how would introduce an 8 year old to RPGs?

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rilpas

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#1 rilpas
Member since 2012 • 8161 Posts

I have an 8 year old niece who plays games, mostly the usual platformer and Nintendo stuff, I've been trying to introduce her to RPGs but the problem is, we're not native English speakers, so all that text and all those dull moments could potentially ruin it for her.

Recommendations?

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Articuno76

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#2 Articuno76
Member since 2004 • 19799 Posts

Starting with Pokemon is the best bet I'd say. Made a generation of children play an RPG without them even realising.

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rilpas

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#3  Edited By rilpas
Member since 2012 • 8161 Posts

I thought about that, but she never liked the cartoons or ever wanted any of the toys. Hence why I never got her Pokemon

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Smashbrossive50

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#4  Edited By Smashbrossive50
Member since 2009 • 3915 Posts

so what would she liked? I only know one RPG just for her. does she liked Sonic Chronicles: the Dark Brotherhood?

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rilpas

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#5 rilpas
Member since 2012 • 8161 Posts

I haven't bought her any RPGs yet, currently she plays games like Mario land for the 3DS and other platformers

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LoG-Sacrament

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#6 LoG-Sacrament
Member since 2006 • 20397 Posts

jrpg's or diablo clones are the way to go.

dragon quest viii doesn't have a ton of dialogue and everything is so visually pleasing that you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of it that way (and maybe she'll learn a few more words too). since you mention nintendo platformers, you might want to try paper mario.

diablo clones seem like a good pick because dialogue is completely irrelevant to enjoying them and they're generally very fast paced. you might try torchlight ii because it's very simple and the tone isn't very dark. still, check out some gameplay videos so you know what you're getting your niece.

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bussinrounds

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#7 bussinrounds
Member since 2009 • 3324 Posts

If she likes Mario, play that Super Mario RPG : Legend of The Seven Stars with her.

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osan0

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#8  Edited By osan0
Member since 2004 • 17775 Posts

the mario and luigi series is very good generally. mario and luigi dream team was released on the 3DS earlier this year.

bowsers inside story for the DS is also very good.

the tutorials are quite detailed so they are a great introduction.

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#9  Edited By Jacanuk
Member since 2011 • 20281 Posts

@rilpas said:

I have an 8 year old niece who plays games, mostly the usual platformer and Nintendo stuff, I've been trying to introduce her to RPGs but the problem is, we're not native English speakers, so all that text and all those dull moments could potentially ruin it for her.

Recommendations?

Just make sure you buy the game in your country because most games for kids get translated.

But either Mario, Zelda, Pokemon is good for kids that age.

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rilpas

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#10 rilpas
Member since 2012 • 8161 Posts

Thanks for the recommendations guys! I think I have a pretty good idea what to get her now :)

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#11 Black_Knight_00
Member since 2007 • 77 Posts

I think Baldur's Gate 2 is a good place to start for any 8 year old.

lol ok just kidding.

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#12  Edited By MadVybz
Member since 2009 • 2797 Posts

It may not work but just have her watch you play some. When I was a kid my brother was a huge fan of Squaresoft so I'd watch him play tons of different RPGs and strategy games, then as I got older he let me give 'em a go and I ended up having a blast.

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#13 locus-solus
Member since 2013 • 1552 Posts

@rilpas said:

I have an 8 year old niece who plays games, mostly the usual platformer and Nintendo stuff, I've been trying to introduce her to RPGs but the problem is, we're not native English speakers, so all that text and all those dull moments could potentially ruin it for her.

Recommendations?

what platform does your niece use? DS, 3DS, Wii, or Wii U?

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#14  Edited By JML897
Member since 2004 • 33134 Posts

@Black_Knight_00 said:

I think Baldur's Gate 2 is a good place to start for any 8 year old.

lol ok just kidding.

I was thinking Disgaea 2 myself.

No but seriously OP, if you can convince her to give Pokemon a chance that's probably your best bet. It's about as entry-level as you're gonna get while still being a solid game.

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#15  Edited By Gelugon_baat
Member since 2003 • 24247 Posts

Well, you can always try one of the Earthbound games - specifically their recently re-released versions. They seem kid-friendly enough.

(You may want to avoid Diablo, despite the suggestion of one person above.)

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#16 LoG-Sacrament
Member since 2006 • 20397 Posts

@Gelugon_baat said:

Well, you can always try one of the Earthbound games - specifically their recently re-released versions. They seem kid-friendly enough.

(You may want to avoid Diablo, despite the suggestion of one person above.)

who recommended diablo?

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deactivated-5ac102a4472fe

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#17  Edited By deactivated-5ac102a4472fe
Member since 2007 • 7431 Posts

while not an RPG, I think that the Zelda games are close enough in proximity to be a good start.

A shame that she does not like pokemon, but nothing to be done to change that by force.

Paper mario perhaps? Or one of its Family of games?

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rilpas

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#18 rilpas
Member since 2012 • 8161 Posts

@locus-solus said:

@rilpas said:

I have an 8 year old niece who plays games, mostly the usual platformer and Nintendo stuff, I've been trying to introduce her to RPGs but the problem is, we're not native English speakers, so all that text and all those dull moments could potentially ruin it for her.

Recommendations?

what platform does your niece use? DS, 3DS, Wii, or Wii U?

3DS and a PS2 though she barely touches her PS2 anymore

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rilpas

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#19 rilpas
Member since 2012 • 8161 Posts

@Maddie_Larkin said:

while not an RPG, I think that the Zelda games are close enough in proximity to be a good start.

A shame that she does not like pokemon, but nothing to be done to change that by force.

Paper mario perhaps? Or one of its Family of games?

she never played Pokemon, she just never cared for the TV show or toys so I assumed buying her the pokemon games wouldn't really peak her interest

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#20  Edited By branketra
Member since 2006 • 51726 Posts

Since she likes Nintendo, I recommend Fire Emblem. Also, the earlier she learns languages the better sooner she will become competent with them, so have her learn if you can.

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#21 ShepardCommandr
Member since 2013 • 4939 Posts

FF 1 to 6 but those are heavy on text and story.

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#22 The-Apostle
Member since 2004 • 12197 Posts

I'd say Xenosaga (lots of cinamatics though...) or Final Fantasy X.

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#23 DonkeyBrains
Member since 2013 • 38 Posts

Fire Emblem. She can learn about RPG mechanics and her own mortality at the same time!

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#24  Edited By Gelugon_baat
Member since 2003 • 24247 Posts
@LoG-Sacrament said:

who recommended diablo?

Looking at the posts again, no one did - my bad. :P

(Only Diablo-clones were mentioned - but I don't think that most of these are suitable for kids either.)

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#25 Blueresident87
Member since 2007 • 5903 Posts

There are many great Mario & Luigi RPG games out there

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#26  Edited By Gelugon_baat
Member since 2003 • 24247 Posts
@Blueresident87 said:

There are many great Mario & Luigi RPG games out there

Oh yeah, those - pretty good choices too, if one has a Nintendo handheld.

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#27 FenrirGaros
Member since 2013 • 25 Posts

How about Dot Hack games for her since you get a language setup in the beginning of Japanese, Chinese(mandarin), English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Russian also there are even more options for subtitles. Let her give them a try when she's a little older. These games are for PS2 though and there are seven in total for ease into this kind of game though you ant to start in the G.U. series of games first since the first 4 games are very wordy. or Tales of the Abyss it's another JRPG but this one also has a language setup ***,Ger,Span,Fren, and Eng. I believe it has way more under subtitles though and you can also adjust the speed the text fly by. This one is rated T or Teen but I played it when i was 12. There should be other 'Tales of' games available for 3Ds that's available and most of them have wonderful stories but all memorable. Also have your niece read fantasy novels to inspire the imagination. RPG's the main mechanic of them is how they flush out the story and making characters identifiable and memorable, to be able to feel tragedy when it happens, happiness, laughter, anger at a villain's victory, or to be able to choose one's path albeit light or dark or condemnation or redemption...

Thanks for your time,

FenrirGaros

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#28  Edited By pandora_wizard
Member since 2008 • 56 Posts

What about Final Fantasy Mystic Quest? Square made that game for entry-level gamers such kids.

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#29 foxhound_fox
Member since 2005 • 98532 Posts

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Very easy to play and understand, but with strong foundational mechanics and a gradual difficulty curve that doesn't ever punish the player for being underleveled. The perfect entry-level RPG for any young kid wanting to get into the genre. Nothing else short of the SNES greats like FFVI and Chrono Trigger could come close.

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#30  Edited By GreySeal9
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@The-Apostle said:

I'd say Xenosaga (lots of cinamatics though...) or Final Fantasy X.

Xenosaga? Please be joking. That's probably the worst choice for an 8 year old. It is way too complex and way too wordy (not to mention that the game is rather challenging and has way too much customization). Its title comes from the philosophy of Neitzsche for crying out loud.

Final Fantasy 10 also has concepts way too complicated for an 8 year old to enjoy. An 8 year old would maybe like some of the characters and that's it.

If the TC wanted to introduce an 8 year old to Final Fantasy, FF9 would be the best bet.

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#31  Edited By GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts
@Blueresident87 said:

There are many great Mario & Luigi RPG games out there

Mario & Luigi is probably the best choice.

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#32 klonoafanboy122
Member since 2013 • 232 Posts

pokemon of course i mean everyone young and old love that series its simple but addictive ^^

grandias not bad either abit boring at times but the battle system is excelent

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#33 cfisher2833
Member since 2011 • 2150 Posts

Pokemon or the Mario RPGs (Mario and Luigi Dream Team is great).

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#34 ChiefvsGordon
Member since 2005 • 1085 Posts

how about torchlight?

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#35  Edited By branketra
Member since 2006 • 51726 Posts

@rilpas said:

I have an 8 year old niece who plays games, mostly the usual platformer and Nintendo stuff, I've been trying to introduce her to RPGs but the problem is, we're not native English speakers, so all that text and all those dull moments could potentially ruin it for her.

Recommendations?

Nintendo has role playing games. Fire Emblem is one such series. Besides that, I suggest you get her The Last Story for the Wii. I read that is good. It is by the creator of the Final Fantasy series named Hironobu Sakaguchi. The language barrier you mentioned could be inhibiting, but if she studies enough then there should not be an issue.

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#36  Edited By CoquiNegro
Member since 2013 • 171 Posts

Any Nintendo role playing game. They're wonderful and easy to play. Then when he's older move him to other more complex rpg's.