I'm 12 hours into Tales of the Abyss, and it still bores me one way or another. I think the only time it gets "interesting" is during gameplay puzzles.

DQVIII is cool, though if you're not a fan of old-school format RPGs, you'll find this boring and dull. But it's worth the try.

I haven't tried VP2 yet. I'm hearing mixed things about this game, some say it's bad, some say it's good. I probably won't be playing it anytime soon.

Rogue Galaxy is a pretty cool game. I'm saying this because I'm still 2 hours into the game and it's been fun so far. It has an MMO feel to it, but nevertheless, it retains the RPG feeling when playing the game. Play this one.

I am, and it still did. I find the character designs completely unappealing, too. That pretty much killed any interest I might have in it. I tried really hard to like it, because it's the first DQ game to get a release in Europe (I think) so obviously I was excited. Then as soon as I saw the main characters, I knew that I wouldn't find it easy to like this game...

It's been a thing throughout the whole series of games -- churches are for saving, inns are for healing, period. However unlike many RPGs, you can opt to leave the dungeons at anytime by either, well, leaving, or using the spell Evac.

Actually, I too prefer Wild Arms 2 to most of the series, with WA 3 coming in a close second. But you're right, far as I've heard most people don't like Wild Arms 2 at all.

Wild Arms 2 had a pretty poor translation, but I think it's probably the best game in the series anyway. It's funny how the majority dislikes it and yet so many people here liked it a lot. (or never played it)

I have fond memories of Wild Arms 2, though I do remember never really taking the story seriously. It was just fun to play, even with puzzle boards having those GODDAMNED random battles. It struck a balance where you were usually always busy, even though admittedly I realize that a lot of the tasks were mundane. I could have fun with that sort of thing way back when, back when I wasn't asking myself if I had something better to do.

If you haven't done so already, going back to the classics will definitely enrichen your RPG experience. Final Fantasy Tactics is a game with a rich convoluted story, awesome combat system, interesting graphical and menu interface and wonderful music. Its pretty tough to beat in terms of how engrossing it is.

You may have already checked it out as it says you've played every Final Fantasy game, but there are always a few who don't consider FFT to be a true FF game. Regardless, if you haven't checked it out yet, you really don't know what you're missing!

Other than that, I really haven't much to offer you in terms of newer console RPG's. Many of them are nothing short of embarassing.

I was thinking the same thing! I remember when I first got the game and was walking around the map with nothing short of euphoria and wonder. Sunshine was streaking down through light fluffy clouds, through falling green leaves near a cliffside sea. I watched the sun go down. It was a very spiritual experience. Its unfortunate that this element of the game was so short-lived.

DragonQuest VIII was DECENT but that is terrifyingly disappointing with all the hype this game received before delivery. Its really just eye and ear candy without so much as a concept to tie it all together. Still, its superficially appealing, just don't expect its story to keep your attention from beginning to end.

I couldn't even bug myself to finish it. I am indifferent to the game itself and I think thats a characteristic I am finding all too familiar with most of the RPG's I come across nowadays. I am getting fed up with current RPG's. No one is really pushing things forward. The style of gameplay is always painfully drab, the stories are linearly intoxicating and the element of innovation just seems to be non-existent. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK! :p

LOL

I actually enjoyed WA2 (and WA3). I really wasn't too fond of WA1 the first time I played it, but I have it around here somewhere waiting.....

I REALLY enjoyed the millenium puzzles of WA3 over WA2. They were more fun, and a bit more challenging. It was one of the better sidequests of the game.

You should be glad to know that the gameplay does get better and that the story delivers on its promises.

Also of note is that if you die, you just get sent back to the church with half your money gone, so dying isn't AS big a deal as in other games (where you game over).


Regarding Wild ARMs 2, I find it to be the worst in the series myself, but not bad by any means. 4 is the best, I think, with 3 following right behind.

Im having a great time with the older final fantasies :P

Playing 9 now, then 8.. Ive only played them way back when they were released.

good times..

A bit late for it now, but out of the ones you mentioned, I can vouch for Rogue Galaxy, Tales of the Abyss and Valkyrie Profile 2, for being excellent games with plenty of stuff to keep you interested enough to finish it all the way.

Personally, I'd say wait with Valkyrie Profile 2 until you finished the first one, because you will not understand the story entirely, since they do have serious connections. You CAN enjoy the game greatly and understand most of the plot without it, but it's especially towards the end where you'll regret not playing the first one.

You made the right choice by starting with Tales of the Abyss. It's epic all the way till the end.

Not sure if they were mentioned or not, but I recommend you have a look at these games as well:

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana
Suikoden V
Ar Tonelico
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter

I wouldn't say that so easily. To you and me it might have been easy, but I for one was surprised to see how many people had problems with the difficulty of the game.

About Wild Arms 2, I had no problems with that game. I loved it, personally. It's second only to WA3. I'd rate them as WA3 -> WA2 -> WA4 -> WA1 -> WA:ACF. This doesn't mean I hated WA1, I just liked the others more. I did, however, hate Alter Code F.

I played Suikoden 1-5, and I certainly don't get why I would understand why it was less then the others.

You are naming bad points here, but honestly, what was so bad about the front/back system? If anything it was better.

I'm not trying to flame you here, it just seems to me that you can't really find any faults in the game. The ones you mentioned hardly seem like a good enough reason to hate the game. I mean are you seriously telling me you hate the game because it has no magic combo system? I'm not buying that.

I've never understood the hatred for this game. I was seriously impressed with it. Until I finished Suikoden 5, I considered it the best.

Stay away from Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana. The story is one big RPG cliche, battles will quickly become boring, menus are a mess to navigate, and the sidequests appear to be triggered randomly, which just sucks. The only redeeming factor can come out of the graphics. If you want to play an Atelier game, go for the secon one (Azoth of Destiny), which can be considered a huge improvement.

Really? I heard that Atelier Iris 2 was a slight improvement to the battle system, but that they ruined shop synthesis. Since that was my favorite part of the first game I never bothered with the second. Eternal Mana was pretty fun as long as you weren't looking for anything groundbreaking. What can I say, I love any game that allows you to alchemize bread pants.

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana thrives on its characters, mostly. I didn't find shop synthesis that great, except that it gave you good scenes with the characters.

Atelier Iris 2 improves on the original in every way EXCEPT characters, which is why a lot of people don't like it, I think. They did take out shop synthesis, but instead you get better normal synthesis. Personally, I find that a winning trade.

I'd personally recommend Tales of Symphonia if you have a Gamecube or Wii around... if not my second choice would be Tales of the Abyss... 3rd Valkyrie Profile 2... but beware all 3 of these games are more difficult than FFXII. If you're looking for something a little close to FFXII Valkyrie Profile 2 is your game.

And to be clear... Tales of the Abyss starts not after 10 hours... but after Luke cuts his hair... thats when the real story begins :P (takes a while to get there though)

Better, yeah, but also easier...too easy, to be honest. You could change those items that all characters can equip into godly overpowered items with like +3 million hits or something stupid like that. All you had to do was use item x that has x rating into item y, and it would get that stat. It was only a matter of time before all your items had all the best stats.

Dont get me wrong here, I agree that it was better by a longshot, but it was just a bit too easy to get what you wanted. In the first one it took stupid amounts of time with that crappy card combo system. It was basically a endless trial and error system, but it at least took effort.

While I'm at it, love your avatar. This world needs more Misha love.

Personally, I liked the idea of being able to chain the properties from items to other items. That kind of twinking is really fun. It's not really that that makes the game easy though. Even without twinking and with keeping levels as low as possible, the game is a complete joke. The bosses die way too quickly and have pathetic damage. And then there's Break spam that just destroys them even more.

I mean, I agree the game is way too easy, but that's not really the reason why. The main reason is that bosses are just not durable enough and have really terrible damage.

The final boss is an exception to this, of course.

Random note: Atelier Iris 3 modified that system a bit. You can only get properties on equippable stuff (weapons/armor/accessories) and can only have 1 property (2 on weapons) at a time. Kind of a middle ground, I suppose. It's still pretty easy to get what you want on an item anyways. Not sure I like it more or less though.

It's also a harder game! (Still easy.)

There can never be enough!

The break system truly was a joke, most bosses get 1 or 2 actions at best if you keep spamming it right. I did, however, like the combo system that starts ticking once a mob is in break mode. As I recall the higher the combo, the more bonus exp you would get.

I wouldn't even call the final boss hard. There wasn't anything hard as I recall. At least it wasn't totally anti-climax like the first Atelier Iris. I really don't know WHAT was with the last boss in that game, but my Lita litterally one shotted him, and she wasn't even in overpowered mode.

The final boss of AI2 can actually overkill all your front-line characters at once if you're not careful (Crimson Split's resistance busts + Crimson Split's second stage). Of course, with the amount of broken you get in the game it's pretty easy to stop that from happening/recover from it.

As for AI1, that's because broken Lita is broooken. I think if that boss gets some turns he has some accurate instant death which could screw you over? Can't remember, it's been awhile since I played that game. I need to replay it.

I can't recommend Rogue Galaxy. I just did not find the game to be very enjoyable. I thought the loading times were amazing and the battle system was really cool, but I despised the story, the characters, and almost everything else in between. If you like action RPGs, I'd give it a try, but other than that, you might be disappointed if you're looking for a stellar story.

If you've never played a Dragon Quest game, then you owe it to yourself to play DQVIII. It's a great game, and challenging, too. Valkyrie Profile was good, too, if you don't mind getting your ass kicked. Be prepared to use your brain if you play that game.

I'm in the market for a good RPG myself, but I seem to have played everything. My options are limited these days...and there's no hope on the horizon, either. :(

Nobody has played everything. Somewhere along the line I am sure you missed out on a good game. Not sure what to suggest though since I don't even have the faintest idea what you've played. If you never got around to Growlanser Generations that's not a bad duo of games to try out. Lot of people totally ignored it when WD released it.

Ah, speaking of which, Forsety's post reminded me that there's another Growlanser game coming to the PS2, subtitled Heritage of War, I believe.

I'm curious, for those who've been recommending TotA. I rented it last night and am only about an hour or two into it and am already tired of it, namely due to the ridiculously laggy world map and long loading times.

I don't know if it's just not happy on my PS2, but trying to swivel the camera at all on the (ugly) world map results in horrible lag and stuttering. On top of that I dread going into battles on the map because the loading time to get out of them back to the map often takes three times as long as the battle itself. Pair those two technical issues with very iffy graphics (sometimes they look great, sometimes they look like cardboard cutouts) and I'm surprised it's been so highly recommended.

Is it just me who can't seem to get past those shortcomings? From what it sounds like the actual game itself and the story is fantastic... But to be honest if it gives me that much trouble just on the world map, my frustration level skyrockets and I have a hard time actually enjoying it.

m19

no, its not your PS2.. the world map is laggy, an takes like 15secs to rotate camera.. and stuttering also.

And yes, long load times too.

Wow, now I feel bad. I'm 15 hours into DQ8, and it has gotten extremely boring. I'm right where I get to explore the Western Continents.

It's time to try another game. xD

Amusingly, that's about where I got bored with DQ8. ;) I actually returned to it two years later and found it pretty fun until I got to a point where I'm being required to level up like mad.