Other than FF Tactics, Fire Emblem, and Tactics Ogre, what other grid-based tactical RPGs are there? I really enjoy this subgenre.
Printable View
Other than FF Tactics, Fire Emblem, and Tactics Ogre, what other grid-based tactical RPGs are there? I really enjoy this subgenre.
Jeanne D'Arc for the PSP is a pretty fun tactical RPG. Disgaea is pretty good too.
I have Jeanne D'Arc on my list. Tried Disgaea once but it wasn't my thing. Maybe I just played the wrong one. It was the DS one.
That one is the first game in the series, but I've heard that the DS port was pretty bad. The PSP version is probably the best version, but the original PS2 version of Disgaea is good too. I've only played the PSP version, and I've never played very far. I have a problem with beating these kinds of games for some reason. The only game I've beaten that's similar to this genre is Valkyria Chronicles, but that's pretty different.
If you are more interested in having a serious story in the game, though, Disgaea probably isn't for you. Jeanne D'arc has a pretty good, serious story.
Front Mission is apparently great.
There's a Wild ARMs tactical rpg. Um. What's the crazy cross over one? Project X Zone. Yeah.
Shining Force. The second installment is one of my favorite Genesis games.
Shining Force and Shining Force II are both good answers to this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephex
You could also try La Pucelle Tactics. I remember it being a pretty good game, but it came a little too late, and I was already starting to play too many of this style game on handheld, where I think they really shine.
Isn't La Pucelle (and Phantom Brave with it) in an extremely similar vein to Disgaea, though?
Honestly, I don't know. I've played even less of Disgaea than I did of La Pucelle (even though I did have a handheld Disgaea game, I just never really got into it).
From what I remember of those two titles, La Pucelle seemed to be a little better on the tactical level, encouraging a bit more thought about movement and placement, due to the energy portal manipulation. But it's been a while since I've played it.
You seem to be right, though, as apparently at least one of La Pucelle's bosses showed up in a later Disgaea game.
Vandal Hearts is pretty great. :3
Shining Force II was the first RPG I played to completion and has aged pretty well when I played it on the Sega HD collection for PS3. I'm hoping Atlus does something with it since they showed an interest in bringing back SEGA's older franchises.
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is the high watermark of the sub genre IMHO. It's a masterpiece in every way a game can be but the PSP remake has the most impressive mastery of game mechanics that I've seen.
Valkyria Chronicles is the evolution of this subgenre and it seems only right that it came from SEGA. The PS3 original is a wonderful game and the PSP sequel is even better in some ways.
I agree that the PSP remake of TO is the pinnacle of this subgenre. It's a masterpiece and should be a blueprint for how you do a remake correctly.
I am honored to please my lord.
>>> Tactical RPGs, Sudoku, Excel, etc.. All grids look the same to me..:luca:
I remember there being a stench I Muyo game like this on the SNES, but it was pretty terrible.
Pokemon Conquest, on the other hand, is smurfing amazing.
I believe The Battle for Wesnoth falls under this category (although I haven't played it in forever)
While many might not class it as an RPG, it certainly had the same general feel for me... XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Great game.
Gameplay is definitely in the right vein in XCOM, but the lack of actual characters sort of hurts it. It's a tactics game, but not a tactical RPG.
Now, add in Fire Emblem style characters and conversations, and you would have an utterly brilliant Sci-Fi tactical RPG.
Valkyria Chronicles isn't grid-based but it's a spiritually similar game. There's a big pile of various FFT games, of course, if you haven't played all of them.
Yeah VC is this type of game without the defined grid basically. I've also played all the FFT games.
Some good suggestions here, many I've never heard of. Since I have the PSP lying around collecting dust, I think I'll start with Jeanne D'Arc and the VC sequel.
There are some for the PC if you are interested in taking that route, although some are less RPG-ish than others. King's Bounty (great game) and Heroes of Might & Magic games have a lot in common with these and are kind of the 'western' equivalent.
Not technically a Grid, but go Play Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen on the SNES.
Easily one of the best SRPG's ever made, though I do suggest checking how the Ali/cha/Rep numbers work online, there are quite a few things that affect it the game doesn't tell you ever. :p
The DS version of Disgaea was absolute trout. It's the only version of the game I have yet to beat. Purchase one of the newer versions for the PSVita or something. Phantom Brave and Makai Kingdom are great, but they are gridless. The Growlanser series is tactical and gridless, but those games are fantastic. The only issue is that very few of them get ported. If you still have a PS2, you should pick up Growlanser Generations.
tldr;
Forget about Disgaea DS and try one of the other ports. The PSP version is the best out of the 3.
Maybe that's why I could never get into it. I have the DS version.Quote:
Originally Posted by CimminyCricket
Also, if you're into getting Japanese games with Fan Translations, Bahamut Lagoon is wonderful, and is an old Square title!
I've always considered throwing my copy away.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkybladeQuote:
Originally Posted by CimminyCricket
Maybe that's why I could never get into it. I have the DS version.
>>> I heard you can unlock Plenair there..:luca:Quote:
Originally Posted by CimminyCricketI've always considered throwing my copy away.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkybladeQuote:
Originally Posted by CimminyCricket
Maybe that's why I could never get into it. I have the DS version.
I don't know what it is, but over the years I have kind of fallen out of love with this genre. I used to be all over it back in the PS1/early PS2 days but I don't know, I just can't really get into them anymore. Probably why even a year later, I'm still trying to finish Suikoden Tactics even though its not a bad game at all. I still have the PSP remake of Tactics Ogre sitting on a shelf staring at me, and while I would love to see what all the fuss is about, I just can't bring myself to start playing it.
Probably because they're always so time-consuming!
I think that is part of it, I also feel like they are a genre that tends to suffer from superfluous customization.
This is probably more justified in the "Unpopular Opinion" thread, but I constantly try to get more into this genre than I am, but the fact that all tactical games tend to be grindy with nothing but battles and stories. I get burned out and turned off too quick to really dig in very far. I want to do more with a game than just battle battle story battle story story battle. If any other genre did this, they'd get completely panned for taking out immersion or exploration or whatever. I can't imagine playing Final Fantasy with nothing but battles and story cut-scenes. But God Damn if everyone doesn't love Final Fantasy TACTICS for doing just that. Ugh. It's why I'm constantly on the look out for a good successor to Shining Force. Games need down time to unwind between intense activities. My down time between battles in a game should not be me sleeping or going to work. It should be incorporated into the game to help with pacing and stuff
Anyone have any theories why the entire genre is designed that way? And on that note, I'd really really love to know what secret everyone else has for tolerating that kind of slogging through. Especially when a lot of these games are 80 - 100 hour games
I don't know why no one has copied Shining Force and added in overworlds and towns. Like, seriously, I have no clue. That was awesome, and I want more.
That said, Final Fantasy Tactics games have a bit more, especially A2, where there is a ton of variety to the types of combat, and tons of optional character moments in inns, or when traveling the map.
Fire Emblem brings in a ton with the Support system. Other games have had hidden shops and items, which also help.
But, really, it's the characters, stories, and worlds that carry these games. The combat is only engaging as long as you have a backdrop. It's not just "fight battle here", it's "escape from castle while being attacked" or "rescue captured person". Don't think of it as one long fight scene. Think of it as a mission or dungeon, with fights scattered throughout when two characters meet. It's just how you approach things that's a bit different then.
...Interesting perspective. I'll have to try to remember to look at things differently the next time I give one a try then.
You can, but she's overrated and I never used her. :/Quote:
Originally Posted by black orb>>> I heard you can unlock Plenair there..:luca:Quote:
Originally Posted by CimminyCricketI've always considered throwing my copy away.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkybladeQuote:
Originally Posted by CimminyCricket
Maybe that's why I could never get into it. I have the DS version.
It's certainly a weakness of the genre and it makes Shining Force stand out probably more than it has the right to whenever I replay it. Personally, I think Tactics earns it's place though because of just how good the artwork and story are. I admit some games I had to press on just because I like the genre I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyk