Wild Arms?
 

So, Ive only ever heard of this, and on a whim I just grabbed WA3 last night, mainly cause it was cheap, and I wanted a good RPG. I havent played it much, but I really like the style. Can anyone tell me what other entries in the series I should get? (I can get 4 and 5 for cheap as well) and are they connected at all, or standalone, like FF.

Standalone for the most part, but the rumor is they deal with varying timelines on the planet of Filgaia.

I'd recommend Wild Arms: Alter Code F as it is a remake of the original, but the game is a little buggy. I never played #2, and I got partway into #4 and was entertained. 3 is probably the best of the series thus far though.

If you can find Alter Code F then its honestly a hit or miss. Some of the games have an unrecoverable bug that makes beating the game impossible.

However, The PS1 version is an immaculate 2d RPG(Minus the hideous battle graphics.) and Wild Arms 2nd Ignition is the best one in the series.

WA:3 kinda drags on, and I could never finish it. Especially with the high expectations the first 2 games had thrown on me.

I haven't played 4 but 5 seemed alright.

I can get the original WA1 on PSN for like, $10, so I wont need to get the remake.

Can you get Wild Arms 2? If so I might have to buy a PS3.

Regardless, I always liked the original version of Wild Arms more than the remake. One of the major themes of the Wild Arms games (At least in the first 3) is the state of Filgaia from game to game, and the shrinking presence of the guardians who keep the planet's balance. They seemed to lose some of that to me in the remake.

Alter Code: F isn't just a port. It's a complete remake. The mechanics and plot have been rewritten, the graphics are updated, and you can get more characters.

Any game where Zeikfried can join your party is win.

I prefer the original as well, however. Mostly because Boomerang Flash looks SHITTY in the remake.

Yeah, I'd say the original is the best I've played. Granted, I haven't played 4, 5, Alter Code: F, and the one on the PSP.

3's my favorite, while 5 and Alter Code: F both come close.

Perhaps, if I had played 2 earlier, I wouldn't mind the battle graphics so much...but 4 definitely felt like the weakest of the series.

Wild Arms XF is fun too, but for different reasons. It's the first strategy game in a while where I felt strategy was actually involved. Though, it's a surprise to me that people have trouble on the stealth missions. The mission after the first one, though, appears to be the one that either makes or breaks the game for you.

Michiko Naruke is an awesome composer.

That's about all I know about Wild Arms. Does anybody have a suggestion of where to start playing the series?

...The first one.