PS2 RPG Fans Put these games in order

[Glavinsolo]

I have a queue with gamefly.com and wondering in which order should I play all these RPGs I missed out on.

FF IV
Chrono Trigger
Persona 3
Persona 4
Nocturne
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts 2
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy XII
Tales of the Abyss
Dragon Quest 8
Rogue Galaxy
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Arc the Lad
Suikoden 3
Grandia II
Digital Devil Saga
Digital Devil Saga II
Devil Summoner
Shadow Hearts
Ico
Shining Tears
Shining Force EXA
Radiata Stories
Tales of Legendia
Suikoden V
Ar Tonelco 1
Ar Tonelico 2
Xenosaga 1
Xenosaga 2
Xenosaga 3
Grandia III
Grandia Extreme
Dual Hearts
Wizardry

Add to it please!

Edit: I haven't played a single PS2 RPG ever!

 

[erwos]

Well...

Ico isn't an RPG. And the top two on your list should be Persona 3 and 4, followed closely by Nocturne, FFX, and FFXII.

 

[fatdragondzc]

Originally posted by: erwos
Well...

Ico isn't an RPG. And the top two on your list should be Persona 3 and 4, followed closely by Nocturne, FFX, and FFXII.

Isn't Ico like Zelda? So it can and can't be considered a RPG. It's arguable, personally I think it's an Action-adventure RPG.

 

[mxyzptlk]

take FFX off that list and replace it with "Stab myself in the ear with an ice pick"

Much better than listening to the whiny protagonist or any of the other useless, non-Auron, characters.

Auron's a certified BadAss?. There needs to be some sort of technology, like sonic and knuckles, where you connect the FFX disc to say, FF2 or FF3.. That way you can use Auron in a good final fantasy game.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: fatdragondzc

Originally posted by: erwos
Well...

Ico isn't an RPG. And the top two on your list should be Persona 3 and 4, followed closely by Nocturne, FFX, and FFXII.

Isn't Ico like Zelda? So it can and can't be considered a RPG. It's arguable, personally I think it's an Action-adventure RPG.

Zelda is purely an action adventure game. There's nothing wrong with that, either, but it's not an RPG. Fable 2, well, there's a game you could probably call an action adventure sandbox RPG. The RPG genre involves character growth via experience, and that is something lacking in Zelda games.

 

[Glavinsolo]

FFX is blitzball right?
I think I actually played the first 2hours of this and didn't like it much, I am going to completely ignore FFX-2

 

[fatdragondzc]

Originally posted by: mxyzptlk
take FFX off that list and replace it with "Stab myself in the ear with an ice pick"

Much better than listening to the whiny protagonist or any of the other useless, non-Auron, characters.

Auron's a certified BadAss?. There needs to be some sort of technology, like sonic and knuckles, where you connect the FFX disc to say, FF2 or FF3.. That way you can use Auron in a good final fantasy game.

FF-X isn't as bad as IU. Now THAT protagonist bitches a lot.

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
FFX is blitzball right?
I think I actually played the first 2hours of this and didn't like it much, I am going to completely ignore FFX-2

I thought FFX was good. Voice acting was ok. Not as bad as some other ones. Blitzball is more of a side thing. It doesn't interfere with the story or anything. FFX-2 is a fan service game. It's not solid enough to recommend unless you really liked the FF-X storyline.

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: fatdragondzc

Originally posted by: erwos
Well...

Ico isn't an RPG. And the top two on your list should be Persona 3 and 4, followed closely by Nocturne, FFX, and FFXII.

Isn't Ico like Zelda? So it can and can't be considered a RPG. It's arguable, personally I think it's an Action-adventure RPG.

Zelda is purely an action adventure game. There's nothing wrong with that, either, but it's not an RPG. Fable 2, well, there's a game you could probably call an action adventure sandbox RPG. The RPG genre involves character growth via experience, and that is something lacking in Zelda games.

To each person, a different view =D. Some people think that getting more magic, stronger weapons and more "hearts(hp)" is considered growth. Some people think RPGs are as long as you take a Role of a certain character. But if that was true, then every game is considered a RPG almost XD.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

i felt that ffx had the best story line out of all the modern ff. nothing holds a candle to old school ff6's story line and that's what i'm setting the bar at.

not to thread jack, how can you guys stand to play any of these games on a bc ps3? i played out ffxii on my ps3 and i had to force myself to finish it - the gameplay and story line were a tired mash of the same old, but could have been saved by good visuals. ps2 games just look dated and bad on upscaled systems. how do you guys reconcile that?

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: fatdragondzc
To each person, a different view =D. Some people think that getting more magic, stronger weapons and more "hearts(hp)" is considered growth.

Using this definition, Call of Duty is an RPG - after all, your character accumulates better gear (which is what Zelda magic is) and guns over the course of the campaign. Sorry, but no. RPGs involve characters that have intrinsic characteristics that increase with actions, and are not just a function of their equipment.

We can argue semantics all day, but when someone says "RPG", they're generally meaning my definition of it, not yours. If they wanted games like you're describing, they'd say "adventure".

Some people think RPGs are as long as you take a Role of a certain character. But if that was true, then every game is considered a RPG almost XD.

An RPG isn't just a game you role-play in, at least in terms of genre definition. With that definition, as you've noted, almost every game is an RPG. Genre definitions that are meaningless are worthless.

Originally posted by: makoto00
not to thread jack, how can you guys stand to play any of these games on a bc ps3? i played out ffxii on my ps3 and i had to force myself to finish it - the gameplay and story line were a tired mash of the same old, but could have been saved by good visuals. ps2 games just look dated and bad on upscaled systems. how do you guys reconcile that?

I'm not sure what you're saying. If you're just complaining that PS2 games look like crap compared to PS3 or 360 games, well, duh. Some of us care more about gameplay than graphics. If you're saying PS2 games look especially bad on the PS3 because of the upscaling, that was fixed in a firmware update. IMHO, I'd rather have the PS3 upscaling than almost any TV.

 

[fatdragondzc]

Originally posted by: makoto00
not to thread jack, how can you guys stand to play any of these games on a bc ps3? i played out ffxii on my ps3 and i had to force myself to finish it - the gameplay and story line were a tired mash of the same old, but could have been saved by good visuals. ps2 games just look dated and bad on upscaled systems. how do you guys reconcile that?

I'm not sure what you're saying. If you're just complaining that PS2 games look like crap compared to PS3 or 360 games, well, duh. Some of us care more about gameplay than graphics. If you're saying PS2 games look especially bad on the PS3 because of the upscaling, that was fixed in a firmware update. IMHO, I'd rather have the PS3 upscaling than almost any TV.[/quote]

I agree. Graphics isn't everything. First RPGs that where a hit was MS-DOS using just text =P. Also most games are recycled or the same old. In RPG it's mostly the same. Damsel in distress, Antagonist wants to destroy something, etc etc.

But still wanting to help OP on his list of games you should add Atlier series to your list. =D It's the series that Mana Khemia is part of. If you like Shadow Hearts, theres 2 more to the series: Covenant and From the New World. Also the .hack GU series is good.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm waaaay behind on my PS2 JRPGs, so I can only say that Xenosaga I and II are worth playing.

Unless you're an utter graphics snob, but even then the cutscenes and overall art direction are worth seeing.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: fatdragondzc
To each person, a different view =D. Some people think that getting more magic, stronger weapons and more "hearts(hp)" is considered growth.

Using this definition, Call of Duty is an RPG - after all, your character accumulates better gear (which is what Zelda magic is) and guns over the course of the campaign. Sorry, but no. RPGs involve characters that have intrinsic characteristics that increase with actions, and are not just a function of their equipment.

We can argue semantics all day, but when someone says "RPG", they're generally meaning my definition of it, not yours. If they wanted games like you're describing, they'd say "adventure".

Some people think RPGs are as long as you take a Role of a certain character. But if that was true, then every game is considered a RPG almost XD.

An RPG isn't just a game you role-play in, at least in terms of genre definition. With that definition, as you've noted, almost every game is an RPG. Genre definitions that are meaningless are worthless.

Originally posted by: makoto00
not to thread jack, how can you guys stand to play any of these games on a bc ps3? i played out ffxii on my ps3 and i had to force myself to finish it - the gameplay and story line were a tired mash of the same old, but could have been saved by good visuals. ps2 games just look dated and bad on upscaled systems. how do you guys reconcile that?

I'm not sure what you're saying. If you're just complaining that PS2 games look like crap compared to PS3 or 360 games, well, duh. Some of us care more about gameplay than graphics. If you're saying PS2 games look especially bad on the PS3 because of the upscaling, that was fixed in a firmware update. IMHO, I'd rather have the PS3 upscaling than almost any TV.

i do care immensely about gameplay. i'm a crazy jrpg fan. it's just even when upscaled, ffxii didn't look that pleasing and was stale in terms of gameplay. i felt that it had little going for it, and while it was definitely a polished game, once you've been around the block 10 times, it wasn't surprising.

i've heard immensely good things about persona 3 and 4 and i'm willing to try it as long as they play awesome and the story is great - i have to confess that i didn't like shin megami tensei 3: nocturne though, and that's been holding me back. i'm not a graphics snob - i hold ff6 as my all time favorite game. maybe i'm just burning out.

 

[fatdragondzc]

Originally posted by: makoto00

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: fatdragondzc
To each person, a different view =D. Some people think that getting more magic, stronger weapons and more "hearts(hp)" is considered growth.

Using this definition, Call of Duty is an RPG - after all, your character accumulates better gear (which is what Zelda magic is) and guns over the course of the campaign. Sorry, but no. RPGs involve characters that have intrinsic characteristics that increase with actions, and are not just a function of their equipment.

We can argue semantics all day, but when someone says "RPG", they're generally meaning my definition of it, not yours. If they wanted games like you're describing, they'd say "adventure".

Some people think RPGs are as long as you take a Role of a certain character. But if that was true, then every game is considered a RPG almost XD.

An RPG isn't just a game you role-play in, at least in terms of genre definition. With that definition, as you've noted, almost every game is an RPG. Genre definitions that are meaningless are worthless.

Originally posted by: makoto00
not to thread jack, how can you guys stand to play any of these games on a bc ps3? i played out ffxii on my ps3 and i had to force myself to finish it - the gameplay and story line were a tired mash of the same old, but could have been saved by good visuals. ps2 games just look dated and bad on upscaled systems. how do you guys reconcile that?

I'm not sure what you're saying. If you're just complaining that PS2 games look like crap compared to PS3 or 360 games, well, duh. Some of us care more about gameplay than graphics. If you're saying PS2 games look especially bad on the PS3 because of the upscaling, that was fixed in a firmware update. IMHO, I'd rather have the PS3 upscaling than almost any TV.

i do care immensely about gameplay. i'm a crazy jrpg fan. it's just even when upscaled, ffxii didn't look that pleasing and was stale in terms of gameplay. i felt that it had little going for it, and while it was definitely a polished game, once you've been around the block 10 times, it wasn't surprising.

i've heard immensely good things about persona 3 and 4 and i'm willing to try it as long as they play awesome and the story is great - i have to confess that i didn't like shin megami tensei 3: nocturne though, and that's been holding me back. i'm not a graphics snob - i hold ff6 as my all time favorite game. maybe i'm just burning out.

FFXII was ok. Graphically even for a PS2 game, it was subpar. FFX looked better. I enjoyed it over all, but the difficulty on some bosses were too unforgiving. I would have to grind for days before I can take on another boss.

 

[Glavinsolo]

If I told you all what I was playing through right now you'd laugh your heads off and then ask why. Anyhow after reading top 10 games of all time...I realized I had completely missed chrono trigger/chrono cross...never played them. So I picked up Final Fantasy Chronicles for PS1 and I'm playing through FFIV (which I haven't played in 17 years) and then I'm playing Chrono Trigger. (updated my list)

 

[fatdragondzc]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
If I told you all what I was playing through right now you'd laugh your heads off and then ask why. Anyhow after reading top 10 games of all time...I realized I had completely missed chrono trigger/chrono cross...never played them. So I picked up Final Fantasy Chronicles for PS1 and I'm playing through FFIV (which I haven't played in 17 years) and then I'm playing Chrono Trigger. (updated my list)

It's ok. I'm currently playing FFIV, too. Though it's the DS version, it's still a good game =D

 

[BenSkywalker]

i felt that ffx had the best story line out of all the modern ff. nothing holds a candle to old school ff6's story line and that's what i'm setting the bar at.

Did you play DQ8? Utterly demolishes any of the FF series since 6 IMO.

We can argue semantics all day, but when someone says "RPG", they're generally meaning my definition of it, not yours.

What's your definition? Purists absolutely insist the term is only properly applied to pen and paper table top games where you actively play the roll of the character you are responsible for(some go so far as to insist that if you are playing a troll, you can't speak in more then broken English).

take FFX off that list and replace it with "Stab myself in the ear with an ice pick"

That one isn't even close, you would need to get heavy machinery and reproductive organs involved for it to to be a tough call IMO.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
What's your definition?

Besides the "intrinsic stats and growth", a few more things I would add:
1. Involves combat and some element of random chance (not always in combat). (I think the combat is debatable, but I've never seen any game that could be remotely classified as an RPG without it.)
2. Has an over-arching storyline.

You need all of them. Once you're at the RPG point, you can start subdividing into action, turn-based traditional, strategy, whatever.

(FWIW, pencil and paper RPGs fulfill all of these and strategy RPGs ala Disagea fulfill all of these. It's not an unreasonable definition, and I dare say that it is an accurate one.)

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

Originally posted by: erwos
Well...

Ico isn't an RPG. And the top two on your list should be Persona 3 and 4, followed closely by Nocturne, FFX, and FFXII.

Totally agree with this except I don't know about FFXII. I put it aside a long time ago. I didn't hate it but I don't know if I'd put it up there. Shadow Hearts is better, so is either Digital Devil Saga.

 

[Spydermag68]

I personally would put Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2. Higher on the list.

FFXII - I am currently playing this one. I picked it up a just after it came out and only played 1/3 of the game. The best thing to do is to grind out the lower levels with Vaan up to about 20th. and then continue the story. Everyone else enters at Vaan's level. There is a place in the game you can auto-level. check out gamefaqs.com if you want to know about it.

Personally I thought that FFXII was a liitle washed out in the color pallet, and setting it to 16X9 did help on my LCD/PS3.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Originally posted by: Spydermag68
I personally would put Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2. Higher on the list.

FFXII - I am currently playing this one. I picked it up a just after it came out and only played 1/3 of the game. The best thing to do is to grind out the lower levels with Vaan up to about 20th. and then continue the story. Everyone else enters at Vaan's level. There is a place in the game you can auto-level. check out gamefaqs.com if you want to know about it.

Personally I thought that FFXII was a liitle washed out in the color pallet, and setting it to 16X9 did help on my LCD/PS3.

Done

 

[BigPoppa]

Have you played Xenogears? Its PS1, but if you haven't, do yourself a favor and pick it up. Xenogears/Chrono Trigger swap back and forth as my favorite games ever. I can never choose one over the other.

 

[Imported]

Persona 3
Persona 4

.. I don't know how to rate the rest. I just chose my top two from that list.

 

[Aikouka]

Chrono Trigger is a great game, but Chrono Cross feels like a let down and I never finished it because of that.

 

[RaiderJ]

Dragon Quest was great. An Ico is definitely worth playing even if it isn't an RPG or whatever.

 

[theAnimal]

+1 for Ico and Dragon Quest.