Alundra 8.3 -
Zelda like. So not an RPG but since some misguided people view them as RPGS I list it.
Alundra 2 7.0 - See Above
Arc the Lad Collection 8.4 - 4 games in one pretty good strat RPGs(though the first isnt very good and one is more like an xpack). The first lacks depth but was only meant as a set up for Arc 2 which is considered one of the best RPGs ever by many. Arc 3 is not as popular but still a great game too. If 3 games wernt enough there is a 5th that works with Arc 2 if your into monsters.
Azure Dreams 6.8 -
Average Monster Raiser Dungeon Crawler. If only it was as long and deep as the GBC version....anyways. In AD you play a boy who just came of age. Your allowed now to enter the giant tower to treasure hunt...the same tower where your father an excellent trainer/explorer went missing. Everytime you enter the tower you return to lvl1 and you can only bring in like 5 items with you. Your monsters retain their lvls and you can use 2 of your items as equipment so things get easier with time but it still adds a unique challange. You also can use your money to build up the town and mac on a few honies which is nice.
Beyond the Beyond 4.9 - Below average turn based RPG. Its pretty old school. I didnt care for it and its often named on worst RPG lists. Some dig it because the old school flava flav though.
Blaze and Blade(no score available) -
I dont know the first thing about this RPG....its one of the onle ones missing f rom my collection. Read a review!
Brave Fencer Musahsi 8.0 - Pretty popular Square runs on action system(it being an RPG is debatable, its closer then games like Zelda but still).
Breath of Fire III 7.1 - Personally Recommended one of my favs. Its traditional style. Its dragon system is probally the deepest in the series. The story is charming though many people feel there is to much filler.
Breath of Fire IV 8.1 - I didnt care for it but its still a good game in fairness. Its like the others but now you can swap charcters in and out of battle and combo.
Brigandine 5.9 - Good strat RPG. Its heavy on the strat and light on the RPG part. There isnt alot of story other then that that reveals more about your charcters. You have to defend land taking into consideration surronding positions and what enemies are near. As I said more tactics then RPG.
Castlevania Symphony of the Night 9.0 - HIGHLY reccomended Action/RPG/Platformer. VERY short but VERY good. Its a cult hit and called one of the best games ever for a reason.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2 6.7 -
Havnt played it. Its a dungeon crawler where you play as Chocobo and the other square mascots. Supposed to be below average.
Chrono Cross 9.3 - Sequal to hit Square game, personally though it was meh, large complicated story but it has some plot holes and is difficult to grasp. Huge cast but pretty much all needed more development. Unique lvling, weapon and skill system which are pretty good but could have used depth. Overall its overated but still a good game.
Darkstone 6.5 -
Good Diablo clone but REALLY bad load times so get the PC version if you can.
Diablo 7.9 - The classic PC game on the PSX. Bad load times but still a great game though if at all possible the PC version should be gotten since its controlls are better, there is an Xpack and fan mods.
Dragon Quest VII 7.7 - Personally really hate it. Very old school, spend hours lvling and saving money for the smallest of gains. Story driven but what story is there is shallow....basically a big build your party adventure fest. The series hasnt evolved much from the NES days.
Dragon Seed 5.4 -
Not so good Monster Raiser. If I recall monster power is effected by what you name them....
Dragon Valor 5.8 -
I and a number of others feel this one is underated. Its not an amazing game but with all its moves items and the unique lineage system it deserves a higher score. Its like Zelda so not an RPG but atleast there are some stats in this one. You play multiple charcters each the descendent of one you already played and your choiced effect whats happaning which adds replay value.
Eternal Eye 4.8 -
Below average stratagy RPG. Its not horrible but lacks depth and is very short. Hey what do you expect from a game that released at the budget price of $10.
Final Fantasy Anthology 8.7 -?in this case I say?fork out a little extra for the original carts(they are only about $20 anyways). FFVI, IV and CT are all AMAZING games for their times and defifntly worth playing. Just with the extra load times on PSX they arnt worth it.
Final Fantasy Chronicles 8.5 -
Same comments as Anthology accept this one is Chrono Trigger and IV.
Final Fantasy Origins 7.9 - This one is Final Fantasy 1 and 2. They are remakes with graphical and gameplay updates so this one I actually reccomend the PSX versions.
Final Fantasy VII 9.3 - Highly recommened. Very popular, long traditional batle system.
FFVIII 8.9 - Very unique has a traditional battle system everything else is rather unique. Monsters lvl up with you, power comes more from how you equip your magic then your lvl or equipment. I dont really care for it but many do.
FFIX 9.3 - Personally only average. Very cliche traditional type game, many love it though very simplistic. But then I say this of alot of SNES classics sooooo.
FF Tactics 8.5 - Highly recommended. Great deep political story. Strat RPG many think the best ever.
Front Mission 3 8.3 - I hated it but many people insist its one of the best strat RPGs ever. Its made by Squaresoft.
Grandia 8.7 - I just think its ok but many many LOVE the game. Grandia has a great battle and growth system but a cliche story/charcters.
The Granstream Saga 6.3 -
Zelda like Pretty average but a fun play if you can find it.
Guardians Crusade 6.9 - Turn based. I found this one somewhat fun because your allies are puppets that you find and bring to life(there are like 60 of em all with unique abilites). Its average but still a fun play.
Hoshigami 6.3 -
Dont know anything about it other then that its strat game and most seem to dislike. READ A REVIEW
Jade Cocoon 7.5 -
Pretty good monster raiser. Anime cut scenes and charcter desighns that are puuuurty. Decent story and a good monster system.
Kartia 7.4 -
Decent Strat RPG that I hate. MANY love this one though and would say its one of the best strat games ever made. Rather weird.
King's Field 7.9 -
For the time it was made it was an impressive action RPG. One of the first released on the system....hell one of the first games period. While not amazing its average and if your into old school RPGs especially first person dungeon crawler buy it.
King's Field 2 8.2 -
See Above
Koudelka 5.7 -
This "Survival Horror" RPG is the prequal to the cult fav Shadow Hearts. You play Koudelka a girl in a spookey old mansion where alot of bad **** has went down. Full of monsters ghosts and murderes you have to solve puzzles and live off what you find. The battle system is turn based and there are random battles but you move around in tactics RPG style. The system used is intreasting if your charcter uses guns they grow stronger based on what fighting style you use. The game is below average sadly though largly because it just needed to be longer and have a bit more polishing. Worth picking up even though its not very good if your a SH fan though just for tie ins.
Legend of Legaia 7.8 - Pretty good turn based RPG. Its very long with LOTS of cool side quests. The story is average and the battle system is great. Your arms and legs are represented by the four directions and you get to input so many commands. You will attack with the limbs specified and sometimes hit combos that will cause the charcter to do special moves. If that wasnt enough the magic system is very deep as well you catch monsters basically then get to summon them and they can lvl up! Reccomended.
Legend of Dragoon 7.7 - Personally hate it and alot of others do to.......but ALOT of people really love it. Its got a turn based battle system but with timed hits like Shadow Hearts or SMRPG(its like SH more since it has much more depth then SMRPG).
Legend of Mana 7.0 - Just about everyone knows the Mana series. This one has the same great action gameplay as the last but its VERY different over all. The world is bare....no towns.....dungeons NOTHING exists. To get them to show up you have to find items and place them on the map. Depending on where you place em and what they are near the dungeons items, monsters and other things will be different. You get to build your own weapons, raise a farm, create a golem to fight with you or if you preffer raise a pet to fight alongside you. Fun original game.
Lunar Silver Star Story 8.5 - Good game many think its one of the best I say good but not THAT good. Cliche but good/well told story, cliche but decently developed charcters. Normal battle system except charcters can move around.
Lunar 2 Eternal Blue 8.5 - See Lunar. You dont need to play Lunar SSS to play EB but there are charcters that return so its good to do.
Mega Man Legends 1 7.1 -
Fun Zelda like game. I really enjoyed it. There is some platforming but its minor. Weapon upgrades and other items provide more depth then often seen in these kind of games.
Mega Man Legends 2 7.6 -
See above but probally a bit better.
Monkey Hero 5.0 -
Below average Zelda like game. As the title suggests you play a...monkey hero!
Monster Seed 4.9 -
Not so good Monster Raiser....what Sunsoft games are good though. Oddly that most companies that are made up of former Square guys put out bad games.
Monster Rancher 1 5.9 - Great monster raiser game. Ignore the score on this one its horribly underated. Very unique you create monsters using your CDs some unlike special monsters. Sending monsters out on quests is very fun as well. Reccomended to monster fans.
Monster Rancher 2 8.0 -
Most seem to like this one better but I dont. Its a great game but I like the first and third better.
Parasite Eve 7.9 - Mixed feelings for this game from most people. Personally I love it. Its really short but has high replay value since it has a New Game + were you start with alot of stuff. Its an action based game but with an ATB as well so you can only attack at certain points. The story is deep as well and it has purty FMVs.
Persona 7.6 -
Persona is a cult hit. I dont think the first is that great though. Im feeling lazy after all this typing READ A REVIEW!
Persona 2 Eternal Punishment 8.3 - GREAT game but I dont reccomend it very often since its not for everyone. The game is very traditional and Japanese. Its set in modern times, most names are Japanese and some people have a hard time keeping track of all the charcters because of the Japanese names. You must lvl up your charcters and upgrade ALOT and it takes a fairly long time. If you like traditional games and have the patience I reccomend finding this game. Bit of a learning curve but considering the depth your offered its no biggie.
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure 6.6 -
A below average stratagy game. Its insanly easy and its story is very simplistic and cliche. Oddly this game charms the pants off some people.
RPG Maker 7.6 - Make your own RPGs with the tools provided in this game. Id still reccomend the PC ones first.
Saga Frontier 7.2 -
Many hate this game but it has a number of loyal fans myself included. It has a turn based battle system but its skill and lvl up system is unique. After battle you gain random stats depending on your actions, for instance if you casted a spell your chances of getting magic related stats are high, if you fought physically your more physical stats have a higher chance of going up. The skills you gain are also random and depend on what type of weapon you use(if you use a gun you may learn a gun skill if you use your fists martial arts etc etc).
The game has 7 different charcters each with their own story but the games are pretty similar since its so non linear.
Saga Frontier 2 7.4 - A bit more popular then the first. It has the same unique skill/lvl system but now only 2 charcters and the story is told in a very weird way. The graphics in this game are beautifull(like Unlimited Sagas their more art less graphics). Weapon Breaks are a *****! Also for the few of you that own a PDA(HAHAHA I DO I AM TEH HARDCORE l33t!)this is one of the few games that work with it stateside.
Shadow Madness 6.0 -
Not a good game but I dont think nearly as bad as some people say. Traditional RPG. Its basic in every way and just lacks depth...doesnt help that the charcters are so goofy but the story is serious...I mean a robot farmer and a head in a jar....
Star Ocean: The Second Story 8.0 - GREAT game very popular highly recommended. SO2 runs on an action based system, you get into random encounters like a normal game but then you can run around a battle field any direction you want attacking enemies, giving commands etc etc. The game is really short but it has ALOT of side quests many of which take a long time to get through. Story is pretty simplisitc as are the charcters and its text heavy.
Suikoden 8.5 - VERY short but a very good game. I reccomend buying it since you can find it for $10-20 and Suikoden 2 ties into 1 and Suikoden 2 is an amazing game. Suikoden does stand alone though dont get me wrong its an AWSOME game its only thing that keeps it from being top of my list is how short it is. Suikoden you lead an army of people against an empire....a real army of people you have 108 charcters to find and join your party most of whom will fight with you. Battle system is unique very fun game.
Suikoden 2 8.2 - Take Suikoden and improve on it big time. Its way longer has more side quests and stuff to do. HIGHLY reccomend great story, charcters just a great game. One of the most popular out there.
Tactics Ogre 7.5 -
Pretty good stratagy RPG. You can tell that the same team worked on FFT that worked on this...even its story is similar. Suffers from the same problems as the GBA one....battles take freaking forever since both you and the enemies hit like pansies and take forever to kill eachother. Still a good strat game.
Tales of Destiny 7.6 - Personal fav of mine. Pretty popular game. Fighting system is cool think of taking Street Fighter and making it an RPG thats what Tales is kinda like. You are on a 2D side scrolling map when you get in a random battle where you run and slash or thrust at the enemy including jumping ones. LOTS of side quests and items to find, pretty decent story but very likeable and well put toghter charcters. Plus swordians(talking swords that are like people and lvl up and get stronger)own all!!!
Tales of Destiny 2(Tales of eternia in Japan) 8.0 - Like ToD but there are lots of other small changes. I didnt really care for 2 much mostly because the game was far to easy then far to hard. Also the side quests wernt as rewarding. ToD2 has no connection to ToD you can play em in any order. I think most people like ToD2 better dont know for sure but I vastly preffer ToD.
Tecmo's Decpetion 8.0 -
I didnt play enough to say more then its probally average. READ A REVIEW!
Thousand Arms 7.8 -
Best known for the fact that it has a built in dating similar this below average game is still loved by some. The battle system is unique only the main charcter attacks if I recall while the other party members cheer you on which helps your attacks. Also if I recall the dating system ties into weapon smithing. READ A REVIEW!
Threads of Fate 7.5 -
Decent Square action RPG(it being an RPG is debatable, its closer then games like Zelda but still). Two playable charcters one uses magic the other monster transformations. Fair amount of platforming in the game including a side scrolling 2D part thats pure platformer.
Torneko The Last Hope 5.2 -
Below average Dungeon Crawler where you play as Torneko of Dragon Quest fame. Hunt through the dungeons floor to floor battling and trying to avoid the monsters while looking for treasure!
Vagrant Story 9.2 - Popular Square game. Great story, action RPG with unique battle system and growth system. Recommended.
Valkyrie Profile 8.3 -
I hated it thats all ill say since I didnt play through the majority of it. You play a God sent by Odin to gather souls to fight for him, you must find humans to fight train them then send them up to Odin. There wasnt much story unless you get the best ending. You only have so much time to train people before you have to send them up and I find this limitation mixed with the breakable weapons and loosing charcters to be a huge annoyance. The battle system is unique and many love it. Very popular despite my dislike. I reccomend reading Xythars review at
www.gamefaqs.com
Vandal Hearts 1 7.8 -
Average strat RPG. The game is compltly straightforward you cant stop to lvl up but it does have a few side areas. If it had a little more depth and was a little longer would be alot better. Still considering it was one of the first RPGs on the system.
Vandal Hearts 2 7.7 -
Good strat RPG. The graphics are grainy but a good skill system and intreasting story make up for it. The battle system takes time to get used to though seeing as you and the enemy move at the same time(you select were to move and what to do and the enemy does at the exact same time so you have to predict what they will do). Weapon system is also pretty good. The story gives you options that open up multiple paths for replay value too. If you have played FFT this may be a good choice for your next strat RPG.
Vanguard Bandits 6.5 -
Strat RPG with multiple paths for good replay value. The game is compltly straightforward you cant stop to lvl up or do anything which annoys many people and makes the later part of the game very hard(most gripe that the whole game is insanly hard).
Wild Arms 8.4 - Love it highly recommended. Decent story but I loved the charcters their pretty well put toghter. Traditional battle system, lots of items to find and things to do. Has kinda an old western theme.
Wild Arms 2 6.6 - First off ignore the idiotic score. This games ranking is a testement to the fact that reviwers arnt RPGs. This game is seen as a classic among RPGers. Good story, skill system everything is good.
Xenogears 9.1 - Last in the reccomended PSX Library but far from the worst. The battle system is unique you can fight in or out of giant mechas. Out of the mechas you have a button imput system that makes your charcters chain toghter attacks. The story is HUGE one of the best and most complicated stories ever. Very text intesive, anime instead of FMV cut scense.
