Current Events > My personal ranking of every isometric SRPG I've played

(+) Yeah! (+)

#1: Tactics Ogre (psx/sfc)
#2: Langrisser Mobile (mobile)
#3: Final Fantasy Tactics (psx/psp)
#4: Fell Seal (pc)
#5: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2 (ds)
#6: Disgaea 2 (ps2)
#7: Dragon Quest Tact (mobile)
#8: Fire Emblem Awakening (3ds)
#9: Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis (gba)
#10: Arc the Lad 2 (psx)
#11: Luminous Arc 2 (ds)
#12: Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword (gba)
#13: Onimushu Tactics (gba)
#14: Vandal Hearts (psx)
#15: Tenchi Muyu (snes)
#16: Disgaea 5 (switch)
#17: Saiyuki Journey West (psx)
#18: Arc the Lad (psx)
#19: Bahamut Lagoon (snes)
#20: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (gba)
#21: Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth (psx/ds)
#22: Disgaea (ps2)
#23: Rondo of Swords (ds)
#24: Final Fantasy War of the Visions (mobile)
#25: Fire Emblem Gaiden (nes)
#26: Eternal Eyes (psx)
#27: Hero's Saga: Laevatein Tactics (ds)
#28: Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement (xbox360)
#29: Pokemon Conquest (ds)
#30: Fire Emblem Heroes (mobile)

Edit: The games I italicized I either didn't beat, didn't play for long, or don't remember well. So they're kind of where I felt from first impressions.

wow i've played like none of those

Godnorgosh posted...

Fire Emblem games aren't isometric, are they?

I guess grid-based would've been a better way to term it. whoops.

Trying to think of some not on the list.

Would Trails in the Sky count?

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I enjoyed Pokemon Conquest. I'd love a sequel to expand on the concept.
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i wish FFTA2 had a better story and characters, it's sick

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Flauros posted...

Trying to think of some not on the list.

Would Trails in the Sky count?

I haven't played those games, so I wouldn't know. I meant for my title to be "grid-based" and not isometric, so I wouldn't include like the Ogre Battle games or d&d based wrpgs. Also wouldn't include Heroes of Might and Magic games, Master of Magic, Civilization, or Age of Empires because even though they're grid-based I'd say they're more strategy games than rpg -- same with Advance Wars.

I've also never played a single Shining Force, Langrisser console game, or Super Robot Wars game.

Delirious_Beard posted...

i wish FFTA2 had a better story and characters, it's sick

The gameplay is soo fantastic, though. I know its story and characters are deeply flawed -- but the amount of content and the balance make up for everything IMO.

bump

I would rank Bahamut Lagoon higher, but not as a good tactics game, but as a fun pet raising game.

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You should play Stella Glow.
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What's the S for in SRPG? >.>

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Can someone explain why FFT is so much more loved than FFTA?

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Funkydog posted...

What's the S for in SRPG? >.>

strategy

MedeaLysistrata posted...

Can someone explain why FFT is so much more loved than FFTA?

It's got a much better story. That's the only reason really the gameplay is crap compared to FFTA.

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MedeaLysistrata posted...

Can someone explain why FFT is so much more loved than FFTA?

well, it was the first one, the soundtrack is better, the story is better, job system is better

Flauros posted...

Trying to think of some not on the list.

Would Trails in the Sky count?

Nah

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ROOTFayth posted...

strategy

Ooooh, makes sense. Not heard that used over Tactical RPG so got myself confused.

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Tyranthraxus posted...

It's got a much better story. That's the only reason really the gameplay is crap compared to FFTA.

ROOTFayth posted...

well, it was the first one, the soundtrack is better, the story is better, job system is better

These, but I know a lot of people really really hated the judge system as well. I thought it was a clever twist on the formula, but I totally get why people would want to get rid of it.

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s0nicfan posted...

These, but I know a lot of people really really hated the judge system as well. I thought it was a clever twist on the formula, but I totally get why people would want to get rid of it.

The law system was whack but halfway through the game you got enough law cards that it was basically optional anyway.

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bobbaaay posted...

I've also never played a single Shining Force, Langrisser console game, or Super Robot Wars game.

Definitely play SF and SRW.

I'm playing an SRW game right now actually (Original Generations).

Original Generation 1/2 and V/X/T are officially in English, and A Portable, Alpha Gaiden and Original Generations unofficially, and possibly others I've forgotten.

ROOTFayth posted...

well, it was the first one, the soundtrack is better, the story is better, job system is better

is it really that much better? I absolutely loved FFTA and have never played FFT. But idk if I would even get through the game these days

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No Jeanne D'Arc on PSP? It's a loose anime retelling of her history where the most prominent figures receive Power Ranger-like powers. And a damn solid SRPG

MedeaLysistrata posted...

is it really that much better? I absolutely loved FFTA and have never played FFT. But idk if I would even get through the game these days

well I found it a fair bit better but it could be nostalgia talking, I did replay it like 2 yrs ago and still thought it was great

MedeaLysistrata posted...

is it really that much better? I absolutely loved FFTA and have never played FFT. But idk if I would even get through the game these days

The story is so much better it's not even worth detailing why. It's like reading YA fiction from a first time published author vs Stephen King. Just play it. Use cheats if you just want to get through the story or look up strategies on how to break the game early and be basically invincible.

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TheSavageDragon posted...

No Jeanne D'Arc on PSP? It's a loose anime retelling of her history where the most prominent figures receive Power Ranger-like powers. And a damn solid SRPG

I could never get passed the part in this game where the Dauphin charges headfirst into death so I never finished it. It was fun though.

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I personally had a lot of fun breaking FFT

MedeaLysistrata posted...

Can someone explain why FFT is so much more loved than FFTA?

There's more customization in FFT, the sprites look better, and the OST is better. The sprites in FFTA look clunky and too large (they look much, much better in FFTA2), the skills were more limited in FFTA and were kind of spread out throughout the game (FFTA2 made this a little better with crafting, by requiring you to choose between multiple items when receiving a good reagent), and the law system was really poorly implemented in FFTA - since it was dependent upon the calendar so you could easily manipulate it and just avoid fighting when difficult laws were enacted (FFTA2 fixed this by making the laws dependent upon the map and its unique challenges, although admittedly they made the punishment much less harsh).
The only thing I think FFTA did well was story. Everything new and unique that FFTA added - FFTA2 improved upon big time.

bobbaaay posted...

There's more customization in FFT, the sprites look better, and the OST is better. The sprites in FFTA look clunky and too large (they look much, much better in FFTA2), the skills were more limited in FFTA and were kind of spread out throughout the game (FFTA2 made this a little better with crafting, by requiring you to choose between multiple items when receiving a good reagent), and the law system was really poorly implemented in FFTA - since it was dependent upon the calendar so you could easily manipulate it and just avoid fighting when difficult laws were enacted (FFTA2 fixed this by making the laws dependent upon the map and its unique challenges, although admittedly they made the punishment much less harsh).
The only thing I think FFTA did well was story. Everything new and unique that FFTA added - FFTA2 improved upon big time.

I didn't like FFTA2 as much, it was pretty unmemorable and I barely remember anything other than the MC's crazy design

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Tyranthraxus posted...

It's got a much better story. That's the only reason really the gameplay is crap compared to FFTA.

I feel the exact opposite. The story to FFT is so overrated and cliche, and looks like garbage when placed next to a masterpiece like Tactics Ogre. FFTA at least tried something different storywise.

MedeaLysistrata posted...

I didn't like FFTA2 as much, it was pretty unmemorable and I barely remember anything other than the MC's crazy design

It's fantastic gameplay-wise. I feel like it has more content than most SRPGs short of the obvious Disgaea /NIS games and the Arc the Lad games.

idc about your list but seeing tactics ogre at #1 makes me happy

Is anybody made that I put two mobile games in my top 10?
I don't play Langrisser Mobile anymore - but that game was legit fantastic. The sprites looked great, the mechanics were great, most of the content was legitimately challenging, lots of the level designs/challenge designs were well-made. I honestly think it's probably the best mobile game/gatcha I've ever played other than Puzzle and Dragons.

So I bought Langrisser 1\2 for ps4...kinda don't like it when it isn't mobile not sure why. You should play Devil Survivor Overclock Ed, played most of your list and it's one of my favorites got it and Record Breaker just under TO:LUCT (my favorite)

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No Banner Saga?

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bobbaaay posted...

I feel the exact opposite. The story to FFT is so overrated and cliche, and looks like garbage when placed next to a masterpiece like Tactics Ogre. FFTA at least tried something different storywise.

I mean the guy who wrote the story for TO is the same guy who wrote FFT. It's no coincidence that a lot of the same themes are present and there being some fairly obvious analogues in both games.

The FFTA is pretty much just rank and file Isekai crap that's been going on since Narnia.

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ZeroX91 posted...

So I bought Langrisser 1\2 for ps4...kinda don't like it when it isn't mobile not sure why. You should play Devil Survivor Overclock Ed, played most of your list and it's one of my favorites got it and Record Breaker just under TO:LUCT (my favorite)

I've seen how the actual Langrisser games look -- and I don't like the whole mini-party with your units thing. It looks like the streamlining in the mobile game made it much, much better -- even if I'm sure the lore/story in the OG games is probably leagues ahead. I also can't justify their price on the Switch store. So you can confirm they're not worth the purchase?
I did just get the Mario vs. Rabbids game on sale and I'm going to probably start playing that soon.

I just looked it up. Honestly the only SMT game I ever played was Persona 3, and I got to like the beach part of the game (a little over midway through?). I'm kind of conflicted on the aesthetic. I looked up the game and I'd play it if I owned a 3DS.

Tyranthraxus posted...

I mean the guy who wrote the story for TO is the same guy who wrote FFT. It's no coincidence that a lot of the same themes are present and there being some fairly obvious analogues in both games.

The FFTA is pretty much just rank and file Isekai crap that's been going on since Narnia.

I know - which is why I made that comparison. It's like FFT's story is dumbed down TO in a lot of ways. More railroaded and linear, not as much moral ambiguity, not as much charm or maturity.

MrToothHasYou posted...

No Banner Saga?

I remember when this game was brand new. I think it was when I first got Steam many, many, many years ago. I wanted it but felt it was too pricy back then.
I know it has sequels and expansions and blah blah blah and it's always on sale nowadays - but I still haven't bit the bullet.

bobbaaay posted...

I remember when this game was brand new. I think it was when I first got Steam many, many, many years ago. I wanted it but felt it was too pricy back then.
I know it has sequels and expansions and blah blah blah and it's always on sale nowadays - but I still haven't bit the bullet.

I would definitely recommend it. The gameplay is solid and the animation and music are fantastic. A fair amount of replayability as well since it has a branching plot.

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bobbaaay posted...

I've seen how the actual Langrisser games look -- and I don't like the whole mini-party with your units thing. It looks like the streamlining in the mobile game made it much, much better -- even if I'm sure the lore/story in the OG games is probably leagues ahead. I also can't justify their price on the Switch store. So you can confirm they're not worth the purchase?
I did just get the Mario vs. Rabbids game on sale and I'm going to probably start playing that soon.

I just looked it up. Honestly the only SMT game I ever played was Persona 3, and I got to like the beach part of the game (a little over midway through?). I'm kind of conflicted on the aesthetic. I looked up the game and I'd play it if I owned a 3DS.

It kinda feels like an in-between of Fire Emblem and FFT but like not in a good way if you get me? Like I only played 3 stages the mobile version just feels better can't really explain why.

The Devil Survivor games are kind of the middle ground tone wise between persona and the mainline SMT games, it's never full weeb no dating or anything, more or less just a srpg in a modern setting with demons as your units

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I may. My PC is broken right now and I'm borrowing my parents' laptop -- so I don't have Steam installed. If it's on Switch I can add it to my wishlist and buy it when it's on sale.

But for real - if any of you are into gatchas as much as you're into SRPGs I strongly recommend Dragon Quest Tact right now. I'm loving it so far.

bobbaaay posted...

Is anybody mad that I put two mobile games in my top 10?
I don't play Langrisser Mobile anymore - but that game was legit fantastic. The sprites looked great, the mechanics were great, most of the content was legitimately challenging, lots of the level designs/challenge designs were well-made. I honestly think it's probably the best mobile game/gatcha I've ever played other than Puzzle and Dragons.

Not at all, i'm always on the prowl for a long term play at work game >_>

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where the fuck is fallout

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EnvoyOfTheLight posted...

where the fuck is fallout

That start menu is eyebleeding

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