I am pretty sure most people did not finish Xenosaga II to continue on to III. Otherwise Xenosaga III would rank a lot higher on RPG list.
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What's the best JRPG that most people don't know about?
- Thread starter RedZaraki
- Start date
I am pretty sure most people did not finish Xenosaga II to continue on to III. Otherwise Xenosaga III would rank a lot higher on RPG list.
hydrophilic attack
Member
those were the dark days of being a european fan of jrpgs
and still to this day atlus finds ways to fuck us over
Albert Odyssey is great. Very simple, and kinda slow-paced, but I liked it a lot.
Growlanser series. Actually did something unique instead of being a by the books JRPG. God tier Urushihara art, RTS like battle system with with well crafted major battles, well developed characters and story, a bajillion dialogue choices, "vacation" system that's meant to develop the characters and let's you choose who to talk to, political intrigue...
Seconding Wild Arms XF, surprisingly well done SRPG systems
And Gungnir is the best SRPG nobody played.
Seconding Wild Arms XF, surprisingly well done SRPG systems
And Gungnir is the best SRPG nobody played.
I wasn't originally going to post these, because I didn't think they were "obscure", but going off the other posts in this thread, yeah. Strange Journey is honestly my favourite SMT and one of my favourite RPG's generally. Radiant Historia is great too.
Shadow Hearts Covenant sold really poorly considering how well it reviewed. I rate it the best jrpg without the FF name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcj3jnNHD7Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcj3jnNHD7Q
zenosparadox
Member
Elemental Gimmick Gear for the Dreamcast.
Japanese-made ARPG which plays mostly like the 2D Zeldas but with quick 3D boss battles. It is a tough game, too, if you do not use any kind of walkthrough. It is a real hidden gem!
Xenosaga, Shin Megami Tensei, Valkyrie Profile, Grandia, Breath of Fire, Shadow Hearts, Radiant Historia... I mean what is an "obscure" J RPG at this point. Every J RPG seems to be "obscure" since it's a niche genre. But really those are.... "classics" for me. (With maybe the exception of Radiant Historia since it's more recent but i see it quoted everytime someone talk about DS's library and especially RPG as THE best J RPG of the console, not exactly a hidden gem, even Contact would fit the bill better and i'm sure it's not really obscure).... Nah, the reality is i don't know what game could qualified as "obscure" either.
Like the one i could talk about is Mother 3 because he never came out of Japan but with Lucas in Smash, it may not be as obscure as we think.... But this is one of the best J RPG i have ever played, without a doubt !
I could talk about Rudora No Hihou which i deeply liked at the time (one of my first J RPG mind you), but with a lot of twist and the idea of those 3 scenario which interact with each other is really cool), but like all J RPG in SNES, it's very likely that anyone knowing the SNES library knows about this game.... But people prefer to talk about other RPGs... (But i'm actually very happy stuff like Terranigma seems to have the success it deserves)
Maybe we can talk about Baroque on Wii/PS2 ? I feel like everyone knew about this game at some point but now, i don't see any mention about it anymore. It's a very interesting D-RPG with a very neat atmosphere. The remake was translated in English but not the original version which was even creepier unfortunatly.
What else... Someone talked about Metal Saga, it's actually the follow up of the Metal Max series, i only played the "Metal Max Returns" version on SNES since it was translated and it's quite original since you don't really have a "aim" other that killing all those wanted people.
I could talk about Legend of Heroes V : Song of the Ocean, because it was really badly written in English with a very uninteresting remake on PSP, the whole Garghav Trilogy don't appear pretty to our eyes. But i feel like it's the best one out of the three even with all those problems, the engine run better, the characters are more interesting and the way it connect the story of LOH3 and LOH4 is really neat. I think a lot of people "know" it exists but i don't think many played it. (Since you will have to play the 3 and 4 before... And i actually think the third one is really boring but i liked the fourth)
There is a lot of other stuff, what about Mystic Ark in SNES which is a blend between J RPG and point & click adventure ? It has a mystical feel to it... It was a chore to translate too !
I could talk about Live A Live with the fact you can chose 7 different scenario made by totally different people before unlocking the last one... It's very original and a deeply engaging experience for me but surely, everyone know about that game, right ?
I don't even know anymore what is an obscure RPG or not... The other day someone told me Suikoden was obscure... Come on, Suikoden is a huge classic right ?
Like the one i could talk about is Mother 3 because he never came out of Japan but with Lucas in Smash, it may not be as obscure as we think.... But this is one of the best J RPG i have ever played, without a doubt !
I could talk about Rudora No Hihou which i deeply liked at the time (one of my first J RPG mind you), but with a lot of twist and the idea of those 3 scenario which interact with each other is really cool), but like all J RPG in SNES, it's very likely that anyone knowing the SNES library knows about this game.... But people prefer to talk about other RPGs... (But i'm actually very happy stuff like Terranigma seems to have the success it deserves)
Maybe we can talk about Baroque on Wii/PS2 ? I feel like everyone knew about this game at some point but now, i don't see any mention about it anymore. It's a very interesting D-RPG with a very neat atmosphere. The remake was translated in English but not the original version which was even creepier unfortunatly.
What else... Someone talked about Metal Saga, it's actually the follow up of the Metal Max series, i only played the "Metal Max Returns" version on SNES since it was translated and it's quite original since you don't really have a "aim" other that killing all those wanted people.
I could talk about Legend of Heroes V : Song of the Ocean, because it was really badly written in English with a very uninteresting remake on PSP, the whole Garghav Trilogy don't appear pretty to our eyes. But i feel like it's the best one out of the three even with all those problems, the engine run better, the characters are more interesting and the way it connect the story of LOH3 and LOH4 is really neat. I think a lot of people "know" it exists but i don't think many played it. (Since you will have to play the 3 and 4 before... And i actually think the third one is really boring but i liked the fourth)
There is a lot of other stuff, what about Mystic Ark in SNES which is a blend between J RPG and point & click adventure ? It has a mystical feel to it... It was a chore to translate too !
I could talk about Live A Live with the fact you can chose 7 different scenario made by totally different people before unlocking the last one... It's very original and a deeply engaging experience for me but surely, everyone know about that game, right ?
I don't even know anymore what is an obscure RPG or not... The other day someone told me Suikoden was obscure... Come on, Suikoden is a huge classic right ?
Vic_Viper
Member
The Devil Summoner series is probably the most obscure/not well known part of the SMT franchise. These games are probably my favorite aside from Persona 3 and are pretty different from the rest of the SMT series. The Raidou games are action RPGs and are set in fuedal Japan, you play as a devil summoning detective who is seriously badass. Then it's follow up, Soul Hackers is a cyberpunk Jrpg that originally never came out in the US until it was ported to the 3DS.
SMT Soul Hackers (3DS)
And it's prequel series: SMT Devil Summoner 1 & 2 (PS2)
SMT Soul Hackers (3DS)
And it's prequel series: SMT Devil Summoner 1 & 2 (PS2)
I've wanted to play this for ages, and it's on the Wii U eShop even, but it's never going to drop to under a tenner and since I doubt It will carry over onto the Switch I don't see it as a good deal
I've played Mother 3, and heard of Baroque, but all those others are new to me. And I consider myself an enthusiast.
tebiro boy
Member
I really enjoyed Code Age Commanders on the PS2, personally, but I know I was in the minority. Really great space/sci-fi atmosphere and beautiful design and artwork from Naora.
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Amen to that. One of the best games of all-time and an amazing work of art.
Which originated on WonderSwan
Speaking of WonderSwan, it got an exclusive Arc the Lad episode which is among the best looking game on the system (with One Piece Swan Colosseum).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvUChll4ljc
Clockwork
Member
It was the only 360 game I ever 100% trophied.
I didn't like it when I originally turned it on because of different it played...
But yeah, after putting some more time into it I was really impressed. Incredibly deep battle system, interesting story, and unbelievably unique. It really is a gem that everyone should play if you have any interest in the genre at all.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
For someone who claims to not know what obscure is, you for damn sure posted some obscure shit.
.... Except Suikoden, i suppose.
I mean, knowing Shining Force or Albert Odyssey but not Suikoden would be... really weird, isn't it ?
But if you didn't knew some games i posted i'm happy to have served my purpose on this thread ah ah.
Tacorona72
Member
I was scepticle of how Strange Journey would stack up against other SMT games I had played considering it had no press turns. Absolutely loved it and think it's completely slept on. Game is hard tho.
Would the Etrian Odyssey series count here?
Yeah and Suikoden. Suikoden 2 is one of my favorite games of all times. But all those others I didn't know.
Title says GOOD JRPGs.
combatwaffle
Neo Member
I love this thread.
Guardian's Crusade was a game I had as a child and really adored, although I never beat it. I wonder if it has aged well at all (probably not), maybe I'll try to get another copy.
Azure Dreams is one of my favorite games of all time and wish I could find another roguelike that I enjoyed as much as I did that one. It has basically everything that I could ever want in a game: a tower climbing rorguelike with monster collecting, town building, cooking, dating sim... there was just so much to do.
Magi-Nation was a surprisingly great game. I'd love if there were more games similar to this; real RPG mechanics with a card game battle system.
Tactics Ogre/Knight of Lodis, as well as the Ogre Battle games, are some of my favorite games, especially Ogre Battle 64. This is the series that I most wish would get a new addition. I would die of happiness.
Resonance of Fate was great, although admittedly I didn't understand the intricacies of the battle system UNTIL THE FINAL BOSS purely because it was too difficult to do without fighting correctly.
Jeanne D'Arc, which is an excellent Level-5 game that really makes me miss when they made slightly more obscure but much more interesting RPGs opposed to their huge, all-ages games today.
EGG for Dreamcast is a real hidden gem. The visuals are fantastic and the soundtrack is excellent. I highly recommend giving this game a try to anyone looking for a good puzzle-y action RPG.
For my contribution, I guess I'll have to go with Skies of Arcadia.
Definitely not the most obscure RPG, but certainly an overlooked one, and a fantastic one at that. Turn based RPG with aerial pirate ship combat with a memorable cast and engrossing story.
Guardian's Crusade was a game I had as a child and really adored, although I never beat it. I wonder if it has aged well at all (probably not), maybe I'll try to get another copy.
Azure Dreams is one of my favorite games of all time and wish I could find another roguelike that I enjoyed as much as I did that one. It has basically everything that I could ever want in a game: a tower climbing rorguelike with monster collecting, town building, cooking, dating sim... there was just so much to do.
Magi-Nation was a surprisingly great game. I'd love if there were more games similar to this; real RPG mechanics with a card game battle system.
Tactics Ogre/Knight of Lodis, as well as the Ogre Battle games, are some of my favorite games, especially Ogre Battle 64. This is the series that I most wish would get a new addition. I would die of happiness.
Resonance of Fate was great, although admittedly I didn't understand the intricacies of the battle system UNTIL THE FINAL BOSS purely because it was too difficult to do without fighting correctly.
Jeanne D'Arc, which is an excellent Level-5 game that really makes me miss when they made slightly more obscure but much more interesting RPGs opposed to their huge, all-ages games today.
EGG for Dreamcast is a real hidden gem. The visuals are fantastic and the soundtrack is excellent. I highly recommend giving this game a try to anyone looking for a good puzzle-y action RPG.
For my contribution, I guess I'll have to go with Skies of Arcadia.
Definitely not the most obscure RPG, but certainly an overlooked one, and a fantastic one at that. Turn based RPG with aerial pirate ship combat with a memorable cast and engrossing story.
Haha I was just about to post this!
Brigandine is amazing. Everyone should play it if they can... Again, completely unique and nothing since has emulated it.
We actually tried this 7 years ago. JRPGs which most people probably REALLY never heard of.
Dark Half: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392608
Radia Wars: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=393743
Emerald Dragon: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394886
Oriental Blue: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=963706
It died after that because as it turns out, no one really cares about games they never heard of!
Dark Half: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=392608
Radia Wars: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=393743
Emerald Dragon: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394886
Oriental Blue: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=963706
It died after that because as it turns out, no one really cares about games they never heard of!
Title says GOOD JRPGs.
Assuming DRPG's count for this thread, Etrian Odyssey is fucking great.
That said, like SJ and Radiant Historia, they would make most people's list of top DS RPG's (or 3DS for the newer ones). They are not obscure.
I would put EXP inc RPG's ahead of EO in this thread just because less people are aware of them. Stranger of Sword City for example.
This makes literally every "Best Gamecube/Dreamcast Games" list. It's great, but anyone with knowledge of JRPG's should know of it.
Live A Live is fantastic!
hydrophilic attack
Member
fuck wild arms xf is not on european psn
i'm new to the vita, is it possible to buy games from other regions for it
i'm new to the vita, is it possible to buy games from other regions for it
There's a "Grand" edition version of this that has been English fan translated I believe.
A lot of interesting srpgs in this thread that I've never considered. More to the backlog, I guess....
I believe it sold better in NA. Actually, a lot of jrpgs seem to sell better in the West than in Japan alone.
You can but I think you need a second memory card
Tacorona72
Member
Title says GOOD JRPGs.
I'll take that as a yes.
Yeah I don't see the price dropping digitally at all, for physical its still $25 used at Gamestop despite being 6 years old this May.
Also, shoutout to the Enchanted Arms mention, reminds me of a few other 360 era JRPG's no one seems to discuss anymore.
Tactical RPG, but still....
