Favorite DS RPG?

[Fadedsun]

It's also a terrible game, but that's neither here nor there.

C'mon, why bother saying anything like that at all? Totally unnecessary.

[sandiny0ursh0es]

Excluding remakes and ports, easily Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story.

[Blace]

If we are just including games within RPGFan's realm of coverage, then definitely Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. Boss game.

[Prime Mover]

Let's just face it, in terms of traditional solid, "I'm an RPG" RPGs, the DS doesn't have much. In looking around, neither does the PSP (which I'm now the proud co-owner of). We tout handhelds as being the great RPG systems of the generation, but neither is very bright. Neither is the 360, neither is the PS3. Traditional, non-genre-bending RPGs are hard to come by these days, and when you do come by them, they're dull and boring. However, if you expand your search just a bit to include action/adventure games, your options explode, especially on the DS and PSP.

[Gen Eric Gui]

It's also a terrible game, but that's neither here nor there.

C'mon, why bother saying anything like that at all? Totally unnecessary.

Can't help myself.  I really don't like the game very much at all.

[Farron]

My picks would be The World Ends With You and Shin Megami Tensei Devil Survivor.
Now that I think about, both of them had the plot going on Tokyo. Sure I love the city but I think it's just a coincidence.

[Britton]

Without a doubt, Trace Memory.  Sure it's not an RPG, but it falls under RPGFan's coverage and is my favorite DS game ever.  Okay, if it *has* to be an RPG, then The World Ends With You. 

Trace Memory was phenomenal. Used to DS's abilities better than any other game. More of a graphic adventure though.

[TiamatNM]

Infinite Space is my favorite because it is very unique, has a good story, and lots of customization.  Runner up would be Knights in the Nightmare and Chrono Trigger (if you count it).  Playing Devil Survivor now and I really like it so far tho

[Kstar]

I suppose it's a toss up between Bowser's Inside Story and The World Ends With You.  The sad thing is that I had to think long and hard about this.  There have been so many games on the DS that were good, but I don't think I've had many that were just "wow" or that they were hands down my favorite game.  We're not counting graphic adventures here, but if we did, I'd say my most memorable and favorite experiences on the DS were with the Ace Attorney games.  <3

[Ramza]

discounting ports (Chrono Trigger) and remakes (FFIV), my favs are a tie between Glory of Heracles and Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes.

[Raze]

Candidates that immediately come to mind are Rune Factory 3, DQ5 and DQ9.

Rune Factory 3 is a great game that hasn't got a lot of attention here that I can't recommend enough. Especially for the recettear fans out there. Just don't rush through the rpg half of the game as it's kind of short if you do(You can play indefinitely, but it'd still give you a 'I beat the game' feeling).

Dragon Quest V had a really good story with a neat twist or two. But being a old school dragon quest game it didn't really tell it all that well. The DS version kicked it up a notch in that regard. Battles are fast paced standard DQ, with the beastmaster/pokemon aspect spicing things up a bit. And screw the DQ casino(Which I can't remember if V had or not), I was a complete sucker for the 'Dragon Quest Board Game'. That's a minigame I want brought back in the future.

Dragon Quest 9 was incredibly addictive when you were actually playing it, but did leave you with kind of a bad aftertaste. It evolved more than you'd expect a DQ game to. On the plus side there was definitely some MMO influence here. On the minus side there was definitely some MMO influence here. Gear visible on characters, most of it well designed without a lot of 'this hat looks like this one, only GREEN!'(And when you do get that it's usually with a logical reason like 'blue hat matches the female set, red the males'). Bringing in 'the tank', which I always like to see in a (semi)single player game. Really fun crafting system. But then do you HAVE to add horrible quests to that? Especially when you tie it to unlocking classes and their signature gear. 'Close your eyes, tie your good hand behind your back and go kill that metal slime. While hopping on one foot.' *20 minutes later* 'Good work! Just 5 more!'

Narrowing it down? The RPG elements were RF3's weakest aspect, even if there wasn't really anything wrong there besides small dungeons, it's a fun button masher. Perhaps I'm being nitpicky to say it's not the best rpg when if you were to ask me which of the three were best overall it'd likely win. Of the dragon quests...9 really could have took it if someone on the team stood up and said 'Hey, some of these quests really kind of suck' and a few other minor issues were addressed(Stat effects not sticking, in a series known for them actually being useful. Postgame not giving you level appropriate maps). But with 9's flaws the award goes to dragon quest V.

[Kstar]

Rune Factory 3 is a great game that hasn't got a lot of attention here that I can't recommend enough. Especially for the recettear fans out there. Just don't rush through the rpg half of the game as it's kind of short if you do(You can play indefinitely, but it'd still give you a 'I beat the game' feeling).

I could not agree with you more.  RF3 improved in just about every area it could - with the battles being the weakest point, as you said, it's a button masher.  I wish the series could have a deeper battle system, but I love it for what it is.  RF3 just has this way of drawing you in; it's one of the more addictive games I played this year.  I can't deny it has its charm. 

[Dice]

Hotel Dusk.... Lost Window.... if "playing" as Kyle Hyde counts as "role playing".  Hur hur hur.

Other suggestions here I agree with - except Dragon Quest... booooo.... it's pooo... :P
That's my mature answer.

Chrono Trigger, World Ends With You, Golden Sun, Picross, Kirby, the Mario RPG like titles or whatever.  Pokemon (if you're into that),

Good games are so sadly a dime a dozen...

[Vanguard]

We should add a clause the user agreement on this board where the punishment for saying that Chrono Trigger is a terrible game is bannination.

[Dice]

We should add a clause the user agreement on this board where the punishment for saying that Chrono Trigger is a terrible game is bannination.

Does saying "it ain't the same anymore" because of overplay lead to bannanation?

I'm more sad that a 15 year old port is better than new titles....