Good 2D JRPGs since PSX/Saturn and GBA era?

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:15 pm

Any nice 2D JRPGs recommended since those era for any console? Isometric viewed will do too as long as they are in sprites. Preferably available in English. Thanks in advance.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:01 pm

Valykrie Profile!

moozooh · Post by **moozooh** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:05 pm

Last Scenario, for PC. It's pretty amazing.

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:22 pm

Valkyrie profile is a bit too expensive, and I hate it on PSP due to the graphics' stretching.

I don't play games on computer too, sorry forgot to mention that. And not interested in any SquareEnix products anymore.

I have played the Lunars, Albert Odyssey, Golden Suns, Sam Sho and some more I can't really remember.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:55 pm

On the PS2 there are the three Atelier Iris games (the next in the series, Mana Khemia, comes out in a week) and Ar Tonelico, all from the same developer (Ar Tonelico II is also out in Japan). Not a "pure" RPG, but Odin Sphere deserves a mention, and Shining Tears might whet your whistle if you're in the mood for something a bit more "Zelda-ish." On the Saturn there's also Magic Knight Rayearth, though I haven't played that one myself.

If you don't mind a foray into the Strategy realm there are a half-dozen or so Nippon Ichi games of that sort on PS2 (Disgaea, Phantom Brave, Soul Nomad, etc.), as well as Stella Deus and Grim Grimoire...

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:04 pm

-=PS1=-

Dragon Warrior VII (uses polygons for the overworld map, but the characters and such are all sprites)
Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete
Lunar2: Eternal Blue Complete

-=GBA=-

Sigma Star Saga

If you don't mind some dungeon crawling or strategy mixed in with your RPGs...

-=GBA=-

Shining Soul
Shining Soul II
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon

-=Saturn=-

Shining the Holy Ark
Dragon Force

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:11 am

The Coop wrote:Sigma Star Saga

rather meh I thought

Cromarty · Post by **Cromarty** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:04 am

BulletMagnet wrote:Not a "pure" RPG, but Odin Sphere deserves a mention...

Yes!

Also worthwhile: Yggdra Union and Summon Night: Swordcraft Story on GBA.
Stay away from Swordcraft Story 2 though, they mucked up everything that was good about the first one.

Of N1's games I think Phantom Brave is the best, but Disgaea seems to appeal to the most people.
(Anybody played Soul Nomad, is it good? I heard comparisons involving Ogre Battle.)

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:02 am

Try some of the Langrisser and Growlanser titles. Almost none in English but they're among my favorites and the former has a style reminiscent to SRW if you play that.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:15 am

Star Ocean 2. It's technically not Square Enix and not expensive so you're safe!

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:14 am

Ganelon wrote:Try some of the Langrisser and Growlanser titles. Almost none in English but they're among my favorites and the former has a style reminiscent to SRW if you play that.

i have the whole langrisser series on saturn, haven't had the interest to play them yet, not in SRPG mood atm, most probably will just start from 4 then 5. oh and i love SRW, have every version of it on different consoles except for NES, GB, GBA and PSP. hope 360 will get the next one, but the chance isn't too good.

are there more 2d JRPGs for the last generation? i only have valkyrie profile: silmeria (technically 3d battle, but 2d roaming which i really enjoyed).

i think i've covered most psx and saturn stuff, can't find any decent one for n64.

tekneekz · Post by **tekneekz** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:04 am

psx - Alundra, one of the best zelda clones around ever !?!?!?! must play

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:25 am

Sigma Star Saga is absolute shite.

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:27 am

szycag wrote:Sigma Star Saga is absolute shite.

It's too bad, because the first level was so promising.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:41 am

Zebra Airforce wrote:
szycag wrote:Sigma Star Saga is absolute shite.
It's too bad, because the first level was so promising.

I enjoyed it. The "battles" can get a bit tiresome at times thanks to the almost like clockwork frequency of them, but the rest of the game was done pretty well.

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:21 am

Cromarty wrote:
BulletMagnet wrote:Not a "pure" RPG, but Odin Sphere deserves a mention...
Of N1's games I think Phantom Brave is the best, but Disgaea seems to appeal to the most people.
(Anybody played Soul Nomad, is it good? I heard comparisons involving Ogre Battle.)

Well, i'm one of those guys who prefer the Disgaeas over PB, so i'm not sure if my taste will mesh with yours...but, I liked Soul Nomad. It seems to have sorta mixed reviews, and it took me a little while to get into it(it's really talky at first, and doesn't explain itself well at all), but I thought it was solid stuff.

It is a bit like Ogre Battle, and you don't have as much control over your guy as you do in N1's other games(it's more random, like OB), but you have more control than Ogre Battle.

However, I could see them making it even better with a more refined sequel, or spiritual successor.

s/m

D · Post by D » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:32 am

Secret of Mana SNES/GBA, which has great music to suck you in.
Play over good speakers.

RGB · Post by **RGB** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:37 am

I wonder why none has suggested Legend of Mana and Saga Frontier 2 yet

Edit: If you like cyberpunk/steampunk I highly recommend you Wachenroder for the Saturn. The only obstacle is the language, as it was never localized oustide Japan, but there's sufficient translation on the net.
The gameplay itself couldn't be more linear - you have battle (no Japanese required at that time, all the options are in form of very suggestive icons), cutscene (you basically cannot do a thing during that time, maybe shopping and saving, that's all), battle and so on... You'll prolly look up to translation only while not fighting.

Oh, and it's isometric (3D) with 2D sprites.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:41 pm

RGB wrote:I wonder why none has suggested Legend of Mana and Saga Frontier 2 yet

Saga Frontier is a bore.

RGB · Post by **RGB** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:08 pm

More like 'love it' or 'hate it' relationship. Like with everything, it's a matter of preferences...

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:27 pm

Secret of Mana wasn't on GBA, that was Sword of Mana, which was a remake of the game that came out in the US as Final Fantasy Adventure on the original Game Boy. It was generally regarded as boring and dumb. They tried to tack on some of the more eccentric stuff like Legend of Mana had to it and it didn't really stick, and the core of the gameplay wasn't aged too well.

Mitsuho · Post by **Mitsuho** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:41 pm

Breath of Fire
Grandia
Dew Prism (If you feel back in the Squaresoft mood)
Suikoden
Persona
Wild Arms

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:50 pm

how good are the persona games? i've only tried the soul hackers, but the language barrier is putting me off.

oh and too many games listed from squareenix, which i already own most of them. and too many 3d games which i'm not in the mood for them now, but thanks anyway. sorry for being picky.

i've just purchased dragon force, dark savior, magic knight rayearth, grandia , golden sun etc. still waiting for their arrival.

Mortificator · Post by **Mortificator** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:01 pm

Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga is a fun light RPG. No mysterious tortured anti-heroes or dramatic quest to kill god or the devil, just the Mario Bros. in a weird adventure. You only have two party members, but the action commands to dodge attacks and dish out extra damage make battles more involving then most games in the genre. Just don't expect it to be Mario RPG Part 2.

drboom · Post by **drboom** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:07 pm

gundamalpha wrote:how good are the persona games? i've only tried the soul hackers, but the language barrier is putting me off.

oh and too many games listed from squareenix, which i already own most of them. and too many 3d games which i'm not in the mood for them now, but thanks anyway. sorry for being picky.

i've just purchased dragon force, dark savior, magic knight rayearth, grandia , golden sun etc. still waiting for their arrival.

I'm 60+ hours into through Persona 3 and I'm still loving it. The battle system is streamlined and fast moving and slightly strategic (matching your Personas against the enimies to find their weaknesses). The daily stuff is like a dtaing sim, but strangely engaging and actually fulfilling.

I haven't played the earlier games as the price is a huge barrier of entry - and that there are so many good games out or comming out.

Other standouts: Grandia Extreme, Disgaea 1 & 2, Yakuza (modern day Japan, very overlooked), Magna Carta.

Looking forward to big time: The World Ends With You, Persona 3: FES

Gwyrgyn Blood · Post by **Gwyrgyn Blood** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:21 pm

Persona 2 has a great story, great characters, and a good combat system, but has god awful voice acting (in the English version) and it's a massive grindfest the whole way through. How much you can tolerate that will probably determine how much you like it.