Best Playstation RPGs...?

[Mad Gear]

When it comes to RPGs, Europe gets the ****ty end of the stick. The likes of Xenogears, Final Fantasy Tactics, Legend of Mana never even got a sniff of coming to these shores, despite being released in America.

It would be nice to see a top 5 of your most enjoyable PS RPGs and what made them special to you.

I'm especially interested in the not so well known one's that were only released elsewhere. Has anyone played the likes of Rhapsody, Persona, Battle/Tactics Ogre etc?

Share your thoughts please.

[twobells]

As above

Lunar: The Silver Star
Xenogears
Tales Of Destiny II
Vagrant Story [released in UK]

Interestingly enough Edge magazine [June 2005 edition] has an amazing piece on 'Vagrant Story' in its 'Time Extend' section.
For me Vagrant Story summed up everything i ever wanted in a rpg, looks, plot, player interaction, a mature item creation engine and mapping system bar none [editable 3d map].


For many years americans have been considered pretty lowbrow while brits and europeans look down from the dizzying heights on mount cerebral.
The reality of course is far different.
The UK gaming public are the low-brow consumers according to every demographic ever made.
Ask any publisher's marketing clone; sports, racing and fps genre's are what sell here, while the neccessary mental gymnastics, concentration and the ability to hold the gamers interest through plot required for rpg's fails to enthuse buyers in large enough numbers to warrant a UK/EU release.

However, this situation is starting to change thanks to the bravery of Atlus [Disgaea] and Mastiff [La Purcelle] while those games are srpgs a chink of light through the cloud of generic fps's and rts titles are appearing.

For me I'll always import my games on US release dates, but I would like to see gamers introduced to the classics listed above.

TB

[brokeback]

final fantasy 7
dragon warrior 7
tales of destiny 1 and 2
final fantasy anthology
final fantasy tactics
xenogears (amazing)
star ocean 2
brave fencer musashi
castlevania cymphony of the night (I reckon this IS an RPG)
saga frontier 2 (this is pretty unkown but truly amazing)
suikoden 1 and 2 (miles better than the ps2 versions)
tactics ogre (atlus rpg from the sens. the only english dialogue version of this classic game)
lunar silver star and eternal blue (whas that the name of the sequal?)

*edit* sorry, didn't realise it was my top 5:


1) final fantasy 7 - blew me away, still don't rat it as highly as 3 on the snes.

2) castlevania SOTN - best platform rpg ever.

3) rhapsody - my first experience with nippon ichi. what a game, the music was awesome

4) xenogears - music and story were great

5) Dragon warrior 7 - so much to do and it genuinely made me laugh. This almost beats dragon warrior 5. almost.

[Keith]

SaGa Frontier 2 isn't a patch on SaGa Frontier.

[brokeback]

SaGa Frontier 2 isn't a patch on SaGa Frontier.

I can't believe you just wrote that. kudos for your 'out there' point of view , but jesus, saga frontier 1 was shocking. saga frontier 2 had some of the best graphics on any system and a really great story.

[Sketcz]

People actually like the SaGa Frontier games?

I personally hate them, and Tim Roger's recent review on the SaGa series echoes my thoughts quite well.

http://www.largeprimenumbers.com/article.php?sid=saga

[superkully]

Don't forget Grandia - what a loveable little (not in the game sense) game this was.

I only came into PSX in late 1998, and the two RPGs which sucked me in were

1) FF7
2) Grandia

and maybe

3) Front Mission 3

Nothing else grabbed me, but this could have been down to Dreamcast and me starting work...

[saturn-gamer]

Chrono cross, Xenogears, FF7, Lunar 2 Eternal Blue and also Parasite Eve 1 are my favorites..

[Big Seany]

1) Alundra
2) Vagrant Story
3) Castlevania SOTN
4) Azure Dreams
5) Jade Cocoon

[gunrock]

Azure Dreams? Was that worth perservering with?

My vote is for Vandal Hearts.

What about Breath of Fire III. Is it any good? Or Legend of Kartia?

[brokeback]

maaan, breath of fire 3 is ok but breath of fire 4 is where it's really happening. some of the greatest 2d/3d graphics out there. whaddagame!

legend of kartia is crap. vandal hearts 2 - also crap.

alos, has anyone played saiyuki journey west? that is a fantastic strategy rpg game. looks quite similar to final fantasy tactics but the story is awesome and quite monkeyish. look at it on this site: http://www.neoseeker.com/Games/Products/PSX/saiyuki/
I think there should actually be an official saiyuki journey west appreciation thread. such a rare and wonderful game.


going back to person, that's a great game.

[djtickle]

Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 9
Xenogears
Parasite Eve

Many hours of fun

[gossi the dog]

I've got Saiyuki Journey West. It's ok. The battles are a bit too slow and I don't like the fact that you and the enemy move at the same time (although admittedly this is the norm in most standard SRPGs). I like the Chinese flavour and the monkey (is it Songoku?) is a cool character. If you like the TV programme Monkey you'll probably love this. However, I do feel there are much better SRPGs out there.

[gingerj]

No one gonna mention Rhapsody, the Nippon RPG? Although it seems extremely rare so I'm not sure as to how many people are actually aware of it.

[gossi the dog]

There are so many brilliant RPGs on the PS1 - the PS2 really hasn't come close. Anyhow here's my top 5:

1. Dragon Warrior VII
2. Final Fantasy IX
3. Star Ocean: The Second Story
4. Breath of Fire III
5. Alundra

By the way all of the above with the exception of Dragon Warrior VII received UK releases.