View Full Version : Great RPG's lost in the shuffle
EnemyZero
12-08-2004, 09:33 AM
ok guys im on rpg craze today....name some of the great rpg's that get lost in the shuffle amongst the FF's and dragonquests... 1 that comes to mind is Granstream saga for ps1...i believe thq made it...but i really loved it..and no one talks about it at all...another would be vandal hearts...in my opion much better than FF: tactics..but its still overlooked....name some more!
thehistorian
12-08-2004, 09:55 AM
Crystalis on NES
EnemyZero
12-08-2004, 10:02 AM
definitely....crystalis is a damn good game...plays alot like zelda, i think i may like it more than zelda as well
Beefy Hits
12-08-2004, 10:26 AM
PSX
Star Ocean 2
Thousand Arms
Grandia
PS2
Tsugami Atonement
Shadow Hearts and sequel
Avatard
12-08-2004, 10:58 AM
GBA: Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis
NES: Faxanadu, its more Castlevania II style though. A good game.
Gen: I can't remember the name of it, but it started with an O LOL
SNES: Lagoon was somewhat innovative, but your sword was the size of a toothpick. Its cheap and worth a look. Sitting to regen hp was kinda a drag at first, but I dont' mind it now after playing MMORPGs. Its no where near as good as the FFs or Mario SotSS, but hey its the only one I can think of that you don't see everyone mentioning.
segafan
12-08-2004, 11:05 AM
Sega Master System
-Govellius (more like an action RPG, but friggin great game)
Genesis
-Crusader of Centry (same as above)
-Beyond Oasis (a little hard to get into at first but a very rewarding game)
Game Gear
-Crystal Warriors (considering its age, it's almost on par with early shining force games)
Aussie2B
12-08-2004, 11:06 AM
THQ only published Granstream Saga. Some small Japanese developer made it. I don't think THQ has EVER made an RPG themselves. o_O I just got the game myself recently (on my quest to have every US-released PSX RPG). It gets a bad rap. It really doesn't seem too bad.
As for Vandal Hearts, I think it has a fair amount of popularity. Enough at least to have both a Saturn and PlayStation version of the original, a PlayStation sequel, and an upcoming title for PSP. So far we've been pretty fortunate to have them all localized. I wouldn't rank the first Vandal Hearts over FFT (but I would put it above FFTA), but it's still quite a nice strategy RPG. Too bad it's so aesthetically unpleasing, though. o_O
Cauterize
12-08-2004, 11:09 AM
Definately Beyond Oasis! (Or Story of Thor If your a PAL'er ;) )
AB Positive
12-08-2004, 11:19 AM
THQ only published Granstream Saga. Some small Japanese developer made it. I don't think THQ has EVER made an RPG themselves. o_O I just got the game myself recently (on my quest to have every US-released PSX RPG). It gets a bad rap. It really doesn't seem too bad.
I LOVE Granstream Saga. It's got a quirky battle system, and everyone is missing their face, but otherwise it's good stuff. I cried at the ending.
Wild Arms seems to not get enough due either. Possibly because WA2 wasn't as good as the original, but still.
-AG
mr_jiggles_13
12-08-2004, 11:25 AM
Unlimited Saga for PS2
everyone hates it, i love it.
Raedon
12-08-2004, 11:34 AM
Star Ocean 2 on the PS1 is looong and has one of the hardest boss battles of all time.
The Bard's Tale for the PS2 is going to be a huge sleeper.
goatdan
12-08-2004, 11:55 AM
Grandia for the PS1 and Grandia 2 for the PS2 / DC were both excellent games that tend to be overlooked by a lot of RPG fans.
WiseSalesman
12-08-2004, 12:27 PM
ROBOTREK for SNES. I still don't own this game, I want it so feaking bad. It's excellent, trust me.
udisi
12-08-2004, 12:38 PM
I second Robotrek, very fun game. Also
@WiseSalesman I have an extra cart only robotrek if you're interested
Cauterize
12-08-2004, 12:48 PM
Others i thought of
PS2- Dark Cloud
SAT- Dark Savior
SMS- Govellius
Jorpho
12-08-2004, 01:00 PM
PC
Anachronox
The Spirit Engine (http://tse.natomic.com)
Planescape: Torment
SNES
Live A Live
Earthbound ?
Avatard
12-08-2004, 01:04 PM
For PC I loved Darklands, simple 4 man dungeon adventure. With text based navigating and animated battles. Its never the same game twice, it seems almost endless, I've played it off and on for over 10 years and still find new things.
Also Betrayal at Kondor was pretty good. I need to go play that again.
Xantan the Foul
12-08-2004, 01:16 PM
Wizardry : Tales of the Forsaken Land (PS2)
Magic Pengel (PS2)
Promophile
12-08-2004, 01:20 PM
Earthbound. Talk about a missed opportunity.
Ed Oscuro
12-08-2004, 01:21 PM
So far it seems that the Shadow Hearts series is going unnoticed.
Daria
12-08-2004, 01:31 PM
Geez more RPG topics? *cracks her knuckles*
PlayStation:
ShadowMadness: Final Fantasy rip-off with the ugliest graphics I've ever seen for the PSOne. Saving Grace? The game's hilarious. Shadow Madness was, as far as I know, the only american made RPG for the system and was written by Ted Woosley (mostly known for his SNES era Square translations). He really does a brillent job of fleshing out what would otherwise be very cliché-ic characters. It's the same thing Raedon (I think it was him) was praising Bard's Tale about, humor. The game's script is just fucking funny.
Koudelka: Kinda the same vein as Parasite Eve, survival horror RPG. Not even remotley scary or anything, but the game does have some of the best character interaction I've ever seen in an RPG. Your lead is a psychic gypsy athesist, your companions? A devote Priest and an romantic aristocratic vagabound. Not exactly the most compatible bedfellows. LOL
Edit: Oh right. First of the Shadow Heart games.
Guardian Crusade: Cute little RPG, that really plays like a 3D version of something you'd buy for the SNES. Simple plot line, charming characters without a whole lot of depth. The actual gameplay though is fun and easy to get into. Random battles are virtually eliminated and the game only forces you to engage in combat until your characters are at an appopriate level after that you have to chase down the monsters if you want to fight. Brillant idea, and I wish more RPGs would use this system.
Bighab
12-08-2004, 02:02 PM
For the Genesis two of my favs are StarFlight and D&D Warriors of the Eternal Sun.
Jorpho
12-08-2004, 02:13 PM
Speaking of Genesis, how about Shining in the Darkness?
Also Betrayal at Kondor was pretty good. I need to go play that again.
I found this game with map and instructions the other day. Sounds damn good, havent tried it yet. some day.
As far as the topic consernd Everyone here needs to go out and pick up Shadow Hearts 1 and 2 there my favorite RPGs of this generation.
Mark III
12-08-2004, 03:00 PM
SNES:
Lufia II was a great game that hardly any one's played. The first Lufia was not bad either.
Illusion of Gaia was also a really good game but extremely linear.
Genesis:
Warsong was fantastic, I liked it just as much as shining force.
Sorceror's Kingdom is definately no shining force, but does the job if you need a tactics 'fix'.
XxMe2NiKxX
12-08-2004, 03:38 PM
[Insert Genesis RPG here]. They're all underrated. And they're all good.
Lord Contaminous
12-08-2004, 03:49 PM
Anything Tengai Makyo/Far East of Eden. Of course you gotta know Japanese for that.
Aswald
12-08-2004, 04:46 PM
CV Lord of the Dungeon. Why this game was never released by NAP is a mystery; it would've made them MILLIONS, and the sequels would have been even better.
Queston is another little gem. It was complex, and well designed.
izret101
12-08-2004, 05:19 PM
I say these ones all the time but Arcana and Lufai 2 for SNES.
Shadow Hearts i have to agree with too.
I don't know what RPGs are really considered that unnoticed because i know alot of them and people in know know alot of them too.
EDIT
Actually it could be said i know so few of them. which is probably more true than what i said.
I own a few of the NES RPGs that where mentioned.
Shadowgate on NES i heard was good too i havent played mine yet... i should really get around to playing more of my NES games.
Crystalis was an awesome game. I usually can't get into NES RPGs, but this game had me playing for hours on end. The Gameboy remake is so horrible, ugh.
Faxanadu and Willow were two other great games on the NES. Faxanadu is sort of a hybrid game, not exactly an RPG, maybe more of an adventure game. And Willow, wow! I was impressed. Once again, one of the few NES RPGs that I made it through.
Jorpho
12-08-2004, 06:18 PM
Also Betrayal at Kondor was pretty good. I need to go play that again.
I found this game with map and instructions the other day. Sounds damn good, havent tried it yet. some day.
Actually, Sierra released that legally as freeware back when Betrayal at Antares was coming out.
Say, no one's mentioned NES Magician yet.
EnemyZero
12-08-2004, 06:21 PM
vandal hearts on psp? i seen they are continueing the series on the DS according to a few sites but never seen anything for the psp
Lemmy Kilmister
12-08-2004, 07:31 PM
Anything Tengai Makyo/Far East of Eden. Of course you gotta know Japanese for that.
You sir have some great taste. 8-)Anyways, most of the games I wanted to post about have already been listed. So, Ummmmmmm... I guess i'll add the shin megami tensei/persona series to the mix.
SoulBlazer
12-08-2004, 08:09 PM
Yup, I'm late here and most of the good ones have been mentioned.....hmm......
Well, I always loved Draken and it's sequel for the SNES. ;)
FlufflePuff
12-08-2004, 08:10 PM
Soulblazer and 7th Saga were SNES RPGs I really enjoyed. I didn't like Illusion of Gaia much, but I really want to get a copy of Terranigma
Vroomfunkel
12-08-2004, 08:47 PM
It never ceases to amaze me that Buck Rogers : Countdown to Doomsday is not rated by, well, anyone really. I still think that it is one of the best RPGs I have played. I'd play it again any day.
Vroomfunkel
Berserker
12-08-2004, 09:02 PM
Also Betrayal at Kondor was pretty good. I need to go play that again.
I found this game with map and instructions the other day. Sounds damn good, havent tried it yet. some day.
Actually, Sierra released that legally as freeware back when Betrayal at Antares was coming out.
There's also a more complete CD rip of the game at Home of the Underdogs (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=116), which includes the original CD music, as well as an interview with Raymond Feist.
Dahne
12-08-2004, 09:14 PM
I remember Granstream Saga. Was quite fun. There were even some anime cutscenes in it. The only problem was
PEOPLE HAD NO EYES!!
That was freaky.
Jorpho
12-08-2004, 09:33 PM
Also Betrayal at Kondor was pretty good. I need to go play that again.
I found this game with map and instructions the other day. Sounds damn good, havent tried it yet. some day.
Actually, Sierra released that legally as freeware back when Betrayal at Antares was coming out.
There's also a more complete CD rip of the game at Home of the Underdogs (http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=116), which includes the original CD music, as well as an interview with Raymond Feist.
:hmm: No CD music in that one, last time I checked. AFAIK, the interview is the only difference between the freeware version and the released CD version.
Aren't the Buck Rodgers RPGs based on the same engine as all the other SSI Gold Box games?
Aussie2B
12-08-2004, 09:49 PM
vandal hearts on psp? i seen they are continueing the series on the DS according to a few sites but never seen anything for the psp
Ah, well, then that's probably it. I know it's one of those two new handhelds. :P
Aussie2B
12-08-2004, 09:52 PM
I remember Granstream Saga. Was quite fun. There were even some anime cutscenes in it. The only problem was
PEOPLE HAD NO EYES!!
That was freaky.
It's silly, but that's one of the main reasons I wanted to get it. :P We've been on a real King's Field (more overlooked RPGs) kick lately in my house, so I instantly made the comparison to King's Field's faceless people when I saw the people in Granstream Saga. They look so disturbing and weird that it's cool. o_O
Psycho Mantis
12-08-2004, 10:13 PM
what about legend of legaia and legaia 2? I don't know whether they were noticed by alot of people or not, but they're still great RPG's
izret101
12-08-2004, 10:21 PM
I love Legaia, i haven't played Legaia 2.
Berserker
12-08-2004, 10:33 PM
:hmm: No CD music in that one, last time I checked. AFAIK, the interview is the only difference between the freeware version and the released CD version.
Hmm, upon closer look it appears that you're right. Myself, I just use the freeware version that I got off from a PC Gamer CD years ago. :D
I guess it was this that led me to believe it did:
Note: Although the CD version is for sale for only $5 at E CD-ROM shop, it is the *cut-down*, "Sierra Classic" version that includes neither the interview with Raymond Feist nor the CD music. It also includes no manual :/ You are therefore advised to either go buy it somewhere else, or download our near-complete CD rip below.
A closer look reveals this:
Near-full CD-ROM version (includes interview with Raymond Feist and Windows hint file; missing CD music)
:/ meh, and here I was just about to put my crappy dialup bandwidth towards downloading it. ah well.
SoulBlazer
12-08-2004, 10:41 PM
I still have the CD of the game, WITH the music. I can either rip the tracks for you or copy the whole CD. Send me a PM if you're seriously interested. :)
EnemyZero
12-09-2004, 07:08 AM
everyone overlooks Arcus Oddyssey on genny, one of the best games released on the system, and one of my fav RPG's
Lemmy Kilmister
12-09-2004, 07:17 AM
vandal hearts on psp? i seen they are continueing the series on the DS according to a few sites but never seen anything for the psp
Ah, well, then that's probably it. I know it's one of those two new handhelds. :P
It's actually coming out for the DS, not the psp. The only rpg for the psp I can think of at the moment is the remake of Tales of Eternia.
NES Destiny of an Emporer. The magic spells all have Chinese names, which is frustrating at first. But it adds to the flavor of the game.
Jeff D
I'm an RPG fan and I have to say that I hated Granstream Saga. It rates as one of the worst RPGs of all of the bad RPGs that I've ever seen. LOL
Shadow Madness? I got alot of people who wanted more Final Fantasy 7 to play this game. It's almost a blatantly direct ripoff, and one of my favorites.
The Legaia games are nice for their unique martial arts attack system.
I bought The Bard's Tale two days ago and I have a feeling that it will become one of my favorites. A friend bought it on launch day and I was shocked to find that he traded it in asap. He didn't stick with it long enough to see how the summons system works or to see that you can re-enter previous "cleaned" areas and as you walk, monsters eventually respawn for level-up purposes. He should know better since he's also an RPGer.
:hmm: No CD music in that one, last time I checked. AFAIK, the interview is the only difference between the freeware version and the released CD version.
Hmm, upon closer look it appears that you're right. Myself, I just use the freeware version that I got off from a PC Gamer CD years ago. :D
I guess it was this that led me to believe it did:
Note: Although the CD version is for sale for only $5 at E CD-ROM shop, it is the *cut-down*, "Sierra Classic" version that includes neither the interview with Raymond Feist nor the CD music. It also includes no manual :/ You are therefore advised to either go buy it somewhere else, or download our near-complete CD rip below.
A closer look reveals this:
Near-full CD-ROM version (includes interview with Raymond Feist and Windows hint file; missing CD music)
:/ meh, and here I was just about to put my crappy dialup bandwidth towards downloading it. ah well.
Luckly I found the CD version so atleast it wasn't a total waste of money.
Mattiekrome
12-09-2004, 10:22 AM
Crystalis on NES
First game I thought of after reading the title of this thread... I loved that game! SNES Illusion of Gaia was pretty good as well (or so I remember, sorta easy though)
Tatsu
12-09-2004, 11:53 AM
I'd go for Dark Cloud and even better Dark Cloud 2 on the PS2. They are very action oriented but especially the second part of it has some nice side quests like inventing things, buildung the cities and taking pictures. It has a very warm atmosphere and I don't understand why so less people talk about it.
rbudrick
12-09-2004, 12:54 PM
Faxanadu,
Crystalis,
Legacy of the Wizard (pseudo RPG), but really anything in the Dragon Slayer series
Golvellius-SMS---I heard there's a sequel or something for this?
Wonder Boy III-Sort of an action game with RPG elements, imo.
Illusion of Gaia
Hydlide for NES...quirky as hell, but it grows on you. :-)
-Rob
Lady Jaye
12-09-2004, 01:03 PM
I second (or rather third) Shadow Hearts. Good RPG, went unnoticed when it was first released. The sequel got more publicity, though. However, Shadow Hearts is not perfect. The voice acting is godawful and the ring system is not very clearly explained in the manual. I don't know whether these were shortcomings corrected in the sequel, as I haven't played it yet.
It's weird, because we don't usually think of Midway as a RPG publisher...
I second (or rather third) Shadow Hearts. Good RPG, went unnoticed when it was first released. The sequel got more publicity, though. However, Shadow Hearts is not perfect. The voice acting is godawful and the ring system is not very clearly explained in the manual. I don't know whether these were shortcomings corrected in the sequel, as I haven't played it yet.
It's weird, because we don't usually think of Midway as a RPG publisher...
The voice acting was almost perfected in the sequal, great cast. As for the ring system it much easier and user frendly, if you cant hit it on practise ring your legally blind.
esquire
12-09-2004, 03:11 PM
Ditto on Planescape: Torment for the PC. That game is awesome but got overlooked somewhat by fans. Also awesome for the PC was Ice Wind Dale. Both these games were overshadowed by Baldur's Gate.
Gensesis
Traysia
Arcus Odyssey
Light Crusader
Dreamcast
Elemental Gimmick Gear
Record of Lodoss War
Berserker
12-09-2004, 04:01 PM
Ditto on Planescape: Torment for the PC. That game is awesome but got overlooked somewhat by fans.
That's odd, I seem to remember that game getting all sorts of accolades when it came out. I also heard about it from almost all of my friends who were RPG fans as well.
BigGeorgeJohnson
12-09-2004, 04:20 PM
It never ceases to amaze me that Buck Rogers : Countdown to Doomsday is not rated by, well, anyone really. I still think that it is one of the best RPGs I have played. I'd play it again any day.
Vroomfunkel
Yeah that was a great game. Probably the best rpg I've played on the genny.
Okage: Shadow King on PS2 is a great Rpg with Nightmare before Christmas type visual's and a darkly humorous storyline. Highly recommended, and it can be had on the cheap.
EnemyZero
12-09-2004, 08:08 PM
Vanguard Bandits is a great rpg thats usually overlooked....every once and a while a new game pops in my head lol
esquire
12-09-2004, 10:05 PM
Ditto on Planescape: Torment for the PC. That game is awesome but got overlooked somewhat by fans.
That's odd, I seem to remember that game getting all sorts of accolades when it came out. I also heard about it from almost all of my friends who were RPG fans as well.
Accolades from reviewers, overlooked by the public. Money talks. If it did so well, why wasn't there a sequel or expansion pack as with Baldur's Gate or even Ice Wind Dale? Both those games were released by Interplay, just as was Planescape, and Planescape and Ice Wind Dale were both developed by Black Isle Studios.
Daria
12-10-2004, 01:32 AM
Also awesome for the PC was Ice Wind Dale.
I'm actually taking a break from Icewind Dale at the moment, that game's freaking hard. I swear my current games going like: Die, reload, die, reload, kill a lizard, save! Die... :P
As for Planescape being overlooked. Baulder's Gate I bought brand new. Planescape I "found" in a economy package at Walmart.
I think it's pretty obvious which had the most press.
-hellvin-
12-10-2004, 01:55 AM
There's two great rpgs I remember from a long time ago that I think near no one have ever played. The first one is Shadows of Yserbius. Pretty basic and generic Wizardry style dungeon hack, but I had tons of fun with it. The other is not really an rpg, more of a platform action style game but, Zeliard, a great great game.
Luckly I found the CD version so atleast it wasn't a total waste of money.
It was most certainly not. Even though it's freeware it's worth it for 5 bucks. Probably my all time favorite game. Very, very deep. It feels more like you are within a story rather than playing a game. It also has an excellently written story. The music on the cd version is absolutely spectacular. The ONLY reason I didn't turn it on when I recently replayed in dosbox was because once it's done playing the track, it's OVER. Doesn't have a way to loop the track at all....so whenever you're visiting a town or reading the story the music will just END and it kinda kills the mood =\.