Favorite Action RPG's [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

roushimsx

08-21-2007, 12:05 AM

Can SOTN be considered action or an RPG for that matter?

I don't see any reason why it couldn't. It's got an experience system and level building, and those are two major components (or one major component, really) for determining whether or not something falls under the over arching RPG umbrella (though in a more general sense, aren't you always playing a role in a game?).

For an action rpg, I've always considered it to be something that's an RPG but doesn't have a separate battle system (which rules out Rogue Galaxy, Dark Cloud 2, and even Yakuza from being strict action rpgs). SotN falls within that pretty neatly and then gets everyone confused because it's all integrated with a side scrolling platform/adventure game. UnF, do I love me some SotN.

On the PC, I really enjoyed Westwood's "Nox". Came out a bit before Diablo II and imo was a better evolution of Diablo than Diablo II was. Good story, great controls, and some of the slickest fucking mulitplayer you'll ever see in a game of that type. Sacred is supposed to be pretty good but I've yet to try it...apparently it's better than Divine Divinity, which I also really enjoyed...

on consoles, I had a hell of a fun time with Ys I+II and Ys IV on PCE CD along with Ys VI on PS2. Ys III is a bit too bare bones for me and i'm still holding out for a translation of Ys V. Ys IV SNES isn't terrible, but the pacing on it is worse than that of the PCE CD version...not bad, just gets a bit tiring at points. (Ys IV suffers from an incomplete translation, necessitating an open page to a dialog translation faq while you play).

Just to throw an asshat monkey wrench in there, I'll also vote for Deus Ex and System Shock 2. Both are freakin' excellent, though the weapon degradation and respawning enemies in System Shock 2 can make for a good annoyance on an initial playthrough. Co Op with a buddy or two makes the first run so much better.

exit

08-21-2007, 12:49 AM

Hwj_Chim

08-21-2007, 01:21 AM

I will put my vote towards SOTN. If that game don't count then I will say Odin Sphere.

Haoie

08-21-2007, 02:26 AM

I'm still inclined to call Symphony a platformer, because of all the platforms and what not.

So it's either that, or Seiken Densetsu 3, which apparently is like Legend of Mana, but better.

2Dskillz

08-21-2007, 03:41 AM

sticking in classic genre borders, I will say Crystalis

BydoEmpire

08-21-2007, 09:59 AM

Temple of Apshai series, and the Inty D&D games.

Nirvana

08-21-2007, 04:13 PM

I love Legend of Mana.

diskoboy

08-21-2007, 04:27 PM

Phantasy Star Online.

But it was perfect on the Dreamcast. I wasn't even remotely impressed with the Xbox or Cube version.

Online functionallity was just applied better on the DC.

darkhades

08-21-2007, 04:53 PM

Faxanadu

Chainsaw_Charlie

08-21-2007, 06:08 PM

Im an Action Rpg nut

My favs

On the fence
Zelda Lttp OOT MM WW and TP
Alundra 1

In huddle
Twisted Takes of Spike Mcfang
Odin Sphere

Daria

08-21-2007, 07:06 PM

I love Alundra. It has a fantasic story, and a series of very challenging puzzles. One of my favorite RPGs and my most favorite action RPG.

That said I also enjoed many of the 2D Zeldas, Seiken Densetsu 3, Fable, CIMA: The Enemy, Crystalis, Popful Mail, & Spike McFang.

08-21-2007, 07:11 PM

I think we've previously considered Diablo-type games as action RPGs- so:

Diablo
Baldur's Gate: DA
Champs. Norrath: RoE
Darkstone (decent if ugly PS Diablo clone)
Bard's Tale (PS2)

& waiting to play Fallout: BoS (PS2) but I have to wait a few wks for my birthday. ;)

Daria

08-21-2007, 07:15 PM

Oh I loved Bards Tale... normally don't crae for the console Baulder's Gate type games, but that one was hilarious.

Steve W

08-21-2007, 07:25 PM

I've played very few RPGs, let alone action RPGs, but some of the good ones stand out in my memory. Exile for the TurboGrafx-16 CD was really good. Rygar on the NES was another one. If you want to consider it an RPG, I'd also say Tower of Doom on the Intellivision. Phantasy Star Online was, in my opinion, the best action RPG I've ever played. I've loved both the Dreamcast and the GameCube versions. Phantasy Star Universe didn't even get close to the same feeling of fun (admittedly, I never went online with either one of them).

vgc

08-21-2007, 07:37 PM

Skies of Arcadia - Dreamcast

Mike : )

heybtbm

08-21-2007, 08:31 PM

No one's mentioned Chrono Trigger? C'mon people.

Neo Rasa

08-21-2007, 08:39 PM

Maybe no one mentioned it because it's not an action RPG like Legend of Zelda, Ys, Alundra, etc. ;)

Tron 2.0

08-21-2007, 10:53 PM

Zelda:Serise in general
Ys 1-4:TG16/PCE version of corse i have yet to play the remakes.
Alundra
Land Stalker
Exile 1-2
Beyond Oasis
Legend of Oasis
Crusader of the Centy
Legend of Mana
Brave Fencer Musashi
Neutopia 1&2
Odin Sphere
PSO

RPG_Fanatic

08-21-2007, 11:47 PM

Zelda-A Link To The Past
Alundra
Landstalker

AMG

08-22-2007, 12:23 AM

CastleVania SotN gets my vote.

roushimsx

08-22-2007, 12:27 AM

The Ys series is definitely my favorite Action RPG series, it's a shame that the series never caught on here. Xak is another neat one, but nobody has really seemed to translate any of them but th third, so I never had a chance to get into it.

Xak I and II got translated to english on the MSX (Xak I (http://www.romhacking.net/trans/605/) / Xak II (http://www.romhacking.net/trans/931/)), but Woomb.net did an official translation of the first game and is working on the second.

Lots more Xak stuff (http://www.miraigamer.net/xyz/xak.htm)

Always wanted to play the PCE CD ones but never picked 'em up when I had the chance :(

Ed Oscuro

08-22-2007, 12:39 AM

Temple of Apshai series,
I only knew of one game, and I thought it was generally an ol' fashioned CRPG, with manual-based room descriptions and all.

Um, for me, Morrowind and Oblivion, despite the issues.

Gentlegamer

08-22-2007, 02:43 AM

The Legend of Zelda series is Action Adventure, not Action RPG.

The exception is Zelda II: Adventure of Link

BydoEmpire

08-22-2007, 07:31 AM

I only knew of one game, and I thought it was generally an ol' fashioned CRPG, with manual-based room descriptions and all.

Um, for me, Morrowind and Oblivion, despite the issues.Yeah, Gateway to Apshai was more of an action-RPG. I dig the room desciptions in the manual, and I don't think that precludes it from being an action rpg. IIRC Temple of Apshai had turn-based combat, although you did walk around in 'real time'. It was definitely more of an action-RPG than, say Wizardry, Ultima or The Bard's Tale.

Oooooh, how could I forget - PHANTASY STAR ONLINE. One of my favorite games of all time.

InsaneDavid

08-22-2007, 11:43 AM

Not one mention yet of my all time favorite game, Illusion of Gaia. Shame on you all. ;)

Sweater Fish Deluxe

08-22-2007, 06:20 PM

Yeah, the modern Castlevanias are definitely action RPGs. The platforming elements don't keep them from being action RPGs, in my opinion. Afterall, even the Zelda games (2D as wells as 3D) have always had some precision platforming sections, even if they were topdown.

I actually haven't played Symphony of the Night, but I definitely love Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin and would consider them among my favorite games even though they don't have much replay value (which is only more proof of their RPG-ness, in my opinion)

Speaking of sidescrolling action RPGs, though, the Wonder Boy in Monster Land/World series gets my vote for favorite action RPGs. Particularly Dragon's Trap and Monster World IV.

...word is bondage...

Barbarianoutkast85

08-22-2007, 07:17 PM

I would say Castlevania: SOTN or Wonderers from Y's 3.

Barbarianoutkast85

08-22-2007, 07:17 PM

And illusion of Gaia

Kunk One

08-22-2007, 08:25 PM

roushimsx

08-22-2007, 08:29 PM

I was always interested in the Genesis version of Shadowrun, is it worth tracking down for a fan of the SNES game?

It's pretty different from the SNES game...I happened to like it more, though the graphics were pretty inferior and the general storyline is a bit "meh". The gameplay isn't too bad, but the real money is in the hacking. Good god, I spent more time in that minigame than I did in the SNES version and the rest of the Genesis version combined.

Hell, I started up a new game on my laptop while on vacation back in June, made it a third of the way into the game, and have just been doing hacking runs since. Once you get decently competent at hacking, it's difficult to pull yourself away :(

Gentlegamer

08-22-2007, 09:11 PM

I'll cast a vote for one of my favorite Action Adventures, The Battle of Olympus for the NES.

Tron 2.0

08-22-2007, 10:01 PM

The Legend of Zelda series is Action Adventure, not Action RPG.

The exception is Zelda II: Adventure of Link
Depends how ya look at it with so many,sub genre out there.

Still i see zelda as a arpg so what is else is new.

Tommy

08-23-2007, 11:39 PM

Thanks for all the input, I got a few games I am looking at getting around payday and am going to buy one or two of them and hopefully enjoy them.

Gentlegamer

08-24-2007, 02:01 AM

Depends how ya look at it with so many,sub genre out there.

Still i see zelda as a arpg so what is else is new.The dividing line is whether the character gains experience points and levels; if so, it is RPG. In Adventure games, your character becomes more powerful through finding objects only. Hence, The Legend of Zelda series is Adventure, rather than RPG.

I'll cast a vote for Willow, for the NES, while I'm here. :)

Promophile

08-24-2007, 11:54 AM

I was always interested in the Genesis version of Shadowrun, is it worth tracking down for a fan of the SNES game?

100 times yes. It's soooo much better than the SNES version. It's much less linear and has alot more RPG elements. It's decades before it's time.

j_factor

08-25-2007, 02:51 AM

Shadowrun for Genesis is definitely one of my favorites. Very impressive RPG at the time, IMO.

Shadowrun for SNES just didn't do it for me. I found it to be too slow-paced, and it had a really clunky, confusing interface (why do I have to bring up a cursor?). I also didn't like how I had to open doors at an angle, lest the door bang into my body and slam shut.

Tomba! really should've been mentioned by now. It's just awesome.

InsaneDavid

08-25-2007, 03:51 AM

I may be way off the mark here as to what makes an action RPG, but two that came to mind immediately were SNES classics Shadowrun & E.V.O.

My God, have you actually played through E.V.O. to completion? What a smuldering pain in the ass! The insane cost of evolution upgrades beyond the first time period ruins this otherwise great concept. Nothing I enjoy more than sitting in the same area and building up my Evo Points for hours just so I can evolve a tiny bit. It's a 40 hour exercise in repetition.

shoes23

08-25-2007, 05:14 AM

I may be way off the mark here as to what makes an action RPG, but two that came to mind immediately were SNES classics Shadowrun & E.V.O.

I was always interested in the Genesis version of Shadowrun, is it worth tracking down for a fan of the SNES game?

It's it's my all time favorite game. The cyberspace was so much better than the SNES version, and the game gives you a lot more freedom to move around and explore the game openly. Combat though is simply locking on to your enemies with a click of a button and then pressing the button again to unload hot lead into them. I think I can safely say though that if you liked the SNES version the Genny version is a no brainer.

Zebbe

08-25-2007, 06:33 AM

I like many of the above-mentioned and also Light Crusader for the Mega Drive.

Promophile

08-25-2007, 02:34 PM

Not one mention yet of my all time favorite game, Illusion of Gaia. Shame on you all. ;)

A very under-rated game. I played the heck out of it back in the day. I remember when Toys R' Us had these kiosks with buttons you could press to play preview videos of different games. I think I pressed the Gaia button like 20 times.

BydoEmpire

08-25-2007, 08:11 PM

For some reason I had a lot of fun with D&D Heroes on the Xbox, even though I didn't care for Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance. They were pretty similar on the surface, but I thought D&D Heroes was much more fun.

Daria

08-25-2007, 09:24 PM

Huh, well I never really thought of Shadowrun as an action RPG but I guess it is. Certainly one of my favorite games though. I like it better than the SNES version just because it played a lot like the table top RPG. The skills and level-ups were very similar, and I still think it's the best Table top to video game conversion I've ever played. Right up there with Baulder's Gate system.

The SNES game wasn't bad though, the system was just more like a traditional adventure game than RPG.

Chris

08-26-2007, 07:40 AM

The dividing line is whether the character gains experience points and levels; if so, it is RPG. In Adventure games, your character becomes more powerful through finding objects only. Hence, The Legend of Zelda series is Adventure, rather than RPG.

Yeah, but those definitions do sound a bit blurry.. Nintendo just happened to use objects instead of arbitrary numbers to symbolise character development.

Anyway, I am shocked that noone mentioned my favourite action RPG Secret of Mana til now, imo the series went downhill after that which is too bad.

Little Samson

08-27-2007, 06:26 PM

Beyond Oasis was a really good action RPG for the Sega Genesis...

Gentlegamer

08-27-2007, 11:22 PM

Yeah, but those definitions do sound a bit blurry.. Nintendo just happened to use objects instead of arbitrary numbers to symbolise character development.The choice Nintendo made was very significant on the game-play. The character's advancement in power is through exploration and finding of objects, not "level-grinding" as can happen in RPGs.

Because certain items are required before other items can be obtained, there is a certain pacing built into the game that can be lacking from RPGs in the power advancement area.

Additionally, the need to find items as the only means of "powering up" dovetails and encourages exploration in the game, as evident in the original Legend of Zelda (and Metroid).

These are examples of reasons why the dividing line between RPG and Adventure is more sharp than may be evident at first blush.

Chris

08-28-2007, 04:51 AM

Hmm.. that's a good point, but I'm still questioning if that's enough to draw a sharp line. That is to say that RPGs aren't full of powering up through exploration and finding objects, cause I think that is and has always been also a key ingredient of them.

But I get what you're saying in that Nintendo pushed even more towards exploration and discouraged power leveling.

I guess sticking to the power-up/leveling system to differentiate works most of the time..

Tommy

08-29-2007, 09:56 PM

roushimsx

08-29-2007, 11:02 PM

Has anyone played Tales of Symphonia for Gamecube? If so how was it. Some of the reviews I read were pretty weak but nonetheless I am going to Ebay this one also. So far I have Legend of Mana and Hack vol 1, man those are fun. Thanks for helping out with some great games.

First half is fairly generic, second half is much better. Combat system is too simplistic for about the first 10 hours until everything unlocks and you're allowed more flexibility in your combat decisions, but everything is pretty clearly explained piece by piece as it slowly builds up (in comparison to Star Ocean 3 where the combat system is completely open from the get-go but is really fucking poorly documented and explained).

Fucking awesome graphics.

exit

08-30-2007, 03:30 AM

The entire Soul Blazer series is great (I actually can't beleive I forgot to mention Illusion of Gaia), it's still disappointing that Terranigma (the 3rd installment in the series) was never released in the states.

Has anyone played Tales of Symphonia for Gamecube? If so how was it. Some of the reviews I read were pretty weak but nonetheless I am going to Ebay this one also. So far I have Legend of Mana and Hack vol 1, man those are fun. Thanks for helping out with some great games.

The first .hack was my first PS2 RPG experience and one of the most memorable games I have ever played. I've yet to finish the second one tho, but I intend to sometime in the future because of the new installments released.

Tales of Symphonia wouldn't really classify as an ARPG, but it's still a great game and one of the best games for the GC.

kainemaxwell

08-30-2007, 10:06 AM

Can't go wrong with Secret of Mana or Illusion of Gaia.

Tommy

08-31-2007, 10:56 PM

How about Tales of Destiny 2. Just bought off the bay and can't wait to play \\^_^/

Tommy

09-02-2007, 12:42 PM

Guess no one has played this one. From what I have read it is basically Tales of Eternia?

Guru of Time and Space

09-02-2007, 04:57 PM

Gentlegamer is fighting the good fight.

Simon's Quest, baby!

-GoTaS

Wolfrider31

09-02-2007, 06:34 PM

For some reason everyone I know slams this game, but I still recommend Secret of Evermore. I loved that thing more than my own mother.

Tommy

09-02-2007, 07:02 PM

:above me::?

I couldn't say that I love any game more than a parent, but to each his own.

Daria

09-02-2007, 10:39 PM

Guess no one has played this one. From what I have read it is basically Tales of Eternia?

It's my favorite Tales game, but I don't normally think of the series as Action RPGs.

Chaz From Phantasy Star 2

09-02-2007, 10:51 PM

Then what would you call them, Daria........ they certainly don't seem like non-action RPGs to me! I mean, they're WORLDS apart from Dragon Quest or something!

Daria

09-02-2007, 10:52 PM

Then what would you call them, Daria........ they certainly don't seem like non-action RPGs to me! I mean, they're WORLDS apart from Dragon Quest or something!

When did they unban you?

Chaz From Phantasy Star 2

09-02-2007, 10:54 PM

It was just a temp ban of one week...........

Damaramu

09-02-2007, 10:58 PM

Please get re-banned.

otaku

09-03-2007, 12:46 AM

InsaneDavid

09-03-2007, 02:03 AM

No love for the working designs saturn games? Albert odyssey, magic knight rayearth were both great (just finished them) dark savior wasn't all bad either. Saturn had few RPGs but they were solid ones!

I've been playing Magic Knight Rayearth for awhile and it's a beautiful game, but you must remember that Working Designs did the localization, not the development. The big difference from the US and Japanese versions is that nearly ALL the dialogue is spoken. It was dubbed then massively scaled back in testing from the US version and admittedly it DOES speed the game up but some people hate the change. I have the Japanese version as well and while it starts out cool having all the critical text done via the voice cast, after awhile the "come on, let's go" feeling sets in.

j_factor

09-03-2007, 03:48 AM

Working Designs didn't do Dark Savior. That was translated by Sega of America. Great game, though.

Tommy

09-04-2007, 10:47 PM

Another game I am inquiring about is "Threads of Fate", anyone play? Good, bad?

Tron 2.0

09-04-2007, 11:58 PM

Bump! I forgot another game i realy enjoy as a arpg.
Princess Crown intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec5mVkBSR6E
Princess Crown Gradriel vs Dragon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn9SlTdEAvE
One of my favorites on the saturn.

Playing,Princess Crown you can see where Odin Sphere is coming from.

Tommy

09-05-2007, 12:55 AM

Princess Crown looks beautiful. Good find, I would actually consider picking up a Saturn if the price is good just for the amount of good games with substantial replay value.

Tron 2.0

09-09-2007, 01:28 AM

Princess Crown looks beautiful. Good find, I would actually consider picking up a Saturn if the price is good just for the amount of good games with substantial replay value.
Princess Crown isn't hard to play either when useing a walkthrough.

It can be a pricey game but it will not go over $100.00+.

Other then that when you beat the game you can play the,other characters sidequest.

Tommy

10-06-2007, 08:21 PM

Just bought Threads of Fate and will be arriving sometime this upcoming week. Hopefully it is pretty fun. I still am playing TOD2 and really enjoying that when I get some down time.

Barbarianoutkast85

10-06-2007, 09:19 PM

My vote goes to wanderer's from Y's and Castlevania: SOTN.

Barbarianoutkast85

10-06-2007, 10:16 PM

Here's some moe:
Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance, I never got to play the second one but the first one was good, it was short but good.
PSO for the Dreamcast.

Also has anyone checked out Champions or Norrath? I think its supose to be like BG:DA. So I was wondering if it was any good.

ScourDX

10-06-2007, 10:45 PM

Rolan Quest 1 & 2 (GB)
Final Fantasy Adventure (GB)

p_b

10-07-2007, 02:15 AM

Here's some moe:
Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance, I never got to play the second one but the first one was good, it was short but good.

Also has anyone checked out Champions or Norrath? I think its supose to be like BG:DA. So I was wondering if it was any good.

The second BG is more of the same, although with some added tweaks.
Champions of Norrath and its sequel are very similar to BG, so if you like BG, you�ll like CoN as well. Good games, really.