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So I bought a Nintendo DS -- the first non-Windows gaming platform I've owned in years -- and started looking for good games.
I'd really like an RPG. I tried Lunar Knights, and I was... not impressed. It was OK from a gameplay standpoint (like Diablo, sort of, but nonrandom dungeons), but I was literally choking down the bile induced by ridiculous Japanese-style RPG elements and incredibly bad story. It was like a textbook for bad RPG writing. If they gave out an award for bad RPG writing, I think they would have to call it "The Lunar Knighthood". O_o
Anyway, any suggestions? I don't mind Japanese games per se, but I'd rather have something serious, with a plot that actually makes sense and that induces me to continue playing.
Advance Wars Dual Strike has a great RPG element to it as well btw. You can level up your characters to get them new abilities and stuff, very addictive and fun.
Contact.
It's not for everybody, but if you like it you'll really like it.
Or there's Battles of Prince of Persia if you like cards and tactics gameplay.
Honestly, I feel the same way as you and so far have not found anything that pleases me yet, besides FF3, which is basically the prettiest rehash in history. I honestly believe Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings will be fucking incredible. Check out some videos. If you even remotely liked XII, you'll be drooling on your keyboard.
Of all the RPGs for the DS you had to pick out the bad one.
OK, I admit, I went to Gamespot. It was their highest-rated RPG other than M&L Partners in Time. It was a mistake. That's why I'm coming here, to the Internet Shrine of Gaming, to ask for help.
As for M&L: Partners in Time, I'm just not sure if I can stomach more Mario & Luigi. I mean, it would be like an RPG featuring Bugs Bunny or Gilligan or something. Kind of hard to immerse yourself in a cultural icon, no matter how good the technical gameplay experience is.
Honestly, I feel the same way as you and so far have not found anything that pleases me yet, besides FF3, which is basically the prettiest rehash in history. I honestly believe Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings will be fucking incredible. Check out some videos. If you even remotely liked XII, you'll be drooling on your keyboard.
I'd disagree on FF3 being all that pretty. I wish they would have just made a swank looking 2D game out of it rather than transitioning into 3D.
Of all the RPGs for the DS you had to pick out the bad one.
You're thinking of Lunar: Dragon Song, not Lunar Knights. Lunar: DS isn't a bad game but it's extremely bland and cliche. There's really no reason to buy it.
Magical Starsign is okay but if you're looking for an interesting story, look elsewhere. Again, it's not a bad game but the DS has better.
I would recommend the following:
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time - but you should play Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga first (for the GBA). Superstar Saga is the better game of the two but Partners in Time is worth playing too.
Final Fantasy III - Very traditional in terms of gameplay and story but it's the first FF game to have the job class system. Lots of play time, pretty challenging, and a lot of fun.
Contact - Interesting story and characters, good writing, lots of secrets. Expect to do a lot of level grinding though or else you will die.
Lost Magic - Very unique gameplay. You cast spells by drawing runes on the touchscreen and you capture monsters that follow your orders. Monster AI is idiotic but you get used to it.
Of all the RPGs for the DS you had to pick out the bad one.
OK, I admit, I went to Gamespot. It was their highest-rated RPG other than M&L Partners in Time. It was a mistake. That's why I'm coming here, to the Internet Shrine of Gaming, to ask for help.
As for M&L: Partners in Time, I'm just not sure if I can stomach more Mario & Luigi. I mean, it would be like an RPG featuring Bugs Bunny or Gilligan or something. Kind of hard to immerse yourself in a cultural icon, no matter how good the technical gameplay experience is.
Well then that's your loss really, you are really missing out on something special.
Don't ignore the GBA library. It's got some great stuff. The Golden Suns are way fun as is the Sword Night games if you can find them. And, ya know, the Pokeymans.
Well then that's your loss really, you are really missing out on something special.
It's nothing personal, I'm sure others like it and they have their reasons.
Immersion is somewhat important to me in RPGs, and I want the ability to make my own character, or failing that, to learn the intricacies of new characters.
If you like sci-fi and haven't played the PS2 versions, there's a DS version of Xenosaga I and II (single card). I haven't played it, but I liked the PS2 versions.
Honestly, I feel the same way as you and so far have not found anything that pleases me yet, besides FF3, which is basically the prettiest rehash in history. I honestly believe Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings will be fucking incredible. Check out some videos. If you even remotely liked XII, you'll be drooling on your keyboard.
I'd disagree on FF3 being all that pretty. I wish they would have just made a swank looking 2D game out of it rather than transitioning into 3D.
But that's probably just me.
It's not just you. I hate the remake, but love the original. I wish they'd do a 2D version of it ala the FF and FFII remakes instead of just releasing those two over and over again.
If you like sci-fi and haven't played the PS2 versions, there's a DS version of Xenosaga I and II (single card).
I do like Sci-Fi and I haven't played the PS2 versions (of anything, since I was previously a PC-only gamer). But looks like this is only a Japanese title; I can't find any reference to an English (or even Engrish!) version.
Or there's Battles of Prince of Persia if you like cards and tactics gameplay.
I second this. I found it for $10 a few months ago and finally got around to playing it last week. It's doing a very competent job of sating my turn based needs during this dry spell. I'm not a fan of card-based games but BoPoP doesn't feel at all like a card game, if that helps at all.
As far as other titles on the system (all just my opinion, of course)....
Contact - A great idea that had a terrible execution. The story was interesting but the BRUTAL amount of grinding necessary to unlock the really powerful skills was ridiculous. Despite claims to the contrary it was a pretty easy game, but definitely one I forced myself to finish.
FFIII - A very straightforward RPG. It was kind of pretty, but overall it felt bland....which makes its high price tag a bit of a shame. If you can find it on the cheap I'd go for it.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime - It isn't really an RPG, but it's definitely fun. A mindless diversion that goes by quickly but is worth a look.
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - I still contend that this is the most enjoyable game I've played on the DS and it is filled with "RPG elements" (tm). Lots of leveling, stat building and spells.
As others have recommended, your best bet at this point is to mine the GBA library. The Golden Sun series, Final Fantasy I & 2, IV, V & VI (is it out yet?), Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, both Fire Emblems, Tactics Ogre, those Super Robot games, and apparently Atlus has released a bunch of interesting GBA RPGS in the last couple of years.
Gilligan RPG? Wait! An RPG that mashes together old TV shows ala Kingdom Hearts! So you'd have a Gilligan's Island world and a Lost in Space world and an Addams Family world and so on.
Posts
It's not for everybody, but if you like it you'll really like it.
Or there's Battles of Prince of Persia if you like cards and tactics gameplay.
OK, I admit, I went to Gamespot. It was their highest-rated RPG other than M&L Partners in Time. It was a mistake. That's why I'm coming here, to the Internet Shrine of Gaming, to ask for help.
As for M&L: Partners in Time, I'm just not sure if I can stomach more Mario & Luigi. I mean, it would be like an RPG featuring Bugs Bunny or Gilligan or something. Kind of hard to immerse yourself in a cultural icon, no matter how good the technical gameplay experience is.
I'd disagree on FF3 being all that pretty. I wish they would have just made a swank looking 2D game out of it rather than transitioning into 3D.
But that's probably just me.
Like Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced
That's a fun game d('.')b
Magical Starsign is okay but if you're looking for an interesting story, look elsewhere. Again, it's not a bad game but the DS has better.
I would recommend the following:
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time - but you should play Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga first (for the GBA). Superstar Saga is the better game of the two but Partners in Time is worth playing too.
Final Fantasy III - Very traditional in terms of gameplay and story but it's the first FF game to have the job class system. Lots of play time, pretty challenging, and a lot of fun.
Contact - Interesting story and characters, good writing, lots of secrets. Expect to do a lot of level grinding though or else you will die.
Lost Magic - Very unique gameplay. You cast spells by drawing runes on the touchscreen and you capture monsters that follow your orders. Monster AI is idiotic but you get used to it.
I really should finish 3, but I'm still playing Tactics. God I love that game.
[size=-2]let me show you them[/size]
It's nothing personal, I'm sure others like it and they have their reasons.
Immersion is somewhat important to me in RPGs, and I want the ability to make my own character, or failing that, to learn the intricacies of new characters.
What's a good site for GBA reviews? I feel kind of burned by Gamespot over the Lunar Knights incident.
video 1 (Youtube)
video 2
Screens
more information from NeoGAF
Bugs Bunny: Epic Quest for the Holy Carrot anyone?
With Elmer Fudd as the final boss.
It's not just you. I hate the remake, but love the original. I wish they'd do a 2D version of it ala the FF and FFII remakes instead of just releasing those two over and over again.
I just use Gamerankings and read the two best reviews and the two worst.
I do like Sci-Fi and I haven't played the PS2 versions (of anything, since I was previously a PC-only gamer). But looks like this is only a Japanese title; I can't find any reference to an English (or even Engrish!) version.
However, if you don't mind action-RPG Rocket Slime is great. I haven't beat it yet, but I'm loving what I've played so far.
I second this. I found it for $10 a few months ago and finally got around to playing it last week. It's doing a very competent job of sating my turn based needs during this dry spell. I'm not a fan of card-based games but BoPoP doesn't feel at all like a card game, if that helps at all.
As far as other titles on the system (all just my opinion, of course)....
Contact - A great idea that had a terrible execution. The story was interesting but the BRUTAL amount of grinding necessary to unlock the really powerful skills was ridiculous. Despite claims to the contrary it was a pretty easy game, but definitely one I forced myself to finish.
FFIII - A very straightforward RPG. It was kind of pretty, but overall it felt bland....which makes its high price tag a bit of a shame. If you can find it on the cheap I'd go for it.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime - It isn't really an RPG, but it's definitely fun. A mindless diversion that goes by quickly but is worth a look.
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - I still contend that this is the most enjoyable game I've played on the DS and it is filled with "RPG elements" (tm). Lots of leveling, stat building and spells.
As others have recommended, your best bet at this point is to mine the GBA library. The Golden Sun series, Final Fantasy I & 2, IV, V & VI (is it out yet?), Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, both Fire Emblems, Tactics Ogre, those Super Robot games, and apparently Atlus has released a bunch of interesting GBA RPGS in the last couple of years.
My two cents....
PSN: PalaceBrother
Fuck! Someone get a team working on this!