Next RPG Series

[DarkClaymore]

I know there are similar threads, but I still think this one is a little different because I want a RPG series and not stand alone games.

I was thinking lately, I will soon finish FFIII and the only FFs which I need to finish (there are others as well, but there is no chance I'll get them) are:

-FFIV
-FFV
-FFVI
-FFX-2
-FFXII:RW
-FFCC
-FF Crystal Chornicles series (as many as I'll be able)
-FF Dirge Of Cerberus
-FFTA2


It may look like a lot. But after playing FFXII:RW for a short time, I realized how short are the spin-offs (FFTA was long though). Which means it won't take much time to finish them all.

So I was thinking, what will I do after I finish all of them?
Aside of playing some stand alone RPGs, I think I need another series to complete.




So, what series will you recommend me?
I don't care if it is old or whatever, as long as it is good.


Note that:

1) I want that I'll actually be able to play at least most of the games.
Platforms: Anything that has a working emulator (aside of PS2 which doesn't work at my computer for some reason), PC, NDS, PS3, PS2 (while I have it, not sure I'll be able to get older games) and maybe PSP in the not so far future.

2) I prefer RPG or Tactical RPGs, as well as JRPG. As for Action RPG, I don't hate it but my least prefered RPG type.


3) Non FF games I have played and enjoyed:
-Valkyria Chronicles
-Enchanted Arms
-Sudeki


4) I know I can always look for more info about the series on Wikipedia and such, but I'll be greatful if you'll write two things about the series when recommending it:
- A little about the gameplay, or at least whatever it is RPG, JRPG,ARPG etc...
-Whatever the plots of the games are connected or not



Thanks to anybody who helps!

 

[Zerokku]

Dragon Quest. See the beginning of console JRPGs.

From my comment on another thread -

Think of DQ as a sort of "comfort food" jrpg for a lot us big rpg fans. Many of us all go on about the disappointment at the monotony within FF and other JRPGs, and it's true. Despite how much I love FF, you can often see me complaining about it's ridiculous melodrama and the like that's so common in JRPGs.

But I can go and play DQ and have a fun and charming world with no pretenses, just good, clean, fun. It's not the typical JRPG (at least not by todays standards) and thats the best part. I don't have to deal with overly dramatic and pretentious plots, or an overly convoluted story that makes less sense the more you play it. DQ is all about the charming and imaginative world, and it should stay that way. I don't need any angsty beltandzipper types in one of the only refuges I have left when it comes to rpg gaming.

Some things shouldn't try and change too much, and DQ is one of them.

Aeana over at GAF also said it pretty well -

"The scenario presentation in Dragon Quest has remained fairly unique, even to this day. At the simplest level, your final task is presented to you at the very start of the game. It's usually to defeat some super-powerful demon lord who is reviving as we speak. The over-arching scenarios in Dragon Quest games are often criticized as 'clichéd,' and I don't really blame people for feeling this way. What these people haven't yet come to understand, however, is Dragon Quest's unique scenario presentation: the focus is entirely on the journey to your final destination, and not necessarily actually arriving there. The player gets wrapped up in many smaller stories in the process, meeting very interesting NPCs--who, I feel, are much more important than in any other series I've ever played--along the way, which provides an ultimately more rewarding experience in the end. The only other Japanese game series I can think of that takes a similar approach to scenario presentation is Mother/EarthBound.

Many would defame the series for 'refusing to evolve,' mistaking same old, same old for lack of innovation, not realizing how much it has evolved in its own way. Indeed, the Dragon Quest series has grown up at its own pace."

If you play 1 2 and 3, there are translated SNES versions floating around the net. The SNES versions feel a bit more polished to say the least. 1, 2, and 3 are all interconnected, 4, 5 are connected (6 sort of is as well) the rest are completely standalone. In fact all the games are essentially standalone, but there are connections between the ones I mentioned.

Oh and for clarification, the earlier Dragon Quest games were called Dragon Warrior here in the states, until recently.

Other recommendations - Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross if you have yet to play them. I'd actually recommend this one over DQ if that's the case.

 

[Triceratops!]

Im sorry, I did not quite understand... You want a game on PS2 or No?

Because if you can i think you would like the Persona series, or anything by Shin Megami Tensei for that matter

 

[RioDragon]

MegaTen Franchise

Assuming you're bigger on JRPGs than western RPGs, this series is Japanese RPG Series that can serve as a nice gateway to the western counterparts, much like Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior, which Zerokku suggested. Gameplay-wise, almost all the games are turn-based in combat. The themes are the main tie-ins, as they are apocalyptic or post apocalyptic in nature for the most part. The Raidou Kazunoha Devil Summoner games, however, notably take place at the early stages of the 20th century.

This series is known for dark settings and themes, as well as introducing the 'recruitable enemies' mechanic to the RPG genre, a mechanic first introduced to the Western market through the English localization of Pocket Monsters games, which are basically more kid-friendly, Nintendo-funded, takes on the mechanics of this series.

Earlier titles are mostly played with third-person world maps and first-person dungeons, also similar to the Dragon Quest games.

The games in this style are:

• Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (1987 for the Famicom, MSX, and recently a mobile phone remake)
• Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (1990 for the Famicom, also recent mobile phone remake)
• Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei (1995 for Super Famicom, an enhanced remake of DDS: Megami Tensei I and II)
• Shin Megami Tensei (1992 for Super Famicom, with Playstation and GBA remakes as well as full rom translations for SNES emulators)
• Shin Megami Tensei II (1994 for Super Famicom, with Playstation and GBA remakes as well as full rom translations for SNES emulators)
• Shin Megami Tensei: If... (1994 for Super Famicom, with Playstation remake)
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Akuma Zensho (1996 for Sega Saturn, possible PSP remake upcoming)
• Megami Ibunroku Persona: Be Your True Mind (1996 for PlayStation. Localized originally as Revelations: Persona in the US, a PSP remake is coming out for North America and possibly Europe in September under the name Persona. This was the first English-translated MegaTen game)
• Giten Megami Tensei: Tōkyō Mokushiroku (1997, Windows 95/98)
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (1997, Sega Saturn and PlayStation, PSP remake in the works.

Then you've got third-person dungeons and maps in these games:

• Persona 2: Tsumi and Batsu (1999-2000, PlayStation, only the second half localized in the US as Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. Batsu has been fan-translated into english as Persona 2: Innocent Sin. Collectively, they are called Persona 2: Crime and Punishment.)
• Shin Megami Tensei: NiNE (2002 for the Xbox)
• Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne/Nocturne MANIAX (2003-2004 for the Playstation 2, introduced the Press-Turn combat system. The Director's Cut, MANIAX, was released in the US as Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and in the PAL regions as Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifer's Call.)
• Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner I & II (2004-2005 for PlayStation 2, localized in PAL regions and the US as Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga I and II.)
• Devil Summoner: Kazunoha Raido tai Choriki Haiden (2006 for PS2, localized in English as Shin Megami Tensei: Raidou Kazunoha VS. The Soulless Army.)
• Persona 3/Persona 3 FES (2006/2007 for PS2. Both Versions localized in English.)
• Shin Megami Tensei: IMAGINE Online (2007 for PC/Mac, MMORPG, Free To Play)
• Persona 4 (2008 for PS2, localized in English.)
• Devil Summoner: Kazunoha Raido tai Abaddon O (2008 for PS2, localized in English as Shin Megami Tensei: Raidou Kazunoha VS. King Abaddon)
• Megami Ibunroku: Devil Survivor (2009 for the Nintendo DS, Localized in English.)