I want to review a good NES RPG that is a bit obscure. Ive played all the popular ones, Dragon Warrior, FF, Ultimas, Zelda, and even a few like swords and serpents, bards tale, faxandu (ahem). Can anyone think of a good title that just doesn't get mentioned that much and I may have not played yet. I want to get a full beginning to end impression.

Hands down CRYSTALIS. Best RPG/Action Adventure on the NES period.

http://www.virtualnes.com/play/?i...

It depends how loose you want to call something an RPG. Gargoyle's Quest 2 is an RPG in the sense of kind of that things like Castlevania SOTN is one...platformer with items to find/buy with level ups to abilities and a story around the events of the game.

I agree though action-rpg wise that Crystalis is one to definitely play. If you don't mind a repro cart or a rom Earthbound/Mother for NES is another you haven't listed.

Both my non-Zelda favourites have been listed, Crystalis and Gargoyle's Quest 2. I only discovered GQ2 last month but I'm on a third playthrough already, very fun game. Also if you don't mind a repro or a rom there's another loose RPG for the Famicom I really enjoyed, Getsu Fuu Ma Den.

Sweet Home is fun. =D

In the action RPG genre, Faria is excellent.

Jaws
You have to level up your power meter with shells. amirite?
/runs out the door

Destiny of an Emperor or Uncharted Waters? Little Ninja Brothers seemed cool, what little I played of it.

ghost lion

(it's a real rpg and it actually came out here)

That game is pure gold!!!

Little Ninja Brothers...

Some very good are mentioned here above. Try Willow its also not bad.

Battle of Olympus is also really good!

And I hear a map is almost necessary to beat the game

I've had this game for year's but never got around to playing it.  I always loved the cover art (seriously), and have been meaning to give it a spin.  Can you compare it to any other RPG?

Watched about a minute of it, and it looks like Dragon Warrior 2, better graphics, Dragon Warrior 1 annoyances (step on chest, select "look"), battles are like DW2, though you get to see your heroes face. Looks good though. I'm going to have to find a copy of this.

Wow, that game looks pretty damn cool. I'll have to give it a whirl after Mark and I wrap up Shadowrun.

Basically a Dragon Warrior clone, yeah. It's actually pretty generic in a lot of ways.

But I mean how can you argue with this?

You can't, that's how.

I 2nd Ghost Lion, I just gave that a try a couple months ago for the first time. If you like the Dragon Warriors you will like it.

Ghost Lion is definitely worth playing through, but it's really short, and quite basic compared to anything but DW1.

It has a sort of summoning mechanic that makes it slightly deeper, gameplay-wise compared to the original Dragon Warrior.
And the box art is totally rad.

That's because the dungeons are absolutely maddening, but it is a fun game overall.  I finished it earlier this year for Wiz's 2011 List, but I doubt I'll ever play it again.

Also, there are invisible enemies almost from the beginning, but you don't get the item to reveal them until MUCH later in the game.  It's crazy - in some of the overworld battles, you're just wildly swinging your sword, praying that you kill them.

Im giving both Unchartered Waters and Ghost Lion a try, pretty happy with both so far.

Ghost Lion watching the nesguide video looks like a dog that would get annoying. Uncharted Waters though I've heard is a fairly good title if you're into the theme of it.

I am tempted to say Crystalis isn't an RPG. Sure you "gain levels" but it means little. It's really an action/adventure game. It's just a linear adventure game. You could probably replace the overworld with a SMB3 style map.

How about a real "role playing" game? Pirates! (of the Sid Meier variety)

Sweet Home. By far the best RPG on the nes and it's so obscure, it never was released stateside because of how dark it is. Horror fans will dig it for it's gruesome 8 bit goodness and it's certainly an RPG in the most traditional sense. I can't imagine anyone who enjoys RPGs not falling in love with this game from the minute they fire it up. Also, the moody atmospheric soundtrack is unlike anything I've heard from the nes sound chip making it an even more immersive experience. It's a must play for fans of the genre and any old school gamer looking for something very different than the typical offerings on everone's beloved nes console.