simple and/or complex RPG's you've played?

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Maybe someone mentioned this, i couldn't be arsed to read the huge lists, and you said you played ES Oblivion and New Vegas so I assume you liked them, then I would reccommend ES Morrowind.

It's kind of old and the graphics are pretty bad (think first Half Life) but it's a very solid RPG. It feels like an actual world that you have to learn and adapt to. You're not given map markers that tell you exactly where your destination is, the NPCs describe where to turn to get to a certain place and you have read the signs and talk to people to figure out where you have to go. I find this extremely immersive, after a few hours I know a certain town by heart like it's my local neighborhood, which I never bothered to do in Skyrim, New Vegas and just followed the markers. Secondly the battle system is quiet insane, it's a die roll and if you have no skill with that weapon it won't hit at all. Some don't like this but I think it makes the game world more unpredictable and dangerous, where you can't just barge in and slash everything to pieces, you have to plan your loadout. And you can always get a good laugh when at level 23 you're being destroyed by a very dexterous mudcrab. Almost every skill could be improved, you can learn to jump higher, swim faster, and levitate. Also there's no fast travel, you have to take huge fleas as transport. In general I think this game is an example of almost perfect RPG, not like Skyrim where everything is dumbed down to suit casual players and almost feels like an interactive movie, with little control of the character.

@posts above - the lists are pointless, pick your fav and why it stands out

Well, the topic is called "Which complex / simple RPGs have you played ?"
Not, "What is your one sole favourite RPG of all time... and why have you selected this one single game out of every RPG which you have ever played ?"
I guess that if you've only played like, 3 RPGs ever or something (and two of those you didn't like) then that might be easier to do though....

If you want a topic where people mention just one single RPG which they like, and explain why they have chosen it, then you could always make one you know....

How does a list of 100 rpg with no description but the title going to contribute to the discussion? I'm not saying pick one, pick as many as you want but with some explanation of why it's complex or simple or whatever attracted you to it. To get a list of great RPGs you can go to gamespot.com and sort by rating, which I'm guessing is where the person got that list in the first place.

Buttons click, whether on a controller, a keyboard, or a mouse.

Click.

Die.

Respawn.

Repeat.

Who are you even talking about ?
Did you read the topic properly ?

If anybody is interested in any of the games which I mentioned (or anybody else, I dersay) then they can ask about them.
If they're not interested in any of the RPGs which I mentioned, then that's fair enough.

Well, since Celaerdoorexs doesn't seem to have even read what's been said so far properly, you will all please excuse me if I refrain from writing a 10,000 word essay covering all of the RPGs which I have enjoyed enough to finish.

However since my last post, I have finished two further RPGs which I can say a little bit about.

I've finished Sonic Chronicles : The Dark Brotherhood.
It's a turn based RPG as far as combat is concerned, and was comparatively simple I suppose, as RPGs go.
But no more so than Pokemon, really.
Entirely controlled with the stylus, I thought this was an enjoyable game with a lot of new things happening the whole way through.
I hope that a sequel is made eventually.


I've also finished Arc the Lad 3.
It's astonishingly long (about 50 hours long) , especially compared to the original Arc The Lad (which was a pitiful 10 hours long approx.)
Compared to the original, the story and progression elements are considerably more developed as well.
It's an S-RPG which I found to be a highly enjoyable game, with great variety in the missions and environments which you travel through.
Complexity is all relative. It wasn't overly complex though, I suppose.
In many ways, it's very similar to the sequel (for the PS2), 'Arc : Twilight of the Spirits'.


I'm presently playing a cheesy old RPG for the Gameboy, which is called Sword of Hope 2.
It's so retro that it's just about drawing its pension, though.

I've now finished Sword of Hope 2, which is a turn-based RPG.
It's a comparatively simple game... although there's no map, which necessitated a good deal of mapping out levels on squared paper.
It's incredibly out-dated in modern terms, and IMHO a bit crap because of that.... but it wasn't too bad considering the antiquated genre of RPG, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to initially.



I've also just finished playing Super Columbine Massacre RPG... which has surely got to be one of the most bizarre and tasteless games in the entire history of ever.
It's based on the Columbine massacre, with the situation presented entirely in cutesy japanese-style top-down RPG format.
It has the two Columbine killers as the main characters.
The first half of the game involved plotting and carrying out the massacre.
The second half of the game was even more peculiar, since you travel to hell and battle the enemies from Doom (along with doing some other stuff down there).
In game terms, this game was really pretty dire. It was knocked out in RPG Maker, and the amateurishness of it *really* shows. The level design is horrible, the Doom enemies are tediously repetitive, and it has the most sh***y and barely legible font which I have ever seen in an RPG literally ever.
There's also a deal-breaking game design flaw which seems to catch out most people (as documented in the Nano-Rant section of this longer review of the game, by Iain Peters - http://beatallgames.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/pc-super-columbine-massacre-rpg.html)
Because of this massive design fail I haven't technically finished the game.... but the design fail occurs nearly right at the end, and makes it impossible to progress any further without beginning from the start (which is incredibly duff). I watched a short video to see how the game ended, so I'm considering it "finished" anyway.

This quote of his is a good synopsised review of the game, I reckon -

It's incredibly tasteless, and many no doubt feel that it makes light of a horrible tragedy.
It's a peculiar kind of game with various somewhat questionable elements, and I'm not sure what kind of message the creator was attempting to convey to the gaming audience.
However it's a very short RPG, and for moral interest value I don't regret playing it.
However, it was a bit crap from a game design perspective.

woofywoof, might I make a recommendation? XD By the way, can you PM me a list with RPG's you'd recommend personally for the SNES, PS1, PS2, 360, Genesis, Sega CD, Jaguar, Sega 32X, GameCube, Wii, and PC?

Just to start out, Working Designs is GOD LIKE! And the top PC RPG I'd recommend is Sacrifice. Period. Simply because it's so often overlooked.

These are games that are most Definitely memorable and I love 'em all.

My list on the SNES: Sorry if I repeat any! Chrono Trigger OR Secret of Evermore are my favorite 2 on this console

Any Squaresoft game on this console, period!

Illusion of Gaia (Puzzles. Out. The. Wazoo.)
Mystic Quest (Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. Beginner RPG)
Breath of Fire 1/2
Secret of Mana
Lagoon!
I dunno if it'd count as a RPG or not...but...
Kirby Super Star!
Final Fantasy 2/3
Zelda
Mario RPG

My list for the Genesis: Phantasy Star 4 wins in my book

Phantasy Star 4 (Need to get this again.)
Landstalker

Sega CD: Sorry but Popful Mail wins here <3

Anything Working Designs including...
Popful Mail
Vay
Lunar: Silver Star
Lunar: Eternal Blue

NES: Haven't had this console in AWHILE, but either Shadowgate or Startropics 2 would win, probably Shadowgate now that I'm older.

Final Fantasy 1/2
Zelda (Obviously.)
Startropics 2
Shadowgate

Uhm...PS1: I don't know! All three of these I love, Lunar: SSSC would be #1 if I had to pick, due to memories.

Final Fantasy Tactics
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete

PS2: Dark Cloud 2 wins here, hands down. Disgaea 2 is an EXTREMELY close second, though.

Dark Cloud 1/2
Anything Working Designs (Growlanser Generations)
Disgaea 1/2!!!11!! !!11!!11!! !!11111!! !!11111!

GC: Twilight Princess wins over Wind Waker
Zelda (Rather prefer playing Twilight Princess on the GC opposed to the Wii. And of course Wind Waker.)

Wii:

Harvest Moon: Animal Parade
Nope, no Zelda here, I found Skyward Sword quite the bore.

PC: Toss up between The Witcher, Sacrifice, and Dragon Age: Origins

Sacrifice (Oldie but a goodie. Trust me.)
The Witcher (Period.)
Dragon Age: Origins
Mass Effect Series (Prefer it on the 360)
Divinity 2 (For the first half of the game, once I got beyond the first part of the game, it got boring, fast.)
Technically I'd call Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 a FPS/RPG Mixture, simply because you're literally playing as the Captain (I believe) of the unit in WW2

360: Catherine, puzzles ftw!
Catherine
Lost Odyssey

N64: Winner is Majora's Mask, hands down.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Get the original version.)
Technically platformers but both Banjo Kazooie games
Zelda: Majoras Mask
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Dunno if this belongs here.)

And that's all that stands out.

The earlier YS titles were surprisingly complex in terms of dungeon exploration.
If you didn't have a map with the game you had to make your own. And the combat was equally punishing.

As my list shows, I haven't played any RPGs for the Mega CD, 32X, Jaguar, or Wii.
And barely any for the Megadrive, Gamecube or PC.

I thought Story of Thor was good for the Megadrive, it's an action RPG.
I also liked the Shining Force series a lot.

If Eternal Darkness counts as an RPG (it's for the Gamecube) then I highly recommend it as it's an excellent game. It's for the PC.

For the PS1 and PS2, I reckon that the Arc the Lad series is great. The first one isn't so hot (although it's still good), but the others are considerably better.
And I agree that the Disgaea series is good... if a bit samey across the different games.

For the SNES, there are a whole lot of RPGs. I like Tenchi Muyo as it's a lot of fun - although it's both easy and very short, which is unfortunate.
I really liked playing Mario RPG, as well. And Secret of Mana was good, it kept me occupied for ages as a youngster.

For the Xbox 360, the Dragon Age games are excellent. The first one was especially awesome, and it has good DLC as well.
I would also recommend Tales of Vesperia. And Catherine, I agree it was a good game (although maybe a puzzle game, rather than an RPG)
I was absorbed by both The Walking Dead and Wolf Among Us, and think they're both outstanding games.

Last edited by Ladywoofwoof on 03 Nov 2013, 6:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I've just finished Crimson Shroud for the 3DS.
It was short, but very enjoyable while it lasted.
It wasn't overly complex I thought, and is similar to playing a dice-based tabletop role playing game.
Everybody even goes about on square bases... which is a unique and slightly bizarre design choice.
I liked the 3D effect, which I found to be quite stable and comparatively easy on the eyes.


I also noticed when I was getting Torchlight 2 in the Steam sale, that it claims to be an RPG.
I always thought of Torchlight as being a Hack n Slash game.... but it's a good one.

The same goes for Dungeon Seige 3 .... it always seemed to me like it's a Hack n Slash.
A good one though, and well worth playing.


It's confusing nowadays to figure out what genre a game is.... are those RPGs, or Hack n Slash games ?
Is Catherine an RPG, or a puzzle game ?

Who knows, right ?
I guess they're all covering different genres.

I'd consider Catherine an adventure game with puzzles

Typically, hack'n'slash is considered a sub-genre of RPG.

I got The alchemist of dusk from gamefly recently, I like it so far. haven't got far at all, but I'm thinking I might buy it. If I have enough money to do so, gotta but new clothes 'cuase I ain't got much left that fits and isn't completely ruined in one way or another. anyway, I'm really into the RPG thing right now.

Classic Hack n Slash games which aren't RPGs include -
Various Wonder Boy games
Golden Axe
Gauntlet

Of course, many beat em ups are nearly identical to hack n slash games... but with only partial use of weaponry (which doesn't make a huge difference to gameplay).
For example, Streets of Rage.



Some overlap more, for example Dust



I don't think that's how many people would define RPGs nowadays.



See, I wouldn't say that things like GoW, Ninja Gaiden, Onimusha or DMC were RPGs any more than other randomly selected 3rd person weapon-based beat-em-up action games.... like Strider, Zool, Assassin's Creed or Ratchet & Clank - for just a few examples.

This kind of relates to what I was saying before.... the terminology defining RPGs is both vague and thus subjective, or even controversial.

Hehe, Zool! I remember that game. And yes those are hack and slash titles. DMC, GoW etc. are not RPG's by any stretch of the imagination.