Recommend Me an RPG (pls)

[distortedreality]

If you liked Deus Ex HR you should check out Alpha Protocol. It has similar gameplay (stealth shooter, albeit 3rd person) and an impressive choice and consequence system. Patches have dealt with the bugs mostly so there is no reason anymore to not try it

Just don't try to run it on a Windows 7 machine - I've given up trying to get it to run after a couple of tries. I know other people have been able to get it working but my rig doesn't like it at all, is annoying because the game ran fine on the same rig running Vista.

Really is a good game though.

 

[Bucky01]

this may be too old to get now by normal means but i would HEAVILY suggest you try "Legend of Legaia" on PS1 (your best bet would be an emulator on PC unfortunately D: ) it was my all-time favorite JRPG and the was the decider for me to become gamer.

there's only 3 party members, so there's not much conflictions between them. but they are definitely well rounded characters that contribute to how the story progresses.

P.S. I'd also suggest this game just to hear its soundtrack is is brilliant!

(cant remember how to show it on the post so heres a link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knhD23Itwqc&feature=related

 

[Launcelot111]

Persona 3 and 4 are two of the greatest games ever (especially 4). I'd definitely recommend getting 3 FES off the PSN. If you get especially enamored (as I was), then Persona 3 Portable is the best version of 3 if you can somehow get access to a PSP (I borrowed my roommate's for half a year just for P3P).

Disgaea 4 is excellent. Valkyria Chronicles is good. Star Ocean: The Last Hope is a competent PS3 JRPG if you really need to scratch that itch

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

Fire Emblem Series.

Fucking ninjas! I can't believe I was beaten to the Fire Emblem recommendation!

I would definitely recommend the above, specifically Path of Radiance as it is fairly easy to get into on the whole due to its lack of any difficult to use features (fucking GBA support system, making me waste in battle turns). The series isn't necessarily prone to having extremely fleshed out characters, rather it has an abundance of relatively fleshed out characters, an abundance being roughly fifty in the case of Path of Radiance. I still think it beats most Bioware games at overall characterization, as there is maybe a dozen likable characters a Bioware game, while there is over twenty for each Fire Emblem (the U.S released ones at least. And only if you actually read the supports).

 

[sextus the crazy]

I would definitely recommend the above, specifically Path of Radiance as it is fairly easy to get into on the whole due to its lack of any difficult to use features (fucking GBA support system, making me waste in battle turns). The series isn't necessarily prone to having extremely fleshed out characters, rather it has an abundance of relatively fleshed out characters, an abundance being roughly fifty in the case of Path of Radiance. I still think it beats most Bioware games at overall characterization, as there is maybe a dozen likable characters a Bioware game, while there is over twenty for each Fire Emblem (the U.S released ones at least. And only if you actually read the supports).

Yeah, the GBA support system is somwhat irritating, but Fire Emblem (2003) is a good game to start out with. It was pretty much tailored towards the new players outside of Japan (since it was the first FE outside of Japan). It's roster of characters is one of the smallest in the series, which I think would be helpful for newer players, as it streamlines the experience. Not to mention the gameplay is pretty tight. Path of Radiance is also pretty good. In fact, I'd say its one of the overall best in the series; most Fire Emblem games tend to have at least one element that holds it back to being merely "good", but PoR is good in just about all regards. Just don't play its sequel, Radiant Dawn, because it's probably the worst game in the series.

And If you like those games and want to try something harder, but really good, try out Geneology of the Holy War & Thracia 776. These were Japan-only SNES games, but there are translation patches for them. I recommend you have a walkthrough or watch a video LP before undertaking these games; they're much harder than most of the series.

 

[lRookiel]

I am obligated to say the Baldurs gate series. You will love them, you must get them! SO I DECREE!

 

[silverhawk100]

JRPGs? Radiant Historia is diverting, if the plot is a bit obvious. Need a DS for that.

My personal favorite is Terranigma for the SNES. The most concise argument for civilization I've come across.

 

[Songblade]

Do you have to actually PLAY a game to enjoy a good story? I know you're looking for an RPG, but as far as story goes I enjoyed the Avatar: The Last Airbender series a lot.

From what I've heard though, skip the game.

/edit: Oh right! Xenogears for PS1 is what I'd recommend. The Xenosaga part 1 for PS3 was decent too... but then it just sort of trailed off with the sequels... meh.

 

[Greg Waller]

Planescape: Torment.

Of course you should also play Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, available on Steam.

I can't vouch for Planescape, but any of the Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights entries are definitely worth at least a playthrough.

And as for VtM:BL ... yes. 1000 times yes. That game was such a hidden gem. Completely overlooked by popular media, completely undersold by reviewers. 8/10 at least. If you've not played it, you need to. ASAP.

 

[Adultism]

Persona 3

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

I would definitely recommend the above, specifically Path of Radiance as it is fairly easy to get into on the whole due to its lack of any difficult to use features (fucking GBA support system, making me waste in battle turns). The series isn't necessarily prone to having extremely fleshed out characters, rather it has an abundance of relatively fleshed out characters, an abundance being roughly fifty in the case of Path of Radiance. I still think it beats most Bioware games at overall characterization, as there is maybe a dozen likable characters a Bioware game, while there is over twenty for each Fire Emblem (the U.S released ones at least. And only if you actually read the supports).

Yeah, the GBA support system is somwhat irritating, but Fire Emblem (2003) is a good game to start out with. It was pretty much tailored towards the new players outside of Japan (since it was the first FE outside of Japan). It's roster of characters is one of the smallest in the series, which I think would be helpful for newer players, as it streamlines the experience. Not to mention the gameplay is pretty tight. Path of Radiance is also pretty good. In fact, I'd say its one of the overall best in the series; most Fire Emblem games tend to have at least one element that holds it back to being merely "good", but PoR is good in just about all regards. Just don't play its sequel, Radiant Dawn, because it's probably the worst game in the series.

And If you like those games and want to try something harder, but really good, try out Geneology of the Holy War & Thracia 776. These were Japan-only SNES games, but there are translation patches for them. I recommend you have a walkthrough or watch a video LP before undertaking these games; they're much harder than most of the series.

I find the support system and arenas to be way too obtuse to justify making it your first Fire Emblem game. The same is true of gaiden chapters and stores. Really, there are just too many annoying features in Fire Emblem for me to recommend it as a first Fire Emblem. Path of Radiance has none of that bullshit. If they had put the in the middle of turn save system as well it would literally be the perfect Fire Emblem for beginners. Next to no useless characters (just Bastian, Mist, Sothe, and Lucia really, and Bastian and Mist are somewhat debatable), the bonus XP system makes it so that very few characters are that difficult to use, the best lord character in any of the games ever, virtually everyone has absurdly balanced stats, and the ability to have mounted units move after attacking keeps them from dying, which is good because they are likely to be a newbies best bet for solid characters as every single one of them are easy to use save Maria. No other one of the games has that level of accessibility, especially not Radiant Dawn, which is simultaneously among the hardest and easiest games in the series depending on how much you care about having people in the Dawn Brigade survive. Seriously, Laguz royals made that game boring for me.

 

[Gabanuka]

Of course you should also play Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, available on Steam.

I've always wondered about playing Bloodlines. Does it hold up to new players with no nostalgia towards it?

 

[Austin Howe]

Resonance of Fate. Best new JRPG for the HD consoles.

 

[Bazaalmon]

Of course you should also play Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, available on Steam.

I've always wondered about playing Bloodlines. Does it hold up to new players with no nostalgia towards it?

I bought it a year ago, and it was tons of fun. Some of the races of vampires are really fun to play. I played it three times, but then kind of ran out of stuff to do. I clocked up about 75 hours on it. The voice acting is hit or miss at times, but it has some pretty great contributors, including John DiMaggio (Bender from Futurama), Phil LaMarr (Hermes Conrad, also from Futurama), Andy Milder (Dean Hodes on Weeds) and others.

There is a problem with blurry textures on some computers (4g+ of ram, 64-bit systems it seems), but there are some fixes for that.

It's a really fun game about vampires. I don't think many exist.

 

[Gabanuka]

snip

I did some research after the comment. This game has Grey Delise as a nymphomaniac vampire. WHY DID I NOT KNOW OF THIS!


She even uses the same voice as Azula! *buys game on steam*

 

[Knobody13]

Im currently playing Tales of the Abyss and its fucking amazing. I'm quite jaded to the typical JRPG formula but the tales games somehow get it right every time. If your ps3 can play ps2 games then i would highly recommend you give it a shot. If you cant stand the downgrade to a previous generation then Tales of Vesperia is just as good. I just happen to like the characters in Tales of the Abyss better.

 

[sextus the crazy]

Yeah, the GBA support system is somwhat irritating, but Fire Emblem (2003) is a good game to start out with. It was pretty much tailored towards the new players outside of Japan (since it was the first FE outside of Japan). It's roster of characters is one of the smallest in the series, which I think would be helpful for newer players, as it streamlines the experience. Not to mention the gameplay is pretty tight. Path of Radiance is also pretty good. In fact, I'd say its one of the overall best in the series; most Fire Emblem games tend to have at least one element that holds it back to being merely "good", but PoR is good in just about all regards. Just don't play its sequel, Radiant Dawn, because it's probably the worst game in the series.

And If you like those games and want to try something harder, but really good, try out Geneology of the Holy War & Thracia 776. These were Japan-only SNES games, but there are translation patches for them. I recommend you have a walkthrough or watch a video LP before undertaking these games; they're much harder than most of the series.

I find the support system and arenas to be way too obtuse to justify making it your first Fire Emblem game. The same is true of gaiden chapters and stores. Really, there are just too many annoying features in Fire Emblem for me to recommend it as a first Fire Emblem. Path of Radiance has none of that bullshit. If they had put the in the middle of turn save system as well it would literally be the perfect Fire Emblem for beginners. Next to no useless characters (just Bastian, Mist, Sothe, and Lucia really, and Bastian and Mist are somewhat debatable), the bonus XP system makes it so that very few characters are that difficult to use, the best lord character in any of the games ever, virtually everyone has absurdly balanced stats, and the ability to have mounted units move after attacking keeps them from dying, which is good because they are likely to be a newbies best bet for solid characters as every single one of them are easy to use save Maria. No other one of the games has that level of accessibility, especially not Radiant Dawn, which is simultaneously among the hardest and easiest games in the series depending on how much you care about having people in the Dawn Brigade survive. Seriously, Laguz royals made that game boring for me.

How exactly are the arenas "Obtuse?" They aren't meant to be like bonus XP; they're a minor risk-reward system. And concerning useless characters, what characters are you refering to in FE7 (2003) that are useless? By my count, there's Bartre, Dorcas, Renault, and Wallace.

 

[hermes]

Loosely using your description, I would go with:

The Witcher
Folklore
Eternal Sonata
Valkyria Chronicles
Yakuza
Resonance of Fate

 

[busterkeatonrules]

If you don't mind PS1-era graphics, I strongly recommend Grandia and Final Fantasy IX. Both games are available on PSN, both are among my personal all-time favorite games, both are criminally underrated, and both should fit the bill perfectly.

Oh, and you should probably try Final Fantasy VII (also on PSN) if you haven't already. The fanbase may be annoying and the graphics may suck sweaty buffalo balls, but the story is epic and immersive and there is serious character development. (There IS a reason why people go nuts over how good that game is!)

 

[Mabster]

Anachronox

Good job remembering this one! Anachronox is well-written, original, and funny as heck. Interesting how the best JRPG I've played isn't even Japanese.

Witcher 2

I second this. The first Witcher game is very good, but the second one is just pure gold. Hopefully this year's Xbox release will get this game the GOTY it deserves.