SRPGs - Where to Start?

[Exhuminator]

Any Front Mission game will be fine, but I recommend starting with the first game on the DS, or the third game on PlayStation. Outside that, Final Fantasy Tactics or Fallout Tactics are great choices for beginners in the SRPG genre.

I found the first Shining Force game to be rather overrated honestly. Maybe the sequels are better though.

[Jmustang1968]

Any Front Mission game will be fine, but I recommend starting with the first game on the DS, or the third game on PlayStation. Outside that, Final Fantasy Tactics or Fallout Tactics are great choices for beginners in the SRPG genre.

I found the first Shining Force game to be rather overrated honestly. Maybe the sequels are better though.

Shining Force sequel is better, but blasphemy!!! Shining Force 2 is basically what sparked my love of RPGs and SRPGs in particular.

[elricorico]

I feel the need to chime in as SRPGs are some of my favourites even though I'm not sure I'll be bringing anything new.

Shining Force 2 was also my first entry into the genre and remains one of my all time favourite games. Shining Force is nearly as good, and I don't think many people would only like one or the other.

Final Fantasy Tactics was another big one for me, but I don't know that I would go at it without a guide of some sort as (if I recall correctly) there are several things that can be missed.

Fire Emblem Awakening kept me enthralled throughout and is another good choice. If you get a GBA I would absolutely recommend Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis.

Something that maybe hasn't been brought up is Phantom Brave, which I played on the Wii but is available on PS2. From the makers of Disgaea, but something about Phantom Brave kept me coming back while I've never had Disgaea really grab me.

[Ivo]

Everything I could say has been said I think.

The Shining Force / Fire Emblem are 2D maps, less micromanagement, and I think fairly easy to get into. You do a little bit of item management, select which units go into battle, and in battles where to move each one and who to attack.

Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics have battles take place in 3D maps, much more micromanagement. They are harder to get into but I think also very rewarding. This has been my favorite type.
X-Com is also like this, with the added extra that you have on top base management and other aspects on top of the battles.

Ogre Battle is a bit like the 1st class but somehow ends up with lots of micromanagement when selecting which units go with each leader into the squad and so on. They are good games but of these 3 types my least favorite.
Dragon Force I think is a bit like Ogre Battle, but I couldn't get into Dragon Force when I tried last time (I still want to try again).

I think all of them take large amounts of time, but the time I got tired before the end of the game was with Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen.

Between Shining Force 1 and Fire Emblem on the GBA (I think it is Fire Emblem 7?) I preferred Fire Emblem. I think Shining Force is easier on beginners though.

I played FFTA and there were some irritating aspects there, I haven't played FFT yet but from what I know I expect it to be better.
Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis is a masterpiece, and I haven't got round to play the original Tactics Ogre game.
I haven't tried the original in either series partly due to lack of time but I think I'm also afraid of being disappointed.

[Jmustang1968]

Ivo, Tactics Ogre and FFT are better than their GBA sequels and definitely worth playing. I really enjoy the PSP versions of each as well. TO Let Us Cling Together is the definitive game of the genre for me.

Being that I tend to favor T/S RPGs over more traditional ones these days and played a bunch, I may put together some list or mini guide for them. Could be fun.

[noiseredux]

Being that I tend to favor T/S RPGs over more traditional ones these days and played a bunch, I may put together some list or mini guide for them. Could be fun.

you should do this.

[Exhuminator]

tend to favor T/S RPGs over more traditional ones these days and played a bunch

What do you think of the Front Mission series?

[Ack]

tend to favor T/S RPGs over more traditional ones these days and played a bunch

What do you think of the Front Mission series?

I realize you're asking Jmustang for his opinion, but I'll throw in my two cents. I've only played Front Mission and Front Mission 3, but I enjoyed both immensely. Front Mission 3 goes on for slightly too long in my opinion(I think they could have cut 5-10 battles of filler in there and kept it much more tight and compact), but they're both solid experiences with interesting stories and fun combat systems.

[Jmustang1968]

tend to favor T/S RPGs over more traditional ones these days and played a bunch

What do you think of the Front Mission series?

I think we have discussed them a bit previously before. But, I have only played 4 on the PS2. I own 3 and the DS remake, but have yet to play them.

I love the mech combat idea and atmosphere of the series. I kind of wish the customization was a bit deeper. May be more on the lines with something like Armored Core. I enjoyed myself enough to beat it, which is saying something for me. However, I don't remember being amazed or overly impressed.

I know the series is lauded for the story, but I think 4's was just ok and not too memorable. I remember the game being good enough that it left me wanting for the things it did not quite accomplish that I would have wanted it to to put it ino that upper level. If that even makes sense.

[Exhuminator]

Front Mission 3 goes on for slightly too long in my opinion

Certainly it does if you attempt to finish both story lines at once. There's really two games in one with that entry honestly. I still need to go back and play the other half of the story.

But, I have only played 4 on the PS2. I own 3 and the DS remake, but havr yet to play them. I think 4's was just ok and not too memorable.

Front Mission 4's best aspect is that it eventually gets quite difficult and really makes the player strategize to succeed. But compared to 1 or 3, 4 is the weaker game. 3 is really fun, but is too easy overall. The DS version of Front Mission 1 is my personal favorite of those you mentioned, it's just awesome. Especially if you do both campaigns. Although the primary campaign is easy to cheese if you just make walking missile launchers out of all your wanzers. (I still need to play 2 and 5, I've got no experience with those yet.)