Support NeoGAF

ethelred · Mar 5, 2007

They rarely get the recognition and acreditation they deserve, but the truth is, Sega consoles have always been home to an amazing library of RPGs and a rich array of top tier franchises.

In fact, though I know it's a controversial stance, I'd go so far as to say that strictly comparing English releases, the Genesis was just about even with the SNES in terms of RPG quality, even though it's the SNES that always gets all the glory (its Japanese-exclusive support is something else entirely, of course). And even though the Saturn and the Dreamcast couldn't compete in numbers with the PlayStation or PS2, they still proved themselves to be awesome secondary RPG consoles with a slew of worthwhile gems that any fan of the genre should own and play.

Notably, Sega managed to deliver at least one of the most defining RPGs each console generation. And if that wasn't enough, it wasn't just Sega. Want some Atlus? They showed these systems plenty of love. Game Arts? Treausre? Nihon Falcom? They were there in force.

These games don't get near enough love. So that's what this thread is about: celebrating the fantastic RPG legacy of Sega's home consoles. Here's the place to share your love and talk about the RPGs you most enjoyed.

_____________________________________________

PHANTASY STAR IV: END OF THE MILLENNIUM - Sega
Sega's flagship RPG series came to its conclusion in this incredible, epic game that mixed planet-hopping space adventure in the Algo Solar System with old school RPG battling. Use preprogrammed command macros to pull off devastating combo attacks by timing skills and magic. A 16-bit classic to rival the likes of Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger.
Watch Phantasy Star IV: 1

_____________________________________________

PANZER DRAGOON SAGA - Sega
Full voice acting for every in-game character, full 3D environments, camera control during cutscenes, and a realistic day/night cycle? Now imagine all of this in a game made back in 1998, and it's easy to see how Panzer Dragoon Saga is one of the most ambitious RPGs ever made. Thankfully its status as the first great cinematic RPG isn't all it rides on -- it's also got a fantastic story, a spectacular score and fast, highly strategic gameplay.
Watch Panzer Dragoon Saga: 1 (game introduction), 2, 3

_____________________________________________

LUNAR: THE SILVER STAR - Game Arts
It wasn't the first game they brought to the US, but Lunar was the game that put Working Designs on the map. With its endearing story (made great by the cast of characters), charming sprites, and challenging old school battles, Lunar is a true cult classic.

_____________________________________________

DRAGON FORCE - Sega
Watch Dragon Force: 1, 2
It's hard to beat the visceral thrill of watching 200 high quality sprites duking it out across a massive battlefield. In setting the player towards a goal of conquering all the nations on a continent, Dragon Force provided an SRPG experience that was pure fun.

_____________________________________________

GRANDIA - Game Arts
Strategic, interactive battles, intense skill progression system, a great story about adventure and exploration, and the best delivery of video game mythology means that Game Arts has struck gold again.
Watch Grandia: 1

_____________________________________________

BEYOND OASIS - Sega (Ancient)
Watch Beyond Oasis: 1
This game places a fast, fluid, Streets of Rage-styled brawling beat-'em-up combat system into an action RPG with an amazing Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack. Play the prince of a desert kingdom as he gains the aid of four elemental spirits that he can summon with his golden armlet.

_____________________________________________

SKIES OF ARCADIA - Sega
Air pirates in a world full of floating islands, tons of exploration, and the first great console RPG to really tackle true 3D game design. Incredible music, a great cast of characters, and airship-to-airship battles also helped make Skies of Arcadia what it was.

_____________________________________________

LEGEND OF OASIS - Sega (Ancient)
Watch Legend of Oasis: 1, 2
The brawling action RPG series returns for a stunning prequel, this time with more elemental spirits, more dungeons, more weapons, more combos, and one of Yuzo Koshiro's best scores yet.

_____________________________________________

PHANTASY STAR I - Sega
While PSIV brought the epic series to a close, you can't forget how Sega's best RPG series began, and just how groundbreaking it was. Released in Japan just two days after Final Fantasy, Phantasy Star took a decidedly different view of JRPGing with its sci-fi worlds, western design concepts, and 3D dungeon exploration.

_____________________________________________

PHANTASY STAR II - Sega
Arguably the first console RPG where story and character became significant enough that the player could really be emotionally affected by the goings' on, that still never stopped PSII from sidelining its emphasis on awesome gameplay -- namely, lots of dungeon crawling and a brutal difficulty level that could leave you dead after a moment's carelessness.

_____________________________________________

SHINING FORCE II - Sega (Camelot)
Sure, the Shining Force franchise borrowed plenty from Fire Emblem -- but hey, at least it did it well. The stories were fun, and the games managed to present a truly accessible SRPG experience by mixing SRPG gameplay with traditional RPG designs like towns, NPCs, wandering a world map, and an important focus on levels and equipment.
Watch Shining Force II: 1

_____________________________________________

SHINING THE HOLY ARK - Sega (Camelot)
Watch Shining the Holy Ark: 1, 2, 3
No SRPGing this time around -- Shining the Holy Ark puts players into enormous, labyrinthine dungeons that must be carefully navigated, all while battling challenging and very lethal turn-based fights. Go slowly, and take care.

_____________________________________________

WARSONG - NCS/Masaya
One of the earliest console SRPGs, released just a year after Fire Emblem -- and taking the genre in a totally different direction. Challenging, extremely innovative, and a blast to play. Read more on Warsong here

_____________________________________________

PHANTASY STAR ONLINE - Sega
Though it wasn't quite what a lot of long-time Phantasy Star fans wanted, it's still hard to deny that PSO was, in fact, quite awesome. It was the first online console RPG, and by putting its emphasis on gaming with small groups (4 maximum) of friends in isolated instances, all for free, it made for an outstanding multiplayer experience.

_____________________________________________

RECORD OF LODOSS WAR - Neverland/ESP Software
Now this is great hack 'n slash action RPGing as it was meant to be done.

_____________________________________________

SHADOWRUN - FASA / Sega
The future's a twisted place, and that's why this dystopian Blade Runneresque RPG is so much fun. There were several Shadowrun RPGs made during the 16-bit era, but each one was unique -- and while many people mostly remember the SNES game, the Genesis Shadowrun was definitively the best.

_____________________________________________

LIGHT CRUSADER - Sega (Treasure)
The only true RPG ever made by Treasure, the guys behind Radiant silvergun and Sin & Punishment, this game is striking for how remarkably western it seems. Light Crusader puts you in the role of the knight David, who while vacationing in the country town of Greenrow, must investigate the disappearance of the town's citizens by slashing his way through a dangerous monster-and-puzzle infested dungeon.

_____________________________________________

EL DORADO GATE - Capcom
Capcom was breaking new ground with El Dorado Gate -- an episodic, serial console RPG series. Each volume of El Dorado Gate was broken down into three chapters of an overall story, accentuated by top-notch 2D visuals and Yoshitaka Amano artwork.

_____________________________________________

SHINING FORCE III - Sega (Camelot)
The biggest Shining Force game of all times isn't actually a single game -- it's three. The story of Shining Force III is so big that it spans across multiple games, each of which stars a different, unique hero. Their stories overlap, and the actions you take in one game will impact what happens in the others. The series also introduced 3D graphics and its Buddy System here.

ethelred · Mar 5, 2007

LUNAR: ETERNAL BLUE - Game Arts
Return to the world of Althena in the sequel to the Silver Star... but is the world you last saw even recognizable now? Arguably even better than the first, Lunar II keeps its old school gameplay intact but brings us an even cooler cast of characters. A lecherous, gambling priest, an avaricious mage, and a very violent dancer... and hey, what's up with that weird chick in Scarlet's av?

_____________________________________________

GRANDIA 2 - Game Arts
Grandia II ditched the first game's sprites-on-3D and opted for a fully polygonal experience. It doesn't look too shabby, either, thanks mainly to incredible art direction and some insanely memorable locations. While the skill system isn't quite as good this time around, the trademarked strategic critical/combo battle system is better than ever.

_____________________________________________

SEGAGAGA - Sega
Take control of a kid given the reigns of... Sega in this bizarre game, the goal of which is to revive the flagging company from the 3% console market share it's sunk to. In addition to company sim segments, Segagaga includes lots of dungeon crawling through Sega's development studios with a fast, fanservicing turn-based battle system.
Watch Segagaga: 1

_____________________________________________

DEVIL SUMMONER - Atlus
What would a great RPG lineup be without Atlus R&D1? Forget the religious themes and the post-apocalyptic anarchy -- this time we're heading to modern-day Japan.

_____________________________________________

SOUL HACKERS - Atlus
The world of Devil Summoner gets infused with a touch of the cyberpunk.

_____________________________________________

PRINCESS CROWN - Atlus (Vanillaware)
Still haven't gotten enough Atlus love? Got the hots over Odin Sphere (you should!)? Well, then, why not give the original a try while you wait? It's still utterly gorgeous.
Watch Princess Crown: 1

_____________________________________________

POPFUL MAIL - Nihon Falcom
Atlus wasn't the only niche RPG developer pumping out awesome gems here -- there's also Nihon Falcom. Popful Mail stars... er, Popful Mail, the lucious Elven bounty hunter, who seeks to capture villainous foes like Nuts Cracker and Muttonhead.

_____________________________________________

LANGRISSER 2 - NCS/Masaya
Even better than the first game (released as Warsong in the US), Langrisser II helps entrench the franchise as one of the best SRPG series around.

_____________________________________________

SHINING FORCE: LEGACY OF GREAT INTENTION - Sega (Climax / Camelot)
Shining Force may not have been the first game to bear the "Shining" name, but this is where the series laid down its SRPG roots. Lead a young force of novice warriors, all that remains of Guardiana's military, as they seek to uncover the motives behind Runefaust's invasion.

_____________________________________________

CRUSADER OF CENTY - Sega (NexTech)
While there were plenty of puzzle-focused action RPGs during the 16-bit era, none of them were... just quite like Crusader of Centy. Play as a young boy who is cursed by a witch and no longer able to use human speech. Instead, he finds himself speaking the animal tongue, and he uses his newfound gift to recruit the beasts of the wild to his side. Fight with a penguin, a lion, a cheetah, and even your own pet dog. While it's not the hardest game, it's definitely fun.

_____________________________________________

ALBERT ODYSSEY: LEGEND OF ELDEAN - Sunsoft
Yeah, the loading sucked. Other than that? Fun game. Wonderful 2D graphics, traditional battle system, plenty of challenge, and one of Working Designs' funniest translations.

_____________________________________________

GUARDIAN HEROES - Sega (Treasure)
While not 100% an RPG, Guardian Heroes has more than enough of the genre's elements to satisfy most fans. Select from several main characters (or play multiplayer co-op), and kill as many enemies as possible in Double Dragon-style, leveling up and customizing your stats as you go. Enjoy the spectacular combat, gorgeous 2D graphics, and near-limitless branching paths to the story.
Watch Guardian Heroes: 1

_____________________________________________

DARK WIZARD - Sega
Years before Final Fantasy Tactics helped the genre become big, the Genesis and its CD peripheral was a really fantastic SRPG system, pumping out one under-the-radar gem after another. Dark Wizard is just such a game.

_____________________________________________

WANDERERS FROM YS - Nihon Falcom
The third game in Nihon Falcom's excellent action RPG series mixed things up a bit with a side-scrolling perspective. That didn't stop it from being a great game, though. Three different console versions were made, and aside from having inferior music to the TG16 version, Wanderers from Ys on the Genesis is generally regarded as the best version of the classic.

_____________________________________________

SHINING IN THE DARKNESS - Sega (Climax)
This is the game where the "Shining" series was born. If you're familiar with Shining the Holy Ark, then you know what to expect with Darkness, as Holy Ark was modeled after this earlier game. The battle system is traditional and turn-based, and the hero's objective is to successfully navigate through a gigantic dungeon.

_____________________________________________

VAY - Sims
Here's another Game Arts-published RPG (developed by Sims), though this one isn't as widely known as Lunar or Grandia. It's the weakest of the three franchises, but it's still got plenty worthwhile about it. Once again, Working Designs show that a solid cast of characters can really help a game out. **NOTE**: Sorry, Game Arts did not publish this game, even in Japan. GameFAQs lied, people died!

_____________________________________________

PHANTASY STAR III - Sega
Ah, the black sheep of the Phantasy Star series. Despite what anyone else says, though, this is a really good game, too -- it's just hurt by the fact that it's not as good as the other three games, and it departs pretty strongly from the series' overall story arc. It does some cool things on its own, though -- the fact that the game plays out over three successive generations was a novel and very cool concept.

_____________________________________________

SWORD OF VERMILLION - Sega
Yu Suzuki (of Virtua Fighter and Shenmue fame) made his first dip into console game development with Sword of Vermillion, and while it hasn't aged quite as well as some of the other games I'm listing out, it's still got lots of fans for how innovative it was. Melding distinctive styles -- an overhead view in towns, a first person view outside, and a Talesesque battle system (before Tales came about) make it worth your while to check out.

_____________________________________________

SORCERIAN - Nihon Falcom
Even more Falcom action RPG side-scrolling goodness? Yup, sure enough.

_____________________________________________

ethelred · Mar 5, 2007

SHINING FORCE CD - Sega (Camelot)
Where Shining Force III is one larger story spread out over three separate games, Shining Force CD is actually three separate stories blended into a single game. Who cares, though? Shining Force's simplified-but-fun approach to SRPGing is still here, and that's what matters.

_____________________________________________

UNCHARTED WATERS II: NEW HORIZONS - Koei
Be a pirate, a cartographer, a treasure hunter, a merchant, or an officer of the armada as you sail the uncharted seas in Koei's 16th century navigational RPG epic.

_____________________________________________

SHADOWRUN CD - Compile
This is the only Shadowrun game to get developed in Japan, so it's a rather unique take on the cyberpunk future of FASA's universe.

_____________________________________________

VIXEN 357 - NCS/Masaya
Here's another little-known SRPG, and from the same company responsible for the fantastic Langrisser series. Only this time, instead of ancient magical warfare, it's mechanized combat.

_____________________________________________

TENGAI MAKYOU: THE 4TH APOCALYPSE - Red Entertainment/Hudson
Many, many years before Shadow Hearts: From the New World was even dreamt up, Tengai Makyou: The Apocalypse was putting its own wacky spin on American history in the old west. And (noticing a pattern yet?) it was doing so with absolutely gorgeous 2D visuals.

_____________________________________________

EGG: ELEMENTAL GIMMICK GEAR - Hudson
Check out those incredible backgrounds. Hey, the game's fun, too -- how can you go wrong with a game where the mechs are designed like giant eggs?

_____________________________________________

LANDSTALKER - Sega (Climax)
3/4 isometric dungeon exploration with all the jumping, running, slashing, and puzzle solving you could possibly cram into a 16-bit classic.

_____________________________________________

UNCHARTED WATERS - Koei
This is the first game in Koei's navigational series -- explore the uncharted seas in the days when pirates and the armada clashed, and whole new continents remained out in the horizons.

_____________________________________________

WONDER BOY IN MONSTER WORLD - Sega
Trying to explain the intricate twists and turns in this series would recquire a full course at uni. Suffice to say, this game's an excellent action-RPG/platformer from the Genny's early days.

_____________________________________________

DARK SAVIOR - Climax
This spiritual sequel to Landstalker features an entirely new hero, but the isometric fighting, puzzle-solving, and dungeon-based platforming returns. Boxes ahoy!

_____________________________________________

SHINING WISDOM - Camelot
Camelot develops the first official action RPG in the Shining series. You'll hate the movement speed, but the dungeon design and boss battles are a blast.

_____________________________________________

LANGRISSER IV - NCS/Masaya

_____________________________________________

MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH - Sega
It may be last on the list (and also the last Working Designs localization on a Sega machine), but it's surely not least! The game is lovely, combat's fun, and hey, the game's made by the lady who brought us Phantasy Star and Skies of Arcadia.

Xeros · Mar 5, 2007

ethelred
Has better taste than you
(Today, 06:15 AM)

grandjedi6 · Mar 5, 2007

How is it that I owned a genesis only and yet still missed out on all these games

Oh and Segaga :lol

AntMurda · Mar 5, 2007

Genesis Shadowrun was not the best... SNES one all the way. Thank you goodbye.

Phthisis · Mar 5, 2007

ethelred said:
SKIES OF ARCADIA - Sega
Air pirates in a world full of floating islands, tons of exploration, and the first great console RPG to really tackle true 3D game design. Incredible music, a great cast of characters, and airship-to-airship battles also helped make Skies of Arcadia what it was.

/thread

(and hot damn, what a thread)

GaimeGuy · Mar 5, 2007

Skies of Arcadia FTW

muckhole · Mar 5, 2007

AntMurda said:
Genesis Shadowrun was not the best... SNES one all the way. Thank you goodbye.

Bleargh! There is no room in this thread for opinion!

Gotta go blow the dust off the old Saturn now. *sniff*

Segata Sanshiro · Mar 5, 2007

Hey! If Landstalker and Light Crusader get in, so does Dark Saviour!

Otherwise, exceptional work, and a fine tribute to the good old days.

AdmiralViscen · Mar 5, 2007

Holy shit.

bjork · Mar 5, 2007

pso ftw

Xenon · Mar 5, 2007

If content in threads were people, this would be China!

Good show man, good show

Fantasmo · Mar 5, 2007

After reading all that I feel like I just played through an RPG

IcebergSlim3000 · Mar 5, 2007

Well done thread indeed. Its stuff like this that makes me keep coming back to GAF.

Narag · Mar 5, 2007

If there was anything I'd kill to have from a console download service just so I wouldn't have to drag out my saturn, it'd be Dragon Force. I used to play the hell out of that game. Well that and Guardian Heroes.

I still hold out hope that one of the big 3 manages to offer a saturn and/or dreamcast emulation service so I can use my old discs. I've grown fond of an all in one magic video game box that this gen has offered.

Mario_Hugo · Mar 5, 2007

Great thread. Played a bunch of the games listed up top (Thread made me really want to play through Dragon Force again...) and I must say, as good as some of those games are, Lunar: The Silver Star was and will always be one of my absolute fondest videogame experiences. Easily one of the greatest games I've ever played, and though the graphics have sincerely aged, the music is simply some of the best in gaming.

M

Kevtones · Mar 5, 2007

Skies was so awesome.

Mikazuki · Mar 5, 2007

Awesome thread, thank you for compiling this. I shouldn't have gotten rid of Dragon Force...

dog$ · Mar 5, 2007

How's Guardian Heroes in here and Shenmue not?

PepsimanVsJoe · Mar 5, 2007

AntMurda said:
Genesis Shadowrun was not the best... SNES one all the way. Thank you goodbye.

No you're wrong but please feel free to leave.

Excellent thread btw, though hitting F5 is a bad idea.

Andy787 · Mar 5, 2007

Fantastic thread. I loved a great many of those games.

I didn't know there was a Shadowrun title developed in Japan. That actually looks really neat. Any idea how it was?

And were the El Dorado's Gate games actually any good on the Dreamcast? I always thought those games looked so nice, but I guess we may never see them in English.

Also, I really, really wish we got that Tengai Makyou game and SEGAGAGA over here.

I remember seeing the world map for Tengai, and Christ almighty, that game looked glorious.

Andy787 · Mar 5, 2007

Haha! I found it, the map for Tengai Makyou IV (thanks to Andrew Vestal's site, no less :lol):

ethelred · Mar 5, 2007

Also, for folks that haven't played any of these games -- maybe you weren't into RPGs before? maybe you grew up with an SNES and then went straight to the PlayStation consoles? -- I strongly encourage you to do your best to give some of these a shot. You've no idea what you're missing out on.

Three of the Phantasy Stars are available on the PS2/PSP Sega Genesis Collection. Beyond Oasis will be up on the Virtual Console this month. Saturns, Dreamcasts, and Genesis/CDs are all pretty cheap these days as far as old hardware goes, and most of the games aren't that expensive, either.

dog$ said:
How's Guardian Heroes in here and Shenmue not?

I actually wanted to add Shenmue, and was originally going to do so, but I passed at the last minute just because I didn't want to get into a huge debate with folks about whether it belonged. But, hey, two people have asked now, and it's my ****ing thread so I can do whatever the **** I want -- so tada, Shenmue's up there.

No matter who asks, though, I'm not adding Time Stalkers, as that game is pure ass.

diddlyD · Mar 5, 2007

I've played and beat almost every one of those games. Personal highlights are Landstalker and Crusader of Centy.

But what about Dark Savior and Shining Wisdom?!!

Andy787 · Mar 5, 2007

ethelred said:
I actually wanted to add Shenmue, and was originally going to do so, but I passed at the last minute just because I didn't want to get into a huge debate with folks about whether it belonged. But, hey, two people have asked now, and it's my ****ing thread so I can do whatever the **** I want -- so tada, Shenmue's up there

It belongs.

I <3 classic Sega.

Come back, old friend.

chinmonster · Mar 5, 2007

Never got around to playing Skies of Arcadia... maybe now's the time. I also want to play Lack of Love / LOL.

Tailzo · Mar 5, 2007

Awesome thread! I concider myself a pretty big fan of RPGs, but it seems I've missed out on some obscure Saturn RPGs. I wish more of these games got transelated. Is it legal to talk about fan transelation here? Is it possible to patch games to have the text in english instead of Japanese, and does people do that, legally?

LOL? Was that an RPG?

edit:
I tried to fix some nasty spelling errors. Thanks for reminding me.

Starfire · Mar 5, 2007

Panzer Dragoon Saga: the one that got away *sob...

Great thread I'm really tempted to dig some of these classics up and replay them again!

pancakesandsex · Mar 5, 2007

Rayearth was also the last saturn game ever released in the US

Tabris · Mar 5, 2007

Traysia (Sega Genesis)

Most people most likely didn't play it, and for those that did, they probabaly thought it sucked... but I still have good memories of this game. It was an old school RPG where I don't remember any of the plot or what the gameplay system is like, but I know I had a lot of fun playing it.

Acosta · Mar 5, 2007

Fantastic thread Ethelred! thanks a lot.

I always wanted to check Shadowrun CD...

It´s embarrasing but never had the chance to play almost anything of this, I was mostly a SNES user (loved Genesis but I couldn´t afford both) and skipped Saturn for Nintendo 64 (awful).

I played Grandia on Playstation, fantastic game. And of course Shenmue 1&2 (I will always have the introduction in my mind). Would love to have time to explore these games.

Red Blaster · Mar 5, 2007

While not on Sega machines, figured this would be a good place to ask. How good are the PSOne remakes of the Lunar games?

Andy787 · Mar 5, 2007

Tailzo said:
Awesome thread! I concider myself a pretty big fan of RPG games, but it seems I've missed out on some obscure Saturn RPG games. I wish more of these games got transelated. Is it legal to talk about fan transelation here? Is it possible to patch games to have the text in english instead of Japanese, and does people do that, legally?

LOL? Was that an RPG game?

RPG. RPG.

It's already got game in the acronym.

chinmonster · Mar 5, 2007

Tailzo said:
LOL? Was that an RPG game?

RPGish at least, I do believe. There was a thread about it not too long ago.

Tabris · Mar 5, 2007

Red Blaster said:
While not on Sega machines, figured this would be a good place to ask. How good are the PSOne remakes of the Lunar games?

Some bad CG cutscenes, otherwise, they are the superior versions imo.

NintendosBooger · Mar 5, 2007

I wasn't a big fan of Sega RPGs (although, I didn't give them much of a chance to begin with), but could the OP highlight what separated a Sega RPG from other console RPGs, so I might see if they're worth checking out?

PC Gaijin · Mar 5, 2007

Did you actually finish Record of Lodoss War? That game got painfully tedious for me by the end. I actually cheated to finish it because getting knocked back 100% of the time wasn't much fun. :lol

There were a good number of "lighter" RPGs on Saturn that I enjoyed playing, like Waku Waku Puyo Puyo Dungeon (dungeon crawl) and Madou Monogatari. Both very easy to play even with limited Japanese. I also liked the two Slayers Royal games, although that was probably due more to being a fan of Slayers at the time rather than the quality of the games. Blue Seed...okay, that one honestly was kind of crappy. :lol Linkle Liver Story was pretty good, and another easy to play game.

Mystaria also wasn't a bad game, albeit very ugly. I liked it well enough to play through Riglord Saga 2 (which looked better). I'll also admit that I enjoyed the Angelique RPG quite a bit. Hmm, other games I liked were Wachenroder, Terra Phantastica (I didn't finish this one, but great art style), and the Saturn port of Tactics Ogre (only for the voice acting).

One RPG I can recommend against is Soldnerschild. Looked to have a really interesting art style, but the actual game is horrible and the good art is limited to 2D portraits, everything else is done with atrocious 3D models (Wachenroder suffers from this somewhat as well, but at least it has some decent gameplay).

PS Collection on Saturn is a nice thing to have if only for the bonus art and movies (the commercials are gloriously cheesy). Loading times for PSIV though...

My personal favorite Sega RPGs: Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, and Shining Force III.

Andy787 · Mar 5, 2007

PC Gaijin said:
Did you actually finish Record of Lodoss War? That game got painfully tedious for me by the end. I actually cheated to finish it because getting knocked back 100% of the time wasn't much fun. :lol

CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP

PepsimanVsJoe · Mar 5, 2007

I actually finished Record of Lodoss War even though it got stupid at the end. The extra dungeons involved getting attacked from every direction while grinding a billion crystals to get HP +5 or some dumb crap.

Main reason I avoided Neo/EXA, since I didn't want to play their endgame content cause I knew it'd be shit(Same developers and all).

NintendosBooger: Dunno man you hate Gunstar Heroes so I'm inclined to believe you're unable to like anything.

snoopers · Mar 5, 2007

ethelred said:
BEYOND OASIS - Sega (Ancient)
Watch Beyond Oasis: 1
This game places a fast, fluid, Streets of Rage-styled brawling beat-'em-up combat system into an action RPG with an amazing Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack. Play the prince of a desert kingdom as he gains the aid of four elemental spirits that he can summon with his golden armlet.

I loved this game so much !

Alfarif · Mar 5, 2007

I was really not expecting to see this thread and I'm so glad it's here.

For what it's worth, going through these games made me teary eyed. Before the Saturn, I hadn't bothered to really pick up a Sega System RPG. I had played one of the Oasis games and thought it was a decent little title but I was such a Nintendo fan-dork in the early 90s...

When I got my Saturn, I snatched up Panzer Dragoon Saga and Shining the Holy Ark. I later (a couple weeks... the Saturn was being liquidated at Electronics Boutique... back when it was called that) grabbed Shining Force III and was going to pick up Albert's Odyessy and Dragon Force but didn't have the money for them.

PDS is arguably the greatest RPG I've EVER played. It was one of the ONLY games I've ever played where I didn't mind actually watching the videos. Mostly because the voices were spot on, the dialogue was poignant and emotional, and the story was so engaging that a few times I found myself actually believing I was there. It's now one of the games I'm proud of owning and have it displayed amongst the collection as a centerpiece.

Shining Force III. When it was came out, I didn't know Japanese so I could only play Scenario 1. Now, though, I would import the other scenarios and play through them with a dictionary handy. I wish they had brought scenario 2 and 3 over to the US because this game was so engaging. I can't say I'm a strategy RPG whore but this turned me onto the genre in a big way and now I own all of the Fire Emblems and other Shining Forces.

And of course we have to pay homage to Grandia, Skies of Arcadia, and Phantasy Star. They are just masterpieces. The Lunar series is as well. I remember begging a buddy of mine to sell me his Genesis and Sega CD just to get Lunar Silver Star... he didn't go for it but the original will one day be mine.

And a final comment about Sega based RPGs... there's something about the worlds that were created by Working Designs and Team Andromeda that seem so much more alive and palpable than even their competiters (Square Enix). There was a magic to them that I've only found in a handful of other RPGs (Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, and Secret of Mana... I'm biased!). So cheers on this thread and to ALL the good memorieis had from these games.

NintendosBooger · Mar 5, 2007

PepsimanVsJoe said:
NintendosBooger: Dunno man you hate Gunstar Heroes so I'm inclined to believe you're unable to like anything.

Whatever.

Ethelred, thanks for the informative thread. A lot of the information contained in your post and in those of the subsequent posters was new to me. Makes me appreciate Sega as a gaming company more, and somewhat regret that I stuck with just one brand during their heyday. Hopefully, some of these games become available on VC in the near future.

Alfarif · Mar 5, 2007

NintendosBooger said:
I wasn't a big fan of Sega RPGs (although, I didn't give them much of a chance to begin with), but could the OP highlight what separated a Sega RPG from other console RPGs, so I might see if they're worth checking out?

Namely, battle systems, engagement, and character progression.

Let's take Panzer Dragoon Saga as an example. At the time, there wasn't any other game that was doing cinematic storytelling the way PDS was. You could say FF7, but FF7 had no dialogue in the videos, no truly compelling reasons to watch the videos (other than eye candy), and, in comparison (and this is my opinion), MUCH worse art design.

In the videos for PDS, you aren't just introduced to Edge, but you experience Edge's plight. It's all standard fare now, but at the time it was really engaging (especially the full voice acting).

In the battle system for PDS, you didn't just simply sit and wait for your meters to charge up. YOu actually had to move around your enemies and could unlock their "weak points" (areas in the four cardinal directions of your compass that are green) or fall into their "critical points" (areas that are in red where they do their most devstating attacks). These also change over the course of battle... meaning though green might be there at the beginning of the battle, it won't be there in the middle, and that might not have anything to do with damage take or recieved. Not to mention the fact that you could charge your gun up, hit their weak points with your gun (depending on how they were facing), change your dragon's strengths and weaknesses, etc. You literally could NOT play this game one handed. You needed to actively pay attention during battle because if you didn't, you'd find yourself in a world of hurt with no real way to bring yourself back.

And interactivity with the world was a plus. Your "overworld" consisted of on foot or dragon riding missions in towns, dungeons, etc. There, you could interact with specific items, where you'd learn more about the world, the people, even your dragon. Heck, there was a journal you kept that got so long and detailed you could sit there reading for HOURS on just a couple of subjects. Again, for the time period this game came out, it was mind blowing what they were doing.

Sega RPGs also have this thing where they feel real. In most Sega based RPGs, even if your characters are getting powerful, you don't feel like they are gods. In something comparable, like a Final Fantasy, I found it (even in FF6 to some extent) hard to believe that these characters couldn't just mop the floor with the "final enemy" and call it a day... a quarter of the way through the game. Maybe it's just the way the games were made, maybe it's the way they were written, but your heroes still feel vulnerable at the end of the game which makes you want them to succeed that much more.

Art direction and music direction also have a lot to do with it. Again, PDS as an example, has some of the most organic (figuratively and literally) art I've seen in any game, to the point that you can almost imagine going to a bazaar or flea market in real life and picking up some of these items. The music isn't intrusive and feels very natural. You can imagine a band in a town playing instruments on the corner giving that town it's particular theme music. Both the art and music were big draws for me once I started getting into a Sega RPG.

This is just one game but I think it applies to almost every Sega RPG. There's just something very organic about them. I'm a Nintendo fan through and through and, like you, didn't get to play a Sega RPG until I bought a Saturn but now that I have... if it is a Working Designs brand (RIP) or Team Andromeda (RIP) brand, I'm all over it.

Mr. Pointy · Mar 5, 2007

The Saturn and, to a lesser extent, the Mega Drive had some awesome RPGs. The Dreamcast... not so much apart from Grandia 2 and SoA.

NintendosBooger · Mar 5, 2007

Alfarif,

Thanks for your post. It was very informative and wistful. When some of these RPGs are made available on VC (I don't want to go find the original systems and games), I'll make sure to download them. I'm starving for some good RPGs right about now.

Alfarif · Mar 5, 2007

NintendosBooger,

You will definitely enjoy yourself when/if they come to the VC. I'm actually hoping that in some way Saturn games could find their way onto the VC. I really want to get Grandia and Dragon Force. I've been searching for DF for years.

Tailzo · Mar 5, 2007

I wonder if we'll see Saturn games for download via VC, XBLA or PSN? And is it possible the Rest of Shining Force III could be transelated? That may be a bit unrealistic to hope for.

Beezy · Mar 5, 2007

Phantasy Star IV, Dragon Force, Grandia 2, Skies of Arcadia...

PepsimanVsJoe · Mar 5, 2007

I just enjoy the games because they play very differently from the standard RPG-fare. The towns, the equipment you buy, the people you talk to, the monsters you fight, everything feels so fresh.

But since I'm no good at broad descriptions I'll point out particular games.

Landstalker- I believe everyone should be required to play this game. It is by all accounts a masterpiece. Sure it looks sort of like a Zelda clone and in a way it is. Course the main difference is the puzzles. They're actually *good*. Some of them require a bit of basic throwing blocks around and jumping on them, some force the player to think outside the box, a handful of riddles to figure out, and even some that require some handy platforming ability. The characters are simple but extremely likable and the situations you're put into throughout the adventure are charming and add life to the game. Oh and the soundtrack is fantastic, one of my favorites of the 16-bit era.

Phantasy Star II- I think the main thing that works about this game is the dungeon designs. Sure they're not the hardcore SMT "step on this spot and everyone dies somehow" kind but they are still quite hardcore. Unlike say FF or something similar chances are your first foray into a dungeon won't be your last. That is you won't solve all of the problems and find all the treasure on your first trip. Expect to make multiple trips, getting only a bit further each time. Kind of reminds me of old PC RPGs like Wizardry and the like. Also despite the fact that this game only has three bosses they are perhaps some of the hardest you'll ever face in an RPG and certainly a step up from most console offerings around that time.

Skies of Arcadia- I think as far as characters go this game is unparalleled. Vyse, Aika, Fina, Ramirez, Galcian, etc are just excellently put together. Sure they play standard archetypes(hero, villain, etc) but with the right dialogue and good direction they come off as an amazingly well-designed cast. Also the overworld is just awesome, more next-gen than most games out today. I prefer the Dreamcast version though, the GC rev suffers from a lower quality soundtrack and the additional fights are unbalanced and only serve to punish fans of experience(since the extra bosses level with you...grrr)

Beyond Oasis/Legend of Oasis- Simply the best action-RPGs available on any system. Dunno what it is these days but despite seeing the genre grow I'm still never impressed with the combat. Beyond/Legend to me features a really "meaty" combat system. When you hit something you hear a nice satisfying thwack and the enemy screams(some ripped from other Sega games) upon death feel so good. Getting into a swarm of enemies and just destroying them is awesome in these two games.

Shining Force series- I dunno what it is but these SRPG games are the only ones that really "work" for me. Disgaea and its' ilk never really appealed to me because all you do is watch numbers rise while solving lame puzzles posing as battles. Other games like Fire Emblem are just too punishing for a simple guy like myself. With Shining Force on the other hand I can gradually develop my characters, enjoy some fairly amusing stories, and participate in some well-crafted battles.

Guardian Heroes- I think it's to this day the best game on the Saturn, well at least it's definitely my most-played. The story mode suffers from being incredibly text-heavy but it's a fun challenge trying to 1CC it on hard(Did it with Nicole and Han myself..though Nicole is a cakewalk with her healing + shield trap). The Battle mode is just incredible though, so many variations and scenarios you can try with up to six players. Have five mid-level soldiers try to take out a max-level Sky Spirit, Pit a low level Nicole vs 5 Undead, etc. Random mode is also a hoot since you can randomize everything right down to level. Way too much cool stuff in the game.

Tengai Makyou- Worth a look simply for the fact that the monsters in battle animate straight out of a low-budget anime TV series.

Light Crusader- A bit more hardcore in terms of isometric puzzle solving action. Unfortunately the combat is a step back(fighting with the sword is annoying at best) from what you'd expect of Treasure but the puzzles are nice and frustrating as they should be.

Shadowrun- Main reason I pick this game over the SNES one is simple. STUFF. There is just more to the Genesis game in general. Upon starting the game you get to read a lot of text. Sure bad for non-fans of text but I love it. The dialogue uses quite a bit of the original Shadowrun terminology and the content matches up well with the original pen & paper game. The Runners you hire in the game are fully customizable(that mage? Screw magic you can load him up with guns and cyberware) and you're free to go just about anywhere in the game from the outset. The cyberspace exploration also kills the SNES rev dead by being a whole different game in itself. You develop your cyberdeck through a wide variety of programs and upgrades to the capabilities to the deck(or if you have the nuyen you can buy a brand new deck). Also you have access to contacts. Through shadowrunners or Mr. Johnsons(the guys that provide you with jobs) you can get information, buy hot gear, or simply shoot the shit.

I've already gone over this stuff a thousand times over but the random encounters, the enemies, the fact that you can join the Mafia or the Yakuza(but not both!), slaughter ghouls for big money, break into major corporations and hack into their databases, hell you can even jump into cyberspace and possibly stop a Chernobyl of the future from ever happening. Course the game has a rather slow start(hope you like delivering packages) and I assume that's the main reason some people prefer the SNES version..I can't think of any others.

Support NeoGAF

Sega Console RPG Appreciation Thread; or, why the Genesis, Saturn, and Dreamcast rock

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Master of the Google Search

Member

Member

Volunteer Deputy Campaign Director, Obama for America '16

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Lisa Edelstein's dad touched my private parts. True fact.

Member

Army death height crane group location world

Hates quality gaming

Member

Banned

Banned

Member

Banned

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Member

I am multitalented

This picture? uhh I can explain really!

Member

This picture? uhh I can explain really!

Member

Member

This picture? uhh I can explain really!

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads