What RPG are you playing right now?

[Xeogred]

I agree. I love weird and experimental RPGs. Dragon Quarter I just found tedious and frustrating and painful to look at. I consider it the worst in the series and the only installment I'd consider "bad."

I'd say it's on par with something like Unlimited Saga, another obtuse and annoying game from an otherwise great series.

Second time I've seen you knock on Unlimited Saga, the one I got recently haha. Guess I picked the wrong PS2 Saga...

[BoneSnapDeez]

I'd say the first six installments (Game Boy / Super Famicom) are the best that series has to offer.

[pierrot]

I'm a little worried about Bone, and Markies. They should probably be checked for mad cow. Although, Bone does have a point about Unlimited Saga. That game is terrible.

BoF5

That's the one I haven't tried yet. But the "beat the game multiple times for the story to expand/true endings" gimmick that I've heard about isn't very appealing on the outside.

The extra scenes are non-essential, and serve to fill in some of the plot and provide extra character development. if you've played Threads of Fate at all, and like the NG+ in that game, BoF V's NG+ is 1000% better. They're similar in that one can spend a bunch of time maxing out stats (in the form of weapon and armor levels, in the case of BoF) but BoF V has the additional cutscenes, conditions for rank increase, and areas that unlock with said rank increases (with spoils to match). I find that it has the best replay value of any RPG.

It's not an easy game, but I imagine it's a lot like the Souls games, in that it's really not as difficult as its reputation might lead one to believe. That said, it's probably best approached with the mindset of a survival horror game. I've played it many times, and never had to use the SOL system, but it's there for people who struggle with the game, initially. It can be somewhat modeled as a bell curve in terms of gameplay style as a function of player skill: It plays a lot like a rogue-like at its lower (local) extrema, and requires a lot more strategy at its maximum value. That's because, at the point one tries to get Dragon Quarter--1/4 rank--he likely has to make a decision to either play through the game with only soft saves (erased on load) or get through all 50, randomized, floors of a secret dungeon.

Anyway, BoF V is the game for someone who wants to play an RPG that doesn't require mashing the confirmation button on an "attack" command until his thumb bleeds; preferring instead to set up tiered abilities that can be linked together for greater damage, debuffs, and special attacks, take advantage of precise management of position in relation to AP and arena terrain, and set trap spells, all while mitigating a doomsday counter that's tied to extremely powerful abilities. Oh by the way, it's all enveloped in a gritty, cyber-punk, dystopia coating, with characters who have some dimension, and some relatively unpretentious things to say about freedom, and oligarchy (along with some mild (anti)theist undertones, that are a standard for the series, and some questions about the role of science).


About BoF III: I don't see it as much better or worse than Grandia--it's likely better, though. Grandia Is pretty good for the first third or so, then becomes a metaphor for trying to swim through a pool of molasses. BoF III, on the other hand, is a plodding experience until roughly the last quarter of the game, at which point it picks up a bit. The difference is that BoF III retains a modicum of challenge in its battles, whereas Grandia's battle system is so insufferably busted that the final boss (as well as almost everything else in the game) can practically be stun locked to death.

[MrPopo]

So I just unlocked this insanely broken skill in Star Ocean 5. It makes the character invincible and immune to stagger/knock back/up but drains HP regularly. I've currently got it on my healer and it has become impossible for me to wipe in a fight. And that's without having finished unlocking the other busted skills to go with it. Currently my spells are casting 70% faster and cost 30% less, but I can get that to spells being free if I do a bit of grinding.

[Exhuminator]

Second time I've seen you knock on Unlimited Saga, the one I got recently haha. Guess I picked the wrong PS2 Saga...

Before you play Unlimited Saga, thoroughly read the instruction manual. You may have a different experience than most.

Romancing Saga for PS2 is widely considered great though, and did get an official USA release.

BoF V is the game for someone who wants to play an RPG that doesn't require mashing the confirmation button on an "attack" command until his thumb bleeds; preferring instead to set up tiered abilities that can be linked together for greater damage, debuffs, and special attacks, take advantage of precise management of position in relation to AP and arena terrain, and set trap spells, all while mitigating a doomsday counter that's tied to extremely powerful abilities. Oh by the way, it's all enveloped in a gritty, cyber-punk, dystopia coating, with characters who have some dimension, and some relatively unpretentious things to say about freedom, and oligarchy (along with some mild (anti)theist undertones, that are a standard for the series, and some questions about the role of science

Much of that sounds a lot like my most favorite PS2 JRPG; SMT: Nocturne. I own a sealed copy of BoF5. It's been sitting on my PS2 shelf for... over a decade? Maybe I've made a mistake waiting this long.

[Markies]

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Unlimited Saga
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne.

3 PS2 RPG's that I tried playing and could not get into.

[Sarge]

Grandia's battle system is so insufferably busted that the final boss (as well as almost everything else in the game) can practically be stun locked to death.

But that's part of the fun! Nothing like reducing a boss to a puddle with no chance for them to fight back.

Regarding Dragon Quarter, it's got a lot more SRPG in there than JRPG, as far as the battle system goes. It reminds me of a more constrained Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, in that you can't free-run, you expend AP/movement points/whatever it was. Actually, a bit like Valkyria Chronicles and other games of its ilk.

It's been a long, long time since I played the game, so I may be misremembering all this.

[pierrot]

I can't believe that I left out Dragon Quarter's OST: one of Sakimoto Hitoshi's most impressive works. I feel it's possibly his most expressive soundtrack work. The game feels a bit like something of Matsuno's, at times, because of it.

Much of that sounds a lot like my most favorite PS2 JRPG; SMT: Nocturne. I own a sealed copy of BoF5. It's been sitting on my PS2 shelf for... over a decade? Maybe I've made a mistake waiting this long.

I've only put a few minutes into either game, but from a purely aesthetic perspective, I think Dragon Quarter might resemble Digital Devil Saga more than SMT III. Dragon Quarter is meant to be very oppressive in its audio and visuals. A lot of the themes in Dragon Quarter might be more sociopolitical than anything in the pantheon of SMT, also.

I'd potentially get a disc only copy, or something, and have the sealed copy enshrined in a secret underground facility, personally, but if you give it a whirl, be sure to read up on the D-counter system ahead of time. It's not too difficult to really screw yourself over with it, and is probably what is most complained about in terms of the game's mechanics. I don't think you'd have much (if any) trouble with Dragon Quarter, though.

But that's part of the fun! Nothing like reducing a boss to a puddle with no chance for them to fight back.

I don't mind steamrolling things sometimes, but it just felt really repetitive in Grandia.

Regarding Dragon Quarter, it's got a lot more SRPG in there than JRPG, as far as the battle system goes. It reminds me of a more constrained Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, in that you can't free-run, you expend AP/movement points/whatever it was. Actually, a bit like Valkyria Chronicles and other games of its ilk.

It's been a long, long time since I played the game, so I may be misremembering all this.

You're remembering correctly. There's a soft maximum for AP--tied to the character's AP stat, and restored by that value on each turn--which is half of the hard maximum. It decreases proportionally with virtual distance moved, up to a maximum movement radius that is separate from AP. Attacks consume AP depending on the tier (10, 20 or 30). Each weapon has space for up to three attack skills in each tier.

[Xeogred]

Well, I'm definitely not against giving BoFV a shot sometime. Been wanting to scoop up some more PS2 JRPG's sometime soon since the prices are slowly rising. I guess on that note, is there a particular Wild Arms PS2 game you guys prefer? I think in a recent thread most people agreed the first two are kind of basic and "good" but nothing too revolutionary. Maybe the PS2 games improved things?

I think my PS2 JRPG top priority list would look something like this for now:
- Dragon Quest 8
- Valkyrie Profile 2
- Arc the Lad Twilight of the Spirits
- Shadow Hearts Covenant
- SMT Nocturne

That actually sums up my PS2 backlog a fair bit... I do own both Digital Devil Saga, Rogue Galaxy, Mega Man X Command Mission, Shadow Hearts (first one seemed okay but I hear more about Covenant), Persona 4 (I just don't know if it's for me!), and Unlimited Saga.

I had a strange falling out with JRPG's when the PS2 hit so I'm still behind. I've basically only got the FF series covered, Xenosaga, and Suikoden. Though I still need to play Suikoden 4 and Tactics to form my own opinions on them.

Exhuminator's decade old backlog stock makes me laugh a little, guess I don't feel too bad about some of the stuff I've had up there for a few years now...

[Exhuminator]

I think my PS2 JRPG top priority list would look something like this for now:

I'll add my thoughts to the ones I've played:

- Dragon Quest 8 (If you enjoy the classic JRPG formula, this is a good as it ever gets.)
- Valkyrie Profile 2 (Beautiful game, but I'd recommend a guide, oblique late game design.)
- Arc the Lad Twilight of the Spirits (No opinion, but I own it.)
- Shadow Hearts Covenant (No opinion, I own it, LOVE the first game though, I beat Shadow Hearts TWICE, which is something I never do with RPGs.)
- SMT Nocturne (My all time favorite PS2 JRPG so far. This game just resonated with my soul.)

>Digital Devil Saga
>Rogue Galaxy
>Mega Man X Command Mission

I own sealed copies of all those, never played them either.

>Persona 4 (I just don't know if it's for me!)

I own this on PS2 and Vita. Played it yet? Ha ha, nope.

>Unlimited Saga

I put some time into this, thought it was cool. Then I found out later it's supposed to be a horrible game. I don't know man, I like games that try to be different.

Exhuminator's decade old backlog stock makes me laugh a little

Dude I shit you not, I have computer games I bought in the 90s that are still sitting on my PC shelf unplayed. My backlog is older than some of the members here. I tell myself I will play them all when I retire. Otherwise it will be somebody else's problem when I die. "What are we supposed to do with all these damn video games?" "I don't know. Throw them in a dumpster?" "Okay."