RPG Grind Time – The Underappreciated Art Of The Strategy/RPG

It's weird, but I can't remember the first strategy/RPG I played. I'm guessing it had to be Final Fantasy Tactics since that's the earliest one that immediately comes to mind, but I didn't get hooked until the PS2 era, thanks to Disgaea and Growslanser. Later, handhelds became the premier destination for these experiences; it felt like they came out in droves for the DS and PSP. This really felt like the era where these titles were at their best, with gems like Jeanne D'Arc and Luminous Arc alongside awesome remakes, such as Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions and Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. Titles like these are near and dear to my heart, because strategy/RPGs make me think about my actions more than any other genre.

For those not in the know, most strategy/RPGs combine grid-based gameplay with a turn-based battle system. Movement and placement of your units mean everything, forcing you to make the most of every turn you use. In some ways, they play out like one big board game: moving across the map, fighting baddies to level up your crew, and optimizing your way to the finish line. The magic is in the planning and seeing the fruits of your effort come together as you build your party, since many games allow you to customize characters and their abilities. It may seem like combat plays out slowly, but some of these tactical battles have been the most intense fights I've had in games. You often have to think on your feet, as one wrong move can cost you a valuable unit, or reinforcements might suddenly rush the battlefield forcing you to adjust your strategy.

For a while, the genre felt like a niche thing only the most dedicated fans delved into, but series like Fire Emblem and Disgaea have continued to popularize it for a wider audience. Unfortunately, although people are certainly more of aware of the genre today, it still struggles in this modern generation. I play plenty of fast and flashy games, but I find the strategy/RPG is a more subdued, but more rewarding challenge. Thankfully, developers haven't given up on finding new ways to captivate gamers, such as Fire Emblem giving its marriage system another shot and The Banner Saga providing a choice-driven narrative. I recently reviewed Grand Kingdom, which ditches grid-based battles and makes combat more action packed, and it really impressed me.

I often have people ask me what strategy/RPGs I recommend. Honestly, you really can't go wrong with many of them released in the last few years. Most of these are created in Japan, and only the best of the best seem to make their way over here. If you're looking to get into the genre or just want to make sure you've played the best stuff, here are some essentials:

Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1, Mobile, PSP): Consider this the "required reading" of the bunch. This game certainly popularized the genre and features one of the more memorable storylines about childhood friends Ramza Beoulve and Delita Heiral, who hail from different social backgrounds. The war challenges their friendship and pulls at the heart strings in more ways than one. I give The War of the Lions remake (available on iOS, Android, and PSN for Vita/PSP) a nod for having a superior translation and boasting more characters, new cutscenes, and new jobs.

Valkyria Chronicles (PS4, PS3, PC): This game was a hidden gem in the PlayStation 3's library and now has a Remaster available on the PlayStation 4 and a port on PC. It's as great as it's made out to be. The game is an alternate take on World War II and blends quasi-shooting with strategy/RPG elements wonderfully. It loses the typical isometric grid in favor of two different points of view, allowing you to see the map as a whole and then focus in on specific units through a third-person view where you control individual units in real-time. The art style is gorgeous and it has its share of surprises on the battlefield, but it also has some really cool characters along for the ride. Joe Juba does a great job explaining why it's so great in this blog post and his review. We finally agree on something!  

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright (3DS): The long-running Fire Emblem series has had a resurgence for a reason with both Awakening and Fates. Intelligent Systems has been making its hardcore games more accessible by having peramdeath optional, adding multiple difficulty levels, bringing back the marriage system, and implementing fun new ideas such as Fates' My Castle where you have a headquarters to build up and a place to socialize with your troops. Birthright is the best bet for beginners since it allows you to grind for experience with free maps, while Conquest doesn't and focuses more on managing resources. You can also start with Awakening and be just fine, which has some of the better relationships. Anyway, play for the tense combat, stick around for the romance and matchmaking your party members to have their children join the fight. For more on Birthright, you can read Javy's wonderful review. 

The Banner Saga (PS4, XB1, PC, Mobile): If you feel like your actions don't have enough consequences in gaming, you should try The Banner Saga. This Viking-themed tactical game comes from a team of former BioWare developers and tells a mature story where you call the shots and deal with the consequences to your choices. The Banner Saga rarely makes things predictable, keeping you guessing about your non-combat decisions as much as your next battle move. It also has a sequel that lets your choices carry over. Talk about living with your decisions for more than just the moment. For more on The Banner Saga, check our review of the first and second games.

Grand Kingdom (PS4, Vita): Grand Kingdom just came out and it boasts tons of customization, a fun online mode, and one of the better battle systems I've experienced as of late. Encounters are a cross between turn-based and action gameplay, where every character has their own action gauge to determine movement and attacks. You can combo up attacks with your close-ranged characters and time your attacks with a meter using your ranged characters. Set these up right and you can launch characters in the air and send them into objects in the environment for deadly damage. After you learn the ropes, you can take your party online and fight other players to prove your skills. For more, check out my review.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (PSP): Tactics Ogre has a lot of prestige like Final Fantasy Tactics, so consider this another required playing if you're a fan of the genre. Better yet? Both are by the same director: Yasumi Matsuno. Matsuno likes to tell more serious tales and this game has law, neutral, and chaos alignments depending on your actions. This adds intriguing dilemmas to your decisions. Do you uphold your alignment if it means killing innocents? Tactics Ogre tells a compelling story about protagonist Denam Pavel and his friends during a war with plenty of plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. The PSP game can be downloaded on PSN and works on the Vita.

Jeanne d'Arc (PSP): I bet you thought Level-5 could only do action/RPGs. This strategy game is one of its finest efforts and shouldn't be missed. Yes, this is based on the iconic Joan of Arc and it takes place during the Hundred Years' War, but this reimagining has a twist with magic and demons involved in the battle. Controlling Jeanne and her party through a semi-accurate map of France is fun, and fighting battles where every character and enemy has a weakness and strength to one of three different affinities is equally exciting. This is another PSP game that will also work on your Vita if you download it off the PSN store.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 - Record Breaker (3DS): Shin Megami Tensei is known for its quality RPG chops, and its Devil Survivor series doesn't disappoint. I recommend this game over the first one, as I found the characters more endearing in Devil Survivor 2. Devil Survivor 2 - Record Breaker comes with the entire second game, plus an extra beefy 25-hour scenario that picks up where the original ending left off. SMT hallmarks are all around: demon fusion, exploiting enemy weaknesses, exploring modern-day Tokyo, and a dark storyline. If you already like SMT games, this might be a option for a strategy/RPG since it adds everything fun about those games (even a social system), but also has you moving characters across a grid and entering turn-based battles whenever you attack an enemy. For more, you can read my review. 

Disgaea 4 (PS3, Vita) or 5 (PS4): For those who want something less serious with off-beat humor, you must try a Disgaea game. The Disgaea series has no filter and isn't afraid to poke fun at anything, including video game tropes. In these games, you enter the Netherworld, which is really just a zany hell with selfish, evil characters who will do anything to get ahead, but still end up making you like them in the end. The gameplay is also complex, giving you throwing/stacking abilities, special skills, and geo panels that give bonuses and penalties. You can even level up your characters to ridiculous levels like 9,999. Disgaea 5 is the newest entry and looks the best, but I'm still a pretty big fan of Disgaea 4. You can't go wrong with either one, and I like that there's nothing quite like Disgaea on the market. 

What are some of your favorite strategy/RPGs, and what do you love about the genre? Comment below!