So I want to buy an RPG...

[everdred12a]

But I have no idea what to get (or what's out there, really). I've seen people do this before, so here are some guidelines:

1. No XBox or 360.
2. I have a GC and a PS2, but I'd prefer to get a PS2 game. That doesn't mean for you guys not to suggest GC titles, but I'd rather buy for PS2 is all.
3. It can be old or new, but keep it current-gen.
4. No SRPG's.

Um, I guess that's about it. So, suggest away!

[Bap]

Grandia III? :o I thought that game was osm fun. xD Or mebbe Steambot Chronicles? It's a little buggy here and there, but that's a pretty cool game overall.

[Zilch]

Tales of Symphonia for GC or PS2. Hands down. Best actionish RPG on the market right now. And if you have siblings, it's multiplayer. Me and Gyppers are playing through it again as we speak.

[Slater]

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

That one will keep you much entertained

[everdred12a]

I haven't tried Grandia III, and I've never heard of Steambot Chronicles.

And I'm not sure I want to bother with Tales of Symphonia. It just never sparked an interest for me.

Actually, I own Mario RPG, but I said in the intro 'keep it current-gen'.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is fun.

.rai//

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Tales of Symphonia for the win!

No, get Final Fantasy Anthology for the PS

[Slater]

x.x SNES isn't current anymore?

Gosh, you're all making me feel old...

[MasterDias]

It might help if you listed any current RPGs you have played/liked/disliked. For the record, I'll assume you have played/own Final Fantasy X.

Anyway:

Suikoden V - Great storyline and characters. Fun war battles/duels and a decent battle system. A number of people consider this to be one of the best in the series, so I strongly suggest you check it out. It's also one of the better RPG stories I've seen in awhile.

Dragon Quest VIII - Not for everyone perhaps, but it has been getting extremely good reviews on both sides of the ocean for a reason. The skill system is fun to play around with and the game lasts much longer than the average RPG. The graphics are quite nice to look at as well.

Star Ocean 3 - Characterization is nearly nonexistent for most of the cast and the story attempts to pull off an overambitious plot twist quite poorly later in the game. But despite all of this, I generally recommend it for the battle system and gameplay.

Radiata Stories - Tri-ace's other released PS2 offering. The characters are likeable and the story is pretty decent although it fizzles out somewhat at the end. Battle system is more simple than the Star Ocean series but it still proves to be fairly entertaining. A branching storyline strongly encourages at least one replay. There are a number of funny scenes as well.

Dark Cloud 2 - Can get tedious and repetitive towards the end but I always liked the "city-building" aspects. Battle system is fun, at least for awhile. The golf-like mini-game is strangely addicting...and you get your own controllable robot which is always a plus...

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana - More of a niche title than the others but I decided to throw this out there. There is nothing original or groundbreaking about this title at all but it's entertaining nontheless. The item creation system is interesting and several of the shopkeeper subplots are well done.

Skies of Arcadia: Legends - I'll make this my sole GC recommendation as you would prefer a PS2 game and because this title always seems to be overlooked. The pirate theme is pretty original, when it was released at least. The ship-to-ship battles are quite neat and the storyline, if not original, is still well-told.

Alright, that's all from me. For now, at least.
And you might also note that a number of anticipated RPGs are getting released this fall(Final Fantasy XII, Rogue Galaxy, Tales of the Abyss, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, etc.)

[Shao Feng-Li]

There's Final Fantasy X also. Does Harvest Moon count?

[Tommy]

GRANDIA II!!!

EXTREMELY SUPERIOR TO GRANDIA III!!!

I love Grandia II.

I assume you have played Star Ocean 3, so I recommend II if you haven't already played it.

[everdred12a]

Yeah, SO2 is on my list... if I ever get around to ebaying it. SO3 is on my list, too, because the copy I have (or had, rather) broke. I also plan on getting HM: Magic Melody eventually. Lots of people consider it an RPG, even though I don't. But I'm going for a more traditional type RPG.

[Tommy]

How about.....Lunar: The Silver Star Story Complete for PS1? That was good.
Just beat it last week actually.

[Nate]

Legend of Legaia for PS1, and make sure you have a PS1 to play it, since it runs funny on a PS2.

I like Wild ARMs Alter Code F. If you can get past the dated graphics (it's a PS2 game, but it's about four years old), it has beautiful music, a decent storyline, and great characters.

I hear good things about PoPoLoCrois for the PSP, but haven't personally played it, so I can't speak to it (though I'll probably pick it up in the near future).

[Tommy]

Legend of Legaia for PS1, and make sure you have a PS1 to play it, since it runs funny on a PS2.

It runs fine on my PS2. In what context of "funny" are you implying?

[Joshua Christopher]

Kindom Hearts/Kingdom hearts 2 are good action-RPGs. They've got all the stat-fiddlin' you could want, but it's faster-paced.

[Scarecrow]

I'd have to say Tales of Symphonia as well. It was awesome IMO... and I don't like too many RPGs but I really liked this one. 'kept me playing then halfway through there's a bit of a twist. Just wish there were more cinema shots rather than one at the beginning, one in the middle and one at the end.

Umm.. thats about the only one I can think of atm that I actually liked. Crystal Chronicles was decent. I know most people hate it but I thought it was fun. Didn't finish it though... maybe thats saying something. Much better with other players playing.

[Felix]

Oh oh! Pick me! Baten Kaitos, hands down. It's just for GC though :/ But it's such a COOL RPG. I loves it.
Also, Tales of Symphonia, Paper Mario: Thousand year door, and skies of Arcadia.
On PS2, get .hack, or Xenosaga or something. I don't know PS2 RPGs that well.

[GrubbTheFragger]

Tales by a long shot that game is a blast

[Nate]

It runs fine on my PS2. In what context of "funny" are you implying?

The framerate was horribly slow, so much so that (for example) the sound clip of Vahn performing his Miracle Art would finish playing about 15 seconds before the animation for it ended. Of course, this was on a release date PS2. They may have fixed this in later PS2 systems.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Kindom Hearts/Kingdom hearts 2 are good action-RPGs. They've got all the stat-fiddlin' you could want, but it's faster-paced.

OK ~ how the HECK did I forget them? I would recommend Kingdom Hearts in an instant. And Kingdom Hearts II in the next instant even though I haven't played it at all.

.rai//

[kaji]

My votes for:

Dark Cloud2
An absolutely great and addicting game. There are so many things to do, from creating inventions, customizing weapons, a great fishing game, and even taking some time to play a little mini golf (kinda). Great characters, sound and battle system wrap this up with a nice pretty bow that says MUST PLAY. Oh, did I mention you can even purchase/make a variety of different outfits for your characters? Not to even mention its tough to beat an editors choice award from gamespot. ^_~

[Radical Dreamer]

Well, I'm going to have to suggest pretty much any Final Fantasy game (VIII being my favorite). A definite must-play would be Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, both of which can be found for the PS (under the name Final Fantasy Chronicles, for CT).

[Azier the Swordsman]

Wild Arms 3 is worth a shot.

[Tommy]

Azier, in many ways, that was a sick unintentional pun.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I will say it again

Get Final Fantasy Anthology. Trust me on this one. Good classic RPGs from the SNES era

[Tommy]

I would recommend Final Fantasy Chronicles over Anthology, then go with Anthology. That's just me, though.

[everdred12a]

Okay, let's see... How is it that nobody caught the 'Current gen only' thing I posted (twice)? I mean, I hate to sound rude, but I own just about every old RPG I want to play. The games I'm looking for are PS2 and GC only.

For the record, when I went to Gamestop I bought Magna Carta: Tears of Blood. I had the intention to buy something cheap, but they didn't have too many used RPG's. I was totally shocked to see that there were no used copies of SO3, which I figured there'd be a metric ton of. I had honestly forgotten about Magna Carta entirely until I saw it, so I got it (it also had to do with the fact that they didn't have anything anyone suggested xD ) But I like the suggestions. I'm probably going to buy 1 or 2 more games this summer, so the suggestions are still appreciated.

[Tommy]

This Generation.....eh, sorry.

You have already played Suikoden IV...so, I would like to recommend off the top of my head:

Grandia I and II (DEFINATELY, THESE GAMES ARE GOLD! The other three Grandias are just average excluding the one for GBC which I pretend doesn't exist. The people who made Lunar made this in case you have heard of it.)

Wild Arms 3 and 4 as well as Alter Code F.

Dark Cloud 1 and 2. Dark Cloud 2 has a more depth plot but Dark Cloud 1 is MUCH more addicting.

Xenosaga is okay but utter crap compared to Xenogears.

I'll post more soon.

[everdred12a]

It's okay. I suppose not everyone saw the current-gen thing. I'm basically looking for something I can go to Gamestop/EBGames and find. And GS/EBG don't really deal in PS1 stuff anymore.