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Post by Ex on Sept 19, 2022 12:04:57 GMT -5
I've been thinking it would be great to have a definitive list of vintage action-RPGs, which take less than 20 hours to beat, and are actually worth beating. For me 20 hours is the sweet spot of "not a huge life investment, likely to finish before the game becomes stale". Also, action-RPGs tend to be shorter than turn-based RPGs, so there's more of them in that time frame. I'll come back later with my own recommendations. Meanwhile, I'm hoping HRG members can recommend action-RPGs that fit this distinction (worth beating, less than 20 hours long). I ask that you only recommend games you've actually finished, so you know for sure they are good. All platforms welcome, action-WRPGs or action-JRPGs, anything 10 years old or older, it's all good.
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Post by Xeogred on Sept 19, 2022 12:56:54 GMT -5
Lots of gold on the SNES:
- ActRaiser - Alcahest - Brain Lord - Illusion of Gaia - Secret of Evermore - Secret of Mana - Seiken Densetsu 3/Trials of Mana - Soul Blazer - Terranigma
Never beat EVO: The Search for Eden but it might count and we can probably list a good bit more if we include the side scrolling variant. The GBA/DS Castlevania's. Circle of the Moon, Aria of Sorrow, and Order of Ecclesia being my personal favorites.
SD3 might take longer for some, but for the most part I don't think many of these would exceed 20 hours.
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Post by Sarge on Sept 19, 2022 13:49:42 GMT -5
The 16-bit era really is ideal for this genre. I'll throw down some Genesis classics.
- Beyond Oasis - Crusader of Centy - King Colossus - Light Crusader - Landstalker
For NES, the first ones that come to mind (and yes, I'm aware not all consider Zelda an ARPG):
- Crystalis - Willow - The Legend of Zelda - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Faxanadu - The Magic of Scheherezade - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Mashin Hero Wataru Gaiden - Esper Dream 2 - JaJaMaru Gekimaden - Cosmo Police Galivan - Villgust
The only one of these I haven't beaten is Crusader of Centy, but my brother has, and I know it's absolutely a great game. I omitted Radia Senki because I'm a little on the fence about it - I like it, but it is a little slow and I've never finished it.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Sept 19, 2022 14:47:37 GMT -5
Must play: Zelda (series) Ys (series) Xak (series) Seiken Densetsu (series) Dungeon Explorer (series) Castlevania (various) Brandish I & II Secret of Evermore Crystalis Willow Battle of Olympus Faxanadu Sorcerian Legend of Xanadu I & II Magic of Scheherazade Esper Dream I & II Neutopia I & II Crusader of Centy Soul Blazer Illusion of Gaia Terranigma The Granstream Saga Lagoon Popful Mail Magic Knight Rayearth Shining Wisdom Exile Radia Senki: Reimeihen E.V.O. Cosmo Police Galivan Elysion Jajamaru Gekimaden Jikuu Yuuden: Debias Alcahest Brain Lord The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang Dragon View Front Mission: Gun Hazard Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof Holy Umbrella: Dondera no Mubou!! Beyond Oasis Cadash (TG16 recommended) King Colossus Blood Gear Efera & Jiliora: The Emblem From Darkness Landstalker (series) Brave Fencer Musashi Parasite Eve I & II Linkle Liver Story
Janky and/or very obscure; proceed with caution: Dragon Slayer parts I, II, III, IV Dragon Buster I & II Golvellius Makai Hakkenden Shada Zombie Hunter Dragon Scroll Hydlide (series) Dandy: Zeuon No Fukkatsu Sword of Vermilion Ginga Denshou Sylviana Golden Axe Warrior Exile: Wicked Phenomenon Faria Minelvaton Saga Kalin no Tsurugi Lutter Fall (PC-98) Aiza (PC-98)
Avoid at all costs: Valkyrie no Bouken Seiken Psycho Caliber
Stopping at 5th gen. Not listed? I either haven't played it.... or forgot about it lol.
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Post by Ex on Sept 19, 2022 21:28:07 GMT -5
Lots of great rec's so far, nice job guys. I plan to make my own lists for this thread, but I want to make notes on what's listed so far. Ex has beat and considers good while bolded is great:ActRaiser Alcahest Aria of Sorrow Beyond Oasis Brain Lord Brandish I & II Cadash (TG16 recommended) Circle of the Moon Dungeon Explorer EVO: The Search for Eden Exile 1 & 2 Faxanadu Front Mission: Gun Hazard Illusion of Gaia King Colossus Light Crusader Order of Ecclesia Parasite Eve I & II Secret of Mana Soul Blazer Sword of Vermilion The Legend of Zelda Ys (I've beaten many, but the more modern ones are longer than 20 hours) Ex played, didn't finish, intends to retry:Crusader of Centy Golden Axe Warrior Seiken Densetsu 3/Trials of Mana
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Ex played but didn't enjoy enough to finish, has no further interest in:Crystalis Dragon Buster I & II Landstalker Popful Mail Radia Senki ( Sarge I agree it's a good idea but too slow) Secret of Evermore Seiken Psycho Caliber Terranigma The Granstream Saga Valkyrie no Bouken WillowEx has not played (or not played enough to have an informed opinion):Aiza Battle of Olympus Blood Gear Brave Fencer Musashi Cosmo Police Galivan Dandy: Zeuon No Fukkatsu Dragon Scroll Dragon Slayer parts I, II, III, IV Dragon View Efera & Jiliora: The Emblem From Darkness Elysion Esper Dream I & II Fall Faria Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof Ginga Denshou Golvellius Holy Umbrella: Dondera no Mubou!! Hydlide (series) Jajamaru Gekimaden Jikuu Yuuden: Debias Kalin no Tsurugi Lagoon Legend of Xanadu I & II Linkle Liver Story Lutter Magic Knight Rayearth Makai Hakkenden Shada Mashin Hero Wataru Gaiden Minelvaton Saga Neutopia I & II Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Shining Wisdom Sorcerian Sylviana The Magic of Scheherezade The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang Villgust Xak
Zombie Hunter
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I have no doubt there are good/great sixth/seventh gen action-RPGs that are less than 20 hours long. Will think about it.
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Post by Xeogred on Sept 19, 2022 22:08:29 GMT -5
I wrote Demon's Souls and Dark Souls in my first post but then had to bite my tongue because of the 20 hour limit.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Sept 20, 2022 18:37:27 GMT -5
This is reminding me that this is my favorite genre. Got a lotta stuff I need to replay, plus some new games to try.
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Post by Xeogred on Sept 20, 2022 19:07:50 GMT -5
My wrench to throw into this is when we get to the PS2 era... if Zelda counts, I think just about all of the character action genre does then too. Devil May Cry's, Ninja Gaiden (Xbox), etc.
This is why I never call Zelda RPG's and I draw the line at needing more numbers, character level, etc. And then Zelda II comes along...
Either way this genre gets a little all over in the 3D era.
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Post by Ex on Sept 20, 2022 21:23:05 GMT -5
My list is only games I've actually beaten personally, 10+ years old, that are at least a 7/10, and take less than 20 hours to beat:
ActRaiser (SNES) Alcahest (SNES) Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2) Baroque (PS2) Beyond Oasis (Genesis) Brain Lord (SNES) Brandish II (SNES) Brandish: The Dark Revenant (PSP) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (GBA) Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA) Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (GBA) Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS) Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1) Children of Mana (DS) Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP) Demon's Crest (SNES) Dragon Valor (PS1) Dragonstomper (Atari 2600) Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts (DS) EVO: The Search for Eden (SNES) Eternal Ring (PS2) Evergrace (PS2) Exile 1 & 2 (TGCD) Faxanadu (NES) Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) Forever Kingdom (PS2) Front Mission: Gun Hazard (SNES) Gargoyle's Quest (GB) Gargoyle's Quest 2 (NES) Illusion of Gaia (SNES) King Colossus (Genesis) King's Field 1 (PS1) King's Field 2 (PS1) Light Crusader (Genesis) Lost Kingdoms (GC) Lost Kingdoms 2 (GC) Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals (DS) Mazes of Fate DS (DS) Mega Man Legends (PS1) Mega Man Legends 2 (PS1) Mega Man ZX (DS) Mega Man ZX Advent (DS) Orcs & Elves (DS) Orcs & Elves II (Mobile) Parasite Eve I & II (PS1) Phantasy Star Ø (DS) Secret of Mana (SNES) Shadow Tower (PS1) Shadow Tower Abyss (PS2) Shenmue (Dreamcast) Sleeping Dogs (360) Soul Blazer (SNES) Spellcaster (SMS) Sword of Vermilion (Genesis) The 3rd Birthday (PSP) The Legend of Zelda (NES) The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS) The Lord of the Rings: War in the North (360) Ys 1 (PSP) Ys 3 (TGCD) Ys V (SNES) Ys: Oath in Felghana (PC) Ys: Origin (PC) Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PC) Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection (PC)
If I remember anymore, I'll edit them in. Those are well worth anyone's time.
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My next post will be about games I'm interested in but not played (or finished), to garner some feedback.
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Post by bonesnapdeez on Sept 22, 2022 11:11:23 GMT -5
Forgot to recommend Neugier, a slick little Wolf Team ARPG that can conceivably be beaten in a single sitting.
Forgot to not-recommend (though it's cool as hell) War of the Dead (PCE version), which has an amazing concept, amazing horror aesthetics, but is broken as hell and was sold with a brief "apology letter" from the developers.
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