racketboy.com

BoneSnapDeez wrote:I got stuck in Mystic Quest as a kid. Had to write to Nintendo Power for help.

Where?? I do remember having to go backwards once, to an old "dot" on the map, but other than that, I don't think I even used thought to get through that game.

As interesting as it is, being made for us noobs to the genre, I think mystic quest is a pretty below-average game.

Super Mario RPG, while still being easy, seems to have a much higher quality to it. I have played through that game at least a dozen times, and would still enjoy the occassional playthrough.

Mystic Quest I played once, and I never felt a need to revisit it, unlike every other Final Fantasy from that era (and the era afterwards)

I would recommend either the N64 or GC Paper Mario. Both are meant to be "my first RPG" of sorts, but the GC one has a mildly difficult afterstory.

panzer dragoon saga imo

My first one was Dragon Warrior on NES (wasn't it all for most of the forum users?) because of the guide in the Nov/Dec 89 issue of NP (or was it Jan/Feb 90)?

Got Final Fantasy a year later.

DW is a good one, and the manual is also super helpful to have.

Super Mario RPG is also another fine choice.

ninjainspandex wrote:panzer dragoon saga imo

Yes a $350 game only available on Sega Saturn is a great RPG to "start out with" lol.

dunpeal2064 wrote:

BoneSnapDeez wrote:I got stuck in Mystic Quest as a kid. Had to write to Nintendo Power for help.

Where?? I do remember having to go backwards once, to an old "dot" on the map, but other than that, I don't think I even used thought to get through that game.

As interesting as it is, being made for us noobs to the genre, I think mystic quest is a pretty below-average game.

Super Mario RPG, while still being easy, seems to have a much higher quality to it. I have played through that game at least a dozen times, and would still enjoy the occassional playthrough.

Mystic Quest I played once, and I never felt a need to revisit it, unlike every other Final Fantasy from that era (and the era afterwards)

I don't remember why I got stuck. I think it was probably something related to my colorblindess: I couldn't see a door or a switch or something else. I was really just looking for an excuse to write to Nintendo Power. Anyway, I got unstuck within a matter of hours, but of course didn't get a reply from NP for about a month.

BoneSnapDeez wrote:

ninjainspandex wrote:panzer dragoon saga imo

Yes a $350 game only available on Sega Saturn is a great RPG to "start out with" lol.

lol well if its gonna be your first why not get one to remember lol plus if you play $250 you might be say more motivated to finish it.

BoneSnapDeez wrote:I don't remember why I got stuck. I think it was probably something related to my colorblindess: I couldn't see a door or a switch or something else. I was really just looking for an excuse to write to Nintendo Power. Anyway, I got unstuck within a matter of hours, but of course didn't get a reply from NP for about a month.

Due to my colorblindness, I couldn't see the yellow marker on the white board in one of my classrooms when I was in middle school which happened to tell us our daily homework. The teacher was furious with me when I repeatedly stated that I never saw any such thing on the board and was hell-bent on failing me. It was eventually figured out during a conference though. I also thought peanut butter was green until I was twenty.

Oh, and for the OP, I liked Mystic Quest. It was fun for what it was, but I say play a really good RPG for your first to draw you into the genre. Something like FFIII(VI) or Chrono Trigger if you want 2D.

I started with the Tales of Symphonia on the gamecube, it has some heavy rpg elements, nothing too complicated though; the battle system is action based and more skill and tatics than level grinding.

pakopako wrote:Not that I don't disagree with what you are saying, I just don't think that will happen. The farther along the sequel go, the less they resemble their original progenitors. Both Dragon Quest and Final fantasy fit that. Heck, see how much Fallout 3 resembles Wateland. Although I do applaud a game like Dark Spire or Etrian Odyssey[/b], but it is also difficult for those games to find an audience nowadays. Gradually moving backwards might be more feasible since the change won't be as sudden, but given how long some of these game series' go, it might be awhile before that first game is reached.

I was mostly thinking of turn based RPGs with my comments. I have no idea why so many RPG fans today complain about random encounters. In that case I do think a brand new player with no prior experience might appreciate the genre as a whole better if they started with the original (console) turn based RPGs.

I haven't played any current gen RPGs yet, they just haven't captured my attention. I've tried Phantasy Star Online but the main character just pissed me off. I tried Oblivion but the gameplay pissed me off (don't pretend at real time combat). In cases of Western RPGs and more exploration based role playing games I'd still say that starting out with something like King's Quest and early Detective style games would be best, but only if the player was willing to go back first.

pakopako wrote:I actually do agree that if combat was taken out we'd end up with something akin to a visual novel or text adventure... or even graphical adventure. But I think of the Sakura Taisen series -- all five main Sakura Wars games are half date-sim and half tactical game. ...

... A sole VN would have more characters to interact with, thus more choices to make and remember. A more combat intensive game would have promotions, diverse weaponry, and squad-based tactical formations. I look to the Grandia series, where every battle is akin to a boss battle because of how the field is laid out. A great combat system which is (for the first two games in my limited experience) supplanted by a nice story.

The whole point of a genre blender is that there were original genres to blend. Shining Force wasn't the first turn based strategy game either, but it's RPG elements were easy to understand for any turn based RPG fan. Grandia is another great example, the gameplay is as much about the combat, and leveling, as it is about the story and all aspects are complimentary.