It’s hard to really pick an era where Square, or Square Enix, reigned supreme. Was it the Super Nintendo? The PS1? Perhaps it was the PS2? On that latter console, they released some all time greats like Final Fantasy X and Kingdom Hearts.
Then there were the titles that didn’t gain notoriety for whatever reason. Maybe these games were reviewed poorly or perhaps they released on the wrong day. A small, unknown RPG going against juggernauts that span over wide swathes of gamers, like Call of Duty, could not stand a chance next to them. It happens all the time.
10 The Bouncer
This was an early PS2 brawler RPG. The most memorable aspect of it is that the main character, Sion, looks like Squall from Final Fantasy VIII melded with Sora from Kingdom Hearts. It is an average game that was cool at launch but never had any staying power to get a sequel. It’s also very short so it is worth at least one playthrough.
9 Dawn Of Mana
This was seemingly an attempt to take the Mana franchise down a similar path to Kingdom Hearts. That is to say, it was a platformer action RPG. That sounds great on paper but its biggest downfalls were the story and camera angles. It still looks great on the PS2 and if one can stomach the camera, it can be a whimsical adventure just like Kingdom Hearts.
8 Drakengard 2
Both Drakengard games are fairly forgotten action RPGs. Even for Square Enix at the time, they were fairly simple. The formula was more akin to something like Dynasty Warriors with tons of troops to slay.
The missing part of the equation that makes fans adore that other franchise so much is the co-op. Of the first two, this is the better PS2 games. As an extra tidbit of lore, Nier is based on the fifth ending to the first Drakengard.
7 Musashi: Samurai Legend
This was a sequel to a forgotten PS1 action RPG, Brave Fencer Musashi. That game had some platforming elements and was more light-hearted. While not completely mature, this was definitely aimed more at teens hungry for a pure action title. Thanks to the cel-shaded graphics, it still looks stunning on PS2. An HD version would clean up rather nicely.
6 Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse Of The Crimson Elixir
Most licensed based anime games are trash, but both this and its predecessor, Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel, are decent action RPGs. They aren’t very challenging and are simple in nature. Thanks to the visuals and the game itself staying true to the anime and manga, they at least make for good fan distractions. Of the two, this is the better game though.
5 Front Mission 4
Front Mission 4 is actually only the second game in the franchise to hit the West. There are many games in this series that remain Japanese exclusives. Thankfully fans have picked up the slack with a few of them regarding fan translations. Anyway, think of this game, and overall core series, like Final Fantasy Tactics but with mechs. It is a legitimately well-reviewed game that just never caught on.
4 Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
This was a very late PS2 title. It actually came with a re-release of Kingdom Hearts II in Japan. That version never came to the West until the HD remaster on PS3, but Square Enix did see fit to release this remake of the Game Boy Advance original for whatever reason. It’s a bit confusing release wise, but it is a good conversion of that GBA title. Either version is better than the reviews.
3 Dirge Of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Among the playable things in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII that came to the West, this is regarded as the weakest. This sequel starred Vincent in a shooter action title similar in style to Devil May Cry. The combat just wasn’t up to snuff and more so that that, the camera angles were wretched. The story was also a bit over the top even for Final Fantasy VII, but hardcore fans should seek this out anyway.
2 Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
The first Valkyrie Profile is an underrated PS2 gem so it should stand to reason that its sequel would be too. While it has a similar theme, the gameplay is very different even for a Square Enix game at the time.
Released in 2006, it was great for fans to see this series return, but because it was after the Xbox 360 launched and the same year as the PS3 and Wii release, it got overlooked. At the very least critics seemed to like it so that’s something.
1 Radiata Stories
Valkyrie Profile 2 was only published by Square Enix while tri-Ace developed it for them. They also developed Radiata Stories which actually released a year earlier. While not groundbreaking as some other Square Enix RPGs, many found it to be a solid RPG in the reviews. Almost two decades later it also holds up as one of the PS2’s better-looking games. Fans would love to see it return with a sequel or remaster.
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