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[LiQuid!]

SNES and PS1 eras were both very strong. I don't even touch this genre anymore but I still have a ton of nostalgia for a lot of games from both of those generations.

I'd say the games that have left the most lasting impression me personally are from PS1 era. Games like Legend of Mana, Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy 9, Breath of Fire 3 and a slew of others all surpass their SNES counterparts, with a few exceptions.

 

[cartman414]

I generally see these three eras being stated by different fans as the best times for RPG fans. Which of the three do you think is the GOAT era for RPGs? I'm mainly talking about JRPGs however you can include strategy RPGs or Action RPGs if you like. Mind you I'm talking about my experience in North America, so it would be interesting if people from different continents had a wildly different take on the matter, since I was horrified to learn recently that Chrono Trigger for example never had a European release on the SNES?????! (A crime)

SNES:

The SNES was a great time for multiple genres and has a great library. We had some of the best RPGs in the genre that have aged incredibly well and many subsequent games have used for inspiration. The 16 bit aesthetic for these games is still beautiful to look at and arguably aged better than a lot of the PS1's early 3D graphics.

Chrono Trigger (my fave SNES game)
Earthbound
Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 6
Secret of Mana
Zelda Lttp
Breath of Fire 1
Breath of Fire 2
Super Mario RPG
Tales of Phantasia

PS1:

This was probably Square's strongest era ever, back when they were king of the RPG.

Final Fantasy 7 (changed the industry)
Final Fantasy 8 (my fave FF)
Final Fantasy 9
Tail Concerto
Kartia
Suikoden 1
Suikoden 2
Chrono Cross (just as amazing as Chrono Trigger)
Xenogears
Final Fantasy Tactics (the only SRPG I really love)
Wild Arms 1
Wild Arms 2
Grandia
Lunar Silver Star Story Complete (the story of Luna and Alex <3)
Lunar Eternal Blue Complete
Star Ocean Second Story
Legend of Dragoon
Thousand Arms
Jade Cocoon
Breath of Fire 3 (my fave BoF)
Breath of Fire 4
Alundra (first game to rival Zelda Lttp in quality)
Dragon Quest VII
Tales of Destiny 1
Tales of Eternia (or Destiny 2)
Valkyrie Profile

Amazing that Sony started off with a "no RPGs in the West" policy and we forced ourselves to played that turd Beyond the Beyond when it came over as RPG fans were dying for anything at that point.

PS2:

Ok, so I would have to say that while the PS1 has some of my top faves the PS2 imo is the one I'd vote for as the Golden Era. We had both quality AND quantity at this point thanks to revolutionary titles like FF7 paving the way.

Final Fantasy 10 (either 2nd fave FF or tied with 8 for favorite)
Final Fantasy 12
Digital Devil Saga 1
Digital Devil Saga 2 (one of the best on the system)
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne
Wild Arms 3
Wild Arms 4
Wild Arms 5 (favorite WA tied with 5)
Wild Arms Alter Code F (tied with 5 as my fave)
Jade Cocoon 2
Suikoden 4
Suikoden 5 (best Suikoden imo)
Ar Tonelico
Ar Tonelico 2
Atelier Iris 1
Atelier Iris 2
Atelier Iris 3
Mana Khemia
Mana Khemia 2
Okami
Devil Summoner
Devil Summoner 2
Sakura Wars: So Long My Love
Grandia Xtreme
Grandia 2
Grandia 3
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Tales of the Abyss
Shadow Hearts 1
Shadow Hearts: Covenant (incredible game)
Shadow Hearts: From the New World
Mega Man X: Command Mission
Dragon Quest 8 (my fave DQ)
Dark Cloud 1
Dark Cloud 2
Rogue Galaxy
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
Kingdom Hearts 1
Kingdom Hearts 2
Persona 3 & FES
Persona 4
Xenosaga
Xenosaga 2
Xenosaga 3 (one of the best RPGs ever, a masterpiece and on par with Xenogears)

EDIT: ***Since the Nintendo DS is such a strong contender, you can vote for that one as well. The DS arguably has the strongest RPG lineup in the history of handhelds.***

DS:

Solotorabo: Red the Hunter
Radiant Historia
Final Fantasy 3 remake
Final Fantasy 4 remake (my fave version of the game)
Okamiden
Dragon Quest 4
Dragon Quest 5
Dragon Quest 6
Dragon Quest 9
Golden Sun Dark Dawn
Mario and Luigi Partners in Time
Mario and Luigi Dream Team
Sands of Destruction
Blue Dragon Awakened Shadow
Zelda Phantom Hourglass
Zelda Spirit Tracks (my fave handheld Zelda)
Final Fantasy 4 Heroes of Light

The current gen is looking pretty hopeful. Not sure if we'll ever have another Golden Age in the RPG genre (at least for JRPGs) but things are looking up from last gen at least

What do you consider the Golden Era? My vote goes to the PS2. There can only be one

You skipped Final Fantasy V. (Tales of Phantasia didn't come here either at the time.)

Sure, I suppose you could count Zelda II as a proto action-RPG, but it's also probably the worst mainline Zelda game and the least talked about. But LTTP, Ocarina of Time and such are absolutely not RPG's and it boggles my mind that people think they are.

Because people are plebs.

 

[kswiston]

IMO? You explore and open up a larger world as you play, gather equipment and items, increase stats, and interact with assorted NPCs to enhance the ongoing story.

Doesn't this definition make Tomb Raider 2013 an RPG? I suppose it doesn't have much in the way of NPCs, but pretty much everything else on your list is there. He'll, you're only a hop and a skip away from naming some of the Resident Evil games RPGs by that loose definition.

To me, one of the biggest differentiators between action RPGs and Adventure titles is the implementation of stats and RNGs in combat. Zelda combat largely relies on exploiting weak points through timed strikes and the use of specific items/weapons.

 

[cartman414]

PS1 1997-1999 rpgs >>>>>>>>>> SNES (all)...its not even close really

That list of PS2 rpgs is so weak compared to PS1 or SNES...
PS2s rpgs aren't even on the same level as someone who bought the PS2 at launch that system is so overrated

Enjoy your mandatory CG cutscenes.

 

[randomkid]

feels like we are having this thread more and more often lately?

all I'll say is that if a golden era is defined by ports and remakes and localizations of games from previous eras, maybe that era isn't really quite so golden.

 

[sörine]

Cool, Metroid is an RPG. m/

Why not? Post-SOTN Castlevania is already too.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Cool, Metroid is an RPG. \m/

No NPCs.

 

[sörine]

IMO? You explore and open up a larger world as you play, gather equipment and items, increase stats, and interact with assorted NPCs to enhance the ongoing story.
(I'm sure this opens up a slippery slope where people are going to consider GTA an RPG, but oh well.)

To me an action/adventure would be Uncharted. Straight forward without collectible equipment, statistics, towns, etc.

Stats based growth tends to be why people discount Zelda and similar games. Of course GTA's had this since San Andreas so why shouldn't it be an action rpg? Why is Yakuza but not San Andreas?

 

[charsace]

Looks for PC RPG's.

See's none.

 

[kswiston]

Stats based growth tends to be why people discount Zelda and similar games. Of course GTA's had this since San Andreas so why shouldn't it be an action rpg? Why is Yakuza but not San Andreas?

I don't think that Yakuza is widely considered an RPG series. Even the post SOTN Castlevania games have a lot of debate around them, as evidenced by the fact that they never do that well in my Essential RPG threads.

 

[Savitar]

SNES was the golden age, it kind of lost it`s way after. There were some good games here and there as time passed but nothing could get the high of the SNES where anything was possible.

 

[ZoltanXerxes]

PS1 for me personally.

 

[Dark_castle]

There's no correct answer between these three. All are home to some of the best RPG ever made, and I have favorites from three systems.

SNES:

Earthbound
FFIV
FFV
FFVI
DQIII remake
DQV
Chrono Trigger
Lufia 2
Terranigma

PS1:

FFVII
FFVIII
FFIX
FF Tactics
Chrono Cross
Xenogears
Grandia
Suikoden 2
Star Ocean 2
Grandia
The Legend of Dragoon
Tales of Eternia
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Wild Arms

PS2:

FFX
FFXII
KH1, KH2
DQVIII
Shadow Hearts 1&2
Persona 4
SMT Nocturne
Grandia 2, 3
Tales of the Abyss
Suikoden 3, 5
Wild Arms 3
Star Ocean 3

Overall though, I think I lean towards PS1 most of the time.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

SFC era, for many reasons, but one in particular: in general, a perfect playthrough time - you can beat Chrono Trigger easily under 15 hours.

The CD format allowed devs to put plenty of crap and clutter, artificially raising the life span of games.

 

[Shake Appeal]

I double-checked and it turns out it's PC, 1975–Present.

 

[kswiston]

I double-checked and it turns out it's PC, 1975–Present.

I think a J needs to be added to the title, since it's pretty clear the OP is talking about Japanese console RPGs.

 

[ForsakenLotus]

IMO? You explore and open up a larger world as you play, gather equipment and items, increase stats, and interact with assorted NPCs to enhance the ongoing story.
(I'm sure this opens up a slippery slope where people are going to consider GTA an RPG, but oh well.)

To me an action/adventure would be Uncharted. Straight forward without collectible equipment, statistics, towns, etc.

What makes a RPG a RPG has certainly changed and become harder to define over the years, especially since RPG mechanics have become so pervasive in modern games. But the one, possibly only mandatory mechanic that a game must have to be a RPG is an experience system - gaining XP by dispatching enemies, completing quests, doing side missions. Other than Zelda II, none of the Zelda games that I know of have XP points.

An Action/Adventure title is a game wherein the gameplay is centered around a realtime combat system as well as puzzle solving generally if not always with the help of items and usually as a means of progressing through parts of the story as well as secondary content. Uncharted is really more of a Third Person Shooter, though it does have puzzles and it does have that adventure feel so I think that's why it's considered an Action/Adventure as well.

The reason game likes GTA or Call of Duty or the countless other games with RPG mechanics aren't considered a RPG is because they structurally are more FPS/TPS than RPG. Generally I would say use common sense, and if a game feels like a RPG it probably is at least in part, but of course that doesn't seem good enough if people think Zelda is a RPG.

 

[Augemitbutter]

SNES doesn't qualify. you have to add MD/Genesis to get some numbers in. Phantasy Star, Shining Force, Lunar etc. Europe didn't even get most of these games in the op.

PS1/SAT is where things get interesting. you can add Shining the Holy Ark, Shining Force III, Panzer Dragoon Saga as all time favorites.

PS2/DC with Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia on the DC side.

and that's where the golden era ended.

 

[sörine]

Looks for PC RPG's.

See's none.

There were CRPG ports for the consoles mentioned. SNES probably comes out best here too with Wizardry V, Might & Magic III, Eye of the Beholder, Dungeon Master, Shadowrun, Drakkhen and a couple Ultimas. Japan saw more Wizardry and M&M games too. Funny enough many of them were converted by Japanese companies.

 

[NastyBook]

PS1/PS2. Never really played many RPGs on SNES.

 

[kess]

PS1 for me: fresh, varied, innovative, a wide selection with diverse styles and developers. The bloom was off the rose by the PS2.

 

[Morgadeth]

I quite enjoy the PSP version of Lunar. But overall I think PS2 was the best; so many memories of Atelier Iris and Ar Tonelico.

 

[RPGamer92]

PS1 by far: FFVII, FFIX, Tactics, Xenogears, Chrono Cross, Suikoden 2, Legend of Dragoon, etc

 

[cartman414]

Also, dungeon crawlers not counting is patently absurd considering they were the ur subgenre.

 

[mdzapeer]

PS1, more quality genre defining timeless classics.

Case in point of the top of my head.

Suikoden 1 and 2
Final Fantasy 7,8,9
Xenogears
Wild ARMs

 

[Qwark]

Depends what aspect you're looking at, if it's just straight up quality or sheer numbers, than PS2 takes it easily. If it's more innovation based, than it's a toss up between PS1/SNES (I'd lean PS1 myself). If it's legacy, probably SNES.

As an aside, I don't recognize Zelda as an RPG. It's an action adventure game with light RPG elements. I know Nintendo classifies it as an RPG though, so I won't begrudge those who group it as such, also.

I thought Legend of Legaia was trash so I omitted that one

And yet you have Xenosaga II on your list. All opinions, I know, but Legaia is easily in my top 5 RPG's. The second one was pretty mediocre though.

 

[PixyJunket]

No NPCs.

 

[Reveirg]

PS2 without a doubt.

S-E, Atlus, Konami, Sacnoth/Nautilus, Monolith Soft and Namco were amazing during those years.

I do prefer the PS3/Wii/PSP/DS era over the SNES and PS1 eras too. I think the lack of HD RPGs hurt it, but if you add all those amazing handheld JRPGs, Xenoblade and The Last Story to the few PS3/360 gems (Ni No Kuni, Nier, The Last Remnant, Mistwalker's games, etc.), you've got tons of fantastic JRPGs.

 

[sörine]

Also, dungeon crawlers not counting is patently absurd considering they were the ur subgenre.

They should absolutely count. The Etrian Odyssey trilogy are what even put DS in the running imo.

 

[Hibiki Kurosawa]

This is a cruel decision. I love all eras so much. Might give the edge to PS2 though.

...

Damn that's a hard one.

 

[AntiFacebook]

This for me (including 2002 though)

A lot of my favourite titles came out in that time:
- Wizardry 8
- Morrowind
- Gothic 1&2

oh yeah,i forgot that morrowind came out in 2002.
1996-2002 it is

 

[Sixfortyfive]

I respect games that respect my time. 16-bit era isn't bogged down by cutscenes, lengthy summons, or load times, so it wins by default.

 

[Dark_castle]

PS1/Saturn

Panzer Dragoon Saga
Shining the Holy Ark
Final Fantasy 7
Suikoden 1
Suikoden 2
Xenogears
Final Fantasy Tactics
Wild Arms 1
Wild Arms 2
Breath of Fire 3
Breath of Fire 4
Alundra
Valkyrie Profile

How could you not like FFIX? It's basically the one FF that most FFVI and old school FF or even traditional JRPG fans tend to love.

 

[Nottle]

Personally I have a soft spot for the SNES ones. The Ps2 seems like where Jrpgs sort of went down hill, The Persona games and Final Fantasies on that system are pretty good however.

Square really seemed to be knocking it out of the park on the PS1.
Now that I have a Vita I'm starting to play a lot of the PS1 games and they are great.

It makes me sad though that a lot of the great Ps1 games like Valkyrie Profile and Breath of Fire 3 aren't available on vita in the States despite being released and remade for the PSP in this region. What is up with that? Why can't all the well known JRPGs be released on PSN?

 

[epmode]

Looks for PC RPG's.

See's none.

Thread title should have specified JRPGs. At least it was clarified in the OP.

 

[Ranma]

As much as i adore Chrono Trigger i have to go with Ps1 on this matter (Xenogears is may favourite JRPG)

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I don't think of it as by console

1991-2001

I'd agree with this. But if I had to pick, it would be the original playstatin easily. FFT, Suikoden 1 & 2, Xenogears, and so many others. It can't be beat.

 

[whiterabbit]

Is 3DS an option? I liked Devil Survivor Overclocked and Etrian Odyssey IV.

If not, PS2 for FF X, and SMT games.

 

[sörine]

16bit wins. Really.

7th Saga
Advanced Dungeon & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder
Alcahest
Arcana
Arcus Odyssey
Bahamut Lagoon
Beggar Prince
Beyond Oasis
Brain Lord
Brandish
Brandish II: The Planet Buster
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire II
Burning Heroes
Chaos Seed: Feng Shui Chronicles
Chrono Trigger
Cosmic Fantasy 2
Crest of Gaia
Dark Half
Dark Law: The Meaning of Death
Dark Wizard
Demon of Laplace
Double Dungeons
Dragon Quest I & II
Dragon Quest III
Dragon Quest V
Dragon Quest VI
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes
Dragon View
Drakkhen
Dungeon Explorer
Dungeon Explorer II / Crystal Beans from Dungeon Explorer
Dungeon Explorer SCD
Dungeon Master: Theron's Quest
Dungeon Master II: Skullkeep
Dungeons & Dragons: Order of the Griffon
Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun
EarthBound
Emerald Dragon
Energy Breaker
E.V.O. The Search for Eden
Exile
Exile: Wicked Phenomenon
Faery Tale Adventure
Feda: Emblem of Justice
Final Fantasy IV/II
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI/III
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest
Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Front Mission
Gauntlet IV
Glory of Heracles III: Silence of the Gods
Hiemdall
Hiouden: Legend of the Scarlet King - The Demonic Oath
Illusion of Gaia
Inindo: Way of the Ninja
King Colossus
Langrisser / Warsong
Langrisser II / Der Langrisser
Legend of Wukong
Lennus II: The Apostles of the Seal
Light Crusader
Live A Live
Lufia & The Fortress of Doom
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinestrals
Lunar: The Silver Star
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Magical Land of Wozz
Megami Tensei: The Old Testament
Master of Monsters
Metal Max Returns
Might & Magic II: Gates to Another World
Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra
Monstania
Mystic Ark
Mysterious Dungeon 2: Shiren the Wanderer
Neugier: The Journey Home
Obitus
Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
Paladin's Quest
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Pier Solar and the Great Architects
Pirates! Gold
Popful Mail
Robotrek
Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa 3
Secret of Evermore
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana 2
Silva Saga II: The Legend of Light and Darkness
Shadowrun MD
Shadowrun SNES
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei II
Shining Force
Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing
Shining Force CD
Shining in the Darkness
Soul Blazer
Star Ocean
Star Odyssey
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Robot Wars 3
Sword of Vermillion
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Tales of Phantasia
Taloon's Great Adventure
Terranigma
Traysia
Treasure of the Rudras
Twisted Tales of Spike McFang
Ultima: The False Prophet
Ultima: The Black Gate
Ultima: Runes of Virtue II
Uncharted Waters
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons
Vasteel
Vay
Wizardry I-II-III: Story of Llylgamyn
Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom
Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence
Ys Book I & II
Ys III: Wanderers from Ys
Ys IV: Mask of the Sun
Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys
Ys V: Kefin, Lost Kingdom of Sand

And if we throw in the hotly contested Zelda Genre:

Crusader of Centy
Dragon's Curse
Gunman's Proof
LandStalker: The Treasures of King Nole
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Monster World IV
Neutopia
Neutopia II
Super Adventure Island II
Wonder Boy in Monster World / The Dynastic Hero

 

[Pyrrhus]

The SNES era is the sweet spot. The games could still be gorgeous and sound wonderful but the hardware limitations and popular tastes and trends of the time all worked to create games that were to the point, gameplay and exploration focused, and with the fan service/otaku horseshit under a reasonable threshold.

The PS1 era was fascinating to live through but nearly all of the big titles of that era have aged poorly and a great many bad development habits and pop cultural tics were picked up in that era. Square's huge outpouring of creativity and technical excellence combined with the breaking of Nintendo's localization shackles with the move to Sony's platform was truly something I feel privileged to have experienced. But in retrospect a lot of those bold ideas come off as unwieldy, sophomoric, or badly dated now.

The PS2 era was essentially the slow death of the genre in the mainstream. A lot of good titles in that generation but the beginning of the end, with a more homogenized and frankly cheaper style of presentation being used in a lot of lower tier games. Menus instead of world maps, lots of overly tropey, pandering crap glutting the low end of the market and Final Fantasy kind of abdicating its role as a guidepost or beacon for the genre with increasingly experimental main chapters and a lot of brand-diluting spinoffs. Atlus made some strong gains and really defined their formula, but then they also stopped bringing out other developers' curios in order to focus almost full time on SMT by the end of the generation. Just a general kind of winding down when you look at the era as a whole.

 

[Morrigan Stark]

How could you not like FFIX? It's basically the one FF that most FFVI and old school FF or even traditional JRPG fans tend to love.

'Cause I haven't really played it. My friend rented it back in the day, but I guess I wasn't in the mood or something that day and didn't really pay attention to the game, and never touched it again.

 

[mdzapeer]

The SNES era is the sweet spot. The games could still be gorgeous and sound wonderful but the hardware limitations and popular tastes and trends of the time all worked to create games that were to the point, gameplay and exploration focused, and with the fan service/otaku horseshit under a reasonable threshold.

The PS1 era was fascinating to live through but nearly all of the big titles of that era have aged poorly and a great many bad development habits and pop cultural tics were picked up in that era. Square's huge outpouring of creativity and technical excellence combined with the breaking of Nintendo's localization shackles with the move to Sony's platform was truly something I feel privileged to have experienced. But in retrospect a lot of those bold ideas come off as unwieldy, sophomoric, or badly dated now.

The PS2 era was essentially the slow death of the genre in the mainstream. A lot of good titles in that generation but the beginning of the end, with a more homogenized and frankly cheaper style of presentation being used in a lot of lower tier games. Menus instead of world maps, lots of overly tropey, pandering crap glutting the low end of the market and Final Fantasy kind of abdicating its role as a guidepost or beacon for the genre with increasingly experimental main chapters and a lot of brand-diluting spinoffs. Atlus made some strong gains and really defined their formula, but then they also stopped bringing out other developers' curios in order to focus almost full time on SMT by the end of the generation. Just a general kind of winding down when you look at the era as a whole.

Great Post, really nails the point for the PS2. I would slightly disagree about PS1 as not all RPGs of that era have aged badly at all. Concepts explored during the PS1 games are still being used in modern games ( save import, suikoden). Branching storylines, multiple endings etc.

 

[flak57]

There were CRPG ports for the consoles mentioned. SNES probably comes out best here too with Wizardry V, Might & Magic III, Eye of the Beholder, Dungeon Master, Shadowrun, Drakkhen and a couple Ultimas. Japan saw more Wizardry and M&M games too. Funny enough many of them were converted by Japanese companies.

Wow, I'd say PS2 is much better there and it's not even close -

Baldur's Gate DA 1-2
Champions of Norrath 1-2
Xmen Legends 1-2
Marvel UA
King's Field
Wizardry Forsaken Land
Gauntlet Dark Legacy

Shadowrun is awesome though.

 

[kenshiroro]

definitely the PS2 for me

not only is the library massive, the are ALOT amazing games too

best part is, after 10+ years my PS2 fat console is still going strong!

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

I never really answered the question for the op so I will. I will give to the PS1 generation because my favorite game of all time originated on it along with the rpg I so long want a sequel for.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

definitely the PS2 for me

not only is the library massive, the are ALOT amazing games too

best part is, after 10+ years my PS2 fat console is still going strong!

How in the hell though? I went through about 3 PS2s and each one had some Disc Read Error shit before they eventually died.

 

[Dark_castle]

'Cause I haven't really played it. My friend rented it back in the day, but I guess I wasn't in the mood or something that day and didn't really pay attention to the game, and never touched it again.

Man you owed it to yourself to give the game another shot one of these days. It's easily available now on PSN. Every classic JRPG fans need to play it. While I'm at it, I'd highly recommend you to try Grandia as well, if you've never played it before as well.

 

[Durante]

FF9 is so sloooooww. It would be improved massively by speeding up the battle startup/ending and animations by a factor of 10.

 

[kinoki]

For me it's a tie between PS1 and SNES. Both are absolute golden ages. I really need to play them more.

 

[GusZamboni]

nice thread, but its definitely based on the age of the player, mine for example is SNES era, but i know a lot of guys younger than me that would choose ps2 in a blink