DS RPG Recommendations

[BurningDoom]

I need a good RPG on the DS to keep my attention for a while. I just picked up Final Fantasy III, but I'm really turned off by the sheer cutesiness of everything. Anything you guys could recommend that's not so "cutesy" looking?

And I already have Chrono Trigger.

[Nemoide]

The Dragon Quest series has kind of cute designs (same designer as Chrono Trigger, so if that doesn't count as cutesy, than neither does this?), but are really solid games. IMO DQ V is the best one for people who aren't familiar with the series but it doesn't matter too much! I admit to having not played IX yet, but I've only heard good things about it. I CAN'T STOP RECOMMENDING THE SERIES TO EVERYONE!

And while it's not technically an RPG, you might want to give 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors a try. The premise is basically the movie Saw on a boat with anime characters, except it's way better than that makes it sound. It's a very gripping game and worth giving a chance.

[Frerix]

Oh man, the DS is a haven for RPGs. The "technically incapable" system had a lot of these games.

You have TRPGS, JRPGS, many hybrids. Just to name a few of the top of my head;
-Shin Megami Tensei series (Strange Journey, Devil Survivor 1/2..)
-Pokemon series
-Mario & Luigi games (awesome battle system!)
-Dragon Quest IV,V,VI,IX
-The World Ends With You
-Radiant Historia!
and many others

[TheSSNintendo]

Final Fantasy IV, even though that's the most difficult version.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Oh boy there are a lot of great RPGs on the DS. In fact, I'd say it has one of the best JRPG libraries of any console in existence...

Some of my faves:

Dragon Quest IV, V, VI, IX - All are awesome. IX is the only original title (not a port). I'd say IV is the easiest to get into if you've never played a DQ game.

Radiant Historia - One of the best original games on the console. It's a time travel game, but the mechanic is completely different from that of Chrono Trigger. You play through two different forked timelines that are destined to eventually converge. The battle system is innovative and addictive. Try to track this one down before it gets too expensive.

Children of Mana - A fun little dungeon crawler. Short and repetitive, but very enjoyable.

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II - If you've never played Ys, this would be the place to start. My favorite video game series of all time. If you're turned off by the Ys "bump" combat system don't worry, this game actually has an action button.

Etrian Odyssey I, II, III - Challenging 3D dungeon crawlers with a great anime art style.

[flojocabron]

I've recently started Avalon Code.

Seems to be allright.

[Opa Opa]

For the love of everything, avoid The Dark Spire.

Great retro-throwback artistically but horrendously difficult gameplay.

[MrPopo]

For the love of everything, avoid The Dark Spire.

Great retro-throwback artistically but horrendously difficult gameplay.

It's basically Wizardry with only 4 party members, but the same level of fiendish encounters and maze design.

[BurningDoom]

As soon as I looked up Radiant Historia and read what it was all about, that was my decision. It sounds like the storyline is right up my alley with time travel and alternate timelines. Just got back from GameStop with it! Thanks guys!

This will also be my first Atlus RPG.

[bmoc]

Good choice with Radiant Historia! I hope you got it for a good price. It looks like it might be out of print again. I do want to throw another vote for The World Ends With You into the mix should need another RPG fix in the near future.