RPGS I TRIED TO LIKE - Happy Console Gamer

Johnny talks about some RPGS he tried to like over the years...from 1994 to 2021..
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Join Johnny Millenium The Happy Console Gamer as he discusses new video games and reviews forgotten games that not many people know about but should!

[@LedZeppo32]

I would love to see a list of RPGs you weren't expecting to enjoy, but ended up really enjoying.

[@benjamincity3601]

Legend of legaia and legend of dragoon this was 2001 many moons again them games changed my whole perspective of rpgs forever

[@dextersbeard3472]

No one buys games they are expecting not to enjoy.

[@asafoetidajones8181]

Sure they do. To collect them, or because they got a really good deal, or because they came as part of a lot, or they pirate and try them.

[@Narding5566]

Persona 4 for me. Never liked JRPGs. And I didnt like the Pokemon-esque style gameplay. But got hook with the stories and characters

[@ArcticB4Desert]

​@@dextersbeard3472That's definitely not true

[@fyiicheckforspies]

For context, 1994 was a really good year in gaming: Donkey Kong Country, Earthbound, Earthworm Jim, FF6, Doom 2, Super Metroid, Street Fighter 2 Turbo... and then there's Vay.

[@NYCJoeBlack]

Didn’t Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers come out in the summer of 1994? I could be wrong, but I think Super Punchout! and Secret if Mana also released in 1994. And yeah, 1994 was one of the best years ever in gaming including 1995.

[@firepenguin38]

Earthworm Jim. Was fire!

[@Randomark3087]

'94 was one of the best years for the SNES

[@firepenguin38]

@@eye-of-omega only one of those I don't remember is windjammers. But the rest are classics like Tekken, mk 3, killer instinct and orimak rage. It's a couple years older but I liked road rash and eji dab forget ray man... I know they are not that year but classics imo

[@MentalLiberation]

​@@NYCJoeBlackSecret of Mana was in 1993. I know this because I clearly remember my very first Nintendo power issue was for Secret of Mana and it was for November of 93😊. Illusion of Gaia, however, did come out in 1994. Thank you again, Nintendo power covers😁

[@bobsamurai]

dungeon encounters looks like exactly what you'd get from a game called "dungeon encounters" in 2021

[@joelmonteiro1419]

I can't believe it has a metascore of 81.

[@striderm]

For what it was I still got some enjoyment out of it. Especially the music.

[@drsquid8124]

I remember playing some maze style RPG on the Nintendo DS that was pretty old school and difficult. You climbed a huge tree and was done in the style of those old 3D d&D maze games. The battles were traditional jrpg style though. Can't remember the name though but it was in Japanese.

[@leecroft7311]

It looks so... nothing. Must be something we're all missing, it must suddenly change into... something, right ???

[@Willardsmusic]

@@joelmonteiro1419 I can. It's rad as hell. It's obviously a low budget experimental thing they let one of their game design vets pump out quickly, but that just made it even cooler, like Square enix making an indie game. Combat is quick and fun, as well as the party equipping/building. It's pure game mechanics, and yeah, not everyone is looking for that. On the surface level, it looks basic, but they did a good job trimming a lot of the fat that can make JRPGs/dungeon crawlers a hassle, and in doing so created a pretty unique and enjoyable experience.

[@IvuEvans]

i love how even if you hate these games you still talk about the positive things about them and what made you try them in the first place! You made me interested in Vay, the mecha in a fantasy medieval setting sold it to me, i'll try it later and maybe i'll love it or end up hating it like you, but in the end the important thing is that i'll have a new experience on a game i never heard about before and it's thanks to you and this video!

[@danusty]

be warned that if don't like grinding like crazy, you will definitely not like vay, and this is from someone who regrets having bought it. I still own it though as art of my 4 sega cd games collection 😂💩

[@chopdog6563]

I like Vay, but I don't pretend it's anything more than a painfully average 16-bit RPG. Elements of the game even feel more 8-bit. It's not very long, though, and the story is OK. The game takes about 25 hours at most. So, if you fancy an 8/16-bit console RPG that's merely OK, than I guess give Vay a go.

[@sandkatt]

I bought Unlimited Saga on a whim because I saw Squaresoft's name on the cover. I learned an important lesson that day.

[@mramisuzuki6962]

I was gonna say this one too.

[@VHuntrD]

My first thought as well. I loved the Saga Frontier games, plus included a trailer for Final Fantasy X-2 I was waiting for made it a day one purchase. Couldn't believe it was so cumbersome and dull.

[@Vandal49]

Was the lesson that Unlimited Saga is awesome?

[@Cactus270]

Unlimited SaGA is ASSSSSSSS

[@ohcharlie428]

​​@@Vandal49 i hope so. Im going through a play of it now and love it. Its nice and classic d&d rpg. And i like that it doesnt spell out all the games mechanics...leaves room for you to be a smartman and figure something out for yourself.

[@n00bc0de7]

I am almost scared to admit it but an RPG that everybody seemed to love but me would probably be undertale.

[@nickwick35]

yeah, I honestly thought that game was super forgettable. I never understood the hype. Maybe I'll try it again one day.

[@wadedewell]

I feel the same. Maybe one day I will try it again😊

[@fydiousmckormick]

yeah, undertale sucks. Everyone acted like it was a successor to the mother series. maybe if all the people who worked on the mother games had severe brain damage.

[@HLl564]

I agree, its just goofy

[@Ludwig1970]

Why are you afraid to say that?

[@JDB-ru4lp]

I’m glad I found this channel, I genuinely enjoy this content.

[@sporkticus4061]

For me it’s “The 7th saga”. It always looked cool and there was many characters to choose from but the game was so hard and some the battles were endless

[@Zematus737]

I actually tried playing this again recently, thinking.. maybe I just wasn't very smart back then to not have done better and give up on such a grindy game. I laughed so hard as I did a suicide run to the 3rd town. I think I died 7 times within the space of an hour. I did not want to grind, but this game just hates you and force feeds you pain and regret unless you do the mindless grind. Maybe it was required to team up with another hero. I am interested in watching a speed run of 7th Saga now. Just so I can have a few laughs and see how it is done.

[@michaeldehart3253]

I finished the game twice back in the day. First time was solo with Lejes. The second run I started with Wilme and picked up Kamil. It was a very much a grindfest and a game of chance.

[@Dhalin]

@@Zematus737 Maybe not a speedrun, but I have a solo Kamil run on my channel. And 25h to reach almost max level almost at the end of the game is not THAT grindy.

[@Dhalin]

@@michaeldehart3253 I have a 25h playthrough on my channel saved right near the end at almost max level. It's not THAT grindy if you know how to play it. What the game doesn't tell you is that you get 2x XP if you are solo, which is why I play solo without getting a teammate other than to manipulate who ends up with the Star Rune, and then later on to swap them out for my choice of final teammate (because a newly-recruited teammate always matches your level, so you level up to 80 solo and then recruit a level 80 teammate). Also, what the game doesn't tell you is that harder enemies are not always the best XP around, it's XP/hr that counts and some harder enemies give worse XP.

[@agentmith]

Play the romhack that fixes it. They made the game artificially difficult in the US because of the rental market. The romhack makes it more like the japanese game. I usually look for bugfix/modernization romhacks now when playing older games, especially RPGs. It makes them more fun if you don’t have nostalgia covering the gap.

[@chrilz1498]

Even when you're displeased with a game, Johnny, you still manage to give them fair reviews, and now if I ever encounter either of these four I'll have much more suitable expectations going in, so thank you for that. I hope you're having a restful Sunday!

[@twilightofthegods33]

This channel is criminally underrated. Always great content!

[@Rareware0192]

Baten Kaitos is my absolute favorite JRPG. Cannot wait for its remaster this September!

[@gremlinn7]

Looking forward to it as well. I love card game systems implemented in RPGs, and we finally had a chance to see it front and center rather than a side activity.

[@asafoetidajones8181]

I was an rpg hound when I was actively collecting retrogames and got both baten kaitos. They were unplayable for me, but they definitely did something very different and I can see them being someone's favorite.

[@nightmarishcompositions4536]

It was one of my childhood favorites along with Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy X and Dragon Quest 8.

[@jpgo8323]

I hope you give Baten Kaitos a good chance this time around. It does take some time until the game gets going, but it gets really good when things start to click. The battle system is also the same since you get limited amounts of crappy cards at the beginning.

[@fillerbunnyninjashark271]

The card combat killed the series for me

[@sws212]

I beat the first but it was tedious AF by the end. Even after you get the pattern, it wasn't like FF where you could just attack all day for normal goons, every battle just became a chore by the end where you had to use like 20 cards for random encounters.

[@jpgo8323]

@@fillerbunnyninjashark271 @fillerbunnyninjashark271 To each their own. I'm not a big fan of card battles, but Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Baten Kaitos 1 just clicked. I say Baten Kaitos 1 as I haven't had the chance to play the second game. Nevertheless, at least you gave it a chance. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd chance it'll click, maybe it won't but at least tried to get a feel for the game.

[@jpgo8323]

@@sws212 It gets better and easier, but you're right - random battles aren't like old school Final Fantasy where they're nothing more than fodder to mash the attack button in. Felt a bit more like SMT wherein if you're not careful, you're easily wiped by a bunch of nobodies. Although deck management definitely helps and is the way to go. A good deck can go a long way.

[@bretginn1419]

@@jpgo8323 For me, Baten Kaitos clicks. But not Chain of Memories.

[@juansanchez209]

Octopath Traveler for me. I just didn’t care enough about the characters for it to feel like a big deal when the stories finally converged

[@nicolasjonasson4820]

Unfortunately these games aren't what people want them to be. But you can't take away that they are very pretty.

[@james441]

You missed a classic man. One of the best games I ever played. It all depends what expectation you come in with.

[@sharebear421]

Yeah they’re not for me. I’m not a fan of the 2DHD thing either. Yeah it’s neat or pretty but I prefer other styles

[@theconsolekiller7113]

Similiar for me. Loved Final Fantasy 3 and Chrono Trigger back in the day, but realised I no longer have the patience for text heavy story games anymore. Still love turn based strategy games that focus on combat though.

[@jayt2917]

Love octopath traveler . Im currently playing the second game . The music is fantastic

[@ChrisMeadows1992]

Ahhh, Sunday morning, granola bar in my belly and a cup of coffee in my hand, perfect time for John to upload another video

[@Diefenbaker57]

Thanks for the video John - to me you are one of the few legit gaming critics on youtube. Not just in scope of knowledge but in giving real "criticism". Why wasn't this a good experience or a great experience -- you bring the detailed receipts. Always a pleasure to watch someone talking about their passion. 💛👑

[@jamesmcdonough4901]

Dragon Age Inquisition. I really loved Origins, but I still don't understand how Inquisition got all those 9/10s and GOTY awards.

[@robby024]

Totally with you on this one. Inquisition u can't even walk around without it feeling like shit

[@franjaff6919]

The reviews and accolades were way off for that one, I think. It didn't seem to leave much of a lasting impression on the industry or players

[@blizzrd6578]

Yeah I 100% agree. Origins was fantastic, I even loved DA2. DA:I was just... I don't know, soulless? The companions were awful and the giant open zones were boring, and the combat was dull.

[@syntheticsleep]

I made it to the first main town or encampment or whatever and was immediately bombarded with about 25 bs busy work quests on top of opening up a needlessly complex and tedious crafting system and I was out. I was already struggling because something about the combat felt really off and the character models make me physically ill to look at. The ones for dialogue/cutscenes anyway. F that game.

[@gamelover2222]

I liked Vay enough to play through it multiple times growing up. I watched someone do a run on twitch a couple of years ago and it was rougher than I remembered. I think I remember it most because it was the only RPG with a major party member death since FF7.

[@ddaodao9332]

I finished the game 3 time😅

[@androidfanatic6528]

Pottle!!!!

[@billycausey4277]

only rpg with a major party death? every FF game has a major party death.... hell, 4 and 6 are bloodbaths for party members.

[@gamelover2222]

@@billycausey4277 I saved Shadow, you didn't?

[@lingivey36]

Phantasy Star 2 entered the chat…

[@Ishin69]

The Witcher 3. I tried HARD, like 5 or 6 times to get into this game but I just couldn't do it. I don't even know exactly why but I just couldn't vibe with that game at all

[@Stanjara]

Jesus! Delete your save, take a deep breath, put on the story mode and do only the main line. Just play the story on easy.

[@Ishin69]

@@Stanjara As I said, i tried like 5 or 6 times. At this point i just accepted the fact that the game is not for me

[@Ostnizdasht206]

Same. I know it's a good game, but it doesn't really do anything for me. It kind of feels like a chore to play.

[@theconsolekiller7113]

Same. Loved Witcher 2 but the third never did much for me despite finishing it. Witcher 2 was my first witcher game , and on the 360. I had witcher 3 crash maybe 2 or 3 times on me in the beginning, having to eventually uninstall and re-install, right when I started the game for the first time, so that was a buzzkill too.

[@zimmy4868]

I was just about to say the same thing. I’ve tried 3 times now to get into it and I get 4 or 5 hours in and I’m bored to tears.

[@staticshock4239]

The Witcher 3 and Borderlands 3 are games i tried to love but just can't get into them. It really sucks because Borderlands 3 was a game i was hyped for since i loved Borderlands 1 and 2.

[@johnlawful2272]

I like the witcher but not enough to do side quests

[@maxdishaw]

Witcher 3 for me too. Coming off the Souls game it just felt so clunky to play and the combat was not for me

[@Off_Grid_Gaming]

I also couldn't get into Witcher 3. Love the story and cutscenes but the battle system is so meh and don't get me started on the 17, 000, 000 side quests...

[@kcadventures1454]

After borderlands 2, borderlands 3 was a huge disappointment. Didn't even finish it.

[@kevinfromsales9445]

@@Off_Grid_Gaming I liked the simple combat but the story sucked in my opinion. It wasn't as interesting as Witcher 2.

[@XionSteel]

Dungeon encounters is one that i actually enjoyed to the point where i 100%'d all tiles and all monster battles. It is simplistic as hell but the game rewarded you for trying things while punishing you in the brutalist of ways at the same time. Uncovering all tiles gave you points to apply to abilities that you find and leveling gives you more cap points to wear stronger gear that you find, sometimes you need to give up armor to put on that stronger aoe spell, the trade off is that you're ally wont actually start taking damage until they hit through your armor so you can get away with a lot more. I started myself by fighting every battle i came across, but once i got up to the tree area (area 4), i did I end up falling into the floor 97 trap and losing my entire lvl60 team at the time. So i said fk it and took a lvl 1 ally up the tower, collecting wanders along the and using my displacement abilities to dodge all encounters. When i got all the strongest wanderer then i made a team of them and worked on getting all the secret things (which incidentally includes gear for the said wanderers, and some stupidly strong spells). Maxing out the in/out of battle speeds and writing down coordinates for things does make the game a lot more manageable. like where you wiped, where stores are, rest stations, puzzle locations, gorgon alters, just notepad the shit out of everything like you would in a normal bare bones dungeon crawler or dnd session. But even without that there is a list of found points as well as enemy groups you can look at at anytime, it was just easier for me to look to the side and see it on my notepad. Grand old time if you aren't one for story and just like to see what is at the end of dungeon by any means necessary, and only took me 35 hours to do it all. 👍

[@TheCrawl]

As a massive fan of hardcore dungeon crawler, I adored Dungeon Encounters. The minimalist presentation and remixed ATB combat makes for some of the most interesting gameplay ideas. It’s absolutely crammed with systems and hidden synergies-but yes, the presentation is super streamlined, and I get why some people don’t click with it. Especially because you really have to dig to find and understand those systems. For me though, it was absolutely perfect.

[@asafoetidajones8181]

Never heard of it before this video but based on this comment I need it

[@nerdzone]

HappyConsoleGamer is generally a graphic and presentation guy. From my experience with his videos, it seems that this is the recurring theme. That seems to be the most important element to hook him up. I am genuinely surprised he even picked Dungeon Encounters considering that although he mentioned that he did not do his research.

[@CheestosParade]

Yes!

[@ashenthornwolf]

I actually dug Dungeon Encounters. I enjoyed the minimalistic gameplay and had fun guessing the classical covers of each level's fighting theme. It was a chill game to wind down to at the end of a long day. There also was the dopamine of walking over all of the tiles.

[@CheestosParade]

I love Dungeon Encounters. Fun game!

[@mkohanek]

your story about Baten Kaitos is pretty much a perfect mirror of my own experience with it. I played it, got some hours in (I recall being in some candy land when I stopped), and just stopped due to lack of enjoyment. And yet, looking back, I feel nostalgic for it, and I want to play the remakes.

[@VegaNCalleDQuesT]

I remember being so curious about Vay, but didn’t have the system. Such a trip to be reminded of it so many years later

[@reverendjim4184]

Vay has a much better prequel game -- it's called "Oy".

[@jarrodleeth4829]

For me its Vagrant Story. With near perfect reviews and a friend in high school who couldnt stop raving about it, I got it for Christmas and quickly got bored with it. The only upside is i was able to sell it about 10 years later for a lot of money.

[@joshuadurney7552]

Play it again

[@Ragingspoon]

I stopped playing but finally picked it back up after 20 years and finished it, turns out I was quite close to the end when I stopped. Those battles and frikkin box puzzles ground me down though. Glad I went back though, definitely not one of my favourite games but it had great productions and messed around with new ideas which I always appreciate. Square were at the top of their form in the mid 90s to 2000 imo.

[@jameyalford4760]

Still my favorite game channel on KZbin. So many similarities and someone who always reminds me of my love of video games

[@Nako3]

I have to agree that at first Baten Kaitos felt weird but its so fun once you figure out how the card system works :D

[@LRrealest]

Astria Ascending is one that comes to mind for me. Luckily it's not a long game, but it had potential that it seemed the devs didn't quite tap into.

[@josuemartinez7131]

Stoked to play Baten Kaitos remakes. Great games I played them both. Hope we finally get a sequel.

[@bobbycorwen]

Dungeon Encounters was one of the most engrossing games I have played in so long!! I'm so sorry to hear you didn't like it. I personally adored this game.

[@Christanstonir]

I am feeling now the way you did in 04 about baten kaitos. I had a GameCube and all the previous consoles back then but I didn’t even know about its existence and wasn’t into rpgs as much. So I hope I can get into the battle system because this is the game I’m most looking forward to finally playing this year.

[@Silvergun_Raven]

I tried to play the Neptunia series, but everything about it turned me away immediately.

[@my_pal_dragon]

Yeah. Same. I tried pretty hard…

[@n00bc0de7]

Neptunia is a series you will either really love or really hate. There is no inbetween. I personally love them. Neptune's 4th wall breaks are genuinely funny.

[@nickwick35]

Definitely a series you either love or hate. It's not for everybody but I got addicted to the combat system and the writing can be pretty funny. Some of the spin offs are god awful though

[@redmage8719]

Neptunia is my most favorite series of all time but I can understand that it's not for everybody.

[@DadDude]

@@Enchurito The Japanese voices are much better. But only if you like high-pitched anime voices.

[@chrisbullock6477]

Working Designs had some of the best box art back in the mid-90's and their Sega Saturn Action RPG's were amazing.

[@IaconDawnshire]

shame their reboot company is pretty much dead

[@JoachimJensen]

Unlimited Saga for the PS2. I was sooooo excited. But the static images - static world map. It just killed it for me. Gourgeous images and the packaning for the EU made it one of the prettiest games on my shelf. But I could not get into it. 😢

[@braydenfath]

I've been watching you for over a decade and I've never seen you talk about Legend Of Dragoon. I thought that this video might finally be the one, but the fact that it isn't must mean that you just haven't played it. It's so up your alley and had groundbreaking combat for it's time, not giving it a shot is pure insanity, you must try it.

[@grahfkarate1799]

I remember being exited for the Last Remnant for 360. I was still holding on to the “square can do no wrong” thing. Couldn’t get more than 5 hours in. As far as newer games? Hmm I try to only play the games I know I’ll like these days 😂

[@mortaldragon2]

I got it for the switch some years ago after hearing so many people talk about it. Played for 15 minutes or and have not touched it since. 😂😂 I don't think it's a bad game but I had no idea what I was doing. Hahaha

[@grahfkarate1799]

@@mortaldragon2 on the 360 the slow down was so bad it was unplayable

[@mortaldragon2]

@@grahfkarate1799 oh wow that's right! You played the original version. To think the version I played was the remastered. Hahaha

[@flouserschird]

For me FF15 when I played the combat for the first time. I don’t understand why the combat is just hold down a button. The design choice is so strange based off their other action RPGs

[@jerminator0688]

I agree. I actually miss the turn based. Now it’s all action. Turned me off to FF big time. I’m skipping 16 because of it.

[@flouserschird]

@@jerminator0688yea I played the demo for 16 and was completely unimpressed. Didn’t feel like a Final Fantasy game at all. I personally really liked 12s gameplay where it feels open but is still turn based.

[@markdiaz8895]

I really enjoy your perspectives on games man! I love baten kaitos but I understand not everybody can jell with a card based battle system. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@user-uy5sg8dm1o]

when I saw the title of this video I started thinking about RPGS I tried to like and Baten Kaitos came to my mind. I thought I was the only one who just didn't enjoy this game and when you said it I for the first time knew I wasn't alone. I do want to try it again with the remake but it just was not what I expected when I got it.

[@zevzero]

For me it’s FF16 only on its merits as a rpg. It’s a great action game but coming off TOTK 16 feels so rpg lite and you can’t interact with anything in the word. I’m enjoying the game a lot but was let down as I was expecting an rpg experience. That is on me though other than that it’s an amazing action game with a great story.

[@theconsolekiller7113]

Agree. In FF16 the combat is way to simple. Dont really give a shit if the combat is turn based, real time , whatever, aslong as its compelling. Once I found a combat routine it was pretty much just spamming the same routine on all the enemies, which have way too many hit points. Alot of bland fetch quest type of shit, even in the main missions. Finishing it up now but struggle to play more than 1 or 2 hours at a time.

[@PoppaCYS]

I love FF16, but I know what you mean. It's an action RPG along the lines of the God Of War Reboots. Great game, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

[@Chandlaman]

@@theconsolekiller7113Right there with you. Part of me loves the game and the story is incredible but it isn’t an RPG to me really at all. Wish the worlds were more interact-able, the NPC’s more lively, and more to do. The quests can be really good but then so many of them are just fetch this/kill that. I’m probably at an 8/10 and I’m nearly finishing it.

[@djsuth7727]

@@theconsolekiller7113 Same. I can't play it for long stretches like all the games I really enjoy. It isn't an RPG, that's for sure.

[@beyondz55]

Agree with all here and I really am enjoying FF16 regardless. My favorite since 9 and 10. I really want SE to release that Dragon Quest 3 remake. That is top tier RPG to me.

[@bionicRod]

The older game was Fable for me. I was so psyched but it was far more easy and cartoony than I thought and it just didn't hold my interest. Modern-ish are the new Fallout games. I really tried to like them but just don't. Which is odd because I love Elder Scrolls games. It's just the setting, everything is brown and destroyed and not that interesting to me.

[@jayesun3420]

I feel like that about the new Fallout games too, too much nothing

[@NickEnlowe]

I played Fable 2 first and really liked it, then had a really hard time going back and trying Fable 1.

[@stigee]

I remember reading all the preview articles in EGM about Fable and how open it would be. The pics had me psyched! I remember the article claiming you could chop down a tree and it would grow back in real time... yeah I was disappointed to say the least. It was OK, but more of a hack and slash. And not open world. I liked the graphics but I had seen better by that point.

[@luroc]

dungeon encounters was a very enjoyable game for me. i loved finding the hidden treasures, making it to the next floor, upgrading gear etc. what i DIDNT like was the traps that forced your whole party to scatter to random floors of the dungeon! i was on floor 44 when it all came crashing. but i still enjoyed it. it's definitely not for everyone, very niche!

[@colindunham5717]

For me it was Final Fantasy 7. Everyone hyped me up so much about how good it was that when I got it I was expecting more, but I just didn’t see the hype. Final Fantasy 8 is one of my favorite rpg’s of all time.

[@keith7331]

Man I can't wait for the re-release of Baten kaitos. I loved this game

[@EggzOverEZ]

The Outer Worlds is what comes to mind when it comes to disappointing games i really tried to like. The writing was great but everything else felt bland.

[@HeyItsFerg]

I'm with you on that. Honestly, I've tried to play it like 3 times, get about 5 hours in and give up. I know some people love it, but the game just didn't feel "right". Can't quite put my finger on it in.

[@burnheal6063]

same. that game came across like it was made by people who had great ideas but didn't have the talent to really get the most out of them.

[@EggzOverEZ]

@@burnheal6063 I feel like everyone involved in that game other then the writers were either severely handicapped in terms of their development time/resources or they just decided to give up when going into the world building portion of the game. Dialogue is actually really REALLY good but having the same 4 bland weapons for 20 lvls? And seeing the same enemies recyled over and over again with area's that look empty and lifeless. Npcs literally just standing around. Its just not a fun game for this era of gaming. If it was made in like 2004 i'd have a higher opinion but with all the options out there in terms of great rpgs you could be playing...The Outer Worlds is not one of them.

[@EggzOverEZ]

@@LukaTheWanderer meh, i liked the theme in the outer worlds but everything else felt highly bland and lifeless. The writing in wotr i also really liked. The writing in Atom rpg though....yuck

[@pault.6653]

It should not have been marketed as if it was AAA

[@fearhunger3983]

Dungeon Encounters is great. If you're looking for RPG, you won't get that. But if you love old-school dungeon crawlers, it might be for you. I personally also adore its aesthetics and music.

[@dukey03]

Haha dude I LOVE Vay!! It’s not one of my absolute FAVORITES by any means, but it’s a game that has a special place in my heart

[@rolanddobson6900]

I tried to like legends of dragoon but was not feeling it. But at the time i was younger so i may try it again someday

[@nojohnso]

The narrator at 3:12 must have also done Albert Odyssey for the Saturn. Sounds almost identical.

[@chaospoet]

Thank you! I knew it sounded familiar but I couldn't place where.

[@ryanblackwell6402]

I really liked Dungeon Encounters! Other than when one of your party members fell and you had to find him… and going into the negative dollar amount from thieves 😂

[@CCKaraoke]

I think Baten Kaitos will really benefit from the HD Remaster. Being able to turn off battles and/or fast forward them will help immensely. The original also had an 'All your base are belong to us' worthy dub. The game can only really be enjoyed in Japanese, or with the voices muted. One of the most beautiful games ever made though, and one of the best soundtracks. Fantastic world of story too.

[@nicolasjonasson4820]

Lunar is one of my favorites

[@newgameaaaa]

I only played Lunar 2 which is a game that exceeded my expectations. I saw the graphics and thought it was just a really simple bare bones RPG like Dragon Warrior. There is a lot of startegy and it was very charming. It had kickass music.

[@disclaimin]

Surprised you didn't like Dungeon Encounters. The game gets more challenging and a bit more involved as it goes on and you unlock more equipment and the floors get trickier, and it definitely does have different biomes (changing every 10 floors IIRC). As for the music, all the songs are famous classical music pieces covered on the electric guitar by Michio Okamiya. Uematsu is credited as "Music Director," but the songs aren't originals of his.

[@chrisbullock6477]

A thumbs up for effort Johnny

[@sergeilikhomanov8638]

Nice video) have you ever played Vagrant Story? My favorite game, square greatest game in my opinion. Hope they Will do the remaster..

[@vladv5126]

Searing hot take: Final Fantasy 7. Everyone swore up and down how it was the second coming of christ. So I bought it and played it and... it was just alright. Which makes me believe the vast majority of its fandom had their first contact with jrpgs with FF7. Whereas when I played it had already finished FF4,6, Chrono Trigger and the first four Breath of Fire games. Needless to say, I didn't get the hype. Don't get me wrong, it's a good game but I went into it with the highest expectations and got something... fine.

[@brandontoler2382]

Can we get a "rpg's I didnt know I would like". For me I had very low expectations for the 2 baten kaitos games on the gamecube but I think they are pretty cool.

[@newgameaaaa]

Yeah right here. Lunar 2.

[@TuxEarth]

Same with me, only it was Xenoblade Chronicles!

[@brandontoler2382]

@@TuxEarth I love xenoblade chronicles. At first I didn't know what to think about the combat system but it definitely grew on me.

[@cultofjenova5653]

I think it's worth noting that song that was sampled for the Dungeon game was also in Catherine so it probably doesn't use a lot of his own original compositions.

[@popixel]

Awww... I loved Vay. I even bought It for my iPod touch back in the day.

[@basman2006]

I still want to try Baten Kaitos when it's remade.

[@basman2006]

I asked my parents for the game back in the day and they accidentally bought FF Crystal Chronicles. Still had some fun with that game.

[@adamford4167]

It is remade on the Switch.

[@bigounce562]

Do it! I really liked those games, and Voice of the Cards kinda hit the same itch but I'm really looking forward to the remakes

[@cherrystarscollide]

I went to GameStop because I thought Fallout 3 or Dragon Age or something was out that day. Turned out, it wasn't out the week after, and I went home with Borderlands which had just come out instead. I played it twice, and never touched it again. I still have it though!

[@fillerbunnyninjashark271]

Borderlands is only fun if you're running with other people

[@cherrystarscollide]

@@fillerbunnyninjashark271 I did. Hated it. So boring and repetitive. Not for me :)

[@knels5288]

Great idea for video….just wish you talked about more recent RPGs❤

[@eloratings]

“Dirge of Cerberus: FF VII (PS2).” I was so hyped about it, but the gameplay is so-so, like a normal shooting action of 3rd person genre.

[@andrewmilhoan3568]

Dragon Age: Inquisition. Which is weird because on paper it should tick all of the boxes for things I like in an RPG, but I just couldn’t get into it at all.

[@EastyyBlogspot]

There was a game for the PS2 Called Ring of Red .....and there was just one thing that put me off the game completely, during a battle there would be a sight that comes up with a percentage to hit rising....and i was hoping it would be skill based aiming ....and it was not it was luck and that disappointed me a lot.

[@gamelover2222]

I couldn't get too far into that one either. It's not a well known game, I'm surprised to hear it even mentioned!

[@chaffgrenade_x3]

i owned this back in the day and really tried to get into it but couldn't. I'm not sure why, i've always loved tactic RPGs but there was something about this one that didn't stick with me.

[@lotsofgames]

No love for Vay? Victor Ireland is crying right now. 😆 I actually never got to play it but always wondered about it since I do love most Working Designs games. Happy to learn more about it and that I did not miss anything special.

[@drjohnnysaint8779]

I had the iphone version of Vay. I forgot this game even existed until you brought it up.

[@LorenHelgeson]

I found out about Vay by complete accident. I went to Blockbuster back in '94 to rent Lunar, and someone had swapped the game out with Vay before returning it. But, you know, 90s anime cover. The store clerks didn't know the difference, and neither did I. I would not get around to beating it until last year. It is a SLOG. RPG grinding abused like you wouldn't believe. You need to spend an hour or so grinding just to go from one dungeon to the next. And the game is nothing but going to the next dungeon. One spot I spent three hours to grind, beat the boss, and got an item that made go back to a locked door in a previous dungeon. I then had to grind for two hours there, beat the boss, which opened the next part of the map. IMMEDIATELY had to grind for the next dungeon which was just off-screen.

[@herohunter81]

I tried playing the Witcher 3 on 4 separate tries. The final try I got about 40 hours in. It grew on me a little but I still think the actual combat is overrated. I feel weak when swinging a sword or casting magic.

[@johnk.2167]

Yeah I've tried 3 times on Witcher 3 and made it quite a ways into the game each time...I always lose interest and can't get into it.. not sure why lol

[@thesilentantagonist9776]

Just like you I was so excited to buy and play this game. The game was beautiful, but the card system did not suck me in. I do plan on picking up the HD remasters and giving them another go. Maybe I will like them now. Not sure, but I am willing to give it a try. Had to preorder from Play Asia just to get a physical copy.

[@duckofalltrades]

I loved/liked Baten Kaitos. I am not a huge RPG fan, but when this came out, I loved the art and had just finish Tales of Symphonia, which was my favorite RPG I’d ever played. I started it and really did love it, but it was so long and I couldn’t commit the time. It honestly took me around 4 years to finish as I could only play a little at a time. By the time I finished it, I’d met my wife, married and had kids! But I’d gotten so far, I just couldn’t give up when I was so close. Great memories.

[@TheDeliciousMystery]

Dungeon Encounters set off so many red flags for me. It felt like what i wished i'd been warned about with Unlimited Saga.

[@Eagleknight815]

Final Fantasy XII. Man, I was hyped for this! But, when I got DQ-8 and it came with the demo, that's when the window shattered. The new action combat never synced with me. Still picked up the game. Still tried it. And after 15 hours, it was all torture for me and I hated it. I tried. Didn't like it then. I might not like it now but I will never forget that disappointment.

[@eddymetal]

With how much I loved X, 12 felt like suck a kick in the balls. I made it about a dozen hours in. Horrendous combat and comparatively boring cast.

[@opusarise]

I hated the original PS2 release but loved the Zodiac Age remaster, the X2 and X4 modes just made the game flow and loved it second time around as I couldn't finish it the first time.

[@syntheticsleep]

XII is a hard one to get into. I really loved it back then, but now the concept of a 10+ hour intro with an insufferable non-entity and his equally insufferable not-girlfriend as your characters is a slog... At best. Once this game opens up and you get your real party, it's totally worth it. But I tried playing recently and found myself hoping that one of the guards would just go ahead and beat Vaan and Penelope to death so i could be done with it and never got to the real world map.

[@attaxiaffxi7033]

@@opusariseSame, I had major complaints about the game when it first came out and they seemed to fix them in zodiac. It’s a 9/10 for me now

[@mochico88]

Starting off the video with Fatalize? Major props.

[@patsg1146]

Man, I am so with you on Baten Kaitos and anything with a card-based battle system! "Okay, time to kick the evil emperor's butt! I can't attack I only have a bunch of shields and a banana in my deck! Noooooooo!!!!" Meanwhile, said emperor is scratching his head... I feel the same for Kingdom Hearts Chains of Memories to a lesser extent, as BK has so many other great ideas, but I just can't get over the battle system.

[@WPack911]

I am with you, never liked Baten Kaitos or any JRPG with card based combat.

[@ChanManChewey]

The Diablo series, if it counts as rpgs n not exclusively jrpgs. I tried 3, then tried 4 n tried 2. I tried to like them n my friends were playing with me n i couldnt like them. They were good games but not the stuff my friends were hyping up.

[@ant9925]

I think 2 is just outdated. It was brilliant at the time but now kinda lacks the quality of life upgrades that modern games have. 3 is a bit wild but the console version I think is excellent. 4 is a letdown. It just feels like a generic MMO.

[@lazydgsf7429]

One of the voice actors for Vay reminds me of Deckard Cane. Diablo has been on the brain lately.

[@michaeloconnor1281]

STAY AWHILE AND LISTEN

[@TMV420]

"take your clothes off in front of me and rub me down" sorry, we have this running joke that Deckard Cane is an old pervert and we'll just say fucked up shit in his voice. fucking classic hahah

[@tekdrudge]

​@@michaeloconnor1281beat me to it. Lol.

[@tonyballou]

I finally played Vay some 5 years ago or so. I got into Sega CD and Saturn stuff so much later in my life, and having started my Working Designs experience with Lunar in the 2010s, my expectations for Vay were just unreasonably high. I finished it almost purely out of spite lol

[@SockFullOfCatLitter]

Dungeon Encounters is literally fighting game nameplates battling each other. And that guitar riff is the same music you hear when a Looney Toons character is making explosives or something.

[@miguelgomez718]

One RPG I tried to like but I couldn't is Elden Ring. I played Dark Souls 2 and 3 and enjoyed them so when I heard about Elden Ring, the game got my interest but It was a complete let down; the graphics, the art style, the world even the combat felt like a step back. I tried to finish the game like 2 or 3 times but I just get bored quickly.

[@fydiousmckormick]

not an rpg.

[@saynotop2w]

Well, it's up to debate, isn't it. RPGs' dominate trait is questing and stat and resource managing, either of which isn't really the main focus. I always called soulslike an adventure game, because the focus is unlocking next area of traversal.

[@ladynikkie]

For me it was chrono cross. I really try to get into the story but I got lost when they had so many characters. And the different routes to choose from. It was just too much for me

[@daryl4841]

Same for me. The music and tropical atmosphere was a redeeming quality but it wasn't enough for me to finish it. Maybe someday.

[@robikinger7292]

Same😂. It's probably the only rpg that I've tried playing multiple times and just can't get into it at all.

[@J_Thao3]

I played the remastered one, and it was such a chore to get through. Most the characters just didn’t have any real motives to join the team or I was too bored to care for it. Probably didn’t help that I played Chrono trigger for the snes right before

[@gurvmlk]

@@J_Thao3 I feel like that last part is Chrono Cross's biggest crime. It didn't really matter how bad or good the game was in its own right, because it simply didn't stand a chance of meeting the expectations set by Trigger.

[@FallicIdol]

Same

[@aftereando]

I agree with the card combat... it's not for everyone. I picked Baten Kaitos recently ( never played before ) and I had the same feeling once I got to the battles...

[@nostix3608]

FF12. To me it feels like the game is just on auto pilot. You set up the gambits and the characters just play the game for you.

[@ryanwhite5322]

you know you don't need to set so many gambits. the game is quite fun and challenging if you only use a few gambits. the game doesn't force your hand. much like how a lot of RPGs have an auto battle. It's available, not necessary.

[@funkrobot9762]

I love how somebody posts their opinion, then somebody immediately tries to invalidate them and explain why their opinion is wrong lol

[@funkrobot9762]

FF12 was definitely one of the weaker games in the series. I’ve played them all.

[@duke_8747]

Hot take but FF15 wasn’t that bad. Everyone just had unrealistic expectations

[@The_Nei]

Chrono Trigger remains that game for me. I played it when it first came out, I played it 15 years later. Something about that game just does not click with me. Love Cross though

[@HatedJared]

Everyone told me to try Persona 5 because it was great. The first few hours is just a huge exposition dump. I'm an RPG guy I dont mind a bit of exposition dumping but P5 was out of control. Then when you finally get into it a bit, its just characters telling you a thing, then texting you about the same thing they already told you. Also I finished High School 16 years ago and I'm just not trying to be an angsty teen anymore.

[@vindex7309]

Actually, most rpgs fit into this category for me now. I’ve played so many that it’s really lost it’s luster for me and it has to be a damn good game to keep my interest in this genre. Inquisition and Dragon Age, Mass Effect, the new FFXVI sells itself on spectacle but the RPG elements aren’t amazing. I didn’t find myself in awe after the third or fourth power scale moment. I’m still sitting roughly over 1/2 done. I haven’t found a game that really struck gold quite like P5 did… and there were a few problems with that as well.

[@Daraxiel]

I tried to play the arcs of the Trails series, but somehow after Sky FC I always loose interest halfway through every other game in the series.

[@projectmessiah]

Wait so you enjoyed Sky Fc then didnt enjoy Sky Sc or any of the other arcs like Crossbell or Coldsteel? Not trying to sound offended or anything, the wording of your comment just genuinley confuses me. Personally though im a massive Trails fan although I agree that Sky Fc is actually my favorite 1st game from all the arcs.

[@strwrbttlfrnt]

I understand hating the pacing or something, but I don't understand what you hate about the series.

[@airdrighmor1439]

Xenoblade Chronicles. I got around to playing the DE on Switch last year. From all I'd heard, I was expecting something amazing. It was a solid 7/10 for me.

[@DaakkuuYRS]

Xenoblade DE is one of my favorite games ever. It is amazing how a game I was hyped for 10 years before playing it (counting the Wii version as well) still surpassed my unreasonable hype. But over expectations can indeed a kill a game for anyone. Still, 7/10 is not a bad score at all.

[@cZero475]

Can't pass it , immediately sold away

[@marcrics]

It's one of my faves but I can imagine a lot of people finding the battle system lacking. It clicked with me but I can see the flaws and how some might find it slow and boring.

[@damonke79]

Same here lol Completely average

[@chuckd.68]

Xeno 3 is stellar, definitely should continue through the series. Xeno 2 is my favorite but that’s somewhat controversial. It gets better from Xeno DE.

[@Philroq7]

Oh man. Didn’t expect Baten Kaitos to show up here. I’m by no means a card player but something with Baten Kaitos card design just grabbed me and I was hooked from start to finish and it is one of my favourite games on the Gamecube. Played the second Baten Kaitos games as well and loved it. After playing Baten Kaitos I got hooked on Metal Gear Acid 1 and 2 on the PSP as it too does a similar card battle design and I absolutely love it and I can’t wait to dive into Baten Kaitos on the Switch. I have my preorder in.

[@MetalOnMetal]

When I saw "RPGs I tried to like" and was thinking of my experiences of RPGs and disapointment, the deepest one was with Baten Kaitos - and I'm glad you talked about it because your experience is close to mine and, I think, cloe to other people's feelings. Baten Kaitos' hype was REAL back in the days : the game was pushed forward like few RPGs before, it was insane. All the magazines and TV gaming shows talked about how huge the game was and how mervelous were the graphics and art style, it was the next big deal ! When it was released (in France, it wasn't sure the game would get a release, so we were more hyped than ever), I drove nuts because I wanted this game so hard... But you said everything : the cutscenes and espacially the voice acting cringed me a lot. One of the problems I have with this game was the fact the game is really slow paced outside battles... But gosh, the battles... RNG and randomness in RPG are a thing, but the card system was terrible for me. I said the game is slow-paced outside battles, but at each turn you make there is a screen making some results of what you've done... All the game is slow and that put me in a hell of boredom. I can say Skies of Arcadia was also a tedious experience for me, such as Final Fantasy X or Dragon Quest 8 (it was the first DQ released in France). But I there's no comparison with Baten Kaitos in my RPGs experience :)

[@hashslingingslasher3083]

Replay Skies of Arcadia but the GameCube version with a 4k emulator

[@LedZeppo32]

I have tried to like Skyrim so much, because everyone seems to love it. I just can't get into it. I get why everyone loves it, but it's just not for me.

[@Nickshreds890]

I will admit that Skyrim seems awesome when I watch other people play it but it doesn't do much for me. It might be because I love Jrpgs. Anyway , we all have different taste :)

[@adamcorb2974]

Same here honestly, i just cant get with the color palette of it

[@kcadventures1454]

@@adamcorb2974 a very grey game.

[@Ronsilk-pu5hr]

Hey John have you ever played Skies of Arcadia? It's my favorite JRPG game of all time

[@clarke9168]

Same

[@Ronsilk-pu5hr]

@@sorey4622 oh OK cool thanks man

[@HappyConsoleGamer]

Great game! too much combat though! But that is how it was back then!

[@Ronsilk-pu5hr]

@HappyConsoleGamer the GameCube version they scalled down the combat and added new content too

[@brandonwenzel2844]

The thing with the combat system in Baten Kaitos, is that it sucks if you treat like an actual card game. But, it's important to understand that's not really built like a proper card game. It's really easy to fix it once you figure it out and start grinding for cards. Once you've got that down, it plays a lot more like a classic turn-based RPG, just with a few random elements. Granted, in order to make it work, you've got grind a fair amount, but it really does make the game more manageable.

[@cbuckley5697]

Dungeon Encounters looked like something a first time studio would release, not square enix

[@deifieddata4462]

The entire Disgaea series. I was obsessed with following the first game before release, was too young to have enough money to buy it. Eventually got Disgaea 2, played for a while before giving up, tried the same with 3, played even less before giving up. Never did end up playing 1, the game I was actually excited for lol. The lesson I learned from this is I really don't like rpgs with comedic gag storylines.

[@cleyra8550]

Saying that it's just a comedic gag storyline is being a bit reductive. Disgaea games usually go the power of friendship or love in the end, and deal with acts of self sacrifice and other schlocky stuff. Like I'm not saying it's the best writing in rpg's, but I like to think it unfolds a story that's good enough for the genre. Especially when it ties to gameplay that shouldn't be taken too seriously with billions of damage. You got what you paid for.

[@nikolowolokin]

"for awhile" you didn't learn anything

[@Ludwig1970]

My biggest one is Octopath Traveller. I adore this game….up until about the third or fourth boss. The bosses in this game are so fucking OP it isn’t even fun. I couldn’t finish it even though I wanted to so badly! Thankfully Octopath II fixed that and is far more balanced. In Octopath I the bosses are scaled to your entire party whereas with Octopath II the bosses are scaled specifically to that story’s character.

[@LRrealest]

Interesting. I actually liked the challenge. 2 definitely seemed easier.

[@Ludwig1970]

@@LRrealest I don’t have the temperament for stupidly hard games.

[@thegaminggalaxy2318]

The only thing hard about Octopath Traveler is the true ending boss. Everything else is easy.

[@Ludwig1970]

@@thegaminggalaxy2318 Nope.

[@thegaminggalaxy2318]

@@Ludwig1970 Damn. Sorry you couldn't grasp the combat... Skill issue 👋

[@reiperx1064]

Vay was my first JRPG ever and I loved it. The next one for me was Shining Force, then Lunar 1! I'm sorry you didn't like it, but if you've never played a JRPG before it's perfectly functional and even a little bit simple and a good starter JRPG. For me it was like 15 bucks used in the Blockbuster Video bargain bin. My mom paid for it though lol Want add one more thing. the style of Vay is like this older Legend of Heroes game I tried...can't remember which one, but I think it was a TCD game.

[@suicida1]

Fable. I followed that game for months before it came out, from when it was known as Project Ego, and they were talking about all this amazing stuff you could do, like planting acorns that turn into trees, and how the world would respond to your actions and change over time. They made it sound like the most amazing thing ever, and then it came out and it's obvious that it was all lies. It baffles me to this day that that series is so successful

[@bkillinm]

Love Baten kaidos