General Role-Playing Game Thread

[Moxio]

TotA is a great game. Only downside is there's quite a few potential load times.

[Flak]

which version?
Dawn of Souls. On land I can't move without finding monsters but at sea I've had maybe two fights.

[62t]

Am I the only playing FFIV The After Years?

[Jesus_S_Preston]

Is FFII worth actually playing? I've had Dawn of Souls forever but gave up on II after the third or fourth time of getting stuck somewhere where I couldn't move without encountering an unwinnable battle within the first hour or so.

[kainzero]

Is FFII worth actually playing? I've had Dawn of Souls forever but gave up on II after the third or fourth time of getting stuck somewhere where I couldn't move without encountering an unwinnable battle within the first hour or so.
No. That game sucks, even when you do figure it out.

Dawn of Souls. On land I can't move without finding monsters but at sea I've had maybe two fights.
Eh, that version is easy... you can just spam attack and everything will die so it's more annoying than anything else. The original NES one, the encounter rate + the difficulty of the battle was obnoxious.

Just make sure you're not walking in the insta-spawn areas. I know there's one in the earth cave.

[willardhaven]

I don't really like the first two Final Fantasies, I think III on the DS is great though.

[Rei no Otaku]

FFII was awesome only because you could get stronger by punching yourself in the face.

[JEKKI]

word. so that's why u listen to Lady Gaga.

po po po poker face po po poker face, ma ma ma ma

rei no no no taku rei no no taku

[Krymner]

FFII is my least favorite Final Fantasy as far as gameplay. I disliked FFV's story a bit more than II, but the level-up mechanics and other garbage puts II at the bottom of my list.

[kainzero]

FFII was awesome only because you could get stronger by punching yourself in the face.
it was less awesome because that was the only way to get stronger. don't fight the monsters because they don't give you levels.

[depascal22]

I never played FFII for that reason. It just seemed ass backwards. I did play the PSP version of FFI and didn't really like it. I tried it just because it's the beginning of the series but I couldn't play more than an hour.

[kainzero]

I never played FFII for that reason. It just seemed ass backwards. I did play the PSP version of FFI and didn't really like it. I tried it just because it's the beginning of the series but I'm couldn't play more than an hour.
I actually like FF1. It's a simple system and it focuses more on exploration like the good ol' days when they said "GO!" and they dump you on a world map.

Nowadays you don't even have a map.

[Rodimus]

I did play the PSP version of FFI and didn't really like it. I tried it just because it's the beginning of the series but I couldn't play more than an hour.

Same here. I never played it when it was on the NES so I jumped at the chance to play it on the PS1. The grinding ruined the experience. I must've played for about 5 hours before I realized I wasn't having fun.

Wild ARMs 5 is great. I think I choose wisely :D I don't know much about the villians but they all seem cool, especially the ninja dude. I can't wait to see more of him. Plus I want a pair of Rebecca's shorts, I think I'd look great in them.

[willardhaven]

Is 5 better than 4 by much?

[Jesus_S_Preston]

Only like an hour into FFVII....gonna set aside a day sometime and get into it for hours on end.

[DQT]

FFII had interesting ideas, but I can certainly say that it is not worth your time. I had a complete file for that game and a complete save for the extra dungeons.

[Krymner]

So what is anyone's opinion of Folklore? Is it much of a RPG, or is the demo pretty much like the rest of the game? I've heard some mixed opinions from others and was just wondering. I know its got the whole 'play it twice' thing with having two characters, but other than that, is it actually good enough to play thru the game twice to get the full story? I almost picked up the game for real cheap at the local WalMart today, and since they had several copies left, I may go back and grab one.

Also, Atlus isn't making me not owning a PSP any easier by releasing Persona PSP with a 2-disc soundtrack. Grrrr...Must buy PSP by September 22 then...

[Rei no Otaku]

I really liked Folklore though I have a feeling I'm in the minority. Just switch between the characters every level and it won't feel so much like playing through the game twice.

[Rei no Otaku]

Same here. I never played it when it was on the NES so I jumped at the chance to play it on the PS1. The grinding ruined the experience. I must've played for about 5 hours before I realized I wasn't having fun.

Wild ARMs 5 is great. I think I choose wisely :D I don't know much about the villians but they all seem cool, especially the ninja dude. I can't wait to see more of him. Plus I want a pair of Rebecca's shorts, I think I'd look great in them.
Jeez, you're way ahead of me. I haven't seen any ninjas yet.

[Krymner]

I really liked Folklore though I have a feeling I'm in the minority. Just switch between the characters every level and it won't feel so much like playing through the game twice.

Yeah that would probably be the route I would go, by switching back and forth. I do remember TMK saying he really liked Folklore too, but most of the other opinions I've heard about it have either been negative or to say its just mediocre.

[Jesus_S_Preston]

What's the first Suikoden like? Does it hold up?

[heavyd853]

Not really, but its still pretty fun. The story was pretty good, but every aspect of it pales in comparison to Suikoden II.

[Rodimus]

What's the first Suikoden like? Does it hold up?

It holds up well for a 12 year old 2D RPG. The story is strong and it's actually a fairly short game.

[LostRoad]

So finally picked up Oblivion, had the damn game freeze on me twice, is this common?

[pete5883]

So what is anyone's opinion of Folklore? Is it much of a RPG, or is the demo pretty much like the rest of the game? I've heard some mixed opinions from others and was just wondering. I know its got the whole 'play it twice' thing with having two characters, but other than that, is it actually good enough to play thru the game twice to get the full story? I almost picked up the game for real cheap at the local WalMart today, and since they had several copies left, I may go back and grab one.

Folklore I really liked the demo, was a little disappointed by the full game. Got kind of repetitive for me by the end of the game, but it can be fun to complete the little tasks that upgrade your powers.

[depascal22]

I do remember TMK saying he really liked Folklore too, but most of the other opinions I've heard about it have either been negative or to say its just mediocre.

Not to be an ass, but is there a single PS3 game that TMK doesn't like?

[Moxio]

If the freezing persists, LostRoad, I'd recommend installing Oblivion to your hard drive. It seemed to cut loading times a lot for me and the game is well worth it.

[Rodimus]

Is 5 better than 4 by much?

I never played 4 but I can say with sincere honesty that Wild ARMs 5 is a great game. I haven't gone on a gaming marathon like I did last night since Persona 4. I would recomend this to any JRPG fan.

Anyone else notice a striking similarity between the 3 main characters of Wild ARMs 5 (Dean, Rebecca, Avril) & Skies of Arcadia (Vyse, Aika, Fiona)? They're pretty much the same characters.

[kainzero]

Same here. I never played it when it was on the NES so I jumped at the chance to play it on the PS1. The grinding ruined the experience. I must've played for about 5 hours before I realized I wasn't having fun.
if you're grinding on the remakes, you're overleveled already.

[Rei no Otaku]

Is 5 better than 4 by much?
So far I'm liking WA5, but I think 4 was better. But then I loved WA4.

[Rodimus]

if you're grinding on the remakes, you're overleveled already.

I didn't really mean grind for levels as I was farming for gold. Got my terms mixed up. Sorry bout that. But I remember getting a boat, going to the first town and checking out the store. I saw some spell for a crazy amount of gold and thought that's just too much farming for gold, so I hung it up.

[depascal22]

Nocturne pisses me off. I'm in the third Kalpa during the chase scene with Dante and it resets every time he catches you. What a huge pain in the ass. I might just skip the Kalpas and beat the game to get the human ending.

[ChibiJosh]

Cross Edge is starting to get a little boring, but I'm going to keep playing it for now. I've mostly been grinding and trying to earn titles the past day.

Nocturne pisses me off. I'm in the third Kalpa during the chase scene with Dante and it resets every time he catches you. What a huge pain in the ass. I might just skip the Kalpas and beat the game to get the human ending.
That's what I eventually did.

[Chibi_Kaji]

I still haven't really played Cross Edge. I'll probably try playing a little next week along with Persona 4.

[Rodimus]

What Darkstalker characters are in Cross Edge, all of them? Also are there any other Capcom characters?

[ChibiJosh]

I think Darkstalkers is the only Capcom game. The characters are Morrigan, Felecia, Demetri, Lilith and Jedah (may not be spelled right).

[JEKKI]

oh hells yeay!

Dragon Quest the movie!!

http://www.theasylum.cc/product.php?id=153

[Persona7]

I need some wii RPGs.

Anyone got any ideas?

[Moxio]

Play Tales of Symphonia for the GameCube.

[Mr. Beef]

Don't forget Mario RPG on the Virtual Console.

[Persona7]

Already own TOS, But not TOS2. Should I get it? I was looking for some wii specific titles.

Own SMRPG.

[Rodimus]

Honestly, I can't recomend any Wii RPGs. Sorry

But there is hope with Arc Rise Fantasia

[Moxio]

Apparently ToS2 is horrible. Terrible main character.

[Mr. Beef]

I heard that you can't have a "real" party in ToS2, and can only use monsters. Is this true?

[Rodimus]

^ Both your posts are true. I think Rei said he beat it. I couldn't imagine the torture he went through. I was only able to muster up 5 hours of playtime before I had enough.

BTW Rei how far along are you in Wild ARMs 5? I haven't been able to play it for the past few days, but I've been dying to play more.

[DarkSageRK]

Damn you, Rodimus. You got me all excited by recommending me Wild Arms 5, but then I find out it doesn't go for cheap online. :(

Oh, wells. When I go back to work in September I'll have to remember to pick it up.

[Mr. Beef]

Dammit Mox, I get the urge to go back to playing BoFIV every single time I see that avatar of yours.

[Moxio]

Do it. 8-)

[Mr. Beef]

Well, I did just get to the Western Continent...:-k

[Rei no Otaku]

^ Both your posts are true. I think Rei said he beat it. I couldn't imagine the torture he went through. I was only able to muster up 5 hours of playtime before I had enough.

BTW Rei how far along are you in Wild ARMs 5? I haven't been able to play it for the past few days, but I've been dying to play more.
ToS2 is terrible. I still don't believe I had the willpower to go through that game. It's a testament to how much I loved the first one. No, you don't get a real party. Every now and then one of the original cast will join your party for a time, but that's it.

In WA5 I just got done getting the medicine for that sick girl, and I'm headed to Honeysday. I'm enjoying it so far, though I'd still put it behind WA4 and WA3.

[cletus]

There's a playthrough of TOS2 (the entire game) on Youtube if you're interested. I don't know if it would be worth the time to play it myself. It didn't seem as fun as the first one.

[Krymner]

I don't think I've heard from anyone who has played TOS2 who has actually liked the game. Namco should have let the same team do it that did the original.

I was really hoping Namco would announce Tales of Vesperia PS3 for a US release during E3, but nothing. Nothing on the Tales of Graces Wii game either. Disappointment.

[Chibi_Kaji]

ToS2 is terrible. I still don't believe I had the willpower to go through that game. It's a testament to how much I loved the first one. No, you don't get a real party. Every now and then one of the original cast will join your party for a time, but that's it.

Wait you actually beat that piece of crap? I manage to run into Colette before getting rid of it. Are you sure it wasn't boredom or something that made you finish the game? The main reason I stopped playing it was my love of the first game(I couldn't even make it to Raine or Sheena). Honestly the game felt more like another Tales of spin-off with guest appearances from the ToS cast.

Krymner: That is pretty much what I expected.

[Flak]

I could have sworn I've seen ToV PS3 boxart somewhere before, like on Amazon.

[suko_32]

I could have sworn I've seen ToV PS3 boxart somewhere before, like on Amazon.

http://gallery.abyssalchronicles.com/albums/userpics/10002/c20090614_tov_03_cs1w1_640x480.jpg

[EXStrike]

I need some wii RPGs.

Anyone got any ideas?

Rune Factory Frontier?

[kainzero]

i'm playing through ToV right now. got to a coliseum.

1: man, i hate karol. i want to kick that guy out my party permanently. what a little weiner.

2: i don't like the pacing. it's like the party has ADD and can't focus on one thing at a time.

3: i don't like how the characters join. "oh dang i got lost in the forest, let me tag along with you guys... FOREVER"

still, it's nice clean fun. except for judith. i want to do nasty things to her.

[Moxio]

Karol gets better later on.

Also, that's kinda messed up, kainzero.

[Chibi_Kaji]

Karol gets better later on.
I disagree, I still hated him by the end of the game. It drove me nuts at that one point in the game I was forced to use him.

And how dare you say that Kainzero. Judith is a lovely lady!

[steveinneed]

Ahah, I had a dream that I saw a bin of ToV second edition for xbox 360 for $30, I just bought ToV a few weeks ago for $30. It made me mad.

[kainzero]

it's not messed up. she'd take it as a compliment.

[Moxio]

Um, just so you know she's kinda not real. :oops:

[Rodimus]

Damn you, Rodimus. You got me all excited by recommending me Wild Arms 5, but then I find out it doesn't go for cheap online. :(

Check your local GS. I was able to pick it up brand new for $30. Still a little pricey for a 2 year old PS2 game but it's an RPG so I didn't mind so much.

I also wasn't a big fan of Karol. But like Moxio said I tought he bacame better during the second half of the story. You really see him grow up. Unfortunatly he wasn't fun to use in battle. But Yuri, Raven & Judith's coolness make up for the rest of the cast.

[kainzero]

Um, just so you know she's kinda not real. :oops:
even better!

that way she won't get mad at my inappropriate comments!

[Rei no Otaku]

I disagree, I still hated him by the end of the game. It drove me nuts at that one point in the game I was forced to use him.

And how dare you say that Kainzero. Judith is a lovely lady!
I hated Karol the whole time as well. Every other characters' awesomeness made up for it. I especially liked Yuri. When he killed those two guys it was wicked cool. Nice to see a RPG lead with the guts to do what has to be done

Um, just so you know she's kinda not real. :oops:
I still want to fuck the shit out of her.

[Chibi_Kaji]

Um, just so you know she's kinda not real. :oops:
That's only a minor detail.

I hated Karol the whole time as well. Every other characters' awesomeness made up for it. I especially liked Yuri. When he killed those two guys it was wicked cool. Nice to see a RPG lead with the guts to do what has to be done
Yeah Yuri was one of my favorite characters in the game mostly because of that. I didn't actually think that would happen. As for the rest of the cast I liked them all with the exception of Karol.

On the topic of ToV, I was wondering if I was the only had a party made up of Yuri and the girls for most of the game?

[Rei no Otaku]

I did too. My main party was Yuri, Judith, Rita, and Estelle.

[willardhaven]

Can any of them steal, or is stealing worthless? I keep Repede in the party just to steal, but I'd rather use Judith.

[Chibi_Kaji]

I loved some of the end battle convo's between Judith and Estelle.

Can any of them steal, or is stealing worthless? I keep Repede in the party just to steal, but I'd rather use Judith.
I dunno, but I never really used steal anyway.

[DarkSageRK]

Check your local GS. I was able to pick it up brand new for $30. Still a little pricey for a 2 year old PS2 game but it's an RPG so I didn't mind so much.

All right, all right. I think I'll wait to pick it up though. My RPG backlog... Not a pretty sight. XD

Thanks though. Man, all this Vesperia talk... making me think of how much I want that game and how I should REALLY finish Abyss. >_<

[Chibi_Kaji]

Yeah I really need to finish ToA as well. But at this point I might have to start from the beginning it's been so long. So many RPGs and so little time...

[willardhaven]

I didn't finish Abyss either, I'm going to get to it after Vesperia. Two of the best games I've played in years.

[Chibi_Kaji]

Yeah Abyss was pretty fun. But I got a little burnt out on RPGs somewhere in the middle and just stopped playing and it got buried in my backlog. I hope to get back to it after I finish Persona 4. Which will be sometime after I dig up my PS2...

[Mr. Beef]

Shit, that reminds me that I still need to finish P4 and TotA. I wish the main character in Abyss wasn't so damn whiny, though.

[Moxio]

Luke gets better.

[willardhaven]

I'm at the oasis in Abyss, is this after Luke's change or before? He still has long hair if that has any relevance. I actually like Luke even though he's annoying, at least he's unique.

[Moxio]

Before. The "significant" moment happens at Akzeriuth

[willardhaven]

Nice avatar, it reminds me I have to finish BoF IV one day... great game.

[Mr. Beef]

Where'd you get those BoFIV gifs, Moxio?

[DarkSageRK]

Ok, so I decided to play Abyss again, but it's kinda getting to be a chore. Just beat Van and now I'm rounding up the gang again... Ugh, it just makes me want to play Symphonia again. So much better in every way. If only my Gamecube memory card hadn't died... ;_;

[Krymner]

The new DQ IX trailer looks impressive. Looks like its gonna have lots of options and I really like the drag-and-drop inventory screen. I still wish it was on console tho.

[Lions]

The new DQ IX trailer looks impressive. Looks like its gonna have lots of options and I really like the drag-and-drop inventory screen. I still wish it was on console tho.
Not a huge fan of the series, only played 4 on DS, and didn't really care for the style. I'm going to try 5 though, hopefully I will enjoy it. I saw the previews for IX though, and it looks great!

[Rei no Otaku]

DQ sucks.

[Moxio]

where'd you get those bofiv gifs, moxio?
gis.

[willardhaven]

Ok, so I decided to play Abyss again, but it's kinda getting to be a chore. Just beat Van and now I'm rounding up the gang again... Ugh, it just makes me want to play Symphonia again. So much better in every way. If only my Gamecube memory card hadn't died... ;_;

I had the opposite thought when I went back to play Symphonia... I think Abyss is a lot better.

[kainzero]

DQ sucks.
hi.

[LostRoad]

DQ sucks.

:argue:

[Rodimus]

DQ sucks.

I don't know man, those Orange Julius's are pretty good.

http://www.shermgrafik.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/orange-julius.jpg

[willardhaven]

hot eats, cool treats man.

[Rei no Otaku]

hi.
Sup?

[Moxio]

DQ IX looks really good. But yeah, I wish it was for the 360 or something.

[willardhaven]

Is Xenosaga III newcomer friendly? I couldn't stay awake through Xenosaga I and I haven't even tried II. III seems like it's much better than the original.

[Rei no Otaku]

I think I mentioned it earlier in this thread, but I've been attempting to play through all 3 Xenosaga games. I've owned all of them for years. I finished the first one, but it was quite a chore. While it wasn't terrible, I almost fell asleep a couple times. I'm taking a break before tackling the second one and playing Wild Arms 5.

[willardhaven]

I passed out a lot playing Xenosaga back in 2003. I've been meaning to play Wild ARMs 3 too.

[Mr. Beef]

I never got a chance to finish up Wild Arms 3. Lousy friend wanting it back...

[Rodimus]

I attempted to play Xenosaga a few times but always gave up. I don't like that it's so linear. For an RPG it felt closed and restricted.

Question about Wild ARMs 5: Sometimes when you start a battle your characters have this aura around them. What does that do? I check the manual and couldn't find anything on it.

[Krymner]

Playing thru Xenosaga 2 is MUCH more of a chore than the other two, but luckily it is shorter than the others. I fell asleep several times while I was playing thru it last year. The story just is unexciting and full of talk talk talk. However, if you wish to understand everything that is happening in Xeno 3, I recommend trudging thru it. I'm glad I did, cause there was a few things in 3 that I totally woudn't understand if I had skipped it.

But I suppose you could skip to Xeno 3. You may not understand what the hell is going on in several parts, but it is a JRPG, afterall, so its not like you're gonna get lost and not know where to go and what to do.

One thing I did like about Xeno 2 more than the others is the dungeon puzzles. They were smarter and more interesting than what was in Xeno 1 and more plentiful than the couple that are in Xeno 3.

However, I did play thru almost the entire game of Xeno 2 with the sound down and my own music playing in the background. ;)

[willardhaven]

Question about Wild ARMs 5: Sometimes when you start a battle your characters have this aura around them. What does that do? I check the manual and couldn't find anything on it.

I remember something like this happening in 4, it was overdrive or something where their attacks got a boost.

[Krymner]

After ~70 hours into FFXII, I think I'm gonna put it down for awhile and take a break. It just gets so repetitive after awhile when you're sloshing thru those big dungeons. I'm in some tower dungeon now, and its taking forever. Ugh. This is definately the longest game of all the Final Fantasy series, and its long for no good reason.

[Magus8472]

After ~70 hours into FFXII, I think I'm gonna put it down for awhile and take a break. It just gets so repetitive after awhile when you're sloshing thru those big dungeons. I'm in some tower dungeon now, and its taking forever. Ugh. This is definately the longest game of all the Final Fantasy series, and its long for no good reason.

Sounds like you're in the second to last dungeon. The last one is very short, so you might just want to just power through to the end. It's worth it.

[blitz6speed]

DQ9 looks great. Too bad its on the worst console comfort wise. My hands cramp up playing the DS Lite and the screens are so tiny, speakers nowhere near loud enough, etc. I hope they port it to the PS2 or something lol.

[Moxio]

DS Fat. 8-)

--

Black Sigil looks cool.

[pete5883]

After making a pretty boring first impression on me, I'm really enjoying Blue Dragon. Maybe it's because I haven't played a JRPG in a while, and the cutscenes are short so the characters don't have much of a chance to get on my nerves. Dungeons are a little too long, though.

[Flak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5PSu6t4sfw

One of Squaresoft's best looking SNES RPGs. Too bad they never localized it.

[Lions]

DQ9 looks great. Too bad its on the worst console comfort wise. My hands cramp up playing the DS Lite and the screens are so tiny, speakers nowhere near loud enough, etc. I hope they port it to the PS2 or something lol.
Should try the DSi, all that is improved.

[depascal22]

Anyone hear about SMT Devil Survivor for the DS? I was browsing through Amazon and I stumbled upon it. How is it that Atlus never adequately advertises their own games?

[Chibi_Kaji]

I've known about it for some time now(5 to 6 months). I heard about the game from the Atlus Newsletter.

[Logg]

Anyone here play Sacred 2

[depascal22]

I've known about it for some time now(5 to 6 months). I heard about the game from the Atlus Newsletter.

I really should sign up for that newsletter. Thanks for the heads up.

Nocturne has really been way more enjoyable now that I'm not worrying about the Kalpas in the Amala Network. I still may go back and do them but I'll be at a level where I don't have to have a Null Death Magatama just to survive a few minutes.

[Chibi_Kaji]

I really should sign up for that newsletter. Thanks for the heads up.
Yeah, I usually get all my Atlus news from the newsletter or Destrutoid.

[Rodimus]

I heard about SMT: Devil Suvivor several months ago from a Nintendo Power article. Not a big fan of strategy games so I'm not expecting much, but it has SMT in the title so I must own it... Ugh, being a dirty fan boy is expensive.

Been side tracked by Ghostbusters & Tiger Woods 10' (Wii). Plan on getting back to WIld Arms 5 tonight.

[Chibi_Kaji]

I heard about SMT: Devil Suvivor several months ago from a Nintendo Power article. Not a big fan of strategy games so I'm not expecting much, but it has SMT in the title so I must own it... Ugh, being a dirty fan boy is expensive.
Is it a strategy RPG? From the looks of the screen you move around like one. But the battle screens make it seem more like any other turn based RPG. Man I forgot that the game was coming out this week... Not sure if I'll start it right away or wait for a few FAQs to come out.

[Rodimus]

The videos & screens I saw had a grid based battle system. I just asumed it was a RPG/strategy hybrid. Plus at the end of fighting it has this "Mission Complete" screen, which makes me think, these aren't quick & simple turn-based battles but similar to the long battles we see in strategy games. I could be wrong, I don't know much about the game.

[Moxio]

I started Black Sigil, guys. It's pretty good. Reminds me of CT. Encounter rate is high, yeah, but it's bearable.

[Flak]

Is it really glitchy like the early reviews claimed?

[Moxio]

I haven't ran into any glitches or freezing yet, but I'm only a couple hours in. Battles are medium-paced and frequent, so if you dislike that kind of thing I'd stay away. But, if you like old-style JRPGs, this is a worth a shot.

[62t]

Is it a strategy RPG? From the looks of the screen you move around like one. But the battle screens make it seem more like any other turn based RPG. Man I forgot that the game was coming out this week... Not sure if I'll start it right away or wait for a few FAQs to come out.

It is a SRPG

[Moxio]

SRPG? I really don't think I'd call it that, considering mashing A will get you through most battles.

[pete5883]

You position yourself on a grid like an SRPG, but then end up in team vs. team RPG fights anyway. So it's not really purely SRPG or RPG.

[ChibiJosh]

You position yourself on a grid like an SRPG, but then end up in team vs. team RPG fights anyway. So it's not really purely SRPG or RPG.

Similar to the Cross Edge battle system?

[Krymner]

Decided after all to take a break from FFXII. I figure I've got about half of the second-to-last dungeon and the last dungeon to go thru, and a crap-ton of sidequests, easily about 20 hours of gameplay considering the sizes of these dungeons.

Started up Star Ocean: Till the End of Time on a whim. Not too thrilled about the voice acting, and I'm still not used to the combat, but the story seems interesting enough.

[willardhaven]

Star Ocean 3 is good, but it is not a popular game around here.

[Zmonkay]

Hey all, quick question: Does Shadow Hearts Covenant get better soon?

After hearing all the praise here and elsewhere, I finally popped it in. I'm at a point shortly after getting to Russia. So far, it's been decent, but nowhere near the amazing experience so many make it out to be. Frankly, I'm kind of bored, and have been trudging through to see if it gets better. I'm going to shelve it and focus on TWEWY (Why the hell has that been on my shelf on not in my DS this whole time!!! Such a great game!). If it will pick up soon, I'll come back (once I finally finish DQ8 and my replay of FFIX. Such a bad habit, stopping an RPG partway through and finishing a couple years after).

Oh, and I did play the first Shadow Hearts, and thought it was a great game with a cool story. So far very disappointed in the story of 2.

[Magus8472]

Hey all, quick question: Does Shadow Hearts Covenant get better soon?

After hearing all the praise here and elsewhere, I finally popped it in. I'm at a point shortly after getting to Russia. So far, it's been decent, but nowhere near the amazing experience so many make it out to be.

If you're not liking it by then you're probably not going to unless you like the kind of zany nonsensical stuff that populates most of the second half even moreso than the first. I agree that the plot of Covenant wasn't that great, though I really enjoyed the characters. Conversely, From the New World had a better story, but it made you put up with Johnny.

[Chibi_Kaji]

Star Ocean 3 is good, but it is not a popular game around here.
It was decent until the plot twist.

You position yourself on a grid like an SRPG, but then end up in team vs. team RPG fights anyway. So it's not really purely SRPG or RPG.
Thats what I thought after checking out the screens. But I checked out a few gameplay videos but they were far to short to confirm it.

[willardhaven]

I don't like Shadow Hearts 1 or 2. Aside from the setting they kind of blow.

[Magus8472]

It was decent until the plot twist.

Playing Star Ocean for plot is a bad idea generally.

[Lions]

Getting a PSP. What are some good RPG's to play?

Some I am thinking of are Crimson Gem Saga, FF Tactics, Crisis Core, Jeanne D'Arc, Star Ocean, and Valkyrie Profile.

Are these games worth playing? Am I missing a good one?

I'm open to any suggestions.

My favorite RPG's have been FF9, Grandia II, and Tales of Vesperia.

[willardhaven]

You will probably like Crisis Core and Valkyrie Profile, start with those.

[Jesus_S_Preston]

So because I live at home until the fall and she paid for it, my EGM subscription was under my mom's name...

...so the other day she's all Why the hell am I getting Maxim magazine in my name?

I just made the connection.

lol.

[Chibi_Kaji]

Playing Star Ocean for plot is a bad idea generally.
I'm not saying that it was good. It was decent enough to push me forward. But that plot twist just annoyed me to no end. And I couldn't stop think of that ep of South park where it turns out that earth is just a reality TV show

[DarkSageRK]

If you want an S-RPG, play Tactics over Jeanne. Tactics is my favorite game of all time whereas Jeanne is... well, not even close. :P

[Rei no Otaku]

Hey all, quick question: Does Shadow Hearts Covenant get better soon?

After hearing all the praise here and elsewhere, I finally popped it in. I'm at a point shortly after getting to Russia. So far, it's been decent, but nowhere near the amazing experience so many make it out to be. Frankly, I'm kind of bored, and have been trudging through to see if it gets better. I'm going to shelve it and focus on TWEWY (Why the hell has that been on my shelf on not in my DS this whole time!!! Such a great game!). If it will pick up soon, I'll come back (once I finally finish DQ8 and my replay of FFIX. Such a bad habit, stopping an RPG partway through and finishing a couple years after).

Oh, and I did play the first Shadow Hearts, and thought it was a great game with a cool story. So far very disappointed in the story of 2.
Out of curiosity, did you play the first game?

[willardhaven]

Out of curiosity, did you play the first game?

Read the post you quoted my good man.

8-)

[depascal22]

If you want an S-RPG, play Tactics over Jeanne. Tactics is my favorite game of all time whereas Jeanne is... well, not even close. :P

I would say the opposite. I preferred Jeanne d'Arc over Tactics. I'd even put Disgaea (my favorite SRPG of all time) over Tactics.

Why? Jeanne d'Arc has Skill Binding, Burning Aura, and Unified Guard. Disgaea gives you the ability to throw characters and has the Item Dungeons.

Don't get me wrong. Tactics is fun. The PSP version has some great cutscenes but it's still a port of a 11 year old PS1 game. The game plays the same. Yes, there are some added episodes that add to the back story but the overall gameplay is still the same one that made it's debut in 1998.

My other recommendation would have to be Brave Story: New Traveler. It's a generic turn-based RPG but it does everything well and it's closest you'll get to a FF9 style RPG on the PSP.

[Flak]

I just bought my first SMT games. How big a daiper should I get to go with 'em?

[depascal22]

I'm 70 hours into Nocturne at the moment and I'm not even close to finishing it.

The most frustrating part is that if your protagonist dies, it's game over. Doesn't sound like a big deal until you're grinding away and you lose a half hour and you get knocked out by Mamudoon or something like that. Luckily, save points are pretty plentiful so you shouldn't lose too much. Most levels/dungeons give you at least three save points to use and the last one is usually situated very close to the biggest boss of the level.

I'd recommend always having a Megatama equipped that nulls Death or Expel spells and just take your chances. The only time you should switch is when you're about to level up or you're about to fight a boss.

[Rei no Otaku]

Read the post you quoted my good man.

8-)
That's what happens when you post at 3:30 in the morning.

[Rodimus]

I'd recommend always having a Megatama equipped that nulls Death or Expel spells and just take your chances. The only time you should switch is when you're about to level up or you're about to fight a boss.

That's the tactic I used also. There's nothing worse than to randomly die when you least expect it.

[Krymner]

I've started playing Nocturne again. I'm only about 25 hours in tho, but a lot of that time has been spent grinding. My problem is that instead of just getting new stronger demons, I spend too much time grinding up the ones I have until all their skills are learned, then fusing them. I've created some pretty strong demons, but it takes too long this way.

I think I'm just gonna put Star Ocean 3 down for now tho. I gave it a good try, but its just not doing it for me. I'll get back to it someday, tho.

[JEKKI]

http://i42.tinypic.com/21cxnuq.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/1slfgo.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2qir12q.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2lxxcft.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/x4rz2u.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/21omp9y.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/j9pph2.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/jqqqz6.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2e165a1.jpg

[Jesus_S_Preston]

Holy shit those are the ugliest little things I've ever seen. They're like the Cabbage Patch Kids with even more brain damage.

[Krymner]

Wonder which one of those twins is the girl????

[DarkNessBear]

Playing Star Ocean for plot is a bad idea generally.
You have a suggestion for a JRPG with a good plot?

Or is that a contradicting statement?

[Zmonkay]

Thanks all for the input on SH:Covenant. I was afraid that if I didn't like it till now, I wouldn't suddenly start :( Oh well. Might still finish it eventually, and still have to at least give From the New World a chance (though if I didn't care for 2, and 3 is less liked....)

Started up some Planescape Torment though. Been on my to-do list for way too long. Such great writing. And Infinity Engine, how I've missed ye!

[Rodimus]

You have a suggestion for a JRPG with a good plot?

Or is that a contradicting statement?

Sadly it's come to that. With the exclusion of the last few Persona games it's been a while since I truly enjoyed the story of a JRPG. And even then I cared more about the characters than the actual plot of Persona. I've come to the point where a story simply has to be good enough for me to tolerate it.

[pete5883]

http://i42.tinypic.com/21cxnuq.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/1slfgo.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2qir12q.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2lxxcft.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/x4rz2u.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/21omp9y.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/j9pph2.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/jqqqz6.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/2e165a1.jpg

Oh god, I have this issue. Maybe this is why I didn't like FFIV that much.

So I finished Blue Dragon yesterday. Not a bad game at all, but I really wish JRPG makers would learn to stop telegraphing plot twists 30 hours in advance. At the end of the game, Zola reveals she was working for the bad guy. When you first meet her and ask her how she got her powers, she's like "ummmmm, uhhhhh, I, uhhhhhh, got them just like you did..... yeeeeeah, that's it!" :roll:

[Magus8472]

You have a suggestion for a JRPG with a good plot?

Or is that a contradicting statement?

As far as recent memory goes, I enjoyed Lost Odyssey's, though they have become increasingly few and far between. I was more commenting on the fact that SO games have always been filled with absurd levels of melodrama and that their only real draw is the real time battle engine coupled with the expansive postgame and side stuff.

[Lions]

I have been playing FF7 Crisis Core on my PSP and am loving it. I have never played FF7, so I am definitely hitting that up when I am finished. I am also playing FF9 for the third time. After those, I plan to play FF8, then some other PSP RPG's, like crimson, FFT, etc.

[depascal22]

I've started playing Nocturne again. I'm only about 25 hours in tho, but a lot of that time has been spent grinding. My problem is that instead of just getting new stronger demons, I spend too much time grinding up the ones I have until all their skills are learned, then fusing them. I've created some pretty strong demons, but it takes too long this way.

Go to the Cathedral of Shadows when Kagatsuchi (sp?) is Full. You'll be able to use a sacrificial demon to boost your demon even more. This becomes really huge after you get the Pisaca from the Shady Broker in the Second Kalpa. He has Watchful, which lets you gain EXP without being in the active party. I use him as the sacrifice and most of my higher level demons now have Watchful. Grinding has become a breeze.

Also, when you fuse a demon like that, they'll have at least 7 spells/abilities and then when you level them up the first time, they learn ALL the spells they would have learned in up to then because of the sacrifice.

I just pulled this fusion off yesterday:

Lv 59 Queen Mab x Lv 39 Arahabaki = Lv 67 Kali

OR

During Full Kagatsuchi

Lv 59 Queen Mab x Lv 39 Arahabaki x Lv 39 Pisaca (sacrifice) = Lv 72 Kali

When I level Kali up to 73, it'll learn all the spells and abilities that it would've learned as if I grinded my way from 67 to 73.

Back to the gameplay, I gave up against the Trumpeter. He holds the last Candleabrum I need to finish the Kalpas. He's got a some wicked magic attacks and then uses Evil or Holy Melody to either insta-kill one of your party or completely heal all 11000 HP/6000 MP. It's a ridiculous fight that I wasn't completely prepared for even with some bad ass demons at my disposal.

I might go back to finish him off and finish the Kalpas but I'm nearing a point of no-return where I have to decide to screw it or deal with the super frustration.

I'm also finding more and more typos in the Double Jump guide. They started off pretty innocently with simple typos in the 2nd Kalpa but they're getting worse as I get farther in the game. One level of Munafishiro was reversed and the names for the bosses at the end of the level were all screwed up. I was pretty pissed when I wasted my first turn attacking the seraph that was supposed to be the healer.

[DarkNessBear]

Sadly it's come to that. With the exclusion of the last few Persona games it's been a while since I truly enjoyed the story of a JRPG. And even then I cared more about the characters than the actual plot of Persona. I've come to the point where a story simply has to be good enough for me to tolerate it.
Could White Knight Story have the potential to have a good story? Or is that just high hopes?

And has anyone expressed interest in the FFXIII storyline? Is there any precursor to the game?

[depascal22]

Could White Knight Story have the potential to have a good story? Or is that just high hopes?

And has anyone expressed interest in the FFXIII storyline? Is there any precursor to the game?

I usually don't go into RPGs knowing much about the story. I didn't know anything about FFX, XII, Nocturne (other than the world ending in the first five minutes), or Persona 2 and I really like all of them.

I think a great battle system can trump bad story telling. Eternal Sonata is a great example. As the story was going to hell, the battle system got better and better. I could slog my way through the last couple hours because I was pulling off humongous chains even though they tried to use moving command as a bad way to up the difficulty.

It's hard to say the opposite is true though. I never got into FFVII's ATB system and stopped trying to like the game a couple hours into it. Yeah, it might've been one of the greatest stories ever told but that battle system was atrocious to me.

[kainzero]

:hot:I have been playing FF7 Crisis Core on my PSP and am loving it. I have never played FF7, so I am definitely hitting that up when I am finished.
oh man.
i would play ff7 first.

it makes the ending of ff7 crisis core have a bigger emotional impact

[Krymner]

Thanks for the Nocturne hints, depascal. I'm not following the Double Jump guide, really not following anything yet. If I get stumped I'll look something up, otherwise I'm just flying solo. Which will probably be a problem later on, I'm sure.

[Lions]

Still playing FF7: CC. I am loving it, and now can't wait to play 7 for the first time. (Yeah, I know).
I have a question.

I just beat Genesis. How long do I have left?

[Moxio]

Hahaha, you fight Genesis so many times that saying you "beat Genesis" doesn't make any sense.

EDIT: Also, I highly recommend playing 7 first.

[Rodimus]

I think a great battle system can trump bad story telling.

Most of the time I would agree, but sometimes stories are just way to bad. Case in point Grandia III. I did beat it, but I would not recomend it unless you like the extremly cliched.

[Lions]

Hahaha, you fight Genesis so many times that saying you "beat Genesis" doesn't make any sense.

EDIT: Also, I highly recommend playing 7 first.
Well, the first time.. I'm not sure what happens after that. I just beat him the first time, and now I'm in a snowy place.

I'm probably too far in to start 7. I'd forget what happened in Crisis Core if I were to do that. ;P

[Moxio]

I think it's better that way. You're not far enough into the story for there to be any significance, really. CC does an excellent job at being an effective prequel; 7 is meant to be played first, then CC is used to fill in some gaps and provide background for Zack, Sephiroth, and cloud.

[Flak]

FFTA2 is so much fun, so much to do. I don't remember FFTA being quite this fun.

[depascal22]

I agree that Crisis Core is an awesome prequel. It really fits all the pieces together. What makes it even better is that it would be an awesome game even if it wasn't a Final Fantasy.

[pete5883]

Back to the gameplay, I gave up against the Trumpeter. He holds the last Candleabrum I need to finish the Kalpas. He's got a some wicked magic attacks and then uses Evil or Holy Melody to either insta-kill one of your party or completely heal all 11000 HP/6000 MP. It's a ridiculous fight that I wasn't completely prepared for even with some bad ass demons at my disposal.

I might go back to finish him off and finish the Kalpas but I'm nearing a point of no-return where I have to decide to screw it or deal with the super frustration.
The Trumpeter absolutely would've made me put down the game forever if I didn't own the strategy guide. Really, the most obnoxious boss I've fought in any game. I didn't realize you could avoid fighting him?

[Moxio]

Flak, a lot of people gave FFTA2 a lot of heat but I really liked it a lot too. Only downside is there's a lot of management to do for your clan but I didn't really mind it, and in the end had a great time.

[Flak]

haha so far I'm not seeing much management, I still have my 6 starting members. Supposedly I've unlocked the ability to recruit, there's been notices and rumors posted, but I haven't seen anything on the map.

I can't remember if there was an option to actually play dispatch missions, but I've been doing them in FFTA2 and it's more fun than sending someone away. I'll probably just dispatch for repeatables.

[Moxio]

Yeah once you start having 15, 20 guys in your clan, management gets hectic.

[DQT]

I was thinking about picking it up on Newegg. I just checked and it has dropped to $15.

[Moxio]

I'd say it's worth $15 if you liked the first one.

[DQT]

I liked but didn't love the first one. That's why I'm on the fence.

[Moxio]

Hm. Well I'll say that I like 2 more than 1. If you end up not liking it, you could always sell it on eBay surely for more than $15.

[Flak]

Man I got so close to getting Veterans in the General I trial twice, so I figured my group has gotta be a shoe-in for rank 4, but I got destroyed so bad because the sprites started going crazy as soon as my monk missed a swing and broke the law. I think I'll just beat the game for now, not gonna go OCD and get everything.

[depascal22]

The Trumpeter absolutely would've made me put down the game forever if I didn't own the strategy guide. Really, the most obnoxious boss I've fought in any game. I didn't realize you could avoid fighting him?

Even with the strategy guide, I couldn't beat him. I did exactly what it told me to do and kept one demon at 25% health but he would randomly heal one of my characters and then heal himself with the next melody. After an hour or so of back and forth, I just turned the damn thing off, restarted, and picked no when it asked if I wanted to stay there. I really want to beat him and finish the Kalpas so I can get Dante in my party but it's not really worth it at this point.

[Rodimus]

Trumpeter. That guy was a pain in the ass. Probably the hardest fight in the game after the true final boss.

[Flak]

Is the Nocturne guide worth the money or am I better off using GameFAQs/Google?

FFTA2 is pretty fun, I think I like it better than A1. Both stories pale in comparison to the first, but neither are terrible. Is it possible to collect titles from clan trials? Or does the game just stick you with the most recent one?

[depascal22]

Is the Nocturne guide worth the money or am I better off using GameFAQs/Google?

FFTA2 is pretty fun, I think I like it better than A1. Both stories pale in comparison to the first, but neither are terrible. Is it possible to collect titles from clan trials? Or does the game just stick you with the most recent one?

The GameFAQs guides aren't even complete.

The Nocturne guide is definately worth it as long as you don't mind a couple typos. I've noticed a couple but they didn't cause me to lose a boss fight or to be come hopelessly lost yet.

[Flak]

Wow, just took a peek on Amazon and it starts at $80.

[depascal22]

Wow, just took a peek on Amazon and it starts at $80.

Luckily, I got mine for a copy of Marvel vs SF (Saturn) and $20. It's not in mint condition but none of the pages are ripped so it's all good.

[willardhaven]

I managed to get one of the last ones on Double Jump's site... good guide.

[Rodimus]

The guide is great and a must if you want to complete Nocturne at 100%. But that price tag makes it difficult to recomend. Honestly I wouldn't fork over more than $40 for it.

[Chibi_Kaji]

You can just get the E-Guide off of Double Jump's site for $10.

[Azumangaman]

Tales Of Vesperia is fucking awesome.
Just thought it needed to be said.

[Lions]

It's alright, definitely the better of the next gen rpg's, but they all feel so lacking...

Just beat FF7:CC...inevitable ending but damn... :(

Going to start on FF7 for the first time.

I watched Advent Children when it came out, (Friend was into it) before I even really got into any RPG (other than Grandia II and FF9), so I knew the backstory, and knew that Zack and Aeris Would die (since they were at the end as ghosts), but the ending still was sad as fuck. What a great game.

[icebeast]

On the topic of the Nocturne Guide, personally I don't really think you need it I got the True Demon ending using mainly GameFAQs only borrowing the real guide from my roommate who had it once or twice.

The only thing I found the physical guide really useful for was the maps, especially because some of the dungeons (namely the later Kalpas and the final one) are really confusing and have weird stuff like invisible walls and invisible warp points. With that said though it wouldn't be that hard to map it out yourself assuming you catch on to what is happening in each area.

Everything else I either used a combination of GameFAQs to help me or figured out on my own.

[pete5883]

I thought the Nocturne guide was very very worth it since it was my first SMT game and the game doesn't tell you what any of the skills do before you learn them and erase other skills forever. So the explanation helped. And yes, the maps.

[JEKKI]

damn look what I saw today...

http://i44.tinypic.com/amazgx.jpg

that shyt is serious...

[Rodimus]

Damn, now that's advertisiment. I'd like to see something like that but for some obscure game like Katamari or BlazBlue. So people can drive by thinking "WTF?"

[Flak]

I can't figure out how to cancel quests in FFTA2, and the manual doesn't give me any ideas. What'll happen if I let a quest run out before I get to it? I've got one loaded up but I pretty much can't beat it without a gun class.

[Rei no Otaku]

Started Devil Survivor. I like it so far, but I have a feeling this game is going to get hard fast.

[Moxio]

Just let it expire, not a big deal.

Gunners are :drool:

[Flak]

Yeah there's a quest I have where I need to protect this guy who drank up all his potions, and the enemy team has a moogle fusilier and he makes it pretty much impossible. I can't get to him before he kills the potion guy.

[Moxio]

I think quests, if they expire, pop up back again after time if I remember right.

[DarkSageRK]

I hated Chrono Trigger.

I hated the characters, gameplay, plot... everything.

Could somebody please tell me why it's supposedly a timeless classic that everybody will love?

[Moxio]

Because everyone likes it but you.

Therefore, you have bad taste.

[StarKnightX]

I hated Chrono Trigger.

I hated the characters, gameplay, plot... everything.

Could somebody please tell me why it's supposedly a timeless classic that everybody will love?

Please at LEAST don't tell me you hated the soundtrack too...:-#

Chrono Trigger is definetely one of my favorite traditional RPGs. I could play it over and over again and never really get tired of it.

[DarkSageRK]

Music was good, sure. I'll give it that, I guess. I'm not a music guy though, so as long as a game's music doesn't get on my nerves, I'll consider it good.

[icebeast]

I hated Chrono Trigger.

I hated the characters, gameplay, plot... everything.

Could somebody please tell me why it's supposedly a timeless classic that everybody will love?

I have to question whether you like RPG/JRPGs in general if you didn't like the gameplay in Chrono Trigger, I mean the game is just basic RPG combat with the addition of team attacks.

As far as why it is so loved I think it is because it has a fairly original plot, for the time as well as today. Has basic but solid combat. And doesn't require any real grinding at all because the game is really well balanced.

[Kirin Lemon]

I hated Chrono Trigger.

I hated the characters, gameplay, plot... everything.

Could somebody please tell me why it's supposedly a timeless classic that everybody will love?

I'm sorry to hear about your shitty taste in gaming. :cry:

[StarKnightX]

I have to question whether you like RPG/JRPGs in general if you didn't like the gameplay in Chrono Trigger, I mean the game is just basic RPG combat with the addition of team attacks.

As far as why it is so loved I think it is because it has a fairly original plot, for the time as well as today. Has basic but solid combat. And doesn't require any real grinding at all because the game is really well balanced.

I'd also add that it's got like the perfect length of gameplay. Long enough to tell its story , but no so long that it ever feels like its dragging along. Also the sidequests near the end of the game are done right , in that they are pretty much unnecessary to have to do , but doing them gives you a major edge , and also fills in a lot of backstory for the various characters.

Oh , and of course the New Game + idea was brillant addition of replay value.

[Rei no Otaku]

I hated Chrono Trigger.

I hated the characters, gameplay, plot... everything.

Could somebody please tell me why it's supposedly a timeless classic that everybody will love?
You poor thing.

[Jesus_S_Preston]

I liked CT's gameplay, but I couldn't really care for the story or the characters beyond, like, IDK Frog and Magus.

[Rodimus]

Chrono Trigger > any JRPG ever

[DQT]

I liked CT's gameplay, but I couldn't really care for the story or the characters beyond, like, IDK Frog and Magus.

I don't there ever has been an RPG where people loved every single character. A good RPG has to at least make you like a few of them.

Just had to throw in that I played CT emulated in 2002-2003 ish and loved it. I played it on DS 3 months ago and still loved it. Us CT fans for the most part are not blinded by nostalgia.

[Lions]

I played a good amount of it and didn't see the hype. It's probably a good game at the end, but I think a lot of it is just nostalgia.

[Moxio]

I will say, overall CT is an overrated game. A lot of people say it's the best RPG of all time, and it's pretty far from it. However, CT is a good game. 8.5/10.

[Flak]

Yeah I think it's quite a bit of nostalgia. I'd have a gushing opinion like everyone else if I was smart enough to grab this for SNES back in the day. It's still a great game, just not the holy grail for me. I don't think I even have a holy grail.

I think we can agree the extra dungeons in the DS port are pretty ass-tastic though. The Lost Sanctum was a friggin' chore, and I'm not liking what I've seen of the Dimensional Vortex so far.

[Moxio]

Yeah I didn't bother with the extra dungeons at all.

[icebeast]

I think we can agree the extra dungeons in the DS port are pretty ass-tastic though. The Lost Sanctum was a friggin' chore, and I'm not liking what I've seen of the Dimensional Vortex so far.

I agree fully The Lost Sanctum was super annoying and the Dimensional Vortex was alright at best... and the monster raising, ya I didn't even touch that since it seemed like it was going to take forever and was totally pointless.

[Flak]

Yeah I tried the monster thing a little bit but it's so tedious and boring. Frustrating too when the game suddenly throws a much tougher monster at you and your glob won't even listen when you're trying to heal it from the massive damage it's taking.

[Jesus_S_Preston]

I don't there ever has been an RPG where people loved every single character. A good RPG has to at least make you like a few of them.



I'm not sure what you're saying. What I'm saying isn't that I only liked Frog and Magus, it's that they're the only characters who got any reaction out of me at all. They were the only ones who seemed to have a plotline that lasted beyond their immediate introduction. Robo and Ayla both pretty much stopped having any relevance storywise after you leave their initial scenario, I don't remember anything about Marle other than the queen (princess?) stuff near the beginning, Crono was your average silent spikey-haird JRPG protaginist, and I stopped using Luca as soon as I got Robo and don't remember a thing about her other than she built a time machine that once.

But it was a fun game. I liked the combat, and like someone said upthread it was well-paced. But when I got to the final boss and got decimated, I just quit. I wasn't invested enough to do any of the sidequests to level up. Put it back in the case and haven't touched it sensed.

[Rei no Otaku]

CT definitely isn't the best RPG ever. It's still damn good though, and at the time it came out it was the best.

[Chibi_Kaji]

It seems that Sakura Wars game NIS is bringing over will be 2 discs. One will have English Voice overs and the other will be Japanese.

[DQT]

I'm not sure what you're saying. What I'm saying isn't that I only liked Frog and Magus, it's that they're the only characters who got any reaction out of me at all. They were the only ones who seemed to have a plotline that lasted beyond their immediate introduction. Robo and Ayla both pretty much stopped having any relevance storywise after you leave their initial scenario, I don't remember anything about Marle other than the queen (princess?) stuff near the beginning, Crono was your average silent spikey-haird JRPG protaginist, and I stopped using Luca as soon as I got Robo and don't remember a thing about her other than she built a time machine that once.


I guess what I'm trying to say is that in most RPGs you probably won't get a reaction from most characters anyways. Still I can see why someone would say the CT characters are underdeveloped.

[ihadFG]

Having just played through Chrono Trigger for the first time last month (after starting emulated versions many times over the years, but never actually getting past the first hour or so), I have to say that I think it is the greatest RPG of all time. I can definitely see how someone might not agree with me on that, but I can't see how anyone who considers him/herself a fan of JRPGs can not at least like the game.

I don't think nostalgia is a requirement for enjoying Chrono Trigger.

And by the way, the sidequests at the end are what made the game for me (other than the Lost Sanctum, which I didn't play).

[sbb]

Star Ocean 3 is good, but it is not a popular game around here.

I'll never understand why people hated that game so much. Sure the huge twist at the end was kind of ridiculous, but overall, it was leaps and bounds better than 4... I dunno, I loved it anyway, one of my all time favorite PS2 games.


Does anybody play any Western RPGs? I enjoyed almost anything that used the infinity engine and/or the d20 system. I loved BG2, and was planning on an attempt at the first, but it's just toooooooooo hard, even on easy. It's impossible for me to progress without cheating, so I didn't see much point in continuing with it.

Not that I don't love JRPGs, but I find that as gaming tech advances, the Japanese ability to tell a coherent story is lessening greatly. The simple stories that they used to tell transcended culture because they were just that. The new, more complicated and esoteric stories are largely incomprehensible. I obviously can't say it's due to a difference in culture but I don't see any US-made games pumping out stories as convoluted and difficult to understand as, say FF XII. I loved XII but the story fell completely apart in the end. All of the sudden there are some weird aliens that need to be protected (or killed) for some reason. It was just weird, and I think the game would have been better served if that whole thing hadn't been included.

Just now, I'm getting ready to start up Arcanum. I played it for a bit a couple of years ago, and I'm really jonesing to start over and get into it again.

[Moxio]

I've always wanted to play 3. I played 1, 2 and 4 but never 3. If anyone wants to sell theirs cheap, I'm willing to buy it. 8-)

[Rei no Otaku]

While I never would have thought this a few years ago, I prefer Western RPGs to JRPGs nowadays.

[Moxio]

I have a fat PSP and I definitely have no intention of upgrading it to a Slim or a PSP GAY.

[Moxio]

While I never would have thought this a few years ago, I prefer Western RPGs to JRPGs nowadays.

Really? I don't prefer them over JRPGs yet, but the last few years in Western RPGs have been really good. TESIV and Fallout 3 have been fantastic, and with D3 on the horizon I'm impressed how WRPGs have come along.

[Rodimus]

I'll never understand why people hated that game so much. Sure the huge twist at the end was kind of ridiculous, but overall, it was leaps and bounds better than 4... I dunno, I loved it anyway, one of my all time favorite PS2 games.

From what I played the story & characters all seemed fine, I didn't like the fighting system. I was so hyped to play this game I bought it brand new with the guide. I really really tried to like it but the fighting system just killed it.

[Rei no Otaku]

Mass Effect, Oblvion, Fallout, KOTOR, Jade Empire have all been better than most JRPGs I've played.

[sbb]

In October, there are a couple of very promising WRPGs coming out in Alpha Protocol and Dragon Age. Should be great times, though AP is a little more shooty than I hope for. Hopefully it won't devolve too far into a Syphon Filter style 3p action game, but its BioWare so it's safe to assume there will be plenty of dialogue and at least some non-violent options.

[sbb]

From what I played the story & characters all seemed fine, I didn't like the fighting system. I was so hyped to play this game I bought it brand new with the guide. I really really tried to like it but the fighting system just killed it.

I'd already been prepared for that fighting system after years of Tales games and SO2, so I pretty much knew what I was in for. It took me a couple of hours to really get into SO3's particular flavor of combat, but once I did, I was hooked.

[Moxio]

I hope 13 doesn't reek. JRPGs lately have kinda been in a rut, with one or two exceptions.

[Rei no Otaku]

From what I played the story & characters all seemed fine, I didn't like the fighting system. I was so hyped to play this game I bought it brand new with the guide. I really really tried to like it but the fighting system just killed it.
That was the same problem I had. It didn't help that I played the game shortly after playing Tales of Symphonia.

[Flak]

Speaking of Star Ocean, how is number two on the PSP compared to the original? I know it has extra characters and cut scenes, but is it worth getting if I already own it on the Playstation?

[Chibi_Kaji]

I'll never understand why people hated that game so much. Sure the huge twist at the end was kind of ridiculous, but overall, it was leaps and bounds better than 4... I dunno, I loved it anyway, one of my all time favorite PS2 games.
It easy to understand... it wasn't that great of a game. Alot of people had a problem with the fighting system(Which I didn't really have a problem with). But what made me hate the game was the story. It was tolerable for a while(Which is really all I look for in an RPG) but at some point it just made me not want to play.

[Krymner]

My friend's entire reason for buying a 360 was Star Ocean 4 because he loved SO3 so much. Damn, was he disappointed. He claims SO3 as his all-time fav. I tried it out recently but just couldn't get into it, mostly because of the combat (which is the part my friend loves the most). At least Tales of Vesperia is now helping him cope with his SO4 disappointment.

And yeah, JRPGs have been in decline. Even the good ones aren't as good as many of the recent western RPGs.

[Chibi_Kaji]

I still actually want to try SO4. I'm just waiting for a price drop or something.

[Rodimus]

I'd already been prepared for that fighting system after years of Tales games and SO2, so I pretty much knew what I was in for. It took me a couple of hours to really get into SO3's particular flavor of combat, but once I did, I was hooked.

They didn't prepare me for shit. I also played SO2 and a few Tales games before SO3 and I wish the battle system was more like them. I love real-time battles but in SO3 I never felt like I had complete control over the character.

Now SO4 was the opposite. The battle system was okay, not as fun as Tales, but tolerable. The characters & story was it's downfall. Cliched, kiddy, and just plain annoying.

I agree JRPGs have been dissapointing for a while now. That's why I've ben going back and checking out some older PS2 RPGs I missed. I just picked up Tales of Abyss for $15.

[Flak]

Speaking of Star Ocean, how is number two on the PSP compared to the original? I know it has extra characters and cut scenes, but is it worth getting if I already own it on the Playstation?
Confirm/deny?

[sbb]

What is the big deal about Demon's Souls? I keep seeing people mentioning it, but never actually explaining why I should care.

[icebeast]

Confirm/deny?

Though I don't know this from personal experience one of my friends who loves Star Ocean (well all except 3) told me that in his opinion the Playstation version was a bit better because he thinks that a few of the changes made to combat caused Star Ocean: Second Evolution to be easier than he liked.

[62t]

The PSP star ocean got new voice acting, that alone should make it better,

Demon's Souls is the spiritual successor to the King's Field.

[ChibiJosh]

What is the big deal about Demon's Souls? I keep seeing people mentioning it, but never actually explaining why I should care.
I've been wondering this too.


Demon's Souls is the spiritual successor to the King's Field.
This means nothing to me.

[sbb]

From what I've seen and read, people are confusing RPG with fantasy. Demon's Souls just looks like another DMC style game, with magic instead of guns. It looks like it COULD be a good game, but it probably won't be filling anybody's itch for a meaty dialogue-driven story.

[depascal22]

Though I don't know this from personal experience one of my friends who loves Star Ocean (well all except 3) told me that in his opinion the Playstation version was a bit better because he thinks that a few of the changes made to combat caused Star Ocean: Second Evolution to be easier than he liked.

Sounds like I'll get the PSP version. Don't get me wrong. I love hard games as much as anyone but hard RPGs can get even more infuriating than hard action titles. I've had my fill with Nocturne.

Speaking of Nocturne, I'm at the Obelisk/Kagutsuchi Tower. I made a separate save point before I left so I can do the Kalpas later if I choose. I'm pretty satisfied with my team but it seems like I was feeling better about my boys a couple dungeons ago. I think having the guide helps and hurts because I know I'm in for some bad ass bosses tomorrow.

[Flak]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/mechanics-walkthrough-demons-souls/52055

I watched this and I'm pretty much sold. It's the best look at the game I've seen so far.

[StarKnightX]

Demon's Souls is the spiritual successor to the King's Field.

That catches my attention. King's Field 1 and 2 are two of my guilty pleasure PS1 games (in the sense that not many other people like them , much like Saga Frontier) The series is dated as hell now , but I still enjoy the games despite that.

Humor me though , since I know minimal about the game (and am too lazy to check myself ;)) , is the game still first person view , and is it being made by From Software or someone else?

Edit:After watching some of the above video , I'm a little more hesitant. While it still looks good and still has a lot of the same vibe as the king's field series , not being in first person view kinda throws it for me. I'm still interested in checking it out though.

[chibamm]

Ok, a little RPG rant here so bear with me...

I've been playing Persona 3 FES on and off for about a year. Now everytime I really start getting into it for a few days the crap begins to swell. What I mean, is the random dying in Tartarus. If I die from a Hama or Mudo one more freaking time by some podunk enemy.....IDK.

[pete5883]

Make shorter trips.

[depascal22]

Ok, a little RPG rant here so bear with me...

I've been playing Persona 3 FES on and off for about a year. Now everytime I really start getting into it for a few days the crap begins to swell. What I mean, is the random dying in Tartarus. If I die from a Hama or Mudo one more freaking time by some podunk enemy.....IDK.

Welcome to the SMT universe. Nocturne is the same way. Basically, I don't go more than a half hour without saving even if it means backtracking. If you can't get to the next point in a half hour, you need to do more grinding anyway.

[ChibiJosh]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/mechanics-walkthrough-demons-souls/52055

I watched this and I'm pretty much sold. It's the best look at the game I've seen so far.

Looks pretty cool. I'll have to consider buying it. How many other people are getting it? I have the feeling I probably won't want to play alone too often.

[Krymner]

So Disgaea 3 is finally getting a trophy patch next week. I'm glad now that I only spent a couple hours on it, cause it appears that it will make old save data unusable. Even tho I have never played Disgaea 1 or 2, I liked the little that I played of 3, but just wasn't into it when I played it at the time. Its been sitting in the backlog ever since earlier this year.

Anyone here actually beat the game or played it for a length of time? Now that it has trophies, I guess I'll give it another try soon.

But after Fallout 3. I'm so addicted to that game now....

[Mr. Anderson]

User QuickSciFi posted this article in the old school gaming forum all about Sega CD RPGs. It's quite good!

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/...g-library.html

[chibamm]

User QuickSciFi posted this article in the old school gaming forum all about Sega CD RPGs. It's quite good!

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/...g-library.html


Link doesn't work..

[icebeast]

Link doesn't work..

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/segacd/2009/06/the-sega-cd-mega-cd-rpg-library.html

I would assume that is the link he meant.

[ChibiJosh]

So Disgaea 3 is finally getting a trophy patch next week. I'm glad now that I only spent a couple hours on it, cause it appears that it will make old save data unusable. Even tho I have never played Disgaea 1 or 2, I liked the little that I played of 3, but just wasn't into it when I played it at the time. Its been sitting in the backlog ever since earlier this year.

Anyone here actually beat the game or played it for a length of time? Now that it has trophies, I guess I'll give it another try soon.

But after Fallout 3. I'm so addicted to that game now....

I beat Disgaea 3. I enjoyed it just about as much as another Disgaea.

[Mr. Anderson]

Ah, sorry about the broken link! Thanks icebeast.

[EXStrike]

http://i.neoseeker.com/mgv/9935-Akira_EX/935/43/dqixpreorder_display.png

Anyone else in?

[Chibi_Kaji]

Anyone here actually beat the game or played it for a length of time? Now that it has trophies, I guess I'll give it another try soon.
I wouldn't recommend that. From the looks of the Trophy list you are going to have to really work on getting them. That said I'm thinking restarting when the patch comes out... but I put alot of work in my current game and I'm not really sure if I want to go through that all over again. XD

[Krymner]

I wouldn't recommend that. From the looks of the Trophy list you are going to have to really work on getting them. That said I'm thinking restarting when the patch comes out... but I put alot of work in my current game and I'm not really sure if I want to go through that all over again. XD

Well, I really only played a couple hours anyway. Haven't looked at the trophy list yet, so I guess I'll give it a glance.

But hurray that Bethesda is offering Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall for free on their website. I sunk an entire summer into that game, hundreds of hours. The graphics are quite dated by today's standards, but the nostalgia factor is high for me.