Can someone suggest some good RPGs made by companies other then Square Enix?

[Oruc]

Nope!

 

[Mr Moron]

Tough though isnt it, they are classed together and I dont see how you are going to change that.

And what do you mean by "console" RPGs? I played KOTOR, KOTOR 2 and Jade Empire on the Xbox and I enjoyed them.

Just because people tend to classify them together, doesn't make those people right as far as i'm concerned. I always talk about the games as seperate classes of games and if people want to disagree with me... I suppose they can.

But "Console" RPGs I mean J-RPGs. Largely a term I got used to since the console market was dominated by japanese companies (Sega, Sony, Nintendo). X-Box is really the first successful american console since the fall of Atari. So for a very long time almost all the console RPGs produced were "J-RPGS". To be honest the "J" in JRPGs isn't a fair, since Korea produces quite a few of those kinds of games (even if they never see stateside).

Simarily "PC" RPGs, are simply my old name for American Style RPGs. Which in the years of the Japanese console domination.. generally stayed on the PC. That's were I got the terms from.


(Note: Above post is probably very akwardly worded, I'm kind of distracted at this writing. Please forgive, I hope something can be made out of it)

 

[croxis]

Would East-RPG be better?

I agree that ERPG and W(est)RPG are two very different things and should be seperate categories.

That said I hihgly suggest NeverWinterNights. The dimond edition is $20USD in stores and may even go down more when NWN2 comes out in october. The ammount of player content out there for the game is amazing. Also there are many many multiplayer servers out there with just action (hacking and slashing) to true role playing servers. I just downloaded a Firefly pack and I'm going to test it out

 

[MajorGeneral2]

Come tonight!
Come to the Ogre-sight!
Come to Ogre Battle Fi~ight!

C'mon, guys - Ogre Battle (SNES/PS1) and its sequel (N64) are two of the all-time great games. I consider OB64 second only to Super Mario 64 as my favorite game. Admittedly, they're a bit of an aside here, being as much strategy as RPG's, but there's more than enough RPG elements to warrant inclusion in this list. Our OP's emphasis on plot makes Ogre Battle 64 look even stronger as a recommendation.

I forgot to mention that Skies of Arcadia is my favourite RPG game of all time.

Especially for those who love random battles. I will second that recommendation. It's not the greatest, and lacks the depth of some other games in the genre, but it's fun and charming enough to warrant a look. BTW, I've heard that the GameCube remake is superior to the original Dreamcast version, though I've only played the GCN one.

22 posts and no one's mentioned the Disgaea franchise.

Honestly, I was hoping nobody would. The "tactics" battle system, unfortunately introduced in Ogre Battle's first sequel, Tactics Ogre, is boring as hell. Several people seem to enjoy it, but I've always felt that it ruined the TO games. -_-

Also, Final Fantasy Tactics.. which deserves special note apart from the Final Fantasy Franchise. (yes i'm aware this one is cheating a little)

Arguably, yes. None of the FF entries have much in common besides similar conventions, though I'd consider that enough. FFT, however, has absolutely nothing in common besides the words "Final Fantasy" in front of the title, which I can suppose were placed there for the sole purpose of selling a bunch of copies.

On a final note, let's stay on topic and leave the RPG/JRPG/whatever debate to another thread.

 

[Sephiroth]

Grandia 1,2, and 3 were pretty good......
Phantom Brave and La procelle Tactics were OK, I guess......
Stick to Square-Enix and play Final Fantasy, which is the best, has been for years.......
not just my opinion, by the way.......

 

[Xanikk999]

Im playing disgaea 2 which is now one of my favorites. Its a strategy/rpg like final fantasy tactics only more complex.

This will keep me entertained for months.

 

[Underseer]

Linear doesnt mean bad. And they are all that linear it depends which game.

[...]

Yes it does, at least for old school fans of RPG games on PC. This market traditionally wants as much open-endedness as possible, and as little linearity as possible.

For those of us who started out on actual pen & paper RPGs, the idea of playing an RPG where your every move is scripted from beginning to end with you the player not being able to make any truly game-changing decisions is repugnant.

Black Isle (i.e. the makers of Fallout) used to be the kings of open ended game design, now Bethesda has the crown, and shock of all shocks, they managed to reproduce such a design on an actual console system.

 

[MajorGeneral2]

Yes it does, at least for old school fans of RPG games on PC.

(emphasis mine)
The bold part implies some subjectivity, doesn't it?

Certainly flexibility is preferable to a rail, but a linear plot progression does not equal poor game design. The Final Fantasy games, for instance, usually do offer enough space to roam and enough challenge in getting from point A to point B that it's still fun to play.

 

[Underseer]

(emphasis mine)
The bold part implies some subjectivity, doesn't it?

Certainly flexibility is preferable to a rail, but a linear plot progression does not equal poor game design. The Final Fantasy games, for instance, usually do offer enough space to roam and enough challenge in getting from point A to point B that it's still fun to play.

Computer RPG fans traditionally demand as much non-linearity as possible. It's a simple fact.

Yes, the JRPGs are capable of more in-depth stories, but if that's really what you're after there are other media that are far superior to games in telling linear stories (e.g. novels).

There's something inherently useless about linearity in an inherently non-linear medium. It's like a post-graduate degree on a creationist or something.

RPGs are about being transported to another place, and nothing makes you feel like you're there like being able to make your own decisions about what you do and when you do them. RPGs with linear storylines have some advantages, but ultimately they don't belong in the genre. If you so desire linearity, go play an FPS, go play an RTS, or better still go read a book.

 

[puglover]

Seconded, I forgot about this one. KOTOR2 is good aswell, but I would wait until the restoration mod has corrected the mess Lucas Arts forced the ending to become.

Thirded. KOTOR is the best RPG ever.

 

[Ecclesiastes]

Pretty much everything listed here, but hi reccomendations on final fantasy tactics and especially super mario rpg, I would also like to specifically point out breath of fire three, definately the best by far. That game is pure awesomeness.

 

[MajorGeneral2]

<snip>

As stated earlier in this thread, the problem here is mainly that Computer RPGs and JRPGs have two totally different goals, and it's not fair to compare two disparate genres.

While I agree that games are an inherently non-linear medium, this does not necessarily mean those with linear plots are failures. There can still be enough variety and non-linear gameplay to keep it fun. Think chess - we know how it will turn out every time, but what's interesting is the strategy used to get there.

Perhaps I'm merely misreading your intentions, but you also seem to imply that games are a poor choice for narrative, which I would disagree with wholeheartedly. That discussion is off-topic, though it may make for an interesting thread.

On a final note:

It's like a post-graduate degree on a creationist or something.

no trollbait plz
'kthxbai!!!!

but hi reccomendations on final fantasy tactics and especially super mario rpg

Ah, how did I forget to mention Super Mario RPG? High recommendation, indeed. ^_^

 

[Underseer]

As stated earlier in this thread, the problem here is mainly that Computer RPGs and JRPGs have two totally different goals, and it's not fair to compare two disparate genres.

While I agree that games are an inherently non-linear medium, this does not necessarily mean those with linear plots are failures. There can still be enough variety and non-linear gameplay to keep it fun. Think chess - we know how it will turn out every time, but what's interesting is the strategy used to get there.

Perhaps I'm merely misreading your intentions, but you also seem to imply that games are a poor choice for narrative, which I would disagree with wholeheartedly. That discussion is off-topic, though it may make for an interesting thread.

Telling a linear story in an inherently non-linear medium doesn't automatically make you a failure, but it does automatically identify your work as not taking full advantage of the medium your story is being told in.

On a final note:

no trollbait plz
'kthxbai!!!!

That's only trollbait if you're some kind of religious extremist who thinks the Earth is flat, the Sun orbits the Earth, and that the moon is a light source. You don't sound like a platygaeanist nor a geocentrist, but if you are and you were offended by my comment, tough noogies. If you try moving forward into the 18th century, you'll find the world isn't as scary a place as you think.

 

[Ecclesiastes]

Overseer your not a very happy [person are you? Regardless, I wo0uld also like to mention Dragon Quest VIII, its made by square, but not originally and has a really old school feel to it.

 

[Underseer]

Overseer your not a very happy [person are you? Regardless, I wo0uld also like to mention Dragon Quest VIII, its made by square, but not originally and has a really old school feel to it.

Perfectly happy, thanks, although you seem to be very defensive. I wonder why that would be?

 

[MajorGeneral2]

Regardless, I wo0uld also like to mention Dragon Quest VIII, its made by square, but not originally and has a really old school feel to it.

Well, the topic is titled "Square Enix," so I'd think Dragon Quest would be excluded as well as Final Fantasy.

 

[Moff Jerjerrod]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Suikoden series.

Anyway I'm more into the Japanese stuff however I recently played Elder Scrolls Oblivion for Xbox 360 and I was impressed. Not bad for a western style rpg. Give her a go too!

 

[Knight-Dragon]

How coincidental. I have just started on Suikoden V two nights ago.

I think all this categorization of games and arguing which is the better is pretty unnecessary. Just play the games you like - regardless of its origins.

 

[magritte]

Personal Faves: Fallout (& Fallout 2), Planescape Torment. If you want to see how you can have non-linearity, and still have a strong storyline, the Fallout Games and Arcanum are good choices. Torment is a bit more linear, but probably the best written game ever. Baldur's Gate 2 is also good, much better than the original.

If freedom of action is less important to you than storyline, Morrowind and Oblivion might not be the best choices, and the Might & Magic series probably wouldn't be your thing either.

If hybrid RPG/Shooters with science fiction themes and more linear story lines are of interest, try Deus Ex or Deus Ex 2. Also System Shock 2.

 

[chaosprophet]

You should try Xenosaga.. is a saga of three games..It's a science fiction rpg.. MHO it has the best story of any rpg.. and it improves a lot by each game.. so the third game is a game everyone should play

Another games you should play is the .hack series.. composed of 4 games.. each one starts where the other ends ( ypu even keep the level and itens).. the difference about this serie is that is a MMORPG Simulator.. so in the game you're a person playing a online game.. It has a very misterious story ( but to better understand everything you shoul watch the three animes/ovas: .hack//SIGN, .hack//Liminiality and .hack//Legend of the Twilight).

Well these are the kinds of games that just a small group of people played but that a lot would like if ever had his hands on it..Most people that I know who love these games accidentally stumbled upon them.. So they are a must go to every rpg player mainly the ones that the most important feature of a game is a good story
just correcting some gramtical erros.. My english is not very goo