Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Top 10 JRPGs that everyone must play.

  • 23-03-2010 2:24pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭


    I've missed out on a whole host of JRPGs and it's something I'd like to rectify. Was hoping that the posters in this thread would be so kind as to point me in the right direction.

    Might not be a bad idea for the forum to have a list of games that people (in general) think should be played by everyone who likes this genre.

    For example, I've never played anything from the Suikoden series, the SMT series or the Dragon Quest series... yes, I know... I'm a disgrace :(. But as mentioned before, with a little help from this forum, I'd like to rectify that.

    Anyone want to start off...


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭xeni


    Even though I haven't finished them (but plan to :P) I'd recommend Persona 3, Persona 4. I consider SMT: Devil Summoner 2 quite fun as well.

    From newer ones it would be Star Ocean 4, Lost Odyssey.

    From the upcoming ones (judging by reviews and other people feedback) Resonance of Fate.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,002 ✭✭✭jimi_t2


    Seiken Densetsu 3 (eng translation) for the SNES. It's between this and Chronotrigger as the definitive JRPG of the 16bit era for me.

    seikendensetsu31.gif


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    My absolute favourite JRPG that everyone should play is Panzer Dragoon Saga. Unfortunately it's tough to find it and actually play it although I've heard saturn emulators have greatly improved and it's perfectly playable on one of those.

    The Grandia series is worth getting into, well the first two games are. Grandia 1 is on PSN and is excellent.

    Suikoden 1 is a good game but it's sequel Suikoden 2 really is something special. It should be played by everyone and has a really powerful story that's heartbreaking. Suikoden 3 is ok, Suikoden 4 is utter **** and Suikoden 5 is excellent, almost but not quite as good as Suikoden 2.

    Dragon Quests early games are a little archaic until DQ 4. Best to play the DS remakes of them. DQ5 is meant to be an amazing game as well as DQ6 which is out soon. DQ8 is well worth hunting down, one of the best PS2 games.

    In the FF series you really have to play FF6 if you haven't already. It's better than FFVII no matter what anybody else says. FF Tactics is also ridiculously good (not the portable games but the PS1 game).

    Valkyrie Profile is probably the only Tri-Ace game worth play but it's a really good one. The sequel is meant to be not bad either.

    If you haven't played Chrono Trigger yet then you owe it to yourself to play it.

    As mentioned Seiken Densetsu 3 is great but so is Secret of Mana

    Shin Megami Tensei is well worth getting into, in my opinion the best rpg series of them all. There's not a bad game in the series but they are all very tough. A good place to start is on Persona 3 and 4, two brilliant games and I also heard SMT: Lucifiers Call/Nocturne is stupidly good if stupidly tough. SMT: Strange Journey and Devil Survivor are also pretty amazing by all accounts. Here's a good guide to the series:

    http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/megaten/megaten.htm

    Vagrant Story which is on PSN is a funny game. It's not the best RPG but the amazing music, graphics and storyline make it excellent.

    Don't miss out on Valkyria Chronicles on the PS3, it really is excellent.

    Demon's Souls is more of an action game but if you have a PS3 and haven't imported it you are an idiot.

    There's some good Gamecube RPGs as well. Tales of Symphonia is great and Baten Kaitos and Baten Kaitos Origin have a great battle system but it takes a while to get into.

    The Mario RPG and Paper Mario games are excellent as well.

    Oh and how could I forget Earthbound! It's a charming game that's just loads of fun to play and takes the piss out of JRPGs at the same time as being a deeply moving experience. It's weird but it's fantastic. The sequel, Mother 3, was never released outside of japan but there's a fan translation of the rom and anyone who has played it that I've heard from have said it's in their top 10 games ever.

    I forgot Pokemon. Don't listen to the naysayers. It might be for kids but it's actually one of the deepest RPG games you can play if you are interested in RPG battle mechanics!

    I'll try and remember more.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 236 ✭✭DaveTwenty7


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    My absolute favourite JRPG that everyone should play is Panzer Dragoon Saga. Unfortunately it's tough to find it and actually play it although I've heard saturn emulators have greatly improved and it's perfectly playable on one of those.

    I forgot Pokemon. Don't listen to the naysayers. It might be for kids but it's actually one of the deepest RPG games you can play if you are interested in RPG battle mechanics!

    I agree totally about these


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Some one else that played Panzer Dragoon Saga! I didn't think so many existed :)

    Funny thing about that game is nobody believes me when I say how good it is yet I don't think there's anyone that has played it and it isn't their favourite game ever or very close.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,194 ✭✭✭✭noodler


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    In the FF series you really have to play FF6 if you haven't already. It's better than FFVII no matter what anybody else says.

    It isn't.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭Xluna


    O.K this is my kind of thread.:D

    1: Final Fantasy VII/Suikoden II(Both PS1) (E.U version available. Might have to go online for Suikoden. FFVII available on E.U. PSN.)*
    2:Terranigma (Snes) (Available on emulator)
    3:Chrono Trigger (Snes/DS) (Easy to find on D.S. Available on emulator.)
    4:Suikoden V (PS2) ( Might have buy online. E.U. version is available.)
    5:Suikoden (PS1) (Available on U.S. PSN.)
    6:Final Fantasy 9 (PS1) (Will probably be available on U.S PSN soon.)
    7: Illusion of time/gaia (Snes) (Available on emulator.)
    8:Secret of Mana (Snes) (Available on virtual console or via emulator.)
    9:Lost Odyssey(Xbox 360) (Should be easy enough to pick up)
    10: Dragon Quest: Journey of the cursed King(P.S.2) (Should be available preowned)

    Could'nt decide which I enjoyed most so I put FFVII and Suikoden II in joint first place.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    noodler wrote: »
    It isn't.

    Retr0gamer has spoken, therefore it is truth.

    Forgot Skies of Arcadia, which is excellent. Best to get the Gamecube version.

    Also Jeanne D'Arc on the PSP is a great game I need to get around to finishing.

    Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter is meant to be excellent but it's very different. It's very short but you can't beat the game on your first try but new areas open everytime you play it and eventually you uncover more of the story and can finish the game.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭Xluna


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    Suikoden 1 is a good game but it's sequel Suikoden 2 really is something special. It should be played by everyone and has a really powerful story that's heartbreaking. Suikoden 3 is ok, Suikoden 4 is utter **** and Suikoden 5 is excellent, almost but not quite as good as Suikoden 2.

    Dragon Quests early games are a little archaic until DQ 4. Best to play the DS remakes of them. DQ5 is meant to be an amazing game as well as DQ6 which is out soon. DQ8 is well worth hunting down, one of the best PS2 games.
    .

    Well said on the Suikoden series. 3 broke my heart but five is fantastic. I saw it for sale preowned for about a fiver last month in gamestop. Was nearly going to buy it as a spare copy. Looks like I'm never going to be able to play Suikoden 3.

    Funny you should mention the DS D.Q. remakes. I was playing D.Q.IV today and nearly pissed myself laughing in public reading all the Cork and Dublin slang in some of the towns. "Ejit" and "that feen". I was waiting for the King to say "Boy" at the end of every sentence.:D So unexpected!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 455 ✭✭Xyo


    I fully agree on Suikoden 2! amazing game


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Xyo wrote: »
    I fully agree on Suikoden 2! amazing game

    It was my favourite RPG until Panzer Dragoon Saga came along and my first wake up call that FFVII wasn't the best game ever :)

    When I finished it I was like 'that could very well be the best game I ever played... no, it was the best game I ever played!'

    Also one of the only JRPGs where despite the slow down and borders PAL got the definitive version due to a better translation and no cuts and bugs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭Burning Eclipse


    Thanks to everyone for the posts... I can already see some trends emerging, and I'm glad to say I have played many of the suggestions already made :)

    Would love to keep this thread going :)

    Particular thanks to Retr0 for the detailed post and Xluna for pointing out how to play these games!!

    And imo Final Fantasy VI is better than VII, but IX is my favourite FF, so that should explain a lot ;)

    Nobody has mentioned the Phantasy Star series... I really enjoyed IV!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 99 ✭✭bokkenspiel


    brynhilder = odin 2.0

    i need help im stuck on him


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 99 ✭✭bokkenspiel


    is
    pokemom


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Nobody has mentioned the Phantasy Star series... I really enjoyed IV!!

    I heard 4 is amazing however I also heard that it doesn't have as much impact unless you have played the first 3 games. Unfortunately the first 3 games are a little archaic and require a lot of grinding and using walkthroughs to get through them. I'm only halfway through PS2 so haven't gotten to 4 yet.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,536 ✭✭✭joe123


    Final fantasy 9. Best FF game ever.

    That is all.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,399 ✭✭✭Vyse


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    Forgot Skies of Arcadia, which is excellent. Best to get the Gamecube version.

    Skies is one of my fav games ever and definitely my favourite RPG. I actually prefer the Dreamcast version over the GameCubes. I found both the audio and visual quality to be better on the DC. Then again the Gamecube version does have the added content (although you really do have to look for it) and far less random battles:)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 407 ✭✭OxfordComma


    Nobody's mentioned Final Fantasy X yet? Not only is it my favourite FF, overall, it's my favourite game ever. Granted, it's very story-focused, which I'm sure a lot of people find off-putting, but I think it's an absolutely magnificent game.

    (I also think FFVI is better than FFVII.)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭Burning Eclipse


    joe123 wrote: »
    Final fantasy 9. Best FF game ever.

    That is all.
    Vyse wrote: »
    Skies is one of my fav games ever and definitely my favourite RPG. I actually prefer the Dreamcast version over the GameCubes. I found both the audio and visual quality to be better on the DC. Then again the Gamecube version does have the added content (although you really do have to look for it) and far less random battles:)

    Nice to see these posted side by side as they are my two favourite JRPGs!! Final Fantasy IX is just about my favourite game full stop in fact.

    In troubling news however... I got a PS3 slim at christmas, which I love, I've got to admit... but Final Fantasy IX won't work on it :( VI works no problem, and I'll be testing out VII shortly, but IX just won't work. Anybody got any ideas, because google isn't throwing up any help!


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Scratched disc maybe? Try booting it up with any of the other 3 discs.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭Burning Eclipse


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    Scratched disc maybe? Try booting it up with any of the other 3 discs.

    Tried all 4 discs and I keep them in pristine condition, so no scratches. It loads the PS symbol, then just blackness and a disc loading sound coming from the console.

    Played the first 30 minutes of VI with no issues (apart from crazy slow loading).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,067 ✭✭✭Gunmonkey


    Had the same problem with my copy of FFVIII on my fat PS3, discs 1 + 2 just boot to black screens, 3 + 4 work fine, tried all 4 on my PS2 and not a hint of a problem. All discs were scratch free. i think some FF games just dont work on PS3's (probably to force us to buy them on the PSN).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,274 ✭✭✭bugs


    Xenogears is probably worth a play.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭Xluna


    Tried all 4 discs and I keep them in pristine condition, so no scratches. It loads the PS symbol, then just blackness and a disc loading sound coming from the console.

    Played the first 30 minutes of VI with no issues (apart from crazy slow loading).

    Probably best to hunt down an old fat PS2,or PS1.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 407 ✭✭OxfordComma


    Tried all 4 discs and I keep them in pristine condition, so no scratches. It loads the PS symbol, then just blackness and a disc loading sound coming from the console.

    Played the first 30 minutes of VI with no issues (apart from crazy slow loading).

    Is your console playing normal PS3 games properly? Mine broke down at Christmas - used to work normally with PS3 games for about 2-3 seconds, then freeze. I eventually managed to fix it :/


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    bugs wrote: »
    Xenogears is probably worth a play.

    No it's not.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,485 ✭✭✭Mr. K


    Played the first 30 minutes of VI with no issues (apart from crazy slow loading).

    I forgot about VI on PS1's slow loading, it was really irritating! Didn't stop me poring hours and hours into it though...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 876 ✭✭✭Aurongroove


    If there was a list of 10 children's fiction you must read, there'd be no reason to mention harry potter or discuss which book was your favorite. HP is so well known at this stage that humans are preprogrammed to about it. Like wise talk of FF in a thread like this is almost redundant; play them all, (except X-2), they are an exceptional fine example of a techno-cultural movement. and exist as a phenomenon "para" to their genre.

    One game that hasn't been mentioned yet is the brilliantly warm and fuzzy Breath of Fire 3.

    I also "second" shouts for Suikoden 2 (arguably the greatest 2D RPG ever made)

    and I suppose to complete a trinity of lovely title for PS1 titles: Grandia, with it's two whole disks!, (bless, you could probably fit FF7,8,9 Grandia and the life stories of every single person involved in their making on a PS3 blue ray disk, and still have enough room left over to decode the Germans secret code and win world war 2)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭Xluna


    The first Vandal Hearts game on ps1 was good too.


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭tman


    Doesn't look like anybody has mentioned Odin Sphere yet (one of the PS2's swansongs)
    Finally got around to starting it the other day and 5 hours flashed by in the blink of an eye.
    Quirky, with what seems like an extremely simple battle system at first, but it soon unfolds into something a little bit more complex.

    Oh yeah, and unlike any other PS2 game I've played, it still looks very nice on a HD TV! (upscaled with a launch PS3)

    I'm not the typical JRPG fanboi, so don't take my word for gospel (the only FF game I've played was X, and couldn't stand that ****e for more than 30 mins)


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    I'm always singing Odin Spheres praise so it's my shame for forgetting it. It's one of the best looking games ever. Some of the boss fights are brutal though. My advice to you tman is to level up like crazy by using the restaurant and cafe. The final boss of each chapter can be ridiculously tough and the final boss gauntlet will require going back through the chapters and levelling up some more (doesn't take long though and once you've reached the required level you can quit and go straight into the boss gauntlet). It can get repetitive but I thoroughly enjoyed it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,358 ✭✭✭seraphimvc


    just to add in the Valkyrie Profile (i have played the ps2 one),the artwork,music and story defo worth a play :P altho i must say its battle system is pretty crap.and i played the first two games of the Tales on PS1 which are awesome too.

    there wasnt that much good ARPG around but recent years Odin Sphere truly shines,and i havent played the Murasama. Speaking of ARPG, secret mana defo is the classic.and i have to mention the Ys series as it is basically the root of (A)RPG,but i think it didnt get much notice in western market,check out wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ys_%28series%29. Also heard Shiren the Wanderer series has a high reputation .and Fire Emblem and Golden Sun are very well made Rpg too.

    There is a reason why FF was the top king in the jrpg world ,Square has the money and the right people to make such satisfiying ff games.but not anymore now. but still,if you want me to make up my top 10 rpg list,there is no place for the other rpgs except my FF4-10,FFT :pac: and maybe throw in Zelda and Tales.

    I am so gonna play Persona and Megaten series when i am free after this May :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭tman


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    I'm always singing Odin Spheres praise so it's my shame for forgetting it. It's one of the best looking games ever. Some of the boss fights are brutal though. My advice to you tman is to level up like crazy by using the restaurant and cafe.
    Yep, I've been doing some serious levelling up before each boss battle... Thought it was just me being crap at it, but I guess not!:p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 136 ✭✭stephenmario


    Shadow Hearts 2 is very good. As good as FFX and Suikoden 5 on the PS2. Dark Chronicle is good too


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 156 ✭✭Burkie.EXE


    We really got 3 pages without mentioning Golden Sun? What's going on?


  • Advertisement
  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,315 ✭✭✭Jazzy


    skies of arcadia on the gamecube is an absolute must


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    I'd like to add Earthbound for the SNES and it's sequel Mother 3 for the GBA. Two of the most unique and charming RPGs ever made.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 23,353 Mod ✭✭✭✭Kiith


    Jazzy wrote: »
    skies of arcadia on the gamecube is an absolute must
    Skies of Arcadia is one of my most loved JRPG's of all time. I absolutly loved it. It was the first time that i ever remember going about to get all the side-quests (discoveries, weapons and crew members) in an RPG. Now i played it on the Dreamcast (best console ever btw!) so there were a **** ton of random battles, but i still loved it. The ship-ship battles, the characters (Gilder and Drachma being the best of the bunch) and the story were fantastic.

    A must play JRPG imo.


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 81,101 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sephiroth_dude


    Heres my top 10

    Grandia
    Gandia 2
    Tales of symphonia
    Final fantasy 9
    Rogue galaxy
    Final fantasy 7
    wild arms
    star ocean the 2nd story
    Legend of dragoon (I enjoyed it)
    shadow hearts.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Legend of dragoon (I enjoyed it)

    lex-luthor-wrong1.jpg

    People only liked that piece of **** because they were 10-12 when they played it and knew no better. I'm amazed that it has a bit of a cult following because it's such a hollow corporate exercise to get in on the FFVII bandwagon and such a terrible game.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 896 ✭✭✭_Godot_


    Drakengard, just for that weird ending
    where Cain and Angelus get shot down by a fighter plane


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 214 ✭✭twilightzone


    is
    pokemom

    pokemon was an abomination towards japanese rpg games. i strongly recommend the sublime "blade of hiojhuma" on PC, a very rare game but one of the finest rpg games i have ever seen.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 214 ✭✭twilightzone


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    I'd like to add Earthbound for the SNES and it's sequel Mother 3 for the GBA. Two of the most unique and charming RPGs ever made.

    "unique" and "charming"? more like "crap" and "****e"


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    "unique" and "charming"? more like "crap" and "****e"

    You good sir have no taste.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,200 ✭✭✭Mindkiller


    Can one simply start off with the Mother series with Earthbound?
    Is there any real need to play Mother 1?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    I've played both games and there's no connection between Mother 1 and Mother 2. Well there is a slight connection but it doesn't affect the game at all. I have heard there is a connection between Earthbound and Mother 3. You are best starting with Earthbound, I've played and finished Mother and it's a very archaic RPG. There's lots of grinding involved, the story is great by 8-bit standards but not until the very end and it's still not that great. It also gets stupidly tough at the end, the monsters in the last few sections are tougher than the end of game boss.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 36 Cyzrane


    Well, I only have two to recommend, as the most ubiquitous titles have really all been mentioned already (Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, Dragon Quest etc.)

    1. Vagrant Story was mentioned earlier and I'd stand by it as one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played. Since I place quality of story above all else the game catered to me excellently, and the English localisation was absolutely stellar. If you want to play a console RPG, I'd go with this one; it has a nice story backed up by some even better storytelling. Anyway, I believe story is what anybody would want in an RPG, which leads me on to...

    2. Planescape Torment. Okay, it's not a J-RPG, true; but, if you're looking for perhaps one of the most compelling stories told in any game, you need look no further. The combat is...well...just plain out boring, but the ideas and locations you're presented with are stunning and are deservedly the real focus of the game. If you don't mind running a computer RPG and point-and-click combat, I'd recommend this gem above all else.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Must play some planetscape torment sometime. That and the Fallout games.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 214 ✭✭twilightzone


    Cyzrane wrote: »
    Well, I only have two to recommend, as the most ubiquitous titles have really all been mentioned already (Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, Dragon Quest etc.)

    1. Vagrant Story was mentioned earlier and I'd stand by it as one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played. Since I place quality of story above all else the game catered to me excellently, and the English localisation was absolutely stellar. If you want to play a console RPG, I'd go with this one; it has a nice story backed up by some even better storytelling. Anyway, I believe story is what anybody would want in an RPG, which leads me on to...

    2. Planescape Torment. Okay, it's not a J-RPG, true; but, if you're looking for perhaps one of the most compelling stories told in any game, you need look no further. The combat is...well...just plain out boring, but the ideas and locations you're presented with are stunning and are deservedly the real focus of the game. If you don't mind running a computer RPG and point-and-click combat, I'd recommend this gem above all else.

    Planescape Torment is a poor game, truly ugly in all areas. terrible graphics for the time, a storyline that is extremely overwritten, and level design that isn't worth pissing on. i'd rather iron my own hair than have to play that awful game again.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,897 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    I think you are the first person I've hear saya bad thing about that game?


  • Advertisement
Advertisement