Recommend to me a PS2 RPG [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Swamperon

07-03-2011, 09:06 AM

Finally got my hands on a PS2 and I'm looking to buy an RPG (Not FF or KH) but quite sure which one to get. My eye is currently on Star Ocean 3 but I'm very much open to suggestions. :)

Some of the previous RPGs I've liked:

Chrono Trigger/Cross
Skies of Arcadia
Shining Force 1-3
Azure Dreams
Star Ocean series
Pokemon series
Fire Emblem series
Phantasy Star Online
Golden Sun series
Rhapsody: A musical adventure
Luminous Arc series

maxlords

07-03-2011, 10:55 AM

Dark Cloud 2
Shadow Hearts
Suikoden 3
Grandia 3
Okage Shadow King
Shining Tears
Atelier Iris 2
Dragon Quest VIII
Wild Arms: Alter Code F

Xtincthed

07-03-2011, 12:09 PM

Dark Cloud
Xenosaga
Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance (Diablo-like)
Dokapon Kingdom
Grandia 2, 3, xtreme
Grafitti Kingdom
Tales of the Abyss
Suikoden 3, 4, 5

Sinizar

07-03-2011, 12:42 PM

Press_Start

07-03-2011, 01:13 PM

Two posts and no ones mentions a Shin Megami Tensei game....shame on you guys! :ass:

Persona 4 and Odin Sphere stand out in my mind. Definitely among the best AND unique RPGs ps2 has to offer. Get your hands on those first.

Ys: Ark of Naphisthm is just old-school action/RPG fun with a bit of modern flavor. But who doesn't love Ys

Avoid Suikoden 3&4 and Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits at all costs, they represent the worst of their respective franchises and don't do them any justice, imo.

And that's my two cents. Hope that helps.

kupomogli

07-03-2011, 01:44 PM

Wild ARMs 3, 4, and 5
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga 1 and then 2
Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter

When it comes to PS2 RPGs, these are my favorites. There are a lot of other good ones, not as many as the PSX, but these are the best. Other good games also.

Xenosaga(play for story and Xenocard. Possibly the best storyline to almost any RPG. Gameplay is terrible.)
Xenosaga 3(the only all around good Xenosaga.)
Persona 3 and 4(amazing games but not even close to SMT Nocturne. Tells you how good Nocturne is.)
Wild ARMs Alter Code F(the worst Wild ARMs. A remake of the original, and good game, but it's a watered down mixture of the first and third.)
Grandia 2, Xtreme, and 3(great gameplay)
Radiata Stories(Similar to Star Ocean.)
Tales of the Abyss and Legendia(Similar to other Tales games/Star Ocean)

Aussie2B

07-03-2011, 01:51 PM

I would just go with Star Ocean 3 if you already like the series and have your eye on it. It's got a pretty stupid plot and cast, but the battle system is great fun.

Kellhus

07-03-2011, 02:02 PM

Despite the PS2 RPG library being huge, I never really got into it.

The only games that really stood out for me were Breath of Fire V and Grandia 2 (although I played it on Dreamcast). RPGs stopped getting better after the PSX era in my opinion.

The Ryu ga Gotoku (Yakuza) games are excellent, but they're more like beat-em-up RPGs than traditional JRPGs, which is probably what you're looking for.

Rickstilwell1

07-03-2011, 02:54 PM

Avoid Suikoden 3&4 and Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits at all costs, they represent the worst of their respective franchises and don't do them any justice, imo.

And that's my two cents. Hope that helps.

Lex Luthor from Smallville voices my opinion well - WRONG!!!!!! lol (At least on Suikoden 3. I can agree on 4 though,and I never played Arc The Lad games)

Kellhus

07-03-2011, 04:00 PM

Suikoden 3 isn't so bad. It's decent, but nothing more.

Press_Start

07-03-2011, 04:34 PM

Lex Luthor from Smallville voices my opinion well - WRONG!!!!!! lol (At least on Suikoden 3. I can agree on 4 though,and I never played Arc The Lad games)

Oh plz. Fundamentally broken gameplay, horrid world maps, and storyline/plot is a oxymoron at best but those are just the tip of this sh!tberg. I've already covered everything in a long post before, so knock yourselves out.

My thoughts on Suikoden 3. (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1588118&postcount=6)

Swamperon

07-03-2011, 05:33 PM

Oh plz. Fundamentally broken gameplay, horrid world maps, and storyline/plot is a oxymoron at best but those are just the tip of this sh!tberg. I've already covered everything in a long post before, so knock yourselves out.

My thoughts on Suikoden 3. (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1588118&postcount=6)

So you really don't like it! ;) Probably won't be picking it up as I played Suikoden II years ago but couldn't really get into it. Maybe I shold give it another go.

Lots of suggestions there! Thanks all :) If you can think of anymore, post away! I'm going shopping in a couple of days so I'll see if any turn up, if not I'll probably get SO3 and put some of the others on my to buy list. Dark Chronicle looks really intriguing.

I'm planning to pick up Tale of Abyss for the 3DS when I eventually buy one.

Has anyone played the Hack games? The manga has always intrigued me, though I've yet to buy it.

kupomogli

07-03-2011, 06:20 PM

Has anyone played the Hack games? The manga has always intrigued me, though I've yet to buy it.

It's a pretty unique concept. Single player fake MMO called The World. It's just the gameplay is poor.

GU has better gameplay and graphics, but the balance is terrible. In GU you're a level or two below and you take one damage each attack, making for some somewhat long battles, especially if you don't have the chainsaw type weapons. If you're a level or two above you'll practically walk right through the enemies. Reading the message boards was more enjoyable than playing the game.

RPG_Fanatic

07-03-2011, 06:33 PM

Dragon Quest VIII is the best RPG on the PS2.

heybtbm

07-03-2011, 07:53 PM

Dragon Quest VIII is the best RPG on the PS2.

Agreed (http://youtu.be/--2Z82WJD7c).

Final Fantasy XII is pretty good too. Also check out Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga I and II. All excellent.

Kitsune Sniper

07-03-2011, 08:34 PM

I couldn't get into Persona 3.

I liked the settings. I liked the music. The graphics. The gameplay.

BUT THE FORCED SCHOOL AND SOCIALIZATION BITS PISSED ME OFF.

I have to spend twenty minutes or so doing stuff BEFORE being allowed to go into battle? Fuck that. I soooooooooo wanted to like the game. :(

kupomogli

07-03-2011, 08:42 PM

I couldn't get into Persona 3.

I liked the settings. I liked the music. The graphics. The gameplay.

Try out Nocturne and DDS.

pseudonym

07-03-2011, 08:50 PM

Opinions on the following games:

Dark Cloud 2 has more refined game play than the first game. I would avoid Dark Cloud altogether, personally.

Okage Shadow King has a cute/amusing storyline. Good game.

Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter has an unusual game mechanic that requires that you restart from the beginning every so often to unlock new areas. A lot of people don't care for this game, but it's pretty solid if you give it a chance.

Dragon Quest 8 is the best game in the series IMO.

If you're going to try Xenosaga, the third game is the best one. The first and second games aren't very good.

Rickstilwell1

07-03-2011, 09:52 PM

Hey I just realized that the only turn-based PS2 RPG I've beaten was Suikoden III, while the rest were hack n slash rpgs including Baldur's Gate and X-Men Legends. Was I really that much into the PS1 turn-based RPGs still that I missed out? Sure looks like it.

Peonpiate

07-03-2011, 10:06 PM

Agreed (http://youtu.be/--2Z82WJD7c).

Final Fantasy XII is pretty good too. Also check out Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga I and II. All excellent.

Great game. There is also a PS2 re release of Dragon Quest 5 which is also a great game. It requires a translation patch to play it in English though..

Icarus Moonsight

07-04-2011, 01:40 AM

Dragon Quest VIII is the best RPG on the PS2.

Agreed (http://youtu.be/--2Z82WJD7c).

Final Fantasy XII is pretty good too. Also check out Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne... All excellent.

All this and a bag 'o chips.

Didn't care for DDS much. Would recommend Devil Summoner 1 & 2 instead.

Have a theory of three's that applies to FF now. The good ones since VI come once every three games on the nose. 6, 9, 12... So naturally, I'm looking forward to how FF15 turns out.

Trebuken

07-04-2011, 10:45 PM

Okami. Gotta' play it.

maxlords

07-05-2011, 11:30 PM

I specifically recommended titles that semi-matched the stuff you've already played. That's why I ignored both the Shin Megami games and the Xenosaga series....they're both MUCH more hardcore than the stuff you've been playing.

Rogue Galaxy would also be good.

As for the weird and crazy Suikoden III haters, it's a pretty damned solid story with excellent character development. The fourth one is crap but the 3rd one is pretty enjoyable for a lighter RPG. Personally I thought Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter was craptacular. And the first Dark Cloud is BAD......but the 2nd one is from Level 5 and is quite good...way better gameplay.

Cryomancer

07-06-2011, 10:07 AM

DQ8 for sure, it's in the running for best PS2 game period, not just RPG.

Darko

07-06-2011, 10:11 AM

I'll go with DQVIII, Rogue Galaxy, Nocturne, Persona 3+4, and DDS 1+2. You might also want to check out the first Dark Cloud.

Chainsaw_Charlie

07-06-2011, 12:28 PM

In descending order

10. Odin Sphere
9. Atelier Iris 3
8. Wild Arms 5
7. Suikoden 4
6. Star Ocean 3
5. Grandia 2
4. Ar Tonelico 2
3. Growlanser Generations
2. Dark Cloud 2
1. Persona 4

With honorable mention going to Final Fantasy 12, Mana Khemia 2, Shadow Hearts 2, Sakura Wars, SMT Nocturne and Persona 3

Swamperon

07-06-2011, 01:23 PM

Couldn't find anything of note in the shops today. Got so fed up of wading through movie tie-ins, racing and annual sports games. If I was a retailer I'd limit the stock of them that I allowed to be traded in, or at least on the shop floor.

With Star Ocean being the cheapest, I've ordered that from amazon.

Colorado Rockies

07-06-2011, 04:04 PM

Here are some rpg's that I love for PS2.

Radiata Stories
Rogue Galaxy
Dark Cloud 2
Atelier Iris 1 & 2
Shining Force Neo
Wild Arms 3
Gladius
Growlanser Generations
Grandia III
Phantom Brave

BenG76

07-06-2011, 04:23 PM

Good info in this thread. I have been looking to pick up some PS2 stuff here lately since I only have a few games for the system.

Swamperon

07-07-2011, 08:43 AM

Also if I was wanting to play a SRPG/TPRG like Fire Emblem/Shining Force on the PS2, what are my options? (Excluding Disagea)

Icarus Moonsight

07-07-2011, 09:18 AM

PS2 Strategy - Off the top of my head:
Ring of Red
Front Mission 3 & 4
Koei's Dynasty Tactics series
Daisenryaku 7 Exceed
Future Tactics

Darko

07-07-2011, 10:24 AM

Also if I was wanting to play a SRPG/TPRG like Fire Emblem/Shining Force on the PS2, what are my options? (Excluding Disagea)

Phantom Brave
Soul Nomad and the World Eaters
Makai Kingdom
La Pucelle: Tactics
Growlanser: Generations
Stella Deus
Suikoden Tactics
Dynasty Tactics 1 & 2
Gladius

Icarus Moonsight

07-07-2011, 10:44 AM

Thanks, I knew I was leaving out a bunch.

kupomogli

07-07-2011, 11:55 AM

A a couple of these were already listed previously, but they're RPG/TRPG hybrids.

Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter
Wild ARMs 4 and 5
Valkyrie Profile 2(somewhat. you now fight each battle on an open plane that you can now move around in.)

And while not on the PS2, Wild ARMs went full TRPG on the PSP with Wild ARMs XF. If you like the genre at all then it's a must own.

Chainsaw_Charlie

07-07-2011, 12:43 PM

Avoid Suikoden Tactics like the plague

heybtbm

07-07-2011, 08:33 PM

Also if I was wanting to play a SRPG/TPRG like Fire Emblem/Shining Force on the PS2, what are my options? (Excluding Disagea)

If you're looking to avoid the Nippon Ichi-style SRPG's, the Growlanser games are pretty good. Even Stella Deus (http://youtu.be/LepY7f4juUo) is worth playing (excellent music as well).

Swamperon

07-08-2011, 06:22 AM

If you're looking to avoid the Nippon Ichi-style SRPG's, the Growlanser games are pretty good. Even Stella Deus (http://youtu.be/LepY7f4juUo) is worth playing (excellent music as well).

That looks like quite good. Shall add it to the list :)

I never understand why so many developers seem stuck on the isometric POV for these sorts of games. Shining Force III was in full 3D and is regarded as one of the best games in the genre.