Strategy RPG recommendations wanted

G

Greenpanda

Banned
I haven't played a strategy RPG in a long while and I'm looking for something new I can play. I figure my choices are:
- Phantom Brave
- La Pucelle
- Fire Emblem (the one already translated)
(I've already played Disgaea.) Anyone want to comment on the relative merits of these games? I'm in particular interested in whether Phantom Brave or La Pucelle is better since I'd imagine they're fairly similar, both being Nippon Ichi games and all (i.e., I'd rather play the better one.)
 
Greenpanda said:
I'm in particular interested in whether Phantom Brave or La Pucelle is better since I'd imagine they're fairly similar, both being Nippon Ichi games and all (i.e., I'd rather play the better one.)
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I think PB is better than LP.
 
Fire Emblem is the way to go as everyone else said. But if you were wondering, Nippon Ichi games are usually successively improved and better, having said that, La Pucelle was made BEFORE Disgaea and Phantom Brave was made after. :)
 
Phantom Brave is both better and worse than Disgaea. Both of them are leaps and bounds better than La Pucelle though.
 
Ferrio said:
Would Dragon Quarter count.... i mean......... it's a lot like a strat...
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Considering the strategy falls out the window once you get used to the SOL system, I'd have to say no. What's so strategic about knowing when to SOL: Restore?
 
^^ Don't listen to this. FM4 has no AI scripting at all. They just throw 50 mechs against your 5 or so and let tedium take over.
 
EviLore said:
^^ Don't listen to this. FM4 has no AI scripting at all. They just throw 50 mechs against your 5 or so and let tedium take over.
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I'd have to agree with this. I really like FM4, but it's mostly because of the story and the atmosphere. The tactical combat itself is pretty mindless on the AI's part.
 
eh, the AI in FM4 was decent. It did piss me off though when you were in Venezuela and you had to protect the shitty rebel mechs. The AI would go after those with a vengeance, and while they could hardly damage my guys, i would have to restart the (long ass) mission when the rebels got chewed up.
 
callous said:
I'd have to agree with this. I really like FM4, but it's mostly because of the story and the atmosphere. The tactical combat itself is pretty mindless on the AI's part.
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The worst thing about the enemy AI is that when enemy mechs are pretty much decapitated, then they start running from you, stretching out battles for ten or more additional turns. Sure, that's what I might do in real life, but that doesn't make it fun.
 
You guys all DO realize that he has made his choice on Fire Emblem already right? So everything after that was pretty much pointless. :D
 
I just find that the enemy, once they've made contact with you, simply stands their ground and fires. Backup units then stand idly by until some predetermined amount of damage has been taken by the first wave, at which point they move in. The only really challenging part of each battle consists of managing your damage well enough to survive the second wave. There's nothing wrong with this, but when it's the formula for almost every battle, it gets a little bit boring.

Duckroll, only if you consider it pointless for us to talk about videogames.
 
I agree that the AI in FM4 is weak, but there is still some challenge from breaking up the enemy links which makes it almost more like a puzzle game. Of course, I love Front Mission because it lets me combine my love of SRPGs and giant mecha that smash things.
 
duckroll said:
You guys all DO realize that he has made his choice on Fire Emblem already right? So everything after that was pretty much pointless. :D
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Assuming he never wants to buy a strategy game ever again, sure.
 
Fire Emblem = best game this generation. :D

Oh and Nintendo should be bombed for not giving us Fire Emblem before this one. :(
 
Prospero said:
As long as we're talking about Front Mission 4--how's Ring of Red? Worth picking up used?
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Yes, assuming that you really do have the patience of an SRPG fan because RoR demands even more than usual. Every initiated attack requires a self-contained 90-second interactive battle.

But then working with the up-close, stomping diesel-powered mechs and your infantry below during that time is what makes it so interesting.

Also be prepared for subpar localization and minimal game system details that you'll have to experiment with to really get the grasp of.
 
@ The End and BuckRobotron: I've got the patience, but I wonder if I've got the time. With FM4 I was lucky if I could get in two battles in an evening, and if Ring of Red's battles are even more drawn out, then it's weekends only for me, unless it has mid-battle saves.
 
Note it took me a couple years on and off to finish RoR, so you're not the only one. One or two missions every month or so.

Note that almost the entire meat of the game is in those attack sequences, the grid movement and strategy is VERY basic. You won't forget strategy for the grid movement over the months because there really isn't any of note.

Perfect to have around for when you are finally ready for the next big round of stomping old-school mechs witha couple hours to blow.
 
ManDudeChild said:
Considering the strategy falls out the window once you get used to the SOL system, I'd have to say no. What's so strategic about knowing when to SOL: Restore?
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Well I didn't use the SOL system once.... so it was very strategic.
 
Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together <-- still kicking the pants offa everything

...it's kinda sad that console Strategy RPGs hit their climax in 1995 on a 16bit system. Nothing since has been nearly as good imo (though FFT was nice).
 
Prospero said:
@ The End and BuckRobotron: I've got the patience, but I wonder if I've got the time. With FM4 I was lucky if I could get in two battles in an evening, and if Ring of Red's battles are even more drawn out, then it's weekends only for me, unless it has mid-battle saves.
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Ring of Red has mid mission saves but once you use a save, it's gone. Ring of Red is great game.
 
Tre has won this round. Get D2: Rise of the Elves and AoW: Shadow Magic. What they lack in purple-haired femme boys and archers in school girl garb they make up for in DEPTH and GAMEPLAY. Also, Disciples 2 has better art than every Fire Emblem game combined.
 
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