Reccomend an RPG I haven't beaten

[WiseSalesman]

Alright, for close to a year now, I have been on an anti-RPG kick. This is interesting when you consider that I used to classify RPGs as my favorite genre of video game. However, eventually there came a point where I wasn't happy just giving a command and watching my little character act it out. I wanted to DO the thing, I wanted to be part of the battle.

Well, during that period, I played through Devil May Cry, Metroid Prime, Maximo, Zelda: WW, Castelvania: COTM, Metal Slug, and Guardian Heroes. Now, thanks to the "What was the first RPG you played?" thread, I think I've finally gotten it out of my system, and my interest in RPGs has been rekindled.

Therein lies a problem, however...I don't have any new RPGs to play! So, I'm asking the people of this forum to reccomend an RPG I haven't played for me to pick up. Keep in mind that, being a college student, my budget is limited to around $50 (no Panzer Dragoon Saga for me!) and I'm only in Japanese 201, so my working knowledge of any language other than english is not developed enough to enjoy an RPG set predominantly in that language.

The systems I have available to play games are:
NES, SNES, Genesis, N64 (ha ha), PSX, PS2, DC, Saturn and GBA

Listed below are the RPGs I own and/or have beaten.

NES
Final Fantasy
Dragon Warrior
Magic of Scherezade

SNES
Final Fantasy 2
Final Fantasy 3
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Chrono Trigger
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire 2
Lufia
Lufia 2

PSX
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 9
Vagrant Story
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy Tactics
Parasite Eve
Saga Frontier (didn't beat it but...ugh)
Xenogears (see above)
Kartia: The World of Fate (see above)

DC
Grandia II

GBA
Final Fantasy Legend II

Games I am not interested in:
Anything from the Ultima series
Anything from the Earthbound series
Action-RPGs/Adventures (Zelda, Brave Fencer Musashi, Kingdom Hearts)....I'm looking for a more traditional turn-based rpg right now.

Whoo, what a long post. Sorry for all that. Anyway, thanks a lot for your help, I look forward to the suggestions of the posters here.

[Oobgarm]

Secret of Mana on SNES, or Shadowrun, also on SNES. I'm not an RPG fan, but I loved those two back in the day.

[WiseSalesman]

I'll take a look at Shadowrun (if i can find it).

I actually own and have beaten Secret of Mana. Agreed, it's a great game. I didn't list it because I consider it more an ActionRPG or Adventure game (whichever you want to call the genre). I put it in the same category with Zelda.

[Pantechnicon]

Final Fantasy Legend III for GBA (GB, actually).

Since you've already beaten FFL2 you might as well move on. FFL might be regarded as too rudimentary. FFL3 has a pretty huge world to it (including an underworld as well as time travel) and some spiffy weapons systems as well. Worth a look.

[kainemaxwell]

Phantasy Star 2-4

[Drexel923]

I'd say the first Grandia for PS...its much better than the second IMO. Or you could get the two Lunar games for PS which are really good.

[atomicthumbs]

Here you go!!!

This one is for PSone and I would list it as an RPG/Dating Simulator.
I absolutely love it and suggest you try it out!


THOUSAND ARMS

[atomicthumbs]

I'd say the first Grandia for PS...its much better than the second IMO. Or you could get the two Lunar games for PS which are really good.


But before you pick up Thousand Arms, take this guy's advice and play these two...


Lunar - Silver Star Story complete
Lunar - Eternal Blue complete

You would be doing yourself a favor. Trust me!

[1bigmig]

Id recommend Dragon Warrior 4 for the NES. Cart only usually runs about 35-40. It is worth it and time well spent.

Also recommended: Dragon Warrior 2, Dragon Warrior 3, and if you're looking for something a little different, cheaper - Time Stalkers for the Dreamcast. It wont blow you away, but I thought it was an enjoyable game.

[chadtower]

Mystaria/Blazing Heroes fo the Saturn was cool... how about Quest 64? I've always wanted to check that one out. What about the Zelda 64 games?

[SoulBlazer]

If you enjoy long periods of Japanese style anime, check out Xenosaga.

If you're a fan of 'old school' RPG's, check out Final Fantasy Orgins for the PSX and Legend of Legaia 2 for the PSX2.

The others suggested are very good choices also.

[petewhitley]

how about Quest 64? I've always wanted to check that one out.

I'm gonna assume that's a joke! :/ How about Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure for PS1. Unique, music-themed RPG. A little difficult to find, but definitely under $50.

[kainemaxwell]

Mystaria/Blazing Heroes fo the Saturn was cool... how about Quest 64? I've always wanted to check that one out. What about the Zelda 64 games?
Quest 64 sucks. All you do is run around and bop things with your staff and throw magic.

[atomicthumbs]

how about Quest 64? I've always wanted to check that one out.

I'm gonna assume that's a joke! :/ How about Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure for PS1. Unique, music-themed RPG. A little difficult to find, but definitely under $50.

I agree! Rhapsody was definately different, AND a lot of fun! But be sure to try Thousand Arms first. (if you haven't noticed already, I'm a huge fan of that game!)

[ghsqb]

What the hell?

Hey guys c'mon.

Go pick up Dark Cloud for the PS2.
Its a greatest hits title so its like 19.99 in the U.S. or something.

Its an RPG where you don't just give a command and watch your PC act it out on screen.
Its an RPG, AND you control the action.

Plus the completely unique (that I know of) weapon HP's which adds a fun new dimension to the game, and the atla/villiage recreation which is fun.

To see this many replies and have no one suggest Dark Cloud is disturbing.

(Preference for non-action style RPG's notwithstanding, this has enough other unique elements that make it worth the play IMHO)

Trust me, try this game and you will love it.

[Drexel923]

What the hell?

Hey guys c'mon.

Go pick up Dark Cloud for the PS2.
Its a greatest hits title so its like 19.99 in the U.S. or something.

Its an RPG where you don't just give a command and watch your PC act it out on screen.
Its an RPG, AND you control the action.

Plus the completely unique (that I know of) weapon HP's which adds a fun new dimension to the game, and the atla/villiage recreation which is fun.

To see this many replies and have no one suggest Dark Cloud is disturbing.

(Preference for non-action style RPG's notwithstanding, this has enough other unique elements that make it worth the play IMHO)

Trust me, try this game and you will love it.

Like you said, beside the fact that he isn't looking for action rpgs...Dark Cloud IMO is not worth anything more than a rent at most. Sure the world building thing is fun, but it was done a hell of a lot better in Actraiser. On top of that the dungeons are plain boring and repetitive. I wouldn't waste twenty dollars on it.

[hezeuschrist]

Dark Cloud 2 was supposed to be a much better game... but good lord people.

Suikoden
Suikoden II
Suikoden III

Mmmm... Suikoden. FFV Out of FF Anthology is a very good game as well.

[Nick Goracke]

Trying to stay at 30 or under...

Final Fantasy X - should be able to get this for around 20 bucks. Gameplay is perfectly balanced, there's some 50 hours of side-quests (in addition to 40 or so hours for the regular game), and the story is unique. Very good value.

Jade Cacoon 2 - should be able to get this for around 20 bucks, too. It's got the whole "monster raising" thing going, but used to good effect. There's a lot of strategy involved in your monster ring's formation (you bring up to 9 into battle with you, IIRC) and planning attacks. I'd recommend this as a "breath of fresh air", but since you've been out of the game for a while, maybe you should wait 'till you're burned out like me. ;)

Well... there's more, but you just need a start, right!

[Drexel923]

Dark Cloud 2 was supposed to be a much better game... but good lord people.

Suikoden
Suikoden II
Suikoden III

Mmmm... Suikoden. FFV Out of FF Anthology is a very good game as well.

Oh god, how could I forget those. Ok so here's my working list of games you should get that aren't action/rpgs:

Lunar SSSC
Lunar EB
Suikoden
Suikoden II
Grandia

Remember that this is a work in progress and shall be added to in the future. But please get these games listed above and you will be a hell of alot happier. :-D

[rbudrick]

I can't reccomend the Phantasy Star series enough.

Now if you want a challenging game that really, really, really sucks, try Ultima for the NES.

Or maybe Nobunaga's ambition....never played it but I hear it's a bitch, but rewarding.

I never played, but I hear it's really good: the Magic of Scheherezade for NES.

Oh, and it may not really count, but Shadowgate, Deja Vu (1 and 2), and the Uninvited are awesome....they are sort of RPGs....and if you like them, try Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom for NES...awesome game much like the Shadowgate types of games.

-Rob

[PDorr3]

If you own a ps2 and are looking for a traditional turn based rpg, definitly go with shadow hearts, a mature and dark rpg, VERY good game, underated also...

[Prismpunk]

Valkyrie Profile

[PDorr3]

I always wanted to try valkyrie profile, its loks like a pretty unique rpg, whats a good price i should pick it up for?

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Nobody mentioned the Y´s series!!!!

[hezeuschrist]

I always wanted to try valkyrie profile, its loks like a pretty unique rpg, whats a good price i should pick it up for?

I think $30 complete would be a reasonable deal. If you find it in EB or Gamestop they'll probably be asking $35, if you've got the 10% off and it's complete it's not a bad deal. It usually goes for about $50 on ebay though.

[WiseSalesman]

I always wanted to try valkyrie profile, its loks like a pretty unique rpg, whats a good price i should pick it up for?

I think $30 complete would be a reasonable deal. If you find it in EB or Gamestop they'll probably be asking $35, if you've got the 10% off and it's complete it's not a bad deal. It usually goes for about $50 on ebay though.

He's right, unfortunately. I've been looking for this game for awhile, and it always goes for huge bucks on ebay.

[PDorr3]

thanks ill keep a lookout for it. the battle system just seems to draw me to it...

[Blackjax]

I'll give a GREAT recomandation for the first two Suikodens... you'll pay a bit for them, but they are quite worth it.

(If you're one of the more... illicit gamers... PM me maybe we can work out a trade, but I'm still of the wholesale stance that these are woth tracking down as originals!)

I'm currently playing through Suikoden 3 and enjoying every minute of it (except fpr Thomas's adventures, thank god they're optional) and that's a good buy too.

Other RPGs That I've Enjoyed Completely:

PSX/PS2
Xenogears
Grandstream Saga
Wild Arms (far superioir to its sequals)
FFX
Chrono Cross

Older Systems
Breath of Fire 1 and 2
Earthbound
Super Mario RPG
Phantasy Star 2-4
Shining Force 1-2
Final Fantasy II/VI (depending on country)
Y's III
Chrono Trigger

HIGHLY OVERRATED
Final Fantasy III/VI - 30+ hours leveling up in the dinosaur forest does NOT make a good game. the story was good up until the World of Ruin, but all that fucking leveling up BLEW ASS.

[WiseSalesman]

HIGHLY OVERRATED
Final Fantasy III/VI - 30+ hours leveling up in the dinosaur forest does NOT make a good game. the story was good up until the World of Ruin, but all that fucking leveling up BLEW ASS.


Sorry, but I've got to disagree with you here. Final Fantasy 3 was an excellent game, although not quite as good as four. I don't know how to put this, but if you had to spend thirty plus hours levelling up in that game, maybe you just suck at rpgs. I had no problem going through the game without andy extra levelling, and beat it on my third try through the final dungeon.

Anyway, thanks for the other suggestions. I did play Granstream Saga, but it didn't hold my attention, really.

[BigBoogie]

I also reccomend the whole PS series. I know you didnt say you had a segaCD but if you do, try Vay,I would say its the most underrated RPG around.

[WiseSalesman]

Nah, unfortunately, I don't have a Sega CD yet, so it's a no go on Vay for now. I also want to play Popful Mail for that system, so I may have to pick one up sometime soon.

Anyway, I want to thank everyone for their help so far. I've taken the first step and have just oreder Unar: SSSC from an ebay seller for about $38 shipped. It's the collectors edition and includes all four discs, plus the cloth map, harbound book, and I hope to go the cardboard box (since it didn't occur to me to ask before bidding). Anyone know if I got a good deal?

Anyway, I figure this should keep me busy for a little while, and, if I put some effort into it, I can probably finish both the games I'm working on before it gets here (Metroid Prime - I just got the plasma beam, and Zelda:WW - I'm hunting down tri-force pieces). And now, I'm off to find someone to sell me valkyrie profile or rhapsody for a decent price. Thanks again, everybody, for all your help.