What games are kind of like Final Fantasy?

[sqbr]

I get into certain moods where I feel like playing a video game, but unfortunately 99% of the games I've tried don't suit me. The final fantasy games are the best fit I've found(*) but I've run out for the moment, and I was wondering if there were any others people could recommend which do what I want.

The absolute most important feature is the ability to make the game arbitrarily easy. I suck at computer games, and beyond that only play them when I don't feel up to anything useful so am incompetent even for me. I honestly can't think of a game that I thought was too easy apart from in a "Wait, I don't suck at this, why is it so easy" sense. An easy setting is an ok fix if it really is very easy.
Final fantasy games allow you to level up while the monsters don't, so I can just find a nice place with easy monsters and cheap healing and level up until I feel able to take on the bosses(*).

Not stressful: It shouldn't set off my fight or flight response (no time limits or things jumping out at you) it shouldn't be easy to accidentally screw yourself over for later in the game (by using something you'll need later etc)

Beyond that, if there's a plot, then I prefer an ensemble cast. And it should be good(***) :)

I have a PS2, Wii, PC and Mac, but if you have suggestions for other consoles feel free to list them, you never know what we may get in the future. I strongly prefer consoles to computer games, allows me to lie on the couch.

(*)Guitar Hero is game I play when I'm feeling awake and musical, which is a very different niche
(*)except frigging ff8 which I have thus never finished, though for the moment I'm playing it every now and then having nothing better. I was also very disappointed by Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
(**)Unlike FFX-2, which might have been ok if it was an original game but irritated me too much as a "sequel".

Comments

[alias_sqbr]

Yeah, yeah, I will eventually :)

That sounds great, I'll try to hunt down a copy.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Wednesday? I'm meeting up with someone in the city during their lunch break, so we could catch up as well.

[alias_sqbr]

Sure, I can do Wednesday. Any time is fine as long as I'm home in time to rest up before people arrive for Stargate in the evening. What time and where?

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

1 or 2ish at Borders?

[alias_sqbr]

Either is fine. I guess I prefer 1pm so I have more of the afternoon free.

Re: I wrote a long message and then my iPod crashed

[david adam <zanchey> (from livejournal.com)]

I am new kinds of terrible at Frets on Fire, and was pretty mediocre at Guitar Hero when I tried, though perhaps more practice is required. I blame seven years of trombone, which is an incredibly simple instrument in terms of manual dexterity :-)

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

1pm's good!

[alias_sqbr]

Cool!

Re: I wrote a long message and then my iPod crashed

[alias_sqbr]

But if they bring out Trombone Hero you're all set huh?

(I think the closest is Wii Music, should such a thing actually appeal)

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

If you like strategy RPG, Disgaea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgaea:_Hour_of_Darkness) is excellent, and is heaps of whacky fun. You can replay the old levels as much as you like, and be overpowered for the new levels.

You should get a DS so you can play FFXII: Revenant Wings. ;)

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

Have you ever played Neverwinter nights?

I think its like what you're describing... its old, but that just means you can buy it cheap. Sadly it is PC though.. I myslf am pretty crap at consoles.

DISCLAIMER: I've never played final fantasy, so I could be barking up the wrong tree here :P

[alias_sqbr]

I don't think I've ever tried strategy RPG, but it does sound worth giving a go. Thanks.

We have a DS (and FF3) but using it gives me a headache :(

[alias_sqbr]

I found the main plot of NWN 1 so utterly terrible I didn't make it past the first screen.

But I had a lot of fun playing Penultima :)

Cam has a few PC roleplaying games and none of them really grabbed me, I'm not sure why.

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

Haha I didn't mind the plot. It was simple and meant their were diseased prostitutes :P Which I found funny.

[maharetr.livejournal.com]

I'm totally with you on the 'fight and flight' and 'building up in safe places' things.

I found

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I'm totally with you on the 'fight and flight' and 'building up in safe places' things.

I found <a href"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_of_Might_and_Magic">Heroes of Might and Magic</a> fit the bill nicely for me: it's very turn based (you and the computer, you and friend). Even the battles (to my great relief) are 'move an army section, which attacks. Pause. other side moves section, attacks. Pause while you think for as long as you like." style play.

I played the third incarnation, and really enjoyed it. Haven't played any of the others.

[ilumiari.livejournal.com]

Kingdom Hearts!

[alias_sqbr]

Oh wow, I spent hours watching my ex play that in 1997. I "didn't play RPG"s back then, so it never occurred to me play it myself, hmm. Will have to look into it.

[alias_sqbr]

I got about 7/8ths of the way through and got bored, but yes that is exactly what I'm talking about. (Taste being a very personal thing and hard to predict)

I wrote a long message and then my iPod crashed

[david adam &lt;zanchey&gt; (from livejournal.com)]

play through the Monkey Island games with a walkthrough.

[lizbyrd.livejournal.com]

I can lend you Okami if you want to give it a try? I haven't played enough of it to rate it on Final Fantasy similarity, but I want to finish FFXII before I get back to playing it.

I haven't played Kingdom Hearts 1 but I did thoroughly enjoy Kingdom Hearts 2.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Have you played the SNES FFs? I've got FF4, 5 and 6 for PlayStation you can borrow, as I believe they're now like $100 to buy new rather than the $30 I paid.

[alias_sqbr]

...
...

If you lend me those games, I will name my first born child Penny even if it is a boy.

Well, maybe not literally. But that would be SO AWESOME.

I have to warn you I take frigging forever to finish these sorts of games, what with all the repetitive leveling.

Re: I wrote a long message and then my iPod crashed

[alias_sqbr]

I liked Monkey Island 1, tried Monkey Island 2 just after and decided I needed a break from the premise, never got back around to it. So, thanks for reminding me :)

I'm a sucker for puzzle adventures with a good plot, but they're pretty thin on the ground these days. I LOVE the gabriel knight games.

[alias_sqbr]

*googles Okami*
Wow, that looks awesome!

I've heard good things about KH2 and mean to give it a go one day but got mightily sick of KH1 before I gave up so want to wait a bit.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Okami is looooots of fun, and is very pretty!

Some of the enemies can be frustrating, before you've worked out the way to defeat them, but it's not difficult to buy many, many lives, and restoratives are easy to get too so those battles aren't horrible.