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Looking for a PSOne JRPG to play
- Thread starter heringer
- Start date
I don't agree at all with the people saying Xenogears doesn't hold up well. It's still a fantastic experience, yes, lots of text and far from being perfect, but Takahashi created one of the most interest gaming world. The story can be way convoluted, but it's not random rubbish, it does actually make sense. Second disc was ok for me, I don't hate it, I'm just sad that they didn't have the time or money to finish it.
Music is fantastic too.
But I have to admit that the Chu-chu thing was damn stupid.
Music is fantastic too.
But I have to admit that the Chu-chu thing was damn stupid.
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
I'd like to think I'm not looking at the game through rose-coloured lenses, but I've done a lot of playthroughs of that game up to uni and each time I've liked it. Going to beat up Lapis, powering up your Ra-Seru, learning boss attack patterns, memorizing arts, some of the minigames were kinda fun... the entire game was plain ol' fun. I think a fair amount of people felt that it was average back then, and to their credit, I can understand (the graphical style, some people consider the bosses to be difficult, some may not like the method of magic acquisition and growth, etc).
And the music was so good. Dancing Minigame? Wanna Wanna? Mist Factory theme (alternate)? Songi's battle theme? Aw man.
Why, if I may ask?JehutyGR said:Yeah, "mediocre" is "bad" for me
With respect to denotation, both words don't mean the same thing at all.
Meccanical
Member
The dancing minigame was interesting, because it had the strangest motivation to win ever.
I mean losing is bad enough on it's own, but if you lose Noa runs out of the damn club in tears.
What the hell man, you better when this dance competition or Noa's self esteem will be destroyed forever! Gee thanks devs.
My favorite part of the game had to be the one on one battles with the Delilas trio.
I love one on one fights in party based games. Don't know why.
Diomedeskun
Member
Legend of Dragoon is the only RPG I've ever owned and been thrilled to sell halfway through. I played a lot of RPGs in the PS1 days, my standards were low, I was in college and had lots of free time, and I had low expectations for Legend of Dragoon, but I wanted something simple and somewhat fun, and I assumed it would have some decent FMV at least.
What I got was a game that looked like it was drenched in buckets of mud, with brown, green, and grey towns and dungeons that were utterly indecipherable without turning on the arrows to mark doorways. The characters were dull and flat, combat was poorly designed and unbearably slow, and the cool looking dragon transformation pretty much just made your character as functional as a regular RPG character. I read a synopsis of the story later and it seemed like there were some interesting moments developments, but it was the blandest, most poorly designed RPG for the system. Stay far away.
As for the other games, I like them all quite a bit. That said, Legend of Mana has very little in common with most other RPGs, including its own predecessors. The battles restrict you to attacking left or right and healing items are used automatically when dropped, making it feel more like a beat-em-up in combat. You have a couple special abilities and some rare coins that summon, but otherwise there really isn't much use of skills or magic. Crafting is deep, and it's the main way you improve your character, but it really requires a FAQ because it is so obtuse. Also, the story is essentially four unconnected storylines that you progress through and a number of one-off adventures. It's charming and beautiful, but it's much more fun with two players, and it's a game that really makes you work to like it.
Breath of Fire IV is great and has lovely sprites, but it feels unfinished, or at least like it was meant to lead into a sequel.
Xenogears was my favorite RPG for many years, but it has not aged gracefully. I love it dearly, and I love reading about it and talking about it, but it's a bit rough around the edges. It does have a strong, if incredibly convoluted, story that really stands out among PS1 RPGs.
Parasite Eve 1 is a great real world RPG with survival horror elements and a touch of Final Fantasy. Parasite Eve 2 is a good survival horror with RPG elements. Both are good, but 1 has a stronger, more iconic setting in Manahattan, whereas 2's southwestern mining town just isn't very exciting. I also prefer the gameplay in 1 overall, even if it is rather easy.
I agree with everyone who has said that Grandia 1 has aged really well. It's one of my personal favorites, and I love the sense of adventure. It may follow lot's of JRPG tropes, but it rises above them with a charming, likeable cast and excellent gameplay. It also really feels like you are traveling across a large world, since you don't have access to every place you've been at all time.
What I got was a game that looked like it was drenched in buckets of mud, with brown, green, and grey towns and dungeons that were utterly indecipherable without turning on the arrows to mark doorways. The characters were dull and flat, combat was poorly designed and unbearably slow, and the cool looking dragon transformation pretty much just made your character as functional as a regular RPG character. I read a synopsis of the story later and it seemed like there were some interesting moments developments, but it was the blandest, most poorly designed RPG for the system. Stay far away.
As for the other games, I like them all quite a bit. That said, Legend of Mana has very little in common with most other RPGs, including its own predecessors. The battles restrict you to attacking left or right and healing items are used automatically when dropped, making it feel more like a beat-em-up in combat. You have a couple special abilities and some rare coins that summon, but otherwise there really isn't much use of skills or magic. Crafting is deep, and it's the main way you improve your character, but it really requires a FAQ because it is so obtuse. Also, the story is essentially four unconnected storylines that you progress through and a number of one-off adventures. It's charming and beautiful, but it's much more fun with two players, and it's a game that really makes you work to like it.
Breath of Fire IV is great and has lovely sprites, but it feels unfinished, or at least like it was meant to lead into a sequel.
Xenogears was my favorite RPG for many years, but it has not aged gracefully. I love it dearly, and I love reading about it and talking about it, but it's a bit rough around the edges. It does have a strong, if incredibly convoluted, story that really stands out among PS1 RPGs.
Parasite Eve 1 is a great real world RPG with survival horror elements and a touch of Final Fantasy. Parasite Eve 2 is a good survival horror with RPG elements. Both are good, but 1 has a stronger, more iconic setting in Manahattan, whereas 2's southwestern mining town just isn't very exciting. I also prefer the gameplay in 1 overall, even if it is rather easy.
I agree with everyone who has said that Grandia 1 has aged really well. It's one of my personal favorites, and I love the sense of adventure. It may follow lot's of JRPG tropes, but it rises above them with a charming, likeable cast and excellent gameplay. It also really feels like you are traveling across a large world, since you don't have access to every place you've been at all time.
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
That was a pretty good dungeon, actually. And then coming together and throwing the Point Card at Koru.
Feel the wrath of my Air Miles, ya Lavos wannabe!
No, it wasn't. I don't love it or hate it. That's kind of my point.
Mediocre does not mean bad at all. As I said, I would have preferred if it was actually bad so that I wouldn't have wasted so much time on it.
It seems that a lot of people who jumped into RPGs around FF7 liked the game, so your explanation doesn't surprise me at all. People were looking for something else like FF7, and Legend of Dragoon was the closest thing - even if it wasn't anywhere near as good.
encephalon
Member
I have a hard time to believe chu chu
isn't the game making fun of itself. Sounds like Japanese humor to me.
on the cross
I just cant seem to get into Legend of Mana, especially since I always feel like i'm doing the land placement wrong.
Parasite Eve still draws me in because of the subject matter and the soundtrack. Xenogears...I like the game, but it seems like all you really need to do are deathblows over and over/never use chi attacks with the main character. Then again, I only played the game up until the desert.
Parasite Eve still draws me in because of the subject matter and the soundtrack. Xenogears...I like the game, but it seems like all you really need to do are deathblows over and over/never use chi attacks with the main character. Then again, I only played the game up until the desert.
muddafadda
Member
This thread seems like a good place to ask for some JRPG purchasing advice.
I'm in the mood for a gooooood PS1 RPG thats available on PSN.
Was thinking FF9 or Grandia but not too sure since they seem a bit long.
Something with a good story, fun battle system, doesn't look too aged on the vita.
Any suggestions? Sorry for going off topic
I'm in the mood for a gooooood PS1 RPG thats available on PSN.
Was thinking FF9 or Grandia but not too sure since they seem a bit long.
Something with a good story, fun battle system, doesn't look too aged on the vita.
Any suggestions? Sorry for going off topic
Adam Prime
hates soccer, is Mexican
I'm going to roll with this guy. Don't bother with Xenogears or Xenosaga.
Xenoblade Chronicles (completely different platform, I realize) is way more refined, the story actually makes fucking sense, and is just more polished in every way. It's worth purchasing a used Wii to play, it's that good if you're into JRPGs.
The problem with PSone JRPGs, like others have said, is that they were a product of their time. Really very few still hold up against more modern conventions in RPGs.
That said, FFVII is still worth playing. The story is poorly written but the game has great atmosphere and the battle system still holds up as great.
FFIX is one of my top 5 JRPGs of all time... but the combat is so so so so slow, I'm too old to be patient for that game. But if you're playing these games on Vita or PSP, it may be more bearable.
Meccanical
Member
Vagrant Story is the best game I ever watched.
I bought it on PSN but I could not wrap my head around the gameplay for shit.
Gameplay can be daunting at first. Read this guide (specially section 4) and give it a try again. It's worth it, the combat in this game is fascinating.
http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/914326-vagrant-story/faqs/56772
Legend of Dragoon kinda reminds me of Tales of Symphonia. Relentlessly mediocre RPGs that achieved spectacular sales by being in the right place at the right time.
Parasite Eve (1 only!) seems like the right choice for you OP given your specifications, it's excellent. Legend of Mana is my personal favorite of the ones you listed, lots of people hate it but it's a secret masterpiece, the vignettes are unparallelled.
Parasite Eve (1 only!) seems like the right choice for you OP given your specifications, it's excellent. Legend of Mana is my personal favorite of the ones you listed, lots of people hate it but it's a secret masterpiece, the vignettes are unparallelled.
papersleeves
Member
Duly noted. Fantastic, complicated but profound story is too much for nowadays ADD gamers.
Such a relic from the past, right???
It's the same game now that it was in 1998. It didn't change at all.
Perhaps you did, but then you can't expect everyone else to have changed the same ways you did.
Karsticles
Member
Do you mean ADD gamers?
Ironically, Xenoblade's creator lamented about how he had to dumb Xenoblade's story down because no one has the attention span for a story like Xenogears had.
papersleeves
Member
Yup. Fixed.
Which is my main gripe with Xenoblade. The story is pretty dry, even a bit dull compared to Xenogears and Xenosaga.
Maaaaan, do I miss these games so much. Both Xenogears and Xenosaga will probably remain my favorite stories and universes in a game ever.
I'm ok with it because Xenogears and Grandia both have first and second places
Grandia has terrible characters, terrible voice acting, and terrible writing/dialogue.
It's still a great game, though.
Also Legend of Dragoon has absolutely got to take the cake as the most overrated game in the entire PS1 library. It was only capitalizing on the success of Final Fantasy VII. Had it been released in a vacuum, few would have cared.
It's not bad at all, it's just not good. Still better than Final Fantasy VIII, though, so that has to count for something I guess.
Vagrant Story still holds up, absolutely. Would recommend without question.
Chrono Cross is overrated as well, but still good enough to play.
It's still a great game, though.
Also Legend of Dragoon has absolutely got to take the cake as the most overrated game in the entire PS1 library. It was only capitalizing on the success of Final Fantasy VII. Had it been released in a vacuum, few would have cared.
It's not bad at all, it's just not good. Still better than Final Fantasy VIII, though, so that has to count for something I guess.
Vagrant Story still holds up, absolutely. Would recommend without question.
Chrono Cross is overrated as well, but still good enough to play.
I thought I was alone for thinking this... but yeah, the original Vandal Hearts is a really awesome game. Picked it up after beating Suikoden and Wild Arms and wanting something to tide me over before FF7 and so glad I did. It's pretty short, but the combat scenarios are interesting and a lot of them are more unique than the typical SRPG "kill every enemy on screen". Only problems are the annoying level where you need to protect the villagers and their terrible AI, and a really lame final battle.
Out of the OP's list, Xenogears is definitely my favorite, followed by Grandia. I haven't played BOF4 yet, thought PE1 was OK but seemed to end before it got good (I think this game may have held up better though, as a lot of elements about it are more in line with a modern-day game than a classic epic PS1 RPG - the battle engine in particular wouldn't be out of place in a modern-day RPG for instance).
Weltall Zero
Member
Xenogears may be the most divisive game of all times. There is no middle ground: you either love it or hate it. I guess my own opinion is obvious from my handle, but I completely respect people that can't get past the admittedly murderous (especially considering current sensibilities) encounter rate or insanely intrincate story.
I'd really advise you to Youtube a Let's Play of Xenogears' first hour or so. You're virtually guaranteed to be either fascinated or repelled, making your choice obvious.
I'd really advise you to Youtube a Let's Play of Xenogears' first hour or so. You're virtually guaranteed to be either fascinated or repelled, making your choice obvious.
encephalon
Member
The first hour of Xenogears doesn't exactly give you the best impression of what the game is like.