JRPGs with great plot and characters

Originally Posted by Elel
I do hate grind. Only Advance, though? Are the Playstation and the PSP port better in that regard?

I've not played the PS1/PSP version, but from my understanding, it's an entirely different game.

Originally Posted by Elel
GothicGothicness recommended two of those in this thread (second post). Now I'm confused. Maybe those two are exceptions?

I've played Tales of Symphonia (1 & 2), Destiny, Phantasia & now Zestiria, and I've not been impressed by the story or the characters in any of them. Zestiria seem to be the strongest of the lot in this regard, but the other ones have felt a bit cliche (Zestiria has actually been quite good at realizing when it's stepping into cliche territory and it feels like they've made a conscious effort of avoiding to steer things in another direction when that happens) . Apart from Destiny, they've all been games worth playing, but they're not games I would personally recommend just for the story.
Also, if you decide to play those games, do not watch the intro movies, they're filled with spoilers (this is something I've never understood why so many JRPGs do, they show you all the party members in the intro, then they introduce them in such a way that it should not be clear that they'll join you later on. They also show scenes from later in the game that will give away important plot twists. Tales of Symphonia, Zestiria, Valkyria Chronicles, Luna Silver Star Story and a bunch of others do this)

The 'Tales of' games I've played have been enjoyable so far. In fact I just finished playing Tales of Zestiria a few weaks ago and I'm playing Tales of Xillia currently. My complaint with them is that they're button smashers, but at least the ones I've played are easy enough to finish without exploiting the most complicated combat features (like combos and what not) that I just smash the buttons semi-randomly and rub some muscle relaxers on my hand after every session (ok I'm kidding, but yeah).

For example, in Tales of Xillia you do normal attacks by pressing X and the left thumbstick (or without the thumbstick for the 'normal' normal attack) and you recover MPs that way. For special attacks you assign 3 of them to O and the left thumbstick's directions, then if you press L1 at the same time as O and the left thumbstick you get 3 or 4 extra slots for special attacks, but then if you use the right stick you can order someone else to use some special attack, and if you press R2 after a special attack that is linked to someone else then you enter a special mode, that you can chain using the right thumbstick for more combo madness. Then if you press the right thumbstick and a directional key you can switch a character. And each character has another extra feature like pressing square and left thumbstick down to defend for magic and crap. See what I mean? I don't use any of that my memory is too bad, so I just button smash randomly and win battles in easy and normal difficulties (so far). Of course, I would have much rather preferred turn based where I could select at my leisure which attack goes when, but oh that's too "antiquated".

Originally Posted by Elel
I do hate grind. Only Advance, though? Are the Playstation and the PSP port better in that regard?

The Tactics Advance games have a totally different, childlike tone from the original game. The level of the writing doesn't begin to compare with FF Tactics, and the games were a pretty big disappointment to me when they were first released -- I'd assumed a sequel to Tactics would be a step forward in complexity and originality, and instead it was two steps back. Taken simply for what they are, though, the games aren't terrible if you enjoy the children's anime style (and I would say the same about the Tales series).

The PSP release of FFT is something else. It's just the original game with a new translation and a couple of minor new features. It's probably a good way to play the game for the first time, since the original Western release was notable for being a story good enough to impress even through the filter of a barely-competent translation.

None of the games in this series should require grinding -- combat will quickly become boring if you do grind.

I personally despised Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. It's a totally different game.

Originally Posted by Aubrielle
I personally despised Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

Honestly I felt the same way when I saw how totally they'd abandoned what made the first game great -- but I had to let go of my rage lest it destroy me!

And FFT stands well enough without a sequel.

I'm playing Xenosaga next, it was mentioned in the thread and I think it just makes sense to play after Xenogears. But after that I'm really interested in FFT and Suikoden. Politics, conspiracies, I love that! So as far as I understood, it's best to get a PSP version of FFT. Then that's what I'll do.

Originally Posted by JDR13
That's some majorly over-the-top voice acting.

It's a pretty over-the-top situation and Albido is a *complete* nut case. What actually irks me is the pseudo-intellectualism they shove in, which you get a heavy dose of earlier in that vid. Luckily, it's not too hard to ignore.

Originally Posted by Elel
I'm playing Xenosaga next, it was mentioned in the thread and I think it just makes sense to play after Xenogears. But after that I'm really interested in FFT and Suikoden. Politics, conspiracies, I love that! So as far as I understood, it's best to get a PSP version of FFT. Then that's what I'll do.

Yeah. War of the Lions (the updated, better translated version of FFT) is a really good version, whether you get it for PSP, Vita, or an emulator.

Originally Posted by Elel
I'm playing Xenosaga next, it was mentioned in the thread and I think it just makes sense to play after Xenogears. But after that I'm really interested in FFT and Suikoden. Politics, conspiracies, I love that! So as far as I understood, it's best to get a PSP version of FFT. Then that's what I'll do.

Please keep us updated on Xenosaga. I've been interested in the series, as I enjoyed the story in Xenogears so much (but after having played Xenoblade, I lost a bit of faith in the Xeno-series), but actually tracking down the games seems a bit expensive.

FF Tactics is really awesome, with political intrigue in its story and its great characters. You do need a bit of strategy. Do learn Chemist ability Throw Item (I think that's the name it's been ages since I played that game) as quickly as possible! It sucks if you're dying and you don't have potions and your ally's like on the other side of the map. Another ability to learn very quickly is JP Up. Makes learning abilities less of a chore. Other than those random monsters/classes that appear on your random encounter maps (I did encounter the 13 Dragons or something and I was completely wiped out) it's pretty okay. I enjoyed its secret dungeon. Played the original Tactics and the War of the Lions (additional secret characters like Lusso Clemens and Balthier).

What I disliked about FF Tactics Advance and Tactis Advance 2 was the inclusion of those stupid laws. It meant you just can't beat the other enemies up as much as you like because you can get penalized and go to jail for it if you used inappropriate weapons/attacks for that battle. But I must appreciate the fact that it lent more strategy into the game.

FF 6, 7, 9, 12 - very great stories, characters, and gameplay. 9 and 12 are very memorable because of Ozma and Yiazmat.

Suikoden - another great game with great plot and great characters. My love is given over to Suikoden 2.

Xenogears - I totally dig mechs and yes, the story and the characters are great as well. I wish it gets a reboot and this time include everything in Perfect Works.

Chrono Trigger 1 and 2 - totally amazing. I don't get tired of the plot and its characters. Sir Glenn with double Einlanzers is a total badass!

Originally Posted by Fnord
I've not played the PS1/PSP version, but from my understanding, it's an entirely different game.



I've played Tales of Symphonia (1 & 2), Destiny, Phantasia & now Zestiria, and I've not been impressed by the story or the characters in any of them. Zestiria seem to be the strongest of the lot in this regard, but the other ones have felt a bit cliche (Zestiria has actually been quite good at realizing when it's stepping into cliche territory and it feels like they've made a conscious effort of avoiding to steer things in another direction when that happens) . Apart from Destiny, they've all been games worth playing, but they're not games I would personally recommend just for the story.
Also, if you decide to play those games, do not watch the intro movies, they're filled with spoilers (this is something I've never understood why so many JRPGs do, they show you all the party members in the intro, then they introduce them in such a way that it should not be clear that they'll join you later on. They also show scenes from later in the game that will give away important plot twists. Tales of Symphonia, Zestiria, Valkyria Chronicles, Luna Silver Star Story and a bunch of others do this)

Well, I only recommended two of them, I think they are exceptions.

I think tales of phantasia had a strong story, but it is also a very very old game now, I think other JRPG's copied the concept so it is not so novel if you play it today I guess, and people also have a bit of different taste of course. Tales of Eternia, well, it looks like this one was not on the list of the games you played, but I think it has a story you'll either love or hate… I loved it.

I didn't mention the tales of destinies because they don't have strong stories in my opinion, and the other tales… well, I didn't play those so I don't know.

Originally Posted by Fnord
Please keep us updated on Xenosaga. I've been interested in the series, as I enjoyed the story in Xenogears so much (but after having played Xenoblade, I lost a bit of faith in the Xeno-series), but actually tracking down the games seems a bit expensive.

I can do that. However, I think it's bad that many games don't have demos like back in time, and I think it's acceptable to get the game as a demo somewhere else. Nope, I'm not advocating piracy, although it's up to a person how she or he uses it, as a demo for evaluation or all the way. Alternatively, you can always find and watch a let's play, this would be completely legal. I'm not saying it so that you wouldn't ask me if Xenosaga is good, I'm just offering advice. Personal subjective evaluation can be full of flaws, we're different people, after all, and in case of expensive games it's best to have a more hands on experience, even if it's just from watching a LP.

Xenosaga? Expensive? I just looked on Amazon and there are several used copies available for under $15 (plus shipping).

Originally Posted by joxer
Sorry, no such game on steam/uplay/origin nor on iphone/bluestacks.

However bluestacks will definelty put it's sequel on iphone/bluestacks:
http://www.androidauthority.com/squa…ndroid-687170/

Note: the first comment under that article was not written by me.
Note2: Bluestacks is emulator of google's OS on PC. I'm not writing android because there is a creature android inside Valkyrie Profile game and because Bluestacks works on PC.

I discovered it yesterday, I was searching if it was possible to try FFT on Mac. I gave up try it wondering how it could be legal. But I suppose the situation is very different from console emulation (which now works amazingly well on Mac, I have been surprised, so much different than 4/6 years ago).

The good thing of PC ports even if they could not add much, is often you got the ability to cut the music without to cut all sounds. When trying FFT, I just couldn't bear anymore listen the same pale track again and again (I play slowly lol), it reminded me I stopped play some FF because of that and music in battles, it's like get the cholera (battles spawn) and for the bonus get the plague (the forced music).

EDIT: For OP topic, I would be tempted suggest Dragon Quest 3, I found the first chapter stunning, and managing so well a young kid heroes with some second degree reading, and how often talk with current companions was bringing some cool comments depending of context or location or both. But I failed finish the second chapter, sort of teen age, combats was in part the cause, again a male teen kiddish hero was the other main cause (raa the JPRG and their cliché it's so tedious). So yeah I can't suggest it after all, but its first chapter, definitely.