Strategy RPG Recommendations

[Jagosaurus]

Hey guys, looking to hop into SRPGs in 2014 so I'm going to start researching & buying now. In 2013 I hopped back into RPGs after a hiatus & have been having a blast.

A few criteria:
- Prefer the game to be on PSX, PS2, DS, or 3DS (most convenient for to me to sink time into with my entertainment set up).

- During the week I play in 1- 2 hour burst. I'm a bit concerned with saving during large battles. Any out there you can hard save during battles (not just memo/quick save)?

- Nothing insaley brutal. Although I love challenges, this will be my first dive into the genre (that I can remember anyway) so I'll be getting my footing.

- I currently own Fire Emblem Awakening & Suikoden Tactics & they're on my 2014 play list. How are they on difficulty & saving progress?

- Disgaea on PS2 or DS is on my radar, as well as Vandal Hearts. Although it breaks my preference above been eyeing Mystsria/ Blazing Heroes on Saturn.

Thoughts? THANKS.

[Menegrothx]

- Nothing insaley brutal. Although I love challenges, this will be my first dive into the genre (that I can remember anyway) so I'll be getting my footing.

Jagged Alliance 2/Temple of Elemental Evil/King of Dragon Pass

Well Final Fantasy Tactics&Tactigs Ogre on PSP can be found for a decent price and are some of the cornerstones of the genre. SMT: Devil Survivor for the DS maybe?

Although kind of light on the RPG elements, the new XCOM (or better yet, the old one) is a great pick, but perhaps too hard. But if you want actual strategy in your game (and not just tactics), they're excellent picks.

- I currently own Fire Emblem Awakening & Suikoden Tactics & they're on my 2014 play list. How are they on difficulty & saving progress?

I can't remember if I had perma death on or not but FE: Awakening was mechanically nothing special (thus a good starting game, very simple compared to cRPGs and some of NIS/Sting SRPGs). On later stages there were enemies that would appear somewhat randomly (IIRC) that could, if you were unlucky, one shot some of your weaker caster characters who're at the back and those were kind of cheap.

[AppleQueso]

- Disgaea on PS2 or DS is on my radar.

The Ps2 version is greatly preferred to the DS one.

Also, if you plan to play that game, I hope you don't mind lots and lots of grinding.

[Violent By Design]

Might want to invest in a PSP, they're pretty cheap and have quite the collection of SPRGs. Maybe even the best.

[Menegrothx]

Oh, didn't notice that OP hasn't got a PSP. Well, in that case get FFT, TO:LUCT and XCOM UFO Defense on PS1 and Disgaea on PS2.
If you like those games, PSP is a worthy purchase as it has stuff like Gungnir, ZHP Unlosing ranger etc and also games like Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command and Lord of the Rings Tactics

During the week I play in 1- 2 hour burst. I'm a bit concerned with saving during large battles. Any out there you can hard save during battles (not just memo/quick save)?

With handhelds you can close the console and continue playing later on but on console games it's not as often that you can save mid battle, that's more common in PC strategy games&RPGs.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Although it breaks my preference above been eyeing Mystsria/ Blazing Heroes on Saturn.

Get that game. It's quite good. There's also a sequel, Riglord Saga 2, which unfortunately never left Japan.

Since you have Fire Emblem: Awakening you'll probably want to check out Shadow Dragon on the DS.

Luminous Arc 1 & 2 are also quite fun with big, colorful anime graphics. Part 3 is Japan only.

As far as Western titles go, definitely try Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes. It's incredibly addictive.

Do you have a DS that plays GBA games?

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Yes, getting a PSP is a great idea if you're into SRPGs. If you ever happen to get one I could make a great list for you.

Now then, I'm playing La Pucelle Tactics on PS2 right now and loving it. I usually play for one or two hours at a time, once a week, and it's been lasting quite a while. Battles are fairly short so you won't have to worry about saving. The role playing (or stat building, as it were) is completely freeform and you've got to put some thought into everything you do. Or just grind. Great music and an entertaining story so far. It's also pretty cheap. I think it's a very good first choice.

There's also Front Mission 4, which seems to be about giant robots, and Front Mission 5, which is Japanese only but received a very good fan translation. You'll need a modded PS2 or a PCSX2-capable PC to play it. Front Mission 3 on PS1, or Front Mission on DS, are also good options.

I was looking for Kartia: World of Fate on PS1 for a while. I don't remember why, but check it out.

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume. Unlike other Valkyrie Profile games which are absolutely top-tier aRPGs, this one is a mediocre sRPG. I recommend it for the difference in tone from any other SRPG. The hero cares nothing for justice at all, just gathering (sin) power for revenge on the valkyrie from the first game. There's a branching story, and each playthrough should be pretty quick. It's not the most well-made, but it still manages to be the most interesting. If you haven't played Valkyrie Profile 2 on PS2, get to it. Even if it's not a traditional grid-based tactics game, you'll need to plan carefully to win. Whole game gets harder each time you beat it too!

Knights in the Nightmare: Best game of the 7th gen if you ask me. This is an experimental game for advanced players - it takes an hour just to figure out how battle works. Uncompromisingly creative in its bullet hell/SRPG design, beautiful art, interesting story, some of the best synth music around. Just be warned it will ruin 50% of other sRPGs for you

Also on DS Front Mission, Jagged Alliance, Pokemon Conquest, Summon Night. I haven't payed Final Fantasy Tactics A2, but it's there.

On GBA, try Ygddra Union and the Fire Emblem games. They're pretty hard, but very rewarding. PSP version of Yggdra Union has way better music though.

These should all be cheap except the GBA fire emblem games. Enjoy!

[flojocabron]

yes! I recommend Vandal Hearts as well.

It's one of the first RPG's I ever completed.

It may be simple and slow compared to today's modern Strategy RPG, but its still a completely decent game.

The graphics in the game weren't the best for its time, so dont expect much now.

But all the strategy elements are there. And there's character level ups just like in Fire Emblem. The magic effects are okay too.

Theres a few minor details with the game that shouldn't be a big deal. The X and O buttons are switched. It's definitely japanese styling in this game. The circle button is for confirming commands and the X button is for cancelling. You get used to it though.

Another minor detail is that it takes up two blocks of saving on your memory card. But a good thing is these two blocks hold three saves and the in-battle save. But its only one file per memory card. No biggie.

And with many games with rotating cameras, you get stupid angles and bad camera points sometimes.

If its cheap enough, go get it!

Oh, one more thing. Vandal Hearts 2 is wayyyy different from part 1. Its also an okay game, but there were heavy changes to the play mechanics and strategy elements.

good luck on finding something

[Menegrothx]

Knights in the nightmare is more RTS than SRPG though

[Valkyrie-Favor]

It's absolutely a strategy RPG. Just that all the units act at the same time.