Obscure Retro RPGs?

[thefloydian]

Hi, I've read this site for a while but never posted on the forums. I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for RPGs on emulated systems that I've never played before. I know all about the NES, SNES, Gameboy + Gameboy Advanced (to an extent anyway), but for systems like Dreamcast and Sega Saturn/CD, etc that I never played, I don't know much at all. Any suggestions are welcome though, because I might have missed something.

[Hatta]

You should check out Dungeons and Desktops. It's mostly oriented towards computer RPGs, but it's very comprehensive. It's really a must for anyone who likes old school RPGs.

[MrPopo]

In terms of English RPGs, the only ones I know of on the Dreamcast are Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia. The Saturn has a larger library. There's Albert Odyssey, Dragon Force (more SRPG), Legend of Oasis (Action RPG), Magical Knight Rayearth (Action RPG), Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shining Force III (SRPG), Shining the Holy Ark and Shining Wisdom (Action RPG). The Sega CD has Vay, Popful Mail (Action RPG), Dark Wizard (SRPG) and Shining Force CD (SRPG).

Can anyone think of ones I've forgotton for these systems?

And if you're really looking for a title you probably haven't played before, then I'd suspect Faria is one. It's on the NES, and I didn't know about it's existance until I saw it in a very obscure top 10 list.

[jp1]

Dreamcast also has:

Evolution 1
Evolution 2
Elemental Gimmick Gear
Phantasy Star
Silver
Timestalkers

and there is another similar to diablo in some ways, but the name eludes me at the moment.

EDIT: Record of Lodoss War

Not that any of those are obscure...

[Ack]

Dreamcast RPGs:

Animastar
Armada
Black Matrix A/D
Boy Kanipan: Mystery of Robot
Card of Destiny: Hikari to Yami no Tougoumono
Castle Fantasia: Seima Taisen
Chou Hatsumei Boy Kanipan: Bousou Robot no Nazo
D+Vine [Luv]
deSPIRIA
Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern
Eldorado Gate Volume 1
Eldorado Gate Volume 2
Eldorado Gate Volume 3
Eldorado Gate Volume 4
Eldorado Gate Volume 5
Eldorado Gate Volume 6
Eldorado Gate Volume 7
Elemental Gimmick Gear
Evolution
Evolution 2
Exodus Guilty Neos
Fragrance Tale
Fushigi Dungeon - Furai no Shiren Gaiden: Onnakenshi Asuka Kenzan!
Grandia II
Izumo
L.O.L.: Lack of Love
Langrisser Millennium
Marie & Elie no Atelier: The Alchemist of Salburg 1 & 2
Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream
Netto-de-para
Nishikaze no Kyoushikyouku
Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online Version 2
Record of Lodoss War
Record of Lodoss War: Advent of Cardice
Rhapsody of Zephyr
Rune Jade
Seventh Cross: Evolution
Silver
Skies of Arcadia
Sorcerian: Apprentice of Seven Star Magic
Sunrise Eiyuutan
Time Stalkers
Tricolore Crise

There are other games I did not include that have some connection, such as D2, Shenmue, and some of the visual novel games. The only reason I know of these is because Racket has lists upon lists of Dreamcast games, and I'm lucky enough to have one, so all credit rightfully goes to him. As you can tell, not all are in English. Good luck finding them all.

[chipperkwah]

MrPopo don't forget Lunar 1 & 2 for Sega CD! So good, better than the ps1 versions IMO.

[the7k]

Yeah, I've actually got Lunar 1, 2 and Grandia on the Saturn. Japanese, but still. Also have Black Matrix on the Saturn, it's sorta like Shin Megami Tensei mixed with Tactics Ogre. Also have AnEarth Fantasy Stories, Masters of Monsters, Terra Phantastica, Marica, Magical School Lunar, Samurai Spirits Bushidohretsuden, Quovadis, Princess Maker 2, Slayers Royal 1 and 2, Langrisser III, Airs Adventure... man, I have a lot more Japanese RPGs on the Saturn than I remember. And most of those games are actually pretty good, too. Only English RPG I have for the Saturn is Shining the Holy Ark, which I also highly recommend.

I know it seems weird to play through an RPG when you don't fully understand the language, but most good RPGs don't rely completely on words to get the story across anyway.

[Dakinggamer87]

I'm loving the Saturn and Sega CD RPG's.. picking 'em up while I can.. looking for Popful Mail..

[onemanfilmcrew]

Genesis

Cadash (action/RPG hybrid)
Phtanstay Star 2-4
Might and Magic
Super Hydlide (action/RPG)
D&D Warriors of Eternal Sun
Buck Rogers (totally rocks!)
Beyond Oasis (action/RPG)

SNES

7th Saga
Illusion of Gaia
Inido: Way of the Ninja
Lagoon
Paladins Quest

NES

4 different AD&D games
Bards Tale
Faxanadu (action/rpg)
Ghost Lion
Hydlide
Swords and Serpents

Sega Master System

Golden Ax Warrior
Phantasy Star
Golvellius: Valley of Doom
Miracle Warriors

[sakicfan84]

In terms of English RPGs, the only ones I know of on the Dreamcast are Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia. The Saturn has a larger library. There's Albert Odyssey, Dragon Force (more SRPG), Legend of Oasis (Action RPG), Magical Knight Rayearth (Action RPG), Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shining Force III (SRPG), Shining the Holy Ark and Shining Wisdom (Action RPG). The Sega CD has Vay, Popful Mail (Action RPG), Dark Wizard (SRPG) and Shining Force CD (SRPG).

Can anyone think of ones I've forgotton for these systems?

And if you're really looking for a title you probably haven't played before, then I'd suspect Faria is one. It's on the NES, and I didn't know about it's existance until I saw it in a very obscure top 10 list.

Sega CD also has Shining Force CD. It's two games in one really, but it will cost you a pretty penny if you're looking to get a physical copy.

All the games he listed for the Saturn are at the very least good games with some of them being great games. I'd also throw in Dark Savior to the list of Saturn games you can try to acquire. It's definitely in between genres, but I'm not sure that I've ever played anything with a premise quite like it before or since. The game unfolds differently depending on how quick you reach a certain point and what happens in a particular battle. If anyone's played Dark Savior on here and knows of any games that feature a similar branching plot, please let me know.

Saturn also has Mystaria/Blazing Heroes. It's a grid based SRPG, with absolutely horrendous, early 3D graphics. Bring a barf bag. Graphics aside, I do remember really enjoying the game. However, the SRPG genre has definitely progressed a lot, and I'm not sure how the game would seem in comparison to modern titles.