09/01/00

Fat's Rants: RPG-apolooza: 

Fat's favorite Console Role Playing games from past to present While I don't really consider myself a "Hard-Core" gamer (mainly because I think that's a stupid, over-used term that mostly biased asses describe themselves with), I've been playing games long enough that I feel that I have a somewhat valid opinion about what I consider to be good games. Apparently, some people agree with that assumption, as I was recently asked by someone what my favorite Role-Playing games were. I rambled a few choices off of the top of my head, but then I started thiking deeper about it. I looked at some other reviewers' lists, including Brad's (This was a long time back, folks). Some of his fave RPGS are on my list, some aren't, and vice-versa. I also thought back to my early days of gaming to see what my favorite RPGs were back then. So through that, I compiled a list of Role-Playing games that stick out in my mind as the ones that I had the most fun with, from past to present. This isn't really a "top ten" list. While I would consider some RPGs to be better than others here, I'm mainly going by how I felt about the game in question at the time I was playing it. The way technology has improved our game playing experiences over the years, it obviously isn't fair to compare some of the older games with some of the newer ones. However, I felt that these games should be recognized in their own light. Some of you will agree with my choices, others will not, but keep this in mind: opinions really can't be wrong (not mine, and not yours...maybe Geeky's...), only facts. If you are an avid RPG player that would like to experience some of the games I talk about here, where you can find them ranges from garage sales and internet auctions to toy stores, but I think you may find that Game Hits will have a good number of them for you at reasonable prices. (I don't mind a shameless plug as long as it's actually true. Right Shawn?) So, without further adeiu, here's Fat's list of stand-out console RPGS. 

DragonStomper (Starpath: Atari 2600, Supercharger) I'm sure a that even a lot of you old-time gamers draw a blank with this one. Back in the time of the Atari 2600, or VCS, around the early 80's, a little known company known as Arcadia (later known as Starpath) created an "Upgrade" for Atari's game system. It consisted of a very large cartridge that had a headphone jack that plugged into a standard mono tape recorder. The games were all on cassette tapes, and were loaded into the cartridge for play. Some of the games had 3 and 4 load sessions, to make for a longer, more complete game experience. There were only about 12 games released for this system in it's short lifespan, and DragonStomper was one of them. Basically, you played the part of a small, white dot (I'd be truly lying if I claimed this game was graphically excellent), given the task of slaying an evil dragon that now plagues the countryside. To do this you needed to combat monsters and warriors, collecting gold and items that would increase your strength and dexterity. What helped your character and what hurt him changed with each new game. After building your character, you then ventured into town to buy items are hire help to defeat the dragon. Then, you enter the dragon's cave for the final battle. Many 2600 players consider Atari's Adventure to be the first console RPG, which it is, but this one was truly a first for me. It introduced me to the allure of treasure hunting, hit-points, monster battling, and item purchasing that I had never experienced in a game before. To me, there was nothing else like it. No game I played before had been so complex, and had me so involved. I'm grateful to this title because it made me a fan of RPGs. If you want to play it, it's not at all easy to find, as the Supercharger units are scarce, and the cassette games are even more so. Even ways to emulate the game on computer are difficult to locate, though they do exist. Good luck finding it.

Miracle Warriors (Sega: Sega Master System) Console RPGs were very few and far between at this time, so it wasn't until about 5 years later with the Sega Master System that my role-playing spark was rekindled with this title. The seal holding the evil of the dark lord is weakening, and now is the time for you to fulfill your destiny, for you are one of the legendary heroes destined to battle the dark lord once again. Find and revive your destined comrades and claim your legendary arms to battle evil. This game features a huge main map (the original game had a poster-sized map that you could mark for reference), lots of creatures, lots of dungeons, lots of towns, and an interesting battle system (you didn't want to attack everyone you saw: some creatures would bring your reputation up, some down. If your rep was too low, you wouldn't even be allowed to shop in the towns!) The sound was crude but catchy (something I'd find a lot of Master system games to be), and the graphics were colorful and detailed, though the animation is virtually non-existant. This game took a long time to beat, had a decent story and neat play elements, and some funky-cool translation (lots of "thee"s and "thou"s to give it that B-movie shakespherian feel). This game appears from time to time at Game Hits. If you find it, you may want to give it a try. 

Phantasy Star (Sega: Sega Master System) I thought Miracle Warriors was great, but nothing could prepare me for what came next. From the second I first turned the Master System on with this game, I was enthralled with the adventures of Alis, Odin, Noah, and Myau, in their quest to save their world from the evil king Lassic. In my view, Phantasy Star is the definitive RPG. It has fanstastic graphics with large, animated characters, the closest thing to an epic soundtrack the Master System could get (The later Japanese Sega Mark III systems had a better soundchip, so actually their musical experience was better), a ton of areas to explore (3 planets, each one with it's own towns and races), lots of towns full of people to talk to and places to shop, weapons, armor, vehicles, space travel, and a number of dungeons to explore (this game had a pretty convincing 3D dungeon view before Doom was ever conceived), complete with traps, treasures and terrifying creatures. The story, though a bit light by today's standards, keeps the game going and gives it a cool atmosphere. If you are a lover of RPGs, and you haven't tried this one, you owe it to yourself to track this game down and enjoy it. This is another title that Game Hits has had in the past. It isn't easy to find, and the price for it isn't usually too cheap, no matter where you get it from. Still, this is one game that, in my opinion, is one of the RPGs that made the standard for what we consider great now. 

Phantasy Star II (Sega: Sega Genesis) I have to admit, after the wonder that was the original Phantasy Star, I was, at first, a little disappointed in this game. After all, there was a pretty big difference between the power of the Sega Master system and the technically superior Sega Genesis. I expected a much more complex and beautiful game. Phantasy Star 2 wasn't much better looking than the original, but as I got into the game, I found that the play tactics and the story were much, MUCH more complex. Gone were the first-person dungeons, replaced by much tougher overhead mazes to explore. There are many more characters, more monsters, more locations, more treasures, more weapons, a deeper plot, and a surprise final enemy. In short, the story continuity of the Phantasy Star series went from simplistic to epic with this one game. PS 2 was much longer and a lot tougher than the first game, and it remains the most challenging game in the series (as long as you don't just cheat with the hint book). Add in a controversial, cliffhanger ending, and you have a game to remember. PS2 is easier to find than the first title. Look for it at Game Hits. 

Final Fantasy II (Square: Super Nintendo) I played and enjoyed the original Final Fantasy on the old NES. It was a long, fairly complex, tough RPG with a so-so story and sub-par graphics and sound (remember, I'm comparing everything with Phantasy Star at this time), but I still enjoyed it to the point that I was looking forward to it's sequel on the Super NES. Unbeknownst to me at the time, in Japan the NES and gameboy had games that were Final Fantasy 2 and 3, and what the Super NES was actually getting was part 4. Square had some experience under their belt at this time, to make FF4 a different experience from most any RPG I played before. As Cecil, the dark Knight of the king's elite Red Wings troops, you are cast out into a suicide mission when you question the king's orders of taking a mystic jewel from a peaceful village. Thus begins an RPG of epic proportions, with a host of interesting characters and situations. The first thing I recall when I think of this game was the fantastic movie-soundtrack quality music that became Square's trademark. The graphics were bright and colorful, though like most previous RPGs (except Phantasy Star) there wasn't much animation at all. This game went far deeper into storyline and character development than the previous RPGs I had played, and I found that added a LOT to the game's appeal. 

Final Fantasy III (Square: Super Nintendo) In Japan, this game was Final Fantasy 6. Square skipped part 5 (which is on the Square anthology for the Playstation), opting for this title for the American public instead. While I would have enjoyed 5 if it came out here at that time, I do agree that part 6 is a far better game, and in my view, the best Final Fantasy title of all time (topping 7 and 8 as well). Square took everything that was good about part 4, and expanded on it. The game was tougher, longer, had more monsters, and more characters than the previous titles, and some of the most memorable game music I've ever heard is in this title (everyone who's played it knows the opera sequence). FF3 also had great storylines for the characters, and some amazing scenes that really made you feel for them (I swear, I almost cried in the scene where one of them tries to commit suicide out of despair). This is another console RPG player's required play in my opinion. You can either pick it up as Final Fantasy III for the Super NES (still available at Game Hits from time to time), or you can play the complete game as Final Fantasy VI on the Squaresoft Final Fantasy Anthology for the Playstation. 

Earthbound (Nintendo: Super Nintendo) I kind of expect to get a little heat for this choice, as this is a very childish looking game, but I must tell you, looks can be deceiving. A sequel to a popular NES Japanese RPG known as "Mother", This game centers on the exploits of a kid named Ness and his friends as they try to save the world from the evil alien entity, Giygas. This is one of the weirdest games I've ever played. the fisher-price stumpy kid type graphics are weird at first, but after I got into the game I found them cool, as they mask a truly warped, demented sense of humor. Among the enemies you face are gang punks, cultists, robots, cops, giant bugs, dragons, and a giant pile of vomit. Your worst enemy: Pokey, that annoying pudgy little next door neighbor kid. The locations you go through range from cities to the desert and the North Pole. Add in psychedelic backgrounds in the battle scenes, and some funky music, and you've got a game that I feel deserves a spot on my best RPG list. If you're into weird, hilarious RPGs, look for this one at Game Hits, among other places. 

Chrono Trigger (Square: Super Nintendo) Considered by many to be even better than the acclaimed Final Fantasy series, No console RPG list would be complete without this game. As Chrono, you are sent into an adventure of epic proportions when your friend, Lucca's experimental teleporter sends a girl you just met (who just happens to be a princess) into the past. The lives you change and the people you meet eventually lead you into an epic battle for the planet, past, present and future. This game features great Super NES graphics, interesting characters, wonderful music, and a story with some great plot twists and multiple endings. This game was re-released with new video footage in Japan for the Playstation, but there's no sign of that version coming stateside. However, this game's promising sequel, Chrono Cross, is available now for the Playstation. As for CT itself, it can still be obtained for the Super NES. It's another sort-of rare game, but it's worth playing if you find it. 

The Shining Force Series (Sega: Genesis, Game Gear, Sega CD, Saturn) This series walks a pretty fine line between strategy and Role-play, and it does both well. It was designed as a game that's simple to pick up and play, but not so easy to dominate. Every game in the series has you as the leader of a band of knights, archers, barbarians, Ninjas, spell casters, priests and whoever else you can find, fighting a source of evil. Each character has their own special skills and can change classes to become more powerful characters. The Genesis games were simple but fun, the Sega CD version increased the Storyline a bit, and the Saturn version (which in truth was a 3-Disc game that we Americans only got one disk of), was full of interesting characters and plot twists. Hopes abound that a Dreamcast Compilation, or a whole new Shining Force for the DC, will come in the future. In the meantime, any of the Shining Force games are recommended The Saturn game is the best of the series as well as the hardest to obtain.

Suikoden 1 & 2 (Konami: Playstation) I have a soft spot for this series. Suikoden 1 was the first Playstation RPG that I really enjoyed (at the time, the awful Beyond the Beyond and the pseudo RPG King's Field were the only others available). Like Shining Force, it mixed simple strategy with a great RPG story. The main challenge (and fun) of the game was finding and recruiting the 108 different soldiers for your army. The graphics are mediocre, but the soundtrack is great and the story keeps interest. Suikoden 2 is longer and more challenging, with slightly better graphics, the same kind of great music and a more interesting story. These games are readily available at Game Hits or other places good games are sold.

Lunar (Game Arts/Working Designs: Sega CD, Playstation) This game is a prime example of an old-school RPG done right. Great characters, a long, epic story with a good flow, lots of quests to complete and treasures to find. Alex and Luna's quest against the evil Ghaleon and his minions is a memorable one. For the US, Working Designs added a lot of dialog for the characters, making them more distinct and 3-Dimensional than most any RPG out today (strange thing to say about a 2D RPG, isn't it?). The Sega CD version is a classic, but the Playstation version is a true improvement, with more dialog and nicely rendered animated sequences done in impeccable anime style. Working Designs has stopped printing this title (I don't know why they're making such a big deal out of it: ALL titles only have a few print runs), but you can still find it, and in the near (or far) future it's worthy sequel, Lunar: Eternal Blue, at Game Hits and other fine game stores.

Panzer Dragoon Saga (Sega: Saturn) Not to be confused with Sony's current overblown, mediocre RPG Legend of Dragoon, This game was one of the Sega Saturn's last hurrahs in the US. Saturn owners should be familiar with the Panzer Dragoon series: the first 2 games were 3rd person flying shooters. The third game, however, is an RPG with an epic scope. As Edge, you start out merely working in a mine as an excavator of lost relics. A battle with an invincible creature leads to Edge falling into a long lost forgotten realm, where he meets and bonds with a legendary dragon-weapon. From here, the game deals with secrets of the past, military greed and the mysterious Azel, a girl awakened from a ancient slumber with a powerful dragon of her own. This game has a lot of original touches, from the inspired flight/battle system, to the very distinct design of the creatures and surroundings in the Panzer Dragoon world. The soundtrack is another plus, not only with the interesting organic techno type music, but also with the entire soundtrack being spoken in a strange hybrid of Japanese and German, with English subtitles. This game has a mood and an atmosphere that very few games can match. It tries hard to make it feel like you are truly in another world. A story told over 4 CDs, this game is actually rather short (the Saturn never had very good full motion video compression, which is why this title needed 4 CDs) but epic nonetheless. This is another much-sought after title (and rightfully so) that appears at Game Hits from time to time. In a perfect world a Dreamcast sequel would be a given. Unfortunately, it's not a perfect world...

Dragon Force (Sega/Working Designs: Saturn) For a while I was thinking about not putting this game in the list, as it's really a Strategy RPG instead of a full RPG, but then, so are some of the other games I've listed (Suikoden I and II, Shining Force), so it would be criminal not to include what is arguably the best Strategy RPG of the 90's. Featuring 7 different main characters, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and storylines, Dragon Force has gameplay to spare. With your own troops of soldiers, zombies, dragons, harpies Samurai, Ninjas, monks, and others, battle other armies, capture their leaders, and get them to ally with you. Make sure your troops are kept happy, or they just might revolt against you. Find treasures and fortify castles to help you against the coming of the ultimate enemy. The battles really showed the underrated power of the Saturn, with up to 100 sprite-based characters battling onscreen at one time, with no slowdown. Working Designs did their usual good job of translating this game to English, though I personally could have done without some of the stale jokes. It takes 30+ hours to beat the game with each character, so this is a game well worth its' now high asking price. This is another game that shows up at Game Hits once in a while. Snap it up if you can get it.

This is what I hope is just the beginning of a long list of my favorite RPGs, as many future role-playing games have the potential to match or exceed the great games listed here. I'm sure that to many there are some glaring omissions in this list, such as Final Fantasy 7 and 8. As some of you know, I wasn't really impressed with either of these titles (FF8 in particular), but I have high hopes for Final Fantasy 9. Another missing series might possibly be the legendary Ultima games for computers, which are a big reason why we enjoy so many great RPGs today. If I had more experience with the Ultima series (I played some of Ultima 3 for the NES, and Ultima 4 for the Master System, neither were too impressive), at least one of those games may have appeared on this list. But as it stands, these are the console RPGs that I remember fondly.

Cast and Crew   News, Articles and Reviews