Expert: gameusurper - 7/13/2008

Question
I really want to know if there are any great RPG's I can play. Do you know any
amazing ones? I dont like the strategy ones though as much though. I like
games like Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Legend of Zelda Twilght Princess, Oblivion
I have a Wii, but if you could reccomend games on the wi, ps2, ps3, xbox360, or
nintendo ds, or the pc, I would appreciate it. Thanks

Answer
I can help you quite a lot. I know many great RPGs for the systems you mentioned as well as PS1 even. (since they work on PS2) So I will list the games by system and then alphabetically and then give you a short description of what kind of game it is. Oh and I'm not going to mention the ones you already listed since I know you like them ;)

Nintendo Wii: First I would like to start of with stating that I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the awesome RPGs available on the virtual console. If you have not tried any of these, you need to. Oh, and if they ever bring Faxanadu or Crystalis to the virtual console, get those too.

Virtual Console:

* Kid Icarus - Yes I know this game is not technically a RPG, but it is an adventure game like Zelda 2 and I think they play similar. Anyway, this game is a huge cult classic and has never seen a proper sequel or remake in over 20 years. If you have not played this, you simply must. Awesome music, awesome graphics (for a NES game and awesome challenge) Just don't cry when the eggplant wizard gets you the umpteenth time!

* The Legend of Zelda - Hopefully if you like Zelda, you know the game that started in all. This is a breakthru in game design and massively intricate for an 8-bit game. The series anthem that lives on to this day started in this game. Simply a no brainer for any self-respecting adventure gamer along with its sequel Zelda 2.

* StarTropics - This is one hell of a hard game. Tough puzzles and platforming all around. It plays kind of like a Zelda game with a jump button but takes place in modern times with a boy with a yo-yo...yes a yo-yo. Give it a try.

* The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - This is the epitome of what a top down adventure game should be. Classic Zelda made better with the addition of better controls, better graphics and music and two whole worlds. What more could you want?

* ActRaiser - This oft neglected gem is a must play. I know you have never heard of it, but that is not an excuse. Sign up and buy it now! You play a de-throned benevolent god that is attempting to free his people from the encroaching malevolence of the demon Tanzra. It is a mix of side scrolling action sequences and sim like building to remake your world with the help of a charming little angel helper. Oh and the hands down most epic soundtrack on a Super NES game ever. You owe it to yourself to check out this game.

* Breath of Fire 2: The first few Breath of Fire games have been plagued with severely bad translations and overly big font sizes. Despite that, they are worthy RPGs that have a distinct honor of allowing you to play as a part-human, part-dragon hero. All of them are good in their own way. You may have a little trouble following the story and getting all the details due to some bad translation work, but it is still worth checking this one out.

* The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - The first 3D Zelda is often heralded as the best in the series. Though the fledgling 3D engine is not very detailed and at times plagued with blurry textures, it is still a landmark in game design. This game is packed with more secrets than you can shake a deku stick at.

* Beyond Oasis - The former Genesis game is a top down action adventure like Zelda mixed with an Arabian like setting.

* Landstalker - This is an isometric view puzzle adventure game similar to Solstice for NES and Equinox for the SuperNES (which need to be released on here as well) You progress through various locales and rooms and must destroy or avoid various monsters and obstacles.

* Phantasy Star 2 & 3 - All the Phantasy Star games are great. But they can be heavy on the dungeon crawling and level grinding though so beware. Made before the time when pacing in a game was a standard design element, these games can be brutal if you don't take the time to level up. But some of the OMG moments in games have been attributed to this series and are well deserved.

* EarthBound - This is a pending virtual console release. If you have not had the chance to play this game, I pity you. One of the funniest and charming games of the 16-bit era, it is a crying shame that only one of the games in the series (known as Mother in Japan) has ever made it over here. We need to start a petition to Nintendo to have them release all of them in a nice shiny package complete with animated barf and bottle rockets. Play this game and you see what I am talking about.

Okay now on to normal Wii games...Wow, not many here...

* Dragon Quest Swords - This lone Wii installment in the revered Dragon Quest series is not a numbered entry but a side story that uses the wiimote as a sword that you slash. This is not a typical RPG. It is a more or less rail-shooter type game with RPG elements. And it is short...10 to 15 hours tops. It does have the artwork of manga artist and DBZ creator Akira Toriyama though, and it looks good.

* Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers - This is a pending Wii game. This will be multiplayer compatible and probably very action oriented with slight puzzle elements just like its predecessor on the GameCube. Up to four players can join in.

* Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World - Yet another entry in the venerable Tales series, this one is a sequel to the Tales of Symphonia released on GameCube. I have not played it but generally like this series so would recommend it anyway. It has the distinction of being the first RPG series to allow control of your characters during battle sequences and active use of their abilities.

Alright, now with that out of the way, I will move on to Sony system titles, starting with the PS1 (since you can play them on PS2)

* Alundra - Okay, all you Zelda fans that wished the Playstation would get a similar type game need look no further than this incredible masterpiece. This is Zelda, Working Designs style. This game has everything. A great story, a great soundtrack, great graphics, some HARD puzzles, humorous writing and so much more. It follows the tale of a young man who discovers he has the power to enter people's dreams and must help save a village plagued by horrible and dangerous nightmares. This game will make you cry with its poignant and heartfelt narrative.

* Alundra - A not-so-sequel to the original Alundra that unfortunately has absolutely nothing to do with the former's greatness. It has the same play style with scads of puzzles and lots of exploring, but none of the story. Instead it follows a pirate hunter who is out to find out who is turning a kingdom's people into mindless puppets. A decent game but definitely NOT a sequel to the first. This was sad for me, I really wanted to find out what happened to Alundra after the first game.

* Beyond the Beyond - This is an okay game, unless you have other options...which unfortunately for this game, there are many. A nice anime inspired heroic fantasy tale with decent graphics and a pretty good soundtrack. Unfortunately it employs a rather maddening random mechanic in battle and the constant random battles feel more like a beating by a gauntlet of muggers in a dark alley than anything I would consider fun. But I have beaten it and it is a decent play, if you can tolerate it.

* Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain - Okay, so I wouldn't call this series anything remotely resembling RPG, but it has a vast world to rival a Zelda game and if you love vampires, you really should check it out.

* Breath of Fire 3 & 4 - These are two great entries in the BoF series that thankfully alleviate some of the prior games' translation issues. They have a colorful cast of characters and the ever present ability to morph into powerful dragon forms through the use of gene splicing. Definitely worth your time and money.

* Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Yes, I know this is not an RPG in the traditional sense. But you do gain levels and you find more equippable crap in this game than at the local ren-fair. And it's the advent of the current Castlevania/Metroid hybrid play style. A huge castle to explore and so much stuff to find it's amazing how you carry it all...really it is. This is a classic gothic romp.

* Chrono Cross - The pseudo sequel to the SuperNES classic Chrono Trigger, this is a dimension hopping extravaganza. If you're not confused by the time you beat this game, I envy you. It has 40+ recruitable party members and a unique magic, ability, and leveling system. And if you absolutely want to, you can pick up Chrono Trigger as well in the Final Fantasy Chronicles double pack, though I wouldn't recommend it. Unbearable load times make the SuperNES version far superior, or you can just wait till it comes out on the DS.

* Dragon Warrior 7 - The 7th installment in the Dragon Quest series. It is as classic today as the old DQ titles on NES and SuperNES. Not much about this series has evolved over the years. This is a HUGE game and spans two PS1 discs. The gameplay is broken up into digestable little chunks with new regions being revealed slowly as the game progresses. It plods in places but is enjoyable if you like your RPGs without much flair.

* Granstream Saga - This is a very unique adventure experience as it combines a lot of top down, fairly linear exploring with separate, action based, one-on-one encounters when you are in combat. It really has to be played to be appreciated. The only weird thing is the characters lack of faces on their 3D models. But this is made up for with nice 2D drawn portraits when they speak. An intriguing setting and neat plot.

* King's Field & King's Field 2 - This is what Oblivion would have looked like 10 years ago. One of the first forays into FPS style sword and sorcery, these games both have a connected storyline that is interesting and dark, but mostly backdrop. The massive island in the first and kingdom in the second that are fully explorable are the main draws of these games. Not to mention the decent, but slow, FPS style combat.

* Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver - A connected story to the original Blood Omen, this follows the exploits of a soul sucking demon as he travels between the real and spirit worlds to search out and destroy his maker.

* Legend of Dragoon - Wow, just wow. Legend of Dragoon is an epic game. It has a timed button press mechanic in combat that allows the creation of bigger and badder combination moves.

And I'm getting tired of writing comments, so I will just list the games from here on out. My hands are getting tired and there is no way I can do half of these games justice with a few lines of text. Please search the titles in wikipedia or a game site like gamefaqs or gametrailers for more information.

Legend of Legaia
Legend of Mana
Lunar Silver Star & Eternal Blue
Parasite Eve 1 & 2
Persona 1 & 2
SaGa Frontier 1 & 2
Star Ocean: Second Story
Suikoden 1 & 2
Tales of Destiny 1 & 2
Tales of Eternia
Threads of Fate
Tomba! (This is a side scrolling adventure game, but I enjoyed it so much I am including it here)
Valkyrie Profile
Wild Arms 1 & 2
Xenogears (a must play)

PlayStation 2:

.hack series
.hack/G.U. series
Blood Omen 2
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Dark Cloud
Dragon Quest 8
Drakan
Eternal Ring
Final Fantasy 10, 10-2, 11 and 12
ICO (a must play)
King's Field: The Ancient City
Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
Magna Carta: Tears of Blood (beware bad voice acting)
Odin Sphere (a must play)
Okami (a must play)
Persona 3, and 4 (pending)
Radiata Stories
Rogue Galaxy
Rygar: The Legendary Adventure
Shadow Hearts series
Shadow of the Colossus (a must play)
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 1 & 2 and Nocturne
Soul Reaver 2
Suikoden 3, 4 and 5
Wild Arms 3, 4 and 5
Xenosaga Episode 1, 2 and 3

And though these are not RPGs, I highly recommend God of War 1 & 2, Tomb Raider Legend and Anniversary as well as Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

PlayStation 3: I don't own a PS3 yet so I am going off what I am looking forward to.

Eternal Sonata (pending)
Final Fantasy 13 and Versus 13 (pending)
Last Remnant (pending)
Mirror's Edge (pending) (not an RPG but looks awesome)

Xbox 360: Nor do I own an Xbox 360, but there is not a lot to choose from here either.

Blue Dragon
Eternal Sonata
Final Fantasy 11, and 13 (pending)
Infinite Undiscovery (pending)
Last Remnant
Lost Odyssey
Mass Effect

Nintendo DS:

Chrono Trigger (an enhanced port of the SuperNES game)
Dragon Quest 4, 5 and 6 (remakes of the last NES and two SuperNES games)
Etrian Odyssey 1 & 2
Final Fantasy 3, 4, 12:Revenant Wings, Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate, and Tactics A2
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

And I don't use my computer for games so I can't help you there. Sorry.

And though I know you did mention that you don't care for strategy RPGs very much, for the sake of semi-completeness for this list I thought I would mention some here:

Fire Emblem series
Arc the Lad series
Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Advance
Disgaea 1 & 2
LaPucelle Tactics
Phantom Brave

Well, hope that helps you discover some great adventure and RPG games for those various systems. Write me again if you need anything else in the future. Good journey.