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Good "isometric/tactics" turn-based game recommendations?

Sumio Mondo said:
On that same note, I highly recommend Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection, it's practically one of the most underrated Strategy RPGs out there with really systems and well designed maps. It was practically the developers swan song before they turned into another Compile Heart shitshow dev.
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Do you know how it compares to the first GoC on PSP? I was excited for that, but when I played it, I was just not impressed. I got into it and had no freaking clue what I was doing. If memory serves correctly, the loading was absolutely horrible, and the plot left a bad taste in my mouth. I really liked the concept though, if the second one is executed better I might give it a chance.


Another one I thought of, which is a sort of lite SRPG, is Popolocrois on PSP. Battles are a lot quicker than the typical SRPG, but it's a very charming game, if a little cliche. Not available digitally though, so you'll have to buy it physically on PSP.
 
HK-47 said:
XCOM: UFO Defense, XCOM Terror from the Deep, and XCOM Enemy Unknown with the Long War mod. And Xenonauts.

Devil Survivor

FFTA 2 if you just want a great battle system.
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I dont know if long war to start is a good idea, it can be as fun as slamming your balls in a car door at times.
 
Going to echo Jagged Alliance 2 in hopes that the number of similar responses convinces people to give it a try. I hope it gets the XCOM reboot treatment someday, I'd buy 10 fucking copies.
 
bathsalts said:
Going to echo Jagged Alliance 2 in hopes that the number of similar responses convinces people to give it a try. I hope it gets the XCOM reboot treatment someday, I'd buy 10 fucking copies.
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Jagged Alliance 2 is pretty much the top-shelf TBS. X-COM gets all the love, but it's JA2 that deserves the praise. What a stunner.
 
Qwark said:
Do you know how it compares to the first GoC on PSP? I was excited for that, but when I played it, I was just not impressed. I got into it and had no freaking clue what I was doing. If memory serves correctly, the loading was absolutely horrible, and the plot left a bad taste in my mouth. I really liked the concept though, if the second one is executed better I might give it a chance.


Another one I thought of, which is a sort of lite SRPG, is Popolocrois on PSP. Battles are a lot quicker than the typical SRPG, but it's a very charming game, if a little cliche. Not available digitally though, so you'll have to buy it physically on PSP.
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It's basically nothing like the rest of Generation of Chaos series at all. I too didn't like the other entries in that series, this game is much more its own thing just using the Generation of Chaos IP/name to do it, but just take a look at the game here to see what I mean:

https://youtu.be/EFanjVJLQTs?t=4m32s

Later on in the game you get loads of party members who you can dispatch and the maps act more like puzzles, trying to avoid traps and dangerous units whilst you power up for the final blow and taking over other bases. Time of day as well as what terrain you are on also plays a part in battle as does weapon types on certain enemies. Status effects can also turn the tide of battle (especially paralysing units). Defending your main base is also incredibly important otherwise it's game over, but it's easy to level up your team members and weapons (yup, you have to level up weapons too) on previous maps if you so wish. All of the battles are basically time based button presses like Vagrant Story. And yeah, the game looks slow, but simply by holding down the circle button makes the flow of everything go muuuuch quicker too (like almost 5x quicker). No idea how much it costs now but it really was the last gem released for the system, even after Growlanser IV and Gungnir both came out (it is digital only though).
 
Another vote for Vandal Hearts 1 & 2 for the PSX. VH1 is one of my favorite games on the PSOne. It's a relatively simple strategy game (compared to the likes of Tactics Ogre for example) but it hits all the right notes with the variety of battles and the excellent writing and characters. Never played the last gen release as the art style simply did not gel with me.
 
Sumio Mondo said:
On that same note, I highly recommend Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection (PSP) also from Sting, it's practically one of the most underrated Strategy RPGs out there with really systems and well designed maps. Fans of Ogre Battle/Dragon Force style map traversal and map domination with its own twists on the formula and a really addictive battle system. It was practically the developers swan song before they turned into another Compile Heart shitshow dev. It was a really good game for them to go out on.
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I think Pandora's Reflection is OK. It felt too easy and basic compared to some of Sting's other games. It was too easy and repetitive ganging up on the enemies I think. Being able call in units waiting in the wings if one on the field died was a bit cheap. It was oddly addictive and had brought some pretty cool ideas to the table though. Hardly anyone's played it I wager.

I miss Sting and Dept. Heaven :(

Another replay of Gungnir may be in order.
 
It's a love it or hate it game, but Natural Doctrine on Vita (and PS4, but I'd recommend Vita) is absolutely amazing if you're willing to give it a chance. It got wrecked in reviews for various reasons, but if you put the time in to learn its systems it's worth it -- probably my favorite srpg, ever. Also has a fantastic MP variant if you can find opponents.

The games systems are very unique and unlike pretty much any other game out there, so it does take time to learn. It's not complex like, say, some of the Generation of Chaos games mentioned in this thread -- that is, it's not cryptic, just 'different'. And if you don't understand some of the base mechanics, the AI will shred you into tiny little pieces. It's not that it's hard to learn; it's more that it's fundamentally different mechanics from other srpgs.

Everything comes into play -- comboing, line of site, terrain and elevation, and more. There is one system in place [chaining and linking] that imo is responsible for most of the negative reviews, because if you don't completely understand it the game's AI will absolutely wreck you and it'll feel 'unfair'... but if you do understand it, it's a brilliant mechanic that forces simply fantastic tactical planning that I haven't seen in any other game, ever. And the mp is stellar against good opponents -- the ability to design massively different squads that are all potentially powerful really makes it shine [but again, you need to find opponents, which is hit or miss] - basically, for the multiplayer part of the game you create teams based on max point values with all the units in the game as potential playing pieces - so you can play as a boss + a lowly skeleton or a squad of 5 so-so warriors, or a mage + 2 powerful orcs, or whatever floats your boat, based on max point value of the units in play.
 
Sinatar said:
9829664923_d3636926c4_o.gif


As for recommendations:


Quite possibly the GOAT tactical game
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Yes, it's phenomenal.
 
The King's Bounty series does not seem to get much love, at least in this thread. Maybe that is why I never got around to it...
 
Throwing my hat in for Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. Just about finished with my first run through and it is absolutely incredible.

Also we got this far and I don't think I saw anyone mention Front Mission 3? For shame.
 
I have recently playing Arc the lad 1 & 2, great ps1 games.

They are not terribly long, well the first one isn't. First Arc runs for 10-15 hours depending if you do all the side stuff. Second one runs 40-50 or so hours.

I think the games hold up pretty well, i like the art style and the gameplay is simple enough that you don't need to read manuals and whatnot to survive. The cast is fairly varied and likeable in both games.

It's a shame that there isn't that many great short rpgs out there. I could use a few more 10-15 hour rpgs.
Edit:

Front mission 3 is also very good, and all of these games can be found on the psn store.

arc-the-lad-08-small.jpg

arcthelad.jpg

1151125-psogl2_298.jpg
 
XCOM: Enemy Unknown / Within

and

Divinity Original Sin (enhanced Edition)

also Wasteland 2 ...although I haven't played enough of that one to know if combat stays as good throughout the whole game.
 
Dungeons & Dragons Temple of Elemental Evil.

Get the Circle of Eight bug fixes (and game expansions) though.

Turn-based, tactical goodness.

That's old-school though.

Valkyria Chronicles was my favorite from last gen, so I'm glad to see it mentioned.
 
Arc the Lad 1+2 on the PSN store are great, and so is Front Mission 3.

FM3 I first played on the PSOne, it is amazing in that you get two lengthy campaigns, based on the answer to one innocent question at the start. I didn't even notice until my third playthrough. All of them are dirt cheap on PSN and play great on a Vita, although I found FM3 to look really murky on a large TV when I recently tried it on my PS3. It wasn't much of a looker at launch, and the PSP/Vita help disguise it somewhat. It's still great though, the urban environments and mechs do the job.

On 3DS, try Mercenaries Saga 2 (plays like FFT, and it's only £4). Also Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (often overlooked but it's great) and Devil Survivor: Overclocked.
 
E-flux said:
I have recently playing Arc the lad 1 & 2, great ps1 games.

They are not terribly long, well the first one isn't. First Arc runs for 10-15 hours depending if you do all the side stuff. Second one runs 40-50 or so hours.

I think the games hold up pretty well, i like the art style and the gameplay is simple enough that you don't need to read manuals and whatnot to survive. The cast is fairly varied and likeable in both games.

It's a shame that there isn't that many great short rpgs out there. I could use a few more 10-15 hour rpgs.
Edit:

Front mission 3 is also very good, and all of these games can be found on the psn store.

arc-the-lad-08-small.jpg

arcthelad.jpg

1151125-psogl2_298.jpg
Click to expand...
Having just played them back-to-back for the first time last month (due to the EU PSN sale) I have to agree. The first one moves quickly and sets the scene, but the second is just epic. It reminds me of FFVI and Suikoden in that you have a huge cast of interesting characters not defined by the common stereotypes of rpg classes, and with odd moments of humour to lighten the dark storyline. I was hooked start to finish. Last boss of ATL2 took a while to beat, but I really enjoyed cooking up a sustainable strategy to do so.
 
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