Games Like Star Ocean: The Second Story

The first Tales game to reach Western audiences on home consoles, Tales of Destiny brought Namco's Linear Motion Battle System to PlayStation with up to four players in combat simultaneously. Stahn Aileron's story of sentient spirit swords called Swordians and an ancient war's aftermath established the Tales franchise's presence in the West.

Working Designs' dark PS1 action-RPG that many consider the spiritual successor to Zelda: A Link to the Past. Alundra the dreamwalker can enter the nightmares of the villagers of Inoa, solving puzzles and defeating demons to save people — but not always in time. A challenging, emotionally devastating game that takes real narrative risks.

G-Craft's expanded sequel to Arc the Lad — Arc the Lad II follows Elc, a bounty hunter, in a world darkening toward apocalypse while Arc's quest continues in parallel. The longest and most ambitious Arc the Lad game, featuring 80+ hours of content, save data importing from the first game, and the franchise's most developed political narrative.

Square's quirky 1998 action-RPG featuring a miniature legendary swordsman summoned to save a kingdom — Brave Fencer Musashi combines real-time combat, enemy ability absorption, and a day/night time system with Square's production values and sense of humor. A charming alternative to Square's Final Fantasy dominance that built a cult following.

Square's 1999 tactical RPG set in a near-future world of giant mech combat (Wanzers) — Front Mission 3 features two complete 40+ hour storylines depending on an early choice, deep Wanzer customization, and a hacking minigame that provides narrative supplements. The most accessible and largest Front Mission game localized for the West.

Contrail's 1999 PS1 JRPG with a distinctive combo-building combat system where players input directional sequences to construct custom attack strings. Legend of Legaia's Ra-Seru symbiont mechanic and fighting-game-inspired battle system created a unique combat identity in a crowded PS1 RPG market.

The most unconventional and artistic Mana game, Legend of Mana abandons traditional linear storytelling for a non-linear world built by the player through artifact placement. Featuring watercolor visual design, a story told through dozens of loosely connected vignettes, and one of gaming's greatest soundtracks, it's either a masterpiece or a confusing relic depending on the player.

Working Designs' lavishly produced PS1 re-release of the Sega CD classic tells the story of Alex, a village boy who dreams of becoming a Dragonmaster, and his companions including the headstrong Lucia. With anime FMV sequences, a beloved localization, and one of the JRPG genre's most romantic storylines, Lunar SSSC is a treasured PS1 classic.

Atlus's PS1 conclusion to the Innocent Sin/Eternal Punishment duology — Maya Amano and a group of adults investigate supernatural rumor-made-reality murders in Sumaru City. The darker, more mature counterpart to Innocent Sin with the same demon negotiation Persona system, set in the same city from different perspectives.

Atlus' 1996 PS1 JRPG — Persona (Revelations: Persona in North America) follows high school students in Mikage-cho invoking Personas — manifestations of the psyche — to fight Shadows in dungeon battles. The franchise's dark psychological beginning, before the social link systems and calendar structure of later Persona games.

Square's late PS1 action-RPG with two protagonists sharing the same world with different motivations — treasure-hunter Rue seeking resurrection magic, princess Mint seeking world domination. Threads of Fate's dual narrative, real-time combat, and shape-shifting mechanic make it a distinctive Square alternative to Final Fantasy's dominance.

Konami's 1997 PS1 tactical RPG — Vandal Hearts follows Ash Lambert leading a party of soldiers through isometric grid-based battles in a medieval fantasy world, with a political narrative about a kingdom's collapse and the Blood Tear that influenced the power struggle. Accessible tactical RPG design that introduced many Western players to the strategy genre.