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Help: Short but good/great jRPG?
- Thread starter Hayama Akito
- Start date
UncleSporky
Member
My memory was telling me that Radiant Historia was a great fulfilling game that didn't wear out its welcome and wasn't excessive, but howlongtobeat puts it at 34 hours.
Still I must recommend Radiant Historia as a lower end of the scale JRPG, time-wise.
Still I must recommend Radiant Historia as a lower end of the scale JRPG, time-wise.
Lunar Legend for GBA is like 12-14 hours max while Lunar SSSC as mentioned is closer to 25 hours. If ya want Lunar on the quick go with the GBA remake of the remake! Not as high quality an lacks fancy cutscenes & voice acting, but it looks nice and is fun. Even got random encounters unlike SSSC, position on the battle screen don't matter either so its even more traditional jrpg feeling!
Why would you two wanna inflict AO's medicority on others -.-? Doesn't fall into the good/great categories imo. It is a sub-20 hour long game however.
Yeah outta all the ones I played this year and didn't speed/ng+ through there's been Parasite Eve and...... nothing else.
Glad another person here knows whats up!If you're going to recommend a rare and morbidly expensive game, why not take one that's actually good, like Panzer Dragoon Saga
ULTROS!
People seem to like me because I am polite and I am rarely late. I like to eat ice cream and I really enjoy a nice pair of slacks.
1. Suikoden 1 PSone (20-25 hours) - Available on PSN
2. I Am Setsuna (20 hours) - General impressions it feels like a Square JRPG in he 90s - http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1186070
3. Dragon Quest 1 and 2 (both are less than 20 hours) - Available on iPhone
2. I Am Setsuna (20 hours) - General impressions it feels like a Square JRPG in he 90s - http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1186070
3. Dragon Quest 1 and 2 (both are less than 20 hours) - Available on iPhone
Shining Force 1 and 2 - My favorite SRPGs, and they are definitely JRPGs too, make no mistake. Overworlds to explore, evil villains to be fought, worlds to be saved!
The first Breath of Fire - Some might find it tedious with its encounter rate, but it's still a very fun game, and a good introduction to a marvelous series.
Shadow Hearts 1 - One of the best PS2 RPGs I've played, apparently the sequel is better, but I've only just started it! Dark, humourous and great fun.
Phantasy Star IV - Underappreciated Genesis RPG. It was way ahead of its time!
Terranigma - I know, I know, no action, but seriously one of the most underappreciated games of all time
Okage Shadow King - Quirky, whimsical and very fun. It's quick to play through and keeps you entertained the whole way. The art style is such a treat.
Radiant Historia - Probably a bit longer than the other games on the list, but if you like time travel shenanigans it is worth giving an honest try.
The first Breath of Fire - Some might find it tedious with its encounter rate, but it's still a very fun game, and a good introduction to a marvelous series.
Shadow Hearts 1 - One of the best PS2 RPGs I've played, apparently the sequel is better, but I've only just started it! Dark, humourous and great fun.
Phantasy Star IV - Underappreciated Genesis RPG. It was way ahead of its time!
Terranigma - I know, I know, no action, but seriously one of the most underappreciated games of all time
Okage Shadow King - Quirky, whimsical and very fun. It's quick to play through and keeps you entertained the whole way. The art style is such a treat.
Radiant Historia - Probably a bit longer than the other games on the list, but if you like time travel shenanigans it is worth giving an honest try.
Swimmer9800
Member
South Park all the way. Was my 2014 goty. Must play game.
SolVanderlyn
Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
These sprites and art style have my utmost attention
Albert odyssey
Zenlightened
Banned
Parroting Suikoden 1 . Short and sweet, and you can pad it by getting the Wonderful 108 if you choose.
Barkley Shut up and Jam is amazing AND free, great dadaist humor.
Helen's Mysterious Castle was a cute and fun 8 hour romp well worth the admission ($2).
People should recommend more RPG Maker games, those are the only turn based ones I've played, but I know there's way more.
Helen's Mysterious Castle was a cute and fun 8 hour romp well worth the admission ($2).
People should recommend more RPG Maker games, those are the only turn based ones I've played, but I know there's way more.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
If you liked Chrono Trigger and fancy an additional 2- or 3-hour quest starring Magus, you could try Chrono Trigger: Prophet's Guile which I directed back in 2007:
Cow Mengde
Banned
How is Chrono Trigger short? Easily took me around 30 hours to beat on my very first play through.
qualitydisc
Member
I second this. I was so thrilled to play a new Matsuno game, even if only a bite-sized one.
SinCityAssassin
Member
That short huh? Makes it a bit more absurd I sold mine for BILLIONS (hundreds).
I'm so glad someone else mentioned this game for once! I'm always pushing Guadia Quest and Guadia Quest Saga in threads like this one, but no one ever seems to take notice.
OP, these are the games you want, no questions asked. Short, classic-style, professionally-made, wonderful JRPG goodness. Very much Dragon Quest inspired, first-person combat but top-down exploration, three-person party of hero / fighter / mage, out to reconcile the heavens and the underworld. You can also capture some bosses and have them help you out in combat.
These two gems are, in my mind, unquestionably two of the best JRPGs of last generation. They are exactly the games you are looking for.
(Don't mind the Japanese text in these images, both games are available in English -- Guadia Quest 1 was officially released, while Saga has a good fan translation.)
It's my favourite game for 3DS, really. I love the tabletop mechanics, the awesome story, the battles.
It's a shame it's often forgotten from 3ds users.
So, we should write it again for OP: buy Crimson Shroud asap.
battousai11
Member
Grandia is not a 20 hour long RPG. It's a great game, but I sunk 60ish hours on it.
My vote would be stick of truth and the first couple of dragon quest (warrior) games
Dark_castle
Junior Member
I highly recommend
Pretty short indie RPG, but it's got some great story.
Pretty short indie RPG, but it's got some great story.
Came to post this
Yeah I beat Grandia last year and it took me 48 hours to beat, fantastic game but it's not short
I've heard the Golden Sun games are quite short for RPGs
I'm not the OP but I'd love to play this but I can't ever seem to find it for less than £45
Heck yea man, spread the RGC love. Also worth noting that you TRULY get an old-school experience with this one. If it feels like you've reached some cryptic BS part of the game that the devs expected you to buy the latest gaming magazine to figure out how to beat, guess what: that probably is the case, so you have to go to your in-game bookshelf and dig out the right issue of a retro-styled magazine for an FAQ.
Definitely one of the best DS games available for nostalgia lovers, too bad it had such a painfully generic name/boxart that most people would (and did) ignore.
I wanted to mention The Last Story, but the battle system is action and not turn based, so that's not what OP asked for.
It's super awesome though, no doubt.
GreenMonkey
Member
Dragon Quest IV
Radiant Historia, moderately challenging but a smidgeon long for you
Lunar 1/2?
Radiant Historia, moderately challenging but a smidgeon long for you
Lunar 1/2?
M0nochromatic
Member
I'll throw my hat in for the "actually a western RPG but it's inspired by jrpgs so whatever" games. Shut Up and Jam, Undertale, and LISA: The Painful are short compared to traditional JRPG length, yet offer rather unique and satisfying experiences.
To The Moon is another that I haven't personally played, but I have heard good things about.
To The Moon is another that I haven't personally played, but I have heard good things about.
Came in to post this. Really enjoyed this game when it came out. Took me under 20 hours.
How about the first knights of the old republic? Think that took me under 20 hours as well.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Although made in RPGMaker, To the Moon is more of a visual novel than an RPG. I rather liked it and it is rather short (3-4 hours).
Both should be worth a look.
If you're okay with non-commercial games, Star Stealing Prince is great.
Undertale. Don't let the English names in the credits fool you, it's more JRPG than the last few Final Fantasies (or the next one for that matter). Turn based combat (plus bullet hell) straight out of Dragon Quest, monster negotiating like SMT, super story-focused a'la Final Fantasy, quirky AF characters that would feel right at home in Mother/Earthbound. Only about 8 hours long and highly replayable, if you so desire.
.
And you will
Holy Order Sol
Member
Yeah, I think Nocturne: Rebirth is also in line with what the OP is looking for.
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
The #1 JRPG you probably know nothing about. An average playthrough is around 10-15 hours but every second feels of substance and quality. If the English version were available on a digital storefront I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I get the feeling if more people would play it, they'd see just how much better it is than most of the "usual suspects" in several areas, but unless you know Japanese your options are pretty limited in experiencing this masterpiece.
Dragon1893
Member
Kudos to the people mentioning The Last Story, can't believe I forgot that one.
Major Gripex
Member
Yeah, I found it to be the shortest of the series too, though I didn't recommend it because it's also the most controversial one out there. While I personally loved it, I can see how the tedious ship hub world and the major departures from the other games turned a lot of fans away. That aside, as a stand alone JRPG, it's worth checking out.
Star Ocean 1 on Super Famicom (no idea about the PSP remake) took me about 23 hours and that was without speaking the language. If I played, the English translation, didn't really pay much attention to the Item Creation system and didn't do the postgame content I would have clocked in at under 20 hours.