Need RPG Recommendations

[RedCoKid]

It doesn't appear Tensei: Nocturne will come cheap (from reviewing eBay). I will have to keep my eyes open for that one.

Atlus has been selling Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne on its site for $54. It's still in-stock. Videogamedepot has it for $49. I doubt you could find it new for less than the $45-55 range. Good luck, anyway.

[MechDeus]

Atlus has been selling Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne on its site for $54. It's still in-stock.

It's going for at least $10 cheaper on eBay, he's probably looking for sub $30 range. It looks like a couple copies may go for that in a couple days, but that's hard to predict.

[CybrGamr]

It's going for at least $10 cheaper on eBay, he's probably looking for sub $30 range.

Yes - less than $30 would be better. I have plenty to keep me busy so I can be patient while looking for these. From your suggestions and the IGN reviews I read, it sounds like they would be worth the effort to find...

[Tsubaki]

Grandia is the best game of all time. Ever. The Lunars were just practice for this masterpiece.

But I haven't tried the Playstation version.

[g0zen]

Persona and Persona 2 are on PS, though if you get Nocturne on PS2 it's basically the same thing only with prettier graphics.

I think you're really selling the Persona games short. They have individual stories that are really interesting, different from any other RPG you'll play, and well worth the time to play them.

[Josh]

Kartia.

[RoleTroll]

Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion for the PSP is coming this month and looks pretty good. It's by Nihon Falcom, the makers of Ys.

http://www.bandaigames.com/games/loh_psp.html

[Salsashark]

Here are my votes. For what you described, I really enjoyed
Chrono Cross
Grandia
Final Fantasy 8/9
Earthbound/Mother 0

And even though they aren't really what you asked for, I think Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, Fallout and Panzer Dragoon Saga are some of the best RPG type games ever created. It might be worth finding a cheap Saturn to play Grandia, PDS, Shining Force III, Dragon Quest, Dark Savior etc. if you can find/afford the games themselves.

I own Suikoden II and Xenogears but haven't progressed past the 3 hour mark in either. I've made a point not to sell them though, I may get around to them someday. Also, I haven't played a single standard J-RPG this generation that I could get through for one reason or another.

[Aurora]

Is it just me or are there gobs and gobs of Evangelionish stuff in Xenogears?

no, because I actually enjoy watching you play Xenogears ;p Sorry i fell asleep. Haha.

[Jeremy]

On top of the ones already mentioned, I'll throw Atelier Iris, Baten Kaitos, and both Digital Devil Sagas out there. Kartia is underrated, but it's more of a strategy RPG than a JRPG.