I've done but have chosen the Squaresoft & Enix route since I'm familiar with those companies from nes & snes and was impressed. I figure it carried over to ps1 for the most part.
The lack of Ultima in this thread is saddening.
I may need to give those another try. I know that series came first but it never quite measured up to DW & FF, imo. What do you like about it?