Tag Archives: potions

Atlus, Nintendo DS

Etrian Odyssey, Nintendo DS

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This pioneering Japanese RPG was first released in 2007 and paved the way for one of the greatest series in the history of level-grinders… The Etrian Odyssey series.

Number three is my favourite, but one and two are excellent too (see also the Nintendo 3DS fourth instalment), and all follow the same credo. Which is: to base a game around exploration, mapping, and turn-based combat. And to make the party system flexible, so that adventurers can take out different parties and experiment with character skills.

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FTL, PC Engine, Software Heaven, TurboGrafx-16, Victor Interactive Software

Dungeon Master: Theron’s Quest, PC Engine

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Theron’s Quest is a modified version of the incredible Dungeon Master, released for the PC Engine in Japan in 1992 and the TurboGrafx-16 in North America in 1993.

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Arcade, Atari

Gauntlet II, Arcade

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Gauntlet II is the 1986 sequel to the classic four-player arcade game, Gauntlet. It was made by pretty much the same Atari Games team that made the first game, so retains a lot of its qualities. Which is great, because the first Gauntlet was brilliant and fans wanted more of the same – only with enhancements. Which is exactly what they got.

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Atlus, Nintendo DS

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, Nintendo DS

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This 2008 Nintendo DS release from Atlus is up there with the best in terms of top quality level-grinders – it really is superb.

The Etrian Odyssey series is all about mapping and exploration, item drops, boss battles, levelling, and lots of excellent turn-based combat, and this second instalment is a clear evolution of the first game, although arguably not quite as expansive and refined as its remarkable sequel.

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gog.com, PC, Sir-Tech, Steam, Windows

Wizardry 8, PC

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Wizardry 8 is a level-grinding RPG with turn-based combat, developed by Sir-Tech Canada and first released in 2001.

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Game Arts, PlayStation 2, Square

Grandia III, PlayStation 2

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Sony‘s PlayStation 2 has had its fair share of decent RPGs, but Grandia III – first released in 2005 by Game Arts and Square Enix – is one that sticks in my mind clearly.

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Dreamcast, Game Arts

Grandia II, Dreamcast

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Grandia II was released in August 2000 in Japan for the Sega Dreamcast. It follows the same template as the first Grandia game, except this time with full 3D graphics (the first Grandia mixed 2D and 3D). And – as Grandia II was made by many of the same people who made the first game – it’s not surprising that it’s similar.

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Sega, Sega Saturn, Sonic Software Planning

Shining the Holy Ark, Sega Saturn

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A direct follow-up to the classic Megadrive game, Shining in the Darkness, and arguably the best level-grinder on the Sega Saturn, the awkwardly-titled Shining the Holy Ark is a superb first-person, party-based RPG with turn-based combat.

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Enix, Level-5, PlayStation 2, Square

Dragon Quest VIII, PlayStation 2 [Part 2]

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Okay, so I couldn’t just leave it at that with regard to Dragon Quest VIII, so here’s another set of screenshots showing later in the game. In particular: the Dragovian Trials – an unlockable quest in which you take on a series of ever more powerful dragons, for unique rewards at the end of the game.

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Enix, Level-5, PlayStation 2, Square

Dragon Quest VIII, PlayStation 2

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There is no doubting that this 2004 release from Square Enix is the best JRPG on the PlayStation 2. At least, in my mind.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a colourful and detailed re-imagining of the Dragon Quest franchise, with Cel-Shaded graphics and tons of monsters – many of them familiar – to fight it out with in turn-based combat.

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