Recommend me a hard turned based JRPG .

[krazykidd]

So i'm bored . Very bored . A lot of the games that have came out recently are doing absolutely nothing for me . This isn't a jab at the game industry , they do what they want , and i buy what i like . And what i like is challenging games . And i like Jprgs . Now most of the time those two things do not go together . But this is why we have a comunity that is knowledgable in all things related to gaming .

So what i am looking for is a jrpg , that is both challenging and is turned based . While i know that's serverely limiting the potential games to play , that's all i want . I like grinding , i like getting my ass one shoted by a cheap as death spell . I like luck . So there you have it . The platforms i own is PS1-3 , xbox 360 / wii , and PC . Nintendo DS games are also welcome .

One last thing . Don't say SMT games , i have played all the ones released in NA , on hard mode if there is one . Thank you and good luck .

 

[madwarper]

Etrian Odyssey 1, 2 or 3. If you have a 3DS, Etrian Odyssey 4.

Old school rogue-like dungeon crawling/mapping, turn-based combat, unforgiving difficulty.

Spoiler: Also, FOE

 

[piinyouri]

I second Etrian Odyssey
Lost Odyssey is also fairly difficult and requires a good deal of grinding.

Not turn based, but Tales of Eternia/Destiny 2 is also very difficult and once again expects you to have sat around killing lot's of stuff before moving on to a new area.

 

[Newtonyd]

I assume you've played Chrono Trigger. Played any Disgaea games? They know the grindfest better than anyone, though they are more of a Strategy RPG. If you want something else that's pure strategy and turn based, try Battle for Wesnoth. It's only JRPG-ish though.

Etrian Odyssey games for the NDS are pretty much the epitome of turn-based grindy dungeon crawl.

You can try the various Dragon Quest games, but I have never liked them very much. Instead, I'd try Radiant Historia or Final Fantasy IV for the DS.

 

[piinyouri]

Oh just remembered Elona.
You said you like chance, grinding and dying in one hit, so I think Elona may be perfect for you.
It's a japanese rogue-ish-like with RPG elements and a bunch of other stuff. (House building, farming, pretty much everything)

 

[Auron]

Isn't the difficulty in jRPG's practically null? You can usually just level up(grindingly and painstakingly slow as it can be.) to match the current challenge, no?

 

[madwarper]

Isn't the difficulty in jRPG's practically null? You can usually just level up(grindingly and painstakingly slow as it can be.) to match the current challenge, no?

Not always.

Levels have caps, and once you get there, you need to rely on skill and luck to prevail.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

I'd say Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age. I don't know that it's particularly hard, but it things can get rather intense if you're not careful and fail to utilize some careful strategy.

They're GBA titles so you'd need some form of emulator, but they're spectacular JRPGs and wholly recommend them anyway.

 

[scorptatious]

Well there's Final Fantasy IV for the DS. That game was pretty hard.

Isn't the difficulty in jRPG's practically null? You can usually just level up(grindingly and painstakingly slow as it can be.) to match the current challenge, no?

Well with games like say... Chrono Cross, you only gain levels by beating bosses, and you also gain very small stat gains through fighting enemies that eventually stop. So you'll have to rely on having good equipment and good party and elements set ups to get through the game.

 

[TehCookie]

Isn't the difficulty in jRPG's practically null? You can usually just level up(grindingly and painstakingly slow as it can be.) to match the current challenge, no?

That's the beauty of JRPGs, you can choose your difficulty through that, it's not mandatory like some people seem to think. If you don't grind you save yourself from time and boredom while having a more challenging game.

OT: Ar Tonelico II, you can play 1 or 3 but I haven't personally and they change the battle system with every game. I'd also say Star Ocean but it varies from person to person, a lot say they're easy but I found them to be more difficult than some SMT games.

Edit: I just noticed turn based so scratch Star Ocean off that...

 

[krazykidd]

Etrian Odyssey 1, 2 or 3. If you have a 3DS, Etrian Odyssey 4.

Old school rogue-like dungeon crawling/mapping, turn-based combat, unforgiving difficulty.

Spoiler: Also, FOE

SOLD . That song is so catchey. Color me intrigued! Definately going to look that up . FOE FOE . Damn i'm curious .

Isn't the difficulty in jRPG's practically null? You can usually just level up(grindingly and painstakingly slow as it can be.) to match the current challenge, no?

More often than not , this is true . But every so often there is a jrpg that actually pose a challenge . And that's what i'm looking for .

 

[Yopaz]

Isn't the difficulty in jRPG's practically null? You can usually just level up(grindingly and painstakingly slow as it can be.) to match the current challenge, no?

Skies of Arcadia's secret bosses were always the same level as you so grinding alone wouldn't be enough.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

I get the feeling that you're pretty well versed in JRPGs, so you've probably played Vagrant Story. Just in case you haven't though, you should totally do that. It's an extremely unforgiving solo dungeon crawl with a unique combat system and a great story. It's only kind of turn-based, though. You can run around freely and when you want to attack, you open up this menu that allows you to target specific body parts (so long as they're in range). There's a combo system, too, but it's been so long since I've played it that I can't remember how to do it

There's a series of free games called The Way that I remember being pretty entertaining and pretty difficult. There's a unique duelling mode that crops up every now and then, but most of the combat is traditional JRPG fare.

 

[GabeZhul]

OT: Ar Tonelico II, you can play 1 or 3 but I haven't personally and they change the battle system with every game. I'd also say Star Ocean but it varies from person to person, a lot say they're easy but I found them to be more difficult than some SMT games.

I would wait with the AT2 recommendation, as the re-translation project is in its final stage. It is a beautiful game with great characters, plot and world, but the translation was a hack-job that quite often not only arbitrarily changed things, but downright mistranslated things to the point that they created plot-holes.
On the other hand, I wouldn't really recommend it as a gameplay title (not to mention it is not a TRPG either), as a good 80% of the game is about the story and it even has some pretty straightforward visual novel segments where you do nothing but read for hours. Absolutely wonderful game, but it's simply not for everyone...

 

[Vhite]

If you want to try something new try Battle for Wesnoth. It's turn based strategy but in many ways i plays like RPG mostly because you usually only control few units (that level up and have various attributes), resources are acquired automatically and there is at least dozen of campaigns with interesting stories. Best part is that you will get plethora of content for free (or 3? if you are getting it for a mobile platform) because there are hundreds of mods and campaigns downloadable directly from the game.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

Why does it have to be a jRPG? No love for wRPGs?
Because if you want challenge and good story I can suggest a boatload of them.

Spoiler

The Witcher
The Witcher 2
Fallout 1
Fallout 2
Fallout New Vegas
Morrowind
Alpha Protocol
Knights of the Old Republic 2
Planescape Torment
Baldur's Gate 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Mass Effect 1
Deus Ex
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Dungeon Siege III
Vampire: the Masquerade Bloodlines
Oblivion
Skyrim
Icewind Dale 1
Icewind Dale 2

I don't think those are turn based...

I will give my usual recommendation, which is the amazing Shadow Hearts.

Despite being quite old, the series as a whole holds up quite well, at least in my opinion. Criminally overlooked due to coming out the same time as FFX, it has an interesting blend of real world turn-of-the-century history and settings, with the occult and monsters.

Although the sequels have better gameplay due new mechanics, the initial game has arguably the best story, being the darkest, although it still has genuinely good humour.