I just wanted to say that Radiata Stories has restored my faith in Square-Enix. I really enjoyed that game, especially the choice you are given at the half-way point. The game had a solid plot, and very interesting and eccentric characters. 177 characters that you can get to join your party, and each of them have completely unique pesonalities and quirks, unlike other character-gathering games like the Suikoden series, where nearly all 108 of the characters were bland and personality-less.

The game also had surprisingly good voice acting (except for the main character, as always).

Guess we differ on that, I found Radiata Stories to be a largely disappointing game, it had its comical moments but the storyline really annoyed me. Anyway I'm waiting for Valkyrie Profile 2 and Rogue Galaxy, both look interesting.

Also I love the Suikoden series, I'm just getting tired of the silent antagonist. It just doesn't work in the modern games with voice acting, just make the char look dumb as he tries to convey thoughts with poorly realized facial expressions.

XD That reminds me of the hero on Suikoden 2.

Anyway, I'm also waiting on Rogue Galaxy. I've yet to play Suikoden V and Tales of.. something though. Other than that I really can't think of any upcoming RPGs I want.

Radiata Stories -was- fun, but on a second run through I wish that the casual battles were a bit more fast-paced.

arc the lad has to be one of the best RPGs i've played in a long while. good story good characters The only thing I disliked was how at the end you got to make both parties you had fight.

Though I did like the Radiata Stories plotline, I also loathed the main character (He was, in fact, just about the only character I didn't like). I'm not sure what parts you didn't like of the plot, but if it included the bits where the main character opened his mouth, then we are at least in partial agreement

I loved the Suikoden series as well, especially III. I just never found more than a few of the characters to be that interesting, unlike in Radiata Stories.

Is Suikoden IV or V any good? I've only played the first three.

I heard V is good. IV got a lot of weird reviews, but it may be okay.

Only sort of an RPG, but how do people other than Shorlen ('cause I know what he thinks ) reckon Disgaea compares to LPT?

Suikoden IV was just... it didn't feel like a Suikoden game for some reason. With only four characters on the battle field at once... you got to use even less then any other Suikoden, and they hardly forced you to use specific characters because of it. I can only remember two places where you were givin party members... and one was a side quest to get a hidden character. You could, pretty much, go through the entire game with your starting party. Did I mention that constaintly sailing, from one island to another, is really annoying?

Oh, and unless you're either a heavy Suiko fan or tactics fan, rent Suikoden Tactics... definatly not worth a buy. .. plus you don't get a good look of Jean in her, seemingly, leather out-fit.

Suikoden V was actually pretty well done. It'll be awhile before I play it again, but it was definatly worth getting. The, real time, major battles where a little difficult for me to become accustomed to, but I managed to pull through. Oh, and *spoiler* while you can only have six fighters in a party, you'll definatly want to level up eight-teen characters through out the game.*Spoiler* Character hunting is also a bit more difficult with this title as most require specific events, times, and characters; and many are forever missable... untill the new game+ that is. Which IV has as well.

Now, between Disgaea and (what I think Shiri is refering to) La Pucelle Tactics... please keep in mind I generally dislike tactic type games, 'cept Growlanser II and III. Those games where awsome . But enough about that. I prefer Disgaea for, if for no other reason, the humor. How many times do you get to attack a jury when they vote against you?

La Pucelle, while entertaining, was just annoying to get through. I spent hours trying to level up, and purifing and capturing creatures never did me any good because... well. Just to much custimization for my tastes. Same thing bugged me with Disgaea and the other two NIS games. I mainly stick to the main characters unless they just suck... come to think if it... I still need to beat this game. Now where did I put it? *Goes off to rumage through his games*

The main character was just one of my problems, I liked him initially since he was amusing, but as I continued to play it just started to disappoint me that he never matured at all. So I never really felt that he was a hero, he was just there for comic relief. The other problem was the plot, I played through the human side, the storyline just seemed really contrived and predictable. I also don't like save the world plots in RPGs, that's why I've enjoyed Suikoden so much for the most part, Suikoden III being the exception in that area, but it had other qualities.

Suikoden IV was pretty much low point in the series, in my opinion. It added little to the francise as far as history or background goes, and the storyline was pretty weak. Suikoden V made up for that failure substantially though, since it was a great game, with a interesting story, though I think it was weakened by the silent antagonist.

Silent ANtagonist? Don't see those around often.

Don't you people even play non-jRPGs nowadays?

I picked up Oblivion some weeks ago. Wanted to create an all-around Breton whose looks would combine a mage's dignity with a warrior's rough but good looks. Apparently I suck at being a plastic surgeon, the result being Sam Gamgee-lookalike. Only scruffier.

I like the game and it's world that scales to your level to always be a challenge. Apart from clannfears, they're even more annoying than cliff racers from Morrowind, but I can live with that. The system is slightly changed when compared to the previous game, but somehow you can't powergame as good as you used to. Maybe because you can no longer make potions of fortify luck. I also really appreciate the following: lockpicking & diplomacy minigames, the game's feel (innovative but simply and oldschool), the combat system and Patrick Stewart as the emperor.

Name a good one? I didn't like Morrowind, so I have been leery of trying Oblivion.

As if anyone else could make a good RPG.

Is Bioware Japanese?!

Nope. Canada-based company.

Has anyone here played Tales of Symphonia? That was a pretty good game, and so was Baten Kaitos (prequel coming soon, yay)

I happen to be quite fond of the "Tales" series (Tales of Fantasia, Tales of Destiny, Tales of Symphonia, and whatever the other ones are). I, however, do not own a gamecube, and thus have not really had a chance to play more than just the beginning of Symphonia.

Sure, the Tales games are sappy, have horribly perdictible stories, and are aimed at young kids, but I still like them anyway

Tales of Phantasia had uh.. some adult-comedy, unless that was just inserted in the ROM (I'm sure it didn't make it state-side in their translation).

What did you mean it didn't make it state-side in their translation? If you meant DeJap, then that was the ones who translated the ROM...so it did. And if you meant the ones who officially translated it and released it in America...they don't exist, since it was never released outside Japan, I thought.

So yeah, adult humour.



EDIT: (ninja smiley in there so I could c/p for a certain silly Gloom who didn't want to find it herself)

It was released for GBA, I think.

Edit: Yep. Just searched Gamestop and found it.