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

[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.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

You could call him Penn, and then lie and say you named him after the magician. ;)

Hmmm. Will you be attending either kadeton's or my parties

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

CLICKED TOO SOON

or do you think you'll be up for meeting in the city sometime?

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

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

The ScummVM page has a couple to download for free, and I found torrents for various out of print games easy to acquire.

Anything to break up the endless stream of RPGs. Every time I have to spend ten minutes picking stats a little bit of me dies.

[alias_sqbr]

Parties are unlikely. How's the middle of next week?

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

Not sure if I'm working or not - I'll get back to you!

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

[alias_sqbr]

You should play Guitar Hero :)

Cam got a bunch of ScummVM things for the DS which were fun until I realised it gives me headaches. I should look into it for the PC etc. Thanks for reminding me.

EDIT:
*remembers that Cam installed it on the Wii. Wonders why I never play it and feels silly*
*Plays Loom on the wii for about 3 minutes*
*Remembers why I never play it*
*downloads ScummVM for my laptop*
*plays Monkey Island 2*
Woot!

[alias_sqbr]

Let me know when you're free and I'll see if I can work around it.

[patternsofchaos.livejournal.com]

Suikoden II is old, but really awesome. My favourite game ever, and I think it fits all your requirements (especially ensemble cast - you have to recruit 107 allies, and can put at least half of them in your fighting party.)
And you should finish FF8 :P

[alias_sqbr]

Sounds perfect :)