Which of These RPGs Should I Pick Up? [PSP/PS2]

[DarkSageRK]

Thanks for all your help, guys. Closed so nobody bumps this years later. :P



Basically, I want to know which RPGs I should pick up and which ones I should stop wanting due to their suckage.

Before you think I'm lazy, I have done some research on this. I kid you not when I say I've probably read 2/3 of the online reviews for these games, some more than once, but I've been having a lot of trouble cutting games out of this list. (Financial constraints prevent me from simply buying them all. :p)

I figured that other CAGers would have enough experience with these types of games to give me their "Get it/Forget it" opinion.

The kind of RPGs I've enjoyed the most are those with good characters and character designs. An interesting plot is a bonus, but for me, it's all about the characters. So, with that in mind... Help me cut the sucky games out from this list, please.

PSP

Tales of Eternia
Tales of the World Radiant Mythology
Yggdra Union

PS2

Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia
Ar Tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica
Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny
Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm
Dark Cloud
Dual Hearts
Eternal Poison
Forever Kingdom
Grandia III
Grandia Xtreme
Magna Carta
Mana Khemia: The Alchemists of Al-Revis
Metal Saga
Ring of Red
Romancing Saga
Shining Force Exa
Shining Force Neo
Wild Arms: Alter Code: F
Wild Arms 5


Updated 6/9. Edited out games I purchased/realized I want[two or more recs in this thread]/were recommended I do not get.

Various games are not included here for a reason. Either I've played them already, I own them, I know I want them, or I don't want them. These are just the games I'm iffy about.

[pete5883]

IMO, cut all but these:
PSP
Star Ocean: First Departure
Star Ocean: Second Evolution
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

PS2

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Dark Cloud Dark Cloud 2
Grandia II

PS3

Eternal Sonata

[Raconteur]

Grandia II is awesome.

[Ronin317]

You don't have it listed, but SMT:Persona 3 FES has been spotted around at Best Buy on clearance for $10...which is YMMV of course. Just thought I'd mention it.

[willardhaven]

I happen to like Romancing SaGa.

[Poor2More]

Do yourself a favor, get Crimson Gem Saga PSP, its awesome old scool RPG fun

[HowStern]

Valkyria Chronicles for PS3 isn't listed so I'm guessing you have it? If not then that one definitely :)
Also enchanted arms is supposed to be good. I haven't tried it yet though.

[DarkSageRK]

Uhh, yeah. I probably should have mentioned that the games that aren't listed up there aren't there because I either own the games/100% plan to own them soon or because I'm not interested in the game at all. For the record, I do have Valkyria/Dark Cloud 2/Persona 3 (though not FES. Hmmm... at $10 once I get up to one...).

Thanks for the recs so far, guys. I really appreciate it.

[MSUHitman]

On PS3 I would put Eternal Sonata first, Cross Edge second, and dismiss Enchanted Arms.

[SoulReaver]

Enchanted Arms is horrible. Eternal Sonata is good. I heard Cross Edge sucks, at least according to ign

[Chairman_LMAO]

Jade Cocoon 2
Grandia II
Growlanser: Generations
Wild Arms: Alter Code: F
Wild Arms 5


I'm a bit biased with Wild ARMS. I'm a huge fan of the series.

[Moxio]

PSP

Star Ocean: First Departure
Star Ocean: Second Evolution

PS2

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Dark Cloud
Grandia II
Growlanser: Generations

PS3

Eternal Sonata

--

Toss the rest in the garbage bin.

[looploop]

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter is quality stuff. I would boot it up again if my PS2 were around.

[Draekon]

The ones from the list I'd probably recommend based on what you've said:


PSP
Crimson Gem Saga
Star Ocean: First Departure
Star Ocean: Second Evolution
Tales of Eternia

PS2
Grandia II
Growlanser: Generations
Wild Arms: Alter Code: F


There are other games on the list that I've enjoyed, but I don't really think they fit the definition of having good character designs in my opinion.

[62t]

second Crimson Gem Saga and Grandia II

[neckfurters]

Definitely Crimson Gem Saga for the PSP. I'm having so much fun with that game right now. Beautiful art and old school gameplay with some added flair like being able to attack again if you time it right when you get a critical hit on an enemy and being able to upgrade weapons to get status benefits. Also, Yggdra Union is a must play on PSP if you like very unique rpg gameplay. That was one of those games I couldn't stop playing until I finished it. And if you like that game and have a DS you need to check out Knights in the Nightmare! Both are developed by Sting and are amazing. I played Eternal Sonata on the 360 and finished that as well. It was a very fun game, especially if you have someone else to play with since you can each control a character during battle. I like the combat system of being able to chain combos and reduce damage by blocking with skillfully timed button presses.

[GuardianE]

Why oh why is Shadow Hearts Covenant not on your list? Particularly since you care about characters so much? Please do yourself a favor and get that.

Also, look into picking up Tales of Vesperia once it's released on the PS3... another character driven title.

Persona 3/4 are also incredibly character driven RPGs, from my understanding. I haven't played them yet, though I own them.

I apologize for not really basing these off your list, but the above titles are sooo so good, and based on what you're looking for in an RPG, they seem to fit your need.

[defiance_17]

From that list, Atelier Iris is the only one that really got its claws in me. It's actually the only RPG since the PS1 that I finished in less than a week--and that's saying something. Once the alchemy system kicked in, my social life was over. I've been scared to play the rest of the games in the series (even though I own them), simply because I don't have the time to dedicate to an addiction like that. The characters weren't incredibly memorable, but the game is fantastic.

[Rodimus]

Tales of Eternia (PSP)
Wild Arms 5 (PS2) - I just started playing this myself and I'm loving it.

[ViolentLee]

Ring of Red and Grandia III are both excellent games.
I'd avoid Metal Saga as its writing is the only good thing, and I found Magna Carta pretty weak overall.