Yeah, the Star Ocean series is pretty sweet, i like Tri-Ace (despite Infinite Undiscovery), they're good, i just wanted to know why did you put only one of their games, now i know...

I think Tri-Ace games have better stories then Levle 5 I really liked Infinite Undiscovery story

I think the the original poster needs to clarify what they mean by AAA title. I have always had an above ninety percent average score as a qualifier for said status. According to Metacritic Level 5 has no such game. So if nothing else the proclamation has no universal merit. You may use another compiler, or perhaps cite a specific source. However that makes any statement to this effect null and void.

For something to be held as being generally true it should be something all can agree on, and while you may like a Dark Cloud many reviewers were far less impressed then you were. While in the opposite fashion a number of reviewers felt previous games in the Star Ocean series with worthy of AAA status.

Before making factual statements it becomes you to fact check yourself in advance. Use more then one source, and provide needed links. Otherwise what you say has no meaning. More importantly you look less then credible. Nobody argues that you cannot have a bias, but you should damn well make at least a cursory effort to be somewhat prepared. Otherwise you look to be a loud mouthed schnuk.

But thats just it. When it comes to something like games/music/movies you cant compare them. It all matter opinions. Technology is something that can be compared not something thats based on pure opinion like video games.

My vote goes to Level-5. Don't get me wrong, I think Tri-Ace is great. SO3 was a great game, IU looks fun, and SO4 is looking fantastic. But to be honest, I think Tri-Ace puts way too much in their games. Despite enjoying SO3, I have to admit that I was lost for half the game with all the mechanics in it. I'd probably get it spot on the second time around, but even I haven't found much reason to play it again. I love Level-5; it's simple and at the same time an enjoyable adventure to play their games. My only issue is story-telling, but I get around it eventually.

Level 5 because of Professor Layton.

I think both companies are great though, Tri-ace will never, I repeat NEVER make a AAA game, not because their games suck but because of the nature of their games means they are stuck in niche markets that won't reach wide-ranging critical acclaim like say a Final Fantasy would.

Rogue Galaxy was supposed to be their answer to Final Fantasy?  I don't remember that.

And during their Dark Cloud days, they were completely unknown to the gaming world, and their games recieved very little marketing (the first recieved some, as it was one of the first RPGs on the ps2, but not much.  It did manage to go Greatest Hits, though), so you can't really blame for their lack of commercial success at the time.  As for Rogue Galaxy is their worst game (imo, though it seems many share that opinion) AND they were still pretty unknown at the time, so it's a wonder it sold as well as it did.

After DQVIII and Prof. Layton, I think Level 5 is beginning to gain a little notoriety, however, particularly in Japan.

I remember it well, I followed Rogue Galaxy heavily after it was announced. They wanted to make multiple installments like FF. This was going to be their own takeoff franchise, but they'd only do it if the first game sold enough. It's been a few years and we haven't heard anything about a sequel, so I'm guessing it didn't reach their sales expectations. It goes without saying that I was a little disappointed with the final game they delivered, so it doesn't really surprise me.

They may have been unknown at the time, but Dark Cloud set up an eerie pattern of repitition when it comes to sales (and flaws) of their game.

And I'm not sure if I'd refer to their Layton/DQ work as 'notoriety.' No developer works on a DQ game more than 3 times; Level 5's time is possibly up after IX. And Layton is their most successful original IP and it's not even an RPG...it just goes back to what I was saying about them struggling to find a place in the market.

Level 5 is overrated by forum goers here.

Tri-Ace is underrated by forum goers here.

It makes me sad.

Words cannot possibly express how much I fucking hate the term AAA.

That said, Tri-Ace has been WAYYYY down hill since Star Ocean 2, and Infinite Undiscovery seems to be downright bad.