@Exceed20XX: think I'll give that another go. I played that for the first time two years ago but got bored and lost 30 minutes into it.

Thanks to your suggestions I have discovered a few more, especially newer ones with beautiful artwork. Most of them were made by Vanillaware. (When I say beat em up I'm also including hack n slash)

Dust: An Elysian Tail

Trine 2

Odin Sphere

Ragnarok Battle Offline

@Byshop: Interesting... :)

do you know of any good games that fit my description but in different genres? I suppose there's quite a few as so many modern shooters for example revolve around teams/armys.

Wow, Muramasa and Dragons Crown look beautiful!

so without mentioning racing ones

mario bros 1, 2, 3

mario sunshine

mario 64

mario tennis

mario world

mario galaxy

mario rpg

partners in time

yoshis island

paper mario/super paper mario

Random topic but I'm a fan of beat em ups like final fight and streets of rage but the movement can be too sluggish and stiff, they just walk nonchalantly..

are there any where you can run, jump higher, be more acrobatic etc

I suppose some of my favourite games are ones where you're part of a team (AI controlled if not playing multi-player) and for the AI to act on their own accord. I realise that greatly diminishes tactical play but I've always been more of a go out all guns blazing kind of gamer.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. JRPGS are fine to suggest! I do agree with lulu lulu in a way (not trying to cause trouble just stating an honest opinion) I don't understand why they have to have a separate genre for RPGS made in Japan. Aren't most of them made there anyway? Is there that much of a difference? Ah well, I'm going to check out what's been suggested :)

something like secret of mana, team based

I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to RPGs but I'm looking for something like secret of mana, team based real time battle RPG, old or new.