Post by Laharl on Nov 4, 2007 15:18:09 GMT 1
what are your 10 favourite RPGs? a little description wouldnt hurt either...
I am purposely leaving out Action RPGs along the lines of Zelda and Okami so i have enough space
10. Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny It has it's critics but i love this game, the gameplay is enjoyable and fast paced, it has the strongest cast and story of any of the eternal mana games. The soundtrack is one of the best you'll hear and although the game isnt too lenghty this makes sure the experience doesnt drag on and there's a fair amount of secret stuff to doafterwards.
9. Makai Kingdom Sucessfully fixes the problems from Phantom Brave and creates a real gem, the storyline is busrting with originality and humour and it has one of the strongest casts in an NIS game. The improvements to the Phantom Brave system make battles genuinely enjoyable rather than a chore, plus the inclusion of vechicles is a welcome addition. The game is pretty lengthy although it's not particularly challenging its damn good fun! the wealth of secret characters and endings drastically increase playtime and some of the secret bosses are really difficult. The soundtrack isnt half bad either.
8. Tales of Phantasia As i played through this on the gba i kept asking myself "HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A SNES TO PULL THIS OFF!?" XD This game was way ahead of its time, excellent battle system, solid cast if it there was only five real characters. Excellent lifespan, i got 50 hours out of it, which than i get out of most modern RPGs. Storyline is pretty advanced, nothing too spectacular but avoids most of the cliches. Soundtrack is pretty good as 16 bit goes, i can only think of Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger that have a significantly better soundtrack.
7. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Still the best SRPG in my opinion, the gamep0ay is more fluid and forgiving than that of other SRPGs, the plot is genius, the characters are superb. One of my favourite things about Disgaea is you can choose how much to get out of it; if you just complete main game you're looking at about 50-70 hours, if you want to doall the scret stuff afterwards then you're looking at around 150-200 hours and if you want to go into neverending uber grind power level land then the game's lifespan becomes infinite. Soundtrack and voice acting is of the highest quality aswell
6. Chrono Trigger Chrono Trigger is just wow, you know from as soon as you start you're dealing with a quality game. VERY strong cast, superb time traversing storyline which has more than its fair share of twists. The game plays brilliantly, battle system is solid, exploration of dungeons is actually enjoyable rather than a chore. I dont like to comment on graphics but i gotta say Chrono Trigger has the best on the SNES in my book. Soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, definately a turning for Uematsu and Matsueda
5. Suikoden i'm kinda cheating here and including the second game aswell, i just love them both! tis a real shame the series died on its arse after the second game. Anyway the Suikoden games have to have the largest casts of any RPG, although only around 20 of the 108 are integral to the storyline. I never felt overwhelmed by the number if characters and i think that's pretty damn impressive. Plots in both games are outstanding, solidly based in politics and war. The gameplay is simplistic but very enjoyable as a result of it, you are constantly exploring, eager to find new charcters to recruit to your army. the battle system is sufficient, nothing spectacular although the runes and the second games combine attacks do add a little depth. The Suikoden games are a lot shorter than they appear, i think it took me 80 hours to complete them both first time through. There are a few secrets to do at the end but i always find these games very replayable and i've completed them both around 4 times. Miss Higashino outdoes herself with fantastic soundtracks for both games.
4. Star Ocean: The Second Story An old favourite. Probably the best use of being able to choose one of two main characters i've seen. As there is significant difference between them for the both to be worth playing through, effectively doubling the lifespan of the game. Cast is pretty damn awesome although there are a few retards thrown in. the plot is solid if a little confusing due to an overdose of scientific jargon. Gameplay is amazing, this game still has the best battle system in existence. And it's pretty long, a good 40-50 hours first play through and a bit less if you replay with the other character. Motioi Sakuraba's score for the game is fantastic, unfortunately the same cant be said for quite a few of the voices.
3. Final Fanrasy VII Like many people, this was the game that got me into RPGs, very strong cast and plot, all the recent bumfuckery does nothing to deny how great the original game is. Gameplay is awesome, materia system is genius. The game is of dcent length a good 50-60 hours first time through and pretty challenging too first time. I've replayed through VII around 8 times, gives it pretty good replay value in my book. Uematsu's game score is simply legendary.
2. Final Fantasy IX My favourite Final Fantasy, the naysayers can piss off. I love the setting and the world, the characters that inhabit it, especially the central characters who add a new element to the gameplay as unlike other FFs characters cant be customed to all be invincible gods with the same build. Plot is very strong, especially the aspect of the summons being a major part of the storyline. Gameplay is excellent, the ability system is very strong and the game is just fun to play. Length is good, 50 hours or so first time (although i've managed it in under 12 to get Excalibur II). There are lots of secrets and sidequests to keep you occupied aswell. Soundtrack is one of Uematsu's best works in my opinion.
1. Tales of Symphonia Beats everything else for me hands down, Namco got everything just about perfect, very strong plot, it had me hooked, superb unexpected twists. Cast is excellent too, a wide range of interesting well developed characters. Gameplay really stands, a genuine joy to play, battles are intense and very enjoyable. The game is a good 40 hours long but it gives you ample reasons to replay it, think i've been playing for around 100 hours on my third run through. The game also has a unique multiplayer, my first play through where i effectively "co-oped" with a friend remains my best gaming experience to date. Sakuraba and Tamura produce an excellent soundtrack and the game's voice acting is brilliant
I am purposely leaving out Action RPGs along the lines of Zelda and Okami so i have enough space
10. Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny It has it's critics but i love this game, the gameplay is enjoyable and fast paced, it has the strongest cast and story of any of the eternal mana games. The soundtrack is one of the best you'll hear and although the game isnt too lenghty this makes sure the experience doesnt drag on and there's a fair amount of secret stuff to doafterwards.
9. Makai Kingdom Sucessfully fixes the problems from Phantom Brave and creates a real gem, the storyline is busrting with originality and humour and it has one of the strongest casts in an NIS game. The improvements to the Phantom Brave system make battles genuinely enjoyable rather than a chore, plus the inclusion of vechicles is a welcome addition. The game is pretty lengthy although it's not particularly challenging its damn good fun! the wealth of secret characters and endings drastically increase playtime and some of the secret bosses are really difficult. The soundtrack isnt half bad either.
8. Tales of Phantasia As i played through this on the gba i kept asking myself "HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A SNES TO PULL THIS OFF!?" XD This game was way ahead of its time, excellent battle system, solid cast if it there was only five real characters. Excellent lifespan, i got 50 hours out of it, which than i get out of most modern RPGs. Storyline is pretty advanced, nothing too spectacular but avoids most of the cliches. Soundtrack is pretty good as 16 bit goes, i can only think of Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger that have a significantly better soundtrack.
7. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness Still the best SRPG in my opinion, the gamep0ay is more fluid and forgiving than that of other SRPGs, the plot is genius, the characters are superb. One of my favourite things about Disgaea is you can choose how much to get out of it; if you just complete main game you're looking at about 50-70 hours, if you want to doall the scret stuff afterwards then you're looking at around 150-200 hours and if you want to go into neverending uber grind power level land then the game's lifespan becomes infinite. Soundtrack and voice acting is of the highest quality aswell
6. Chrono Trigger Chrono Trigger is just wow, you know from as soon as you start you're dealing with a quality game. VERY strong cast, superb time traversing storyline which has more than its fair share of twists. The game plays brilliantly, battle system is solid, exploration of dungeons is actually enjoyable rather than a chore. I dont like to comment on graphics but i gotta say Chrono Trigger has the best on the SNES in my book. Soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, definately a turning for Uematsu and Matsueda
5. Suikoden i'm kinda cheating here and including the second game aswell, i just love them both! tis a real shame the series died on its arse after the second game. Anyway the Suikoden games have to have the largest casts of any RPG, although only around 20 of the 108 are integral to the storyline. I never felt overwhelmed by the number if characters and i think that's pretty damn impressive. Plots in both games are outstanding, solidly based in politics and war. The gameplay is simplistic but very enjoyable as a result of it, you are constantly exploring, eager to find new charcters to recruit to your army. the battle system is sufficient, nothing spectacular although the runes and the second games combine attacks do add a little depth. The Suikoden games are a lot shorter than they appear, i think it took me 80 hours to complete them both first time through. There are a few secrets to do at the end but i always find these games very replayable and i've completed them both around 4 times. Miss Higashino outdoes herself with fantastic soundtracks for both games.
4. Star Ocean: The Second Story An old favourite. Probably the best use of being able to choose one of two main characters i've seen. As there is significant difference between them for the both to be worth playing through, effectively doubling the lifespan of the game. Cast is pretty damn awesome although there are a few retards thrown in. the plot is solid if a little confusing due to an overdose of scientific jargon. Gameplay is amazing, this game still has the best battle system in existence. And it's pretty long, a good 40-50 hours first play through and a bit less if you replay with the other character. Motioi Sakuraba's score for the game is fantastic, unfortunately the same cant be said for quite a few of the voices.
3. Final Fanrasy VII Like many people, this was the game that got me into RPGs, very strong cast and plot, all the recent bumfuckery does nothing to deny how great the original game is. Gameplay is awesome, materia system is genius. The game is of dcent length a good 50-60 hours first time through and pretty challenging too first time. I've replayed through VII around 8 times, gives it pretty good replay value in my book. Uematsu's game score is simply legendary.
2. Final Fantasy IX My favourite Final Fantasy, the naysayers can piss off. I love the setting and the world, the characters that inhabit it, especially the central characters who add a new element to the gameplay as unlike other FFs characters cant be customed to all be invincible gods with the same build. Plot is very strong, especially the aspect of the summons being a major part of the storyline. Gameplay is excellent, the ability system is very strong and the game is just fun to play. Length is good, 50 hours or so first time (although i've managed it in under 12 to get Excalibur II). There are lots of secrets and sidequests to keep you occupied aswell. Soundtrack is one of Uematsu's best works in my opinion.
1. Tales of Symphonia Beats everything else for me hands down, Namco got everything just about perfect, very strong plot, it had me hooked, superb unexpected twists. Cast is excellent too, a wide range of interesting well developed characters. Gameplay really stands, a genuine joy to play, battles are intense and very enjoyable. The game is a good 40 hours long but it gives you ample reasons to replay it, think i've been playing for around 100 hours on my third run through. The game also has a unique multiplayer, my first play through where i effectively "co-oped" with a friend remains my best gaming experience to date. Sakuraba and Tamura produce an excellent soundtrack and the game's voice acting is brilliant
Will think more, have at least 2 favs not on your list.
