JRPGs Recommendations (preferably no Random Encounters)

[MosesRockefeller]

There is no voice acting (except the battle, that is) in the PSP versions.

This is the true essence of old-school JRPGs, you read, read, read and read That's actually the reason why lazy modern gamers either do not like Kiseki games or simply do not even try them. :/

And it's also reason why EVOLUTION versions exist. Full voice acting is the main reason why they were developed and main selling point. (Because frankly, they are Vita games, they do not get on sale so 95% of buyers are Kiseki fans and they obviously have the games completed at least once =D)

 

 

What you are supposed to listen is the BGM

Thanks for the confirmation, at least I know what to expect now. I could point out that "Western" RPGs were using partial voice acting back in the mid to late 90's, but you'd probably just say WRPGs need voices because they're inferior.    And although I never gave JRPGs a chance back then, I actually prefer them now. 

 

Also, I read faster than dialog is spoken in most games (and I'm not a particularly fast reader), so voice acting just slows down the story in that sense. 

 

So far it does seem to be a gem from the PSP era. Thankfully I'm not such a trophy whore that I can't enjoy PSP games (and PS3 games without trophy support). After all, it's all that Sony is giving us on PS+ for the Vita these days. 

Edited September 27, 2016 by MosesRockefeller

[Viscera1900]

Persona 3 FES (PS2, works on PS3, if you buy it from PS Store. There's also Portable version)

Caution! There are lots of breads to burn in this game

[Satoshi Ookami]

 I could point out that "Western" RPGs were using partial voice acting back in the mid to late 90's, but you'd probably just say WRPGs need voices because they're inferior.    

You know me well

Joking aside. Voice acting actually limits the amount of lines you can put since you would be required to voice them =)

Since WRPGs were pretty obsessed with voiced lines, they never reached the state where NPCs were really alive like in Kiseki games

 

So far it does seem to be a gem from the PSP era. 

It definitely is

It if wasn't we wouldn't have Sen/Cold Steel now =)

 

Caution! There are lots of breads to burn in this game

I WILL...

BUUUUUUUURN

MYYYYYYYY

BREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!

Edited September 27, 2016 by Satoshi Ookami

[Jens]

[...]

Edited September 27, 2019 by Jens

[Satoshi Ookami]

I guess I will just hijack this thread for my question instead of opening a new thread, because it kinda fits in here

 

On every sale I am thinking about buying either "Rogue Galaxy", "Dark Chronicle" or "Dark Cloud". The last two because of oooold interest in them but never owning a PS2   But I always had the problem, that my backlog was just way too big and I didn't want to make it even bigger with long RPGs. Any recommendations, if someone in here knows some / all of them? I don't care about graphics and I kinda like random encounters (shocking, isn't it? ). I guess I just dislike it if it takes a long loading time in and out of battles, that's probably the only thing that drives me crazy.

Since Dark Chronicle and Dark Cloud are pretty much part of one franchise, you may be more interested in Rogue Galaxy since it's standalone due to your backlog issues =D

[MosesRockefeller]

Joking aside. Voice acting actually limits the amount of lines you can put since you would be required to voice them =)

Or they could go the HDN ReBirth 3 route, and have a mixture of both. That game has a ton of text, and only some of it is voiced in the localized version (from what I've heard, the Japanese version isn't fully voiced either). 

[Satoshi Ookami]

Or they could go the HDN ReBirth 3 route, and have a mixture of both. That game has a ton of text, and only some of it is voiced in the localized version (from what I've heard, the Japanese version isn't fully voiced either). 

Sure, that's how most JRPGs do it =D

 

Though... if you think RB3 has a ton of text...

Sora no Kiseki SC will welcome you with open arms :DDDD

[MosesRockefeller]

So a quick update, I now have Neptune at level 21 in HDN1 and most of my annoyance with the random encounters has been addressed by her awesome Nep Break combo skill. Now I can defeat trash mobs in the first attack, and boss battles go a lot quicker too. Nothing like being overpowered, right?

I have gotten a little farther in Trails in the Sky but I haven't given it enough time to really get obsessed yet (mostly because I'm trying to finish other games first). I'm liking it so far though.

[Cave Johnson]

A lot of this has been recommended already, but here are mine:

Chrono Trigger - Anyone who likes RPGs should at least try this game.

Chrono Cross - An obvious choice if you end up playing (and liking) Chrono Trigger.

Final Fantasy IV (GBA version) - It has random encounters, but they aren't too bad in the GBA version. I haven't played many Final Fantasy games, but this one is easily my favorite.

Tales of Symphonia (and pretty much every Tales game after it) - The only exception is Tales of Legendia, which has terrible random encounters and a ridiculously high encounter rate. I can hardly think of anything positive to say about it.

Atelier series - I haven't played the PS2 ones, but I'm pretty sure they have random encounters. Rorona plus (PS3 or Vita) is a great place to start. It was the first one I played and is the game that got me into the series.

Ys VI, Ys Oath in Felghana, and Ys Origin - If you don't mind playing on PC, these are all great action RPGs. Ys VI is pretty good, but they perfected the gameplay with Oath in Felghana and Origin. The stories aren't the best, but the main focus is the gameplay and the amazing soundtrack.

I have gotten a little farther in Trails in the Sky but I haven't given it enough time to really get obsessed yet (mostly because I'm trying to finish other games first). I'm liking it so far though.

Have you finished Chapter 1 yet? It's probably my least favorite one. Not because it's bad, but the other ones are better. When it comes to Trails games, they pretty much only get better the farther you are in the game.

[Satoshi Ookami]

So a quick update, I now have Neptune at level 21 in HDN1 and most of my annoyance with the random encounters has been addressed by her awesome Nep Break combo skill. Now I can defeat trash mobs in the first attack, and boss battles go a lot quicker too. Nothing like being overpowered, right?

That's why the skill has game breaking description

 

I have gotten a little farther in Trails in the Sky but I haven't given it enough time to really get obsessed yet (mostly because I'm trying to finish other games first). I'm liking it so far though.

Gee, you are not supposed to break playing Kiseki

[MosesRockefeller]

Have you finished Chapter 1 yet? It's probably my least favorite one. Not because it's bad, but the other ones are better. When it comes to Trails games, they pretty much only get better the farther you are in the game.

I think I am on Chapter 1 now. Daddy left on the airship and I just did a quest to get rid of the animals attacking a farm. Now I am at the mine to pick up some big gem or something for the mayor. 

 

I have been attacking most of the enemies I see (except the plants that have a "machine gun" attack, those generally aren't worth the health loss at my low level IMO) to build up my XP, but I still don't have a great understanding of the combat system. I definitely need to spend more time with it, but most of my time goes to grinding out the lily ranks in Hyperdevotion Noire. 

[Cave Johnson]

I think I am on Chapter 1 now. Daddy left on the airship and I just did a quest to get rid of the animals attacking a farm. Now I am at the mine to pick up some big gem or something for the mayor. 

 

I have been attacking most of the enemies I see (except the plants that have a "machine gun" attack, those generally aren't worth the health loss at my low level IMO) to build up my XP, but I still don't have a great understanding of the combat system. I definitely need to spend more time with it, but most of my time goes to grinding out the lily ranks in Hyperdevotion Noire. 

 

The part your on is still the prologue I think; I can't remember when it ends and when Chapter 1 starts. There are four chapters, but they're all fairly long. My first run took about 45 hours or so.

[MosesRockefeller]

The part your on is still the prologue I think; I can't remember when it ends and when Chapter 1 starts. There are four chapters, but they're all fairly long. My first run took about 45 hours or so.

I saw something pop up about the Prologue ending if I'm not mistaken. If the Prologue starts right at the beginning then I'm done with it. If it's one of those games that has an intro and THEN a Prologue, then I'm probably still on the Prologue.

I know I saw that notification pop up after a couple of combat events (for example, saving those two boys in the tower). Some of the functionality is still locked out (e.g. I can't modify my skills now after the initial tutorial of doing it in that shop), so maybe I really am still on the Prologue.

Also, I got a little farther yesterday. I finished the mine quest (some of those battles were difficult at level 6, good thing there was a "rest" point in the mine) and started the last "substitute for your dad" quest where you escort the rude reporter and the klutzy camerawoman back to the tower where the boys got trapped before.

 

That's why the skill has game breaking description

I don't remember Neptune Break being so overpowered in the other games (e.g. Rebirths, which are the only "core" games I've played in the series besides HDN1, and playing about an hour of HDN2 years ago, before coming back and properly starting the series with the Rebirths), but it is a really strong move in HDN1. I have Nisa, Gust, and 5pb in my party too, so hopefully I can unlock some other powerful skills by the time Neptune leaves the party (I've seen that on the trophy guide). Edited November 3, 2016 by MosesRockefeller

[Satoshi Ookami]

I don't remember Neptune Break being so overpowered in the other games (e.g. Rebirths, which are the only "core" games I've played in the series besides HDN1, and playing about an hour of HDN2 years ago, before coming back and properly starting the series with the Rebirths), but it is a really strong move in HDN1. I have Nisa, Gust, and 5pb in my party too, so hopefully I can unlock some other powerful skills by the time Neptune leaves the party (I've seen that on the trophy guide).

Why else would it have that kind of description in the first place?

 

Sure, they nerfed it a bit in later games but it's still OP =D

[Carlver]

I would recommend you radiant historia on the nds. I'm playing it now and it's incredible, very recommended.

[KiraxKira]

I recommend World of Final Fantasy, even though it has random encounters. The combat is really smooth and there's so many combinations of characters/abilities, it's hard to get bored. Plus, it's got cross play for Vita and PS4. Win win.

[stunt296]

I made an account to tell you about some of my favorite JRPGs that I'm sure you will love. None of these have random encounters.

 

1. Tales Series: This is one of my favorite JRPG series of all time. I have beaten all the English released as well as some of the Japan exclusives. I would HIGHLY recommend Symphonia, Abyss and Vesperia. Not only are they my three favorites, but most of the community's as well. They have a good battle system, story and characters.

 

2. Chrono Trigger: I've seen this one mentioned many times and I'm not surprised, as it's known as one of the best JRPGs of all time. Definitely play this when you have a chance. The DS version is the best one.

 

3. Romancing Saga Series: This series is not very popular, mainly because most of them don't have English releases. It's a shame because it's a very unique and fun JRPG series made by Square. My favorite one is Romancing Saga 3. It's very unique because it's one of the only JRPGs where you have the freedom to do what you want in almost any order. That being said, there isn't much story, but the battle system and characters are AMAZING. It was never released outside of Japan BUT it has an English translation patch available for the SNES. If you are into emulation, I HIGHLY recommend checking this one out. Also, don't play Romancing Saga 1 if you think you should play them in order for whatever reason. It's one of the worst JRPGs ever made BUT there is a remake for it called Romancing Saga Minstrel Song for PS2 that actually DID get an English release. It's pretty good, but I would recommend you play RS3 first.

 

4. Paper Mario series: Another great series. However, I only recommend the first two. The second one is by far the best one and one of my favorite JRPGs of all time, but I recommend playing the first one before it. These are basically fun, humorous adventures that star none other than Mario, the Nintendo mascot, in an amazing JRPG experience. The battle system is one the best ever made, as it has timing based actions that make turn based battles even more fun. The story is simple but great and the dialogue is hilarious. I highly recommend.

 

5. Other JRPGs that I'm not as attached to, but are still worth checking out: Eternal Sonata, Radiant Historia, Star Ocean series, Persona series and Atelier series.

 

 

In conclusion, I would HIGHLY recommend playing some of the games that I talked about in-depth. If you don't own a system that has these games, I would consider trying out emulation as they can all be emulated. PS2 emulation requires a decent PC though. Enjoy!