"Starter" RPGs for veteran gamer

[RJ]

That said, what are some good starter RPGs for a veteran re-interested in the genre? I like Diablo-tpye games & am familiar w/ leveling up/grinding, etc.

 

I've tried some in the past (Dragon Warrior, Sword of Vermilion, FF7) but didnt like their time commitments or turn-based combat (& FF7's materia system was too much.) Recently though I got into Guadia Quest on DS Retro Game Challenge & now considering other similar RPGs.

 

Im thinking not too sophisticated, w/ minimal random battles, something for NES/SMS, or maybe even DS as most of my gaming is mobile now.

Edited August 2, 2010 by RJ

[Chris Leach]

Sega Master System had a zelda like Golden Axe Warrior....or Y's

 

Nintendo...most were grinding, but you could start with Crystalis for a hack and slash adventure...

[Reaperman]

edit: nevermind, just reread and saw your system requirements. I was going far too modern

Edited August 2, 2010 by Reaperman

[CGQuarterly]

Well, I love RPGs and the first one I ever played was Dragon Warrior. But that's a pretty long game and has turn based fighting. Since you mentioned the SMS, how about Phantasy Star?

 

There are a ton of good RPGs for the DS. Any of the Dragon Quest games, Final Fantasy 3 or 4, or Chrono Trigger.

 

Chris

[cimerians]

SNES: Secret of Mana. You can even play co-op with a friend or wife. Chrono Trigger.

SMS: Phantasy Star

NES: Dragon Warrior 2 or 3

 

Secret of Mana is not turn based and one of my favorite RPGS's along with Chrono Trigger.

 

For the DS there's so many to mention. Old school western style RPG's that are a bit on the hard side are Etrian Oddysey and the Dark Spire.

You can't go wrong with the real time game Warlock of Firetop Mountain or Orcs & Elves. Both real time if I recall so no delays in playing.

 

There's a million other turn based or more complicated RPG's for the DS.

[Chris Leach]

Well, I love RPGs and the first one I ever played was Dragon Warrior. But that's a pretty long game and has turn based fighting. Since you mentioned the SMS, how about Phantasy Star?

 

There are a ton of good RPGs for the DS. Any of the Dragon Quest games, Final Fantasy 3 or 4, or Chrono Trigger.

 

Chris

 

 

Jibba, He suggested ones without random battles that come up all the times.....no mindless leveling...

good titles though!

[Chris Leach]

SNES: Secret of Mana. You can even play co-op with a friend or wife. Chrono Trigger.

 

 

You can even tri-op with a friend and a wife..Talk about your threesome of classic gaming goodness. You would need to purhcase a multi-tap of course. I would suggest the Hudson Soft bee-tap! It's shaped for her protection...

[figgler]

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest for SNES is the very definition of starter RPG.

Not a huge time commitment, really simple mechanics, still fun battles, a fair amount of expoloring and story.

For what it is, I absolutely recommend FF Mystic Quest

[RJ]

I got recomms. for FF MQ elsewhere too. I'll have to look for it. What does everyone think of DS Puzzle Quest? (not Galactrix)

[Hatta]

Go with Chronotrigger. It's a true classic, there are no random battles, and it's available on DS.

[dustfilledhobo]

Dragon Warrior IV is my favorite (NES) RPG.

[Reaperman]

I hope I'm not slipping out of the system requirements too much, but Fatal Labyrinth on genesis is a great intro to rogue-like dungeon crawlers. It's much prettier than most games of the genre, and has fewer 'up yours' moments than most of them too. No random encounters, just a randomly-generated climb to the top of a tower.

There's a plot introduced at the beginning, but like all rogue-likes it promptly disappears until the last floor--which you're not supposed to survive to anyway.

 

Fatal Labyrinth is also in the most recent round of Sega 'best of genesis' collections (huge bargain)

Edited August 4, 2010 by Reaperman

[shadow460]

Shining Force Gaiden II (sword of Hajya here in the US) for the Game Gear is a decent strategy RPG. It doesn't overdo the elements. This is one of the best movie to game conversions I have ever played.

 

Willow is available on the NES, and in my opinion it is a must have title. It can be completed in about six hours. There are a couple of areas where you can level grind, or you can pass them by and simply return later in the story. Out of the 16 levels Willow can attain, you must reach at least level 14 or 15, but you'll probably do that in the process of exploring the game world. Willow is an action RPG.

 

Sa Ga series (Final Fantasy Legend in the US). This one's got tons of battles, and that might put you off at first, but you can save anywhere at all. That applies to all three titles. The best one, IMO, is the third one. In the first game you climb a tower in an attempt to reach paradise, in the second you collect 80 something items called Magi (Odin appears in this game, too), and in the third you seek out parts to build a ship. All three titles are available on the old school Game Boy.

 

Shining the Holy Ark is a first person dungeon crawler for the Saturn. There are plenty of puzzles to figure out, plenty of places to search, and plenty of enemies to kill. Combat is turn based, with turns decided by the characters' and enemies' stats.

[Austin]

FF Mystic Quest, for sure. It has turn-based battles, but they go by quickly. You can see your enemies on the playfield, so you can (for the most part) pick and choose who you want to fight. There are also platforming segments thrown about, making it a little more interesting to wander around than in most other RPGs. It's a common game and very easy to find.

 

Not sure what platforms you have exactly, but if you're into the Diablo-esque stuff, try Dark Stone on the Playstation (or even PC). Very similar gameplay. Graphics aren't great, but the game itself is rather fun.. It was a budget title, so you can pick it up for a couple of dollars. Also, check out Record of Lodoss war on the Dreamcast.. It's another quality Diablo knock-off.

[stalepie]

I'd try the Ys series (first three games, various consoles) or action-rpgs. Most regular rpgs are heavy on fights. Landstalker was my favorite action-rpg of all time. Also I liked The Immortal and Light Crusader and Beyond Oasis, all on Genesis. Another good one of course is Zelda: A Link to the Past ... but if you do want a turn-based RPG that's simple, try Lunar: The Silver Star on the Sega CD. It was my first RPG I beat and had a lot of fun with it. I liked the original (this one) better than the remakes on Playstation and Saturn.

[Austin]

I'd try the Ys series (first three games, various consoles) or action-rpgs. Most regular rpgs are heavy on fights. Landstalker was my favorite action-rpg of all time. Also I liked The Immortal and Light Crusader and Beyond Oasis, all on Genesis. Another good one of course is Zelda: A Link to the Past ... but if you do want a turn-based RPG that's simple, try Lunar: The Silver Star on the Sega CD. It was my first RPG I beat and had a lot of fun with it. I liked the original (this one) better than the remakes on Playstation and Saturn.

 

These are all great recommendations. Ys III in particular is a personal favorite for me, with its non-linear, side-scrolling RPG-hybrid gameplay. Try the Genesis version if you can, otherwise the SNES version will do fine.

[RJ]

I've decided to continue Guadia Quest DS, I also picked up Puzzle Quest DS, & once I get my free time back in a few weeks I'm geting SMS Phantasy Star on Wii Virtual Console.

[dgo]

Try WoW 10 day trail.. I'll suspect you'll be hooked instantly. I'm more of an action based rpg'er myself (with,

like yourself, a lot of time in Diablo I/II) and not a big fan of turnbased battle en Gigabytes ascii of story telling.

 

You'll find everything you'll need in WoW. But I warn you, it's easy to get truly addicted.

Edited August 13, 2010 by dgo

[dgo]

oops doublepost

Edited August 13, 2010 by dgo

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

You have to try out Shadowrun for the SNES!

[doubleminor]

Two games I still enjoy playing to this day are Legend of Zelda and Zelda: Link to the Past (if you have an SNES). I still get the thrill of running around and finding every item in the game. The story in LttP was also very good.

 

Also, ditto to Phantasy Star and Chrono Trigger.

Edited August 13, 2010 by doubleminor

[RJ]

NO WAY am I getting involved in WoW. Also Ive tried SNES Shadowrun & LttP, they didnt grab me.

[dgo]

NO WAY am I getting involved in WoW. [...]

 

You probably have good reasons to stay away from WoW..

 

You could give Torchlight a try, basically a Diablo II/III spin/ripoff made

by some ex-blizzard emloyees.. It's very accessible, not too difficult(I found 'normal' setting even a bit on the easy side,

and not expensive. Doesn't need a top end pc either.

 

One last suggestion I have might be to check out some of the rpg's on the dreamcast as it has some

great titles in that particular genre:

 

Dreamcast top RPG's

[roland p]

SD-Snatcher

It's a sci-fi bladerunner-like rpg without random battles, and an easy to follow battle system. In fact, it's the only rpg I liked (besides Y's, Secret of Mana, Zelda, which is not so rpg).

[RJ]

I've heard/thought about getting Torchlight but dont really like sitting at the PC to play games. A DS or Wii Torchlight would be ideal.

 

AFA Dreamcast, I sold my whole collection (someone here got most of the games) & dont plan on rebuilding.