Ivo wrote:Maybe you can try "western" RPGs like Morrowind / Oblivion, Baldur's Gate, Fallout etc.
I agree, they aren't quite lighthearted but they can be short if you focus solely on the story and it may be time for a paradigm shift from the sound of it if you're tired of the JRPG formula.
I also recommend Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect.
Gamerforlife wrote:I've been enjoying rpgs on the PSP of late. Jeanne D'Arc is a great strategy rpg that doesn't require much grinding and is rather easy to pick up and enjoy. Crisis Core was pretty cool too because it has an action oriented combat system that actually keeps you awake. If you play well, you don't need to grind much in Crisis Core either(unless you want to do all the optional stuff).
I'm playing crisis core right now and enjoying very much the combat. I'm doing all the missions because they are rather quick and it helps me level up, best thing they did was being able to skip summon movies after you have seen them a few times it gets boring.
If you're looking for something lighthearted, I think the Tales series is a good choice, particularly Tales of the Abyss. You also may want to try the Kingdom Hearts games if you haven't already.
I would also recommend Persona 4, but it will take a long time to complete.
Must people will not agree with me but i recently picked up Opoona for the Wii. Saw it used for only $10, thought might as well. I was presently suprised. The game is light hearted, very simple to play but hard to master. You can play it only using the nuchuck if you want. The main story line is not that long but can be longer if you get into the many licences and jobs you can aquire. Some people compare it to Earthbound. I might not go that far myself, but it is the closest i have seen.
Earthbound, or even dare I say Pokemon could be good simple choices.
On a completely different note, Valkyria Chronicles is a fantastic game if you have the facilities to try it out.
I second the Persona games (3 & 4). The combat system is great and feels like a puzzle while being very fun. Also they are looooooooong which is good in my book.
The characters are really likeable and gives you a great feeling of inmersion.
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No one mentioned one of my personal favorites; Super Mario RPG. Sure, it's easy and the story leaves much to be desired, but where it fails, it also succeeds.
The gameplay is easy, but it's also fun. With timed hits and specials that require specific button combinations (or button spam), you have to be attentive while battling so you can maximize your damage. Plus, one of the hardest feats that I've never accomplished in a video game is Mario's 100-hit super jump, and I've gotten all 201 bananas in DK64...
And the story element, it's very shallow but also lighthearted and I still laugh every time I see Mallow's different reactions to situations. I think that this title was one of the first Nintendo titles that really made you care about the citizens of the land, a pseudo-precursor to Majora's Mask, if you will. Star Road is one of my favorite zones in the game just because you can read people's wishes, it was fun trying to match the wishes with the characters that wished them (plus Luigi's harrr).
Not to mention the soundtrack, geeky enough, I still listen to it at work sometimes. And the hidden treasure boxes, plethora of secrets, plentiful mini games and side quests all make this something that can last for quite a while if you intend on finishing it 100%.
The only bad part is that if you don't know where one of the hidden treasure boxes is in the beginning of the game, you can never get it again and you have ONE shot to get it... and you're on a running Toad. WTF. It still eludes me.
Of course... this is all assuming you haven't played it, and I'm sure you have. But give it another go, it's a gateway game, you know.
I'm playing Persona 4 at the moment, and have not enjoyed an RPG as much in a long time. I have not played it, but how about giving the Sonic RPG a try on DS.
Ivo wrote:Maybe you can try "western" RPGs like Morrowind / Oblivion, Baldur's Gate, Fallout etc.
I agree, they aren't quite lighthearted but they can be short if you focus solely on the story and it may be time for a paradigm shift from the sound of it if you're tired of the JRPG formula.
I also recommend Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect.
