Summary
Action RPGsare extremely popular, and they have been for over two decades at this point. There’s just something wonderful about exploring a brand-new world full of friends and foes while controlling a party, making strategic decisions around combat, and approaching different enemies in certain situations.
While many classics in this genre are still available today on several platforms thanks toonline stores like Steam, the PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Store, others have unfortunately been shelved for years due to one reason or another. To remember some of them, here are a fewgreat action RPGs that you may’t buy anymore.
5Magic Knight Rayearth (1995)
A Timeless Classic That Was Buried With The Sega Saturn
Based on the popular manga sharing the same name,Magic Knight Rayearthwas one of the finalreleases of the Sega Saturnin North America, as Sega was losing a considerable amount of money due to the PS1’s success. A faithful adaptation of the manga, this game featured a beautiful and unique art style that helped it stand out in an era where action role-playing games were extremely popular. With tons of action, monster fighting, and puzzle-solving, players were immediately captivated by the compelling storyline this title offered.
Each character in the game had unique abilities that players could take advantage of to use different approaches and emerge victorious from combat.Magic Knight Rayearthis remembered by many as a timeless classic that marked an entire generation. Sadly, this title died with the Sega Saturn, as it was exclusive to this console and was never re-released for modern audiences, making it impossible to purchase a new copy these days.
Released specifically for the SuperNintendo Entertainment System(SNES),Secret of Evermorefeatured a boy and his shape-shifting dog as the protagonists of this exciting story with great real-time strategy game mechanics. As the protagonists travel through different realms, players will get the chance to take advantage of the game’s Alchemy system, allowing them to collect ingredients as they explore and cast spells.
While the game had an overall sense of adventure and decent challenges along the way, there was also a good deal of humor that complemented the experience beautifully. Players who’ve completedSecret of Manaand enjoyed it, will most likely have a great time playingSecret of Evermore, as the combat system is very similar.
Like other games on this list, this title has been long-forgotten and can no longer be bought new due to it never being released on other platforms.
Set in a fictional world where humans are in a constant battle against an evil mist that turns peaceful creatures into vicious monsters,Legend of Legaiafocuses on the main character, Vahn, as he takes on a dangerous adventure. This title stands out for many things, including an innovative combat system that allows players to input different commands to execute various martial arts moves and summon powerful beasts known as Ra-Seru.
Sadly, as exciting as the game sounds, it has been long-forgotten by many players, mainly due to the fact that it was never re-released on any modern platform, leaving it stuck inthe era of the original PlayStation. These days, players might be able to get their hands on a used copy and enjoy this title if they own a PS1 in good condition; however, the price point is likely to be a bit high. Alternatively, using an emulator is also a good idea.
2Shining Wisdom (1995)
An Amazing Action RPG That Shifted From Its Series' Usual Formula
Shining Wisdomis one of the mostbeloved classics from the Sega Saturnera. Unlike its predecessors, this title shifted from turn-based game mechanics to real-time action gameplay, which was a refreshing change of pace for many. Players are placed in the shoes of a young orphan squire named Mars who works at Odegan Castle. As the story progresses, Mars finds himself in the middle of an adventure that can only culminate with thwarting the evil plans of the dark elf wizard, Pazort.
Shining Wisdomhas tons of exploring and takes players to areas like dungeons and caves to gather different items and acquire magical abilities that Mars will need to complete his journey and fulfill his destiny. With a top-down view perspective, this game often feels and plays like aLegend of Zeldatitle from its era. Unfortunately, as it happened to most games exclusive to a defunct console,Shining Wisdomnever left the Sega Saturn, and it’s likely been decades since a copy could be bought from official channels.
From the creators oftheNierseries, comesDrakengarda great action RPG that combines hack-and-slash gameplay with epic aerial dragon-riding combat. Focusing on the main character, Caim, a prince who made a pact with a dragon on his journey towards revenge, players immediately became invested in the game’s dark, action-packed story.Drakengardalso featured multiple endings, which as a concept was nothing new, but it also wasn’t common to see back in the day.
While further entries in the series were released for other platforms,Drakengardwas exclusive to the PlayStation 2, which, in one way or another, has limited its availability in modern times.
