cheap PS2 RPGs

[Yuri-G]

this doesn't really deserve a whole thread but I can't think of any other place to put it, so here we go. I'm going to buy Okami for PS2, but want to get one more game so I can get free shipping on amazon. I'd like something cheap but good, which isn't too hard to find with PS2 RPGs. so far, I've narrowed it down to a few choices:

Shadow of the Colossus
Baroque
Rogue Galaxy

of course, SotC is a classic, but I'm wondering if I'd really enjoy it. I haven't read much about the actual gameplay and how deep it is. is there a lot of meat to it besides running around and finding/killing the colossi?

Baroque sounds... intriguing. hardcore difficult, but ultimately just as rewarding as it is frustrating. I'm not sure if I'd like it or not to tell the truth but the reviews I've read fascinate me. has anyone played it (or the Wii version?) and is the story very good? does it get annoying running around town while your vitality drains?

Rogue Galaxy, I've heard a lot about. basically, I keep hearing "weak story, ok battle system, good graphics, insanely deep customization and sidequests" over and over. is that a fair assertion of the game?

and if you can suggest anything else I'm all ears, although a surprising number of PS2 RPGs are too expensive on Amazon to justify the purchase (my initial list of choices had Wizardry, Disgaea 2, Ys Napishtim, and a bunch of others, most of which were over $50)

[Jefe]

SotC ain't no RPG.

[Atreides]

Baroque is so-so, I guess you have to like Roguelikes a lot to get into it. I played it for a while, but the game gets really repetitive as you progress->die->restart over and over again. The atmosphere is interesting, but I wouldn't pick it up unless you're a diehard roguelike fan or you can find it for under 10 bucks.

The first SMT: Devil Summoner is something like 9 or 10 bucks at Gamestop (new and used are both cheap, last I checked).

Also I think Mana Khemia is $19.99, isn't it? I've never played the Atelier Iris series but I've heard good things about it.

But yeah, get Rogue Galaxy seriously omg. Well worth the $20 bucks you'd spend on it

[Pharaun]

SotC while an absolutely amazing game takes a minimalist approach to almost everything it does. Definitely worth playing, but other than hunting the Colossi there's not a whole lot to do other than gawk at the scenery.

Never played Baroque, so I can't really say anything about it.

I really enjoyed Rogue Galaxy, I wouldn't say that the story is weak, but it won't win any awards either. The rest seems to be a fair representation of the game. If you ever played Dark Cloud 2 that will give you some idea of what to expect from the battle system and customization as they are very similar. If you haven't played DC2 just get that.

[Yuri-G]

SotC ain't no RPG.

fine, RPGs, action-RPGs, and adventure games, or anything similar involving exploration and story

[Yuri-G]

Baroque is so-so, I guess you have to like Roguelikes a lot to get into it. I played it for a while, but the game gets really repetitive as you progress->die->restart over and over again. The atmosphere is interesting, but I wouldn't pick it up unless you're a diehard roguelike fan or you can find it for under 10 bucks.

The first SMT: Devil Summoner is something like 9 or 10 bucks at Gamestop (new and used are both cheap, last I checked).

Also I think Mana Khemia is $19.99, isn't it? I've never played the Atelier Iris series but I've heard good things about it.

But yeah, get Rogue Galaxy seriously omg. Well worth the $20 bucks you'd spend on it

those atelier games just seem so... gay. and I'm saying this, which makes them a whole other level of gay. but if they're good games, and have well-written/funny dialogue, they might be worth a try... hmm...

so Baroque wasn't that good huh? it sounds like it's fun but gets boring rather fast. hmm.

so it's back to Rogue Galaxy or SotC... right where I started lol. Rogue Galaxy would probably be a better value, but SotC is a game I've always meant to play.

hrm. guess I'll have to think about it some more.

[Furoris]

I really enjoy Rogue Galaxy also, however it gets repetitive in the run all the way in somewhere now you have to run all the way out department with the same amount of enemy encounters. I really enjoyed the battle system but the very long runs, coupled with what is essentially random encounters, can really drain a lot out of you.

[Atreides]

my only complaint with the battle system is that there's no way to control your own/allies abilities (or heal) on the fly as often as you need to, so you have to pause combat a fair amount to set off buffs/nukes/use items. It's a minor gripe though, I guess. I didn't have a problem with running around taking too long, as you can warp between save points as often as you want.

The game can get pretty repetitive in terms of killing enemies for low drop rate revelation board (like the license board, only using different drops instead of purchased with AP) items, or killing monster quotas for ranking, but if you stick with it the game really has a lot of stuff to do:

-Insectron (something like pokemon meets chess)
-Monster ranking (kill 15-30 of every monster in the game)
-Item factory (to make like 20-25 different items/weapons)
-Weapon fusion (probably the best part of the game, really addictive, there's something like 300+ weapons in the game)
-Rare hunts (optional bosses, like 8 in all?)

As well as 2 post-game dungeons.

Oh and most of the above stuff gives you extra outfits/armor for your party members too.

Like you said, it's probably the best value for your money, but I love it enough that I can be considered biased.

[Yuri-G]

my only complaint with the battle system is that there's no way to control your own/allies abilities (or heal) on the fly as often as you need to, so you have to pause combat a fair amount to set off buffs/nukes/use items. It's a minor gripe though, I guess. I didn't have a problem with running around taking too long, as you can warp between save points as often as you want.

The game can get pretty repetitive in terms of killing enemies for low drop rate revelation board (like the license board, only using different drops instead of purchased with AP) items, or killing monster quotas for ranking, but if you stick with it the game really has a lot of stuff to do:

-Insectron (something like pokemon meets chess)
-Monster ranking (kill 15-30 of every monster in the game)
-Item factory (to make like 20-25 different items/weapons)
-Weapon fusion (probably the best part of the game, really addictive, there's something like 300+ weapons in the game)
-Rare hunts (optional bosses, like 8 in all?)

As well as 2 post-game dungeons.

Oh and most of the above stuff gives you extra outfits/armor for your party members too.

Like you said, it's probably the best value for your money, but I love it enough that I can be considered biased.

uh huh. and these outfits and armor. do they change the characters appearance? because I love dressing up my RPG characters in various outfits and crap, and hate it when new armor/weapons don't make a change in your appearance.

[Atreides]

they do, there are 5 or 6 outfits ultimately availalable to each of the 8 characters, and each one changes your appearance (as well as having small differences in defense and elemental resistance). Each of the 300 or so weapons has a unique model as well, although they're generally broken into groups of 5 with different colors.

[Fiendishone]

Vandal Hearts (the blood! it gushes everywhere!)
Suikoden (the first one)
Alundra (one of the most difficult, but enjoyable RPG's I've ever played)
Legend of Dragoon (so sad they never made a sequel to this awesome game)

P.S. yes I know those are PS1 games but they will still play on PS2.

[Tits]

Suikoden (the first one)

OP would be remiss to play only Suikoden 1.

[Atreides]

oh yeah, Gamestop has Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 used for 9.99 each this week as well

[Yuri-G]

OP would be remiss to play only Suikoden 1.

OP has played all the Suikodens except the Gaidens, Rhapsodia (though I've started it) and Tierkris (again, started it).

used to be my favorite game series before SMT games started getting published more in the U.S.

and I'm currently playing Alundra actually... lol

[Atreides]

plus by cheap ps2 games you clearly meant expensive and hard to find ps1 games, right?

[Tits]

OP has played all the Suikodens except the Gaidens, Rhapsodia (though I've started it) and Tierkris (again, started it).

used to be my favorite game series before SMT games started getting published more in the U.S.

and I'm currently playing Alundra actually... lol

How about some of the Nippon Ichi titles such as Disgaea, La Pucelle Tactics, and Phantom Brave? SRPGs, the lot of them.

plus by cheap ps2 games you clearly meant expensive and hard to find ps1 games, right?

hush you!

[Yuri-G]

How about some of the Nippon Ichi titles such as Disgaea, La Pucelle Tactics, and Phantom Brave? SRPGs, the lot of them.



hush you!

have all three, and disgaea 2 was more expensive than I wanted to spring for right now

I'll probably get Rogue Galaxy. I'm still wary of the story, but the gameplay sounds really deep regardless.

[Elcura]

Gameplay is really fun, but just be careful of the HORRIBLE dungeon crawling (and the Prison part is a huge jump in difficulty for most people). There's a section with 2 towers you may be tempted to quit, but if you can keep playing it gets better.

Story is typical and kinda meh, but if you like the gameplay then it's definitely worth playing.

[Palom]

have all three, and disgaea 2 was more expensive than I wanted to spring for right now

I'll probably get Rogue Galaxy. I'm still wary of the story, but the gameplay sounds really deep regardless.

I've heard people hit and miss on the story for Rogue Galaxy, but I really enjoyed it. I thought the voice acting was pretty good, which made the characters more likable. In any case, there is a ton of shit to do in the game. I'm usually slower than most people, but I put about 120 hours into it for one playthrough, and didn't even touch Insectron. Still could have done another run through of the 100-level endgame dungeon (which takes about 5-6 hours to do) for another outfit, too.

I really liked the item creation, and would level grind for hours leveling up weapons to mix. I also didn't really notice the encounter rate since I was doing the monster ranking as I advanced the story, so I'd stay longer than necessary fighting mobs. One thing that did irritate me was the 999 HP cap, which you hit at about level 65. From 65 to 99, you only gain MP. btw, the final boss is epic!

In the last 6-8 months, I've played through:

Valkyrie Profile 2 (loved it)
Star Ocean 3 (was okay, but I couldn't get the hang of the battle system, which made it somewhat frustrating)
Rogue Galaxy (loved it)
Radiata Stories (loved it)
Suikoden V and III (you've already played, so I won't bother gushing about V)
Final Fantasy X-2 (meh)
Wild Arms 3 (was pretty good, but felt like it dragged on and seemed a little bland)
Wild Arms V (loved it)
Tales of the Abyss (loved it)

PS2 had so many good RPGs, it's really tough to narrow down recommendations (especially when most are $20 anyway).

[Omnipotent]

.hack series.