Your thoughts and experiences with Nintendo DS RPGs.

[Exhuminator]

Infinite Space - This one is pretty unique. There's an interesting space story being told and the ship customization is a whole lot of fun. Combat starts off a bit dull but gets more interesting over time as you unlock more capabilities like a spinal cannon and fighters. But at its core it's rock paper scissors based. Boarding is straight rock paper scissors but one of the options also punishes them for running, so it's the best. Regular fights are the standard VG combat RPS where you have basic attack, strong attack that overpowers basic, and defensive move that doesn't dodge basic. Strong attack costs more energy too, so the balance is thrown off even more.

First off thanks for the detailed breakdowns. Infinite Space especially has always sounded interesting to me. I tend to get nervous starting games that take over 50 hours to beat, and I've read this one takes around 60 to finish. (I worry about getting burned out is all.) But I've heard this game actually has a legit great plot, and that would help.

The World Ends With You - I adore this game, it's full of style, has an interesting if somewhat overwrought story, and some complicated but fun battle mechanics that keep you interested. Astonishing that there was never a sequel.

Great write ups for your choices, nice to read. And I keep forgetting about this particular one. I really need to put it on the top of my DS play list. I just wonder if I will be able to enjoy the dual screen combat system.

Pokémon HeartGold - A remake of what might be the best entry in the series.

Pokémon - If you have to pick one go with HG/SS

Well now, I guess I finally know the Pokemon game to try getting into the series with.

[Jagosaurus]

I was super addicted to Dragon Quest V. One of my all time favorite games.

It gets overlooked that this title had monster catching well before Pokémon. Having the right monsters in your party can really help in certain dungeons!

Radiant Historia might be my next RPG to play. Been on my shelf too long!

Edit/Add:

Get ready to press "A" over & over in Dark Sun. You pick your entire party's attacks... then in the battle scene have to press "A" to trigger them... why!? I already chose them. There is no timing involved. It is pointless. After 30 hours of this & wearing out your DS "A" button it gets old. I did beat this one & want to like it, but a stupid decision. Let the battle play out.

[Exhuminator]

It gets overlooked that this title had monster catching well before Pokémon.

To be fair though, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei had monster catching well before Dragon Quest V.

[Kuruwin]

Okay, thoughts for some of the games i listed.

Disgaea - I didn't play the original version but i think it's still safe to say that this is excellent port and really good strategy RPG. I have played all the games in the series expect five and this one is still my favorite eventhough four game close. It's bit simpler than the other games but i actually like that because the later games can be bit overwhelming.

Chrono Trigger I actually want to play this game again at some point. It has it's charms and the ost is fantastic but it didn't really hit me that hard. I did like it and it has some great moments but it's not on my top JRGP list.

DQ:Chapters of the Chosen&Realms of Revelation - These are just too grindy and basic for me. There's no good story to be found nor memorable characters and i just don't see the appeal.

Final Fantasy 3 I used to be PC player and there wasn't really any JRPG's on the original XBOX (not counting Otogi) so this actually was the very first JRPG that i actually really played. I did like it at the time but if i played it now i would have exact same thoughts about it than the previous two DQ games. They have no lasting appeal.

Etrian Odyssey 2 - I wonder whether this continues the same theme. I loved it it when it first came out because i hadn't really ever played any Japanese games like this (i played some games like this on PC though) and at the time i was in for the challenge. I would say that the OST still at least holds up and this might be solid package enough to still hold up but i just don't know because few years later i played the third game and i hated it. It felt just cheap and the amount of grinding was ridicilous. I did play the demo of the fourth game recently and i will probably buy it next month and kinda gauge the series based on that.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates - I don't think i reacted all that negatively to this game when i first played but i didn't actually finish it until just recently.

And all i'm going to say is that the game has one of the worst AI's out there so if i was to play it again i probably would hate it.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift- I liked this game and i loved all the customization it had but it does overstay it's welcome and the judge system was awful. Still a good game.

From The Abyss - Really lazy (all around) and simple diablo like dungeon crawler. I still kinda liked it for some reason. It's simple but at least it feel's like you are doing something unlike in Soma Bringer that has you just tapping one button.

Naruto: Path Of The Ninja 2 - Pretty much by the books classic JRPG game with Naruto theme. If you just want to kill few hour's it's the perfect 5/10 game.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness - I actually really liked this one. It's pretty simple roguelike gameplay wise but the writing is excellent. The story isn't deep of course but characters have tons of personality and charm to them. I like this game more than the main titles.

Orcs And Elves - Really simple and short throwback WRPG but i did enjoy it. It's really not a good game but fun can be had with it.

Pokemon Conquest - I haven't played Nobunaga games but this is a really simplified version of that series and it's just shit honestly. There's no story to speak of and it's just fails miserabely as a tactic game because of how dumbed down it is. I still don't understand how game this shitty was so well recieved.

Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure - Never played the original version of this either but from what i heard unlike Disgaea this is a bad port. One of the things that was completely changed was the combat system and the combat in this version at least is entirely pointless. They also didn't have the english songs on the DS (this is bad or a good thing depending on who you ask) but i guess otherwise it's the same game. The Nippon Ichi charm isn't a strong in this one and it really isn't worth playing for the story or the characters. It's not entirely unfunny but for the most it's a booring title.

The World Ends With You Great combat system and wonderful soundtrack but it can be such a pain to figure where to go at times and i never really cared about the characters nor the story. Not really fan of the game.

[marurun]

Excluding the Castlevania games, 'cause I don't really count them here...

1.) Bowser's Inside Story
2.) Radiant Historia
3.) Rocket Slime
4.) The World Ends With You
5.) SMT: Strange Journey

I haven't beaten all of these, and I've left out the ports/remakes. These are probably the best original titles on the system to give you a nice breadth of different styles. If we factor in the remakes, I'd slide in FFIV and Dragon Quest IV, knocking out #4 and #5.

Thanks, Sarge. That's helpful. I'll have to look into prices and my available time.

[Sarge]

I don't know how you feel about flash carts and the like, but I used a DS one back in the day to figure out what I liked and didn't like before purchasing. It also tells me why most folks don't have demos!

[Exhuminator]

Nice breakdown of your choices Kuruwin, though it sounded like you didn't enjoy most of the games you beat. I have no problem with someone being critical and very discerning though.

there wasn't really any JRPG's on the original XBOX (not counting Otogi)

I gotta interject here and say, as someone who beat Otogi, it's not a JRPG. It's just an action adventure game. But for the sake of conversation, there were at least seven Japanese developed RPGs released for the original Xbox, although not all of them were localized:

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness - I actually really liked this one. It's pretty simple roguelike gameplay wise but the writing is excellent. The story isn't deep of course but characters have tons of personality and charm to them. I like this game more than the main titles.

Hmm, I always dismissed these as Pokemon junk games, but seeing a few people talk about them here in this thread has me reconsidering.

Pokemon Conquest - I still don't understand how game this shitty was so well recieved.

Probably because it has the name "Pokemon" in it.

[TSTR]

This thread reminds me I need to get a flashcart at some point.

[Sarge]

Hoo boy, Metal Dungeon. BAAAARF.

[Exhuminator]

That's probably the most scathing review I've ever seen from Sarge. Trust me folks, when even he can't find a silver lining, you're dealing with a truly trash game.