How to Get Into RPGs / Should You? - Retro Bird

[@tigmo55]

Music is a HUGE factor to me. While story and gameplay/atmosphere looms large, it can all hinge on the soundtrack.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Luckily RPGs generally deliver in this category.

[@dominicballinger6536]

So do you love sonic the hedgehog as well?

[@CallMeNeutraL]

And when it comes to Rpgs... Sakuraba does most of them. 😜

[@usaskjock]

Same - that's why FFIV, VI, SoM, CT, Suikoden I, Wild Arms 1 and ALundra 1 are my favourite RPGS

[@HiNRGboy]

I only like RPGs for their soundtracks lol, many of them being some brilliant stuff

[@IMDLEGEND]

I had very little interest in RPG's when I was younger (with the exception of Chrono Trigger, a true masterpiece), but now that I am older and wiser, I am more open to exploring them further.

[@HomeByTheSeas]

Once I started a single RPG, hooked for the rest of eternity.

[@gallioearthmage]

Part of why I like RPGs is because I like puzzles, and figuring out what do do next in an RPG is like solving a logic puzzle. Whenever I play a retro RPG for the first time, I always take notes and make maps on graph paper. It's almost like detective work and archaeology combined, lol.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I like that kind of dedication! Sounds like you have a good time with it :)

[@bradleyj7801]

reminds me of the joy of my friends flipping through their FF3 Nintendo Powers and cackling aloud to each other at our geek end of the lunch table while I sat quietly near them dreaming what it would be like to maybe have my own Super Nintendo...one day...which did finally came in the form of the SNES classic 25 years later with my own money, thanks mom and dad :)

[@MrTrap78]

How to get into RPGs: Play Chrono Trigger.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Haha very true.

[@totallyfrozen]

Shadow Run on the Genesis is an Action RPG. You can play and progress through the game without much grinding but if you have the patience to grind a bit in the beginning, you can level up your attributes enough to make life easier later on in the game. LOVE that game!

[@SeveredLegs]

I'm some games, grinding us SUPER satisfying. Dragon Warrior 1/2 spring to mind. Chrono Trigger doesn't need it at all because the story and gameplay are so good. Baten Kaitos made it really unsatisfying because some battles were so slow with enemy animations.

[@andremalerba5281]

My main gripe with modern games is that nowdays most games have RPG mechanics that require grinding/farming to unlock new stuff/skills. I never liked RPGs and now everything is a RPG of some sort.

[@gwoggy1206]

When I was younger I traded my panzer dragon in one of my greatest mistakes

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Ah dang... yeah that's a stinger.

[@chchris25]

This has become one of my favorite channels!

[@ThomasSmith-od5jq]

My favorite thing about rpgs is getting immersed in a great story connecting with the characters I still remember the first rpg I was introduced to as a kid was earthbound I watched a school friend play it in the 90s when first came out and being blown away not knowing that it would lead to my fav genre in gaming

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I don't think I've ever heard of that being somebody's first RPG before. Interesting.

[@Ricky_Grade10]

So glad I found this channel!!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I'm so glad that you found it too!

[@chadwolf3840]

you have such an awesome collection. i'd love to see a gameroom tour!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you :)

[@NickEnlowe]

@@RetroBirdGaming +1 on this request

[@NiGHTSnoob]

Dragon Quest/Warrior 3 is a classic RPG that I've found very little grinding is necessary if you at least take the time to explore dungeons thoroughly and actually understand the mechanics and use buff/debuff abilities and status effects properly, and it's actually a lot more fun and strategic that way trying to fight Baramos on buffing and debuffing to keep everything flowing in your favor. For much the same reason I've found a lot of love in the SMT games, particularly the ones with Press Turn battle systems. SMT IV Apocalypse may have the weakest story of the bunch but it's combat system is at its absolutely most refined and is probably the most fun I've ever had in a turn based RPG in terms of straight combat mechanics, and it makes me super hyped for SMT V. Especially if the story in V ends up more at the level of Nocturne or the original IV.

[@grizzlypug8520]

This channel is a gem and will grow fast in the near future I bet

[@grizzlypug8520]

The sub count was 5.2k when I posted this

[@ConstitutionalRepublic00]

He should be up there with AVGN, SNESDrunk, etc.

[@adammichaelchannel]

I was spoiled by Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG as my first JRPGs. They both had an engaging story, a small enough roster to offer character development, and on-screen enemies. The only JRPG I found as satisfying was Persona 4 Golden on the Vita, years later.

[@ConstitutionalRepublic00]

RPG's have always been my favorite. I play games for the story, so they go hand in hand.

[@idxman01]

Great video. I’ve tried to get into rpg’s several times and it never really sticks. I’m a huge fan of 2d Zelda, platformers and other things, and it sounds like I should give secret of mana a try. I was hoping Earthbound would work as so many people recommended it.

[@FeralInferno]

If you are looking to get into the story-heavy turn-based RPGs, it's important you start with a good one that will appeal to you. For example, I started out with Dragon Warrior on the NES, because I got it for free with a subscription to Nintendo Power back in the day. While I can appreciate it nowadays, nine year old me just wasn't super into it and it kinda turned me off from JRPGs. Fast forward a few years and I gave Final Fantasy II on the SNES a reluctant chance during a random weekend rental and I'm glad I did as I loved everything about it.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I still remember the comment where you described that memory in detail! BTW, which version of FF IV do you recommend these days? PSP, GBA, DS, SNES? There's so many.

[@FeralInferno]

@@RetroBirdGaming I suppose that depends on what type of experience you are seeking from FFIV: For the nostalgia route, SNES For the director cut route, GBA For the modern take, DS For the modern take with a retro feel, PSP For the masochistic loading time route, PS1

[@happyhollandays]

You nailed my issue with JRPGs- I just can’t get into slow, turned based battles as well as the randomness of battle encounters. This is why I believe action RPGs are superior to JRPGs, they eliminate those annoying aspects and instead replace it with adventure genre mechanics.

[@thepolacek]

The killer part for me in rpgs is the length and random encounters.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Action RPGs really are a great middle-ground for people who are turned off by those aspects.

[@brianhatcher2799]

An engrossing story with plot twists and many surprises including interesting and powerful villains along with endearing characters. Also, great battle mechanics, unique visuals, and memorable musical scores. There are a few games that have all of these and yet, unfortunately, I stopped playing them a while back, perhaps because of impatience, lack of commitment, and many distractions, or just life changes, but I would like to eventually try to play them again and make it to the end: Xenosaga Episode 1, Secret of Mana, and Final Fantasy 2(4 in series).

[@FallenSensai]

I absolutely love RPGs, but i do not want to replay them more than once a year, hoping that i forget most of the Story to enjoy it once again the next year. Never works though.

[@ThetrueCosmicKaiju]

Earthbound did help me through separation anxiety and depression soo.. Here i am

[@neily1488]

This has to be my favorite video you've posted. Simple explanations & easy to follow reasoning. Well done!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you liked it!

[@letsplayclassicgames5024]

As a gamer, it's one of the biggest categories of games I have felt pressured into liking. I honestly have never cared for the fantasy/dragon/castle theming of lots of RPG's, Sci Fi/Post Apocalyptic seems to be the side I fall on. Even though it's an action rpg, I did absolutely fall in love with Fallout:New Vegas and have played multiple 100+ hour play throughs, and have done the same with Fallout 3. You also hit a big point for me, the thought of turn based battles hitting a single button drives me up the wall, I'd much rather battle someone in real time. You really understand the vast amount of perspectives and types of gamers out there in the community, I think that is one of many things I enjoy about your videos, I don't think anyone watching feels left out. Great video!

[@rotallyPumpered]

I'm a pretty casual fan of the genre, and most of the JRPGs I've come to love have been games I was drawn to because of their connections to something else I was already a fan of. I played Ni no Kuni because I liked Studio Ghibli, Dragon Quest because I liked Akira Toriyama, and Super Mario RPG because I liked Mario, which in turn lead me to 90s Final Fantasy games. I think the charm and ubiquity of Pokémon is a great gateway for a lot of younger players who are new to RPGs. I think a lot of people in their 30s and older have already made up their minds about RPGs, but then, a lot of Star Wars fans only tried RPGs when Knights of the Old Republic came out, so it goes to show that people can be convinced otherwise if they see something that really appeals to them.

[@Fahrenheit38]

Love your video as always, that over the shoulder crt shot you use is still a great look for your channel. I'm glad you talked about how griding is not needed in a lot of the classic jRPGs. For Squares 16bit games which are the most iconic of the era have so little grinding it's a non issue. For a first jRPG I recommend Suikoden 1 and 2 for the ps1.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad to hear! And yes, the Suikoden games are very unique the way they blend different elements together.

[@williamcooper2502]

I finally finished Panzer 2 yesterday which was so good, and I'll finally let myself start Panzer Saga. It's going to be a good day!

[@joniden2215]

Skies of Arcadia Legends is my favorite game of all time. I think it was the game that really got me into JRPGs.

[@xamislimelight8965]

RPGs tend to also have the "Triangle problem" as I call it; Gameplay, character customization/creation, story. Pick 2. Not often does a game get all 3, and that part can make finding one you like a little difficult.

[@GammellNotCamel]

I never used to like turn-based battles. I thought they were too slow and boring. Then I played Kingdom Hearts and the combat in that game felt so chaotic and sloppy. Now I love turn-based battles and actually have a hard time getting into action rpgs.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Hahah it changed your perspective!

[@buckroger6456]

Crazy! I've always liked turn based battles over action based ones. For me it's just a more laid back feel and if done right they can be quick and have a lot of stragery to them. There has been a few action jrpgs that I do like, like star ocean and Y's.

[@KW-oe4lq]

I love rpgs although I have to admit I have never completed a single final fantasy game. Haven't played any for a few years because I just don't have the time, but I have persona 5 waiting right there for me when I do!

[@nracicot]

I'm not someone patient, but it's my favorite genre. One thing I didn't have patience for in the 90s, was replaying the game from the start because I didn't have a save point and lost all my lives. My favorite sub-genre though is Action-RPG. I find it more fun to have the chance to strike directly with the buttons, or at least, move in between turns, but Snes and PSX Final Fantasy games were fast enough to be fun.

[@wulver810]

Mystic Quest was my favorite, I also don't grind or try to power level my characters.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Power leveling makes it too easy!

[@JoypadDivison]

I love Action RPGs but turnbased I only like the Mario & Luigi-series, at least you're doing something in the battles; just watching the game play itself is what bores me with a standard turnbased RPG. That's the gameplay of D&D and dice, with a videogame you can make it better and more fun.

[@WhatInTheActual]

You have definitely become one of my favorite video game related KZbin content producers. Great videos, great sense of humor, looking forward to more!!:-)

[@adammaddox2383]

I love some RPGs every since I played Lunar as a little kid.

[@hhectorlector]

I recently played through Chrono Trigger and, as per your Twitter, I know you did, too. Would love a video just on that game :)

[@Nathan-mu1pz]

My biggest issue is that I want to try many of the greats in this genre but it's gotten too expensive.

[@folksurvival]

Roms are free.

[@boboifiii1289]

I didn't understand or appreciate the magical language and weapons when I was younger. Now I'm older and wanted to try some again. I'm still not a fan as I feel the same as when you describe new games. Put in your time, build character and use power ups. One of my biggest video game regrets is not having the appreciation of these dynamic games. They have what platformers are missing, but I had a hard time allowing myself to become engrossed in a very loved genre.

[@brichan1851]

I love JRPGs and even many other types (KTOR, Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077). The grind is part of the fun in accomplishing the next level of character, weapon, or spell. This is a genre I gravitate toward. If it ever gets too slow or grindy, I take a break and play some fighting games for fast action.

[@Ghost-ul8eu]

Skies Of Arcadia such an awesome game. My first foray into the RPG was Super Mario RPG for SNES in 96 I believe.Other then Pokemon and the Mario RPGs like Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario I didn't really like RPGs as a child.When I become a teenager I started getting into the RPGs like the final fantasy games and fell down the RPG rabbit hole from there. I even went back later in life and played Secret Of Mana,the early Final Fantasy games,a and Chrono Trigger,and now they're some of my favorites now.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Same for me. It took until my teenage years.

[@nealdavis7276]

I’m glad that you mentioned Action RPGs, because they are my favorite genre, and Secret of Mana is probably my absolute favorite SNES game ever. I like more traditional RPGs for the most part, but the only part that I dislike for most of them is the turn-based fighting systems. Action RPGs are the perfect middle ground.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Makes sense. Action RPGs really are that perfect middle ground for many.

[@Marc_Araujo]

The beginning of video game RPGs...the dungeon crawler. Not everyone's cup of tea, but Shining in the Darkness for the Genny is an absolute classic.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

"Dungeon Crawler" is such a great term.

[@1966gt40]

I got hooked on RPGs with Phantasty Star on the Sega Master system. Been play them ever since. Nice job on video👍👍👍

[@erneststackhouse1133]

SEGAs Crusader of Centy was my 1st introduction to RPG games. Then EARTHBOUND on the SNES was next. I felt like a Goonie Kid when playing it, so that just made it that much relatable for me. In 2001 I got my one & only anxiety attack & couldn't calm down. Found out playing RPG games can calm me down. Now if I feel stressed out I play RPGs. Sadly I just found out I relate RPG games now with stress, so now I can not play them for enjoyment as it stresses me out, but if I'm all ready stressed it calms me down. So Weird.

[@Videogamelover58]

I would say start with chrono trigger. Perfect gateway rpg game

[@RetroBirdGaming]

And it often ends up being people's favorite of all time.

[@SeveredLegs]

Problem with starting here is that it's basically the best. I say Dragon Warrior 1 on GBC as a quick intro to the style. Then into something like Severed Legs: The Legacy DX for Super Severed Legtendo.

[@MasonH9612]

The way I got into rpg’s when I was young was through the Mario rpg’s and the mainline Pokémon games. I think if your just getting into rpg’s you should start with something extremely simple so you don’t get overwhelmed. Pokémon and Mario rpg’s are super simple and are franchises that I was already into. So I slowly started playing more complex rpg’s and now I’m a big fan of rpg’s.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I agree that those are excellent games to get into them!

[@TimewornUncle]

I loved my Game Boy so much when it was first released. When Final Fantasy Legend appeared, wow, it made that Game Boy like 5 or 10 times more valuable, not exaggerating. A sprawling adventure that you could play anywhere. Playing it now, sure that game has some serious problems, but when it was new, it was a slice of heaven.

[@ShinSynZero]

Another great vid and you're right, Zelda is not a RPG 😅. I always enjoyed JRPGs, even though when I got into them during the "Blockbuster era," I couldn't finish them in a weekend. Once I was able to buy my own games, my library filled up w/quite few of them. I really enjoy RPGs for the stories and the hours of gameplay you can get out of each game. Another bonus is that RPGs usually have excellent musical scores too.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Good point. The music in RPGs is usually pretty good. Also, when I do those cutaways (like the "Zelda in not an RPG") those aren't necessarily representing myself, but just a general view people may have.

[@ShinSynZero]

Yeah I know (you've said some funny stuff though), just having a bit of fun...it's still not a RPG though 😅. Back to RPGs though, do you have a favorite generation for them? The 16-bit era has a ton of classics but so does the 32-bit and later gens.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

@@ShinSynZero Definitely the 16-bit era for RPGs. Not only do they have that gorgeous 2D pixel art, but a lot of them incorporate the type of charm, humor and personality that I like. The 32-bit certainly has an incredibly high volume of them though, and stuff like Suikoden has GREAT pixel art. It's notable that FFIX on PS1 is one of my favorite RPGs as well. It's a good debate for sure. I've actually dug through forum posts where people argue back and forth. It's pretty divided.

[@random_gamer_guy82]

The only rpgs I've played is final fantasy 7 and octopath traveler, I gave up on octopath because I simply kept getting lost !!! I've always fancied dragon quest xi though looks gorgeous.

[@robertwahlstrom]

Xenoblade Chronicles have Superbosses, 1 Trillion sidequest and a semi-open world. But you can grab all sidequests at once, if you happen to see a monster or a miniboss with a sidequest star over it's head you kill it. You get the XP/Reward for the sidequest and the monster. This sorta solves so you never ever have to grind. Just kill sidequest monster, kill mini bosses because it's fun and enjoy the main story. If you want you can also collect materials you happen to run over, sometimes that also solves quests all by itself. After finishing the game you have additional extra hard superbosses if you want a challange but not really needed.

[@keithinator5874]

Thank you, thank you, for doing this video! This was a suggestion I had, and I hope other people appreciate this topic. I’ve always had trouble getting into RPGs. Since your comment that you left me about a month or so ago, I’ve started Mario RPG, and really like the timing mechanic of the battles. I hope to give Earthbound another try as well, keeping in mind some of the stuff you mentioned here. I love the 90’s stuff in Earthbound, so I look forward to getting further into it, What is your favorite RPG from the NES, SNES, Genesis era? I saw the postcard on your head saying that you haven’t finished Chrono Trigger. I had a friend back in HS that loved Chrono Trigger. Thanks again for the great content!!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad that you liked this video. And yes, it made it onto my list of video ideas based off your suggestion. My favorite RPG is Super Mario RPG, as of right now. It can change around! What happened with Chrono Trigger is that I made it most of the way through and then my save battery died. I then learned how to solder and replaced all my batteries!

[@keithinator5874]

@@RetroBirdGaming Yeah, that couldn’t have been fun making all that progress, and then losing your save data. I’ve never understood those people who could beat a really long game like that and then want to start all over from the beginning, to play it all over again. I like to put a few years in between playing a long game all the way through again. There are some shorter games that I like to play through more often though...Contra, Life Force, Double Dragon 2, etc. You get busy with life, and just don’t have as much time to play as when you were younger.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

@@keithinator5874 It sucked to lose my save.. but the way I look at it is that I still have a great game to look forward to playing all the way through.

[@codydfwn]

Basically what you said is what I explained in your last video too why people like certain games and others don't and the pressure of feeling like you need to or even own them as a collector... This is why I can't get into an RPG sadly... But I understand their beauty and wish I had the time to get invested but I'm on an upward swing and collecting while moving on up through life all at once, so... As of now? Hell no.. When I got some kids, and am more settled down... Most likely! Lol. Cant wait to try Phantasy Star 1-4!! 😁 But... On the other hand I really like me a good visual novel-style adventure title... Really loved Ace Attorney and Snatcher!! Honestly I think I can say I loved Snatcher more than AA.. Highly underrated gem! (Very appreciated within the cult following of Sega CD collectors/owners though) And the obvious action-RPG which are just action-platformer equivalents to RPGs... Those or Mario ones cuz at least the dialogue is more concise and I appreciate the more engaging time-based battle mechanics as opposed to the turn-based ones. One day...

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yes, perhaps one day!

[@codydfwn]

@@RetroBirdGaming Love the content, man! Keep spreading your passion. 😊 Too many echo chambers in communities far and wide... So it's always refreshing to hear and see someone with their own mind with it's own thoughts for once! hahaha Keep it up! 😀 Find your people, dont let people find you by being something you're not... Isnt that the point of passion? Being able to share it with others? That's what's wrong with the world today... Lol.

[@bucksky619]

I never played or understood the concept of RPGs as a kid. When I tried to get into Legend Of Zelda as an adult, I rage quit so fast 😝

[@RetroBirdGaming]

That may have more to do with the puzzle-solving / accessing the next area common in Zelda games hahah

[@Curtoonstv]

Me neither, the only one I really loved as a kid was Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door. It was less cryptic. I give other rpgs a go, nowadays but barely.

[@unoriginal8697]

Idk if the loz games are rpgs

[@richpope7218]

Absolutely love a well crafted RPG. Raised on the 8-Bit Console era, Zelda 2: Adventure of Link, while not a full fledged RPG, was my gateway drug into the genre. Phantasy Star for the Master System was "my first RPG love." Would be great for Sega to do a First Person, both Planet surface and Dungeons, remaster of it (and not ruin it).

[@Jellordgames]

I don't really mind grinding because I think it's a lot of fun to learn the enemies, like their drops and the exp they net. Just my thing but I like it. Not a huge fan of fetch quests and collection style quests unless it's done right and not just for padding. I'd rather have a handful of side quests that have quality like the ones in crono trigger rather than the hundreds of nearly identical quests you see in new games like xenoblade.

[@digitalworms]

I am in absolute love with turn based rpgs! In the 90s the great thing was not many people would rent em so I could go a month without renting a game and rent it and my record would still be there lol! But I ended up buying them saving my allowance up! I wish I had all my games from childhood!

[@anthonyw5261]

This video is the greatest I've ever seen on this topic!!!👏👏👏❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Thank you!

[@HiNRGboy]

Never could get into them, I like my real-time action... but I love the soundtracks to many, many RPGs. So, I love them for that much!! 😉

[@jackofallgamesTV]

I actually consider Infocom text adventures the typical "good RPG." Use your observation and creativity to pass obstacles. It seems the JRPG was more random, arbitrary, and simpler than an Infocom game. I was using Ultima as the typical example of an RPG, though it's not Japanese. My brother was heavy into them. Me not so much, not even the Infocom type. I only beat one of those, Wishbringer.

[@luliby2309]

For me, I always enjoyed RPGs ever since I was a kid, but I never really knew too much about genres back then and what to call them (which is funny considering how much I love Mario RPG-It's right there in the title). To me they were those "turn-based games" and I just knew I liked them. Because I didn't know all the stereotypical lingo too, I never knew the term "Grinding" until I was much older too. So the thing about "grinding" for me is that I always thought of it as "Training" instead. You "train" your characters and they grow through the story. I only really call it "grinding" if it's...oh I don't know...a grind! Like the ending section of Final Fantasy 4. Now that was a grind. I just had to get levels to be able to beat the final boss and extra bosses.

[@gametourny4ever627]

RPGS are my favorite Genre of game and I love to collect them. Sadly TIME is my biggest thing now with having a family and grown up responsibilities. Last one I completed was Sweet Home for Nes last year. Great Survival Horror Rpg combo game. I am waiting for retirement to get more into playing some of them. Also I agree that Zelda is no RPG EXCEPT Zelda 2 The Adventures of Link. I would say that does fit RPG status.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, time is a killer. So hard to fit in time for RPGs.

[@teamhammerbros8466]

aww the Snes main 4 RPG’s. One day I will have those four myself.

[@bjnt922]

I was more into platformer and sports games but the one rpg I got into for some reason was Pokémon.

[@robertcrandell4557]

I think people have problems with rpgs is the slow build up/progression. In mario you can beat a level in 3 minutes and instant gratification. An rpg you can play 5 hours and do nothing of significance to progressing plot or game. The key to playing rpgs is not treating them like a 2 hour movie but a 100 episode tv series. Understand they will start off slow because they are building to something substantial. Play it slow paced and casually. And just relax and enjoy the journey. Music, character development, challenging boss battles, fleshed out worlds etc.

[@drybins]

Rpg games are my jam. Almost every console has one epic rpg game and i always invest in them. Final Fantasy 9 made me a real gamer...

[@brisingr14]

Those strategy RPGs really do deserve their own video.

[@inspica380]

Just watched this video and you mentioned. Making a video on strategy RPGs. I hope you did make that, I'd interested in watching it.

[@grandgojira8182]

Honestly I love RPGs the first rpg I ever played was Pokémon fire red on gba and for a long time that was the only rpg series I played but then one holiday season I got final fantasy 15 and I was hooked and now one of my goals in life is to have all the mainline final fantasy well and owning symphony of the night on ps1 and owing all the Mario and sonic games

[@Seroth969]

Take your first rpgs up into your heart. From most people I know, people who are new to gaming like rpgs and with time they loose interest. But some of their first rpgs stick for life

[@RockEsper]

I really dislike the “RPGs are grindy” stigma. Like, bruh, if you’re grinding maybe it’s your strategy you gotta work on.

[@tedlogan5628]

Love me some Nintendo RPG's......Unfortunately, my wallet can't keep up with my tastes (Earthbound & ChronoTrigger)!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Hahah and those are two good ones!

[@ChaosShadowZero89]

I love RPGs, my first one was paper mario for the N64, but my favorite has gotta be Chrono Trigger. Sometimes having to grind for long periods of time is definitely the worst thing about RPGs for me.

[@YogiR96]

Bruh 😮 i was just thinking about this and voila your vid poped up😮

[@videoarchive3166]

Very suggestive themes when sliding the earthbound Cartridge In the very beginning. Subliminal Messaging?

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Hahah that is something I would do but not in this case.

[@MasterRoshi8974]

I just started playing rpgs and its a whole new amazing experience. I encourage all to atleast try

[@darionovello6886]

Pokemon Red and Golden Sun where the first RPGs I truly got into never was a fan of Final Fantasy still to this date the only Final Fantasy game I've played and finished was Final Fantasy 7 remake... :D first Dragon Quest game I played was Dragon Quest 11 and that made me go down the rabbit hole of playing Dragon Quest VIII PS2 one of my favourite RPGs next to Chrono Trigger problem I have with jrpgs is there just too long and they take up too much time. but as a young adult I do find myself playing more of them lately especially on the switch currently playing octopath traveller good game so far good for multitask usually just watch KZbin videos chill out on the couch make dinner do chores plaing handheld RPGs was always my thing ever since I was little let's just say I get distracted easily and handheld seems to be the best for me for RPGs

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, you're not the only one who prefers RPGs on handhelds. I notice a lot of people having that preference.

[@andrewt6338]

Well, it depends. One upside of a Rpg is that the controls tend to be simple. Many action games I put aside for a week or two and forget how to play. I would look in the manual, but those don't really exist anymore. If I forget the plot of an RPG, well, it's usually easy to either guess or someone will remind you or I don't care. It's a time sink, but honestly with the grinding issue.. a lot of games have that aspect. I love the Lego games, but earning everything takes forever, so usually I don't. Monster Hunter also comes to mind. Love the series overall but gathering materials can be tedious. Even racing or sports games sometimes make you grind a bit. I like when an RPG tries something a bit different. That's hard to explain since I simply can't get into any of the SNES ones, but maybe that's because I only got to play those in short bursts. So it was hard to get hooked. I loved Shining in the Darkness, a dungeon crawler, and Shining Force 1-2 because it was more strategic. Fire Emblem falls into that also. I would encourage anyone curious about these games to check out the Dreamcast. Lots of good RPGs on there that are more unconventional. I need to get back to EGG, which... I don't know how to explain it. It's very good however.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast is one of my favorite RPGs ever.

[@manirahnema9585]

I try really hard to get in to RPGs. I don't know why i can't... I can't play them more than 15 minutes maximum. But still keep my famous rpg games...

[@Shishkebarbarian]

This topic made me realize that while i played hundreds of RPGs, i have beaten a very select few. My favorite is easily FF7, incidentally the game that sold me on the JRPG genre despite me trying and failing to get into FF3(6) back in its day and also falling in love with Secret of Mana years prior. I could no longer handle the genre when everything turned into looking like Anime, so all my faves would be from the 16 & 32bit genres. When i was young i considered Zelda an RPG and while i agree today it is, it still feels adjacent to me. Here's a good question for you: Is Symphony of the Night an RPG?

[@alexalexander1772]

Excuse me, are you implying I wasn’t cool in the 99’s. On 7th saga I even renamed a character with a swear.

[@crystalwater505]

People getting bullied for video games sounds like a regional thing. In North Carolina growing up everyone played them at my schools. BUT, you got bullied for liking power rangers weirdly enough.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Power Rangers? Dang. That's a bummer :(

[@crystalwater505]

@@RetroBirdGaming It was! It was mainly a middle school thing though when it happened.

[@mattb6522]

As a kid, the first RPG I tried was Dragon Warrior (Quest) on the NES. I absolutely hated it and for years RPGs did not interest me at all. I then changed my tune when I got a GameBoy Color with Pokémon Yellow. I then later played Super Mario RPG and enjoyed it. These game eased me into RPGs and I do sometimes enjoy playing an RPG in my more balanced gaming diet. I mean, I still prefer action RPGs slightly to turn-based ones, but they can all be pretty fun for a slower, story-driven experience. Though, I am still not a fan of ones that require excessive grinding or have high random encounter rates. 😅

[@tarantinoish]

0:41 No, Crono, you got to talk to Marle before picking up the pendant.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

hahah

[@thepolacek]

Mario rpg, Pokémon red, and thousand year door are the only games I played. I hate grinding and high rate random encounters

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Sounds like they're not for you and that's all right :)

[@skateboardmemories]

Gr8 topic for a video. I Dont like rpgs, the few ones Ive tried. I do love the 2d Zelda games tough. If I were to get in to rpgs, which one do you recomend to start with? Greetings from Sweden

[@RetroBirdGaming]

If you like the 2D Zelda games, then something like Secret of Mana or Terranigma might be a good place to go from there.

[@ronaldjames1190]

I like heroes of ruin for the 3ds although I have yet to pass it. I still have fun playing it my favorite character to play as on it is the vindicator.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

A Dungeon Crawler!

[@thebigbean8783]

It's a video about RPG's so I just have to mention Paper Mario on the 64 😌

[@ben501st]

A great selling point for RPGs is they rely more heavily on story and text based play rather than graphics and fancy movement. Retro RPGs tend to hold up better over time because of this. It's similar to books in this aspect.

[@DJ239]

I remember hating RPGs as a kid, didn't understand why people liked them. Then I played a demo of a game called The Legend of Dragoon on the PS1 and that changed my mind!

[@HatedJared]

Turn based RPG's were my childhood. Final Fantasy, Legend of Dragoon, Chrono Cross. To be honest though I cant push myself through them anymore. Maybe its lack of time but random encounters just dont do it for me these days

[@mrbrocephus3849]

Only get into RPGs on the weekends and when you are a kid. I’m 27 no kids yet but barely have time to play them. From Zelda,Elder Scrolls. To simple Pokémon.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Definitely hard to find the time for them.

[@willfoster7210]

if anyone wants a game to introduce them to the genre, imo chrono trigger is the best jrpg ever made. there is no fat at all, only maybe 20 hours. great story with varied paths, multiple endings, and there isnt a stong feeling of grinding. also, the woirld is huge and varied because its the same land over different periods of time. that's all i'll say. A 16 bit 20 hour masterpiece.

[@Grind24hours]

You may not agree, and I might be wrong, but I feel that Chrono Cross isn't a Chrono Trigger number 2 (although they are both great). The two games are very different, where CC is an "ordinary" turn-based jrpg that doesn't stand out in the crowd while Chrono Trigger is something much more, the game is something special. Ps the ultimate game would be a game that plays itself!

[@metaldiceman]

5:16 The difficulty ramp / lack thereof and need for grinding / lack thereof is a relevant topic I've seen come up many times. The reviewer will complain that battles are too easy and boring. Well don't grind so darn much and they won't be! e.g. SpoonyExperiment reviewing FF8, the man just keeps drawing magic incessantly because he's obsessive compulsive. I just played the game normally, drew magic here and there, defeated the enemy and moved on. Not sitting in a random battle for 30+ minutes drawing the same spell until max stock. And because I played reasonably, the difficulty level was not trivial, and actually I had to do a *little* bit of grind drawing on the side just to get through the story battles. Now we can have a discussion on whether the opportunity for capitalizing on your OC is an element of poor game design, but just exercising some moderation and enjoying the game reasonably can go miles towards a good experience.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, these are interesting questions to ask. If a game is well-made, then there shouldn't be a "wrong" way to play it, right?

[@metaldiceman]

I generally agree with that statement, and it sounds nice at first hearing, but let's contextualize with substance and not decree with simple statements. If you're going to grind when it's not necessary and then claim that the game is flawed as a result, then you can't cast blame without owning your share in it. Then a "perfect" game would have no opportunity for grinding, right, enemies disappearing as you reach appropriate levels? In this world, your choices and tools are restricted, clamped down in the name of a streamlined experience that pushes you along at the chosen rate, no faster and no slower. Is that an enjoyable experience? I guess it depends on the person and the game. But a world that is more open to player decisions, flaws intact, insomuch as I can own my decisions and can recognize what is not reasonable and choices and freedoms that should not be removed in the name of idealism. That is for me. Are there things that can be improved? Sure, but let's appreciate and own our decisions, be careful what we wish for, and not dream of a utopia where our decisions are made for us, and then cry foul when the grass is not greener on the other side. In the FF8 example, you might think that the devs should've just placed a low limit on the draw-able magic for each enemy. But now, if you *do* want to stockpile magic and bolster certain weapons or characters with various types, in order to mine that magic the effort is now unnecessarily multiplied dramatically as you need to repeatedly enter battle, draw, fight & defeat, close battle, run around, and enter battle again, instead of letting you continue to mine in the same battle. Is it a flaw? I guess if you adopt the "perfect" game definition, if that is indeed what you want. So the freedom and choice is there for the player... for those who can handle it.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Dice Man, you know me :)! I always use questions like that as a tipping point for discussion more than as a declarative statement. You know I'm all about exploring the grey area! As far as "not being a wrong way" to play a well-made game. I was referring more to, say, an RPG allowing somebody to grind if that's what they enjoy, but still being able to beat the game without grinding if they have good strategy. Something like that. I think the interesting element you've introduced into the discussion is how much the player is responsible for their own enjoyment of a game. I'd say that's a key point to bring up, as people try to say games are bad all the time when the problem is more so that they cannot identify with the appeal of the game. There's so much to get into with that. Perhaps this could be a future discussion video.

[@metaldiceman]

Okay yeah, I'm on board with that. I've just seen cases where someone will say, look, I can break the difficulty by grinding, clearly this undermines the design of the game, undermines the effort the devs put in towards making a balanced difficulty ramp, therefore it represents a "wrong" way to play it. Because no well-designed game should allow methods the player can use to undermine or "break" design aspects, right? So because those choices exist, there exists a "wrong" way to play it, and so it is not a well-made game because of that (the logic path in my response to your comment). These are surface-level conclusions, and what are often labeled "flaws" (and by extension, graces or virtues) are not always uniformly objective but rather are judgments by the reviewer based on their background, preferences, and a myriad of other factors. This is why reviewing games is a messy business (and why a prominent KZbinr, Arlo, flat out removed scores from his reviews altogether). The "flawed" option of grinding if you want to opens up choices for me and represents more, not less, ways to play that are worth pursuing if they're up your alley. :-)

[@CRedd9830]

Panzer Dragoon Saga & Skies of Arcadia are top five all time games for me.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I believe it. I've played both of those and they're great.

[@ShinryuZensen]

9:28 oh no, you stole the lunch.... you are gonna have fun at the trial XD Also, if you like FFTactics , you might find Kartia fun too. :D

[@Misshowzat]

What I hate about RPG's these days is game stores don't know what RPG's are. A classic RPG like Paper Mario or Commander Keen are called 'Adventure' or 'Scroller' & RPG's now are just Turn Based Battle games (TBBs) which have an entirely different appeal & story telling style. For me I like 0% - 10% magic featured in a game but *love* storytelling so this huge swap has been frustrating to say the least. Great video though.

[@SonofSethoitae]

How is Commander Keen and RPG?

[@kevinkingslayer2450]

Watching this playing Metroid Fusion on Fire HD 10.😉👍