good turbografx games

[sunteam_paul]

(Neutopia is not an RPG).

It's an ARPG which is still an RPG. After all, Ys is an ARPG.

[Odonadon]

(Neutopia is not an RPG).

It's an ARPG which is still an RPG. After all, Ys is an ARPG.

I second that.  In fact, most games are technically RPGs anyway, as you assume the role of that character for the game.

OD

[Keranu]

Hell, even the John Madden football games could be considered RPGs since you "role-play" as American football teams .

There are a surprising amount of turn-based RPGs on the PCE HuCard format actually, I'll try to list some ones I know:

Bonzai Gaiden (actually I am sure this isn't what it's called, but it's a very ancient Japanese RPG)
Double Dungeons (first person, also an American release, though this game isn't really adventurous as it is level-based)
Lady Sword (first person)
Momo Tarou Densetsu series (aren't three of them RPGs?)
Necros no Yosai (really cool looking battles)
Order of the Griffin (another American release, but more of a strategy)
Sinbad something
Susana o Densetsu (this game has a interesting battle system)

There are more than this, but these are the ones I can think of the names for. The others I would have to look up, but a few I can describe are another first person, futuristic RPG (starts with an E, maybe?), a very old RPG made in 1988 or 1989 I think and also looks like Susano o Densetsu a bit, a cool futuristc RPG where you fly in space and then land on some planet, and one of those wacky hentai RPGs by Game Express where you fight random nude chicks .

Some of these RPGs are really cool actually, I wish they were translated, especially Necros no Yosai.

[esteban]

Order of the Griffon is an enjoyable game, IMO. I think you'd be happy with it, especially if you liked the early TSR / SSI games that appeared on various computer platforms back in the day. This HuCard does a decent job of capturing the SSI experience on a console. Also, if you are the least bit interested in D&D, then you have to get Order of the Griffon, since it was the only TG-16 game licensed from SSI.

Double Dungeons -- This will never be on anyone's "Best List", but if you are into old-skool dungeon crawling (occasionally making maps), then you might try this. This game would have been a lot better had there been a greater variety of environments and enemies (among other things). The reason I suggest this game is because the TWO PLAYER CO-OP mode is actually a lot of fun (both players have to enjoy the game, of course). Unfortunately, I don't know how likely it is to find two folks who enjoy this game enough to finish it. My brother and I are probably in the minority (and that was 16 years ago).

As everyone else said, definitely grab Neutopia 1 & 2 (2 is very pricey, unfortunately), DE I & II (the sequel is CD format).

[FM-77]

There are no RPG elements in Neutopia. It is an action adventure game. Just like Zelda.

The Shin momotaro densetsu games are RPGs. Horrible ones, at that. I believe there are at least eight of them (the later ones are on PS1) but none of them are available in English (gee, wonder why?)

[Odonadon]

There are no RPG elements in Neutopia. It is an action adventure game. Just like Zelda.

Mr. Seldane, sir, I'm anxious to hear what constitutes a RPG in the video game world  (not table-top)    

In my travels I've seen many people try to define it, and the most common theme seems to be " a game where you assume the role of a character and proceed through a narrative".  Heck, I'd even say the Wonderboy in Monsterland games have RPG elements, though clearly action/adventure.... or are they?

OD

[TR0N]

Cadash what can i say i enjoy this classic by Taito.

[Keranu]

Steve, I enjoy Double Dungeons quite a bit actually .

[esteban]

Steve, I enjoy Double Dungeons quite a bit actually .

That's why I love you Keranu

Seriously though, it is a very playable game to this day. We have to convince more people to give it a chance

The koolest thing is that the ONLY way to see yourself is to have a second player and manuevre (sp??) yourselves to look at one another. Unless there is a mirror I'm forgetting about, that's the only way to see what your character looks like!

[Keranu]

One time me and my bro played Double Dungeons for like an hour and had a blast with it, even though we weren't entirely sure where to go . I do recall being able to see each other's character in that game on 2 player mode (and getting a laugh out of it), but I can't remember the slightest of what the characters looked like! I'll have to try it again to see, that was interesting .

[FM-77]

Mr. Seldane, sir, I'm anxious to hear what constitutes a RPG in the video game world  (not table-top)    

In my travels I've seen many people try to define it, and the most common theme seems to be " a game where you assume the role of a character and proceed through a narrative".  Heck, I'd even say the Wonderboy in Monsterland games have RPG elements, though clearly action/adventure.... or are they?

OD

Some people say RPGs are games where you play as a character. That is the single worst definition ever as you are playing as a character in practically every game. If this was true, Super Mario Bros. would be an RPG.

An RPG is where you can develop your character. Hence the experience/level and equipment systems. Ys has all this, but is also very action based -- action RPG. You can also choose to equip different things and you can walk around just about anywhere right from the start.

Neutopia doesn't have this. Neutopia is strictly action based and doesn't contain any RPG elements, not even character integration (you walk into a house and NPCs say different [often useless] things). You can't choose what to equip because when you find new items, the old ones disappear. The game is also ultra-linear. You can never go to a place you aren't "supposed" to be at yet.

People seem to exclude the "adventure" genre whenever possible and replaces it with "RPG" instead. An RPG doesn't normally contain  "adventure" elements. By adventure elements I mean puzzles/riddles/etc like in Zelda games and yes, Neutopia. Ys does not contain any puzzles whatsoever.

Neutopia contains action and adventure elements. Ys contains action and RPG elements. Are these two games in the same genre? Definitely not.

A real RPG, however -- is The Elder Scrolls. The player is YOU! You make every choice, you can develop your character in every way (swimming makes you better at swimming, etc) and you can do whatever you like and go wherever you want -- unless you're somehow limited to it. Just like in real life.

[sunteam_paul]

Neutopia, Ys, Exile etc are ARPGs which still mean they are RPGs of a sort. 'Standard' RPGs are usually turn-based like Dragon Slayer LOH, Cosmic Fantasy etc.  Something like Wonder Boy in Monster Land is an action game, or action adventure if you wish.

These are the way we term games in the PC Engine era and the way they were always pidgeon-holed (yes, Zelda is an ARPG), it just seems you're being awkward for the fun of it.

[esteban]

These are the way we term games in the PC Engine era and the way they were always pidgeon-holed (yes, Zelda is an ARPG), it just seems you're being awkward for the fun of it.

Of course! This is Seldane: he's a bit of a troublemaker and on several occasions he's done this sort of thing.

The problem is not so much with what he says, the problem is his approach. Sometimes, he's more abrasive than he needs to be with some of his comments (... and his tone is condescending).

That said, I like that Seldane instigates some interesting discussions

[Odonadon]

Nah, I don't think Seldane is being abrasive at all actually.  I'm really playing Devil's Advocate - check how I've categorized the reviews at Turbo2k (Adventure vs. RPG).  I was curious to see if anyone had a good argument as to what defines an RPG...  I'm still curious

The term RPG is ambiguous at best.  While I agree with Seldane that Neutopia is not an RPG in the traditional sense, there is a story, you do play the role of a character, and develop your character - whether as a result of making a selection in a menu yourself, or the game automatically doing it for you - doesn't matter.  Your character progresses through a "world" and there is a "story".  Like I said earlier, pretty much any game could fall into the RPG category (technically speaking).

Seldane - regarding Elder Scrolls... this sounds much more like a Sim than an RPG don't you think?

The player is YOU! You make every choice, you can develop your character in every way (swimming makes you better at swimming, etc) and you can do whatever you like and go wherever you want -- unless you're somehow limited to it. Just like in real life.

In fact, how would you categorize this game: exactly like Elder Scrolls, but neither your stats nor equipment change.  FPS?

OD

[Keranu]

I generally agree with Seldane on this topic since I never considered Zelda and games like it as action-RPGs, but just as "adventures". I usually add the "action-RPG" tag to games like Zelda -- say Ys -- because it contains elements from the traditional RPGS, like experience points. However, I can admit than games like Zelda and Neutopia do have their own RPG elements and Odonadon made a great point when he said this: "...there is a story, you do play the role of a character, and develop your character..." . As well as the similarities these games carry with stronger action RPGs, like acquiring weapons and items, visiting towns, etc...

Overall, I still consider Zelda and Neutopia as "adventure" games .