Which are the essential RPGs to play on PS1/PS2?

[xghostsniperx]

I was going to post this on the PS2 board, but I figured I'd get a better answer from the general board.

Basically, I just have no time to play games anymore. And when I do, its for 30-45 minute increments. Recently I have discovered my new love for building arcade sticks and playing shooters and 2D fighters. So I'm looking to get rid of all these RPGs that have been plaguing me for so long.

So, if you guys have to name five RPGs for PS1 and five RPGs for PS2 that are absolutely essential to play, what would they be? I'll probably get rid of the rest of my RPG collection besides those few.

[VanillaGorilla]

Grandia 3
All 3 Shadow Hearts games

[Chacrana]

There's more than 5 essential RPGs for each system, but if I had to...

PS1:

1. Xenogears
2. Chrono Cross
3. Final Fantasy VIII
4. Final Fantasy VII
5. Final Fantasy IX

PS2:

1. Final Fantasy XII
2. Final Fantasy X
3. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
4. Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2
5. Dragon Quest VIII

[themoor666]

FFVII
FFX
Chrono Cross
Xenogears
DQ8

[jimbodan]

PS1

Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 9
Xenogears
Grandia


PS2

Dragon Quest 8
Shadow Hearts
Final Fantasy 12
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Kingdom Hearts

[zewone]

PS2:
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy XII
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1 + 2
Dragon Quest 8

PS1:
Xenogears
Chrono Cross
Valkrye Profile
Suikoden II
Star Ocean 2: Second Story

[CriscoKidd]

How do you build arcade sticks?

I'd go with


PS1

FF Tactics
Xenogears
FF9
Chrono Cross


PS2

FF12
Tales of the Abyss
Kingdom Hearts
Dragon Quest 8

I think those are THE essentials for me right now ...

[willardhaven]

Playstation 1
1. Final Fantasy IX
2. Chrono Cross
3. Breath of Fire IV
4. Final Fantasy VII
5. Valkyrie Profile




:ps2: Playstation 2
1. Radiata Stories
2. Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter
3. Shadow Hearts 2 Covenant
4. Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
5. Disgaea Hour of Darkness

[xghostsniperx]

How do you build arcade sticks?

I don't necessairly build them all myself. I usually take retail sticks, paint them and get a good set of JPN arcade buttons and stick. Then I put the buttons in and its done.

Sometimes, my brother makes a custom box for me out of wood or something, but those cost a lot to do and they're not easy work.

[xghostsniperx]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. It seems like the Shin Megami Tensei games and the Final Fantasy games are must-haves. More suggestions are definitely welcome.

[Moxio]

PSX

Breath of Fire III
Breath of Fire IV
Final Fantasy VII
Chrono Chross
Star Ocean 2

PS2

Final Fantasy XII
Xenosaga
Dragon Quest VIII
Tales of the Abyss
Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter

[Dr Mario Kart]

PS1:
Vanguard Bandits
Final Fantasy Tactics
Xenogears
Lunar (Eternal Blue + Silver Star)
Arc the Lad Collection

[Quillion]

If you play one RPG, make it DQ8

[MightySlacker]

PS2:
1. Shadow Hearts
2. Shadow Hearts Covenant
3. Growlanser Generations
4. Stella Deus
5. Digital Devil Saga

PS1
1. Final Fantasy Tactics
2. Xenogears
3. Chrono Cross
4. Legend of Mana
5. Star Ocean: The Second Story

Dave

[Jack]

PlayStation:
Valkyrie Profile
Lunar Silver Star Story Complete
Xenogears
Parasite Eve
Persona 2 Eternal Punishment

PlayStation 2:
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
Breath of Fire Dragon Quarter
Kingdom Hearts
Disgaea Hour of Darkness
Jade Cocoon 2

[onikage]

PS1

Suikoden
Wild Arms
Final Fantasy VII
Persona II
Lunar

PS2

SMT: Nocturne
Suikoden V
Final Fantasy XII
Wild Arms: ACF

[The Crotch]

As seen on the PS2 board: http://cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123744. Although that list is obviously missing some things like Xenogears and a few Final Fantasies.

[camoor]

Xenosaga

[Strider Turbulence]

Ps1

Ogre Battle
Tactics Ogre
Final Fantasy Tactics
Suikoden
Persona

PS2
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
FF X
FF 12

[theshadeofopal@yahoo.com]

PS1
Suikoden II
Xenogears
Final Fantasy 7
Chrono Cross
Grandia
Tales of Destiny (and don't expect people to agree with that)

PS2
Shadow hearts 1+2 (2 is much better but benefits from playing 1)
Shin megami tensei digital devil saga 1+2 (a lot of people prefer nocturne which is also pretty good)
Suikoden 3+5 (4 is the black sheep of the series)
Xenosaga 1+3 (same deal as suikoden with episode 2)
Final Fantasy 10

[crystalklear64]

PS2:
Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 12
Kingdom Hearts 1
Kingdom Hearts 2
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time

[Kawnhr]

There are WAYY more than 5 essential RPGs on both, but..

PS1:
Persona 2
Final Fantasy 7-9, Tactics
Tales of Eternia (Tales of Destiny II)
Breath of Fire 3
Chrono Cross

PS2:
Final Fantasy X
Tales of the Abyss
Shin Megami Tensei series (Devil Summoner, Nocturne, Digital Devil Saga1+2)
NIS Strategy RPGs (Disgaea, La Pucelle, Phantom Brave, Disgaea 2, Makai Kingdom)
Xenosaga 1-3