2-D Sidescrolling platoform RPG's . . . someone help me find some!

[Arctica121]

Hey guys! Probably my favorite NES game ever was Faxanadu. I loved everything about it except the level up system was for pass codes only. Does anyone know of any other games exactly like this one? Where you can buy new weapons and also level up but it's side scrolling 2d platform?

I mean as close to faxanadu as possible, I wasnt that big a fan of Zelda II.

I;ve already played Rygar and this wizard or magician game in NES was too detailed lol. Thanks in advance! Also preferribly anything before n64/ps1

[Sunnyvale]

If you have a Sega Master System, Wonder Boy 3 sounds like it would fit your bill.

[Arctica121]

Interesting, thanks. I think I've heard of the series but I'll give it a shot. More games would be welcome too

[Aussie2B]

The Wonder Boy/Monster World series is great. Personally, I recommend the TG-16/PC Engine versions. The final game, and quite possibly the best, is Genesis-only (technically Mega Drive-only).

Give Battle of Olympus a try if you haven't already. Maybe Castlevania 2 also.

[c0ldb33r]

isn't one of the Ys games a side-scroller?

[Amon_Re]

isn't one of the Ys games a side-scroller?

Yes, Wanderers of Ys. I'd recommend the SNES version, but it's the weakest of the whole series

[old_skoolin_jim]

Popful Mail is a fantastic example of this type of game as well, if you can get ahold of it for the Sega CD somehow- great 2d action and Working Designs' trademark mid-90s sense of humor.
I second the voting for Wonder Boy 3 The Dragon's Trap (or Dragon's Curse on TG-16), and a hearty thumbs-up to Wonder Boy in Monster World on the Genesis/MD.
Ys 3 is pretty decent too; and it's on SNES and Genesis.

Also, these are technically traditional RPGs, but Valkyrie Profile 1 & 2 play like side-scrolling action-RPGs anytime you're not in battle.

[Nikademus1969]

Black Tiger is a good one.

[Black_Tiger]

The so-called "Metroidvanias" are pretty much the same as Faxanadu.

Shapeshifter for TurboDuo.

Lord of the Sword SMS.

Wonderboy V/MWIII Genesis/SMS.

Legacy of the Wizard, Clash at Demonhead and Rambo for NES are similar, but like Zelda II they are not so much exactly the same.

You might like Sorcerian for MD or PCE.

[Zebbe]

Golvellius for Master System has some side-scrolling stages, but mostly it plays like Legend of Zelda.

[kupomogli]

Valkyrie Profile and Valkyrie Profile 2 Silmeria(3D on 2D plane.)

Also, "technically," Wild ARMs 4 could fit in this category as well. There are some parts that have side scrolling platforming. 3D but on a 2D plane.

[old_skoolin_jim]

Rambo for NES

I think I may have been one of the only kids I know of who was able to play this game through to the end (and actually sort of enjoyed it).
Of course, I haven't played it now since I was 8, so I wonder if it's still as challenging and incomprehensible as I remember it being...
Better believe I recorded that ending on VHS tape, too!

[kainemaxwell]

Give Battle of Olympus a try if you haven't already. Maybe Castlevania 2 also.

Battle of Olympus gets really hard near the end though.

[Amon_Re]

Popful Mail is a fantastic example of this type of game as well, if you can get ahold of it for the Sega CD somehow- great 2d action and Working Designs' trademark mid-90s sense of humor.
I second the voting for Wonder Boy 3 The Dragon's Trap (or Dragon's Curse on TG-16), and a hearty thumbs-up to Wonder Boy in Monster World on the Genesis/MD.
Ys 3 is pretty decent too; and it's on SNES and Genesis.

Also, these are technically traditional RPGs, but Valkyrie Profile 1 & 2 play like side-scrolling action-RPGs anytime you're not in battle.

I'll cast my vote in for Popfull Mail as well, excellent game!

[TurboGenesis]

I'll cast my vote in for Popfull Mail as well, excellent game!

I will also suggest Popful Mail - Sega CD version… (the PCECD version is a bit different as it features a similar tap/touch attack system as used in the first couple Ys games)

and speaking of Ys... may I suggest Ys III: Wanderers from Ys

one thing in common of these games, they are all games from Falcom

[TurboGenesis]

another game just came to mind… it actually have it's origin as an arcade game, and saw release on Genesis and Turbo Grafx-16…

Cadash by Taito (published by Working Designs on the TG-16)

[understatement]

Working Designs had a good bit of these type games in the early days I see Popful Mail and Cadash are here there was also:

Exile for the Turbo CD (it's on the Genesis too, but it's not as good IMO) and if you want to spend some cash Exile: Wicked Phenomenon.

[Dred]

Princess Crown (Saturn/PSP). Reminds me of Valkyrie Profile...

[kupomogli]

Princess Crown (Saturn/PSP). Reminds me of Valkyrie Profile...

Reminds me of a crappy version of even the worst Tales of game. Atleast the battle system.

[j_factor]

They don't fit this board's classic gaming category, but Odin Sphere and Muramasa fit the bill, and are highly recommended.

[kupomogli]

They don't fit this board's classic gaming category, but Odin Sphere and Muramasa fit the bill, and are highly recommended.

Never played Muramasa, but for Odin Sphere, see my previous post about Princess Crown.

Not trying to offend or anything j_factor, just letting you know. Here's an awesome picture I took before though. It's not accurate because it's a decent game, but still a cool picture.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/kupomogli/odinsphereisballs.jpg

[Blitzwing256]

sword master and castle of dragon on the nes, more action less storyline, have earnable equipment and a level up system, also amazingly hard. Goonies 2, no leveling up but has rpg elements.

and i'd just like to second rambo, very confusing game at first but very innovative and unique for its time.

[xelement5x]

I'd also like to recommend Popful Mail, which I think is a great game. A bit pricey at this point but since it's SegaCD you can probably just get a copy of it to test it out first.

[Dred]

Reminds me of a crappy version of even the worst Tales of game. Atleast the battle system.
Erm... IMO, really good title. As of battle system... Yeah, it's kinda like Tales of/Vakyrie game, but I really enjoyed it though...

[Baloo]

I'll be the 4th to say Popful Mail! What a great game, even though the difficulty is pretty high.

And while this is a beat more beat-em-up in style, Knights of the Round is a great game too with some RPG elements.

[Drixxel]

Super Ninja Boy on SNES might do the trick, it's an odd hybrid of overworld exploration, beat-'em-up style battles and platforming sections (where you also fight baddies). Gargoyle's Quest I & II and Demon's Crest contain light RPG elements and some pretty fun platforming.

While this breaches PSX territory, the two Tomba! games are awesome and I couldn't recommend them enough. A colourful, creative blend of RPG and platformer.

[Arctica121]

Thanks so much guys this was a big help. I've actually been interested in trying out Popful mail, il see if I can get a copy of it!

[Suikoman444]

There are also the Paper Mario games which have some sidescrolling platformer parts to them.

[BlastProcessing402]

Ys 3 is pretty decent too; and it's on SNES and Genesis.

It's also on Turbografx CD. It was the first disc based game I ever bought for any system ever! :)

[Tron 2.0]

LandStalker

[Ryudo]

Wonder Boy in monster world
Ys III (Genesis or TG16 are the best versions)
Odin Sphere
Muramasa

[old man]

Never played Muramasa, but for Odin Sphere, see my previous post about Princess Crown.

Not trying to offend or anything j_factor, just letting you know. Here's an awesome picture I took before though. It's not accurate because it's a decent game, but still a cool picture.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/kupomogli/odinsphereisballs.jpg

Hey, that looks just like the copy of Odin Sphere that I played. {D

Anyway, I second the Tomba games. Simon's Quest, YsIII, Battle of Olympus and the Metroidvanias are good games as well.

There's some good freeware PC games too like Lamulana, Cave Story, and Legend of Princess. You might also check out an old dos game called Zeliard.

[c0ldb33r]

Uggh Odin sphere does suck. :(

[Ryudo]

WOW! Odin sphere is awesome:)
Fixed

[rbudrick]

Romancia (Xanadu 3) for the Famicom, or almost anything in the Xanadu series (FaXanadu included). Hard game, even though it is supposedly meant for kids (lol, it aint). Legacy of the Wizard (Xanadu 4) is incredible.

Awesome other suggestions in this thread.

-Rob

[Hawksmoor]

LandStalker

Seconded.

Also, I don't get the Odin Sphere hate. Hating Odin Sphere is like hating pizza. Does not compute.

[R.Sakai]

Everyone pretty well covered all of my favorites (Cadash!), I'll toss Exile (Gen/TurboCD) and Exile: Wicked Phenomenon (Duo) on the pile. First one is great either way, second one isn't awful, not quite as hard as everyone always said.

Also, toss me on the "Odin Sphere was decent for about the first character/play-through, when it wasn't running at the same frame rate as the original Myst" bandwagon.

[klausien]

Also, I don't get the Odin Sphere hate. Hating Odin Sphere is like hating pizza. Does not compute.

No way. Pizza is for everyone. Odin Sphere is truly polarizing. It was the overcomplicated and clunky item making BS that got to me personally. I just don't really like alchemy games I guess. Frame rate issues aside, I thought the game was beautiful, and had a terrific soundtrack by one of the best composers in the business.

I have Muramasa, but haven't put much time into it yet. If it has a similar system going on, I will end up stopping mid-game and getting rid of it. Once I hit about 25-ish, any kind of superfluous grinding or micromanagement began to turn me off immediately. It's too time consuming and much too much like the corporate slavery we call work.

Anyway, there have been some great recommendations in this thread, but my favorite side scrolling game with lite-RPG elements will now and forever be Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night. I also like the second DS game quite a lot (Order Of Ecclesia).

Though it's primarily a beat 'em up, Guardian Heroes on the Saturn and current gen systems is always a good time.

Oh, and play through the Japanese Exile 2 on Turbo CD with a walkthrough rather than torturing yourself with the ridiculously overpriced US version. The difficulty increase broke the game completely.

[davidbrit2]

Anybody have any good recommendations for handheld systems? Gameboy through iPhone, anything goes. (I think we all know about Castlevania, though.)

[old man]

There's Axe Battler for the Game Gear. Also, there was a gameboy port of
Battle of Olympus.

[retroman]

did anyone say Golden Axe Ax Battler..it had a lot of side scrolling

[Koa Zo]

Monster Tale for DS

[Daria]

Hah. I didn't know the OP had posted this topic. Saw the same request in the "Introduce Yourself" thread and sent her a PM. The only game I listed in the message that hasn't already been posted in this thread was Dragon View on the SNES. Shame though, because it's actually a pretty good side scrolling RPG.

[skaar]

I couldn't get over you not liking Zelda II.

[nothingisttrue]

friday the 13th for nes.