Non-cinematic RPG's

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VulSuck

CAGiversary!
I'd like to expand my ps2 rpg collection a little bit, but I'm afraid that I don't know enough about the ps2 rpg's to do so. I'm hoping that somebody here can help me out.

Basically, I hated FFX because of the (imo) boring cutscenes and whiny, emo protagonist, but I get the impression that a lot of rpg's these days are similar. I have DQVIII and I loved old school SNES rpg's like Chrono Trigger and Earthbound. I also like old school crpg's like Baldur's Gate and it's ilk. So can anybody recommend me some good rpg's please?
 
The thing is those FMV movies is there to substitute for the crappy true graphics. Yes for a person who enjoys playing the worst looking 3d RPG in the world and would rather have the crappy graphics moving around with no text inicating action rather then a 3d FMV cutscene this would be good.

Then again the PSX has such power why not use it to there advantage.

Think back to games where you would sit there in front of 2d graphics watching sprites run around for a good long 20 minutes doing all sorts of actions that we could only imagine. Do you really want to go back to those days?

Personally what ticks me off is when you have games that they dubbb in english or gives an idea of what the character sounds like. I do not know what the Japanese think of this but for me who can understand english perfectly I really wish we could go back to those days before Starfox stuck his snout in to the speaking world.

Personally games that is in whatever langauge should stay in that laungauge.
Like the Resident Evil series was originally in English and the Kingdom Heart games is really in Japanese.

Again I like the cut scenes where a system could not do the impossible without having that extra space or compression. Games like FFfVIII did have long cutscenes but that was only to imitate real life where something such as a small action would be over done rather in a animation small actions is quickly done.

Again in games like Killer 7 they had cutscenes but then again everything had vioces and it all worked out. Just try playing back any 3d game with or without cut scenes in your head but from a 2d perspective. Then you can tell which is crap from gold.
 
I've only played a little bit of Nocturne, and a bit more of DDS, yet I'd call DDS a cinematic RPG, though Nocturne I don't think is.
 
[quote name='Z-Saber']I've only played a little bit of Nocturne, and a bit more of DDS, yet I'd call DDS a cinematic RPG, though Nocturne I don't think is.[/QUOTE]

Well, all RPGs are going to have cinematics to an extent. DDS does keep them to a minimum though.
 
[quote name='RegalSin2020']Think back to games where you would sit there in front of 2d graphics watching sprites run around for a good long 20 minutes doing all sorts of actions that we could only imagine. Do you really want to go back to those days?[/quote]
Ha! Reading that made a number of Chrono Trigger moments come to mind. They'd use the same 5 animations to showcase about a million different emotions.

Crono%20-%20Shocked%20%28Front%29.gif
Crono%20-%20Laugh%20%28Front%29.gif
Crono%20-%20Blink%20%28Front%29.gif


OP, if you love the SNES RPGS, have you considered some PS1 gems like Chrono Cross and FF8?
 
I'm in a similar boat. I really enjoy old style RPGs (Both PC and console) from before all the cinematics took over. I still play Wasteland, Bard's Tale (The original of course) and the early FFs. Until about a year ago I bought every single RPG I could get my hands on no matter how bad it was supposed to be or what style it was. Then I realized I was buying stuff like FFX which I ended up playing for all of an hour or so before I stopped in disgust. Now I'm a tad more picky. But anyway here are some that I really enjoyed: Atelier Iris, Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (I know it got pretty reamed in reviews, but I liked it), Legaia 2, All of the Shadow Hearts games, SMT: Nocturne, SMT: DDS, Wild Arms 3, and Wizardry. Cinematics aren't bad by themselves. Some games do them well, but all too many use them as a crutch to wow you with eye candy and cover up the fact that the core game kinda well...sucks.
 
Just as Kendro desrcibes the person who did all those Sprite action probably went threw various transitions then the person who did them for 3d games. Now today with all the 3d face emotions programs and devices they don't even need the face animators.

Then again for body movements I don't mind the FMV's especially where they had Zell in FF8 did the triple back flip.
 
If you want heavy on gameplay, light on story, I'd recommend Shin Megami Tensei, Digital Devil Saga 1&2, and Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (maybe? I don't remember this one that well.)

The Shadow Hearts's and Xenosaga's might not be too bad for you, because in those games it is very easy to completely skip the cutscenes, unlike most other RPG's.
 
[quote name='pete5883']If you want heavy on gameplay, light on story, I'd recommend Shin Megami Tensei, Digital Devil Saga 1&2, and Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (maybe? I don't remember this one that well.)

The Shadow Hearts's and Xenosaga's might not be too bad for you, because in those games it is very easy to completely skip the cutscenes, unlike most other RPG's.[/QUOTE]

Well, it's not that I don't like stories, I just don't want a fucking movie in my goddamn game
 
[quote name='ne2eire']How is Wild Arms 4?[/QUOTE]

It's not cinematic, but it is total fucking dogshit. Avoid. I absolutely love the rest of the series, too.
 
You can easily skip the cutscenes in Xenosaga but then you'll have no idea what the hell is going on. One of the main selling points for the franchise is the long convoluted story line. If you skip the cutscenes, you won't get what made the game "special" in the first place.

Nocturne is a quality addition to any RPG collection but it won't be easy to find for a good price. DDS1 is also impossible to find for a fair price.

EB has Breath of Fire for under 20 bucks. I would go with that and then try to find the SMT games.
 
For games that are heavy on gameplay and light on story

Valkyrie Profile 2
DQ8
Nocturne
DDS1 + 2
Kings Field
Wizardry: Tales of the forsaken Land



And WA4 kicked ass, but it has a lot of story stuff. Probably one of the most fun battle systems of all time is featured in this game though.
 
[quote name='Dr Mario Kart']I dont thing RPGs are for you.[/quote]

I agree. What's the point of playing a game for 40-100 hours if you don't give a damn about the story?
 
The gameplay in most (Read it again. I said most, not all.) RPGs are identical, so why would you play it for the gameplay? The draw of an RPG is almost entirely the story. Yes, gameplay is awesome, and some RPGs do downright suck because of their gameplay, but a good RPG with a crappy story and terrific gameplay does not exist.
 
I disagree. Might and Magic, Wizardry, early ultima games. All awesome, but their stories are nothing more than stoppin the evil force that shadows the land.
 
How about an sRPG like Disgaea? There are cutscenes, but they're pretty static, like reading a page from a comic book, and generally sparse compared to more traditional RPGs.
 
[quote name='daschrier']I disagree. Might and Magic, Wizardry, early ultima games. All awesome, but their stories are nothing more than stoppin the evil force that shadows the land.[/quote]And that's a bad story?

Actually, let me clarify my statement. It was directed primarily toward jRPGs.
 
I'd definitely agree with peoples feelings about BoF: DQ, since I quite liked the twist on gameplay and the definite Strategy element it added given that it had NO inn's in it, to the extent I played. Basically the best way to keep your health up was to NEVER take any damage in battles which was like, impossible for me until I got Nina in my party.
 
I know a lot of people didn't like it, but I liked Mega Man X: Command Mission. I thought it was fun to go around as Mega Man and company. Though I sorta didn't know who some of those people were since I didn't play a lot of the other X games, it doesn't affect the fun factor much. There aren't that many cutscenes at all. And both X-Men Legends games have very very little cutscenes. And I'm sorry.... but I have to put in a plug for one of my favorite games, Aggressive Inline. It's not really an rpg at all....but you can upgrade your character. And there's a lot of humor, and expandable levels. And one of the best soundtracks of any sports game I've played. And its really cheap! But, if you'd like to just disregard that, go ahead, but still look into Mega Man X and X-Men.
 
Legends isn't really an RPG, though it has RPG elements. I played very little of Command Mission (got distracted, not because it sucked) and it thought it was okay. Didn't play enough to get a good impression, but it seemed to be good.

Also, most (if not all) of the characters in Command Mission, aside from X and Zero, are original creations for the game.
 
I totally agree with you about Final Fantasy X. It felt like I was watching a movie instead of playing a game. You walk down a one way path, watch a cutscene, fight a scripted battle, watch another cutscene, repeat.

Even though DQ8 appears far too long for my taste, I have come very close to buying it many times simply due to the old-school gameplay.
 
[quote name='ne2eire']How is Wild Arms 4?[/QUOTE]

Decent, but far too easy. Plus it has a fair share of cinematics and cutscenes.

if you're looking for action-RPGs light on story, try Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance 1 & 2, both Champions of Norath games, hell even bot X-Men Legends games.
 
[quote name='Zing']I totally agree with you about Final Fantasy X. It felt like I was watching a movie instead of playing a game. You walk down a one way path, watch a cutscene, fight a scripted battle, watch another cutscene, repeat.

Even though DQ8 appears far too long for my taste, I have come very close to buying it many times simply due to the old-school gameplay.[/QUOTE]

I also agree about FFX. I did enjoy it somewhat, but it's definitely my least-favorite Final Fantasy. I liked X-2 a lot better.

Dragon Quest VIII is ridiculously long, but god, is it worth it. I haven't put over 70 hours into an RPG since Disgaea (and maybe two or three others ever), but I loved absolutely every second of this one. It was never to the point that I was wondering when it was going to end. Buy it now, trust me.
 
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