Other RPGs/Games

[Nique]

I was in EB today (i know, i know) and was looking over some of the used games.

I've been raised on Final Fantasy in my gaming life, so their are very few kinds of games that appeal to me. I don't play sports titles, racers, FPS, or platforms (except for some specific titles like Mario or Sonic games) and if an RPG differs too much from FF, I can barely stand it, although I am trying to branch out a bit.

I was thinking of playing Dragon Quest VIII, Star Ocean: Till the end of Time, Grandia III, or one of the Suidoken games.

I know very little about any of these, accept that some/all of them are made by square-enix.

My questions are;
1) Are any of those games worth my time? Star Ocean; is it any good, and if so, should I play the other Star Ocean's first? Same question for Dragon Quest.

2) What is your 'gaming style', or rather ' what genre do you tend to stick to, and how strongly?'

[Krylo]

1) DragonQuest VIII will EAT YOUR SOUL, and you will enjoy every goddamn minute of it.

Also, Suikoden rocks. I've not played Star Ocean, though.

2) Gaming Style: Very intellectual, though with a good mix of pure reflexes. Instead of just 'getting better' at a game, I'll often devise ways to give myself unfair advantages (or I'll just devise ways to give myself unfair advantages anyway), see FF8 thread for proof.

Genre: Anything but sports games, but I'll even play those on occassion. I'm an all around gamer. RPGs, Action, Adventure, Shooters, RTS, even some FPS games (though FPS tends to make me motion sick unless it's on a computer). You name it, I play it.

[Robert Paulson]

I was thinking of playing Dragon Quest VIII, Star Ocean: Till the end of Time, Grandia III, or one of the Suidoken games. Are any of those games worth my time?

I wouldn't know about Grandia nor Suikoden for I've never played those series, but are DQ8 and Star Ocean worth your time? Hell yes they are! These titles, as well as FF10, are the best Japanese RPGs to come out this decade.

And my gaming style? I play anything, so long as it's fun and I can figure out how to play it, but there are some games I inherently dislike. One, I hate all fighting games. I have never, ever liked Street Fighter nor Mortal Kombat nor Super Smash Bros. nor anything like that. Two, I don't like sport sims either. Only exception is Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 through 2006. Those are fun. Three, anything 'realistic' is an automatic turnoff. The more life-like a game is, the more I'm going to hate it. Except for those, I'll play any genre you can think of. So long as the game is fun. And if I can figure out the controls and the gameplay mechanics.

[Death Dealer]

Grandia - Go for it, just know that the story is a wee bit cliched. (No, I can't put the accent over the E.)

Suikoden - 3 and 5 are supposedly good, STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM 4. Every review I saw for it said it was pretty much a steaming pile of crap.

Star Ocean - Expect Difficulty spikes and backtracking. Not too bad though. Invention System for time consumption.

Dragon Quest - Krylo is correct. Soul eatery ahead.

My gaming style? If fun, play. I don't play sports games much, but I've been known to play a kickass game of football from time to time. I also tend to gravitate towards RPGs and Strategy (real time AND turn based), but will play any.

[Mondt]

Star Ocean: 'Til the End of Time was a pretty good game, I liked the real-time battles. The story wasn't my favorite, though.

The rest, haven't played,

Gaming style: I'll do platformers, RPGs, TBS, RTS, Blitz Football (nearly any version, best at 1998), Adventure, and FPS, but with FPS, I get bored if I'm not doing the story or online. Those stupid bots start to get boring fast...

[Mr. Viewtiful]

I've never played Grandia 3, but I've played Grandia 2 on the Dreamcast, and it's awesome. Sure, the story's a bit predictable, but the combat system rocks all over. The best thing is, you can get it for a couple dozen bucks tops for the PS2 as well as the Dreamcast.

If Grandia 3 is anything like its prequel, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. You should do the same.

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

The Suikoden series is my favorite RPG series, so I's always recommend that. Play then in numerical order and you'll be well treated. I starts of midly fun with a large story and some good characters. Then II dumps you into one of the largest and richest worlds I've ever seen in a game where nearly everything is perfect. III is likewise rich and continues the story. IV I haven't finished. And V harks back to I and II with 3D models running on a plane like sprites (and like I, a huge story). So yeah...I suggest the whole Suikoden line if you can get it. Suikoden I and II can go up towards 70 bucks, but its worth it (scour GameStops and you can usually find Suikoden I for 40 and Suikoden II for 50).

Dragon Quest VIII is simply the bestof the previous Dragon Quest games, put into a 3D, Cel Shaded, Chrono Trigger world. That should be all you need to know to want to buy it.

[mammothtank]

I've heard nothing but good reviews of Suikoden as a series, and Grandia III should be pretty cool if it's anything like II. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time kinda disappointed me though; that battle system style is done much better in Tales of Symphonia. You definitely can't go wrong with DQ8 though.

[Bells]

Let me jsut tell you this... if you like RPG's like final fantasy that much, any game with fun gameplay and nice customization can appeal to you if you give it a chance...

Try any of theses games:

Front Mission 3 or 4, lapuccelle Tatics, Disgaea 1 and 2, Nanco Vs Capcom

Also Ridge Racer and Gran Turismo on the racing department can be good for ya... i dont suggest Need For Speed Though...

Games like Siren, Fatal frame 1 and 2, Resident evil 4, even Silent Hill 3 or 4 can also be a nice change of style

Try a few different games around... and then hit you favorite genres... makes the experience that much more fresh, and you just might find something new that you like...

[Mirai Gen]

I have this strange affliction - I can't stand gaming where there are random encounters. Hell, the only reason I beat FFX was because my roommate and I switched off when we got bored. I was able to whip up Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, though, as well as Super Mario RPG.

I usually stick to action games and computer FPS games, and I've always loved MMOs. RPGs are a select few - when I can find ones that don't irk the shit out of me (Kingdom Hearts I/II style action-RPGs, among), I stick to them closely, desprate to find the end.

My mainstream, though, is Fighting Games. Nothing thrills me more than being beaten at Soul Calibur, Guilty Gear, Street Fighter, Smash Bros., etc, because it means I have a goal to reach.

[greed]

Agree with DQ8 being the best RPG of the 00s so far.
You said you're raised on FF and if it deviates too much from that you don't really like it right?

Well if we're talking early FFs, you will LOVE DQ8.
If we're talking 7 up, it could be a bit of a gamble.
Because it isn't really anything new, just a perfection of older mechanics combined with STUNNING visuals, brilliant artistry, an incredible level of detail(check out the book shelves, you'll see what I mean, everything has an individual animation, both weapons and shields are represented out of battle, no beginning sword and shield appearing everywhere out of battle, no matter what you have equipped.) and great (if you don't mind a lot of British voices) VA.
However if you're looking for FF style High Melodrama story, you'll be a little disappointed, DQ8 is barebones pulp fantasy in that regard. It's also a LOT lighter than the main FF games.

As for my gaming style, Action, RPGs(both American and Japanese, though mostly Jap), Platformer,the "wierd Japanese games" genre that Pikmin 2 and Katamari fall in, and Stealth. Good at Mario Kart and Smash Bros as well.

[Solid Snake]

Suikoden 1 was amazing. Suikoden 2 was even better -- it was my second favorite RPG of all time.

Suikoden 3 wasn't quite as great as 2, but it was on par with 1, and it had a few neat plot twists near the end of the game. But I sure missed how so many of 1's characters repeated (and were further developed) in 2. And the graphical change was a little jarring at first -- didn't feel as much of an improvement.

Suikoden 4 wasn't a giant steaming pile of crap, but it's by far the most mediocre of the series. Still found it better than many other RPGs I've played though.

Suikoden 5 was good -- not as good as 1-3, though a step back in the right direction IMO.

Dragon Quest VIII is amazing and I really thoroughly enjoyed it despite disliking DW5 and DW7. If you're a bit of a graphics whore like me, the new graphics engine with DQVIII really does improve the game significantly -- it makes the old DW system more tolerable and actually downright fun. And there's actually really great character development this time around. I approve, and would say it's my second favorite RPG of the 00's.

Xenogears, which you didn't list, is one of my favorite RPGs of all time too, and I would be loathe not to thoroughly recommend it to you. Disc 2 kind of stinks in comparison to the sprawling epic goodness that is Disc 1, and the plot kind of gets crazy after a while. But it's still awesome. Top-notch characters and character development, rich storyline, great battle sequences.

I would not recommend the Grandia series, but that's a personal thing, they just haven't rubbed me right.

And I've never played any of the Star Oceans.

But damn, typing all this really reminds me of just how strong the PS1 lineup of RPGs truly was. Some of the better Final Fantasies (before S-E got crazy with all their pathetic sequels and mass merchandizing.) Some of the best non-FF RPGs too (Xenogears and Suikoden 2, two of my three favorite RPGs of all time, immediately jump to mind.)

I'd take the PS1 RPG lineup over the PS2 RPG lineup anyday -- or any of the other current-gen systems, too. The PS1 really rocked. The SNES had Chrono Trigger and FFVI, but the PS1 had nearly everything else worth writing home about in the RPG department.

[[ray.z]]

I myself tend to prefer RPG's as well. I ain't really sure why.

As a kid I grew up playing platformers like Super Mario Bros., and my all time favourite one was this Flinstones game on the NES. Sadly, since I was five, I nver finished either (I really should one day).

As I got older I played the NES till I finally convinced my parents to get me an N64. The reason - Super Smash Bros.! And that's the only fighting game I'll probably ever enjoy. Reason being my cousins had a PS1, and since I was five years younger than them they usually destroyed (and quite often with no remorse) on all their games (specially fighting games :().

Also, I really dislike sports games - the only one that I really enjoy is in fact Mario Tennis (cause it's a Mario game).

So somewhere in there is a reason for me to like RPG's. I think it was sometime after I got a Pokemon game :sweatdrop.

But Super Mario RPG and LoZ: Minish Cap are mad.

[gurusloth]

Grandia III is pretty good. I guess there are aspects of it that some people might find annoying. So here's the good and bad:

Good:
-Combat is very fun, probably one of the most fun battle engines in an RPG I've ever played.
-No random encounters! All the enemies can be seen wandering around the maps and you can avoid them (sometimes - they do chase you).
-Very nice character graphics and spell effects. It makes you want to try out new spells just to see what they look like.

Bad:
-Very linear story progression. You get the ability to fly around later in the game, but you can't actually land anywhere you haven't already been until the story requires it.
-The story itself is kinda cliche. The story for Grandia II was much better, you should play that one too.
-Not a huge variety in monsters, it can get a bit dull fighting the same 5 enemies in the same dungeon again and again.
-Almost no puzzle solving to speak of. I guess if you hate puzzles, then you'd like that, but I find a puzzle every once and a while helps break up the constant pattern of fight-fight-fight-plot-fight-fight-fight-BOSS-plot.

So there you have it. Personally, I'd love to see a Final Fantasy game with the Grandia battle engine. That'd be, like, the best RPG ever. Until then, play Grandia III.

[Arlia Janet]

Grandia III is pretty good. I guess there are aspects of it that some people might find annoying. So here's the good and bad:

Good:
-Combat is very fun, probably one of the most fun battle engines in an RPG I've ever played.
-No random encounters! All the enemies can be seen wandering around the maps and you can avoid them (sometimes - they do chase you).
-Very nice character graphics and spell effects. It makes you want to try out new spells just to see what they look like.

Bad:
-Very linear story progression. You get the ability to fly around later in the game, but you can't actually land anywhere you haven't already been until the story requires it.
-The story itself is kinda cliche. The story for Grandia II was much better, you should play that one too.
-Not a huge variety in monsters, it can get a bit dull fighting the same 5 enemies in the same dungeon again and again.
-Almost no puzzle solving to speak of. I guess if you hate puzzles, then you'd like that, but I find a puzzle every once and a while helps break up the constant pattern of fight-fight-fight-plot-fight-fight-fight-BOSS-plot.

So there you have it. Personally, I'd love to see a Final Fantasy game with the Grandia battle engine. That'd be, like, the best RPG ever. Until then, play Grandia III.

You forgot to mention that you want to murder almost every character you meet. Then get Alfina again for good measure.

[gurusloth]

That's implied, albeit vaguely, under the 'cliche plot' point.

[Mauve Mage]

If you haven't figured it out by now, Dragon Quest 8 is pure awesomeness crammed into a disk.

PROS:
*Nice graphics; the cell-shaded animation is a really nice touch.
*Voice Acting: All of the main characters have great voice actors. Some of the less-important characters' voices are sometimes less-than-stellar (Morrie, for example, with his on-and-off Itallian accent and slight pause every time he says "ragazzo") but all in all, very nice job.
*Decent character development: You actually LIKE the characters. They all have their own little backstory that continues to play into the main plot as the story goes on.
*LOTS to do: The world is huge; you can leave the main road and just wander around the world map looking for treasure and monsters, and you won't get bored or run out of ground to cover. There are always little sidequests to do, items to synthesize, optional cutscenes to find... This game, as Krylo said, will devour your soul, and you will like it. Even if you keep your sidequesting at a minimum, the story itself spans over 80 hours of gameplay.

CONS
*Frusterating at the beginning: It's hard at first; there are no Phoenix Downs until at least a third through the game, and then you can only hold one at a time. Reviving dead characters costs money, and when you start the game as a weak little weakling, you run out of money very easily. Plus, if your entire party is wiped out, you lose half of your gold. This frustration doesn't last long, though.
*Leveling Madness: Towards the end of the game, you have to spend more and more time leveling up your party. That can get annoying after a while.

[ElfLad]

I recommend Tales games, but if you have a Gamecube, I recommend Symphonia over Legendia.

Although I have very different tastes. I could not get into FF7 or FF10 at all.

[Dwarfburg citizen]

I cant believe no one here has mentioned Skies of Arcadia. If you want likeable characters this is a gold mine! Its basically the best RPG I have ever played. You can probably get it for about ten dollars and If you dont have a GC, last I saw them Used gamecubes were like 50 dollars.

[Toastburner B]

I haven't played the Grandia series at all, or the Suikodens.

I tried Star Ocean: Till the End of Time...but I just couldn't get into it. But I've found that overall I don't tend to like action RPGs. I could get into Radiata Stories for the same reason. The only RPG with an "action" combat system I've liked so far is Tales of Symphonia.

If you're looking for RPGs, I heartily recommend the Shadow Hearts series. Shadow Hearts is an old game, and it shows...really, really shows. The graphics are very basic (it is my understanding it was originally slated as a PS1 game, but got bumped up to a PS2 game). It doesn't have very much voice acting (only for a select few scenes), but the voice acting is perfectly described as "campy" (you haven't lived in you've heard Sea Mother's ghost story...the VA is just like if you were telling it to a bunch of Cub Scouts or something). I love the combat system, though. The first time I played it, the first thing that crossed my mind was “It’s like Legend of Dragoon’s combat system…except it works!” It made be hard to find, but if you're getting into the Shadow Hearts series, I really would suggest playing through Shadow Hearts so you can get the full impact of the next game.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant is the direct squeal to the first game, and it is an absolute gem. Good graphics, good voice acting, and a good bit of humor to help balance the moody storyline, with an upgraded combat system. I loved this game.

Shadow Hearts: From the New World is a stand alone. You can get into this game without playing the others, as there are very few crossover elements from them. If you’ve played Covenant, however, you’ll notice a lot of…similar elements. I loved this game as well…but at times it seemed like it was trying to hard to be Covenant in a different set of clothes.

Okay…I’ll stop with my Shadow Hearts fanboyism now. Carry on.

[Donomni]

I cant believe no one here has mentioned Skies of Arcadia. If you want likeable characters this is a gold mine! Its basically the best RPG I have ever played. You can probably get it for about ten dollars and If you dont have a GC, last I saw them Used gamecubes were like 50 dollars.

It is a very nice game, except for the part about having a random encounter every 3 seconds. :shifty:

I still recommend, however.

[DarkCORN!]

If you can, get your hands on a copy of the original Suikoden (my sister and I have been playing it for years trying to beat it. I finally did last year. Damn zombie dragon...). The game is an awesome mix of strategy and RPG elements. Oh man, and the war games were FUN. If you see an original copy of Suikoden I, you damn well better buy it.

[Armored Bishoujo]

It is a very nice game, except for the part about having a random encounter every 3 seconds. :shifty:

That's just when piloting your ship, though. When on foot, it's less annoying...like every 3.2 seconds.

My playing style prefers horror and action above all else, but RPGs consume a huge chunk of my game time as well.

I also highly recommend Dragon Quest VIII.

Additionally, have you tried Radiata Stories? Awesome RPG, that one. Especially with the midgame branching.

I didn't like Star Ocean III as much as I liked Grandia III. Grandia III's battle system just rocks, end of statement.

If you're looking for something with deep tactics, how about Disgaea? Or Makai Kingdom? I saw the box for Disgaea 2 and I bet that'll be awesome.

[Death Dealer]

Seconding Shadow Hearts. Ashamed I didn't of it before actually.

Not to mention, if you are looking for strategy, I highly recommend Stella Deus and Front Mission 4. (If you can find Front Mission, it should be no more than $12. Stella Deus is considerably less rare, at least it used to be....but it'll run ya around $30.)

If you have an X-box, Dai Senryaku is a good strategy game too, but no story at all. ($20 though.)

[Krylo]

*Leveling Madness: Towards the end of the game, you have to spend more and more time leveling up your party. That can get annoying after a while.This, however, is minimized, thanks to items like the elevating shoes, which give you exp everytime you move on the dungeon or world map, even when you aren't fighting (I gave Angelo some in my most recent play through, to counteract the lack of skill points he gets during his earlier levels, and it's working out pretty well), and Yangus's whistle skill. Make sure you get Yangus enough humanity for whistle and nose for treasure. Whistle calls enemies to you, making levelling and gold mining 99.9999 ad infinitum percent easier and less annoying, while nose for treasure tells you how many treasures are left in a dungeon or town--it's quite possibly the only way to find everything without using a walkthrough.

[Lockeownzj00]

Check out Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter. Really interesting, innovative gameplay, with a tinge of oldschool--in the style, and in the sense that it is harsh as fuck. Think of how you can build and build a character in DnD and then they just die. Yeah. Something like that.

Extremely fun, though. AP Points ala Fallout, except console-ified and sexy (re: cel-shaded)/not choppy animations.

[Nique]

I love how I can start a topic like this where you guys can really go to town - I mean, pros and cons lists even! - , and every post gives me exactly what I was looking for.

I picked up Star Ocean, so we'll see how that goes. I'll post an update soon. ^_^

Other than that, we'll see if EB will actually fufill their 7day return OR exchange policy and take back my flippin 'Spider-Man: the movie 2' game that I bought from them and was completely messed up. Then I maybe can grab a Suikoden, or maybe even a used Dragon Quest...

Who needs EGM, or any other Ziff Davis publication? - I have you guys!