minimal grind RPGs

[J T]

Megaten games that I have played suck, but I've only played Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne and the Digital Devil Saga.

BLASPHEMY!

Shin Megami Tensei is my favorite RPG series, and Nocturne is my favorite in the series.

They are grindy though. Nocturne doesn't start out that way, but then your reach the battle with the Matador and you have to grind big time to beat him. It's not quite as bad after that.

Digital Devil Saga... well, I love it, but you have a "random encounter" every two steps. Seriously, I would forget where I was traveling to all the time because there are so many battles. As soon as I remembered which direction I was headed, I was thrown into battle again. It can be really hard to reach a save zone in that game.

In their defense though, the Megaten games have more enjoyable grinding than typical RPGs because you are usually trying out new demon's and fusions and magatama to find out what they are best used for, so it's not as boring as the average RPG where you are just choosing "attack" repeatedly until you finally grind up enough exp to move on.

[Limewater]

Shenmue is not an rpg. I don't really know what the hell the Shenmue games are honestly.

It's different from any other RPG I've ever played, but I've often seen it classified as an RPG. The stats-based aspect of it is rather minimized, and doesn't make a whole lot of difference in the endgame, but I've often seen it classified as an RPG.

What part of the definition of a role-playing game does it not meet?

[Gnashvar]

Megaten games that I have played suck, but I've only played Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne and the Digital Devil Saga. And they each did require some grinding

A puppy just died because you said that.

[Gamerforlife]

Megaten games that I have played suck, but I've only played Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne and the Digital Devil Saga. And they each did require some grinding

A puppy just died because you said that.

I gave them a fair shake. Though I haven't tried the Persona games or that copy of Devil Summoner that I have. So I may give the Megaten universe another try at some point

I remember not long after trying Nocturne and Digital Saga I played Shadow Hearts for the first time and I remember thinking, "now here's an occult themed rpg that's actually FUN'

[baschlives]

grandia 2 requires no grinding

[Bradtemple87]

SMT can be very grindy if you dont know the skill flow of weaknesses, kingdom hearts was smooth as well as the tales games were for me

[greg]

I have to second Grandia 2. It was easier than the first Grandia game. Tales of Symphonia didn't need much grinding, unless you wanted to take on the secret devil boss in the game that makes you collect all sorts of different relics around the world.

Riviera for the GBA/PSP didn't seem to need much grinding, IIRC. Basically you level up by using and mastering different weapons, not by simply defeating enemies.

[Gamerforlife]

I actually like the original Grandia better than Grandia 2, but they are both great. I just feel the original's combat system was slightly better and the story and characters had more charm. Grandia has my favorite combat system to date in a Japanese rpg. It's all about learning how to use it properly, rather than levels and stats

[MrEco]

Odin Sphere on PS2, and Demon's Souls on PS3. Simply amazing games, and I got through both with little to no grinding. You just need skill, really.

[mobiusclimber]

Ar Tonelico didn't require any grinding for me, I actually sailed through it. Sakura Wars: So Long My Love doesn't even have random battles or any way to grind at all. It's a fun game too. Rhapsody is stupidly easy, even on the hard mode setting, so that's a possibility. The game isn't for everyone, tho, but I found it to be so charming I could overlook its flaws. I can't really think of too many old school RPGs that don't have grinding in them. Unless you want to play FF: Mystic Quest (which isn't as bad as people say it is, but it's certainly not great).