Does anyone else miss old school RPGs?

[Redd the Sock]

Nobody here mentioned Radiant Historia?

At this point normal DS games are harder to find so I kept it modern. That game was hard enough to find 2 years ago.

But yeah, that was a good one. Also 6 Dragon Quest games (3 remakes though only 1 had been released in the US, 2 monster (like pokemon), one new), a good port of Front mission, Luminous Arc 1&2, Lufia, The best playing Final Fantasy Tactics (shame about the story) and the 3D FF4, a full port of Chrono Trigger, even a Suikoden, though few really like that one.

Good times

HUGE fan of Suikoden actually. I have all of the games except for 2(way too expensive ). If it's on PSV I'm definitely going to have to look into getting the PSV to play it again. Since giving my kids the old playstation 2 I haven't played any of my PS2 or PS1 games. And now for some reason I have a huge yearning to play Vandal Hearts(I think I probably played that around the time I played Suikoden the first time). So much nostalgia. Don't even get me started on Chrono Trigger.

You're in luck. Suikoden 2 (and 1) are on PSN and plays on PS3 and vita.

 

[Abbyka]

You're in luck. Suikoden 2 (and 1) are on PSN and plays on PS3 and vita.

OMFG I could kiss you! I never would have thought to look on PSN. All this time I've been looking on ebay for an afforable copy.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I play on PC and lately I'm starting to miss new-school RPGs. Everything is a bloody throwback!

 

[thoughtwrangler]

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Thanks. I'll probably go with the eshop card and just stick to the ones I can't buy physically. Will have to research when sales tend to be so I can try to make my money stretch a bit.

Word of warning: When you're scratching the silver-stuff off the back of a Nintendo eShop card, be careful not to scratch too hard. The ink from the PIN number can scratch off easily, which will leave you stranded if one or two of the letters or numbers is illegible.

Had that problem recently and had to go 'round with Nintendo Customer Support about it. I had to scan the front and back of the card, then it took about a week for them to solve it and deposit the $20 into my Nintendo account. I missed the $14.99 sale for Etrian Odyssey IV because of it

So, make sure to scratch gently

 

[Knight Captain Kerr]

I recommend you check out Shadowrun: Returns and Shadowrun: Dragonfall. It's set in a cyberpunk world (think Ghost in the Shell, Deus Ex, Blade Runner, etc) where magic has returned so you have people using magic, spirits from the spirit world, dragons and typical fantasy races like elves. If you've played XCOM: Enemy Unknown combat is a lot like that, it's turn based goodness.

Even if you're just interested in JRPGs which is what it sounds like from the OP I recommend you branch out and play Shadowrun anyway.

 

[Chessrook44]

Pretty much every game made by Spiderweb Software [http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/] is this kind of RPG. Tactical turn-based combat, good stories, and they've been making these for 20 years. Some games are available on Steam, some on GoG, and you can find Demos of ALL their games on their site itself (Though purchasing them there may be a bit more expensive than on Steam.). Take a look at their games, give them a try, and enjoy. I recommend the older Avernums (Escape from the Pit and Crystal Souls are remakes of Avernum 1 and Avernum 2 respectfully) and the Geneforge games.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I will second the advice poster on Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall. They're very sorry hard but have some RPing and tactical, turn based combat.

But XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within is a turn based game without peer. It cannot be recommended highly enough and will almost certainly entertain you.

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I can't say I do because they all migrated to the DS, 3DS, and N3DS (Neds?<.<) and I happen to have gone through the 2ds, 3dsxl, and N3DSXl, so I have ready access to fire Emblem Awkening, Final tantasy Tactics A2, Rune Factory, fantasy Life, Project X-Zone, and so forth.

Very rarely do these kinds of games make it to consoles, but I see them occasionally in the PSN store.

I don't keep up in PC gaming but I find it kinda weird one would have a hard time finding them there.

 

[Mikeybb]

Grimrock and Grimrock 2 are both excellent homages to the "eye of the beholder" tile based movement party based rpg.
The closest I can think of in the JRPG stable to this kind of game was "Shining in the Darkness".
They're not too demanding on a pc and eminently worth playing.

 

[Zeras]

I would recommend Lost Odyssey, though you'd have to get a 360 to play it. Really good game!

 

[veloper]

No, all the old subgenres are making comebacks nowadays on PC and I never missed those blobbers and DQ-style crpgs in the first place.
Entertaining squad-based combat has always been a rarity, then and now.

 

[Vlado]

My friend... I am sure that you have not played ALL the great RPGs from the golden age (SNES, PS1 and some PS2). So dig them out and play those you haven't!

The industry today sadly doesn't provide more of them, but that's not so terrible when you realise the older one are still there, waiting for you to play them!

 

[aozgolo]

There's tons of Turn-based RPGs in every generation after the third (NES), it's just a shift in what platform you will find them on.

In the 4th Generation most were on Super Nintendo
In the 5th Generation most were on Playstation
In the 6th Generation most were on Playstation 2 with the handheld Gameboy Advance getting some attention
In the 7th Generation the Playstation Portable and Nintendo DS dominated the turn-based RPG market, with some major titles like Dragon Quest IX being NDS exclusive.
In the 8th Generation handhelds still dominate, but have marketshare with digital stores like Playstation Network, and XBOX Live.

For all generations PC has had considerable coverage of the genre and due to the latest trends in game publishing more JRPGs are also showing up now on PC.

So I would say your best bet to find the most new turn-based RPGs would be get a Nintendo 3DS, PC, or PS3/PS4 and find quite a lot of PSN Exclusives and PS1/2 Classics.

 

[MirenBainesUSMC]

Yes and No.

Probably because I don't have as much free time as I had back in the day.

I would however, agree that some of the new stop is getting too Theatrical as if you are playing an interactive movie.

As many said, you can still get access to the old games through PC or older consoles. Baulders Gate, Baulders Gate II ect. Origin delightfully has the old games too.

 

[Ihateregistering1]

Even though it's not turn-based, I'd still recommend "Pillars of Eternity".

Like I said, not turn-based, but you can pause the game anytime and issue orders, and it doesn't take long before just rushing into combat will get everyone killed quickly. You really have to carefully use and think about your abilities to be successful.

Beyond that, it basically Baldur's Gate 3, bringing back the old-school days of RPGs where character development and story were paramount.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

I'm still playing games like those to this day. They're still being made. You just need to look a bit deeper to find them.

Have you played Legend of Heroes: Trails in the sky yet? No? Hop to it!

 

[thoughtwrangler]

I'm still playing games like those to this day. They're still being made. You just need to look a bit deeper to find them.

Have you played Legend of Heroes: Trails in the sky yet? No? Hop to it!

Yes! That one. It was on the tip of my tongue along with Bravely Default, but I couldn't remember it.

Haven't gotten a chance to play it yet, but I've seen tons of video for it. Will likely snag it next Steam sale.

Also, if you like old-school style Action RPG's, Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a beaut as well.

 

[Fox12]

I don't really miss them, but if you want suggestions then this looks really good.


cyberpunk chrono trigger? Yes please.

 

[VVThoughtBox]

I do miss old school RPGs with character development and turn based combat. Only Pokemon and Shin Megami Tensei have that feeling while Final Fantasy is going out of it's way to mess with the combat. They got it right with the Materia system in 7 and should've stayed there instead of adding new gimmicks.

 

[Abbyka]

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My brother sent my husband and I Trails in the Sky but I haven't played it yet because it's on the PC. Not a fan of computer gaming. But I've watched my husband play it. If I run out of anything else to play I might suck it up and give it a try.

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The art style reminds me of All Your Base and now I have that song stuck in my head. T_T But I don't own a Vita or PS4 yet. Might look into getting it next tax season(already spent this year's). I'm so far behind on keeping up with the newer consoles. We've only had the PS3 for about a year and a half.

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COMPLETELY agree with you. This is why I liked older RPGs. The story, characters, and the battle systems seemed to be much more engaging. FF7 was the last of the FF series I truly enjoyed. FF8 was fine, but it got to a point I was bored more often than not(I know I'm going to probably tick someone off saying that, I know my high school friend liked it more than FF7). Then FF10 felt like I was spectating more than actually playing. I stopped caring about the franchise after that one.

Also I downloaded my first two DLCs onto the PS3. I got myself a couple of the classics I couldn't afford to buy physically. Alundra(which I am playing now) and Breath of Fire IV. Thanks for having me look at the playstation network for some of the oldies but goodies! I'll work on getting Suikoden I and II next time I get a little extra cash.