Any RPG fans here?

[Fuzzypants]

played D&D for the first time in my life last Friday (yeah I'm fly as shit)

hey all the cool kids are playing D&D and magic the gathering now.

[sjewkestheloon]

Finished Tales of Vesperia the other night and had a jolly old time playing it with the missus. Not groudbreaking by any stretch but entertaining with a delightful jaunt of a story and reasonably likeable characters. Especially the dog with a pipe.

[Fuzzypants]

picked up Enchanted Arms & Resonance of Fate

[Obiwanshinobi]

I've been playing SMT: Nocturne/Lucifer's Call recently. Fusion system makes more sense in this one than in Persona 3, where - thanks to the compendium - it felt more like grinding (except for The Answer, which was alright). At this point in my book: DDS1&2>Nocturne>...>Persona 3 FES. Speaking of the PS2 jRPGs, DDS is the one I probably enjoyed the most (slightly topping BoFV: Dragon Quarter and Suikoden III in this regard, which really is saying). There's even a hidden shmup in DDS2! (I call it Dyaus, which is the name of Cielo's avatar).
I've still yet to play Shadow Hearts, though. I'm optimistic about it, as Yasunori Mitsuda's music helped me to endure the shitness of Xenogears and the mediocrity of Chrono Cross. Shadow Hearts can't be any worse, can it?

[BulletMagnet]

I've still yet to play Shadow Hearts, though. I'm optimistic about it, as Yasunori Mitsuda's music helped me to endure the shitness of Xenogears and the mediocrity of Chrono Cross. Shadow Hearts can't be any worse, can it?

The first game's a bit rough around the edges, but the second and third ones are favorites of mine. Xenogears and Chrono Cross don't begin to compare in most respects.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Xenogears and Chrono Cross don't begin to compare in most respects.

I hope so, verily I do.

[Pirate1019]

blah

I'll second the vote for DDS. Beat the first one in 2 days and went straight from my PS2 to my computer and spent $100 on the second game. The story is good and it's a nice balance between SMT and more typical RPGs, because of the lack of a fusion system. Definitely a turnoff for some, but I enjoy the combat more than the demon finagling. Atlus really struck gold with the Press Turn System.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Also, those big fucking scythes in Serph's forearms. Savage.

[CMoon]

I'll second the vote for DDS. Beat the first one in 2 days and went straight from my PS2 to my computer and spent $100 on the second game. The story is good and it's a nice balance between SMT and more typical RPGs, because of the lack of a fusion system. Definitely a turnoff for some, but I enjoy the combat more than the demon finagling. Atlus really struck gold with the Press Turn System.

It's still sitting in a pile of PS2 games I need to play, along with Shadow Hearts and Suikoden V. I just need to finish Nocturne before I'm going to get to these other PS2 RPGs.

[BulletMagnet]

I just need to finish Nocturne before I'm going to get to these other PS2 RPGs.

If you're like me that might be awhile, as I put around 180 hours into my first Nocturne play-through - then again, I'm a bigger fan of that one than most.

[Pirate1019]

I just need to finish Nocturne before I'm going to get to these other PS2 RPGs.

Two SMT games simultaneously is not a good idea. I've tried it.

Anyway, DDS 1 and 2 are probably my favorite RPGs on the PS2, so I recommend them heartily to anybody willing to drop the dough to see the story to it's conclusion. That second game ain't cheap.

[ZOM]

I just need to finish Nocturne before I'm going to get to these other PS2 RPGs.

Two SMT games simultaneously is not a good idea. I've tried it.

Anyway, DDS 1 and 2 are probably my favorite RPGs on the PS2, so I recommend them heartily to anybody willing to drop the dough to see the story to it's conclusion. That second game ain't cheap.

If you have the means to play imports you can get a PAL copy, it's a helluva lot cheaper.
I also recommend those two games, they're great.

[CMoon]

Anyway, DDS 1 and 2 are probably my favorite RPGs on the PS2, so I recommend them heartily to anybody willing to drop the dough to see the story to it's conclusion. That second game ain't cheap.

Actually, DDS 2 is currently cheap. They reissued it like 6 months back. In fact, Nocturne, DDS 1 & 2 are all cheap.

[Pirate1019]

I'll give you one guess at when I bought DDS 2.

I hate my life.

[BryanM]

For some reason I've started through this new "Pokermon Pearl" game. Why do I need to play a remake of a game 14 years old yet once more? I don't know. I guess I haven't had my fill of god damn Zubats yet. Or Tentacools (the Zubat of the sea).

I love the vague and secretive nature of it all. Like, hi, this trait reduces your Attack damage by 25%. Would have been GOOD TO KNOW this in-game from the start.

Argh.

Hey are there any multiplayer Online games with a FF-esque battle system? It seems obvious you could completely command a team of four in real time by allowing their actions to be queued before their turn gauge fills up, and it seems weird and silly I'm not aware of anything like this being shoved down my throat.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Hey are there any multiplayer Online games with a FF-esque battle system? It seems obvious you could completely command a team of four in real time by allowing their actions to be queued before their turn gauge fills up, and it seems weird and silly I'm not aware of anything like this being shoved down my throat.

Disciples II: Rise of the Elves is perhaps the closest to what you're asking for. Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic, or even Heroes of Might & Magic III could be too complex for a beginner. They are strictly turn-based, though, no ATB (thank goodness, if you ask me), which can be annoying if your opponents like to take their time. Still, you can have a gentlemen's agreement on a time limit for each turn (perhaps certain game modes take care of it, like in game of chess with a clock).
The real deal about multiplayer in these kind of games, however, is a competition with someone else on one machine (the hot seats mode). It's the PC party gaming; the more the merrier.

[BryanM]

I always thought Disciples odd. These big, sweeping maps, when Ogre Battle started to wear very thin midgame with maps with a huge amount of space with not much in them.

Heck, I have 2 right over there. Just so lazy.

And Sacrifice.

Am I the only person who ever played Sacrifice at all? It was kind of like a DotA style game years before it became popular.

"In a perfect world, I would be the only god", indeed..

[PainAmplifier]

I always thought Disciples odd. These big, sweeping maps, when Ogre Battle started to wear very thin midgame with maps with a huge amount of space with not much in them.

Heck, I have 2 right over there. Just so lazy.

And Sacrifice.

Am I the only person who ever played Sacrifice at all? It was kind of like a DotA style game years before it became popular.

"In a perfect world, I would be the only god", indeed..

Having played Disciples 2 quite a lot, I'm more of the mind that the majority of the maps were actually on the smaller side. For the most part the 'big sweeping maps' is a side effect of the game design, where it takes a massive amount of XP to reach your races tier 5 units. Well that and the fact that most stacks don't respawn after you kill them, means cleared areas are 'empty' and respawning ones usually have a specific target, so they don't just find an empty area of the map and decide to hunker down there

And map size is actually quite dependent on what race, level and class your hero is. A L1 Mage hero is going to be slow as molasses, while a L6 Guild hero can probably cross the biggest maps in 2-3 turns even with sub-optimal movement setups.


Sacrifice? I don't clearly recall that game. The name sounds semi-familiar but I can't place it.

[CMoon]

OK, couple questions. I'm facing a big pile of PS2 titles and I don't know quite where to start.

First off, I do have Nocturne to finish and DDS 1&2 but won't get back to them until I'm done with Strange Journey, so put those out of your mind.

What I have here is:

Shadow Hearts 1 & 2. I know Covenant is better than the first one, but having both should I play them in order?

Suikoden 5 (based on recommendations here)

Rouge Galaxy (I know it is a mixed bag, but also $12 new!)

I know this is dumb asking which to play first, but I'm looking for an RPG that will give me a little breathing room from SMT. Suggestions?

[Pirate1019]

Rouge Galaxy (I know it is a mixed bag, but also $12 new!)

I shit you not one of the worst games I've ever played in my life. "Balance Issues" is how I would describe it in a single phrase, but it doesn't do justice to how bad the game really is.

[CMoon]

Wow! OK, I'll put that one in the bottom of the pile. I'd heard lots of mixed reviews and thought it was at least a safe $12 purchase.

[Rob]

Rogue Galaxy is very disappointing after Dragon Quest VIII.

[Pirate1019]

Rogue Galaxy is very disappointing after Dragon Quest VIII.

I honestly couldn't believe it was from the same studio.

[Aquas]

I'd say play Suikoden V instead... I never finished that one, though. Shadow Hearts 2 I found was cool, but also easy.

I've got about 10 hours into the new Lunar remake on the PSP. I'm enjoying it, really blowing through it's difficulty (maybe the PSX version was slightly more challenging) but I've been wiping the floor. I guess my "RPG skills" may have leveled up in the 7 or so years since I played Silver Star Complete. or the fact they're handing over Uber abilities that each character recharges every 5 battles or so. The boat scene was different, since they re-wrote the lyrics to the boat song and the opening FMV's song "Wings". No bothers with the voice acting or anything else though, it's Lunar looking good again. Alex seems more silent protaganist and reserved than he was in Silver Star Story (PSX). Luna seems more girly and naive than usual, too. Again, it's been a while since the PSX game.

[BulletMagnet]

Shadow Hearts 1 & 2. I know Covenant is better than the first one, but having both should I play them in order?

If you plan on experiencing the whole series then that might not be a bad idea, as the story does carry over somewhat. In fact, if you REALLY want to do things in order, you might want to play Koudelka for PS1 first, as that's a semi-prequel to Shadow Hearts (though not exactly a great game overall). If you're just looking for a good one-shot, though, Covenant is most people's favorite (though I have something of a soft spot for From the New World personally).

[ZOM]

...In fact, if you REALLY want to do things in order, you might want to play Koudelka for PS1 first, as that's a semi-prequel to Shadow Hearts (though not exactly a great game overall). If you're just looking for a good one-shot, though, Covenant is most people's favorite (though I have something of a soft spot for From the New World personally).

You beat me to it - yeah, playing Koudelka(I liked that game) first is surely more interesting if you want to "get" some of the references used in Shadow Hearts. Not that you'd miss anything major if you just skip it. It's not everyone's cup of tea.
Covenant really seems to be almost everyone's fave, but just to throw this in, personally I'm a fan of the first game; The whole introduction to Yuri's power is what got me hooked in the first place.

[Square King]

Currently playing

Lost Odyssey
Eternal Sonata
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of teh Plumezor
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 Grimoire etc etc
Torchlight

Currently wanting

Magna Carta 2 ... maybe. Don't really care for WoW-style gameplay, but it's pretty.
Resonance of Fate ... maybe.
Infinite Undiscovery (I hope bulletmagnet is reading)
Final Fantasy X

[Pirate1019]

Magna Carta 2 ... maybe. Don't really care for WoW-style gameplay, but it's pretty.

Gamespot had a high-five worthy quote in their review of the first game.

If you like your men to look like women and your women to look like porn stars, then you'll love the cast of characters here.

I haven't played the second game, but if metacritic ratings and my experience of the first game are any indication, I don't want to.

[Obiwanshinobi]

OK, couple questions. I'm facing a big pile of PS2 titles and I don't know quite where to start.
(...)
I know this is dumb asking which to play first, but I'm looking for an RPG that will give me a little breathing room from SMT. Suggestions?

Give each game a quick go and stick to the one that gives away the best "vibes" (even if it's going to be Rogue Galaxy). I know that part of a retail value goes through the window when you unfoil a game, but you wouldn't buy it cheap only to wait for the prices to inflate, would you? The scientists say it's not healthy.
At least as far as I'm concerned, with jRPGs the early impressions are usually dead on. I knew DDS would be right up my alley when I saw the screenshots. With Persona 3 FES it was quite the opposite; I didn't like the sound of "dating sim in a jRPG", and it quickly turned out to be a visual novel/dating sim rather than a jRPG indeed, only with somewhat questionable benefit of frequent loadings, dodgy polygonal characters and badly drawn cut-scenes. It was not HORRIBLE (I finished it after all), but it wasn't exactly what I wanted either.
Screw the hype, don't listen to the shitsayers (you've already bought the games anyway), just play each game a bit until you find one that pleases you (by the look and feel of it if anything else). Trust your intuition.
Also, give Suikoden III a chance. It does Suikoden things right, despite half-amateurish presentation. Any Suikoden fan could do a lot worse than at least give III a chance.

Shadow Hearts 1 & 2. I know Covenant is better than the first one, but having both should I play them in order?

May I ask how do you know that not having played both?

[CMoon]

Shadow Hearts 1 & 2. I know Covenant is better than the first one, but having both should I play them in order?

May I ask how do you know that not having played both?

Omniscience of reading the previous pages of this thread. Thanks for your thoughts BTW. I've put about 5 hours into SH1, I'll probably stick with that awhile.