Across age-best top down rpg Chaos rings-best turn based rpg Honorable mentions -crimson gem saga -inotia:wanderer of luone -dungeon hunter -Zenonia 2 -rimelands
Ah, there's a tricky question. If you mean Japanese RPGs, I'm inclined to agree with you.... however that comes with the caveat that I don't believe any JRPGs are that good (or, for that matter, even RPGs). I had buyer's remorse after purchasing Final Fantasy when it was on sale. If you mean "Western" RPGs (to use the standard redundant nomenclature) then there are a few good ones. The Quest Gold is probably the best native RPG, with an insane amount of varied quests that could keep you busy for many dozens of hours (100+ if you get the expansions). Graphics are not modern if that is a concern, being on par with Daggerfall. Quest Gold is about 8$, a lite version is available that you could get a few hours out of and see if it is your thing or not. Undercroft is a very good, albeit linear, classic-style RPG. If you've ever played the Eye of the Beholder games, this is very similar. You'll get 20 hours out of it...and it's completely free of charge. Xenome is a Fallout-style RPG. I don't recommend it unless you have a fourth generation device, as it is quite choppy. Controls are a bit difficult (which can be problematic as combat is real time). Its best point of recommendation is it is the only (Western) RPG I am aware of for iOS that is non-fantasy themed. Dungeon Hunter is a hack and slash game with some RPG elements. No real depth, but fun to kill time with. Not RPGs in the typical video gaming definition, but RPGs in the traditional pen and paper sense -- Fighting Fantasy (4 books), Sorcery (1 book) and Gamebook Adventures (4 books). Basic literacy is required, but any of these can give you a more genuine RPG experience than even The Quest. Finally, if you were lucky enough to have purchased iDOS when it was available you can also play Bard's Tale 1-3, Ultima 1-5, Pool of Radiance and its many Gold Box successors, Wasteland, Starflight, Eye of the Beholder, etc. Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures in particular uses most of my iPod gaming time now.
Inotia 2 is terrible. You sit there for hours re-rolling for a good character and then when you get party members they are completely randomized so you can totally get boned in that regard. Ash is a good RPG with the best dialog BY FAR of any iOS RPG.
Umm.. I don't know who in there right mind would sit and roll for hours just for good stats, I took my first roll. It wasn't a good roll and yet I haven't had any trouble with my character or with the party members I have (and all there stuff is pretty low to). EDIT: @Infamous97 It's $3, and there is also a lite version.
Whoa shit forgot to mention Ash. Anyways, it's entertaining to proceed through, if only for the story. The combat and gameplay is pretty meh so nvm, I guess it wasn't worth mentioning.
Crimson Gem Saga is undoubtedly my favorite, followed by Chaos Rings. I'd also highly recommend Final Fantasy I, which aside from Crisis Core and maybe SoulCalibur is my most played PSP game, and TNA Wrestling, which was unfortunately pulled for contract reasons. Hows Ash? I want to pick it up next time I get a gift card, since it's getting good feedback and I have a thing for turn based RPG's.
I hear the story and dialogue in Ash are great, and you don't hear that too often about RPG's. Especially app store ones. Have you played Rimelands? If you're not exclusively into eastern-style RPG's, it's a great turnbased RPG. Idk if it's still on sale. Just check the forums for the bugs, so you know what to avoid while the devs fix.