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 by hereticaneue, Level 37
Last updated at July 2, 2009, 12:25 pm
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The Community's Recommendations:
Final Fantasy VII
The game is legendary, folks, and I'm pretty sure that I don't need to explain why. Want to know the kicker? I've never played the game. Well, that's not entirely truthful: I played the game for about an hour before turning it off in frustration. After learning about RPGs with Final Fantasy IX, I quickly devoured Final Fantasy X and then Final Fantasy VIII. It was then that I realized I was enthralled with the series and why hadn't I played FF7 yet?
I bought the game (luckily I found a used copy at the local EB Games) and quickly set about getting to know it. The first thing that turned me off what its sort-of post-apocalyptic atmosphere. More tech-modern-whatever, and less "fantasy". Certainly that is appealing to plenty of people, but it's not really my thing. I kept playing, though, because sometimes these games start off slowly and pick up later on. But as I ventured further, I began to get more and more frustrated.
Folks, I couldn't even get off the train. The fixed camera angles were beyond frustrating, and the controls seemed a bit clunky. I got so tired of it that I shut the system off and never looked back. You might say that I didn't give the game a fair shot. You might think I have been spoiled by the better graphics of the more recent consoles. I'm sure that the game IS worth playing, but as it stands, the game has sat on my shelf collecting dust for the past seven years.
(image by UdonNodu at deviantART)
Kingdom Hearts
This game might have a more varied audience than FF7, but I think it is worth mentioning here. It seems almost every RPG fan has played, and enjoyed, the Kingdom Hearts series. Is it appealing because it involves Final Fantasy characters? Is it appealing because of its more lighthearted nature? I'm not sure. I only know that the games have never really struck me as something I wanted to play.
Disney characters have their charm, surely, but that doesn't mean I've ever been interested in playing as, or encountering, them in a video game (even if they are interacting with Final Fantasy characters). Action-RPGs haven't really been my thing, either. So maybe it's just that these games aren't for me, but I still feel like a slightly less-than-whole RPG fan for not having even attempted to play them.
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41 comments
Agamemnon Jul 2, 2009 at 2:14 pm
+1 votes
You had the same problem I had when I went to play old WRPGs. You're probably just so used to new camera angles, new graphics, and more features found within a game that it becomes unbearable to play (talking about FF7 here). My eyes were bleeding after an hour of Baldur's Gate. However, I do remember that train part was tough if you didn't know what was really going on. You just need to run your way to the other end of the train before the cart is locked down. I know a really big feature that helps is to press select, which brings up the diamonds to show you where the ladders and exits are. Try that instead if you ever feel like giving it another try. Other than that the game is actually quite easy apart from some really unfair bosses (**** you, Materia Keeper!).
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hereticaneue Jul 2, 2009 at 2:22 pm
+1 votes
I don't know, I never felt comfortable lumping myself into that mold, though. Considering all of the older RPGs I've played (FF1-6, Chrono Trigger, DW7, Baldur's Gate, Arcanum, etc.), I never thought of myself as someone spoiled by the fancy new graphics of the next-gen consoles. I'm sure that eventually I will go back to the game and give it another try -- otherwise, I probably would have sold/traded it a long time ago. Hrm...
Snail Jul 2, 2009 at 3:55 pm
+1 votes
I'd add Star Ocean and Rogue Galaxy. Great list though. Kingdom Hearts has more appeal than anyone ever saw coming, I think because it is both light and dark. We forgive the Disneyfication simply because the battle system is super fun and the music and graphics are Square quality.
hereticaneue Jul 2, 2009 at 4:02 pm
+1 votes
Rogue Galaxy - I like that recommendation. That game was stellar (no pun intended)!
I never could get into the Star Ocean games, either. I sure tried, though. =/ Care to elaborate on why?
I never could get into the Star Ocean games, either. I sure tried, though. =/ Care to elaborate on why?
mvLynn Jul 2, 2009 at 4:08 pm
+1 votes
Yeah Kingdom Hearts is a neat game that deserves its praise. I might never put it on a "greatest of all time" list, but this is a list of games everyone should play, and it definitely takes that spot. It's a change of pace that everyone can enjoy and should play.
Personally, Xenogears and Vagrant Story are two I'd put on this list. They're two of my all time favorites, and I think a lot of newer generation of RPG fans will miss them.
Personally, Xenogears and Vagrant Story are two I'd put on this list. They're two of my all time favorites, and I think a lot of newer generation of RPG fans will miss them.
hereticaneue Jul 2, 2009 at 4:30 pm
+1 votes
! Ever since I heard about Xenogears I've wanted to play it, but have yet to get my hands on a copy! I never could get excited about Vagrant Story, though. What do you like about it so much?
mvLynn Jul 2, 2009 at 4:35 pm
+1 votes
Well for one I thought the story was amazing, and that's usually the most important thing to me, but I also loved the battle system. It was way more involved than most, and it really required you to actually try. Encounters were just really fun, every battle was fun, as opposed to how I feel in a lot of RPGs when you get bogged down by constant encounters and they become boring/a hassle/annoying.
hereticaneue Jul 2, 2009 at 4:37 pm
+1 votes
Hmm. Now I'm trying to remember why I was turned off by the game. I'll have to read about it again. 
mvLynn Jul 2, 2009 at 6:35 pm
+1 votes
It's not the longest RPG ever, you could just play through it :P
hereticaneue Jul 2, 2009 at 10:46 pm
+1 votes
Yeah yeah. I just might. If I can even locate a copy of it lol.
Project_Xii Jul 2, 2009 at 9:26 pm
+1 votes
I've got all those games, and have only bothered played Final Fantasy VII and Valkyrie Profile 1 and 2, so it's good to hear the others recommended. I'm so glad I found all Shadow Hearts; they're super rare, and look like they'll be great... when i get around to playing them one day.
The Star Oceans and Phantasy Star games on PSP also look like they're worth a go. Apparently Star Ocean on 360 isn't that great though.... but that's ok. Get Tales of Phantasia instead!! Or any of the Tales series for that matter.
The Star Oceans and Phantasy Star games on PSP also look like they're worth a go. Apparently Star Ocean on 360 isn't that great though.... but that's ok. Get Tales of Phantasia instead!! Or any of the Tales series for that matter.
hereticaneue Jul 3, 2009 at 2:35 pm
+1 votes
Yeah, from what I've heard/seen, the Tales games are pretty awesome. I think I am just too fickle to get all the way through one of them for some reason. 
hereticaneue Jul 3, 2009 at 2:33 pm
+1 votes
What's so awesome about them? There's a guy at RPGamer.com always singing praises of those games but I don't know anything about them.
Crowne Jul 3, 2009 at 4:24 pm
+1 votes
hereticaneue said
What's so awesome about them? There's a guy at RPGamer.com always singing praises of those games but I don't know anything about them.
Mother 3, while having a slight graphics update is still dated looking apperance, but it is also a masterpiece. People formed lines for this game in Japan and there were big celebrations when it released. Its a great game that is a rollercoaser ride that plays with your emotions. There are multiple times I even cried in the story(I dont think I've ever cried over a video game, hell I didn't eve cry when Mufasa or Bambi's mom died), and the ending is tear jerking. The same humor is in it and the music is awesome too. The battle system evenacknowledges it, as combos can be performed by pressing "A" to the beat.
If you can get over the outdated graphics or enjoy retro games, then I recommend EB and M3 to anyone.
Madyo Jul 3, 2009 at 5:38 am
+1 votes
I was never too sure about the judgement ring system. Once i played for a while I found I got the timing for the power attack everytime. Then it just seemed a bit pointless.
I would definitely add Gunparade March and Persona 3 to the list as they are quite different to the other types of rpgs you mentioned.
I would definitely add Gunparade March and Persona 3 to the list as they are quite different to the other types of rpgs you mentioned.
hereticaneue Jul 3, 2009 at 2:33 pm
+1 votes
Yeah once you get the hang of the judgement ring it's pretty easy, but that's why they mix it up with add-ons to make it more challenging! It gets even better in the 2 sequels.
The Persona games are really awesome. I had Persona 2 and loved it! But unfortunately I got tired of having to converse and recruit demons. I guess that's why I'm not much for TRPGs either. Too many characters to recruit and manage. =/
Never heard of Gunparade March, though! Gonna look it up.
The Persona games are really awesome. I had Persona 2 and loved it! But unfortunately I got tired of having to converse and recruit demons. I guess that's why I'm not much for TRPGs either. Too many characters to recruit and manage. =/
Never heard of Gunparade March, though! Gonna look it up.
Gamblex Jul 5, 2009 at 3:38 pm
+1 votes
When I first saw Kingdom Hearts I decided it was going to be stupid because it had Disney running around, then I told myself that being that close minded is pretty stupid over a game. So I gave it a shot and liked it.
FFXI...well I won't even comment on that because your decision to not play one of the best RPGs of the genre because you couldn't leave a train (and if I remember correctly that's the first time you get to control someone in game) and because it doesn't look "fantasy" enough hardly constitutes grounds for meaningful discussion on the topic.
My biggest gripe with you not playing the games is that you didn't even give them a chance. You seem so close-minded about things based entirely off what you see. But at the same time you'll try random games without knowing much about them.
FFXI...well I won't even comment on that because your decision to not play one of the best RPGs of the genre because you couldn't leave a train (and if I remember correctly that's the first time you get to control someone in game) and because it doesn't look "fantasy" enough hardly constitutes grounds for meaningful discussion on the topic.
My biggest gripe with you not playing the games is that you didn't even give them a chance. You seem so close-minded about things based entirely off what you see. But at the same time you'll try random games without knowing much about them.
hereticaneue Jul 6, 2009 at 9:45 am
+1 votes
Hahaha, touche, my friend. I'm afraid that you're probably all too correct on those grounds.
On the subject of Kingdom Hearts, it's not that I'm really being shallow or closed-minded about it. It's just that, generally, I don't feel like the game is really my type. The same reason that I avoid most other action-RPGs. I've tried to play so many of them, only to discover that I just don't enjoy them and only get about 30% through before I give up on them. After a while I just stopped trying. =/
As for FF7. Sure, I didn't give it a fair shot. I gave up out of frustration because I couldn't even get past the very beginning. Perhaps I was being overly irritable that day (it's been known to happen), but nevertheless, the game hasn't entered my PS2 since then. Like I said, I'm sure I will give it a go again someday, else I wouldn't have bothered keeping it in my library. I will say, though, that probably part of my reason for keeping it dormant on the shelf for so long is due to my innate tendency to deviate from the norm in a somewhat stubborn fashion. :P
It's funny you mention that last statement. Surely, I picked up Shadow Hearts on a whim, but that was, as I said, a rare gem among impulse purchases. The thing is that because of SH, I thought that impulse purchases were a great idea, and made them way more than was good for me. And you want to know how many of them actually turned out to be good ideas? One. Shadow Hearts. So... since that time, I have learned to read about games before I rush off to the store. I make informed decisions about them, before I shell out money for them, because it usually turns out badly otherwise. After saying that, I feel justified in my decision to steer away from KH. It's just not my thing, and that's okay.
I'm afraid that you're probably all too correct on those grounds.On the subject of Kingdom Hearts, it's not that I'm really being shallow or closed-minded about it. It's just that, generally, I don't feel like the game is really my type. The same reason that I avoid most other action-RPGs. I've tried to play so many of them, only to discover that I just don't enjoy them and only get about 30% through before I give up on them. After a while I just stopped trying. =/
As for FF7. Sure, I didn't give it a fair shot. I gave up out of frustration because I couldn't even get past the very beginning. Perhaps I was being overly irritable that day (it's been known to happen), but nevertheless, the game hasn't entered my PS2 since then. Like I said, I'm sure I will give it a go again someday, else I wouldn't have bothered keeping it in my library. I will say, though, that probably part of my reason for keeping it dormant on the shelf for so long is due to my innate tendency to deviate from the norm in a somewhat stubborn fashion. :P
It's funny you mention that last statement. Surely, I picked up Shadow Hearts on a whim, but that was, as I said, a rare gem among impulse purchases. The thing is that because of SH, I thought that impulse purchases were a great idea, and made them way more than was good for me. And you want to know how many of them actually turned out to be good ideas? One. Shadow Hearts. So... since that time, I have learned to read about games before I rush off to the store. I make informed decisions about them, before I shell out money for them, because it usually turns out badly otherwise. After saying that, I feel justified in my decision to steer away from KH. It's just not my thing, and that's okay.
hereticaneue Jul 6, 2009 at 9:50 am
+1 votes
P.S. I added a list on page 3 of all the games suggested by everyone in the comments.
vallencer21 Jul 6, 2009 at 12:15 pm
+1 votes
this is a very good list i just think kingdom hearts shouldn't be on here. I was never a fan of the lego building ship that you had to make it kinda turned me off to the game. EVerything else in the game though is done extremely well. I havn't seen anyone mention this game yet but what about Legend of dragoon. That was an awesome game.
Uthgar Jul 6, 2009 at 4:43 pm
+1 votes
Secret of Mana... it is an action RPG, but it is easily one of Square's masterpieces... up there with Chrono trigger and Final Fantasy 6. Xenogears was already mentioned.... defintely one of their better games.
I think shadow hearts had its charms, especially the second one and most defintely NOT the theird one, but it was difintely too tedious in some regards.... the wheels seemed like an obstacle to enjoyment to me. So I have the timing down... then you start thinking....this is like doing 5 pushups everytime I want to use magic.... makes no sense.
I think shadow hearts had its charms, especially the second one and most defintely NOT the theird one, but it was difintely too tedious in some regards.... the wheels seemed like an obstacle to enjoyment to me. So I have the timing down... then you start thinking....this is like doing 5 pushups everytime I want to use magic.... makes no sense.
I have opinions that tend to deviate from the norm, so to keep in accordance with my lifelong quest to stir things up (wow, that sounds SO epic, doesn't it?), here I sit. [This blog was originally on LimitBreak.]
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