Squaresoft turned Nintendo‘s figurehead character, Mario, into a level-grinding RPG in 1996, much to the delight of games-players world wide.
Tag Archives: Turn-Based
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, Megadrive/Genesis
For my money: THE best game on the Sega Megadrive/Genesis.
Sega‘s very own level-grinding RPG franchise comes to full fruition in this fourth instalment of the Phantasy Star series, first released in 1993.
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Shadowrun: Dragonfall, PC
Shadowrun: Dragonfall is a 2014 indie release from Harebrained Schemes, set in the Shadowrun universe.
The developers tried to continue the success of the Shadowrun console games of the early ’90s, and in many respects succeeded.
Panzer Dragoon Saga, Sega Saturn
Considered by many to be the best game on the Sega Saturn, Panzer Dragoon Saga is a level-grinding RPG set in a world where people fly dragons (so God knows why it is called “Dragoon” – other than bad translation!).
It was first released in 1998 and was in development for two years.
Baten Kaitos Origins, GameCube
Baten Kaitos Origins is a prequel to Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, but released after the first game, by Namco in 2006.
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, GameCube
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean is a brilliant Final Fantasy-style, level-grinding RPG, initially released by Namco on the Nintendo GameCube in 2003.
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Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, PlayStation
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a superb party-based, level-grinding RPG, first released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 (as Lunar: The Silver Star), and brilliantly remade for the Sony PlayStation in 1998.
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Field of Fire, Commodore 64
Field of Fire is my favourite of the ancient SSI turn-based strategy games on the Commodore 64 because it is so easy to get up and running and playing, and commanding a platoon.
Phantasy Star, Sega Master System
For me: THE stand-out title on the Sega Master System.
Phantasy Star is a solid – if rather basic – level-grinding RPG/adventure, and it went on to spawn a whole series of other games afterwards.
Final Fantasy, NES
The very first ever Final Fantasy game was in Japanese only, released for the MSX in 1987. This 1990, NES remake of Final Fantasy was when Squaresoft really made the rest of the world first sit up and take notice.