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Post by Ex on Jan 5, 2019 22:45:31 GMT -5
Some recommendations... sticking with North American releases (for now) and only games I've actually beaten or played:
Game Boy Final Fantasy Legend II Gargoyle's Quest
Game Boy Advance Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Onimusha Tactics
Game Boy Color Lufia: The Legend Returns Survival Kids
Game Gear Dragon Crystal
NeoGeo Pocket Color Faselei!
Nintendo DS Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Children of Mana Dokapon Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts Etrian Odyssey Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Front Mission From the Abyss Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals Mazes of Fate DS Orcs & Elves
PlayStation Portable Brandish: The Dark Revenant Brave Story: New Traveler Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions Metal Gear Acid Metal Gear Acid 2 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Valkyria Chronicles II Ys Seven
I didn't list games I've tried and not liked, and there are a great many handheld RPGs I've not yet played. If anyone wants to know why I recommended any particular game, just let me know.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 11:16:20 GMT -5
I remember finding this one both terribly dull and easy - not a fan. I had a similar, disappointing experience with Bleach: The 3rd Phantom for the DS.
Only a handful of them I can think of right now, but they all come warmly recommended:
Fire Emblem (GBA) Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS) Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes (DS) Rondo of Swords (DS) Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (PSP) Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (DS) Summon Night: Swordcraft Story (GBA)
I'm going to write something about Rondo of Swords later. It's one of my favorite SRPGs - its gameplay is both innovative and genuinely fun, but for some reason many genre fans gave it the cold shoulder and it was quickly forgotten. Too bad.
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Post by Ex on Jan 6, 2019 11:28:48 GMT -5
Onimusha Tactics I remember finding this one both terribly dull and easy - not a fan. I put that specific title in the list to see if anyone was paying attention. I have actually beaten Onimusha Tactics, and I completely agree with your assessment. I have seen this game praised many times. What's so great about it exactly? Screenshots make it look like a matching puzzle game or something. I have read both high praise, and high scorn about this one. The praise is always due to its unique combat system. The scorn seems to focus on the difficulty, with critics calling it too hard. I've got this one (and its sequel) via the 3DS expanded ports. They look quite fun indeed, but I've not tried either yet.
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Post by toei on Jan 6, 2019 11:43:19 GMT -5
I was also a bit surprised at your inclusion of Onimusha Tactics, but I didn't feel it was worth challenging. It's not the worst SRPG ever - it's still better than like the 6 first Farland Story games - but it's just one of the most basic game in the genre, and unlike Kartia, there's no interesting story to make it worth it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2019 16:33:52 GMT -5
I have seen this game praised many times. What's so great about it exactly? Screenshots make it look like a matching puzzle game or something. It's true that it's more akin to something like Puzzle Quest than an actual RPG, but what it has going for it is a relatively nice story, four different and well-balanced factions with their own units, weaknesses and strong points. So yes, the gameplay is simple, but also solid and addictive - and the good presentation makes it even better. A surprisingly good game. As for RoS, I believe that many players were simply unwilling to learn the gameplay mechanics and kept playing it like a regular SRPG. Also, in the first mission you're just supposed to escape and don't fight anyone - unless you already know very well how to play the game ( Warsong did the same thing, by the way) - and I'm sure many players dropped the game right there and then. It's quite simple once you do get it and there's not much to get either, you simply draw a path among your enemies so that you can attack several of them at once. The downside to that is that some enemies can stop your onslaught and you'll find yourself completely surrounded. There are skills that counter that - and enemies can do exactly the same. Likewise, you may also want to first traverse tiles with an allied unit on it and then attack an enemy unit, as some allies can give attack bonuses or even heal allied units. It gives an awesome sense of flow and motion to the combat that is rarely seen in this sort of games. That said, mages and archers play as in many other SRPGs. I actually soloed RoS with the main character on New Game+ and it was pretty easy - but still fun. Now, a game that I just can't even begin to comprehend the core mechanics of is Knights in the Nightmare. It's like a game made by aliens - and it was actually made by the same people who developed Baroque, so close enough.
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Post by Sarge on Jan 6, 2019 18:48:23 GMT -5
Yeah, I put a decent amount of time into Clash of Heroes, and it's a fun game as long as you know what you're in for.
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Post by Ex on Jan 6, 2019 22:41:59 GMT -5
A surprisingly good game. Thanks for breaking it down for me, I'll check it out sometime. That sounds like the most likely culprit, most people do not value daring innovation. That's the one that incorporates bullet hell into an SRPG right? Always sounded interesting to me. I'm torn on trying the DS or the PSP version someday, not sure which version is the better. - Well to move on to recommended Japanese handheld RPGs; I'm sticking to English-translated and stuff I've either beaten or at least played: Game BoyBattle of KingdomCave Noire Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon DarknessGame GearSylvan TaleNintendo DSBlood of Bahamut Soma BringerPlayStation PortableNayuta no Kiseki Valkyria Chronicles 3: Extra Edition
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Post by Sarge on Jan 7, 2019 0:09:53 GMT -5
Sylvan Tale was a lot of fun for sure. I mean, it isn't Zelda, but it still fills in admirably as the best Game Gear ARPG. Unless I'm missing one. I'm pretty sure toei already mentioned Defenders of Oasis, but that would be my choice for best traditional JRPG on the system.
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Post by Ex on Jan 7, 2019 9:36:32 GMT -5
Sylvan Tale was a lot of fun for sure. That's one I didn't beat, but I played enough to understand its praise. Very strong aesthetics and control design for its platform. I got a little miffed at its lack of direction at times IIRC, but a Zelda fan could find a lot to enjoy with Sylvan Tale.
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Post by Sarge on Jan 11, 2019 14:18:53 GMT -5
Anyone mention Riviera yet? I really, really enjoyed that game. It's part of the "Dept. Heaven" series, and the original version was on Wonderswan Color, then up-ported to GBA, then up-ported again to PSP. I haven't quite been able to get into the other games in that series, though: Yggdra Union, which is an SRPG (also ported to PSP), and Gungnir, a more traditional FFT-style SRPG for PSP that is too new to talk about.
EDIT: Oh, dang. It's 2019, which means 2009's Black Sigil is fair game to talk about! One of the few Chrono Trigger "clones" in existence, it doesn't get close to its level, but I still actually enjoyed the game for a good chunk of time. The early going is rough, rough, rough, and the end run is pitifully easy, but there's a nice swath of about twenty hours that feels really fun.
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