Hidden RPG "Gems"

[Pennycook]

I just got to thinking literally five minutes ago that I could do with a couple more RPGs to play. I'm confident that I'm pretty 'up to date' as far as the RPGs that have been released recently are concerned and I've got most of the main-stream games from the Final Fantasy series and stuff, but I was just wondering if anybody could recommend some slightly more obscure RPG games that maybe slipped under the net?

I don't know if it's just me, but most of the time I find the ones that very people seem to have heard of to be the best ones?

EDIT: Adding a list of the RPGs I already have (the ones I can think of, anyway) to save people from suggesting games I've already got in a second, just going to make sure it's alphabetical first. >.>. If you see some titles that you don't recognise, I'd recommend them. Unless they're starred; that means I wasn't particularly fond of them. But who knows; you might be. I'm aware that the "obscure" games are in the minority, but I think that at les several of them are ones that passed under the radar and never got the recognition they deserved. It's all Squeenix's fault; they release a Final Fantasy game and suddenly all the other RPGs of that year are forgotten.

Alundra II
Baldurs Gate II: Shadows of Amn *
Breath of Fire III
Breath of Fire IV: Dragon Quarter
Dark Cloud
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Fable
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy X
Golden Sun
Golden Sun 2
Jade Empire
Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic II
Legaia II: Duel Saga *
Legend of Dragoon
Legend of Legaia
Morrowind
Oblivion
Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Star Ocean III: Till the End of Time
Tales of Symphonia
The Adventures of Alundra
Vagrant Story

[herulach]

might and magic 5 demo is out not long ago, thats pretty enjoyable, although i dont know when the new one is out. and theres always oblivion

[Pennycook]

Originally Posted by herulach

might and magic 5 demo is out not long ago, thats pretty enjoyable, although i dont know when the new one is out. and theres always oblivion

Mm, I've got Oblivion. I had a Might and Magic once, I think; kicking about in the cupboard somewhere. I don't think I liked it. >.>

Thanks for the suggestion, though. :3

[DeludedGuy]

I hate to think of it as a hidden RPG, but Baldurs Gate comes to mind.

When I tell my friends about it, they have no clue what I'm talking about, and have never heard of it.

Baldrus Gate II: Shadows of Amn is the greatest RPG of all time IMO. No game has ever made me sit down for 10 hours and not worry about whats going on outside my bedroom.

[Pennycook]

Originally Posted by DeludedGuy

I hate to think of it as a hidden RPG, but Baldurs Gate comes to mind.

When I tell my friends about it, they have no clue what I'm talking about, and have never heard of it.

Baldrus Gate II: Shadows of Amn is the greatest RPG of all time IMO. No game has ever made me sit down for 10 hours and not worry about whats going on outside my bedroom.

I didn't like Baldurs Gate II. But, that said, I didn't actually really give it a chance. Maybe I should reinstall it... Hmm. What's so great about it in your opinion?

[herulach]

definately worth trying the demo, its a lot better than the previous incarnations

[DeludedGuy]

It's a definitive role-playing experience, and the only reason it can't be called the best game in its class is because in a sense there's nothing available that compares to it.

The story itself, the vast unique maps, the missions, the NPCs, everything really. You can do almost anything, and you can do it your way.

Here is a good review of the game.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/baldu...baldurs%20gate

[Big Leon]

I whole-heartdly agree, BG2 is the best RPG ever made :-) Absolutely loved that games and the expansion pack.

[Pennycook]

Originally Posted by DeludedGuy

The story itself, the vast unique maps, the missions, the NPCs, everything really. You can do almost anything, and you can do it your way.

Here is a good review of the game.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/baldu...baldurs%20gate

Cheers; I'll have a read of it.

[directhex]

chrono trigger, which is a SNES RPG unreleased in europe, is rather dandy

[DeludedGuy]

Originally Posted by directhex

chrono trigger, which is a SNES RPG unreleased in europe, is rather dandy

Agreed. I had never heard of it until an online friend (American) mentioned it to me about 4 years ago. So I got my hand on some emulators and got a copy of it; it took me a little while to get into it, but I really enjoyed it.

[directhex]

Originally Posted by DeludedGuy

Agreed. I had never heard of it until an online friend (American) mentioned it to me about 4 years ago. So I got my hand on some emulators and got a copy of it; it took me a little while to get into it, but I really enjoyed it.

well you already took BG2, and honestly, those two are the only ones i'd bother with - unless you start to get into the realms of crossover genres like action-rpg

[Pennycook]

Originally Posted by directhex

chrono trigger, which is a SNES RPG unreleased in europe, is rather dandy

I REALLY want it. Shame I don't have a Snes. I can't wait until they release that Blue Dragon game for the 360 (made by the same people).

[klarrix]

GOTHIC. Old game, amazing to play.
Very morrowind-ish, with a steep learning curve and free-form gameplay. You're placed in a huge mountainous and forested area full of bandits, trolls and the like and it's up to you to choose which of three camps to join and which abilities to learn. It LOOKS old, and most people haven't heard of it but I promise it's worth your time.

The english version is now very rare and sells for £85+ on Amazon. However, I managed to get the original german version off ebay for a fiver along with english subtitles. The demo that's knocking around doesn't do the game justice- you really have to invest about 2 hours in it before it suddenly becomes amazing to play and you get totally sucked into it. Just fight through early part of the game it's a pleasure.

Imo it's the best of the 'obscure' rpgs, and therefore exactly what you're after.

[Pennycook]

Originally Posted by klarrix

GOTHIC. Old game, amazing to play.
Very morrowind-ish, with a steep learning curve and free-form gameplay. You're placed in a huge mountainous and forested area full of bandits, trolls and the like and it's up to you to choose which of three camps to join and which abilities to learn. It LOOKS old, and most people haven't heard of it but I promise it's worth your time.

The english version is now very rare and sells for £85+ on Amazon. However, I managed to get the original german version off ebay for a fiver along with english subtitles. The demo that's knocking around doesn't do the game justice- you really have to invest about 2 hours in it before it suddenly becomes amazing to play and you get totally sucked into it. Just fight through early part of the game it's a pleasure.

Imo it's the best of the 'obscure' rpgs, and therefore exactly what you're after.

That IS exactly what I'm after. £85 does sound a little excessive, though, so if I end up getting it I'll definitely take the same route that you did. *Looks into it.*

[kalniel]

Gothic 1+2, Daggerfall, Lands of Lore 1+2 (and 3, but that's not so good), arx fatalis, planscape torment.