XCOM Enemy Unknown

To me this Xcom started really great, with premises of a deep strategic turn based rpg.

The player can control up to 6 characters, with a few interesting classes and abilities to choose from that gives many ways to approach a battle. Battles are fully turn based: player moves their characters and after this the enemy does his movements. Movement is limited but not grid based, also relies a lot on the usual cover system, maybe it's like a slow paced Rainbow Six?

Battles aren't very long and usually are just about killing everything in sight, it's fun and kind of challenging, sometimes a but unfair like enemies poping right behind my characters.

The customization, aside from the character classes there are weapons, equipment, some kind of crafting and many ways to improve the main base which give many bonuses and a few other things to do.

The problem here is that after 8 hours I already had everything under control, I got overpowered weapons, my classes were at maximum level, my sniper was a killing machine and battles had nothing else to offer and started to get very very repetitive. So I ended up bored and rushed to watch the end.

In the end is an excellent game but it lacks the dept I need to be entertained for many hours.

Did I like it? Only for the first hours
I think you will like it if you:
- Are a xcom fan
- Like srpg

I rate my experience with a 6 out of 10.

Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits

(I may be inaccurate because I played it a looong time ago)

A saga that I miss so much :(. Features tactical turn based combats but not like the usual srpg. It doesn't have a grid system, so being able to move anywhere gives the game an increased feeling of freedom..

The battles tough are way shorter and simplistic but still challenging and fun to play. The character customization is limited too, the usual equipment and not much else. The amount of content is very good, we got an arena, exploration and many secrets to find.

The production values are good, nice voice acting and music, okay graphics and interesting character designs.

The story is about 2 different races that are historically confronted, though is very typical the development is good because is explained from 2 different points of view, one on each side with their own charismatic characters.

Did I like it? Yes
I think you will like it if you:
- Don't hate jrpg
- Don't mind the light strategic battles

I rate my experience with a 7.5 out of 10.

Mystaria

A challenging grid-based tactical rpg with strategic turn-based battles.

I remember the battles were very intense, long and challenging where characters have a very interesting customization and unique skills that gave a lot of different choices on the battle. Of course back then it was challenging to me but maybe now I may find it easier, so I guess it depends on the player's experience on srpg.

The story is nothing special, but I'm okay with that because it doesn't interrupt the action, I prefer it this way on tactical rpgs where battlefield is the main attraction and where the player will spend hours and hours.

Graphically uses 3D models with painted polygons, now they look very dated but I had no complains back then, good saturn, characters look very unique. Music is very cool, there are some nice tunes.

Did I like it? Yes
I think you will like it if you:
- Like strategy rpgs
- Don't mind playing old games

I rate my experience with a 7.5 out of 10.

Agarest: Generation of War

Agarest is an rpg with very nice classic elements.

Encounters are random, very fun and challenging but sometimes it gets inmbalanced. The combat is tactical and turn based, using a grid system like many srpg and heavily focused on combos. There are lots of skills and diferent parameters that make it very entertaining.

Dungeons are very simple, again it's just about finding the treasures and beating monsters on the way. The world map is nice but uses a waypoint system, so there's no exploration to do aside from choosing which waypoint to go.

Customization is excellent, there are lots of characters to choose from, equipment, crafting, tons of parameters and points to spend on many things.

It looks ugly, dungeons and combat stages are in 3d with horrible textures and characters represented in low detailed sprites. All other locations are represented in 2d backgrounds like a visual novel.

I have complains about the story again, while it's entertaining it contains too much cheap japanese comedy for my taste.

Also the game is very long and intense, I never got tired of its gameplay.

Did I like it? Yes.
I think you will like it if you:
- Love tactical combats
- Don't hate the anime style
- Aren't a graphics whore

I rate my experience with a 7 out of 10.

Kartia

This is the first tactical rpg I played so I have very good memories from it.

The first thing I remember is the Yoshitaka Amano design, that's a win for me, I love how it averts from the usual anime style.

The combat reminds a lot to Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, turn based, using single units on a grid with the usual rock-paper-scissors system, but I think Kartia is way easier (which is good for newcomers). Of course it has its own original features.

Spells and equipment are obtained via crafting, as also are the different types of troops than can be summoned to help on combat. They're called Phantoms and are the main feature of the game (to me) as they add some nice variety to the combats.

Story is divided in 2 scenarios one for each character and it's kinda interesting how it evolves, maybe I wouldn't like it much nowadays but back then I really enjoyed it.

Did I like it? Yes
I think you will like it if you:
- Aren't tired of tactical rpgs

I rate my experience with a 7 out of 10.

SMT: Devil Survivor 2

This feels like they took the first game and just added a new story because the gameplay is almost the same and there's a lot of reused sprites and scenarios. (I'm comparing with the Overclocked version)

I think the story is weaker than the original, failed to keep me interested and I don't like some of the character behaviors, it feels more like the usual jrpg than a Shin Megami Tensei game. So I found myself skipping lots of dialogs because I wasn't very interested and I usually knew what was going to happen.

I'm not a fan of the graphic style either, while combat sprites are okay I don't like the character designs, again it feels like a typical jrpg with big boobs and evil faced foes.

But at least the core gameplay is very good. I love the tactical grid-based combat, it's challenging and entertaining. I can have 4 squads that are composed by 1 human which skills can be customized and 2 demons that are obtained via the auction house, compedium or fusion. Once a squad establishes combat with another squad, they fight like any turn based Shin Megami Tensei with its usual skills, weakness exploits, extra turns, etc.

Customizaton is very good: there's the demon's skill inheritance on fused demons, where the player can choose which skills inherit from the former demons. Human's skills are chosen by the player and they must be learned by stealing them from enemy demons. There's no equipment customization though.

Overall isn't bad, but there's a difficulty spike towards to the end that leaves a bittersweet taste, I mean I finally got some nice powerful demons and then I need to grind again? I don't remember this happening on the original, at least until the last boss...

Did I like it? Meh
I think you will like it if you:
- Don't hate Shin Megami Tensei
- Like tactical rpgs
- Don't hate grinding

I rate my experience with a 5.5 out of 10.

The Last Remnant

This is an rpg clearly focused on battles because the storytelling is kinda poor but interesting enough to not hate it.

Music is nice, graphics are pretty specially the particle effects, I liked the character designs of the different species and some city designs remind me a bit to FFXII.

I got really addicted to the combat system, it's some kind of tactical turn-based combat with customizable squads and formations, where every squad unit is also customizable (specially on pc version) and has the usual rpg role (mage, healer, warrior...) inside a squad, giving an wide range of strategies. It may be tricky to understand the system but it is very challenging and rewarding.

The game is slow to start but is probably one of the games I've spent more hours playing (and not done the 100% yet), not only because it's addictive but also has a long story development and lots of quest chains and hidden places to discover.

Did I like it? Yes!
I think you will like it if you:
- Have enough patience for the slow start
- Like tactical rpg

I rate my experience with a 9 out of 10.

Shining Force saga

Shining Force

Shining Force is (was) Sega's tactical rpg, it has little similarities to Fire Emblem like every unit being represented individually on the battle field, the combat screens showing the 2 involved characters and being able to promote the units.

But for the rest is a pretty different game, it doesn't rely on the rock-paper-scissors system and magic tends to be more powerful. Also turns are spread between the player and enemy units depending on their speed stat that gives this game a different combat style.

Battles are usually challenging and fun, outside battles there are little exploration areas with a Dragon Quest style which is cool, equipment customization is similar too.

I barely remember the story it was good but I did not like the characters too much, graphics are okay with that Camelot Software Planning touch.

Did I like it? It was okay.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like (old) tactical rpgs

I rate my experience with a 6 out of 10.

Shining Force CD

This is a compilation/remake of game gear's Shining force games, it includes a new campaign and new features. The concept is simplified a la Fire Emblem (dialog->foce setup->battle) but combat is entertaining as always and I had plenty of fun with this game.
Did I like it? Yes.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like (old) tactical rpgs

I rate my experience with a 7 out of 10.

Shining Force 2

A true improvement, I think this is where the saga takes off. Combat is even more entertaining, more unit types, weapons, abilities, powerful magics.

This time the story is very interesting and I liked the characters way more than before. It keeps the exploration features from the original.

Did I like it? Yes, awesome.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like tactical rpgs

I rate my experience with a 8.5 out of 10.

Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon

It's a gba remake of the first Shining Force which I enjoyed more than the original, it includes a few new features and new graphics.

Did I like it? Yes, awesome.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like tactical rpgs

I rate my experience with a 6.5 out of 10.

Shining Force 3

The definitive sequel, overall the game keeps the entire Shining Force spirit and increases the epic feeling, battles are bigger and fun, more powerful magics, tons of different units plus there are lots of hidden/optional characters to recruit.

I loved the characters and enjoyed the story a lot, though it is divided in 3 games that explain the events from 3 different points of view which can get a bit repetitive.

Did I like it? Yes, epic.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like tactical rpgs

I rate my experience with a 9.5 out of 10.

            

     

Sengoku Rance

Addictive! That I was told by a fellow backlogger and it is true.

It is a mix of strategy and tactical rpgs, it reminds me a bit to a modern Dragon Force: it has region conquering, troop management, recruiting new generals, finding items.

Combats are turn-based, with a max of 6vs6 generals each general having different skills, roles and  a number of troops that matter on the fight results.

It is really fun to play though sometimes it has difficulty spikes. I also got a sense of unaccomplishment because I was spending too much time on this game and I questioned myself if it was worth it.

The Story is pretty comedic and passable. Ah yeah parental warning, Rance saga has a hentai touch.

Did I like it? Yes.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like tactical/strategic rpgs
- Aren't looking for a serious story
- Don't mind the hentai parts

I rate my experience with a 7 out of 10.

Fire Emblem Awakening

This is a serious Fire Emblem evolution, it keeps the soul while improves on some areas to attract other users.

There are many cool features: now there's a explorable world map, not fully explorable as it's based on nodes but it's a welcome addition.

Now there are dialogs where the 3d models are shown, it is a bit different as I'm used to the 2d art but It is still nice.

Another novelty is that 2 generals can form a combined unit with increased stats, extra attacks and dodges atc. This could need a bit of balance because some combinations are clearly overpowered.
 This can be one of its problems, the game can be easily unbalanced and it happened to me. I played on hard but I kept doing most of the little events and dlc quests that I found during the game, so my party level grew too much and since chapter 5 I was easily rushing everything until the lasts few chapters where I stopped doing those sub events, so it kinda became a bit boring. I won't make the same mistake on my 2nd playthrough.

The rest is the good old Fire Emblem: spears, axes and swords, lots of recruitable characters with interesting personalities and dialogs between them, frienship levels, good epic story, long and strategic battles, etc. And it looks pretty nice on the 3DS.

Did I like it? Yes.
I think you will like it if you:
- Love Fire Emblem series
- Like strategy

I rate my experience with a 8.5 out of 10.

Dragon Force

Eight rulers: Junon, Gongos, Wein, Reinhart, Mikhal, Leon, Teiris and Goldark. It has been like 17 years and I still remember the entire cast, this says a lot about the game.

I remember an excellent plot, each ruler having his own outcome and events all with equal quality, fun and length, it could take between 30 and 40 hours per ruler.

The game is a real-time tactical rpg, it consists in conquering the entire continent, capturing castles, placing good defenses, defeating the other rulers, recruiting the most awesome generals, leveling them up, finding better, powerful weapons and troops, and of course saving the world. Everything here is highly addictive!

When 2 armies battle, they do by fighting with general vs general plus their own troops, those battles are in real time with the general being in a static position, where they fight the incoming troops and cast diferent skills or magic attacks, if the troops die and both generals are still alive the battle is decided with a duel.

There are many types of troops, each with weakness and strengths towards each other, for example archers are strong agains harpies and weak to soldiers. Also different formations can be chosen, this modifies the troops stats which increases the strategic choices.

Ok, now I really want to play this game again.

Did I like it? I'll never forget it.
I think you will like it if you:
- Are a jrpg fan
- Like conquering lands and managing an army

I rate my experience with a 8.5 out of 10.