DS RPGs. Recommend me some, please!

Greetings, my fellow gamers.

So, I got a 3DS, and, well, the 3DS offerings aren't quite many. I'm enjoying the hell out of what I have, but yeah, slim pickings.

Anywho - I'm in search for good DS RPGs and SRPGs. I also add a poll to this post.

Some restrictions:

• I already own Front Mission on DS. I like it a lot. I also liked Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and Advance Wars Days of Ruin (Both which I have borrowed before)

• I am already searching for a copy of Chrono Trigger for my DS. I know that game like the palm of my hand. I would love similar games though.
• I do not like Action-RPGs of the portable variety (unless they're very, VERY good)
• I prefer 2D graphics on my RPGs, or 2.5D like Dragon Quest V (which I've played but I don't own)
• I already own Final Fantasy IV on the DS, and have also completed it.

So, my geek brethren, what are your favourites?

Extra Question: Which DS Dragon Quest is the best? 4, 5, 6, 9?

 

Try Mario and Luigi, it might surprise you.

 

You know, I've seen two of those Mario and Luigi games - and they say the "Partners in time" one is cooler - I saw a cheap copy of "Bowser's Inside Story" in the game store the other day. Should I get that one?

 

I liked bowser's inside story more than partners in time personally.

 

Well, that one does completely fit my parameters, so I'm getting it - as I saw it used for like 200 pesos.

So I'm getting that one, but I want one or two more. What else should I get?

 

Puzzle Quest
The World Ends With You - This one can take a little while to get used to combat, but is ridiculously addictive if you enjoy it.

 

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor & Strange Journey.

 

Valkryie Profile Covenant of the Plume
Golden Sun Dark Dawn
Etrian Odyssey 1-3
The Dark Spire
Phantasy Star Zero
Fire Emblem
Final Fantasy 4 warriors of Light
Glory of Heracles
Tales of Innocence (There is an english patch IIRC, but you need a flash cart to run it.)
Tales of Hearts(i think there is also an Eng patch for this. Not sure though I may be remembering wrong)


There are more, but I can't remember ATM

 

Given your preference for the Square/Enix variety of RPGs, the obvious recommendation outside of what's been said would be the two Luminous Arc games. Decent story, good combat system, not too many JRPG cliches all at once.

As far as SRPGs go, you might want to give Rondo of Swords a look. It's cheap because it was overproduced, and it has an interesting combat mechanism that hasn't been duplicated in another game. Basically, you can get an attack against as many enemies as you can get next to, instead of being limited to only one attack per turn.You probably want to give the Fire Emblem game a look too. The two Age of Empires DS games are actually grid-based SRPGs instead of RTS games, in case you passed them over for that reason.

 

Mario and Luigi were at their best on the GBA. The two DS versions are OK but not nearly as creative and original as the first one on the GBA.

chrono trigger got a DS remake, you can't go wrong with that one.

Pokemon is an obvious choice if you're into that sort of thing.

the Final Fantasy remakes and brand should be a good indication of a lengthy typical "quality" RPG in most cases.

 

Alright. Awesome recommendations on all fronts. That Devil Survivor, I'm waiting for the 3DS "Overclocked" version.

I cannot get the translation patches on a Flash Card because I'm playing on a 3DS - but I should probably start buying Japanese RPGs; I need to brush up on my Kanji if I am to somehow pass N2. And that Valkyrie Profile looks tremendously good. I'll look that one up.

A friend recommends "Infinite Space". Is it any good?

 

I was let down by DQIX, it's good but the remakes are way better IMO.
Haven't yet played VI ( will come out next week in Europe ) but I would suggets you IV or V ( V is more story driven ).
IV is my favorite DraQue.

I'm currently playing Final Fantasy Four Heroes of Light on DS and enjoying it.
If you like old school-jrpg give a try.

It's actually the opposite. M&L3 is considered better than M&L2.

I've heard good things about Radiant Historia and like CT it is centered about time traveling.
Not available in Europe though.

 

I enjoyed what I played of Infinite Space. It's not like any other RPG; I remarked on Usenet that it's not really a simulation, but if there's ever combat in space this is probably the best representation of what it would actually be like. There's a lot of OCD stuff in there to get lost in. Managing your crew, laying out your ships, and balancing your fleet could consume hours and hours between every fight. The way that random encounters are handled is very nice too, a lot like the original PC Pirates! game in that many fights can be avoided if you want to focus on exploring.

 

Just remembered this one: since you know some Japanese, you might be interested in the Nanashi no Game series from Square-Enix: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/nanashinogame/nanashinogame.htm (although I guess they're more adventure games than RPGs) I always thought it looked great, but since I don't know Japanese, they were kind of off limits...

 

Nanashi 1 & 2 are great games, not sure if they are rpg'y enough though as it's really just pretend rpg in those games to tell a story but they are definately worth getting if you like ds horror.

As for my rpg faves, my absolute favourite is Ninokuni, shikoku no madoushi. So much love was put into that game, if you can read kana then your totally fine as both in the game & the book all the kanji has furigana readings making it pretty easy to play.

Also liked Keroro RPG & also Item getter due to it's crazy amount of item farming & alchemy converting. Im sure theres tons more rpgs on ds but i tend not to play too many, after a while they all start to look the same so i just get the ones that have some interesting kind of twist or play system to them.

 

Ninokuni has Furigana?

This could help A LOT with my Kanji AND cover my RPG craving. If it's affordable, I'm SO getting it.

That Nanashi looks interesting enough, and I love that site (Szczepaniak's article on Japanese Computer gaming was ace). But I don't like horror gaming most of the time, Dead Space being one of the recent exceptions.

 

Yup all the kanji in ninokuni have furigana readings above them. Same goes for the massive magic book, because the game is aimed at younger readers i assume they put them in to help them out. Makes playing the game a lot easier for those not fluent in kanji hehe.

Amiami have it crazily cheap at the moment hehe
http://www.amiami.jp/shop/?set=engl...-2641&template=default/product/e_display.html

 

I cannot stress this enough:

INFINITE SPACE.


It seriously has the single most epic plot I have ever seen in a videogame. Brilliant story and solid gameplay to boot. The music is also fantastic, and there are some great fights in the game.


But I really cannot stress how amazing the plot in that game is. I have never seen anything quite like it.

 

I thought cronotrigger was a very good port to the ds

 

I know you're looking for RPGs but if you're willing to look slightly outside the bounds into ARPGS, Okamiden on DS while not perfect was still a pretty fun game to play through (I beat the whole thing).

Also I hear great things about M&L bowser's inside story. Haven't played but plan to (still $35/40 new locally).