Tactical games??

[javeryh]

What are tactical RPGs like? Everyone seems to be talking about how great LaPucelle Tactics, Disgaea, FF Tactics Advance, etc. are and I was wondering if a non-rpg fan would enjoy playing one. I never really liked any of the FF games or other standard RPGs but I liked Advance Wars a lot. What are the chances of enjoying something like FF Tactics? Any input on how these games play is appreciated. Thanks! :P

[Rodimus]

Try it out I say. Can't say if you'll like it or not but FF Tactics you could pick up cheap for like $14. If you don't like it then you proably wont like any other ones.

It's a little diffrent from an RPG but but similar cause your character level up and stuff. It's like playing a big complicated game of Chess.

I wasn't a big fan of LaPucelle Tactics or Disgaea. They were bore fests to me. But I enjoyed FF Tactics. Also Vandal Hearts is probably my favorite Stratagy game.

[alongx]

If you like Advance Wars, try Fire Emblem. I'd recommend at least trying out FFT, or maybe Tactics Ogre. I personally love La Pucelle, and have yet to play Disgaea, but I'd recommend giving one or the other at least a rent.

[WildWop]

The strategy in "Tactics" games (FFT, Tactics Ogre, Disgaea) is mostly front-loaded -- that is to say, they are mostly about equipping your character properly, changing their classes, managing items. There's a good amount of strategy to the battles themselves, but you generally run into that only in the really difficult fights or boss battles.

If you find those games too plodding, track down the Advance Wars games on GBA, Fire Emblem, or ZOE: Fist of Mars. They are tactical as well, but more strategic when you're in a battle.

[merlin48]

Yeah, if you like Advance Wars, definitely check out Fire Emblem. I think you'll be very satisfied.

[Tromack]

Ease into it with Fire Emblem. It is mostly a strategy game with some rpg elements. FFT and FFTA are both good games. I'm also currently enjoying Gladius and would recommend it.

[WildWop]

Ease into it with Fire Emblem. It is mostly a strategy game with some rpg elements. FFT and FFTA are both good games. I'm also currently enjoying Gladius and would recommend it.

I second that! I've been playing Gladius off-and-on for the last two weeks, and I highly approve thus far. Multiplayer and Co-op in a tactical RPG? Sign me up!

If it weren't for Shenmue II and Metal Arms, Gladius'd be the only thing in my Xbox.

[Mishimaryu]

front mission for PS2? I dunno never played that game myself looks good though...

[jaybird]

The first game in the genre I played was also Advance Wars.

I went from there to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, to Fire Emblem, to eventually every tactical game released on GBA.

I'm not a big fan of RPGs either, but I ove these games. It's to the point now where I can't find one to play that I haven't already beaten.

I'll third Gladius being an awesome game. Reviews panned the gameplay for being slow-paced, but I never found that to be the case. Here's hoping LucasArts comes out with Gladius 2.

[bradr]

Front Mission 3 for PS1 is fun! I like the story and it is a tactical game (turn based moves around a grid). I'd highly recommend it to those who like mechs. I haven't played 4 yet, but I assume it's the same.

If you're not a tact RPG fan but you'd like to try it out. The simplest one (in my opinion) is Shining Force. It'll get your feet wet but not feel overwhelming with a lot of details. I think it's out for the GBA now. And of course, digging out a Genesis and finding the game is ridiculous but if you have a computer (almost anything from P1 on), you can get the SEGA Smash Pack (can't remember which volume) but one of them has Shining Force on it so you can try it out on your PC. The Smash Packs are like $10 or so and come with a few good games in each vol.

[ElfAngel7]

Basicly, you equip your units and fine tune their various ablities before battle. Combat is treated like organizing troops during a war. The best ones are FF:T and FF:TA, and Disgaea. Front Mission 4 is welldone, but there is ALOT of possible customization.

[yogi99]

I recommend Fire Emble, Shining Force (very fun) and Onimusha Tactics for GBA. Saiyuki The Journey West for PS1 is ok. I don't really like FFT, FFTA, Tactics Ogre and Ogre Tactics because they seem very complicated but some people like them.

[bradr]

I recommend Fire Emble, Shining Force and Onimusha Tactics for GBA. The Journey West for PS1 is ok. I don't really like FFT, FFTA, Tactics Ogre and Ogre Tactics.

I don't remember, was Saiyuki: The Journey West a tact rpg? I think I played it once or twice but never quite got into it.

[yogi99]

I recommend Fire Emble, Shining Force and Onimusha Tactics for GBA. The Journey West for PS1 is ok. I don't really like FFT, FFTA, Tactics Ogre and Ogre Tactics.

I don't remember, was Saiyuki: The Journey West a tact rpg? I think I played it once or twice but never quite got into it.

Yes, the whole name is Saiyuki the Journey West. I think it is tact rpg. You position you characters on the map and move them turn by turn. It is an alright game. It is playable. I managed to finish it once.

[dtcarson]

Saiyuki: Journey West was tactical/strategy.
if you're on the PC, try Heroes of Might and Magic, especially part III with the Shadow of Death expansion.
My all time favorites are:
Shining Force [got me into gaming at the Sega Gen level, and my first intro to SRPG. Pretty newbie-friendly also].
Vandal Hearts [got me into gaming at the PS1 level, after at hiatus of a couple years. Also pretty newbie-friendly, although VH2 adds a little more flexibility.]
Final Fantasy Tactics, I played this one for 300+ hours.
HoMM III: SoD on the PC, many a late night was spent on HoMM.
La Pucelle [which is more user-friendly and approachable, to me, than Disgaea. I would *not* receommend Disgaea to a brandnewbie.]

Dynasty Tactics 2 is good, slightly more complex, and historical based. I, like many reviewers, found Gladius too slow to really get into. My save game sits at about 8 hours. I liked the gameplay, however; i think some of the 'overhead' and management was too cumbersome for me to enjoy like I enjoy it on FFT or La Pucelle.

[Squirms]

I agree with dtcarson about Disgaea, it is not a game for someone just starting with SRPGs. It has too many weird things about it that a newbie would find quite frustrating.

[Tromack]

Saiyuki: Journey West was tactical/strategy.
if you're on the PC, try Heroes of Might and Magic, especially part III with the Shadow of Death expansion.
My all time favorites are:
Shining Force [got me into gaming at the Sega Gen level, and my first intro to SRPG. Pretty newbie-friendly also].
Vandal Hearts [got me into gaming at the PS1 level, after at hiatus of a couple years. Also pretty newbie-friendly, although VH2 adds a little more flexibility.]
Final Fantasy Tactics, I played this one for 300+ hours.
HoMM III: SoD on the PC, many a late night was spent on HoMM.
La Pucelle [which is more user-friendly and approachable, to me, than Disgaea. I would *not* receommend Disgaea to a brandnewbie.]

Dynasty Tactics 2 is good, slightly more complex, and historical based. I, like many reviewers, found Gladius too slow to really get into. My save game sits at about 8 hours. I liked the gameplay, however; i think some of the 'overhead' and management was too cumbersome for me to enjoy like I enjoy it on FFT or La Pucelle.

How could I forget Heroes of Might and Magic? That game was so awesome.

[Strider Turbulence]

Not spectacular by any means but Brigidane is worth a couple of playthroughs. It's strictly simple with everything (graphics, gameplay, story, etc) but it has a charm few games can't hope to match.

[jimbodan]

I hated FFT advance, try Fire Emblem first, that game rules.

[Sheik Rattle Enroll]

Whether you'll like SRPGS or not depends on why you don't like RPGs. If it's mainly the boring and easy combat most RPGs have (outside of say Fallout), you'll probobly like SRPGs.

FFT is vastly superior to FFTA in every regard, and pretty much every other SRPG, so be sure to play that first. Being $15 and available basically everywhere is a plus too.

As far as Heroes of Might and Magic, Master of Magic, Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic, and such go, they're more plain old strategy games than SRPGs. However I highly reccommend Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic. It's a lot like HOMM but with much more interesting and strategic battles.

[javeryh]

I think I'll check out Fire Emblem - it seems to be a fan favorite around here. Now I need to find it on the cheap...

[dtcarson]

True, HoMM isn't too deep into the 'roleplaying' end of it. But really, what strategy/tactical game is? There is a storyline in HoMM: SoD, which changes depending on which scenario you play, and you can choose, within certain constraints, how to advance your character. Very few SRPG's have much more 'roleplaying' than possibly choosing character type [fighter, magic user, etc] and focus. They may have more of a story, and sometimes that story can be interactive with multiple endings based on choices, like Vandal Hearts II, but even though they're called SRPGs, the RPG element is basically limited to character growth.

[elprincipe]

What are tactical RPGs like? Everyone seems to be talking about how great LaPucelle Tactics, Disgaea, FF Tactics Advance, etc. are and I was wondering if a non-rpg fan would enjoy playing one. I never really liked any of the FF games or other standard RPGs but I liked Advance Wars a lot. What are the chances of enjoying something like FF Tactics? Any input on how these games play is appreciated. Thanks! :P

Speaking as someone who hates RPGs like Final Fantasy, I'd say go ahead and give it a try. I really like tactical games like Advance Wars and I also like these types of games. Just try one to see.

[eldad9]

Yes, the whole name is Saiyuki the Journey West. I think it is tact rpg. You position you characters on the map and move them turn by turn. It is an alright game. It is playable. I managed to finish it once.

It's also the only game where you get to play a werebutterfly.

[bhfgamer]

No one's mentioned Ring of Red? It's an awesome "hands on" strategy game. It's like Front Mission series. It's a sweet game. It's hard to find but if you ever see it, BUY IT