Hacking Best RPG cfw (imo): m33-6 w/ popsloader

[unseen4ce]

PSP is portable too, obviously, I think it works with these kinds of games.

I think this is coming down to taste. When the new 3D art-style came-out in the PS2 era, there were no world maps as they were. FF12 did a great job of exploration, with deserts, the sand sea and many different labyrinths and biomes. In DQ8 you were also able to explore an epic world map from the start. But FFX failed miserably.

You keep saying 'so many amazing RPG's' while only naming a handful of obscure games, mostly action RPG's which are a dumbed down version of real RPG's. Radiata Stories vs FF9? ...no chance, FF9 hands-down. Innocent Sin vs P4, are you joking, P4 is terrible, it is like they cut-out all the 'slow and boring' bits for people with a short attention span. Tales of the Abyss or even Tales of Vesperia (abyss never released here) versus Phantasia. No way. Phantasia is so much better, battles are fun in TOV, but nothing else is. Lunar versus Rogue Galaxy, are you kidding me? I really don't think you can name a PS2 game that could defeat something like FF9/7 Lunar series.

FFX or even FF12 versus FF7. No one thinks the former were better games.

The 3D models and perspective of Star Ocean on PS2 bothered me. I have difficulty connecting with the game when it was presented in this way. P4 bothered me alot, it seems so shallow.

I think we have to agree to disagee as I really don't like action rpgs. I am enjoying the Geneforge saga and other old-school PC RPG's too; but will never even think about buying Diablo 3, any mass effects, even tales of Vesperia seems rather nanny-guided and Dumb-Downed, Skyrim sucked for me (dumbed down from Morrowind).

I 'suffered' greatly when they made RPG's more accesible. I understand you liked some of the PS2 rpg's but I really didn't have a much of a good experience with that system.
I seriously only play old-school and Indie atm. Seems new games are full of propaganda and quick/dumb gameplay. I like a slow-pace and and some grind.

 

[Frank Cadena]

I noticed that you said you have Innocent Sin with the translation patch working and I assume that you were talking about the PSX Innocent Sin and you're playing it on the PSP. Did you know that the PSP version of Innocent Sin came out last year? It boasts better graphics and better localisation, as expected from Atlus, and also a much nicer looking interface. I'm waiting for Eternal Punishment PSP to come out in English so that Atlus can have my money.

 

[xist]

Stuff

Essentially your argument is that if you want outdated mechanics and a narrow range of mechanics then the PSX is the ultimate RPG system. In that regard it's not....the SNES fits all your requirements far better. As for your points on individual games (and for the record i've not mentioned P4 once...) it comes down to opinion, and in that regard i'd argue that nostalgia aside you're choices are inferior. FFIX? Worst FF on the PSX beats a novel game with humour and a decent story? Nope. FFIX was so flawed with it's broken storyline, dull characters and poor skill system....plus awful minigames. Phantasia, a game you'd be playing in Japanese at the time if you're talking about releases being a barrier, over Abyss? Neither are awesome but Abyss is far and away superior. And to say Rogue Galaxy is inferior to Lunar when you admit that you enjoyed Dark Cloud seems telling.

I'd actually guess that your PS2 experience is limited....personally i've played almost all the (half decent) RPG's on both systems and the PS2 offers a much broader range with far better prime examples. It sounds like you want mechanics to never move on...if that's the case then you have GUST and Atelier Iris and Ar Tonelico. For everyone else the sheer weight of variety on offer wins.....don't get me wrong, i'd have loved a continuation of Vagrant Story but there are so few paragons of awesomeness if you look back objectively that the PSX can't hold up as "the ultimate".

 

[unseen4ce]

OK fine, you need to understand that I really do regard the psp as my fav console ever and yes, fine, I like the 'lame' old mechanics. I really had difficulty making the jump to newer styled RPG's, I lost my love for them with FFX (the first). You are right, most people would agree with you, but PS2 wasn't that great in my country. If you check Australian releases, you'll see that we didn't get most of the games you mention (only FFX, X2, FF12, P4, Grandia 3, and Xenosaga. Can't remember how I played Star Ocean (I had an imported PS2 with Suikoden 3 and DQ8 early).

Let me have my fun, I admitted that most people would agree with you. Now could you tell me about some of the SNES RPG's, I like Lufia but havent tried much else. Any recommendations, seems you have played alot of RPG's... I don't like action-RPG's just tactical/traditional. There was an awesome DS Tactical FF I wish would work on PSP though I am hating my 3DS atm, since they shut out my supercard.

EDIT: What you said about FFIX is pretty harsh, are you sure you're not being overly critical. FFIX is my favourite game ever, seriously number 1, and so many others think it is atleast 'good'. Come-on dude, I haven't been that bad to you.

 

[xist]

I'm from the UK...UK releases are just as sucky as Australian. And the PSX suffered just as badly for us PAL gamers...i ended up importing my games for immense markups and use a spring to enable me to disc swap through regions.

SNES RPG's number by the bucket load, and given the pedigree of the site i'd recommend you give Racket Boy a gander. Personally i enjoyed Terranigma, which us PAL'ites got and the vile NTSC'ers didn't!

As for FFIX....i've re-played all the PSX FF's in the last 6 months (you can see i even put up a FFVIII save on GBAtemp) and IX just doesn't compare to the other two. Plot wise it's massively awful, which is really doing something bad when VIII's story was a bit weak (although the "Is Squall dead?" arguments complicates matters)....the final bits of the game where you discover all about Kuja and Zidane, and then the last boss are totally awful, and ruin whatever had been established thus far. Character wise they're all a bit boring...Zidane is a thief, and yet given his personality it appears he's been doing it for about 10 minutes. Steiner is probably the best of a bad bunch and Quina just makes me want to curl up into a ball and die. So many of the characters just aren't very well fleshed out....such as Eiko, Freya and Amarant. The skill system was also really bad, and whilst it seemingly was little different to materia, it just isn't very flexible or interesting. Plus it's an immensely easy game, probably the easiest of the three. And the chocobo mini game is AWFUL...A W F U L....

On the plus side side aspects are done well such as the whole question of what it really is to be "human", or alive, most well related through Vivi, and of course it looks ok.

I can understand people liking it, but on every level i just don't think it lives up to it's predecessors. Although it is indeed better than it's successor in many, many ways....although X-2 is pretty damn fun when you get over your reluctance to try it.

 

[unseen4ce]

I tried X2, the constant costume changes did have me thinking 'is this a girls FF', Ha, you are right. It probably is good if you can get over that.

I did like Vivi alot, no worries man. But it was the first RPG I ever played ...and you know how that can be. It opened a new world for me. I'll look into SNES more, especially that PAL-only release. Cheers.