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[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Not really sure about similar games on the 360 or PC but:

The Vandal Hearts games are pretty good. Not as good as FFT, but I like the really big parties you get and the stories are decent. 2 has this really weird dual move system where one of your characters and one of the enemies each go at the same time. It's interesting at first, but you'll quickly figure out how to outsmart and the game becomes very easy. Those are original Playstation games so they're probably out for you. Konami did release a new Vandal Hearts game a few years back that may be on xbox arcade, but I don't think I ever heard any good things about it.

Vanguard Bandits was pretty fun what I remember.

Tactics Ogre gets a lot of recommendations but I just couldn't get into it. The story was pretty good, but the battle system left a lot to be desired. I only played the PSP version though.

 

[Bastables]

If you play Tactics Ogre, either hunt down the PS1 version or play a fan translation of the Super Famicom version. The PSP version is horrible.

You're wrong PS1 versions the worst with its insane loading times and laggy play. SNES and PS1 still have the bullshit if the enemies scaling to the strongest member of your party which is an even bigger issue as the older versions lack the class levelling and skill personalisation/tradeoffs system.

 

[poncle]

I think I've played every single SRPG out there that doesn't have standard attacks that last 60 seconds, and FFT still has the best system of them all.

Since most big titles came out already, let me name some of the less known ones:

• [PSX] Brigandine (hexagonal grid, cool party management. Disable those battle animations asap)
• [PSX] Kartia (cool resource management & terrain manipulation)
• [PS2] Stella Deus (to taste)
• [PS2] Eternal Poison (compact. Disable those battle animations asap)
• [DS] Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (it's VALKYRIE PROFILE)

When everything will inevitably fail, just go for any of the many mods available for FFTactics and enjoy the novelty of them.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

I actually prefer Final Fantasy Tactics Advance to the original Tactics. It is my favorite strategy RPG and one of my favorite games overall, partially due to nostalgia since I played Tactics Advance first when it first came out.



Matsuno directed Final Fantasy Tactics which is a huge role that covers more than just story. Ito designed the battle system.

True, but people tend to downplay or outright ignore Hiroyuki Ito's role in making FFT so I wanted to point out the difference with Tactics Ogre.

 

[QFNS]

I can tell you that both Massive Chalice and Banner Saga are bad and shouldn't be played by anyone looking for something with the depth of FFT.

Came here to warn people away from these. Glad to see it was covered already.

Both of those games claim FFT was some influence on them, but it barely shows other than being turn based.

Massive Chalice I actually finished (probably because it was so easy after a certain point) I also should have probably played on a harder difficulty from the start, but by the end I was happy I didn't so it could be over faster. I was really let down by that game, the potential was great, but I think the relatively small funding meant that it was never going to evolve into the game I wanted. It should have tipped me off during one of the first "team streams" they did where Muir played FFT and was criticizing a bunch of things about the systems in that game which I loved (facing and the skills system mostly). Oh well. I got my money's worth, but I don't recommend anyone else bother.

Banner Saga I think you REALLY need to like the art and soundtrack and atmosphere to find that game fun. It is very shallow strategically. I never got through it due to boredom.

 

[autoduelist]

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together on PSP is wonderful. You can play it on Vita if you have one.

Came to say this, prefer it on vita.

vita is a srpg machine... tons of them due to psp/ps1 support. jeane d'arc is a great 'easy entry' srpg, but there's piles of them if you look into it. You've got wild arms xf, ragnarok tactics, yggdra union, gungnir, valkyria chronicles 2, Growlanser IV, and more. Some others i've heard of but haven't gotten around to checking out at all include Saiyuki and Blazing Souls Accelerate.

Oh, and also Tom Clancy's Endwar on PSP if you want a different environment.

Also worth checking out rainbow moon [a jrpg with srpg style combat], the arc the lads (not srpg, but similar combat in some ways), and others. Heck, even trails in the sky has combat somewhat reminiscent of srpgs.

And then ps1 games... front mission 3, etc.

All are varying degrees of quality, style, difficultly, etc, and generally some like any given game more than others. Worth researching each for yourself.

 

[JohnTinker]

I've had the SRPG itch for a while, anything good out on 3DS or WiiU? I already own (and love) Fire Emblem

 

[Robert at Zeboyd Games]

I've had the SRPG itch for a while, anything good out on 3DS or WiiU? I already own (and love) Fire Emblem

Devil Survivor: Overclocked on 3DS is excellent. One of my favorite Atlus games ever.

 

[Azriell]

I've had the SRPG itch for a while, anything good out on 3DS or WiiU? I already own (and love) Fire Emblem

Can't go wrong with Advance Wars Dual Strike, although it's pretty expensive for an old game. Could keep you busy for a very long time, however.

 

[TheOne10]

that eshop game that came out recently merc sagas or something is pretty much a clone with fire emblem like job system

 

[Oregano]

I've had the SRPG itch for a while, anything good out on 3DS or WiiU? I already own (and love) Fire Emblem

Ghost Recon Shadow Wars on 3DS. Not so much of an RPG but it's really great.

 

[WarWolf]

I think Shining Force 1&2 are on the Sonic Genesis collection on 360. Might be worth checking out.

 

[DealWithIt]

I just want to add my voice to those saying Shining Force I and II and III. Which are all very good games. Shining force CD on sega CD is also very good. Shining force II is my favorite of those.

Fire emblem Awakening is another solid SRPG

 

[Koren]

Can't go wrong with Advance Wars Dual Strike, although it's pretty expensive for an old game. Could keep you busy for a very long time, however.

Ghost Recon Shadow Wars on 3DS. Not so much of an RPG but it's really great.

Agree on both... Ghost Recon is short, but it may be the only tactical on the 3DS, and is really good (especially for a low-profile launch game). AW is a must, and I also prefer Dual Strike to Days of Ruin by far.

That's why. It's hard to go back to if you played a later entry first. (I know from experience, played 3 first)

Oh, I see...

I'd still suggest 3 (except if you're only interested in the story)... Because I can't see someone entering Disgaea now playing 1, 2, 3, 4, D2 and 5 postgames, so if they're interested in the game mechanics, they can directly skip to a recent one.

I think Disgaea 1 worth a playthrough for the story, but I think you can play it before or after a more recent one without much issues. Just don't invest time in the post-games of the first two games...

 

[HK-47]

XCOM with the Long War mod is the best you are gonna get from a gameplay perspective.

Tactics Ogre is the closest in terms of feel and story.

Devil Survivor is just the best period.

 

[qualitydisc]

Oh man this thread makes me feel like I have an itch that I desperately need to scratch. The SRPG genre is really neglected, isn't it?

I just started playing Kartia for PS1 for the reasons that it's a) a tactics-style RPG and b) Yoshitaka Amano artwork? Yes please always. I was a little worried because it rarely gets mentioned on GAF and I know this genre has some vocal fans, so I thought maybe it wouldn't be good. Seems OK so far for a PS1 title. (Though I would entertain other opinions on it if you all have some.)

 

[DealWithIt]

Dark Wizard on Sega CD is another worthy game to try.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Play Tactics Ogre if you havent.

 

[texhnolyze]

Front Mission series and Super Robot Taisen games if you don't mind the Japanese language.

 

[rootbeerafloat]

Tactics Ogre is really the best answer to your question. I sat down to briefly check it out and less than a week later I'd put like 90 hours into it. Fantastic game. Worth obtaining another PSP for.

 

[TheBryanJZX90]

Oh man this thread makes me feel like I have an itch that I desperately need to scratch. The SRPG genre is really neglected, isn't it?

I just started playing Kartia for PS1 for the reasons that it's a) a tactics-style RPG and b) Yoshitaka Amano artwork? Yes please always. I was a little worried because it rarely gets mentioned on GAF and I know this genre has some vocal fans, so I thought maybe it wouldn't be good. Seems OK so far for a PS1 title. (Though I would entertain other opinions on it if you all have some.)

I got Kartia back in the day for the exact same reasons as you. I didn't like it much then because I was really into the FFT/TO style of creating a team of individual party members that you could see progress from level to level and get to customize. The golems or dolls or whatever they were in Kartia didn't really do it for me. But I haven't played the game in probably 15 or 16 years now so I don't remember much more than that. If I had lots more time going back and taking another look could be interesting.

 

[ApharmdX]

It's hard to find/play but Dragon Force was a really good SRPG, though it plays out much differently compared to FF: Tactics.

 

[Rephin]

To sound like a broken record, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together on PSP. That's the closest to FFT out of any game out there. Personally, I like it more than FFT, as I've logged way more hours into that game than FFT (across all my copies, and I even own 3 copies/versions of that game and have played all of them to completion).

I also loved Jeanne D'Arc (loved!), but it's a distant second to Tactics Ogre and FFT in terms of complexity and story.

 

[qualitydisc]

I was really into the FFT/TO style of creating a team of individual party members that you could see progress from level to level and get to customize. The golems or dolls or whatever they were in Kartia didn't really do it for me.

I'm still early in the game and I'm still learning the mechanics, but so far I only have usually 1 party member who can create phantoms, and that same party member is usually more powerful than the others. Which means I have to spend their turn creating phantoms to replace the ones that get killed rather than use their OP fighting techniques. Which seems like a waste. Like I said, I'm still a noob and I'm not sure if I'm playing it right since there was no tutorial whatsoever (90s game design for ya!).

 

[warheat]

Tactics Ogre : Let Us Cling Together and it's better than FFT.

 

[DrROBschiz]

Tactics Ogre : Let Us Cling Together and it's better than FFT.

No its not but I respect the game and the opinion regardless

Damn close. Still it falls short in Visuals but thats about it

Otherwise amazing game and damn close to FFT



I keep mixing LUCT with Knights of Lodis for GBA

Totally different games in a lot of ways

 

[Recall]

It's still a shame that Vandal Hearts 1 and 2 never came to PSN. They are the most accessible and still wonderfully entertaining SRPGs I've ever played.

 

[Brandon F]

I'm not terribly deep into it, but you cannot go wrong with SMT Devil Survivor: Overclocked on 3DS(and I assume the more recent sequel as well). Slightly different flavor with the demon fusing and scenario setup, but its a fascinating twist on the staple SRPG mechanics and storytelling design that should engage any genre fan.

Surprised at the Tactics Ogre PSP hate from a select few. I never played much of the game, but since launch its been popularized as the definitive version of that game from what I could tell. There must be some balancing concerns or mechanical issues to suddenly cause such a split in opinions(?) because certainly the visual makeover couldn't be at fault.

Valkyria Chronicles has an atrocious battle 'grade' system that should be wholly ignored, but should not be missed.

Jeanne D'Arc is a pretty but ultimately lightweight take on the genre that is certainly enjoyable as well.

 

[Haint]

ITT most people don't realize what makes FFT different and special is the 5v5 combat, proceeds to recommend 10-20+v10-20+ games.

 

[Jazzy Network]

ITT most people don't realize what makes FFT different and special is the 5v5 combat, proceeds to recommend 10-20+v10-20+ games.

Except that like 80% of the game the fights are.....not 5v5?

 

[animax]

If you play Tactics Ogre, either hunt down the PS1 version or play a fan translation of the Super Famicom version. The PSP version is horrible.

This is quite possibly the worst piece of advice I've ever heard! I put the psp version as the greatest remake of any game ever. Puts a modern sheen on it and frankly makes FFT unplayable in comparison. Because as great a game as FFT is, it is slow and has horrific spikes/dips in difficulty.

Jeanne D'arc is simpler but is fantastic nonetheless.

I enjoyed disgaea 1 but after that it just got out of hand, too much going on and caters too much to the fanatics willing to put in 300+ hours.

It's a shame that there are only a handful of truly great games in this genre

 

[Grief.exe]

Are Jeanne D'arc, Tactics Ogre:LUCT, and FFT: WotL all playable on the Vita?

 

[Sheriff_Battlesnake]

I'll probably get reamed for this, but I sure did love XCOM.

I mention it due to both games have you navigating a grid. XCOM and FFT are drastically different otherwise.

Isn't this the common consensus? I thought XCOM was a pretty knock out success in the genre.

 

[DrROBschiz]

Are Jeanne D'arc, Tactics Ogre:LUCT, and FFT: WotL all playable on the Vita?

Yes and Yes

Though with caveats

Jeanne D Arc needs PS3 transfer i believe? It might be on the store now though

Tactics Ogre is easy street. Right on the store

FFT is... of course they never patched the slowdown because lol its a PSP game....

 

[Skilletor]

ITT most people don't realize what makes FFT different and special is the 5v5 combat, proceeds to recommend 10-20+v10-20+ games.

I never thought about that. It's certainly not what makes it special to me. I think the job system is what makes it special, the depth of customization.

I prefer larger parties in games and so TO:LUCT has surpassed FFT as my favorite SRPG.

 

[DrROBschiz]

I never thought about that. It's certainly not what makes it special to me. I think the job system is what makes it special, the depth of customization.

I prefer larger parties in games and so TO:LUCT has surpassed FFT as my favorite SRPG.

FFT battles can be more swift, concise and exciting as a result though.

Totally agree with you on what makes it special. Customization was supreme in FFT

 

[Crankshaft]

It's still a shame that Vandal Hearts 1 and 2 never came to PSN. They are the most accessible and still wonderfully entertaining SRPGs I've ever played.

Konami has been bringing the Suikoden games to PSN lately so I am hoping there is still hope for Vandal Hearts.

 

[The_Darkest_Red]

ITT most people don't realize what makes FFT different and special is the 5v5 combat, proceeds to recommend 10-20+v10-20+ games.

ITT people with different opinions than yours.

 

[bigace33]

The only thing that comes close imo is Tactics Ogre. which is much deeper and more difficult than FFT, but overall I think is inferior. It did scratch that itch I was looking for as it is very similar but does not have as memorable characters or Jobs. FFT is the G.O.A.T and cannot be touched by any of those other games.

Edit: How could I forget Ghost Recon Shadow wars? The game is fantastic, nothing like FFT but a great strategy title.

 

[Dimitri LH]

Tactics Ogre on the GBA was good. All the games already mentioned are worth a try. I would reccomend Phantom Brave, but its not similar to FFT at all.....but it is fairly unique and worth a play, I need to play the wii/psp version to see what they added.

Also, has anyone played Ounimusha Tactics? Was always curious about that one.

Edit: I swear im the only person not bothered by the slowdowns in FFT:WotL....what I do miss are the magic incantations.

 

[DrROBschiz]

The only thing that comes close imo is Tactics Ogre. which is much deeper and more difficult than FFT, but overall I think is inferior. It did scratch that itch I was looking for as it is very similar but does not have as memorable characters or Jobs. FFT is the G.O.A.T and cannot be touched by any of those other games.

Yeah

FFT is still the gold standard. Shame it never got a true sequel.. would have love to see how they would have built upon the original

 

[Pinko Marx]

Is Jeanne D'Arc on PSN & PSV compatible?
I had it on PSP but that was on UMD.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

ITT people with different opinions than yours.

yep, that's what puts me off FFT. Tactics Ogre is the better game to me because of the larger party size.

 

[TheChaos0]

Disgaea is certainly a bit different but it's a really good series as long as you don't mind it being a bit crazy. I'd play Disgaea 1 and then whatever you wish from the recent ones. I wasn't a fan of 3 myself.

 

[kpaadet]

Is Jeanne D'Arc still not on EU PSN?

 

[DrROBschiz]

yep, that's what puts me off FFT. Tactics Ogre is the better game to me because of the larger party size.

Does tactics ogre have the ability customization and gear depth of FFT?

I havent played much LUCT but I know knights of Lodis on GBA was mechanically inferior

 

[bigace33]

Does tactics ogre have the ability customization and gear depth of FFT?

I havent played much LUCT but I know knights of Lodis on GBA was mechanically inferior

I would say even more so. To the point where I found it to be a pain in the butt. I hit a brick wall with my particular squad build as they were all high level, but could only do -1 point of damage to ogres and some monsters, so it made the fights impossible. FFT skill and job management is a lot more fun and casual in my opinion, TTO is more hardcore.

 

[The_Darkest_Red]

TO is insane when it comes to unit customization and battle preperation. Many TO battles are won not on the battlefield but in menus leading up to the battle. I can see how it's not for everyone but I loved it, despite some clear imbalances between classes.

Fire Emblem is the gold standard for SRPG's in my mind, though. What it lacks in customization it more than makes up for in balance, scenario design, and unit design.

 

[batbeg]

When looking at the gameplay mechanics of deep strategy on the maps and how best to navigate your goals and the endless customization of units available to you, alongside a more serious story and art direction, the only one I can really say is Front Mission 3 (PSX/PSN). I'm sure Tactics Ogre is applicable as well but I've never played it. Seriously though, Front Mission 3 and FFT were the cream of the crop to me.

Other good ones (which I believe have all been mentioned):

Valkyria Chronicles (PC/PS3) - Has a great atmosphere with a good paced story. The gameplay is frustratingly brilliant (the frustration stems from the like of copycat titles). The music and graphics are amazing.

Valkyrie Profile Covenant of the Plume (DS) - Interesting mix of normal VP combat placed onto a SRPG grid, with its own unique features to the genre.

Devil Survivor: Overclocked (DS, 3DS) - Shin Megami Tensei the SRPG sounds appealing and the reason it sounds appealing is because it is a good idea. Demon collecting grid stomping joys await here.

Wild Arms XF (PSP) - Hexagon based system with unique classes aplenty and a great boon to the genre, interesting mission objectives!

There's others I'd mention but they become fringe titles, not so much like FFT. If you're interested in any of those just say so and I'll be more than happy to list though lol. By the sounds of the systems you have at hand I guess Valkyria Chronicles is about it for you though. If you still have a PSP or a Vita or a PS3 that opens things up a bit more.

I always make sure to unrecommend peoples recommendation of Jeanne d'Arc. Boring game. Pretty but such basic droll gameplay with absolutely zero challenge. One of the few games I've ever beat but just never enjoyed.

 

[ProfessorMoran]

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. I like it more than FFT. Not that expensive on PSN either. Unfortunately not available on 360, or PC, without emulation.

Bingo.