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The RPG genre has always been home to gaming’s heaviest hitters: Zelda, Final Fantasy, The Elder Scrolls, and so on. So it’s no surprise that so many worthy role playing games have slipped under the radar over the decades and somehow missed out on the credit they are due. Here are just a few of the greatest RPGs you may have missed out on…until now.
The Legend of Dragoon (2000)
It’s little surprise that one of the few JRPG’s to stand toe-to-toe with Final Fantasy during the PS1 era came from Sony itself. A four-disc epic with cinematic CGI cutscenes aplenty (not to mention some novel gameplay ideas), The Legend of Dragoon was the product of nothing less than a full-blown effort to knock Square off its perch as the king of role playing games.
To this end Sony Computer Entertainment invested 3 years, $16 million and a development team of over 100—all of which was virtually unsurpassed for the time. The result is a cult classic JRPG that remains well-loved to this day. If you haven’t played this yet (it’s available on PSN) you owe it to yourself to do so.
Vagrant Story (2000)
Here we have another PS1 cult classic in Vagrant Story. Part of the “Ivalice Alliance” subseries, this unique action-RPG utilizes an experimental combat system akin to that of Parasite Eve. This game also features a weapon crafting system that was well ahead of its time.
Throw in intriguing lore and an exciting story that hits a little differently than just about anything else at the time, and you have the makings of a truly unforgettable dungeon crawler. If you have any role playing inclinations at all and you haven’t played Vagrant Story, then you need to add it somewhere near the top of your backlog. This is also available on PSN.
Jade Empire (2005)
This original Xbox (and later PC) action-RPG is a shining example of what Bioware was capable of at its peak. Set in a mythological China, Jade Empire offers a refreshing break from the typical medieval fantasy fare of the genre.
Keeping with this spirit of novelty, the combat in Jade Empire is centered around martial arts, and is both real-time and action-based. There is no lack of abilities at the player’s disposal however, both inside of combat and outside, including the ability to use magic energy called “chi” in the game.
Jade Empire borrows from a certain other Bioware game with a morality system in which players choose between the “Open Palm” and the “Closed Fist,” making for a more involved player experience in terms of the game’s narrative. Available on Steam, and is backward compatible with current Xbox consoles.
Lost Odyssey (2007)
While Lost Odyssey didn’t do anything to reinvent the wheel when it comes to JRPG game mechanics, it did win itself an enduring place in the hearts of those who played it. Created by the same mind that dreamed up the Final Fantasy series (that of Hironobu Sakaguchi), it’s no surprise Lost Odyssey made such an impact when it was released on the Xbox 360 back in 2007—even if it arguably remains underappreciated.
Lost Odyssey has been praised for its graphics and generally high production values, rivaling anything Square Enix produced at the time, and is regarded as one of the Xbox 360’s greatest hidden gems. It’s available on modern Xbox consoles via backward compatibility.
To conclude…
So there you have it—four amazing classic RPGs to add to your backlog if you haven’t had the good fortune to have already played them. There are so many more great role playing classics out there to discover that are well worth your time. It’s one of the things that makes the genre arguably gaming’s greatest.
