Japanese RPGs

i am a total sucker for those cutesy graphics, aswell as sprawling gameplay. recent ones i played were a let down though. FF12 was fun but got boring quick, music and characters are whack. DS has some great things but mine has broke down. like the mana series, always liked that and the graphics are really sweet.
interested for tips though because i dont have time to go through them all anymore

haven't played games for awhile... i recently had a play with a friends i think DS. Fullmetal Alchemist. if your familiar with the anime. seemed to be pretty good. also there's bleach (i think based on the anime) though i've not checked it yet.

chrono trigger and ff 6-8 = the shit.
I think you should check out "tales of phantasia" too if you're into these rpgs.

But I kinda stopped playing these rpgs, because they're mostly incredible long, therefore suck a lot of time and have a high "nerdage"-factor.

I started playing Chrono Trigger on DS but got really annoyed that the controls were not updated for DS. I might give it another try, I died without saving and havn't played it since then, but I hear its worth it
any other recommendations?

Anybody check out Crisis Core yet? I think it's for the PSP but it's supposed to be the "Prequel" to the ever-so-famous (and my personal all time fav game besides FF2) Final Fantasy 7. I've heard some not so good things about it but i don't have a PSP and can't try it out for myself yet. I haven't played games in so long that I hadn't even heard about the game until just recently and i think it's been out for a while. While I was checking out reviews on Crisis Core i thought i would do some more research and I've found that my other favorite game Final Fantasy 2 (IV in the states) will be coming out with a sequel on the Nintendo Wii. I'm interested in both games but don't have a Wii or a PSP and don't know if either of them are even worth getting just for these games? Hm....

Yeah IV (US), II (Japanese) was released on DS and was mentioned above by Kenzaburo i believe. It was a re-make and a very well done re-make from what i've heard (a new remixed soundtrack by nobuo uematsu + new 3D graphix). I didn't buy it because i've got the original but i think it's a good way for some to experience that great game. But this new sequel to IV is going to be coming out according to several website articles. http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/02/final-fantasy-i/ .

I definitely agree with you in that they've been trying to exploit their masterpiece for ages even with that first Final Fantasy movie, something about spirits? that was absolutely horrible, i almost cried during that movie it was so bad. Unfortunately i'll probably be suckered into checking out this sequel to IV in one way or another just cause i love that game. I really would like them to be coming out with XIII though and see if they can't make a NEW masterpiece.

Hehe, that's ok i'm up too late right now. I thought XII was alright especially after the catastrophic XI! Bringing back Nobuo is a must, he's as much a part of Final Fantasy as anyone/thing. We'll have to see what's up with XIII..I'll have to do some research and see when it's coming out or what's going on with it at the moment, but that'll have to be in the morning!