Strategy Rpgs

[Sabreman]

I've had a funny old relationship with RPGs over the years. As a kid I was completely absorbed by Phantasy Star on the Master System - one of the first games I basically sat and played all day.

I hammered Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes Back on the ST and Amiga. Drew my own maps, all that kind of stuff.

Final Fantasy VII took over my life during Christmas 1997, and later VIII had much the same effect on me. I simply had to do everything.

Then it all stopped. The blame largely rests with Xenogears, but every traditional RPG I tried in this period just plain infuriated, bored and frustrated me. I loathed FFIX with a passion. Star Ocean and Chrono Cross left me cold within hours. I used to think it was a hatred of random encounters yet was always baffled that they never bothered me in FFVII and VIII. It just seemed that increasingly you sat and watched the interesting bits. Actually playing the games was a doddle and only a matter of putting enough time in.

Vagrant Story came along and blew my mind. The depth, the customization kept me hooked for hours at a time. I played it round and round on the clear game until I had assembled the ultimate set of armour and weapons. The story was superb, the atmosphere generated by the visuals and music almost unmatched by anything. I came to realise it was the tinkering that drew me back. That compulsion to perfect the character. Not just to max level them, but to max equip them, to find every last secret in the game. This is what I had missed from games since FFVII and VIII. VII's wonderful Materia system and VIII's deeply convoluted Card/Refining system, along with Guardian Force Junctioning. Just so much to fiddle about with.

I have tremendously high hopes for FFXII. I wouldn't have been at all interested were it not for that magical moment when I learned there were no random encounters, and that the FFT/VS team was largely responsible for the enterprise. I'm confident it will be packed with depth that I can whittle away the small hours getting involved in.

I bought Final Fantasy Tactics a few years ago (off somebody on the Edge forum in fact) yet I never got into it because of this falling out of love with big games that demanded huge chunks of time. A month or so ago I actually started playing it, and it is a revelation. So much so that I've not played WoW for the past couple of nights in favour of FFT sessions.

Now I'm planning my characters' future. Working out their job progression carefully, levelling up what's needed. Nurturing these little guys and girls into fearsome warriors and mages. I'm loving it.

Now of course I have quite a backlog to get through. I've got Vandal Hearts I and II, La Pucelle, Disgaea and Phantom Brave, as well as FFT Advance. Looking into the possibilities of Ogre battle and Tactics Ogre, looking forward to Phantom Kingdom. I've got easily a couple of year's worth of gaming right there but I'm not starting anything else until Tactics is at least finished - if not thrashed.

These games seem to strike the perfect balance for me between storyline, character and equipment customization and length of play, while tossing out the laboured aspects of traditional Japanese RPGs - the random battles, the wandering looking for the next plot point or sub-quest. All there is to concentrate on is the characters and the combat itself, and the combat is infinitely more rewarding because of it's complex tactical nature. Scraping a victory from the jaws of defeat via some crafty bit of forward planning is immensely satisfying. You look forward to the next fight, because it will be a chance to improve your skills, to add points to a particular job or weapon or whatever. The story advances in the background... you don't have to look for it.

So yeah, just a bit of a ramble there. This genre I've overlooked for years has absorbed me completely. I know there are a couple of people on here crazy for Disgaea at least, but how would you rate the others in this genre? Are any of them going to match up to FF Tactics, or is it just the freshness of starting out in a new genre that's making me enjoy it so much?

[Garwoofoo]

The only one I've played in this genre is Final Fantasy Tactics: Advance, and I loved it. Absolutely adored it.

Then I foolishly moved straight onto Disgaea, and couldn't get into it. Too similar, too quick I guess. However, this was a few months ago and I'm starting to think I should give Disgaea another try....

[ryodi]

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance got me hooked on SRPGs. Despite the rubbish story and hardly any tactics being needed at all the levelling up, new weapons and variety of jobs kept me hooked for the 110+ hours it took me to finish the damn thing.

After finishing it I tried Shining Force but it didn't really grab me and my first attempt at Tactics Ogre bored me because the battles seemed to take forever. A repurchase later at a higher price then I sold it for and unboxed (don't sell your rarer games ) and I have found the fun again. More complex, more difficult and with a much more interesting story makes it a much better SPRG than FFTA. Not that I have played much more than a few hours after rebuying it because Fire Emblem, despite its annoyances is warming the GBA slot in my DS at the minute. These types of games are perfectly suited for the handheld because you can just pick it up, have a battle, save at anytime and then come back to it. If Nippon Ichi ever make a DS version of one of their titles I will be in heaven.

[Liquid Myth]

I've only ever found one SRPG which stuck with me, that being Shining Force 3 on the Saturn. I found FFTA very lacking in comparison, and feel as though I'm missing out a lot.

Have/Are Camelot done/doing anything on the current generation of machines?

[Gloomy Andy]

I've only ever found one SRPG which stuck with me, that being Shining Force 3 on the Saturn. I found FFTA very lacking in comparison, and feel as though I'm missing out a lot.

Have/Are Camelot done/doing anything on the current generation of machines?

Now here we have a man talking sense ...

Get yourself the following:

1) A saturn capable of playing Jap games

2) Shinging force 3 part 1 (pal, us or jap)

3) Shining force 3 parts 2 & 3 (jap)

4) Printed off translations and walkthroughs for parts 2 & 3 (and 1 if you got the jap verison of that)

5) The premium disk (if your rich)

Then watch and gasp as you play the best SRPG ever and begin to join the thousands of others desperate for a translation and release of parts 2 and 3 in English (come on Camelot the GC is a perfect platform for these).

The battles are fantastic, not overly deep in terms of job selection or things like that.

A friendship system mixes it up a little and battle with hidden treasure areas, extra objectives and events and characters which change from game to game depending on what you do in earlier parts (ie not save a character in part one and he wont join join you in part two) really makes these games the pinacle of my SRPG experience.

I love these game and they are the pride of my collection - better than the original shining forces and jolly good fun to play.

Go get boyo!

[/fanboy]

You never know this guy might still have this available.

[Jolly]

Disgaea managed to keep me entertained for the whole summer (I was unemployed too - so it got plenty of playtime).

Captain Gordon - God I love that man.

[Liquid Myth]

Now here we have a man talking sense ...

Get yourself the following:

1) A saturn capable of playing Jap games

2) Shinging force 3 part 1 (pal, us or jap)

3) Shining force 3 parts 2 & 3 (jap)

4) Printed off translations and walkthroughs for parts 2 & 3 (and 1 if you got the jap verison of that)

5) The premium disk (if your rich)

Then watch and gasp as you play the best SRPG ever and begin to join the thousands of others desperate for a translation and release of parts 2 and 3 in English (come on Camelot the GC is a perfect platform for these).

The battles are fantastic, not overly deep in terms of job selection or things like that.

A friendship system mixes it up a little and battle with hidden treasure areas, extra objectives and events and characters which change from game to game depending on what you do in earlier parts (ie not save a character in part one and he wont join join you in part two) really makes these games the pinacle of my SRPG experience.

I love these game and they are the pride of my collection - better than the original shining forces and jolly good fun to play.

Go get boyo!

[/fanboy]

You never know this guy might still have this available.

Somehow, I don't think we'll ever see a proper re-release of SF3, ever, due to Camelot being in cahoots with Nintendo these days (going to produce wonders like, erm, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis).

But £250? Fuck that, I can get those for much less.

[zektbach]

Now here we have a man talking sense ...

Get yourself the following:

1) A saturn capable of playing Jap games

2) Shinging force 3 part 1 (pal, us or jap)

3) Shining force 3 parts 2 & 3 (jap)

4) Printed off translations and walkthroughs for parts 2 & 3 (and 1 if you got the jap verison of that)

5) The premium disk (if your rich)

Then watch and gasp as you play the best SRPG ever and begin to join the thousands of others desperate for a translation and release of parts 2 and 3 in English (come on Camelot the GC is a perfect platform for these).

The battles are fantastic, not overly deep in terms of job selection or things like that.

A friendship system mixes it up a little and battle with hidden treasure areas, extra objectives and events and characters which change from game to game depending on what you do in earlier parts (ie not save a character in part one and he wont join join you in part two) really makes these games the pinacle of my SRPG experience.

I love these game and they are the pride of my collection - better than the original shining forces and jolly good fun to play.

Go get boyo!

[/fanboy]

You never know this guy might still have this available.

Shining Force II for the MD was better imo

[prototypemuffin]

Disgaea managed to keep me entertained for the whole summer (I was unemployed too - so it got plenty of playtime).

Captain Gordon - God I love that man.

thursday! midboss!! The power ranger ripoff!!!

blueeeeeee!!!

yelloooooow!!!

One of the funniest games ever made. Vandalhearts got me into this genre, and when it's done well it really is infinitely better than anything the standard "roam the world/random encounter" lot can come up with. Oh, as this thread is undoubtedly filling up with fftactics advance nuts, maybe you could help me out; I'm at the part where Marche first meets his formerly wheelchair-bound little brother, who promptly sells him out to some bounty hunters. I don't want any plot details or anything, I just wanna know what percent of the game I've done so far? Cheers.

[Rayn]

Vandal Heart is for many reasons my favorite of the lot...it's not the deepest of them all but the story and the characters made this game a joy from start to finish. I might add that it is also the most linear of the lot so that may put some people off.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I really enjoy this kind of game. But I always find I can't keep myself interested for the 100+ hours they usually require, through boredom or just being stuck.

Are there any knocking about that are a bit shorter?

[prototypemuffin]

go for vandal hearts. its reasonably long, but linear enough that you can go through it quickly. as long as you don't mind dissapointing the old man at the end, of course

[Fry Crayola]

I enjoy the premise but often can't get past the cliched fantasy nonsense.

I guess I'm after a different game really. I go in expecting X-Com, so I really should stick with X-Com.

Why haven't they released a GBA version?

[Filth]

I really enjoyed Vandal Hearts, it was the first strategy RPG I ever played so it's a fond memory. The story was great, especially the betrayal early on. The deaths were pretty cool as well, the spray of blood when you defeat an enemy... have it!

[vincenzo]

You missed out Tatics Ogre!!

[Sabreman]

Now of course I have quite a backlog to get through. I've got Vandal Hearts I and II, La Pucelle, Disgaea and Phantom Brave, as well as FFT Advance. Looking into the possibilities of Ogre battle and Tactics Ogre, looking forward to Phantom Kingdom. I've got easily a couple of year's worth of gaming right there but I'm not starting anything else until Tactics is at least finished - if not thrashed.

It's started to creep up into silly money on ebay...

[Dimahoo]

Its a shame they take so damn long to play - else i'd be hooked too.

[gossi the dog]

How much does the PS1 version of Tactics Ogre sell for on eBay?

[Zappster]

I love my strategy rpgs. Haven't played a lot of them mind you but the ones I have played were fantastic IMO. I'm looking forward to the US version of Stella Deus for the PS2, it's a new strategy RPG which is scheduled for release this summer, should be perfect for getting through the summer drought with. I've seen a few gameplay videos and it looks ace

[vladtepess]

I am a proud owner of the Shining Force 3 trilogy, the first chapter is the PAL version, probably one of the best game I 've ever played. I also have the Premium disk still sealed in the special bag after having it delivered by Camelot along with stickers and promotional items directly form their offices in Japan.

Moreover, my few games on the GBA are: Tactics Ogre, Final Fantsy Tactics Advance, Fire Emblem. ( oh well also the two Boktai to tell you the truth.)

For the Playstation I reallly really loved the original final Fantasy Tactics, a pure class gaming moment. I still have it in mint condition, first release.

For the PS2, Disgaea n Phantom Brave LE are still waiting to be played given my lack of time, but I am more than eager to start both. Lokking forward to US Stella Deus, it seems to have style and original content to stand out form the crowd. thanks Nippon Ichi!

so, yes , I can be considered a SRPG fanatic!

Long live SRPG!

[dreamylittledream]

How much does the PS1 version of Tactics Ogre sell for on eBay?

Varies but expect to pay SoTN for prices for a mint copy.

£55-70

My £40 the other year looks a bargain now....mabe there was something in this buying games as investment thing

[hub2]

Stella Deus is looking lush... really hoping this is a good 'un as Disgaea didn't live up to the hype for me.

[Droo]

I think i had shining force 1, brief overview from someone?

[Tailfly]

I'm like Zapp$ter, love them but haven't played that many. Didn't know about Stella Deus until he pointed it out in this thread, I've since had a look at a few videos of it in action and it is looking quite good. As for Disgaea, it really is just all about building up your characters and weapons stats(over story that is). Thing is the way it gets you to go about doing it is very open. I did find quite a large initial time investment is needed to get going, but once you do get going it's hard to stop.

[Sabreman]

Stella Deus certainly seems to be finally pushing the visual side of things along.

[Guest nomenclature]

I'm fond of the odd SRPG. I loved FFTA, not because it required any great strategic thought, more that it was nice and easy and relaxing and it was kind of fun to just mess about with.

Disgaea was great. I didn't get into all the super levelling up (highest was a 500 odd Ronin), I guess the fun came from finding new ways of boosting stats and what everything did etc. I managed to avoid FAQs for quite a while.

Phantom Brave I'm not getting on with. I don't like the lack of a grid and I can't get a decent team going. Raar! It's nauseatingly cute too.

I'm halfway through Final Fantasy Tactics but I kind of got carried away with levelling up and gaining abilities so now random fights are really quite tough because of crappy equipment and bosses are extremely easy. While the story is good (apart from the dodgy translation) I'm not so enamoured with the job and ability selection, the majority of which seem to be completely useless. I know it's probably heresy to say so but FFTA seemed to do that aspect a lot better.

And Stella Deus looks lush, although from everything I've heard the game is pretty standard.

[Gloomy Andy]

Oh yeah lets not forget Chaos on the speccy that was the game that got me into grid based turn based games.

So theres roleplaying element to it but its still fantastic, even to this day ...

Hmmmmm ... is that golden dragon an illusion?

[Sabreman]

Chaos was amazing! 50p from Games Workshop and I played it for hours at a time with friends. Same goes for Laser Squad. I always regret passing over the X-Com games on PS. Maybe I'll look into that.

[Rowan Morrison]

Disgaea is nuts. I dip into it every now and again and I haven't touched the main plot for months - I just go into the item world and gather up specialists, and that keeps me entertained enough. The item world makes Disgaea great for occasional, randomised bouts.

I loved Vandal Hearts, but I didn't have any incentive to replay it. It was great while it lasted, though.

[Rowan Morrison]

Chaos was amazing! 50p from Games Workshop and I played it for hours at a time with friends. Same goes for Laser Squad. I always regret passing over the X-Com games on PS. Maybe I'll look into that.

The PSX X-Com games are great. I preferred the first one for the environments, but both really put you in that Laser Squad frame of mind, which is always a good thing. Tactically, I preferred Rebelstar Raiders - every match a classic. The door breeches, the early struggles, a little period of freeform tactics, and then the assault on the main target. I played many a two-player game of that, way back when I had the time for such endeavours...