Need Help Getting Into A Good UNDERRATED Retro RPG

[Mr.Faxanadu]

Ok… so I recently finished Earthbound for the SNES and I loved it! I’ve been trying to get into a new RPG but can’t find one that holds my attention. Any suggestions for a good UNDERRATED or SLEEPER RPG for the SNES, Sega Gen or Turbo Graphic ????

I’ve tried all the classics and I’ve either finished them or am bored with them. Believe it or not, I’m ~10 hrs into Chrono Trigger and I’ve had enough :<
I recently got into Phantasy Star II for the Sega Gen and am also loosing patients (those dam towers are impossible to find your way in).

I hear Phantasy Star IV is the best in the series ???

I find that I enjoy those RPGs where its very hard to loose your objective (like having the hint guy in Earthbound that would always tell you what to do) Some times I have to leave the game for months at a time! Good music also helps.

Thanks


UPDATE - To sum it up, here are the games suggested. The brackets indicate how many times people suggested the game:

SNES - Lufia 2 (4)
SNES - Robotrek (2)
SNES - 7th Saga
SNES - Secret of Evermore
Genesis - Shining in the Darkness (3)
Genesis - Shadowrun (3)
Genesis - Phantasy Star IV (3)
Genesis - Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
Genesis - Beyond Oasis
Genesis - Crusader of Centy
Genesis - Landstalker
TG16 - Exile (2)
TG16 - Exile II (2)
TG16 - Cosmic Fantasy 2
TG16 - Ys Book I & II
TG16 - Neutopia
NES - Crystalis
Super Famicom (SNES?) - Live A Live (2)

This is a great list for someone looking for a new "sleeper" RPG that they may have overlooked.

Thanks

[s1lence]

Shining in the Darkness on the Genny.

[Jibbajaba]

I couldnt get into Shining in the Darkness so much. If ou don't mind playing a space/sci-fi RPG, grab "Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday" on the Genesis. REALLY REALLY great game.

Chris

[hydr0x]

Lufia (aka Lufia 2 in the US) for the SNES

[sega-trader]

Beyond Oasis or Shadowrun on the genesis. I don't know if you would call either a sleeper, but both are really good.

[Mr.Faxanadu]

WoW :D These are some great titles !! I've never played any of these! please keep the list going !

[FantasiaWHT]

Grab PS IV

Not only are the dungeons more reasonable, there's a built in tip function where you "talk" to your party members and they will remind you what you are supposed to be doing.

[MegaDrive20XX]

Yes PSIV is awesome and the best

Crusader of Centy for Genesis is another good one

Lufia for SNES which was mentioned, is another great choice

Turbo GrafX? EXILE, EXILE II and Cosmic Fantasy 2

*pours a 40oz for my dead homie Working Designs*

[Ed Oscuro]

If ou don't mind playing a space/sci-fi RPG, grab "Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday" on the Genesis. REALLY REALLY great game.
Old Pool of Radiance engine game. Opinions on this one are split, really, with most people saying the engine's too primitive. I've yet to try to get into it in any depth...

[Jibbajaba]

If ou don't mind playing a space/sci-fi RPG, grab "Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday" on the Genesis. REALLY REALLY great game.
Old Pool of Radiance engine game. Opinions on this one are split, really, with most people saying the engine's too primitive. I've yet to try to get into it in any depth...

I agree that it has a primitive engine, but the gameplay is good, the story is good, the variety of weapons and races is good, the fighting system is (in my opinion) good, so who cares? I've never heard or read anyone say that it is a bad game. On the contrary I always find that die hard RPG players always seem to agree with me that it is an excellent game.

In regards to PSIV, Is it OK if I haven't played the previous 3 PS games? Is it like FF where there is no continuous story line? I have PS III and IV but have yet to play them.

Chris

[drwily008]

I agree that Phantasy Star IV is the best in the series, definitely recommended.

I know I'll catch some flack for suggesting it but, I really like 7th Saga for the SNES. The characters are great, the way each of the characters can be picked at the beginning with completely different motives and attributes. Later in the game you can choose to take an ally on your quest and some don't like you and will try to fight you, some aren't convinced you are worth traveling with (yet), and some just think you are great and join up ASAP!

[Jorpho]

Live A Live is swell, but you'll probably have to emulate it; it was only released for the Super Famicom and has since been translated by fans.

[Cryomancer]

Robotrek and Secret of Evermore for SNES, although a lot of people on the internet seem to hate those. I love em.

There really needs to be less high-fantasy RPGs. Modern, Scifi, and mixed stuff like phantasy star and shadowrun are all awesome settings as well damnit.

[roushimsx]

Cyber Knight (http://www.fantasyanime.com/legacy/cyberkabout-main.htm) and its sequel may be what you're looking for.

[shoes23]

Beyond Oasis or Shadowrun on the genesis. I don't know if you would call either a sleeper, but both are really good.

I'll second Shadowrun for the Genesis. Great game with a unique and fun cyberspace aspect, and for the most part it is pretty opened ended on what you want to do next. However, they included a "pocket secretary", so if you get lost or forgot what to do next, you can just browse over your old files.

[Trebuken]

Couple:

Neutopia - TG-16 (Zelda clone)
Landstalker - Genesis (It'll drive you crazy)

I could second alot of the others mentioned above too:
Shining in the Darkness
Exile I, Exile 2
Shadowrun (maybe, it's a bit different)

Later,
Trebuken

[klausien]

If you want to take on some lighter fare, do yourself a huge favor and play through Ys Book I & II on the TurboGrafx. It is very simplistic and hasn't necessarily aged all that well (soundtrack is still killer), but it is well worth the time and effort. While you're at it, you might want to go through Ys III. THAT is a game I would call underrated.

[kainemaxwell]

I agree that Phantasy Star IV is the best in the series, definitely recommended.

I know I'll catch some flack for suggesting it but, I really like 7th Saga for the SNES. The characters are great, the way each of the characters can be picked at the beginning with completely different motives and attributes. Later in the game you can choose to take an ally on your quest and some don't like you and will try to fight you, some aren't convinced you are worth traveling with (yet), and some just think you are great and join up ASAP!
Only problem with 7th Saga is its really high difficulty level.

Suggesting PSIV, the Lufia series and perhaps Paladin's Quest. And you can play PSIV without having played the pervious 3, events and items from the other games are explained as the story progresses.

[FantasiaWHT]

Yeah you can definitely hop right into PS4. You'll miss a couple of references (cake!) but all the stuff you actually need to know is reiterated and explained very well.

Shining in the Darkness is one of the best labyrinth games I've ever played. Those dungeon mazes are KILLER.

Your first foray into the dungeon, alone, all by yourself, is so intimidating hehe.

Cosmic Fantasy 2 came out for the Sega CD, too, didn't it?

[WiseSalesman]

Just popping in to second Robotrek. It's a fantastic game.

[Snapple]

I have to second Live a Live. It's absolutely fantastic.

The only way you can play it though if you don't know Japanese is with the fan translation.

If you feel bad about emulating a game that you don't own, buy it off eBay or something first, then download it.

But it's really quite amazing. I'm not totally sure why a Squaresoft RPG was never ported Stateside, but maybe it has to do with some of the mature themes in it.

You it's basically many small RPGs set in different time periods that you can tackle in any order you like. They're all very different for great variety in playstyle. Like the ninja chapter where you play a lone ninja who must navigate a large maze-like fortress and kill an entire ninja army. Or the robot level where you have to solve a murder mystery in the future. Or the wild west chapter where you set up goofy traps to try and put the slip on some bandits. Or the present day wrestler who ends up fighting a clear ripoff of Hulk Hogan. Then, when you beat all of them, everything comes together for the final two chapters in the middle ages.

It's pretty wild, good stuff.

[2Dskillz]

Lufia was wonderful. I agree that you need to give it a try.

I only played part one though and I can not vouch for part 2

If you feel like going back to the NES, Crystalis is one of my favorite RPGs. And is really worth a try. (note: this is an action RPG over the head zelda style)

[Mr.Faxanadu]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've spent some time this weekend getting into Shawdowrun for the Genesis and Phantasy Star IV and am loving both. Thanks again :)

To sum it up, here are the games suggested. The brackets indicate how many times people suggested the game:

SNES - Lufia 2 (4)
SNES - Robotrek (2)
SNES - 7th Saga
SNES - Secret of Evermore
Genesis - Shining in the Darkness (3)
Genesis - Shadowrun (3)
Genesis - Phantasy Star IV (3)
Genesis - Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
Genesis - Beyond Oasis
Genesis - Crusader of Centy
Genesis - Landstalker
TG16 - Exile (2)
TG16 - Exile II (2)
TG16 - Cosmic Fantasy 2
TG16 - Ys Book I & II
TG16 - Neutopia
NES - Crystalis
Super Famicom (SNES?) - Live A Live (2)

[XianXi]

I always liked Swords & Serpents for NES

[AB Positive]

While not quite an RPG, I always like to recommend Starflight on the Genny. Good lord, one of the best space sci-fi style games ever.

I'll second these as well:

Landstalker
Shining in the Darkness
Robotrek


all quality rpg titles. PSIV isn't really underrated, but if you haven't played it, give it a shot!

-AB+

[Teknik_SE-R]

good list, but I dont see secret of mana or EVO anywhere. neither of them are really underrated, but both enjoyable. mana is like chrono imo and EVO is in a world of its own.

[Jorpho]

Well, if you consider Live-a-Live to be a viable option, Treasure Hunter G (the last Super Famicom RPG that Square published) is good fun as well.