"Starter" RPGs for veteran gamer

[RJ]

Please note: veteran doesnt mean hardcore.

That said, what are some good starter RPGs for a veteran gamer re-interested in the genre? I like Diablo-type games & am familiar w/ levleing up/grinding, etc.

I've tried a few in the past (Dragon Warrior, Sword of Vermilion, FF7) but didnt like their time commitments or turn-based combat (& FF7's materia system was too much.) Recently though I got into Guadia Quest on DS Retro Game Challenge & now considering other similar RPGs.

Im thinking not too sophisticated, w/ minimal random battles, something for NES/SMS, or maybe even DS as most of my gaming is mobile now.

[kupomogli]

Because you mentioned DS, Dragon Quest 9 is fairly good. Unfortunately it's easy mode in comparison to the rest of the series and while it's a good game, it's got a few qualities that make it one of the worst in the series in my opinion. I'd still recommend it, as even as low in the Dragon Warrior series that it is, it's still a good game.

If you like games like Diablo then you may or may not like Sacred 2. I know BHvrd likes the game, but my best friend who I got to purchase the game hates it. You have a much larger customization about your character than you do most(or all) Diablo clones. You have 15 abilities with six mods (two rows to choose from for each of the three levelsl) that you can choose from to customize those abilities, as well as a fairly large skill customization system to focus on what character build you'd like. Abilities have regeneration time, not MP, and increasing certain skills without increasing the abilities level is what reduces this regeneration time. Characters need to be designed for specific types such as melee or magic, etc, otherwise the character will be worse than a straight melee or straight magic using character. There's a PC demo, so you may want to try that out see if you're interested.

[Breetai]

I'd go with Oblivion, Fallout 3, or Mass Effect 1 or 2 on newest systems. Chrono Trigger is a fairly easy old school RPG to get into. The turn-based combat is fairly minimized, although it's still present. Same goes for Lunar1 and 2 on PS1 to a lesser extent. The Ys games are very playable and aren't too deep.

Fallout 1 and 2 are highly recommended for some old(er) school PC RPGs. Balder's Gate 2 as well.

[boatofcar]

If you don't want random battles in your RPG, you need to be looking somewhere other than NES or SMS. Chrono Trigger for DS is the game I'd reccommend for you.

[RJ]

I had the impression Chrono Trigger was more of a hardcore gamer RPG. Is it really a good place to start?

& I mentioned Diablo to show Im somewhat familiar w/ RPG aspects. Im looking for something like Guadia Quest.
Oh, & nothing current-gen, either.

[jonebone]

Super Mario RPG on SNES is a perfect "starter" RPG that has very minimal overworld battles. They aren't "random" at all, you can see the creatures on the overworld screen and avoid contact with them if you desire.

[Holger Czukay]

I had the impression Chrono Trigger was more of a hardcore gamer RPG. Is it really a good place to start?

& I mentioned Diablo to show Im somewhat familiar w/ RPG aspects. Im looking for something like Guadia Quest.
Oh, & nothing current-gen, either.

Chrono Trigger is definitely not hardcore. There is no grinding at all. It's one of the few games I beat when I was a kid, along with FF4 and FF6, and the aforementioned Mario RPG.

You liked Guadia Quest, play the Dragon Warrior games, because Guadia Quest is a direct homage to 'em. And I know you said nothing current-gen but Persona 3 is pretty awesome, complete with randomly-generated dungeons.

Edit: You might want to look into Roguelikes like Mystery Dungeon or Izuna the Unemployed Ninja on the DS.

[kupomogli]

Im thinking not too sophisticated, w/ minimal random battles, something for NES/SMS, or maybe even DS as most of my gaming is mobile now.


Oh, & nothing current-gen, either.

DS is current gen. Anyways. If you don't want anything complex with no random battles.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES)

There's a lot of bad hype about this game but the only thing bad about this one is that it's bad ass(alright. lame joke.) It's basically designed to be a beginner RPG, but I happened to play it after Dragon Warrior, Dragon Warrior 3, and Final Fantasy and I loved the game. It's not as good as the original FF or Dragon Warrior 3, but it's still a great game.

There are no random battles in the game. Every enemy is in a select spot and remains there until you initiate combat. While they do respawn whenever you leave and reenter a room, you're not really going to be going back through the same enemies often. You don't need to grind. The game also limits you to, I think, level 30, which you won't reach unless you repeatedly grind. You find spells, weapons, and armor in chests or receive them from characters in the game or for completing battle locations on the world map.

The cool thing about the battle system on this game is that different weapons effect different enemies and you can switch weapons at any time, even during battle. Enemies like giant worms or trees are weak against axe strikes, eyes are weak against bombs, etc. The CatClaw and its different incarnations are also weaker but have the chance to inflict many different status effects. You also have your magic from White, Black, and Wizard magic.

Storyline is decent and the music is amazing.

[mobiusclimber]

I'd suggest Dragon Quest IV and V for the DS. There isn't a ton of grinding in either game and both are good examples of why people love RPGs. Granted there's still a bit of a time commitment, but nothing like FFVII (or DWVII for that matter). I think I beat IV in around 40 hours.

I wouldn't recommend Chrono Trigger, and not just because I hate the game. The big problem for RPG "noobs" is not having enough familiarization with what is expeced of them. Some games just take for granted that you'll explore everywhere. I'll give you an example: Suikoden 3 has a scene that is necessary for the storyline to continue. The only way to find the scene is to go into an alley. If you've played RPGs enough, you know that walking around everywhere and exploring everything usually leads to finding goodies, so for the veteran, triggering this scene is easy. But if you're just casually playing you could wind up spending a LOT of time wandering around wondering what you're supposed to be doing. CT is like that. A lot. I won't go into details b/c you'll probably want to play the game at some point, but there are several things that can stump even a veteran RPGer, because they're not obvious at all. Finding Frog is one of them, but that's all I'll say about it.

Beyond that, here's some other picks:

1) Sakura Wars: So Long My Love (PS2) - This is more of a strategy-RPG, but the good thing is there aren't random battles, there's not a ton of customization, and the fighting can feel pretty fast and satisfying when you're able to set up an attack that damages a ton of enemies onscreen.
2) Phantasy Star IV (Genesis) - An easy way to play this game is on the 360 Sega compilation disc (name escapes me at the moment). It has an awesome storyline, a ton of things to do, there's even vehicles you can ride that change the gameplay (as opposed to, say, sailing on a boat and just getting into normal random battles). I haven't played this in awhile so I can't say whether it's very grindy or not, but I remember it being a cakewalk, especially compared to PSII.
3) Crystalis (NES) - One of my favorite Action-RPGs. Has a great storyline, terrific battle engine... just an all-around great game. I wouldn't recommend the GBC version only b/c they changed the ending.
4) Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance & Champions of Norrath (PS2) - If you like Diablo, these two are the best console Diablo clones out there.

Some other suggestions: Tales of Symphonia (GC), Super Mario RPG (SNES), Shadow Hearts 1 & 2 (PS2), Grandia (PS1) & Grandia II (DC)... these are all 40 hour RPGs (or less in a few cases), which is about half the time most RPGs take.

[DankPanties]

OP should definitely check out the Dark Alliance games, esp considering they came out on multiple platforms, he shouldn't have a problem running them.

[alec006]

The Pokemon series is a simple RPG that's pretty linear and easy,the only "random battles" are when you go in the grass and cave areas against wild Pokemon,otherwise its a pretty straight foward RPG. Heartgold or SoulSilver would be a great starter for the DS.

[Cantaloup]

If you have the capability to run GBA games, the game I'd really recommend for you is Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for GBA. It basically IS a portable version of Diablo, in a Lord of the Rings setting. The Return of the King game is supposed to be similar, but I haven't played it. Note that these are totally different than the home console versions.

Some DS titles that you might want to look at:

Orcs & Elves -- Fairly short (about 6-8 hours I'd say) first person dungeon roaming RPG. More in the style of games like Dungeon Master than JRPGs. Not too difficult, except on the highest setting.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games -- These are basically Rogue in a Pokémon setting. Everything is randomly generated and all action is turn-based with an overhead view. Shiren the Wanderer is a better game IMO, but these are much more forgiving.

Puzzle Quest/Puzzle Quest 2 -- RPGs, but with traditional battle mechanics replaced with Bejeweled-like gem matching. I don't know if that's what you're looking for, but these games are worth at least checking out.

[Doonzmore]

If your into superheroes, Justice League Heroes (PS2,Xbox) is a beat em up that blends in RPG elements. It has well written story, seven playable characters plus unlockables, and a two player mode. And it's short enough that time commitment should never become a problem.

[Gooch3008]

Quest 64 lol

[Press_Start]

Don't know if these count as "starter" RPGs but what got me on the hook were the games I played at my cousin's place: Suikoden and Vandal Hearts for the PS1.

Suikoden is a simple RPG with a GREAT story and great cinematics. In some ways, its like Konami's Pokemon. There are 108 heroes in all and your decisions determines whether you can "catch 'em all." It's a bit strict in the magic and item department as each character can carry certain amount of stuff and spells at a time but it's a memorable time I think you can pick up at PSN.

Vandal Hearts put the strategy in strategy/RPG. Think of it as playing chess except you can move all ur piece at once...but so can the enemy. Every battle has a different objective and that's keeps things very fresh.

[ClubGhost]

The best 16-bit era RPG I've ever played is "Beyond Oasis" for Genesis. No random battles and a pretty engaging quest.

Sadly, I was a Sega kid, so I'm not really sure of any "random battle free" NES games. Most of them seem to be in the "Dragon Warrior" mold.

[RJ]

Ok gang, looks like so far Id check out NES Crystalis, SNES FFMQ, & DS DW games. Ive heard good things about Puzzle Quest (not Galactrix?) but was unsure how basic they were.

I guess I didnt say I also hate running around w/ no idea what to do/where to go. To someone w/ very little available gametime, this is the ultimate turnoff.

Oh yeah, Ive played the Baldurs Gate/Champions PS2 games. Love em- in the middle of a Champions game right now, but cant always get back to it.

[Cantaloup]

Ive heard good things about Puzzle Quest (not Galactrix?) but was unsure how basic they were.

Galactrix was a sci-fi themed game in the series that was generally not well received. The "true" sequel to Puzzle Quest, Puzzle Quest 2, was just recently released. Here's a GiantBomb Quick Look video of PQ2 on the DS:

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-puzzle-quest-2/17-2824/

I'd also like to re-iterate my suggestion of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for GBA, as it is very similar to the Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath/Return to Arms games.

[Icarus Moonsight]

RJ- Shining Soul 2 for GBA, I swear by it. Action based gameplay, item drops, crafting, multiple classes... I would say it is easily the best action RPG/dungeon crawler on the GBA. Stay away from Shining Soul though, it's cancer, unless you are [i]really[\i] (read: fanatical) into these types of games. It [Shining Soul 2] looks and plays like a Japanese developed 16-bit Diablo clone, 'cause that is pretty much what it is. :D

This teeters a bit between vet and hardcore... Actually may entail both. But-
If Wizardry type games are a consideration (though they can be tedious and are almost always turn-based) I can recommend these DS games; Etrian Odyssey series and Dark Spire as games that can entertain for many hours. They are ridiculously fun and engrossing. The tedium is nearly eliminated by the mapping feature and the DS touch screen while still remaining very challenging games to take to completion. Etrian Odyssey 3 is supposed to be released within a few months or so. Dark Spire has a definite edge if you are not into an anime art aesthetic.

Action RPGs on DS. I've played Children of Mana and From the Abyss. They were not great, but decent. Possibly in their best form in multiplayer, but I haven't tried that with either yet.

Baldur's and Champions games are very fun. Multiplayer is a riot.

I don't play many RPG games because, to me, they get dull and repetitive fast and I never get too entrenched into the 'stories'. I do get sucked into one once in a while though. Everything above (except the ActionRPG DS games) gets a big ol' double thumbs up from me, even still.

[RJ]

I see Children of Mana DS at Gamestop for $8. Any good?

[underscore ego]

I was not impressed with Children of Mana, to be honest. It didn't have the same feel as other games in the Mana series and felt more like a chore than anything. I wouldn't start the genre there.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Sword of Mana on GBA was basically a remake of the original Seiken Densetsu that was on the GB, titled Final Fantasy Adventure here I think. I liked the game because I remember playing FF Adv years ago. YMMV, depending on how much you like Mana.

[mobiusclimber]

Only good "Mana" game is Secret of Mana. FF Adventure is decent. Just about everything else is crap in some form or another.

[Trebuken]

Yup...lso gonna' say Puzzle Quest. Puzzle Quest 2 and Galctrix are good as well, but the original is the best.

Ys on the DS could be a nice starter as well.

[jperryss]

Another vote for FF-MQ. This game's got a bad rep but I enjoyed it. Definitely a 'beginner' RPG.

[Cryomancer]

Dragon Quest V, although it's storyline is so far superior to standard RPG fare that you'll find many other games lacking.

Also, Earthbound.

[Malon_Forever]

Paper Mario (N64) is a great place to start. Very simple and very fun.

[pseudonym]

Super Mario RPG and the Paper Mario series is a good starting place for beginners IMO.

[Jorpho]

Since Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario never made it to DS or GBA, it might be more appropriate to recommend the three Mario & Luigi games, which are awesome good fun very much in the same vein.

On that note, Tales of Innocence (DS) might be a good idea too. For some very strange reason Namco decided not to release it in the US, but there's a full English translation patch out now if you don't mind tracking down the ROM.

[Rickstilwell1]

Since you loved Baldur's Gate/Champions I also recommend the Untold Legends games for PSP and X-Men Legends 1 & 2 which are on PS2/Xbox/Gamecube (2 can also be had on PSP). Marvel Ultimate Alliance 1 is a lot like X-Men Legends but I personally thought the X-Men ones were better than Marvel when it came to level design and story plot.

I have been trying to play some of the early games in this style back on PS1, such as Diablo and Darkstone, but both of those games are much much better on PC and are a lot harder to deal with. They're still fun enough to force myself through them though.

If you do end up liking the early Dragon Warrior games, then you will probably like Beyond the Beyond for Playstation. If you don't like at least Dragon Warrior 1, then you probably won't enjoy it much. It's more like Dragon Warrior than any other series I can think of.

Also, I beat Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku for GBA in one day. The day I bought it. It's easy to level up in the beginning if you just keep killing this giant dinosaur over and over again.

These starter ideas are coming from someone whose first RPG ever was *gulp* Wizardry. As a 6 year old all I could figure out how to do for fun was write lists of the monsters I could run into and see. I had no idea on how to effectively use battle tactics. "fight, fight, fight, parry, parry, parry" was all the young me knew how to do. Or "run." It's funny looking back.

If you like sidescrolling action RPGs, Faxanadu for NES is also very easy and you will do your fighting mainly for gold as experience isn't that important in this game. Good starter and my 2nd RPG ever.

[Arkhan]

I see Children of Mana DS at Gamestop for $8. Any good?

Wow, there are more $'s in the price of the game than there were hours of gameplay. haha! It is not a good game. Too short, too easy, too boring.


My starter recommendations:

NES: Crystalis. Definitely. You can't go wrong with it.

and possibly Magic of Scheherezade. You might not dig that game. Its hit or miss, but boy I sure do love it, and it's pretty straight forward. Fun stuff.

SNES: Mystic Quest (Its watered down and easy to get into. It flows well, you only have 2 characters to manage, and its still a fun friggin game)

Secret of Mana: Great action RPG. Easier than hell to pick up and understand, and it offers alot of depth without alot of crap.

Chrono Trigger: Its a pretty short/easy game really. But theres alot you can do, and it isn't convoluted. the pacing is nice. Shits always happening.

You can get Crystalis for gameboy color, and chrono trigger for DS. That makes it easier to grab those two games.

You might like Breath of Fire I and II also! They're on GBA now.

You could also try Record of Lodoss War on Dreamcast as it is pretty diablo-rific. Same goes for the original Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain on Playstation

If you can get a copy of Ys for Sega master system, that is simple and easy to get into, and a short game also!

and my last suggestion is Ys VI for PS2.

Though if you don't like Anime style games , you might not like them. Especially Persona 3. It's got a bit of date sim thrown in, which might not excite you much!


Avoid Dragon Quest games for now only because the grinding in them is legendary. You might get tired of that nonsense really quick. If it turns out you don't mind level grinding random battles for extended periods, give 3, 5, 8, and 9 a try.

[mobiusclimber]

Damn, Ark, I forgot about the Breath of Fire GBA games! Those are greater starter RPGs, particularly BoF2. It's fairly easy, linear but with plenty of optional places to explore, and has a ton of other... "systems"? ... besides just random turn-based battling. What I mean is, you can hunt in real time, go fishing... basically do a bunch of other stuff besides just fighting random battles.

But... no love for DQ4? I thought it was pretty awesome, and there wasn't a ton of grinding in it either (at least on the DS).

Also, Ys seems damn near impossible on the Master System. The Turbo CD version is a cakewalk, but trust me, you'll be grinding forever in the Master System version. And unfortunately, the DS version isn't really recommended, so there's not a good way to play Ys. If you have the Turbo CD tho, definitely a great starter RPG.

I wouldn't recommend Untold Legends, or at least the first one on the PSP (only one I've played) only b/c it feels like a rehash of other, better hack&slash titles. The story is pretty boring and theres a lot that just feels ripped off. Just my opinion tho.

[Swamperon]

I will give another shout for Chrono Trigger. It's not too long, there are a few times you have to grind (if any) and nothing is overly convoluted about it.

Also Skies of Arcadia if you have a DC/GC. The gameplay is solid, the storyline is fun without being overly cliched, music is amazing and it clocks in at around 40 hours (without additional side quests completed). As you hate random battles I'd go with the GC version.

[Arkhan]

Damn, Ark, I forgot about the Breath of Fire GBA games! Those are greater starter RPGs, particularly BoF2. It's fairly easy, linear but with plenty of optional places to explore, and has a ton of other... "systems"? ... besides just random turn-based battling. What I mean is, you can hunt in real time, go fishing... basically do a bunch of other stuff besides just fighting random battles.
Yes, BoF's are awesome for the budding RPG spaz. Im surprised they werent mentioned sooner.



But... no love for DQ4? I thought it was pretty awesome, and there wasn't a ton of grinding in it either (at least on the DS).

I wasn't a fan of it. 3 blows it away lol.



Also, Ys seems damn near impossible on the Master System. The Turbo CD version is a cakewalk, but trust me, you'll be grinding forever in the Master System version. And unfortunately, the DS version isn't really recommended, so there's not a good way to play Ys. If you have the Turbo CD tho, definitely a great starter RPG.


On the contrary, the DS Ys is fine if you are new to Ys. You wont notice the lack of ramming system, and wont want to kill yourself having to use the slashy mode

[SegaAges]

I will throw in a vote for Bioware games. The KOTOR series, Mass effect series, Jade Dragon. They are very easy to pick up and play.

Oblivion and Fallout 3 are also good as well

[Jisho23]

Since the regular gang of games has been recommended, if you get through those try the second Lufia game (Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals) on SNES. Fun rpg, not too difficult, and some light puzzle solving and dungeon diving.

And yeah, MQ I think only gets such a bad rap because its not as good as the other 2 on the system. It may not be that good, but its definitely not outright bad.

[Jorpho]

You can get Crystalis for gameboy colorIt seems pretty much everyone finds the GBC port to be vastly inferior to the original.


You might like Breath of Fire I and II also! They're on GBA now.Ugh. I found the first BoF to be a tiresome waste of time that has not aged well at all. I might take a look at BoF2 [SNES] someday now that there's that spiffy retranslation patch available for it.


Also, Ys seems damn near impossible on the Master System. The Turbo CD version is a cakewalk, but trust me, you'll be grinding forever in the Master System version. And unfortunately, the DS version isn't really recommended, so there's not a good way to play Ys. If you have the Turbo CD tho, definitely a great starter RPG.Apparently one of the best ways to play Ys is to get the Japanese Windows version, with the translation patch and soundtrack patched together from the arranged-music CD releases.

[mobiusclimber]

Ugh. I found the first BoF to be a tiresome waste of time that has not aged well at all. I might take a look at BoF2 [SNES] someday now that there's that spiffy retranslation patch available for it.

I hated the first BoF game (mostly, there are parts of the story that are pretty awesome, and the dragon transformations are cool, but otherwise no), but the second one was a vast improvement.

[dgdgagdae]

I'll also cast a vote for Mario & Luigi - Bowser's Inside Story. It's the only M&L game I've played, but it's an entry level RPG and a great deal of fun.

[RJ]

Wow, I seemed to have really casued a stir here. Recommendations are all over the place. I wouldnt consider Mass Effect or KOTOR to be what Im looking for. Let me reiterate:

1. An easy-to-get-into RPG w/ minimal random turn-based battles, something ideally just like DS Guadia Quest
2. No more "sophisticated" than an NES or SMS RPG. Anything past that would require more time/effort than I want to give.
3. No Dreamcast, no PSP, no 360/PS3, no GBC, no GBA. Preferably playable on NES, SNES, or DS (like Guadia Quest)
4. Looking to spend $5-10 per game.

I beat Guadia Quest's challenges last night. I got sick of grinding (good call Arkhan!) so I just said F it Im going down there to get the 1st boss. Sure felt good to kill him.

[tpugmire]

Earthbound (SNES) seems like it's right up your alley. No random battles, interesting story, great sense of humor, etc. The only bad thing is that it's pretty expensive.

[Leo_A]

Paper Mario (N64) is a great place to start. Very simple and very fun.

Paper Mario for the N64 is where I got my start a couple of years ago after traditionally avoiding the genre.

I haven't gone much beyond playing Super Mario RPG, the three Paper Mario titles, and the Mario & Luigi series but it's been enjoyable despite avoiding the genre in the past.

[RJ]

So I see both NES FF & SMS Phantasy Star are on Wii VC. Is one prefrrable over the other?

Though for $10 I guess I could buy both...


Also I see SNES Mystic Quest got an official release rating for VC, which I understand means it's basically guaranteed available. How long between a game's rating & its actual release date?

[tom]

you gotta let go of those awful Japanese RPGs and get yourself some serious SSI RPGing: Wizard's Crown is a very good starter RPG, very easy to get in to, very rewarding, and very enjoyable, and after that try The Eternal Dagger.

[kupomogli]

So I see both NES FF & SMS Phantasy Star are on Wii VC. Is one prefrrable over the other?

Though for $10 I guess I could buy both...

Both are good games though I prefer Final Fantasy much more.

I'd also like to recommend that instead of purchasing Phantasy Star on the VC, see if you can try and find the GBA Phantasy Star Collection. It has Phantasy Star 1, 2, and 3 and can be found for $10 or less on Ebay even complete. You'll own a physical copy of the game and you'll get the packaging along with it. Make sure it's complete though because usually games that aren't complete are Chinese bootlegs.

Too bad you don't have a PS360 as Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection is only $20 and all the main Phantasy Star games(including the first as an unlockable) are on it as well as a ton of others. The PS2/PSP Sega Genesis Collection has Phantasy Star 2, 3, and 4 if you happen to like the first game and own a PS2(since I think I saw you didn't own a PSP.)

[jsiucho]

I know some jumps can get annoying, but Landstalker for the Genesis is a great action RPG. Suikoden is another good choice.



JS

[RASK1904]

Golden Sun for GBA. It's very well made. Not confusing. Easy on the eyes and fun. Then you could move to part 2. And then you'd be ready for 3 when it comes out.

[YoshiM]

1. An easy-to-get-into RPG w/ minimal random turn-based battles, something ideally just like DS Guadia Quest
2. No more "sophisticated" than an NES or SMS RPG. Anything past that would require more time/effort than I want to give.

Never played Guadia Quest but it sounds like it's a bit more of a smoother ride than the RPGs of old.

I guess the question I have to ask you: how much effort/time do you WANT to give?, because many of the NES/SMS/GEN/SNES-era RPGs take time to get through, especially if you aren't using a guide. I know I spent a good deal of time on Phantasy Star back in the day because I had to do the other thing you don't want to get into: go through lots of random turn-based battles to build the characters up.

RPGs of that time were all about exploration and getting creamed by higher level monsters that forced you to fight lower level ones until you got strong and equipped enough to continue. The adventures put the fear in you-fear of loss, fear of not having the right tools or enough money to advance. Show of e-hands, how many here had to duke it out with some monsters before you had enough cash to resurrect a party member?

Just my thoughts. I'd recommend Shining Force 1 or 2 but they are more combat heavy and becomes more tactical with the placing of heroes to fight monsters. I wanna say there isn't much of "random" encounters as I think you can see bad guys on the map. Also I don't think you can really "die" in the game, just lose cash, regroup and try again.

[mobiusclimber]

Yeah truth be told unless you want an action-RPG, the NES just doesn't hold any RPGs that don't have random battles every few steps and grinding. I mean, there's Ghost Lion, where grinding is useless except for money, but it's no cakewalk, and there's a LOT of random battles. It's fairly short tho, as is Dragon Warrior (the first one). Other than that, there just aren't any short, non-grindy traditional RPGs on the NES.

The SMS only had a couple of traditional RPGs and the best of the bunch is very grind-heavy (Phantasy Star).

Genesis is the same way. Again, I'd recommend Phantasy Star IV. Beyond that, there's either action-RPGs, strategy-RPGs or garbage. I'd also say that PS & PSIV are not short games. Most of the RPGs for these consoles aren't really short.

[RJ]

no GBA.

& I wouldnt own a 360 if you gave it to me free.


Real life interferes w/ my gametime; I have very little time to play, so any RPG would prob. last me 2x or longer than usual. Thats why I'd prefer something relatively easy on the DS, I actually do most of my gaming at work on breaks.

My 2nd option is the Wii or PS2, Im leaning toward the Wii virtual console- I have 1500 pts there & I dont care about owning physical copies of games or pkging. Actually Im trying to save space in this house & I have forces working against me (wife & 2 kids)

& I read the VC review of SMS Phantasy Star, said it has a slight edge over NES FF. Im thinking once I have the house back to myself every morning & all day Fridays off, I'll chip away at it an hour or 2 at a time. But for now I think I'll just keep going on Guadia Quest- Im not nearly done w/ it, & the final RetroGame Challenge is to beat ALL the games. :(

(oops, that's not a spoiler is it?)

[kupomogli]

My 2nd option is the Wii or PS2

Well the Sega Genesis Collection option would be a very cost effective route if you plan on going this way. $11.99 with possible free shipping if you have Amazon Prime or it's in an order over $25. It's from another seller but is stocked by Amazon so shipping costs aren't overpriced if you happen to pay for shipping.

People mentioned Phantasy Star 4 but you get quite a few other games, including Phantasy Star 2 which is good but overrated in my opinion. A lot of the best Genesis games.

http://www.amazon.com/Sega-Genesis-Collection-Playstation-2/dp/B000HQBZOM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1281067510&sr=8-3

About Final Fantasy or Phantasy Star. I still pick Final Fantasy. I've finished Final Fantasy more times than any other game except for Castlevania and Super Castlevania 4.

[Haoie]

Guardian's Crusade, ever hear of that?

[Press_Start]

Real life interferes w/ my gametime; I have very little time to play, so any RPG would prob. last me 2x or longer than usual. Thats why I'd prefer something relatively easy on the DS, I actually do most of my gaming at work on breaks.


Then two games come to mind:

Lunar Knights...an action/RPG by the Kojima team. Though a short one. clocking in at 15 hours even w/ sidequests. Has some good usage for stylus too.

Ys III (Snes or Genesis)....weaved from similar cloth as SOTN but sorta the black sheep in the Ys family. Again it's a short game you clock in less than 10 hours so it's should fit your criteria nicely.

[Arkhan]

The problem with Ys III is that it presents itself more as a sidescrolling action game most of the time. :-/

[RJ]

Guardian's Crusade, ever hear of that?

No, why dont you tell me about it? Thats what the topic's for.

I saw Sega Genesis Collection in great shape for $10 at a GameStop today. But Im not looking for a Genesis collection, nor am I looking for 16-bit-era RPGs. I got DS Puzzle Quest used. Will ty it tonight. Generic box, no manual, there'd better be a tutorial.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Playing Puzzle Quest is very simple... Beating some of those research spell puzzles on the other hand...

Terrific game, you should enjoy it.

[RJ]

Yeah, there wasnt much of a tutorial, & PQ was really pissing me off last night. I was on my 2nd training battle & lost 5x IN A ROW. I read some online reviews & now understand the "randomness" can be suspect, you just have to deal/live w/ it.

It was the last thing I did before bed last night, & the 1st thing I did this AM, so thats a good sign. :) I look forward to what the game has to offer me.

[Aussie2B]

Chrono Trigger actually works very well as a beginner RPG; the only problem is that once you play it, no other traditional Japanese RPG will ever live up to it. :P It was actually the first RPG I played all the way to the end. It's only about 20 hours, even if you do every side quest, and it never drags on for a moment. It's a bit too easy, so it's actually beneficial to play it when you're still relatively new to RPGs. When I played it as a teenager, quite a few of the bosses killed me off, but grinding was never necessary. Personally, I never found it particularly cryptic to figure out what to do, so I wouldn't worry about that.

After Chrono Trigger, a couple more of the first RPGs I beat were Lufia II and Super Mario RPG. No random battles in those too (well, besides on Lufia II's world map) and also great games.

I'll give another vote towards Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. You can get through that one in around 10 hours.

Crystalis, Secret of Mana, and Secret of Evermore are all good choices if you're looking for adventure games. Although, assuming you play on NES, I'll give you the warning that Crystalis can be a little hard to make progress in at parts. Like, for example, you have to find a lost statue, but you're only given a vague clue as to where it is and it isn't actually visible on the map at all. You simply have to get lucky walking over its spot.

[DreadIsReal]

I would have to recommend Mario & Luigi Partners in Time or Bowsers Inside Story, very simple, basic RPGs. No random battles, no complicated leveling system, and both have a funny story. Also one thing I could never get into was RPGs with party members, just seemed to be too much, but these games don't have that which I feel make them better, hope this helps, only concern I would have for you is price since you're not looking to spend too much, but both of these are well worth the price.

[Cantaloup]

Yeah, there wasnt much of a tutorial, & PQ was really pissing me off last night. I was on my 2nd training battle & lost 5x IN A ROW. I read some online reviews & now understand the "randomness" can be suspect, you just have to deal/live w/ it.

It was the last thing I did before bed last night, & the 1st thing I did this AM, so thats a good sign. :) I look forward to what the game has to offer me.

I never really thought the AI was cheating, but I can see how the computer taking multiple turns in a row can be frustrating. Once you get a good combination of spells and items you can whip up on stuff really quick yourself.

If you have any questions about the game I'd be happy to answer them.

[Swamperon]

I do not recommend Guardians Crusade. Whilst it had its enjoyable moments I found it rather bland.

Definitely Chrono Trigger, played it when I was little and was one of my first RPG's. I still rank it near the top of all of the RPGs I've played. You can't really go wrong with it. :)

[Rickstilwell1]

So I see both NES FF & SMS Phantasy Star are on Wii VC. Is one prefrrable over the other?

Though for $10 I guess I could buy both...


Also I see SNES Mystic Quest got an official release rating for VC, which I understand means it's basically guaranteed available. How long between a game's rating & its actual release date?

You never know. Sonic & Knuckles took a few years.

[bohproper]

lunar silver star story .