Looking to enter the RPG genre for the first time...

[sao123]

So here is my story... for the last year or so, I've been playing runescape. a fun little cartoony game with little depth, and much repetitiveness, but finally it is getting boring. I enjoyed mining and smithing and killing blue dragons and crafting dragon-skin ranging armor and all the skills and they still add new stuff every month. Had nice quests with treasure and skill upgrades as rewardss...but now im looking to expand...

So i started looking at all the MMORPG's and said wow... lots to choose from. I read a little on WOW, Guild Wars, Everquest 2... and then I came to Final Fantasy XI. FFXI looked very interesting on the comptuer, and then I looked and said...$30 for a CD that plays for 1 month & $15 a month thereafter!!!?! holy sheet. Wife is laid off and unemployment running out, out of the question, and I dont have hours to spend gaming every day. So now im looking for an offline RPG to wet my taste.
So I saw FFX & FFX2 used & dirt cheap at EB for the PS2, and im thinking... this might be a good place to start... and with FFXII coming out in May, if i like the series, I may continue it....

So what do you think? Which is better FFX, FFX2, or do I need both? Is there some better other game I have not found yet for either the PS2 or PC? Someone mentioned Diablo II, and someone else said heck no.

Looking for a cheap but enjoyable start into RPG's and eventually when money presents itself into MMOPRG's.
Help

 

[Appledrop]

guildwars is good, and you dont need to pay a fee, like most other online rpgs.

 

[Udel]

Try Jade Empire, or KTOR.

 

[yankeesfan]

Stay away from the crack! It will control your life!

 

[state 08]

Can never go wrong with Final Fantasy IMO. That's where I started (FFVII)

Innovated Battle System (Materia (FFVII), Junctioning (FFVIII))
In-Depth Story that gets you thinking
Deep Charecters
Well known history and been around since the NES days

 

[EMPshockwave82]

i'm still playing the online text based RPG kingdom of loathing

www.kingdomofloathing.com


try it out... 100% free... can donate if you want

 

[OdiN]

FF RPG's are awesome. FFX I would get before FFX2...FFX2 isnt' that good.

FFX has SO MUCH you can do it can keep you playing for a long time. There are mini-games within the game...you can work on not only beating the game but also building a good blitzball team and playing against other teams...you can fight in the monster arena later in the game. Finding and getting all of the ultimate weapons is a big task.

I love FF games..have played and beaten all of them. The purist in me demands that you start with FF I and then go through II, III, IV V, VI, VII, VIII, IX before playing X...but meh you may not want to do that

 

[MustangSVT]

they are all good.

but for me Buldur's Gate is THE best RPG.

 

[blakeatwork]

Neverwinter Nights, if you want an actual "RPG-based" game...

or Baludr's Gate... either or..

 

[mdchesne]

OBLIVION FTW

it'll stomp everything out now once it releases in december

 

[hans030390]

Check out final fantasy VII (best FF game available, even if the graphics are crappy...heck it might be one of the best games ever)
then check out FFX

also, Guild Wars is like a MMORPG but it is FREE to play (no monthly payments...though you do have to pay for the game)

check all 3 out.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: mdchesne
OBLIVION FTW

it'll stomp everything out now once it releases in december

we'll see...

the game before it was VERY open ended and truely, go whereever you want etc.. but it was not as engaging as baldurs gate series. Perhaps it was because of its fighting system.. maybe it will be improved this time.

edit - .. or.. it was me being too strong by calling super strong monsters and stealing their stuff hehe

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: hans030390
Check out final fantasy VII (best FF game available, even if the graphics are crappy...heck it might be one of the best games ever)
then check out FFX

also, Guild Wars is like a MMORPG but it is FREE to play (no monthly payments...though you do have to pay for the game)

check all 3 out.

FFVII is good, but FFVI was better. Not counting graphics of course.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: hans030390
Check out final fantasy VII (best FF game available, even if the graphics are crappy...heck it might be one of the best games ever)
then check out FFX

also, Guild Wars is like a MMORPG but it is FREE to play (no monthly payments...though you do have to pay for the game)

check all 3 out.

FFVII is good, but FFVI was better. Not counting graphics of course.

yeap.

FFVI story is great, gamplay is great. graphics are dated but still pretty good. just a great game.

 

[DaveSimmons]

On the PC:

For post-apocalypse SciFi, Fallout 1 & 2
For deep storyline, Planescape: Torment or (a bit less) Baldur's Gate 1-2

You can find these very cheap in bargain bins or from Amazon.com used sellers.

I've been playing FF 9 that came with a used PSOne and it's fun though the graphics are of course PS1 not PS2. So you might want to start with FF 7 instead of X and play them in sequence from 7-up.

 

[Ameesh]

baulders gate 2 is pretty awesome, you can get it cheap now too, its long as well so you will defintely get your money's worth.

 

[waggy]

PC i would get Balders gate series (wish they would come out with 3), Morrowind and KOTR

PS2 get the FF series (can get FF1-newest) and chrono triger etc.

any other system i have no idea.

 

[kogase]

Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, FF6/3, FF7, FF8, FF9, FF10 (maybe...), FF Tactics, Tactics Ogre. That should keep you busy. I started but never fininshed Baldur's Gate 2. Controlling my whole party was too tedious.

 

[everman]

I would try Baldur's Gate 1 & 2.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
baulders gate 2 is pretty awesome, you can get it cheap now too, its long as well so you will defintely get your money's worth.

considering there are a bunch of add ons for download it keeps the game fresh. I baught the game and expanion pack new. well worth the money.

 

[dighn]

in no particular order:

Xenogears
Knights of the Old Republic 1
FF series 6, 7 (haven't tried 9,10, tactics etc)
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross

Deus Ex if you haven't tried it (it's more of an FPS/RPG hybrid though, but VERY good)

 

[Bozono]

If you go the FF VII route DO NOT get the PC version. Get the PS version and either play with emulators on the PC or play on the PS2. I enjoyed the game thoroughly the first time and I don't play the genre at all.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Bozono
If you go the FF VII route DO NOT get the PC version. Get the PS version and either play with emulators on the PC or play on the PS2. I enjoyed the game thoroughly the first time and I don't play the genre at all.

Why not the PC version? That's the only version I played, and I think it's the second best game of all time. I heard the MIDI music was a little off on the PC version, but that's the only issue I know of.

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: tk149

Originally posted by: Bozono
If you go the FF VII route DO NOT get the PC version. Get the PS version and either play with emulators on the PC or play on the PS2. I enjoyed the game thoroughly the first time and I don't play the genre at all.

Why not the PC version? That's the only version I played, and I think it's the second best game of all time. I heard the MIDI music was a little off on the PC version, but that's the only issue I know of.

Graphichs look even worse on PC, from what I saw of it. Horribly pixelated and what not. Not sure why else you should avoid it.

 

[Bozono]

Originally posted by: tk149

Originally posted by: Bozono
If you go the FF VII route DO NOT get the PC version. Get the PS version and either play with emulators on the PC or play on the PS2. I enjoyed the game thoroughly the first time and I don't play the genre at all.

Why not the PC version? That's the only version I played, and I think it's the second best game of all time. I heard the MIDI music was a little off on the PC version, but that's the only issue I know of.

It has serious issues with XP compatibility, the music as you mentioned and the cut-scenes are nowhere near as gorgeous as on the PS. Personally, I run the PS version with the emulators. After configuring the plugins, it's the same as on the PS but with better resolutions.