A good jrpg, please

[scorptatious]

Final Fantasy 9. The game is made to be a throwback to the older FF games from back in the NES/SNES days, the gameplay system is well done, the story is well written, and the protaganist actually has a personality! Not that I hate Cloud from FF7, but when you compare him with Zidane, Cloud is kind of bland.

Also Chrono Trigger. I've only played it on the DS, but I assume it's really good on the SNES version as well.

 

[duerer]

To my surprise, nobody mentioed Final Fantasy XII.

Yes, it is *very different* from all previous Final Fantasies, and certainly no FF VII for the New Generation (which I never liked mind you). For some reason, many gamers hate it...

But, the game has it all: Asian melodrama, crazy Japanese monsters, excellent story (if you are over 25), the most radical and enjoyable battle system ever implemented in an RPG, graphics that even today look awesome (play with pcsx2 in full HD glory and scream), truly fantastic locations, and best of all: subtle non-linearity, that is quite rare for a jrpg.

Enough fanboy talk.
Lost Odyssey is also good (I like its very touching mood), as well as FF XIII (not FF XII-quality, but the gameworld is excellent and the battles are interesting. Shame on certain characters and linearity though). Also, I should mention Star Ocean 3 (the *very best* prog-rock inspired music score ever in a game! Ideal for all the hectic battles, heh...). I also like Shadow Hearts: Covenant (the funniest jrpg: it's got gay interest comic book hero/vampire bats for starters -- how crazy is that?!)

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

Pokemon, Dragon Quest, The World Ends With You, Chrono Trigger, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasies X and XIII... There are lots of good games.

 

[Death-of-Penguins]

Why does every reply I post on a thread have something to do with The World Ends With You? Or so it seems, anyway. But yeah, in that is my answer. Brilliant game. Even my holier-than-thou gamer friend couldn't pick holes in it.

 

[duerer]

Well... TWEWY might be too hard for some... Does this qualify for a Huge Flaw?

 

[Snotnarok]

Breath of Fire 3 and 4 I liked 4 better and they're not direct sequels though star ...similar characters.

Crimson Gem Saga Just awesome

Persona 3 if not just for the music.

Personally I hate most new JRPGs they're all just doing dumb things or have the most unlikeable characters. The World Ends With You being a big one that just annoyed me it was so bad and came so highly recommended.

 

[Byere]

anyone have an opinion on Grandia 1? I'm kind of curious

Grandia 1, for its time, is one of THE best RPGs/JRPGs you'll find. Not only does it have fun, easy-to-pick-up gameplay and cute graphics, but it has one of the best storylines from that era... not to mention some of the best voice-over work even up to this day (IMO).

If you have an X-box and having tried it, play Blue Dragon or Lost Odyssey. I loved those 2 games.

 

[Delock]

-Legend of the Dragoon
-FFIX and X (Your mileage may vary here)
-FF Tactics (this comes from a man who doesn't really like RTS games in general)
-Tales of Symphonia/the Abyss/Vesperia (don't pick up Legendia or the sequel to Symphonia)
-Parasite Eve
-The World Ends with You
-Golden Sun 1&2
-Shin Megami Tensei (Persona 3 and both Digital Devil Sagas)
-Xenosaga Trilogy (warning: the fact that the story had to end at 3 will frustrate you to no end. Also, you can probably skip to 2 if 1 turns out to be too hard towards the end... though make certain you see Albedo audition for SCARIEST FUCKING WHITE HAIRED VILLAIN EVER)
-Star Ocean: Til The End of Time
-Demon's Souls (prepare for your ass to get handed to you several times and like it!)
-Kingdom Hearts (2 is debatable)
-Dragon Quest 8
-Rogue Galaxy
-Neir (I reserve the right to remove this one if it gets worse as I finish it. So far though, it's definitely a very different gaming experience than I was expecting)
And if it counts, the .hack//GU trilogy. I don't know why I liked them so much.
-You might like Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria, though it wasn't my cup of tea.
-Enchanted Arms starts off strong but faulters a bit later on. Once again, you may like it, but I really won't know. (Note: if you choose english voices, a side character will make your ears bleed early on. Japanese: it will be one of the main characters accomplishing this role).

Games I heard good things about
-Shin Megami Tensei (Nocturne, Persona 4)
-Chrono Trigger
-Xenogears
-Bushido Blade
-Resonance of Fate

Games to Avoid (personal opinions)
-Tales of Symphonia 2 (I know I said it before, but this game just is that bad to me. There's less interesting characters, the story can't decide if its for new players or fans, the returning character are not flesh out much at all, given that it was done well enough in the first game I understand why, and only join your party for a little bit meaning the rest of the time you collect monsters Pokemon style to fight with, and overall the game feels unnecessary as the first game wrapped up so nicely.)
-FFX-2 (similar to ToS2, this is a sequel to a game that didn't need it. The playable cast also got cut. However, what's different is that what this game's real focus is: fanservice. From massage minigames, to a dress up combat mechanic for your three female characers, all of whom with the three cliched personalities that Japan loves. The plot, just like in the one above, feels a lot weaker than its first installment, and feels less important too.)
-FFXII (This is where I've got to reinforce that this is an opinion. This game has honestly been the source of my criticism way too often for me to count, so I'll just sum everything up: mediocre plot, awful character designs, main character only exists for the single purpose of tension with another character, who might as well have been the main one, or better yet Balthazar as he's the only one I really liked, the license board is crap and ends up often with horrible results for several characters in addition to having you buy your abilities and weapons twice, gambit system means the further you get in the game, the more it can play itself, combat itself feels boring, levels seem designed for Tactics games rather than a main FF game, there are several cheap parts of it, be it a boss that came up out of nowhere, being trapped on a ship without a merchant, or more, and the big bad is revealed from the beginning to anyone who can play "spot the obvious villain." Strangely, I think the only FF game the Tactic team made that I ever liked was the original tactics).
-FFXIII (most of my opinions have already been summed up here today http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.236420-Lamest-excuse-for-a-negetive-point-in-reviews?page=4#8434453 )

 

[Baralak]

Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (a LotR turn-based RPG, good fun!

Wait, are you talking about the GBA version? Because that's the one I've been playing for 8 years - I was literally playing, and yelling at it, last night.

And I still haven't increased the difficulty

So yeah, get that.

Actually, The Third Age is also on Gamecube and Xbox. Like I said, good turn-based RPG. I'm stuck in the final boss, though...

But it was unique for it's time. There were no towns and merchants, so to speak, you were usually travelling or in a dungeon, and you would find all your your equipment. There is also an "Evil Mode" where you play as monsters in various battles and fight against your party from the game. If you win, you get more equipment to use in the main game. You were a group of new characters following in the footsteps, just behind the actual Fellowship.

 

[linkzeldi]

Golden Sun. Golden Sun. Golden Sun.

Disgaea if you like dark humor and beyond the impossible leveling.

I also heard that persona was pretty good.

 

[Iandiaeufaieubfeuihfi]

Chrono Trigger. A lot of people said the PlayStation version was bad, but I liked it a lot.

Not a lot, a few. Chrono trigger is the game that little kids should be playing right now so they can stfu about modern warfare 2.

 

[Lightslei]

Dragon Quest 8

I could probably fanboy over this game for the next 2 hours.

 

[Scarecrow]

The World Ends with You.

I don't know how many times I have said that on this site.

 

[Ultress]

I'm probably beating a dead horse on some of these games but they deserve mention again
DQ4/8 both are really fun and have a steep learning curve.It's decidedly old school but really fun.

Any Megaten game specifically Persona 3 FES/4, Digital Devil Saga, Strange Journey and Raidou Kuzunoha 2(you'll be fine skipping the first one as it's not that great)

As for the Tales series add to the count for Symphonia and Vesperia. Also Abyss is really fun as well, the first part is somewhat ruined by Luke but he gets better post haircut, Avoid Legendia and the Phantasia remake as Legendia is mediocre and Phantasia is annoying.

Also check Wild Arm's 2/3 both are Wild West flavored JRPGs with great puzzles, stay away from 4 though, good god is it horrid.

 

[Raziel_Likes_Souls]

You can't go wrong with the latest 2 persona games (P3FES and P4) I haven't heard good things about the first two, however.

also what ripoff said, ToS is really REALLY good. so is vesperia. but only playing a few hours of it I can't really be a fair judge.

Pretty much this. I would say the .hack series, but there's too much catching up to do in between the first series and G.U., so maybe play it, if you want a game that's pretending to be an MMO that's pretending to be a JRPG.

Lot of opportunities to post something Persona related these days. Weird.

 

[Baralak]

You can't go wrong with the latest 2 persona games (P3FES and P4) I haven't heard good things about the first two, however.

also what ripoff said, ToS is really REALLY good. so is vesperia. but only playing a few hours of it I can't really be a fair judge.

Pretty much this. I would say the .hack series, but there's too much catching up to do in between the first series and G.U., so maybe play it, if you want a game that's pretending to be an MMO that's pretending to be a JRPG.

Lot of opportunities to post something Persona related these days. Weird.

I've only pplayed P4, but it's REALLY good. I need to beat it someday, but I'm slowly making progress.

 

[Raziel_Likes_Souls]

You can't go wrong with the latest 2 persona games (P3FES and P4) I haven't heard good things about the first two, however.

also what ripoff said, ToS is really REALLY good. so is vesperia. but only playing a few hours of it I can't really be a fair judge.

Pretty much this. I would say the .hack series, but there's too much catching up to do in between the first series and G.U., so maybe play it, if you want a game that's pretending to be an MMO that's pretending to be a JRPG.

Lot of opportunities to post something Persona related these days. Weird.

I've only pplayed P4, but it's REALLY good. I need to beat it someday, but I'm slowly making progress.

You oughta get 3 when you can. Why? For the second time today:

ROBOTE JESUS. That is all.

 

[TheRobotandtheBeast]

SUIKODEN and SUIKODEN 2 (ps1) and 3 and 4 and 5 (PS2) yeah,
Either get the roms because the discs are incredibly expensive or if you live in the right territory download it off psn.
Good Luck With the PS2 ones though.

 

[Awexsome]

When it comes to JRPG's the "Tales of" series has always been my favorite.

My personal favorite is Symphonia for the GC since the nostalgia factor gives it a small edge over Vesperia which is for Xbox360 (PS3 too if you live in Japan).

Both are awesome but Symphonia carries along more of the JRPG sterotypes (although makes it more fun when... -spoilers-)

But Vesperia has my favorite protagonist of all time. Plus the combat is more fluid and solid in Vesperia but hey that's what I would expect from a current gen console game compared to the GC.

Honestly I could ramble on but those are my two reccomendations.