I was gonna post this suggestion. Really great games. Avoid the 3rd game though, it's the ugly duckling of the series and nobody likes it....for good reason.
I checked this Resonance of Fate game out, and it seems cool. The environments are amazing (if a bit repetitive -- at least judging by the footage I've seen), and the combat looks like a lot of fun. I might get it.
@McPaper said:
" Grandia if you dont mind sprites on 3D planes. "
I actually have a copy of that, but it's an NTSC one, so I can't play it. Maybe I'll order a copy of the PAL version.
@NekuSakuraba said:
" Just curious to why you wouldn't like it when it fits a lot of what you listed? "
The controls (and, consequently, the combat system) are garbage, the voice acting and writing make me want to rip my ears out, and the game is ugly even for a PS2 title.
@TheChaos: I like the third game. It IS a good game, but not so much a good Shadow Hearts game. It just takes the absurdness of the previous two games and kicks it up a few too many notches. I mean come on, a giant talking cat who is a master of drunken kung fu and a wannabe movie star and is also a good friend of Al Capone is a lot weirder than having a gay vampire superhero wrestler like in Covenant (who is also AWESOME).
" Just curious to why you wouldn't like it when it fits a lot of what you listed? "
The controls (and, consequently, the combat system) are garbage, the voice acting and writing make me want to rip my ears out, and the game is ugly even for a PS2 title. "
2 improved on a lot of it. You shouldn't get it though since you disliked the first one and 2 is a refinement to the first.
if you're looking for another one, try out Nier; one of the best JRPG stories this generation, hell, one of the best stories this generation full stop.
Rogue Galaxy! While it does have random encounters I got lost in the weapon customization side stuff. You can level up your weapons then combine it with another leveled weapon to create a new weapon and start the whole process over. You can do that with all the characters! You control you character during battle in real time and can issue abilities to party members with button presses that pop up when they can do the ability or use magic. A great cell-shaded style for PS2. I love it.
If you want to go newer others have already mentioned Eternal Sonata and Tales of Vesperia which have random battles, but you control the main character in real time during battles. Lost Odyssey is a great game too but is turned based.
As for portable, someone said Crimson Gem Saga, but while I liked it a lot, it takes too much of your time to grind for $ and is completely turn based.
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmera for the PS2 meets most of your requirements, except that it's not portable. one of my favorite combat systems, with an excellent story to boot.
the first, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is on psp, but the only real time aspect of the game is the timing of your button presses.
" Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmera for the PS2 meets most of your requirements, except that it's not portable. one of my favorite combat systems, with an excellent story to boot. the first, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is on psp, but the only real time aspect of the game is the timing of your button presses. "
" Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmera for the PS2 meets most of your requirements, except that it's not portable. one of my favorite combat systems, with an excellent story to boot. the first, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is on psp, but the only real time aspect of the game is the timing of your button presses. "
They made both portable didn't they? "
dude, i wish. only the first went portable. there was another game, Covenant of the Plume, for the DS. that's a tactical rpg, first i ever played. 'twas fun
I'm exactly sure if this a RPG, but Valkyria Chronicles is certainly worth looking into. I'd also recommend Demon Souls. But I must warn you that it is a incredibly difficult video game. It's learning curve is so staggeringly steep, it would be nearly impossible to master it's combat in a single day. It's highly rewarding though, it stands as a testament from all of the spoon feeding games that have spoiled us throughout the years.
" Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmera for the PS2 meets most of your requirements, except that it's not portable. one of my favorite combat systems, with an excellent story to boot. the first, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is on psp, but the only real time aspect of the game is the timing of your button presses. "
I have both. I liked certain aspects of the first (the combat system, the story, the graphics, the music), but was too bothered by certain others (dull, overly long dungeons, "time" limit) to finish it. The second I didn't like at all, graphics aside.
Can anyone comment on the third game? I generally can't stand turn-based SRPGs, but I understand it's got some real-time elements. How prominent are they?
@Cegoraph said:
" I'm exactly sure if this a RPG, but Valkyria Chronicles is certainly worth looking into. I'd also recommend Demon Souls. But I must warn you that it is a incredibly difficult video game. It's learning curve is so staggeringly steep, it would be nearly impossible to master it's combat in a single day. It's highly rewarding though, it stands as a testament from all of the spoon feeding games that have spoiled us throughout the years. "
" How they hell did Dark Cloud and its sequel get mentioned straight away? Two of the worst perpetrators of awful random dungeoning. "
The best part about recommendation threads is that you can ignore the original poster's request and just recommend whatever the hell you want. At least, that's the impression I get from these threads. "
Except for random dungeoning, Dark Cloud has everything OP requested. I think. Either that, or my memory is turning against me.
Atelier Rorona. Just released last week over here and it's a great little gem that will be lost amongst all the big releases this month. Although it has been out a while in Japan so you may have imported it already, hear they are close to releasing the next one.
-Something with plenty of optional content. (I would give this a half check, they have side quests but they are really weak)
-Preferably (though certainly not necessarily) something for a portable platform. (Negative)
-Preferably no random battles. (Check)
-Absolutely no randomly generated dungeons. (Check)
-Good music and/or graphics. If it isn't aesthetically pleasing, I'm not interested. (The music didn't really stand out. The Graphics are workable, but not harsh)
-It needs to have been released in Europe, or else be region free. (In Europe, Check)
-Something with plenty of optional content. (Can't remember if there was any, I'll just say negative)
-Preferably (though certainly not necessarily) something for a portable platform. (Check)
-Preferably no random battles. (Check)
-Absolutely no randomly generated dungeons. (Check)
-Good music and/or graphics. If it isn't aesthetically pleasing, I'm not interested. (Sprite based graphics on GBA. The Mana series generally has wimsical sound to them)
-It needs to have been released in Europe, or else be region free. (Check)
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