Video Game Dilemma

[batgirl]

Ok, so here's the deal:

My mom loves video games, RPGs to be exact, but she's really particular with what she likes. We have a PS1 and it's become increasingly difficult for me to find her new games to play due to the fact that most PS1 games are hard to find and we own a good chunk of the RPGs to begin with. My mom refuses to get a PS2 until we have exhausted every option. So here's where you all come in: I need suggestions of games that I can find and buy for my mom for the PS1. Here is a list of all the games we currently have:

FF7-9
FFT
Legend Of Dragoon
Alundra 2
Suikoden 1-2
Chrono Cross
Breath of Fire 3-4

Now here are the particulars to what she likes: Cartoonish looking characters, lots of secrets, and I kid you not, Shiny Treasures.

If anyone has any suggestions of games that would fit this criteria that are fairly easy to get and won't cost me an entire paycheck, I would be eternally grateful to you.

[Fifthfiend]

1. Coolest mom ever. Although --

My mom refuses to get a PS2 until we have exhausted every option.

-- still significantly less cool than ideal.

She does realize, like, which number of PS they're up to these days, right?

2. There's actually more than a few decent thoughts in that vein in this thread (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=16653).

3. Just off the top of my head,

Cartoonish looking characters, lots of secrets, and I kid you not, Shiny Treasures.

Well there's this little series called Dragon Quest (http://www.dqshrine.com/dq/dq7/), I don't know, maybe you've heard of it? You might take a look at that one, you know, I've heard a few people are fans.

[Lux]

The Lunar games, maybe?

[shiney]

She'd probably like the lunar series, and Dragon Warrior 7.

[greed]

Though it only has 2 of the 3 things you said(it has an art style somewhat in the vein of FF8, but darker, so not cartoony), Vagrant Story must be mentioned.

[Mirai Gen]

Your mom could only be cooler if she sat down and played a few damn rounds of Twisted Metal after she finishes up.

Xenogears, perhaps? I third Lunar - if you can get your hands on a copy, it's worth it. Never beat Eternal Blue, but I beat the second Lunar. She'd totally be into the anime cutscenes and story of those games though.

It's tough to limit yourself two generations ago. I'd be tossing out Playstation 2 games left and right if I could.

[gurusloth]

I third Lunar and Lunar 2. Dragon Warrior 7 is kinda hard, but not bad if difficulty is not a factor.

Also, Legend of Legaia and Grandia are good times. Wild Arms and Wild Arms 2 were both pretty good as well.

If you're really hard up for ideas, go to GameFaqs, go to Platform Jumper and scroll to PlayStation, then click on Role Playing Games...there's a whole list of titles...many of which are sucky or imports, but hey, at least it's a list.

[Toast]

Star Ocean: the Second Story
Valkyrie Profile - this might be expensive to find
Legend of Mana

That's all I can think of that hasn't been mentioned yet.

[batgirl]

Yea, I wish she would cave in for a PS2, but although video games are things she likes, we've always been behind on the times due to finances.

I'll take a look for the games you've all mentioned, it's just a matter of finding them in supply and whether the price isn't one that can feed a small country.

[Flarecobra]

Don't forget the Final Fantasy Collections, I'm pretty sure 5 and 6 came out for the PS1, along with FF4 and (Down fifthfiend down!) Chrono Trigger.

[Dark Seraphim]

And 1 & 2.

How bout the first Grandia? Not only does it have a great battle system, it's also the only one in the series to have any actual sidequests.

[CelesJessa]

Based on her criteria I would TOTALLY go for "Tales of Destiny". Cartoony characters, fun story, fun dialogue and plenty of shiny things to keep you happy. (I love this game)

Tales of Destiny 2 is good too, but I prefer the former.

[MuMu]

First, Lunar 1 & 2 and Grandia. She MUST get those. Xenogears has the cartoonish characters but it's pretty damn serious and bloody...

Suikoden 1 & 2 if she is really good(but get it anyway).

Rhapsody: A musical Adventure if she isn't(but get it anyway).

[batgirl]

We already have Suikoden 1 and 2, and she's beaten them both multiple times with all of the characters. Lunar and Grandia seem to be the ones mentioned most, along with Xenogears, so I'll look for them.

[Dwarfburg citizen]

Wait! Those are good choices! But they are nothing compared to the single greatest RPG on the PS1!!!:

Brave Fencer Musashi!!

A little hard but oh so worth it!

[Astral Harmony]

I recommend Vanguard Bandits. It's a turn-based SRPG by Working Designs where you command giant mechanized armor to beat each other senseless with medievil weapons and magic. For a total of 56 missions across three different branches, I wholely recommend this title.

Thousand Arms, I also recommend but then again, don't. I mean, it's a bitchin' RPG with awesome voicework, but since you're both girls and this game relies heavily on dating sim elements, I'm not so sure in your case.

The first Alundra is really great if you can get it. It's a Working Designs title and plays a LOT like that Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Vandal Hearts is also on my good list. A lot of your success will stem from luck on the battlefield, but it's very satisfying to see your strategies carry out because when you kill something, it quite literally becomes a geyser of blood...well, most of the time. Enemies like Stone Golems become geysers of rocks, instead. Still, it's very gratifying.

[Jagos]

Hmmm...

Dunno if Valkyrie Profile is a contender but it's a good one for the PS1.

[Mirai Gen]

I doubt she wants to cough up a couple hundred bucks to find that game.

It is, however, liquid awesome.

[MINIGUNWIELDER]

Space Rangers, Silent Storm, Jagged Alliance.

I only read part of your OP but those seem to be the best.

[Magni]

Legend of Legaia.

[Azisien]

Heeey, while we're on the topic of video game dilemmas, I'm wondering what good games there are for the Wii. This doesn't include either Zelda or Sports (one my friend is getting and I can borrow, the other comes free and doesn't matter). These are games that are worth the $65+, at least 50-60+ hours of entertainment. Are there any? All the Red Steel reviews say its lame, COD3 being fairly mediocre, Elebits got an okay score but it looks terribly childish, suggestions/your own hands-on experiences?

[Demetrius]

Excite Trucks is fun multiplay, also good if you can play race games alone. I'm looking forward to Duck Hunt and the light gun attachment. I'm also oh so very tired... I'm normally very asleep right now and thinking in coherent idea-string-things isn't going well.

[Mike McC]

For PSX RPGs, I'll echo the Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete recommendations. If she enjoys some action oriented RPG playing, try out Star Ocean: The Second Story and Legend of Mana. Wild Arms and Wild Arms 2 are decent games. I also enjoyed Persona 2, but that has more of a dark/horror flavor to it. If she likes startegy-based RPGs, like Final Fantasy Tactics, a good one I know of is Saiyuki: Journey West. And to finish up my list with an oddball entry, an RPG that throws in some light Dating Sim elements (and is often quite funny), Thousand Arms.

The downside is that the Lunar games are rather rare, and will run you at least $50, $60 each. The rest are generally availible in the $35 and under range. I'd recommend starting out with Wild Arms, it's the most 'standard' RPG series of the lot there, and won't break the bank. As for places to buy them, I've always found the used selections on amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/) to be very good and very reliable when buying used video games.

Edit: I almost forgot Dragon Warrior 7. This is a game guaranteed to take a while. A playthrough will typically be over 80 hours.

[Kerensky287]

Sorry, but I have no idea about any PS1 related stuffs. I do, however, have Wii answers.

I have 5 games for Wii: Zelda, Sports, CoD3, Red Steel and Rayman Rabbids. I thoroughly enjoy every single one of them.

Call of Duty 3 has its share of problems, mostly coming from its lack of multiplayer, realism and AI, but it's still a very enjoyable game.

Red Steel has SO many problems with it, but for some reason, it's still fun to play. Forget the fact that it looks like an N64 game. Forget the fact that enemies are stupid and have bad scripts. Forget the terrible accents and story. Forget the fact that there are like 10 things scripted to shaking the nunchuck, including reloading, which takes too long and can't be stopped for any reason. You can still get into the game very easily, and you'll have a great time playing it. Plus... it's the only multiplayer FPS the Wii has.

Rayman Rabbids is DEFINITELY a game I recommend. It has a bucketload of charm and humour, mostly from all of the quirky actions of the Rabbids themselves. It also has some very imaginative and fun games (pulling worms out of bunny teeth?!) and pulls them off with flying colours. It's a great game to play with friends, but you'll want to play story mode too, even if only to unlock more games to play in multiplayer.

Hope this helps!

[YamiKaosu]

I don't have many PS1 games I can suggest, but Final Fantasy Chronicles is worth it simply based on Chrono Trigger (I'm sure FFIV is lovely and all of that, but I honestly haven't had time to try it out yet). There are even shiny treasures! >_> The tabs shine all over the place. XD; I've heard that Xenogears is good, although I haven't had the chance to play it myself.

[mudah.swf]

Make her buy Tales of Destiny 2. Lots better battle-system wise than Tales of Destiny. The graphics are good for a late-gen PS1 game, characters are likeable and it generally isn't as annoying as Tales of Destiny.

Sorry CelesJessa =/