What's the Shortest RPG you've ever played?

[Swamperon]

Ah I loved Rhapsody, it was really a bit crap but it was wonderful, humorous crap that didn't take itself seriously.

If you speed through it, the Pokemon games can be beaten pretty quickly. Chrono Trigger is kinda short but it's paced excellently and never outstays it welcome unlike say, Tales of Symphonia. Dragon Force can be beaten under 20 hours but unlikely on your first playthrough. Sonic Chronicles is rather short (and dull).

Azure Dreams could theoretically be beaten under 2 hours (or maybe even 1) but it would take an extraordinary amount of luck.

[Jisho23]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzSOKi_t5fg

[carlcarlson]

Fable. I was pretty surprised when it was over in 9 hours.

Morrowind can also be beaten in a few hours if you know where to go. There are some "super arrows" that can be used to defeat the final boss without going through all of the main quest missions.

[ConsoleAddict]

Some people might not consider it a true RPG but Cadash is probably the shortest RPG-type game around. It featured a typical RPG story-line, hit points and buying new equipment for your character so it did have some elements of the genre.

Of course, Cadash first appeared in the arcades courtesy of Taito and then the TG-16 and Genesis.

[Richter Belmount]

Shortest rpg? Your mom

[Rickstilwell1]

Final Fantasy Legend 1 on Gameboy took me about 6 hours the first time I played it. However, I had already played and beaten FFL 2 and FFL 3 a couple of times each.

Secret of Evermore for SNES took less than 10 hours the first time through.

Legend of Zelda 1 on NES took less than 5 hours the first time through.

Of course, my first time playing any of these wasn't until I was in my 20s. I imagine that they would have taken much longer if I had bought them in my youth when I had much less RPG experience.

I can beat Zelda 1 in 80 minutes. It's up on youtube, username Rickstilwell1.

Also Dragon Warrior 1 took me 16 hours (2 sittings) then Faxanadu can also be completed in 1 sitting.

Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance can be beaten in 1 sitting. X-Men Legends 1 & 2 + Marvel Ultimate Alliance can each take a couple of days though as they are a bit longer than BGDA.

[Zama]

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest for the SNES was kinda quick to go through in my experience.

[shopkins]

The shortest one I've ever played is Metal Saga for the PS2, with a special condition that can end the game in about five minutes. At the beginning of the game after a cutscene you're given a choice of whether you want to go on an adventure or stay at home and be a mechanic. If you choose to stay at home and be a mechanic you - stay at home and be a mechanic. That's it, game over, credits roll. It's pretty hilarious.

One of the shortest I've played through is Sudeki for the Xbox. It's easily under 20 hours and you could probably do it around 10 or 15 if you don't follow sidequests. Good game, though, except for the fact that it seems like they ran out of time and the last mission just comes up very abruptly.

[Arkhan]

does Ultima 1 for PC count? I can beat that in like, 3 hours.

Also: Hydlide 1 is short.

and I also think FF4 is short as hell once you know what to do.

[Jisho23]

and I also think FF4 is short as hell once you know what to do.

Almost any RPG is short(er) once you know what to do. FFII/IV can't be that short... there's way to much dialog to sift through.

[Natty Bumppo]

Twisted Tales of Spike McFang is very short IIRC.

You can also whip through Gemfire (if you consider it an rpg) very quickly.

[The_Chosen_One]

I distinctly remember Beyond Oasis being extremely short, like 5-7 hours.

[PresidentLeever]

A short one that hasn't been mentioned is Surging Aura. Around 10 hours on my first time through.

Fallout 1 & 2 can also be extremely short if you know what to do. Like under 30 minutes!

Link to the Past took me about 5 hours the last time I played it, which was the second time I beat it. The first time through took over a month :P About 10 years passed in between those playthroughs though.

[NCN]

FF Mystic Quest. My second favorite game of all time, but definitely the shortest.

[Blitzwing256]

Disgeaa can be beaten in under an hour (you can get an ending losing to midboss)

heroes of the lance can be beaten in under 6 minutes if you know exactly where to go and get lucky jumping over the dragon hatchlings in the last section.

[CastlevaniaDude]

Quest for the Crown

But the payoff is SO worth it.
http://www.lanceandeskimo.com/flash/quest.html

[Wraith Storm]

Quest for the Crown

But the payoff is SO worth it.
http://www.lanceandeskimo.com/flash/quest.html

That was unexpectedly hilarious and FREAKIN' awesome!
Thanks for sharing. Oh and The Adventures of Pete and Pete rules!

I would have to say the shortest RPGs that I have played would be the first Arc the Lad. I clocked like 11 or 12 hours my first time through.

Suikoden was just shy of 20 my first play.

Next would be Panzer Dragoon Saga. My first time through I clocked like 24 hours and had done near EVERYTHING you could do in the game. I'm sure had I not sought out the final Dragon Form and done all the secrets and side quests that I could have shaved 6 or 7 hours off that time.

I also remember the first Shadow Hearts being pretty short. I'm too lazy to look at my memory card but I believe it was 25-ish hours when my girlfriend and I played through it.

[kupomogli]

heroes of the lance can be beaten in under 6 minutes if you know exactly where to go and get lucky jumping over the dragon hatchlings in the last section.

I wouldn't call this an RPG, but yeah, this game is short. I'd say 10-20 minutes if you already know where to go and not trying to speed run it. I think my first time playing I finished it in an hour or so.


and I also think FF4 is short as hell once you know what to do.

I actually think this was my first really short RPG that showed you the time. Other than Dragon Quest which was probably 10 hours of straight grinding, this game actually had content and was 10-11 hours the first time I played.

The original Final Fantasy can't be that long even if it's your first time. I have no idea how long it took my first time but I'm a huge fan of the game and can regularly get through it in five hours now. Probably took 10 hours my first time but since it didn't show any time I have no idea.

Ogre Battle March of the Black Queen. Enter the name FIRESEAL. Dragon's Haven is the only stage when entering the name and you get an ending after finishing. The game is amazing so I'd recommend also completing the game regularly.

Then there's Suikoden. Really short including getting all the stars if you know what to do, but the first time I played it was maybe 10 hours. I didn't get everything first time I've played.

You can go to the last boss on SaGa Frontier with Lute as soon as you start the game, so you only need to get some good characters and a little powered up in order to beat him.

Guadia Quest on Retro Game Challenge took me around five hours.

[Aussie2B]

Nice topic deserving a bump. I should use this as a buying/playing guide. :P

Sounds like I took slightly more time with Rhapsody than others, but then again I did some optional stuff as well. I think I had around 12-14 hours, but still short either way.

I think my new shortest, though, would be Arcana. From what I remember, I don't think the game has an in-game clock, but I sincerely doubt I spent more than 10 hours on it. Granted, I "cheated" a little bit using the Nintendo Power maps to find the most efficient way to traverse the dungeons, but considering the same maps are in-game (except you have to fill them in as you move), I doubt I saved that much time.

[Sniderman]

I can't believe I'm first.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2uf7gbn.jpg

[Arkhan]

Almost any RPG is short(er) once you know what to do. FFII/IV can't be that short... there's way to much dialog to sift through.

It all depends how fast you read.


I can speed read, so I blow through text really fast. lol

[kupomogli]

I can't believe I'm first.

http://i36.tinypic.com/2uf7gbn.jpg

*turns on Half Minute Hero. Plays a couple minutes. Credits roll.*

I beat the game!

[old_skoolin_jim]

Arc 1 (10 hrs at completion)
Crusader of Centy (4-6 hours depending on how many times you kart race)
Zelda 1, 3 (1: a couple hours, 3: 4-8 depending on how fast you are and how much you like to shovel/cut shrubs)
Phantasy Star 4 can also be finished in 10-15 hours, but it remains one of my favorite RPGs OF ALL TIME!
...just sayin'.
*shrug*

[Shellshock!]

Rolan's Curse, 1:30 hours.

[Arkhan]

Ultima 0: Akalabeth, less than an hour.

[Daria]

Guardia Quest :p

[ScourDX]

Half minute Hero no doubt. Gurumin monster Adventure was short as well.

[Daria]

Half minute Hero no doubt. Gurumin monster Adventure was short as well.

Wait! Wario ware had an rpg segment right?