Top 10 Most Unknown/Obscure PS2 JRPGs

[@mossiness]

0:00 Intro 1:05 Baroque (Sega Saturn, PS, PS2, PSN, Wii, Nintendo Switch) 2:03 Soul Nomad & the World Eaters (Soul Cradle: World Eaters) (PS2, PSN) 2:52 MS Saga: A New Dawn (PS2) 3:53 Evergrace (PS2) 4:46 Forever Kingdom (Evergrace II) (PS2) 5:43 Ephemeral Fantasia (Reiselied: Ephemeral Fantasia) (PS2) 6:43 Dual Hearts (PS2, PSN) 7:41 Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color (Galacta Meisaku Gekijō Rakugaki Ōkoku) (PS2) 8:53 Graffiti Kingdom (PS2) 9:43 Tsugunai: Atonement (PS2)

[@chaosconspectus]

XenoGears background music. nice.

[@rossedwardmiller]

FromSoftware In 2000 - ever grace In 2009 - demons souls

[@chocobro3198]

Whereas Ephemeral Fantasia was definitely not an AAA RPG, I don't understand how you can say there isn't much to say about it. I did enjoy it because of the whole time looping over and over and trying to break that chain by finding ways to make people aware of it. It was a pretty unique and fun concept so that's definitely a big plus to this game. I also quite enjoyed playing songs on the lute, and it plays a lot like Guitar Hero in a sense, so there's another unique and fun aspect. Therefore it's still one of the RPGs from the PS2 era that I'll never forget and will always be special to me.

[@Sonicisbadazz]

I was just thinking something similar. I suspect he didn't play far enough to experience the time loop, which really IS the game's best claim to fame. Unfortunately it takes a couple hours for that twist to show up, and what players are left with in the meantime is...well, pretty lacking. The graphics are mediocre Dreamcast quality, the battle system is just okay, and the frequent loading screens combined with time limits to reach plot points gets kind of frustrating. However, the biggest flaw of EF is by far it's aimless style. The best parallel is Zelda MM. Majora's Mask has the Bombers Notebook to keep track of side quest progression and the dungeons to give the game structure. But Ephemeral Fantasia has no equivalent, meaning a walkthrough is practically a necessity to make progress. Once you get past that, yeah, the game gets pretty fun.

[@mikebeck9918]

I appreciate the time you take to make these lists. Have you considered doing individual game reviews? Your passion for the genre would give light to a lot of games we may have missed or just haven't played in awile

[@ErickLandonRPG]

mike beck I do make reviews, check out my channel. Anyways, thank you so much for your feedback. I really appreciate it.

[@Livingtree32]

I wouldn't exactly say that there's nothing to say about Ephemeral Fantasia. Actually the idea is quite exceptional, the 5 day loop and you having to create a piece on your guitar, that's all pretty unique. It's just that the realization wasn't as good as the idea.

[@TimBitten]

Dude, give Soul Nomad another try for real. I loved Yggdra Union, but Soul Nomad is one of my all time favorites. It just takes some time to really become very fun, but it DOES.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Thanks, man. I think I will.

[@UltimaInferno]

Ephemeral Fantasia I played several times not easy to make progress without a guide because you will get lost trying to figure out what you are supposed to do. It had good ideas but probably needed a little more work.

[@ReaveIdono]

I love Ephemeral Phantasia. Had so much fun figuring out the ground hog day loop.

[@2BooG]

I have a majority of these games that I STILL have to finish. Love my collection. Evergrace, Forever Kingdom, Dual Hearts(Great OST) and Tsugunai, I have to replay these games and finishe them. I have an extensive BACKLOG

[@bluewolf8873]

Thank you! Finally a list of ps2 games ive actually havent heard of!

[@ErickLandonRPG]

You're welcome :)

[@TheKensei777]

I know. Hate when people are like top 10 rpgs and kingdom hearts is on it. Lol not even an rpg.

[@sorakun3632]

@@TheKensei777 Kingdom Hearts is a RPG

[@TheKensei777]

@@sorakun3632 no it's an action RPG.

[@sorakun3632]

@@TheKensei777 You just said, it's an Action RPG. That means it is a rpg.

[@JaminWarrenPMS]

I personally like all the games on the list.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Really?

[@JaminWarrenPMS]

Yes sir! You call them mediocre but I always thought of them as competent. None of them are in my best rpg's of all time. But I think all but 2 of them I played through all the way and they were worth my time.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

I see.

[@ComradeArthur]

OMG you have more ps2 JPRGs than *I* do!

[@inrptn]

Tsugunai actually looks really damn cool. Thanks man.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

No problem.

[@Sebastian-xy3xk]

You should really use Component cables with your PS2. It's a *huge* upgrade if your HDTV handles 480i nicely.

[@kyleabrams5036]

I have no recollection of ever playing Ever Grace. Buy that cover seems really familiar. Wonder if it was ever reused maybe.

[@saldanamoreno]

The content on this channel is so unique and interesting. I love it man!

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Thank you!!!

[@gensaikawakami341]

Yeah this channel is a gem

[@romax3115]

dude soul nomad is one of my all time favorite, i like it thousands of time better than yggdra union, soul nomad is like yggdra union done correctly, not the other around, if you only play it at the beginning than you never learn all the mechanic that this game provide, not only you get a different tech depending on the position you place the unit in the box but you also get to manipulate the box it self, there is tons of way to play and the story is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better than yggdra onion, its fun, very witty but surprisingly deep, and you get to play as both good and evil side, not to mention there is a lot of hidden character with amazing skill. I think there is something wrong with you if you like yggdra union more than soul nomad

[@ErickLandonRPG]

There's nothing wrong with me, I just have a different opinion than you. That is all.

[@AntaresHighlander]

MS Saga and Tsugunai: Atonement are actually pretty good games.

[@Genethagenius]

“MS Saga” is excellent, great Gundam JRPG, HOWEVER!!! It is the horrible character designs that hold this back. Not only are the generic, they are just incredibly aesthetically unappealing in my opinion. Give us a remaster with some QoL improvements and NEW character designs and you have a hit, lol!!!

[@pixgeek6831]

I love unknown game with Shadow Hearts PS2, Europeen version has a lot of mistakes in the French translation. Breath of Fire 3 same, exemple Green Apple for "Pome", in french it's "Pomme". Tales of Phantasia for PS1 best version, GBA censored and remove two dungeons optionnal.

[@brndn31107]

haha Evergrace. I bought it at Gamestop a long time ago and it was hot garbage. Not sure what I did with my copy but guessing it's in a landfill somewhere where it belongs lol

[@LadyPsychic]

I actually own some of these games. I own Baroque, Soul Nomad & the World Eaters, Ephemeral Fantasia, and Magic Pengel.

[@grahf4215]

I love MS Saga. While the combat might be a little on the dull side I guess, it more than made up for it in customization. It was also pretty challenging, especially the optional fights. They were fairly difficult but not unfair. Despite being a pretty straight forward story, I have played and beaten it at least three times. That customization just kept me coming back for more. Shame we never got a sequel.

[@FalcusDead]

I actually loved Evergrace, but I never knew it had a sequel until seeing this video, but after looking and seeing that it only released in Japan and NA, that explains it. I never associated Agetex with Evergrace though, but they didn't publish the game here, it was published by Ubisoft. It's one of those games that I didn't know was made by fromsoft until years later.

[@VincentSaturn]

I loved forever kingdom but gave up on tsugunai about halfway

[@emeraldo]

MS Saga is a pretty tactical and actually very challenging game. Too bad the heroes look goofy as hell.

[@firmanang9132]

Graffiti Kingdom, Soul Nomad & Dual Hearts are extremely fun and creative they dont make games like this no more

[@solidxangryjoer4233]

Ever Grace, loved it but had this problem at the end. I remember that I could not finish it because I needed to unequip all weapons but I simply couldn't... Something like that.

[@foxtrone]

Oh my ... I miss just MS SAGA... !!!! I have/played all the others ....

[@jaredhanks7632]

MS Saga was great for me & im not a big fan of Gundam.

[@alnex4607]

Yah.. it was a fun jrpg.. and collecting all the mobile suits were fun.

[@kayfimt7769]

Just discovered this channel recently, this guy’s knowledge is unreal, has to be one of the leading authorities on JRPGs. I thought I knew them really well, but this guy continually knows things I don’t.

[@spokiee2000]

Love the xenogears music bro!!! keep up the good work

[@obliv3on]

what's the intro music, It sounds great, great video by the way!

[@TheKestevon]

I installed PS2 emulator in my PC just to have jrpg fix

[@malictory]

Points for mentioning the wonderful adventure that is Dual Hearts! What a wonder wonder!

[@ChaoticOrder883]

Was bought ever grace as a gift. I loved the game. Brings back memories.

[@ivrgn1720]

i've played MS Saga alot. even to this day i often revisit it on emulator. i really hope it got a sequel.

[@dandevil5557]

what about Steambot Chronicles, or is this considered to be too familiar?

[@sebastianmartinez1843]

Tsuganai need a Remake Sony need Create Remake of tha Game

[@nondweller]

I remember being a teen and avoiding these games because of the negative reviews from ign,gamespot,game informer etc. Now that I don't read those anymore I might try some of these.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Yeah, I encourage you to do that; some of them are actually pretty decent, like Tsugunai or Forever Kingdom.

[@seriousgamer8543]

Graffiti Kingdom very fun game :))

[@killgronia5815]

😂😂😂😂 I remember Evergrace. Hella trash

[@crowjre00]

I remember seeing these games on the shelves and not buying them.

[@joserebollo6238]

I love your videos they are very interesting, I am from Spain and I am triying to learn english with you. Your videos ara a great helpful. Thank you

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Gracias a ti. Saludos!

[@MrMSFTtheMSFTking]

Hey there’s a turn based game on ps2 where one guy is a martial artist and later in game summons like earth atronachs another is a girl who doesn’t talk I think she had her voice stolen or something and summons a healing spirit and the last main character is one who wields a sword and later in game summons like a fire demon or spirit and it’s most identifiable feature is is having to input UP DOWN LEFT LEFT or and other combination and that’s how your characters would fight WHAT IS THIS GAME ?!?!?!

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Sounds like Legaia 2: Duel Saga.

[@MrMSFTtheMSFTking]

Dude Youre freaking beat after years of looking you helped me so much

[@CarinoGamingStudio]

grandia series forme are one of the best jrpg in ps2

[@truthlesseightysix]

Soul Nomad was one of my favorite PS2 games. While a lot of issues certainly existed, there's a very rich & rewarding experience to be had if you can get past it. Not to mention the second playthrough where you can choose to slaughter your home village and go on a bloody rampage in the name of world domination. Yuri Lowenthal's performance as Gig was possibly the best part of the game for me though.

[@papervoxels]

Hi Erick. Had you not included Tsugunai it would have called this entire list into question lol That's one of my top 10 PS2 JRPGs, so I'm happy to see it getting any exposure it can!

[@TheEternityForce]

Damn. Ever Grace. Forgot about that game. Still hate to this day; for some reason, I could never get past a certain point, and I'd try for hrs and never get anywhere

[@solomonkane5240]

What about shadow tower abyss?

[@pramudhitaatjantanugraha6106]

I know Ms saga

[@darrylgordon6360]

What about kouldelka?

[@gizelbelcoot]

You missed Ash gallerians

[@ErickLandonRPG]

That's not an RPG.

[@gizelbelcoot]

There were arguments regarding that, since it covered more than RPG aspects, but by same logic Tsugunai or Evergrace 2 type action RPGs are not an JRPG but RPGs

[@sandrosimoes100]

Games Very Nice.

[@waelkarkar7080]

I know baruque

[@sillantro5149]

hi erick and JRPG fans.... maybe someone here can help me figure out this unknown ps2 jrpg from my past.... (long story below) my mom worked at the mall when i was a kid.. she was friends with the guys down at EB Games (now Gamestop) and they knew i liked rpgs and would recommend games to her. every once in awhile she would surprise me with a used copy of something.. this is how i found Phantom Brave and Radiata Stories. I know, i was lucky to have such a mother! One day she brought home a game that i didnt like that they recommended, a ps2 jrpg. and she was actually able to get them to return it. ive always wondered what game this was!! want to say the game started with a U, but im not totally sure. the case came with a cardboard sleeve that had character molds popping out. i remember they were anime type gals with large breasts. I will let you guys know if i ever remember bc im sure it is a unknown title!

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Unlimited Saga :)

[@sillantro5149]

@@ErickLandonRPG WHOA.. youre right.. i may need to revisit and see if i was right in returning it

[@shawnmulligan3471]

Good to see Tsugunai get some attention, always thought it was an interesting game. This video and your 2nd unknown PS2 one don't discuss "Falling Stars". It's European-made, but I think it probably qualifies as a JRPG style game, and it's definitely unknown (at least in America, where it did come out, but in limited quantities and at $20 new). It's pretty clunky and simplistic, but it features random battles and turn-based combat (your character vs one enemy at a time). Your character gets experience and levels up. The main villain's name is "Matt", so that's something I guess.

[@atmassylphen6785]

Loved Soul Nomad I've played it for hundreds of hours. Love EverGrace too, see Palmira action is just nostalgia, haven't heard of the others. There's a lot of obscure games I've played because my mom would get the cheapest one's at pawn shops so they were usually not mainstream stuff.

[@lucasbobo22]

I remember play baroque on the 2008 launch...but i always feel bad wen playing this game (i was 12 so problably it was because of that), maybe i try it again someday.

[@tedds1000]

I played Evergrace before by borrowing it. That game is so HARD! I barely got anywhere in it and decided to give it back to the owner.

[@miguelitopumpum]

im playing the jojo's games for the ps2

[@Chimone97]

🙂in this list I ready playing it in 2006 accept number9

[@rossedwardmiller]

My buddy had ever grace. His copy is the only one I’ve ever seen in my life. That’s the only game on this list I had heard of other than Pengel.

[@brightfuturebfp]

Dat Xenogears backsound. Makes what you say becomes eerie. Lol

[@tiagopedro2046]

Honestly, I really enjoyed ever grace at the time. unfortunately i didnt get to finish the girl's part. good to know there is a prequel

[@axl3215]

Thanks, I played Baroque many years ago, remembered it today almost like some kind of dream! I played Soul Nomad years ago too, and your video brought it back to my mind, nice video!

[@bcleary2000]

Ever Grace only ever graced the bargain bins in most game shops especially in the preowned

[@supersavage401k5]

I loved graffiti kingdom the voice acting was off but it was so good

[@janlindner6077]

Just discovered your channel. Thanks a lot fot your effort. These Videos reallly spread my world of JRPGs. Thougt i new a lot about this. Man was i wrong. Think my PS2 will increase its workingtime the next months/years :-)

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Thank you and welcome to my channel :)

[@Tenpouin]

Tsugunai: Atonement aside (which is a charming and original RPG that I like a lot), all the rest is pretty mediocre to downright awful. I was specially frustrated by Dual Hearts, it was billed as a spiritual successor to Alundra, but the game just controls horribly and the art direction really rubs me the wrong way, specially the level design. I was expecting Jade Cocoon 2 to appear on the list, yet another disappointing sequel (the PS1 original is quite good). MS Saga looks somewhat decent though, maybe I should try it out sometime. I used to mix it up with Metal Saga, another unknown and pretty bland PS2 RPG.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Completely forgot about the atrocious sequel to Jade Cocoon. But yeah, most of these games are pretty much mediocre with the exception of Tsugunai, Forever Kingdom and MS Saga. Dual Hearts is okay, but Alundra is obviously superior in almost every way.

[@evancooper7510]

Wow I forgot about that Gundam game, I used to see it on the shelves when I was a kid

[@dakotamiller717]

I adore the soundtrack to EverGrace. Thank you ThorHighHeels. .Hack Infection is great too

[@Tony240zt]

.Hack is pretty well known in comparison to these.

[@tuantrananh4015]

am i play too much jrpg i play half of these games

[@EmperorMegas]

Fantasia is still pronounced the same in English.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

But it's not an english word, buddy.

[@EmperorMegas]

@@ErickLandonRPG I wasn't saying it was an English word, I'm just saying I've always heard it pronounced 'Fan-tay-see-uh' (or 'Fan-tay-zhee-uh') by native English speakers. I love you videos, BTW. I just discovered your channel a few weeks ago and I think it's great.

[@SBaby]

Soul Nomad is way better than Yggdra Union. The gameplay is better, and Gig is entertaining as hell.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Thanks for sharing your opinion :)

[@harrihaffi2713]

Good list! Ps: Tony’s chocolonely ftw!

[@rashid2898]

ephemeral fantasia i hated that game.

[@fafnir9690]

Forever Kingdom was my favorite when I was younger.

[@alexandrefurneribeiro3265]

Cool video man! I remember renting Ephemeral Fantasia from a store called Video Jack and getting stuck pretty early on. Well, good luck with your channel, God bless!

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Thank you very much for your feedback and welcome to my channel. :)

[@Maelael]

played no9

[@ZeroSilicium]

Yo when i was young i had that game on the thumbnail and damn it was so good

[@IzuLeMat]

I'm in a quest of searching my long forgotten ps1/2 rpg game.. I can only remember some scene from that game. maybe I can found it in this channel

[@jesterface0521]

Izutsushi What does the scene look like maybe I can help?

[@eliasbarrasa7320]

Izutsushi Its shadow hearts its in your brothers sock drawer

[@nawee242]

Nice choice for the number one dude lol...it's very good game with great ost and unique battle system and magic, i really wanna play it again but my ps2 is broken=/

[@pakkuro]

just use pcsx2 my brother

[@nawee242]

@@pakkuro my old computer couldn't handle that last time i tried for Tales of Destiny DC...guess i'll try it on other computer=/

[@BigTough]

Ever heard of Digital Devil Saga?

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Yes. It's not that unknown. At all.

[@thin_line_betweensportsand3361]

Shocked you didn’t mention legend of legia2 duel saga or valkyri profile 2 those were really good rpgs

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Pretty sure they're far from being unknown titles. I'll give you Legaia 2, but VP2 is definitely one of the least unknown games on the system.

[@thin_line_betweensportsand3361]

Erick Landon RPG hey thanks for the respond but idk bro vp2 felt like it went under people’s nose remember st that time ps2 was phasing out

[@thin_line_betweensportsand3361]

Erick Landon RPG and if you played legia 2 did you play part one and which one do you think was better

[@spideysting1]

I like your videos man good job, where are you from? And do you speak Spanish?

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Hola. Muchas gracias por tu comentario :) Soy de México!

[@spideysting1]

Erick Landon RPG saludos De San Diego! Sigue con tus videos compa

[@SeventhheavenDK]

I really love this channel.

[@ErickLandonRPG]

THANKS!

[@lloyd011721]

evergrace was literally just practice for demons and dark souls >.>

[@ErickLandonRPG]

Hahahahaha

[@sandyrootz6115]

I think there was also one called The Legend Of Alon Dar?

[@Eggnificent]

I actually played these almost all of these. I would add one more which was actually pretty good: Ring of Red. But FromSoftware and AgeTech did make some bland RPGs and Ephemeral Fantasia was basically the RPG Zelda Twilight Princess minus the macabre and with additional bland. Not saying Twilight Princess is bland just to be clear. I wish I could toss every PS2 AgeTech/FromSoftware collab RPG into a wood chipper.

[@joeoe99]

I've seen first Evergrace,but cover was basically saying "I'm mediocre" so i never picked it up. And for Ephermal Fantasia i've only seen 1 copy in my country and it still holds 20$ price so i didn't even bothered.

[@ReaveIdono]

I thoroughly enjoyed Ephemeral Phantasia. I haven't played another JRPG like it yet.

[@6kine6tic67]

Ever grace was terrible lol

[@HyouVizer]

I saw MS Saga New Dawn in some stores before PS2 was discontinued but I never thought to get it, looks pretty decent. Ephemeral Fantasia had an annoying but every unique mechanic. Various events would happen in the game based off real time, so to see them unfold you'd have to put in a certain place at a certain time or you'd miss an event completely. These events changed the flow of the storyline and sidequests chains too. I loved Magic Pengel, sure the graphics sucked even back then, the combat was rock, paper, scissors simplistic as hell but the idea of drawing your own creature in 3D was so cool to me, and even more so its spiritual successor Graffiti Kingdom.

[@darkraioxxx]

Evergrace was my shit when I was younger. I never finished it though. Took me a while to get it back at a good price.

[@ericklandonsecondchannel]

I got it for 3 bucks around 8 years ago, and I think it's still really cheap nowadays...at least in my country.

[@douchebagbrigade]

Soul Nomad is top 5 all time on PS2 right after the Megaten games

[@emperorkang]

i have soul nomad. very buggy. not worth playing

[@emperorkang]

ephemeral fantasia was one of the first ps2 rpgs. it plays alot like ocarina of time, in the sense you are in a time loop. not that bad of an rpg, but it could've been better

[@emperorkang]

sorry, i meant majora's mask

[@ErickLandonRPG]

I see.

[@stopminormutilation]

Help me please!! So I'm in trouble and I need your help finding a game!!. It's a ps2, rpg adventure game and I can remember that the house had a circle window with ocean view (colorful not bland game) and you could drive a fanboat to get into a city I believe. I remember it having good graphics similar to Grandia 3 and they had that kinda final fantasy fashion. I also remember being in caves/duengon at some point and fighting? I have been searching for yearsssss. I'm 20 and I played this game when I was 9 to 11. So it was 2009 around that time. I think it had a storyline. PLEASE HELP!!

[@tha3immortals]

Dark Cloud?