Looking for some good short rpg's

[Legend]

I was in the mood to play a rpg but didn't want a big long epic grind-fest. Was looking for some suggestions for something fun that can be played in around 5-7 hours or so. Particular looking for something for nes, genesis, or maybe dos/early windows. Traditional rpg or even action rpg/adventure. Thanks for any suggestions.

[+bennybingo]

I was in the mood to play a rpg but didn't want a big long epic grind-fest. Was looking for some suggestions for something fun that can be played in around 5-7 hours or so. Particular looking for something for nes, genesis, or maybe dos/early windows. Traditional rpg or even action rpg/adventure. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

As basic as it was, one of my favorite "oldies" was Telengard. Lots of fun and it is something you can play for a while and then put down, without a massive story line to get lost in by the next time you play.

 

I also enjoyed the Epyx Apshi games and Sword of Fargoal. All very basic games, but fun!

[Legend]

 

 

As basic as it was, one of my favorite "oldies" was Telengard. Lots of fun and it is something you can play for a while and then put down, without a massive story line to get lost in by the next time you play.

 

I also enjoyed the Epyx Apshi games and Sword of Fargoal. All very basic games, but fun!

 

Those are very good games that I have played already and still do from time to time. I meant something more along the lines of something that can be beaten in a short period of time with a distinct begin, middle, and end game. Something a little more story driven I guess.

 

Telengard always had a roguelike feel to me. Which I do enjoy, but just not what I was looking for.

 

I appreciate the suggestion. Think I will pick up telengard again for a little bit though at some point this week now.

[+bennybingo]

As basic as it was, one of my favorite "oldies" was Telengard. Lots of fun and it is something you can play for a while and then put down, without a massive story line to get lost in by the next time you play.

 

I also enjoyed the Epyx Apshi games and Sword of Fargoal. All very basic games, but fun!

 

Those are very good games that I have played already and still do from time to time. I meant something more along the lines of something that can be beaten in a short period of time with a distinct begin, middle, and end game. Something a little more story driven I guess.

 

Telengard always had a roguelike feel to me. Which I do enjoy, but just not what I was looking for.

 

I appreciate the suggestion. Think I will pick up telengard again for a little bit though at some point this week now.

 

If you have an iPhone or iPad, there is an RPG called "A weirdRPG" that allows you to hunt for treasure, fight off monsters and enemies, save the princess and the kingdom...all in under 2 minutes!

[+thegoldenband]

Two that come to mind are ActRaiser for SNES and Light Crusader for Genesis. Both are hybrid action/RPGs, though ActRaiser is more towards a sim game and Light Crusader has strong puzzle elements.

 

Exile for Genesis is also fairly short -- I think it took me 3-4 hours to beat it -- but it's certainly not good IMHO.

[Gabriel]

I was in the mood to play a rpg but didn't want a big long epic grind-fest. Was looking for some suggestions for something fun that can be played in around 5-7 hours or so. Particular looking for something for nes, genesis, or maybe dos/early windows. Traditional rpg or even action rpg/adventure. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

I don't remember how long Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES) is, but it's short and doesn't require a lot of effort.

 

There's also a sample game on the RPG Maker disc for the PS1 which only takes a few hours to play through and is surprisingly entertaining.

[zylon]

Dragon Warrior NES

[PsychoKittyNet]

If you like crude humor, you can try Dink Smallwood, developer recently realized an updated HD version. Can be beat in a few hours and has downloadable add on quests.

[SoulBlazer]

Dragon Warrior NES

 

I was going to suggest this, but NOT the original version.

 

Check out the fan translated Japanese SNES remake Dragon Quest 1+2.

 

They made it MUCH easier to raise levels and get things done with much less grinding then in the original NES version.

 

When I played it a few months ago I was able to beat the game in seven hours.

 

The original Final Fantasy takes a bit longer, but with the plot being so minimal it's a easy game to pick up and put down again and not have any problems.

[Legend]

Tried Dragon Quest. Unfortunately I couldn't get into it.

 

Only consoles I play are Nes, Genesis/sega cd, snes once in a while, Gameboy/color/advance. Genesis and Nes are my favorite.

 

Ones I've already done so no one mentions them:

 

Phantasy Star 4

Zelda 1,2, awakening. (I know it's not an rpg.)

Sword of Vermilion

Rygar

Getsu-fumaden

Sweet Home

Light crusader

Immortal

Popful Mail

Lunar 1 & 2

Eye of the Beholder 1,2, & 3

Stonekeep

Actraiser

Edited June 14, 2011 by Legend

[SoulBlazer]

Well, if you took up my suggestion anyway you'd have to use emulation (since the translated game doesn't exist in game cart form here in the States.)

 

If you don't like Dragon Quest you're not going to like anything with grinding, that throws a lot of things out.

 

What about D&D games? There's some good ports to the NES of games like Hillsfar that are fun.

 

You might enjoy Earthbound or Chrono Trigger for the SNES.

[Reaperman]

Short RPGs for the genesis.

I notice Fatal Labyrinth hasn't been mentioned yet

 

 

It's my favorite roguelike ever, so you're not meant to survive--but if you did, completion in 5-7 hours is probably on the high side for this game. Since you're not meant to win, it's good that this one plays quickly so you can die faster and replay more. What I mean to say is that it doesn't really 'feel' like a roguelike--even though it 100% is one. It's got a lighter mood, and there's almost an arcade score attack feel to it. For example, it uses gold for points, and the higher score you get, the more people come to your funeral.

 

So it's a roguelike that winds up feeling more like an action game. (but it isn't)

Edited June 14, 2011 by Reaperman

[opeygon]

RYGAR for the NES is what you're looking for. It doesn't even have a password system or saving.

 

You could also play METROID or KID ICARUS for the NES. I could get through either of those in less than 6 hours.

[Jifremok]

Beyond Oasis for the Genesis is a top-down action/adventure (I think of it as Sega's answer to Zelda) with a heavy emphasis on the action, some platforming and some puzzles. Can't quite remember how long it is though. There's also Landstalker on the Genesis, but all I really know about that is that it's isometric and has lots of platforming.

[+thegoldenband]

There's also Landstalker on the Genesis, but all I really know about that is that it's isometric and has lots of platforming.

Wonderful game, but it'll take at least 20 hours to beat. The issue isn't so much grinding as a combination of puzzle-solving, figuring out how everything connects to each other, and simply getting from one place to another.

 

I've been trying to think of more action RPGs, since you won't really find too many traditional RPGs that are that short -- most people would feel ripped off by a story-driven RPG that could comfortably be completed in an afternoon. I have positive memories of Battle of Olympus, Magic of Scheherazade, Faxanadu, Clash at Demonhead, and even Dr. Chaos, but it's been so long since I've played any of them and I don't remember exactly how the RPG elements break down except in Faxanadu (which was fairly grindy anyway).

 

Oh, there's always the Ys games. Surprised no one has mentioned those yet. I enjoyed Ys III when I played it BITD, though it's definitely a mixed bag.

Edited June 15, 2011 by thegoldenband

[Hatta]

There's also Landstalker on the Genesis, but all I really know about that is that it's isometric and has lots of platforming.

Wonderful game, but it'll take at least 20 hours to beat.

 

Less than 40 hours is a short RPG. 20 hours is a very short RPG. I was going to recommend Secret of Mana. I replayed it recently and it only took me 25 hours to clear, and that was with getting lost a few times and backtracking.

[+thegoldenband]

There's also Landstalker on the Genesis, but all I really know about that is that it's isometric and has lots of platforming.

Wonderful game, but it'll take at least 20 hours to beat.

 

Less than 40 hours is a short RPG. 20 hours is a very short RPG. I was going to recommend Secret of Mana. I replayed it recently and it only took me 25 hours to clear, and that was with getting lost a few times and backtracking.

I might agree with your definition -- I'll have to mull it over, though I'm hard-pressed to think of an RPG that took me more than 40 hours to beat. Either way, though, the OP was looking for story-based RPGs/action RPG in the 5-7 hour range, which makes this a tough ask -- Exile's the only one I've played recently that took that long.

[high voltage]

DragonStomper, great, fun, short RPG (2 hours max?).

Edited June 15, 2011 by high voltage