I'm actually baffled as to how all of you lovely people (just based on what I read in this thread, perhaps I've overlooked) managed to overlook my absolute favorite series ever:
Shadow Hearts.
It has yet to be topped by any RPG I've ever played and everytime I play it I notice something different. The story is creepy and unsettling, lined with lots of dark humor and for every typical trope there's a boatload of shining moments.
It also has a evolved gameplay mechanic that I believe Legend of Legaia/Dragoon started- called the Judgement Ring. Along with a Sanity meter, you'll need that.
The main characters don't use swords, they punch things. They also turn into horrible monsters and wreck shit. In one of the games, you bust Al Capone out of prison and in another you participate in 'The Man Festival'. A wrestling match where the losers... well I suppose it depends on your tastes. How about vampires that fight with sign posts and tables? Maybe you'd like to talking about the merits of necromancy?
I won't go as far to say it's all high concept stuff, but it's entertaining and full of twists I never saw coming. The characters are still better (subjective) in this series than years of FF and it's sadly never going to continue. I felt more feelings than anyone should ever have a right to feel.
I mean seriously, this wrestler rips out a pillar off a building and carries it around as his weapon. There's a ninja that uses a cactus as a sword. That's the tame stuff.
It's horror themed, that in itself was enough to attract me. If you haven't played it, or someone else mentioned it and I missed it- you should go play it. I mean that, you really should.
Shadow Hearts.
It has yet to be topped by any RPG I've ever played and everytime I play it I notice something different. The story is creepy and unsettling, lined with lots of dark humor and for every typical trope there's a boatload of shining moments.
It also has a evolved gameplay mechanic that I believe Legend of Legaia/Dragoon started- called the Judgement Ring. Along with a Sanity meter, you'll need that.
The main characters don't use swords, they punch things. They also turn into horrible monsters and wreck shit. In one of the games, you bust Al Capone out of prison and in another you participate in 'The Man Festival'. A wrestling match where the losers... well I suppose it depends on your tastes. How about vampires that fight with sign posts and tables? Maybe you'd like to talking about the merits of necromancy?
I won't go as far to say it's all high concept stuff, but it's entertaining and full of twists I never saw coming. The characters are still better (subjective) in this series than years of FF and it's sadly never going to continue. I felt more feelings than anyone should ever have a right to feel.
I mean seriously, this wrestler rips out a pillar off a building and carries it around as his weapon. There's a ninja that uses a cactus as a sword. That's the tame stuff.
It's horror themed, that in itself was enough to attract me. If you haven't played it, or someone else mentioned it and I missed it- you should go play it. I mean that, you really should.
