The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is an effortlessly charming action RPG. Even though the story struggles to engage, there's so much to like about the game's hectic mix of hack-and-slash combat and responsive platforming. An easy recommendation for fans of Ys, or fast-paced, skill-based action titles in general.
If you're in the market for a mostly typical JRPG, and you can stomach some low budget presentation along with slightly flawed gameplay, you could do a lot worse than Monochrome Mobius. It's one of those games that feels like a heartfelt effort, and that might be just enough to outweigh its problems.
All in all, Lost Eidolons is a fairly ambitious outing that just about sticks the landing, despite some seriously rough edges.
The bottom line here is that Red Dead Redemption deserves so much more.
Trails into Reverie is an all-star excursion that feels like one big franchise festival; your more traditional Trails campaign being the spine of what can be a brilliantly robust RPG, complete with more than enough gameplay depth to keep even the most hardcore players happy. As an epilogue to the Crossbell and Cold Steel games, it can seem a little tired in terms of creativity, but its faults are easily overlooked when you're back in the saddle with all of your favourite heroes.
At its best, Final Fantasy 16 is a jaw-dropping epic of rarely seen proportions. It's pretty much the pinnacle of cinematic spectacle in modern games, and its often gripping, emotional story is only matched by its fantastic combat system. While its overall quality does dip outside of the main plot, this is still a must-play action RPG, and the best single-player Final Fantasy in over a decade.
If you can look past the repetition and the roadblocks, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a largely solid shooter. It nails the visuals, the guns generally feel great, and the sound design is suitably punchy — just don't expect it to push beyond those foundations.
The Mageseeker is an enjoyable, expressive action RPG that stops just shy of outstaying its welcome.
Still, it's so hard to fault Final Fantasy VI. It's a thrill ride of an RPG, and remains one of the most brilliantly paced instalments in the entire series. Combine that with such an endearing cast, deeply engaging gameplay, some amazing sprite work, and a stunning soundtrack, and you've got an all-time classic.
With a decent story, okay characters, and pretty standard turn-based combat, Final Fantasy V does feel a bit too safe at times, but the expanded job system really ties a lot of the experience together. A forgotten Final Fantasy for many, but one that's still fun to play through.
In a world where the 3D remake of Final Fantasy III exists, it's hard to argue that Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster is the definitive version. However, there's no denying that this classic RPG still holds up, even though it struggles to wow outside of its enjoyable job system.
Final Fantasy IV was a significant cut above what had come before, and it's still a fantastic RPG today.
Despite being so basic in its execution, it's hard to fault Final Fantasy. It remains a solid RPG with a strong sense of adventure.
Thank god for the Pixel Remaster's boosts, then. In this enhanced re-release, you can increase the rate at which your stat gains occur (by up to four times), making the whole process way more tolerable. These additions alone arguably make this the best version of a divisive Final Fantasy.
If you're looking for breezy superhero action that's especially well suited to younger players, then DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is well worth checking out. Full of character and easy to pick up, there's fun to be had in Happy Harbor.
Trails to Azure is an amazing sequel. Alongside an expanded combat system, it takes every storyline that Trails from Zero cultivated and delivers a series of incredible conclusions, both for individual characters and the franchise's overarching narratives. In terms of impactful plot points, Azure is up there with the finest of Trails titles - a twisting, turning, gripping RPG that should really be considered a classic.
If you're looking for a PS1 RPG experience that typifies the era, The Legend of Dragoon is a solid shout. A big budget title at the time, its ambition is still hard to fault - but with the benefit of hindsight, it's also easy to see where this Sony-backed release stumbles. The combat system is uniquely satisfying, but it can feel frustratingly stunted. Meanwhile, endearing characters carry an emotional story, but an awkward localisation effort comes close to sabotaging the script. A flawed classic, but a memorable adventure all the same.
The wait has been worth it: Like a Dragon: Ishin! is another great instalment in RGG Studio's series. An often gripping story is made even better by the game's historical leanings, while a rewardingly intricate combat system gives the gameplay an addictive hook. Add all of those typically barmy Yakuza side activities into the mix, along with some delightful references to past games, and you've got the makings of a fan favourite.
Close to two decades later, Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a reminder of how neatly crafted the original GameCube and PS2 title was. Barring a few rough edges, this is still a great action RPG, full of charm and character. The only real downside is that the remaster itself leaves a lot to be desired.
Wanted: Dead is, at its worst, a frustratingly bad action game, but in its inexplicable presentation, nonsensical storytelling, and baffling character dialogue, it's difficult to completely dismiss. There's undeniable fun to be had here in a so-bad-it's-good kind of way, and that might even be enough for the game to secure cult status somewhere down the line. But for now, you'll need to slog through some of the most jank combat in full-price gaming to squeeze enjoyment out of the experience. Wanted: Dead is a truly fascinating mess.