Copyright Screen Rant
Square Enix is responsible for some of the most iconic games ever made, but the publisher has also had its fair share of sleeper hits. In between games like Final Fantasy 7 and Dragon Quest 8, plenty of equally fascinating titles have comparatively slipped through the cracks. While RPG aficionados will likely still be familiar with some of the lesser hits, the average person is a lot less likely to know the deep cuts. From classic Square hits before the company merged with Enix to modern games that haven't picked up much traction, there's a solid assortment of great Square Enix games that don't get enough discussion. The lineup covers a lot of ground, but these games all have one thing in common — they deserve more of a spotlight. The Last Remnant Stands Out Square Enix's SaGa series has never been as popular as Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, and The Last Remnant is less popular still. Despite not bearing the SaGa name, The Last Remnant is a spiritual successor, which also means it can be obtuse and potentially frustrating for newcomers. Sticking with The Last Remnant, however, can have ample rewards. While the main story isn't anything to write home about, there's a fascinating world to explore and plenty of characters to meet. The combat and progression won't be for everyone, but they're unique enough to be undeniably memorable. Threads Of Fate Has A Fun Action Blend Although the dawn of 3D gaming offered plenty of new gameplay opportunities, Square's flagship titles largely stuck to turn-based combat. Threads of Fate, however, went in a different direction. It still features plenty of RPG elements, but with a mix of real-time combat and platforming, it offers a different cocktail of entertainment than what the Square name typically signified. Threads of Fate never made much of a splash, but it's just as fun today as it was when it released. From its charming art and music to its delightful comic touches, there's a lot to love here, and it's a shame that Square didn't try out more games in a similar vein at the time. Drakengard Paved The Way For Nier Fans of Nier are typically familiar with Drakengard, the previous Square Enix franchise by director Yoko Taro. Far fewer have actually played the Drakengard games, however. Saying that the first entry has much more repetitive gameplay than Nier: Automata would be a massive understatement, so it's not always the easiest franchise to get into. Those who appreciate Yoko Taro's narratives, however, would do well to give Drakengard a try. You don't need to love the hack-and-slash experience to get wrapped up in its complex story of a religious war, and one of the game's endings ultimately sets up the world for the Nier games that followed. Vagrant Story Is Unlike Anything Else Vagrant Story has no shortage of hardcore fans, but despite its vague connections to Final Fantasy, it's never achieved the same kind of popularity. Like Final Fantasy Tactics and FF12, Vagrant Story takes place in a setting called Ivalice. Rather than a grand, exploratory adventure, Vagrant Story focuses on an investigation and the events leading up to an accusation that the player character has committed murder. Vagrant Story is another action RPG, but its gameplay is tough to compare to virtually anything else out there. A complex battle system focuses on targeting different parts of the body and achieving combos, while exploration involves light platforming elements and plenty of shoving boxes around. It's not a game for everyone, but those who like it often love it. Star Ocean Was Good From The Start Star Ocean is a popular series, but Star Ocean: The Second Story is often heralded as the flagship masterpiece of an inconsistent franchise. That doesn't mean, however, that the original game should be entirely ignored. Although it may not have a recent HD-2D remake like The Second Story, there are still a couple of great ways to experience the game thatstarted it all. Whetheryou opt for the SNES classic or Star Ocean: First Departure R, the original Star Ocean is brimming with the same imagination that defined classic Square franchises like Chrono Trigger. It's lacking in both focus and ambition compared to its sequel, but it offers more than enough fun to sustain a 20-hour runtime. Legend Of Mana Is One Of Mana Greats Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana get all the limelight. If you ask a Mana fan about their favorite game in the franchise, though, you'll start to hear a lot more about Legend of Mana. This spin-off for the original PlayStation made some big changes, so its gameplay and approach to encounters can be a little more divisive. It's harder to take issue with the gorgeous art and music, though, which are worth the price of admission alone. Legend of Mana might also have the most entertainment value as a whole, as it's practically bursting at the seams with unique ideas and content. Even if it never gets a remake like Trials of Mana did, the original experience stands the test of time. Radiata Stories Needs Some Love Despite its sonic similarity to Radiant Historia, the PS2 RPG Radiata Stories hasn't had the same staying power. It's an entirely different game, even if many of the same tri-Ace staff members worked on both titles. Like Suikoden, Radiata Stories has plenty of characters to recruit, but its overall tone is more comic and lighthearted. The biggest reason to play Radiata Stories today is its art style, which renders its fantasy world in the manner of watercolor. Just hold tight through the first few hours, as this underrated Square Enix RPG takes a while to hit its stride. Dragon Warrior Monsters Rivals Pokémon The Dragon Quest Monsters series has gotten its fair share of attention by now, but you're less likely to hear chatter about the original Game Boy Color release. Just like a classic Pokémon game, Dragon Warrior Monsters stands the test of time. Mastering elements like breeding can take some serious expertise, but that gives it all the morelong-term value. In the decades since, plenty of games have tried to compete in the monster-collecting genre, but few have done so with the same success as Dragon Warrior Monsters. While it's not the only Dragon Quest spin-off to be worth its salt, this might be the number one priority to check out. Terranigma Bears The Enix Standard Unlike Squaresoft, Enix was always focused on publishing rather than developing. Among the company's long list of published works, Terranigma is one undeniable standout. Developed by Quintet, the studio behind 1993's Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma deserves all the fame of its popular predecessor and then some. Like Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma features some fun action combat, but Quintet wasn't content to rest on its laurels. An expanded sense of exploration, a fantastic array of side quests, and a consistently compelling story make for an all-around great experience. Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Deserves Its Flowers Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria was a success by all measures, selling plenty of copies and garnering a strong critical reception. All the same, it suffers from the same problem that plagued many late-stage PS2 releases. By the time the game launched in 2006, the Xbox 360 had been out for months, and a side-scrolling PS2 RPG wasn't going to be the center of conversation.
