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[Extra Sauce]

Fallout 3: Arguably the most hours I've spent on a single-player game
Knights of the Old Republic: Makes up for the Star Wars prequels
Skies of Arcadia: One of my most fondly remembered games
Xenoblade: A gorgeous JRPG the size of Texas
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind: Fortify speed and levitation spells, oh how I miss thee
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Duh
Dragon Age: Origins: The classic PC RPG goes out with a bang
Mass Effect: The one that started it all... in some ways superior to its sequel
System Shock 2: Like Deus Ex only inside and a lot scarier
Deus Ex: Like System Shock 2 only outside and with more sunglasses

You can tell I was running out of steam with the last two haha.

 

[Dr. Feel Good]

- Baten Katios: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

- Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II

- Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

- Pokemon Crystal

- Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time

 

[Alligatorjandro]

Fallout 3-My favorite of the Bethesda games so far.
Final Fantasy 12-My favorite FF.
Pokemon Silver/Gold-My favorite Pokemon games.

 

[wandering goat]

RPGs are the genre that has by far the most games I still need to play, but I'll give it a shot. No comments since I can't think of anything poignant to say (and in most cases, it's just a mix of good story, characters, battle system, art/design, and music).

1) Xenogears
2) Chrono Trigger
3) Final Fantasy VII
4) Dragon Quest VIII
5) Persona 4
6) Chrono Cross
7) Morrowind
8) World of Warcraft
9) Skies of Arcadia
10) Lunar: Silver Star Story

 

[Wiseblade]

Xenoblade Chronicles - Great open world, visually beautiful with a great battle system.

Pokémon Black/White - The best Pokémon game to date.

Panzer Dragoon Saga - The most cinematic battle system ever made. FFXIII, eat your heart out.

Chrono Trigger - One of the best implementations of the ATB system. with a whole host of sidequests and optional endings, it's a game almost impossible to beat once and walk away from.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door - The best RPG on the Gamecube, TTYD laughs at the idea that turn-based RPGs lack interaction. Top-notch writing help make this a game that shouldn't be missed.

Grandia 2 - Battles in this game are a joy to play through.

Mass Effect - The dialogue trees were entertaining, along with the combat. I loved the setting too.

Mother 3 - Best story in a game? Yes.

Fire Emblem - I like numbers. Fire Emblem give me a lot of them. Also I dare anyone to not become too attached to the characters to let any of them die.

Phantasy Star Online - Ten years on, this game is still unbelievably fun with a group of friends.

 

[plufim]

Xenoblade Chronicles. Possibly the most innovative JRPG in a decade, taking much inspiration from MMOs and cutting out almost all the fat inherent in JRPGs. An essential game that anyone ignoring it because "hurrf durf it's not HD" are doing themselves a huge dis-service.

Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door. fantastic writing and battle system, with more depth than most would expect.

Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga. the best of the M+L series is still the original. Much like TYD, it creates an RPG with a fantastic battle system that more series would do well to be "inspired by".

Skies of Arcadia. fantastical setting with characters that mostly avoid the annoying tropes of JRPGS (mostly). By no means perfect, but still damned great.

Shining Force 2. nostalgia probably clouds my judgement, but this was my first SRPG, infact my first tactical game. I'd never enjoyed a game prior to this with "complex" systems, but once this game was in my megadrive I played through it twice before anything else was put in the damn thing.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. Probably the pinnacle of the series. The cut-scenes hold up as one of the best implentations of the anime style in a 3D rendered setting. In amongst the usual dross (oh JRPGs, you sure love your tropes don't you) there are some ligitimately interesting and unique characters. The story gets the pacing almost perfect, none of Ike's growth feels rushed except where it is forced upon him by plot points.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. Fuck the haters. You get 3 or 4 people in on this and it is becomes some to the most fun you can have in a co-op game. The spell fusion system is fantastic, and the world of crystal chronicles is beautiful, with fantastic character design. Hope that Square will return to the CC universe again someday, despite the mixed reactions to the latter games.

Oh, and Radiant Historia seems pretty rad, but I'm not deep enough into it to make a judgement on it yet.

 

[06nbarnhill]

World of Warcraft +2 - Haters gunna hate. Even playing solo there is more to do in this game than any 5 other rpgs combined. If you include everything it dwarfs any game out there in any genre by a huge amount. I can't overstate how massive this game is.


Diablo 2 - The hours I put into this game....and I never touched the online.

Final Fantasy XII - Brilliant battle and skill system that kept the player involved even in routine battles.

Final Fantasy XIII - Severely underrated. Story and melodrama aside it is a great game.

Xenoblade - Just masterful in almost every way

Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver - Best games in the series got better. Two quests in one.

Diablo 1 - Best tone in any game I have ever played. So much tension. Dated but everyone should play it.

Pokemon Red/Blue - Yeah.....originals ftw

The World Ends With You - Not much to say here.



Thats all I think. Would include skyrim but I have it on ps3 and its broken...and until it is fixed it gets a 0/10 score from me.

 

[gokieks]

Nothing I played in the past year has made any kind of impact on the list, so I'll just repost last year's:

Chrono Trigger - still the best combination of story, characters, and battle system of any JRPG. Throw in great 2D visuals and a fantastic soundtrack, and this will probably be my favorite JRPG for eternity.

Final Fantasy VI - just about everything Chrono Trigger did well, FFVI also did well. But while I think FFVI had the superior soundtrack, CT just is just a little better of a game. For how good FFVI is, CT was just a little bit better in just about every way..

Final Fantasy Tactics - objectively speaking, Tactics Ogre is arguably the better and more important game in the genre, and NIS has since then taken the formula to new (and ridiculous) levels, but FFT remains my favorite of the grid/hex-based strategy/tactical RPGs. The game is far from being without faults (laughably uneven difficulty, terrible localization in the PS1 version, just to mention a few), but the story and characters give the game a charm that few others match.

Valkyria Chronicles - arguably the biggest step forward in SRPG/TRPG gameplay since the genre was invented. Story and characters are not anything particularly new or inventive, but the battle system, watercolor-esque visuals, stirring soundtrack, and generally amazing presentation more than make up for it.

Xenogears - almost certainly the most flawed game on my list, but probably the one I feel most strongly about. The story may be convoluted, and localization comes from the "bad days" of Square's NA efforts, but I can't think of another RPG that I've felt so much emotion for the cast (even the non-major characters) - Citan, Fei, Elly, and Emeralda would all be on the shortlist of my favorite characters in gaming, and Id is at the top for villains.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - delivered almost everything I could have ever wanted out of a Star Wars RPG in spectacular fashion. The story, setting, and characters are all very well done (HK-47 is one of the most memorable characters in a videogame ever), and the gameplay felt fast-paced and action-oriented enough despite, at it's core, still being a D&D roll-based system.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - is there anything left to say about this game that hasn't been said countless times before? Sure, the story is simply and straightforward in true Nintendo fashion, but the time travel mechanic, the expansive overworld, the horseriding/fishing minigames, and the combination of a camera and Z-Targetting that was 3D gaming done right all added up to one of the most memorable gaming experiences ever, evem if's it's RPG-lite.

World of WarCraft - well, there really isn't much to say about this, is there? It's hard to judge because the game has evolved so much, but even as someone who's quit the game years ago, it's still hard to argue against this being one of the best, and certainly one of the most important, games ever. There have always been issues in the game (the evolution of PvP certainly comes to mind), but looking back, from saving up enough gold to buy the first mount to stepping foot into Molten Core for the first time to killing C'Thun to taking flight on a flying mount, the game is chock full of fantastic experiences.

Baldur's Gate 2 - there are not enough words I can write to properly describe a game of this epic proportions. But the fact that a decade later it's still considered the definitive fantasy/D&D RPG really says it all.

The Witcher - The most compelling western fantasy setting I've seen in a RPG in quite some time, with some great characters and plot, and a fairly interesting game system. Technically it was kind of a mess (I originally played the original version, which had the longest loading and saving times of any game I've ever played), but I thought it the best WRPG since KotOR even before the Enhanced Edition massively improved it.

 

[ZephyrFate]

Saddened by a lack of Shadow Hearts anywhere, but not surprised in the slightest.

 

[Fitz]

Unfortunately I missed out on a lot of great early RPGs so my list doesn't go back too far, in no particular order:

• Pokémon Red/Blue
  
  A tough choice really but I picked Red/Blue over others in the series for nostalgia. One of the first RPGs that I put any real time into and felt attached to in any way, very fond memories of coming into school with some awesome new combo to battle friends with.​
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  
  Hard to describe what I feel for this game, but mostly because it introduced me to 3 things that I now highly value in any game. Freedom to go about anything in any way I want, the fun in collecting random crap, and modding.​
  [*]The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  
  Without the possibility of mods, I would have probably given the double points to Morrowind. Whilst Skyrim does lack some of magic of the Morrowind (literally and figuratively) it is a big return to form over Oblivion and has some great improvements to the series. The amount of time I've already spent with the game is nothing compared to how much I'll be spending once the Construction Set is released.​
• Risen
  
  Risen sort of came out of nowhere for me, I'd heard virtually nothing about it when I picked it up but instantly fell in love. A hugely immersive and detailed world with so many little nooks and crannies to check out. Also I remember it being very challenging initially, and in a way that felt very fair.​
• Mass Effect
  
  Whilst ME2 certainly has many aspects that are superior to the first, I think overall I prefer the original. I usually prefer fantasy to sci-fi however I found the universe created here to be really intriguing and it drew me in quite a bit.​
• Fable: The Lost Chapters
  
  I doubt I'll ever play 2 or 3, but I sure got a lot of enjoyment out of the first one. I think the world just feels really quaint and fantastical, the kind of cartoonish art style and the people with their brilliant accents was quite absorbing, I really enjoyed to dominate their little lives with my heroism/villainy.​
• Fallout: New Vegas
  
  I never played Fallout 1 or 2 so my first foray into the universe was with Fallout 3, and whilst I enjoyed it to some extent, I didn't enjoy the world. The endless scrapheap and people I just didn't care about, however New Vegas managed to succeed on both of those accounts as well as feeling more like an actual RPG than a poor mix of FPS+RPG.​
• Mount & Blade: Warband
  
  The main reason for this choice is simple, the best melee combat I've ever experienced in any game. Any time I play this game I spend the next month being disappointed by the melee in every other game. Add to that quite a bit of freedom in the world, great multiplayer, and some fantastic mods.​
• Dungeons of Dredmor
  
  Wouldn't generally be in my top ten, however it proved to be an introduction into a sub-genre which I didn't even know existed that I am enjoying immensely. I felt it deserved recognition for that.​
• World of Warcraft
  
  I wasn't going to include this because I dislike it so much, but I felt inclined to do so. It was the first MMO I played that I spent a real amount of time with an I don't think I'll ever forget that time. I think I went through every stereotypical aspect of playing an MMO, the initial feeling of wonderment at being part of such a vast world, then entering into the world of raiding and feeling so daunted being surround by people who at the time seemed like gods. The repeated late nights and falling asleep in classes the next day, and finally actually learning about the game mechanics and thus feeling far superior to anyone else and like I could only rely on myself and my guild and that anyone else was rubbish (the reason I don't touch MMOs any more).
  More than any of that though, I had countless hours of laughs and good times with friends which is worth so much.​

 

[boingball]

Disgaea: An Afternoon of Darkness - Probably the game I have spent the most time with (especially if PS2 and PSP incarnations are added together). Great story (not in a dramatic sense, but I like that the Disgaea series does not take itself too serious and makes fun out of itself and games and cliches) and an incredible depth. The Disgaea sequels are also great games, refining the battle formula. But the first Disgaea had the best and most original story of the bunch. And the PSP is the ideal system for it, looking forward to Disgaea 3 on the Vita.

Dark Cloud 2 (2 points) - Awesome game, I loved every bit of it. Frustrated that there is no PS3 Dark Cloud 3, giving it 2 points so I do hope Sony and Level 5 notice the love for this game.

Dragon Quest VIII - Also by Level 5. Great game.

Valkyria Chronicles - What a beautiful presentation. Everyone should play it. Buy also VC 2, perhaps Sega has a change of heart and brings VC 3 over.

Jeanne D'Arc - a really great tactical RPG. I was really disappointed when I got to the end, wanted to play more of it. The third Level 5 game in this list...

Shadow Hearts: Covenant - Another PS2 RPG gem. Great story and great characters.

Final Fantasy Tactics - Technically not as good as Jeanne D'Arc, but making up for it by it's size.

Trinity: Souls Of Zill'Oll - Came out of nowhere, but what a nice game, even though it is not the nicest HD game out there. Got a platinum trophy and more than 100 hours playtime out of it.

Tales of Symphonia - Played it on the Gamecube and was the game I enjoyed most on it. Waiting to play another Tales game, but so far have not gotten around to it.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky - Currently playing this on my PSP and really enjoying it.




I read a lot of Kotor in the lists, I probably should give it a try. I have also quite a few PSone games on my PSP backlog, FF VII started, but Grandia, Vagrant Story and the remake of Tactics Ogre are on my backlog.

 

[Conciliator]

Don't feel like doing 10, so I think I'll just do the ones I know would be in my 10. Hope that's OK.

Dark Souls I think I'm prepared to give this my extra point, even though it's just a couple months old and even though I didn't even quite finish it. It is an ideal second iteration of an approach and design that is simply unlike anything in the world. Its standard medieval setting and RPG stats hides what feels like a new genre of game, if not a new way of thinking about game design entirely. Add to that its glorious visual and audio design, incredible atmosphere, compellingly implied world lore, stunning unpredictability(very special in today's landscape) and the unique emotional drain of its gameplay and it is one of the most indescribable, unprecedented, thought-provoking game experiences I've ever had. It is like the best of some alien game industry that matured completely separately from ours. We would only be so lucky if dozens of developers copy Dark Souls' design in the upcoming generation.

Earthbound I spent my time with best of the SNES JRPGs, but most of them have faded away with the nostalgia. Earthbound took the opposite trajectory - it only increases in value in my mind over time. Perhaps the very best, most expressive example of Japanese surrealism in gaming. Also that music is fucking crazy; love it.

Baldur's Gate II You know the drill. You will be missed, Bioware.

Planescape: Torment Whenever this comes up I like to point out that I played this for the very first time only this year and absolutely adored it, and this is coming from someone who is quick to dismiss games that are supposed to 'classic' or 'great' if they don't speak to me, and quicker to give up on even short games if I get bored. One of the big things I would change about the industry if i could would be to make devs let go of their eye-rollingly tired(and embarrassing) obsession with Tolkein-esque fantasy for their RPGs(if I never see an elf again for the rest of my life it will be too soon). Planescape's universe is so special, so philosophically rich, I would be thrilled to do anything in it. To spend it with cool, likable, tortured characters, in a story so far above the standard wish-fulfillment chosen-one bullshit, participating in underappreciated tactical gameplay is a blessing.

 

[cj_iwakura]

1. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
This is SMT at its core. Demonic world, humanity is gone, one demi-fiend against the world.
The world is dark, and there's no way to rebuild it but to fight for survival.

2. Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines
The best modern RPG you can possibly find, and my favorite WRPG, period.
Immersive atmosphere, and lots of replay vlvalue.

3. Dragon Force
Favorite SRPG of all time. Eight kingdoms, one continent, total warfare. There's no game like it.

4. Lunar II: Eternal Blue (Sega CD)
It's a classic for a reason. Accept no substitutes. Wonderful music, timeless story, heartwrenching endgame.

5/6. Persona 2: Innocent Sin/Eternal Punishment
You can't play one without the other. Pure modern occult goodness. This is the epitome of the Persona series.
I love Persona 3 and 4, but these remain the best.

7. Final Fantasy VI
I never get tired of this game. Music, story, gameplay, it's all timeless.

8. Chrono Trigger
Same as FFVI, really. Can't say what hasn't been said numerous times, but every time I hear Corrodors of Time, I feel all warm and fuzzy.

9. Growlanser II: The Sense of Justice
My second favorite SRPG. Protagonist with a backbone, characters with heart, and combat that really forces you to plan everything down to the letter.

10. Demon's Souls
As much as I love Dark Souls, this is the originator, and it's 220 hours of joy that I didn't regret one minute of.
We'll always have Boletaria, and the best implementation of online play into an RPG ever.

 

[branny]

Note: I would much rather spend my time playing a fun RPG with a mediocre story than a boring RPG with a mindblowing story. I can't think of any game to highlight; they're each special in their own way. This list is in no particular order, and I'm attempting to keep it as brief as possible.


TACTICS OGRE: Let Us Cling Together (PSP) - A highly tactical, snappy SRPG with very little design redundancy, each component a meaningful option adding to the game's considerable complexity and depth. It offers complex, nonlinear skirmishes dictated completely by one's playing style. TO bears a politically charged plot with filled to the brim with ethical and moral quandaries and branching paths. It has a surplus of auxiliary content and obtainable achievements that shower players with even more value. Its shortcomings are minor--the most objective flaw is an archaic shop interface. This is one of the best games of its kind.

Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX) - An equally incredible, almost sandbox-esque SRPG that's also not without its faults. The game's incredibly fun (albeit somewhat abusable) mechanics offer plenty of wiggle room for novice players to enjoy themselves without running into too many snags while also providing enough flexibility for advanced players to set their own goals and challenges. Plenty of community supported projects address problems pickier players may have with the game. FFT's political story is also nothing to sneeze at, though expect a weaker translation unless you opt for WotL on the PSP and don't mind additional slowdown.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2) - A more polished take on P3's hybrid sim/dungeon crawling formula, a style of JRPG where you actually play a role. Though the battle system sometimes feels a bit linear, it's fast-paced with success determined primarily by the player, whether it be persona selection, ability selection, social link progress, or actions within battles themselves. P4's quirky story and memorable characters also add to the experience.

Tales of Vesperia (360/PS3) - Vesperia is a Tales game that has both a good story and a good battle system. This category, which would also include Star Ocean, emphasizes traditional RPGs with random encounters that have action-oriented battle systems and expansive content that encourages tinkering with every mechanic and playing on multiple difficulties. Depending on your personal tastes, you may gravitate toward other similar games that do better in certain areas, but Vesperia is listed here simply because it is the most consistently strong all around in my opinion.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX) - A side-scrolling 2D action game that emphasizes rewarding exploration and experimentation. SotN's enigmatic nature is something of a relic. That said, how it provides instant gratification, a constant flow of new and varied content, flexible exploration, and strong environment designs is timeless. My gripes are minor: some controls are too cumbersome, some secrets are too secret, and the game can be broken far too easily. Surprisingly enough, none of that makes the game any less fun.

Diablo II (PC/Mac) - I'm certain this will eventually be replaced by Diablo III, but I'm putting it on here for now. It's hard to think of what to say. There's a reason why this game has endured so many years (and will probably continue to even after Diablo III is released): its exquisite attention to detail. I have yet to come across another game that balances an incredible, addictive loot system, a multitude of viable skill builds for each unique class, and diverse, meaningfully different difficulty modes so well.

Demon's Souls (PS3) - A survival horror-esque action RPG with exquisite combat, exploration, atmosphere, level design, and online mechanics. Demon's Souls is a stunning 3D dungeon crawler, even if it's not perfect. The class system is next to useless, mainly because it lacks balance; some builds are vastly superior. Things like alignment are also sometimes too esoteric or obtuse but add to already considerable complexity. The game's freedom is also double-edged sword that provides many opportunities to exploit the game, driving some people to do things like cheapen bosses or bypass excellent content. But, you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. Its level design remains better than the finest areas in Dark Souls.

Dark Souls (PS3/360) - The brilliance of Demon's Souls applied to a large, interconnected world with even more things at your disposal to play with, making this feel rather much like a 3D Metroidvania. Its own individual quirks make it both a bit better and a bit worse than Demon's Souls in certain areas. Though it stumbles slightly towards the end, Dark Souls offers a sumptuously dark adventure that's actually rather different than the experience Demon's Souls provides. It may even be the better game of the two depending on your own personal criteria.

KINGDOM HEARTS Birth By Sleep (PSP) - The Kingdom Hearts series has always been its own brand of flashy action RPG, but BBS is the first one to come to the USA that I can totally recommend. On Critical Mode, its combat mechanics are great. Bosses are creative and fun, and enemy encounters usually force you to pay enough attention to prevent things becoming mindless. The customization of your character(s), recharging of skills, dodging, blocking--it's all done rather well. Other aspects that often drag KH down (minigames, collectibles, story) are also not as offensive in this incarnation.

Mass Effect (360/PC) - It has major flaws yet somehow I still adore ME1 enough to play it over and over. Its story is clichéd but entertaining and presented well. One noteworthy thing about the series in general is its twist on the mage archetype. And on Insanity, whether by fluke or intention, ME1's otherwise janky combat system actually comes together for adepts in a way I find endlessly fun. Planetary exploration is an underdeveloped chore, but it contributes far more to ME1's tone than ME2's scanning ever did. In fact, ME1 is probably on this list because of how much its atmosphere and tone resonate with me. The combination of its setting, lore, storytelling, quests, and soundtrack give it an evocative, cinematic flair that few games I've played have yet to match.

 

[Aselith]

Final Fantasy 6 - Greatest game of all time. Very strong and likable characters all around even though it has such a large cast. Beautiful to look at and tons of exploration and secrets. I still think it looks great even today.

Chrono Trigger - Just like FF6 it looks wonderful despite it's age. Again a really strong cast and a great sense of playfulness even as it contemplates the end of all things. Just a wonderful adventure.

Front Mission 3 - My personal favorite SRPG, it has very deep and interesting customization and just a very fun time. Punching and shotgunning giant robots never gets old!

Dragon Quest 8 - Amazing looking cel-shaded graphics that look great even still. I love the overworld and exploration in this game and great characters like Yangus along with the monster arena make it a very fulfilling experience.

Shadow Hearts - Just an off the wall crazy adventure with a great battle system. Though not as over the top crazy as the subsequent Shadow Hearts games, it still has a very cool blend of Japanese weird shit and historical characters co-opted for the game's purposes.

Lost Odyssey - The only HD-era JRPG that I found worth a damn and it was a beautiful and moving adventure for me.

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne - My introduction to the SMT games and what an introduction! This is my personal favorite battle system in the SMT/Persona series and bar a few things that were improved with regards to just menu mechanics in subsequent games, I still think it's the best.

EarthBound - Number 2 on my all time JRPG list. This game is a great world-trotting adventure with some of the craziest moments and scenarios you'll find in gaming. Just a fun time any time I play it.

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - I played this for 200 hours. I played through it once when it first came out on PS2 and then immediately that very hour started it again and played through it again. And then I played through it again on DS. It captured my soul somehow.

Secret of Evermore - A lot of people talk about Secret of Mana but for my money this is the better game. Not nearly so buggy and I loved trotting through time watching my dog change to a new form at each change over. I love the blend of Americana tropes and Action RPG gameplay.

 

[Cranzor]

MOTHER 3 - Fantastic writing and a very unique and fun combat system. It's definitely my favorite RPG.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door - Funny, light-hearted game with very fun combat.

Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - The switch between Mario/Luigi and Bowser is very well done. Like most of the Mario RPGs, the writing is funny and again, it has a good combat system.

Pokemon Black/White - The best Pokemon games. I feel it has the most stuff out of all of them to do and is just overall fun.

Dragon Quest IX - I didn't play a ton of it but I had fun with what I did play. I like the soundtrack a lot, but I guess a lot of people don't for some reason.

I don't play many RPGs and I can't think of any more. Notice how most of them are from Nintendo. I realized after starting Chrono Trigger twice and giving up due to boredom that I am probably not a big RPG fan.

 

[cartman414]

Final Fantasy VII - 2 points

I know it's cliche, but I'm not a very big fan of RPGs and this game pretty much changed my gaming life and I doubt there will ever be another RPG as good for me as this one was. It was more than an RPG, it was a display of what games were capable of doing and it paved the way we look at games today.

And not all for the best.

I think Jeremy's Suikoden 1 article from today provided an excellent counterpoint:

http://www.1up.com/features/retrospective-secrets-suikoden-success

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX) - A side-scrolling 2D action game that emphasizes rewarding exploration and experimentation. SotN's enigmatic nature is something of a relic. That said, how it provides instant gratification, a constant flow of new and varied content, flexible exploration, and strong environment designs is timeless. My gripes are minor: some controls are too cumbersome, some secrets are too secret, and the game can be broken far too easily. Surprisingly enough, none of that makes the game any less fun.

The exploration is actually a little on the unflexible side, and the flow is broken up by stretches of backtracking.

 

[cartman414]

Oops, double post.

 

[Soule]

Chrono Trigger

The Witcher 2

Diablo 2

World Of Warcraft

Pokemon Red/Blue

Dark Souls

Mount & Blade: Warband

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Baldur's Gate 2

Fire Emblem


Sorry I'm not putting up my reasoning but I think these have already been covered pretty well just wanted to give a bit of extra love and keep the thread bumped.

 

[SYNTAX182]

Suikoden II - The abundant amount of stars you gather, each with their own personality, so, so awesome. The twist and turns in the story is very intriguing. The battle system is fast and fun. A true classic and one of my favorites RPGs that should be played by all fans of the genre. Also, Luca Blight….yeah, 2 points just because of him

Dark Souls - Great level design, best combat system I’ve played and is quite rewarding. Very fun PVP, invading and such. I love the minimalist story, and just letting the atmosphere suck the player in.

Xenoblade - The game that makes the Wii a worthy purchase. The hype and localization uproar was well deserved. The game give’s a freedom of exploration without making you feel like it’s a waste of time. The battle system feels fresh and new. The story is awesome and well paced, the characters are likable and well designed. Yes sir.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - I love, love, love Fire Emblem. The chess like design of the battle field, the great character art, story, and design. Such an underrated series that needs more attention.

Chrono Trigger - What can be said about this game that hasn&#8217;t been said already. <3

Valkyrie Profile - Beautiful 2D art, and a well designed battle system, and you play as a Valkyrie! What more do you need! This game, that&#8217;s what.

Dragon Quest VIII - The tale of adventure, the quirky cast, and cel-shading perfection that will never go out of style. It has quests and dragons, and an VIII, who doesn&#8217;t like those?

Final Fantasy IX - The story and characters are quite charming in a fantasy, adventure tale kind of way. To me it took the series back to what it was supposed to be in the first place, and if you want to play a final fantasy for the first time, I say start with this one.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - The game that made me realize that Alucard is just Dracula backwards! :-0 The platforming, and item/armor collection is top notch. I also love Alucards character animations, the way he walks, with his cape floating behind him, etc. Badass. The series hasn&#8217;t replicated it since.

Diablo II - Well, you know, umm...yeah, Diablo II.

Shiren as an honorable mention because no one ever mentions it.

 

[perfectnight]

• Diablo 2 - Soon(tm) to be overshadowed by Diablo 3 but still a classic nonetheless. Diablo 2 is a loot whoring, horror, top down hack'n'slash RPG. The game has the one of the (if not the) best musical scores in the industry, visuals that have aged rather well considering how old it is and very simple and easy to grasp controls. The world is gothic, huge and randomized. The dungeons are expansive and intricate. The bosses are memorable and the story is interesting enough to make you not want to skip ahead to the meat of the game (gameplay). What it does it does best and no other game has come close in the 11 years since its release. Its massive active player base is proof of that. That is, until Diablo 3 is released next year!
  
  
• Baldur's Gate 2 - Quite easily the best traditional RPG I've ever played. Massive world filled with content, interesting characters and rich lore that I actually give a crap about. The dungeons are very large and will make you want to explore every nook and cranny. This game is very traditional D&D styled, but that doesn't matter because I knew (and still know) nothing about about D&D when I first played it and had a blast. The writing is amazing (considering the medium) and blows away almost any other RPG's writing. There is a lot of interesting, touching and downright hilarious banter between the characters of the world. It features the best video game villain bar none. I replayed it earlier in the year and it's every bit as good as it was all those years ago, if not better.
  
  
• Demon's Souls - Extremely unique, horror 3rd person dungeon crawler that has brought a much needed change of pace to this generation of games. Difficulty, exploration, atmosphere and customization are the major points of DS. This is another game with huge and intricate dungeons that WILL reward you (as well as punish you) for exploring. Death is certain and the game will make you love dying. The lore of the game is almost hidden. You have to seek it out which makes it even more interesting, in my opinion. GOTY09.
  
  
• Dark Souls - At first glace this may seem like Demon's Souls 1.1, but when you actually play through the game you quickly begin to realize the differences that end up being quite vast. Dark Souls brings many improvements/changes to the mechanics of the Demon's Souls formula as well as an entirely new (open) world filled with even more content than before. The two have different atmospheres which some disliked but I thought was a great decision used to differentiate the two games further. All in all this was a familiar, yet refreshing new experience that makes it very easily GOTY of 2011 for me.
  
  
• Planescape: Torment - And here is the best written RPG of all time. The world of PS:T has none of the tropes and ridiculous themes you see in so many other RPGs. Gameplay definitely takes a backseat in this game and that is completely fine because the story, characters and atmosphere alone will hook you in.
  
  
• Ragnarok Online - The first real MMORPG I ever played and to this day still the best. RO is heavily inspired by Diablo 2. The top down, fast paced hack'n'lash gameplay is almost untouched. The world is a mix of 2D and 3D art which give it unique visuals that have aged extremely well. RO is very different from almost any other MMORPG in the market in that the game never holds your hand. This is a blessing and a curse because you will have to look at online info when it comes to a lot of things in the game. However, I believe that online wikis/databases are very supplemental to the game. RO takes Diablo 2's much talked about character customization and expands/adds on it in many different ways. There are 40+ classes with hundreds of skills in the game and each of them can be played vastly different from the norm due to the amazing stat and card systems. The world is huge, containing hundreds of unique and amazing looking 2D monsters, dozens of dungeons and the best music out of any MMO. If there is one word I would call RO it would be iconic. I've been playing this game on and off for 8 years and I still remember everything about it. I practically grew up playing this game and it's my #2 game of all time even though it is rife with flaws (the outrageous grind is the BIG one. 0.1% drop rates are not uncommon!).
  
  
• Persona 4 - The reason I put this game on the list is because it brings something very different from the usual JRPG title. The setting, atmosphere, themes and the sheer style of the game are all excellent. This was one of the very few JRPGs I played played where I felt like I really got to know the world and its characters. In fact, there were many a times when I felt like going through a dungeon was kind of a chore because I just wanted to get back to the slice-of-life portion of the game. I put 70+ hours into this game and I honestly cannot remember another single volume JRPG I've played and enjoyed for that long.
  
  
• Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup - DCSS is a roguelike that aims to modernize the genre while not dumbing down anything that roguelikes have become famous for. They have more than succeeded in that and have created the best roguelike ever, IMO. This game has extreme depth, replayability and difficulty. It is an acquired taste, but I would recommend this to anyone looking to get into roguelikes. I've been playing DCSS since 2009 and I still haven't beat the game. And I love it for that.
  
  
• .hack//Infection - I will be the first to admit that the first set of .hack games isn't very good. I've been into the .hack franchise since I was 12 (early 2003) and it is something I grew up watching, playing and reading. There is a heavy nostalgia factor in my including this game, however I truly believe that the .hack franchise brings a very unique experience that no other JRPG can provide. .hack//Infection has a beautiful wolrd, character designs and my favorite music of any JRPG. It also has one of the most memorable boss fights of any game I've played.
  
  
• Phantasy Star Online - The OG dungeon crawling, loot collecting online RPG. The game hasn't aged all that well if you didn't play it back then but it still amazing at what it does. The art direction, music, world and items in this game are extremely memorable and very unique.

 

[flabberghastly]

In alphabetical order. I decided to make my list this year based not so much on my personal favorites, but the games that I feel come closest to forming a genre canon. I've also limited it to one game per series to increase the spread of highlighted series, and have split it 5/5 with regard to Western and Eastern RPGs. (I also omitted Chrono Trigger because (1) I've played all of the other listed games much more recently, and (2) it always wins these things, so it doesn't need my help in the slightest.)

Deus Ex
Dragon Quest V
Earthbound
Fallout II
Final Fantasy VI
Planescape: Torment
Secret of Mana
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Ultima VII

 

[Yuterald]

In no particular order, I suppose. It's really difficult to make a top 10 list. My mind/viewpoints on RPGs is CONSTANTLY changing and evolving. I guess this is what the OP intended with this tread so here are my top 10 RPGs as of 2011.

Chrono Trigger: This seems like an obvious choice, but it just HAS to go on the list. There is no need to explain my reasoning for including this game on a list. It should just be understood at this point. There was no other RPG like it back then and there is no other RPG like it today.

Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: (DOUBLE POINTS): This is currently my favorite RPG of all time. I went into this game expecting nothing really. All I knew about this game was that it was a Falcom RPG with a TON of text. Holy shit was I blown away though. The story and characters in this game are untouchable. The game might not have the most interesting battle system or dungeon design but it gets the job done. I've never felt so emotionally attached to a set of characters or world quite like Trails. I'm old enough now too to know that nothing will ever top this. This game (series) is the one to beat in my books and I just don't see that happening.

Shadow Hearts: Yes, not Covenant, the original. I was a HUGE Koudelka fan back in the day. When I heard that Shadow Hearts was a spiritual successor/sequel I nearly fell over. I played this shit back when it first released and was so blown away. The intro had such a "What the fuck" moment when they showed Roger Bacon too. Such a cool surprise/tease for Koudelka fans. It felt like one of those RPGs that was trapped between PSone and PS2, which I loved. The judgment ring battle system was fresh and cool and the story was packed with references and charcaters from Koudelka. It was dark, disturbing, and had an amazing OST. It was also loaded with secret dungeons & bosses, sidequests, and even a newgame+. Such a fucking classic.

Breath of Fire IV: Sorry, Dragon Quarter, but BoFIV nudged you out, just barely. This was my favorite RPG of all time before I played Trails in the Sky. This is the best BoF as well, in my opinion. It has everything that was great about the older titles, but its foreign/cultured atmosphere and setting really set it apart. The OST was so distinct too and the sprite animations were Capcom at its best. The story was also very unique. The dynamics between Fou-Lu and Ryu and their ultimate confrontation was so incredible to me back then and it still means a lot to me today. Battle system was fast and interesting as well. Experimenting with the moves and skills to learn combos was great. Between BoFIII and IV it also had the better Master system.

Xenogears: Kind of like putting Chrono Trigger on a list, Xenogears is another RPG that does not need to be explained. I played this game, I believe, in my final years of grade school. Let me just say Xenogears sure left an impression on a young kid who spent his childhood in a private Catholic school for 8 years. Messy 2nd disk aside, this game is such a classic and while I kind of 'moved on' from my obsession with it and other RPGs have taken its place, Xenogears still holds a very, very special place in my heart.

Wild ARMs: I always looked at this game as a spiritual successor to Lufia, only better. Wild ARMs BLEW me away when I was younger. The dungeon integration with character tools and puzzles was like nothing I've ever seen before. Using bombs to blow up walls and throwing hookshots to cross gaps while fighting random battles was just so exciting to me. This game was just so perfect. The battle system was just interesting enough with its Force System and character specific traits and skills too. It had controlling Golems on the world map when crossing shallow waters, flying and upgrading a plane to travel over mountains, an awesome set of villains with personality (The Quarter Knights), 10+ secret bosses, an arena, secret weapons, skills, and summons, space travel, demons from other planets that traveled the stars! God damn, Wild ARMs is just so fucking awesome, lol!

Vagrant Story: Easily my favorite Matsuno title. This is another perfect game in my books. It's a short game that is EXTREMELY replayable. This game also has one of THE best soundtracks, ever. Sakimoto's best, easily. Also, this game quite possibly has my favorite SOUND EFFECTS in any game. The monster cries and howls, the sound of magic spells, everything is so crunchy! The sound of a boss entering the area (Lych) or the sound of an enemy dying (Crusaders) makes me want to flip out. It's so cool. The story and writing is great too, game has such an awesome setting.

I'm tired of writing so I'll just quickly list the remaining top picks, lol.

Alundra: Another perfect game in my books. I like Alundra more than most Zelda titles.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga: I guess you could include DDS II into this as they are kind of a set, but I specifically like the original the most.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night: This can be included, right? I mean, the more recent Castlevania titles ARE practically RPGs. Well, SotN, just like Chrono Trigger, is a game that needs no explanation. I used to play this game annually since it has been out and I'm probably going to start a run of it again, soon. This is still the best one, the original. The GBA/DS 'Metroidvanias' are great and everything, but SotN is still king.

edit: (See, I knew I would forget shit, these lists are impossible)
Honorable mentions: These games could easily make it into my top 10 list. It all just depends on my current mood/outlook on things:
Suikoden II
King's Field: Ancient City
Dark Souls
Demon's Souls
Xenoblade Chronicles
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Vandal Hearts

 

[friz898]

Final Fantasy 4 - Fell in love with the story.
Final Fantasy 10 - No idea why I liked it so much, but I did over 90 hours in it.
TES V: Skyrim - Self explanatory. Just 110+ hour'ed it, platinum minus lvl 50 trophy.
Dragon Quest 1 - Simple, but this, Zelda, and FF1 are what brought me into this genre.
Dragon Quest 5 - Played it late, but it does the DW 1-7 formula best.
Jeanne d'Arc - Hugely underlooked. A little easy, but everybody should experience this game.
Patapon 3 - Some may not consider it an RPG, but I most definitely did over 95+ of loot grinding, and leveling up.
Final Fantasy Tactics - A Classic that brought me into the SRPG genre.
Everquest 1 - So many flaws, but it most surely sucked me into their world. Many years of life lost here.
Final Fantasy 12 - I really, really loved the combat system. I cant wait to try Xenoblade for this reason.

Honorable Mention:

Dragon Quest 8
Dragon Age Origins
Star Oceans 2

 

[Link1110]

Shining Force 2
Lunar 2
Dark Cloud 2
Gensou Suikoden 2
Final Fantasy VI
Mother 2
SaGa 2
Tales of the Abyss
Ys: The Oath in Felghana
Phantasy Star 2

 

[linko9]

Final Fantasy 5- My favorite FF, and the quintessential JRPG in my opinion. Minimalistic plot is great, job system is awesome, and I absolutely love the music.

Final Fantasy 6- Great characters, visuals, music, and story. Probably my favorite villain in any game.

Chrono Trigger- Way ahead of its time. Amazing, and I feel like I don't really need to justify this.

Fire Emblem 4 - This is one of my favorite games of all time, and gets my extra vote. I absolutely love everything about this game. The visuals and music are beautiful, and characters are actually interesting, and not at all RPG stereotypes, the strategy is compelling, and the most importantly, the pacing is impeccable. The huge mid-game crazy event is one of the most genius things ever put in a videogame.

Dark Souls- This most recent addition is my favorite game of this generation. Amazing world, and great combat system. Definitely my favorite combat in any ARPG. And the feeling you get when you accomplish something is one of the best feelings you can get from a videogame. Beats out Demon's souls by a small-ish margin.

Dragon Quest 6- My personal favorite DQ game, even though it's most people's least favorite for some reason... I loved the alternate-world mechanic, and the introduction of the class system. Most importantly, the visuals and music are definitely my favorite in a DQ game, and that's saying a lot. Some of my favorite spritework ever is in this game, an the backgrounds are even more amazing. Music is perhaps my favorite videogame soundtrack.

Baten Kaitos- This is the most original and fun party-based battle system I've ever encountered. I never got bored of the battles in this game, and the deck-building mechanic was just great. Not a huge fan of the presentation/characters in the game, but plot is actually kind of cool, especially taken in conjunction with this next game...

Baten Kaitos Origins- Somehow they managed to create a pretty much completely new battle system that's almost as incredible as the one in the first game. Characters are better in this game, and the plot is quite cool.

Earthbound- This game is amazingly original in every regard except its battle system. The whole attitude/feel of the game is something you just can't get anywhere else. Characters are great, plot is crazy and somehow feels very important, and the music gives DQ6 a run for its money for "best soundtrack".

Mother 3- My favorite characters in any RPG. Battle system gets a really cool upgrade with the rhythmic tapping. Visually superior to EB, but unfortunately, the music is nowhere near as good. Most importantly, this game has the best pacing of any turn-based RPG ever. Story is really good, even better than EB.


I struggled about whether to put any Castlevania games on, but decided against it. I reckon they're barely not RPGs... Also decided to omit Valkyria Chronicles, because it's not RPG-ish enough. But those games probably wouldn't have made it even if I did consider them. I'm pretty happy with that list.

 

[Incendiary]

This is tough. Hmmm.

Chrono Trigger - My all-time favorite game, so obviously my all-time favorite RPG. The story holds up, the "enemies on the map" was ahead of its time with no random encounters, and the tech system was well done. Also, amazing soundtrack.

Final Fantasy VI - I think FF6 is the pinnacle of "old-school" JRPGs, which is why I'm including it. By that I mean random encounters, no voice-acting, no FMVs, etc. etc. etc. The materia system is one of the neatest magic-learning systems of any RPG, in addition to having so many characters and actually letting you use them all. Plus, the before-and-after world format was an unexpected twist in RPGs.

Final Fantasy Tactics - My favorite of the SRPG genre. Many different classes, interesting characters and storyline, plus it was really challenging in certain areas. Definite a must for anybody interested in the SRPG.

Vandal Hearts II - This one may not get a lot of votes, but it's a personal favorite of mine. Another SRPG, it adds an interesting mechanic where the enemy moves at the same time as you, so you have to predict where they're going. It adds a different flavor to battles, and is a nice change-up to the genre if you're bored of the style.

Persona 4 - Probably my favorite "modern" JRPG. The story is engaging, the mystery behind what's going on propels you forward through the whole game. All the characters are interesting, and the Social Links/battle system are all improved from Persona 3. Definitely worth the 80+ hours I spent playing it.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door - The more I think about it, the more this game is one of my all-time favorites. Of all the Mario RPGs, I think this is the best one to play. Lots of different abilities, fun boss battles and great music. In terms of pure fun, I'd say this one is the best to play for fun's sake.

Fallout: New Vegas - I'm just more recently getting into WRPGs, and of all of them I'd say this is the must play. While karma doesn't play a factor, the idea of factions was well done. There was plenty to explore, and the DLC was a great addition to the game as well. Plus enough perks to let you customize your character the way you want to. And the VATS system, of course. Awesome times.

Dark Souls - I contemplated whether to put up this or Demon's Souls, but ultimately I think Dark Souls is better realized and the best candidate for mentioning for an ARPG. Despite being harder and having more cheap moments, there are certain implementations like bonfires and Estus flasks that make going back to Demon's Souls hard. Balancing and connectivity issues aside, the different covenants make online play interesting. Also, brutal difficulty for the more hardcore gamer.

Earthbound - I have to include this just for its quirkiness. The nonstandard story, rolling counter HP, the funny enemies, ear-catching music, all of it is explored and put together in one big amazing package. Has to be played by everyone.

Alpha Protocol - My last choice, and probably the one I was most surprised to put on here. Despite claims of bugs, I never had any trouble with it. The dialogue system was ace, and the shooting mechanics worked fine enough for me. Plus, the way you can tackle objectives in any order you choose really free up the game for replayability. Plus, all the characters are very well realized.

Honorable Mentions:
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Demon's Souls
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy XII

 

[Goody]

Dragon Quest V
Fallout 3
Final Fantasy VI
Chrono Trigger
Pokemon Red/Blue
Tactics Ogre
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Earthbound
Super Mario RPG
Xenogears:

 

[ivysaur12]

Saddened by a lack of Shadow Hearts anywhere, but not surprised in the slightest.

I had Shadow Hearts! Covenant, though. The first has a really great story, characters, and world (probably the best in the series), but the gameplay systems are too underdeveloped for me to consider it top tier. Covenant fixed that, though at the expense of a more macabre world and developed side characters. I'd go as far as to say that the first game is the only game in the series where the characters beyond the protagonist and maybe one or two others actually means anything to the story and is interesting at all. The original had the best Valentine, Alice, badass-non-emo Yuri, awesome Margarete, and even Haley and Zhuzhen had more personality than the cast of Covenant and From the New World combined. Still, everything else about Covenant is too perfect. It's such an amazing game.

We don't speak of From the New World, though I finished it 100%.

 

[Son1x]

We don't speak of From the New World, though I finished it 100%.

If nothing else, FtNW had Frank. I loved his choice of weapons

 

[ivysaur12]

If nothing else, FtNW had Frank. I loved his choice of weapons

Frank was yet another Shadow Hearts character who served no purpose after this initial addition to the group. Lucia, of course, being the most egregious offender. I don't even think she had more than a dozen lines of dialog after she joined.

Still an absolutely amazing series.

 

[Son1x]

Frank was yet another Shadow Hearts character who served no purpose after this initial addition to the group. Lucia, of course, being the most egregious offender. I don't even think she had more than a dozen lines of dialog after she joined.

Still an absolutely amazing series.

Fair enough and agreed.

 

[walking fiend]

There are several I could argue. Though I really liked the FFX world and setting

That was an honest question! I have only finished two jRPGs: FFX and Shadow Hearts: Covenant (and P3 soon).

But I really want to play experience a game like FFX once more; I will never forget how incredible it was

 

[cartman414]

Final Fantasy VI
Chrono Trigger
Baldur's Gate II
Planescape: Torment
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Dragon Quest V
Suikoden II
Valkyrie Profile
Final Fantasy V
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

 

[Hours Left]

This was extremely hard. I only included one game from each series I mentioned, and I left out a lot of my favorites. This isn't my true top 10 (I don't think I could even really do that), but just a selection of some of my favorite RPGs.

Suikoden II
My favorite game from my favorite series of all time, of any genre. The Suikoden series captures a feeling and atmosphere that I've yet to find anywhere else. Just thinking of the game instantly brings me to a frame of mind that reminds me exactly why I love RPGs so much. The story, characters and setting all work so well together to bring to life an engrossing experience like no other. Joy, sorrow, anger, love all weave together so seamlessly, without once feeling phony or forced. And all of this is wrapped up in a incredibly enjoyable game with outstanding music, a fun and faced paced battle system and a bountiful abundance of bonus content that keeps you coming back for more.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
If any recent series really captures the feeling of the SNES/PSX era of JRPGs, the Trails series is it. A fantastic set of characters all living in a lush and expansive landscape where no detail has been overlooked. This game really gives the player the opportunity to inhabit the world and live life along with the main characters; What starts off as a breezy & lighthearted coming of age story of self exploration becomes a twisted web of political intrigue and tested loyalties. And this game is a reminder that it's the journey and those you take it with is what really determines your destination.

Chrono Trigger
Addicting game play in a fun and fanciful world that's a real joy to explore. Add in endearing characters and a wondrous soundtrack, and you really have something special. One of the first RPGs that shows you that there not always only one path through, and that things can always be changed if you take matters into your own hands. (Even if it takes 14 tries.) A true classic.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Dark, twisted and sexy?!? Take two parts dark humor, a dash of genuine horror and some liberal splashes of absurd hi-jinx, and you've got Shadow Hearts: Covenant. Fold in an awesome battle system, season with a unique and memorable soundtrack and serve pipping hot.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Quirky, stylish and whimsical. Sometimes focusing on the basics, and making sure they are really something special can lead to an experience that can truly stand out.

Tales of Destiny: Director's Cut
Engaging, addicting and rewarding. One of the few times when a remake actual surpasses the original in mind share. When I think of Tales of Destiny, I think of this version now. One of the best Tales games made even better by a very well done and thoughtful remake.

Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zathurstra
Perplexing, reassuring and (mostly) satisfying. Sadly, the true potential of the series that was indicated with the first game was almost all lost with a second (large) misstep. But when it truly found it's footing in Ep. III, it was something special to behold.

Breath of Fire II
Weird, wonderful and woefully translated. (;_ Sometime you need a game with fencing frogs, asparagus circus performers that transform into magical mushroom girls, and a delightful patriarchal whale. Breath of Fire II is that game.

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Engrossing, challenging, and extremely memorable. One of the first RPGs where I actually remember having a true emotional investment in the characters. A traditional JRPG story told with a lot of charm and heart and some true notes of sentiment. Add that to a really enjoyable battle system, some wicked (yet wonderful) puzzles and music that can only be described and Super Nintendolicious and you've got an RPG for the ages. Accept no substitutions, this is the Lufia II experience.

Final Fantasy IV
Nostalgic, classic and extremely SNEStastic. The RPG that got me hooked on RPGs. It showed me a whole new side of gaming where characters and storytelling could be at the forefront. What more can I say? Music, graphics, characters, all amazing and all of them a huge part of my gamer's history.

 

[ZephyrFate]

I had Shadow Hearts! Covenant, though. The first has a really great story, characters, and world (probably the best in the series), but the gameplay systems are too underdeveloped for me to consider it top tier. Covenant fixed that, though at the expense of a more macabre world and developed side characters. I'd go as far as to say that the first game is the only game in the series where the characters beyond the protagonist and maybe one or two others actually means anything to the story and is interesting at all. The original had the best Valentine, Alice, badass-non-emo Yuri, awesome Margarete, and even Haley and Zhuzhen had more personality than the cast of Covenant and From the New World combined. Still, everything else about Covenant is too perfect. It's such an amazing game.

We don't speak of From the New World, though I finished it 100%.

FTNW had way better gameplay and music and visuals than Covenant. Really, Covenant only improved graphics and gameplay; it's a clear step back in every other area.

 

[kswiston]

We have about 100 lists so far which is great. Hopefully we can get around 200 participants again this year. It takes at least that many to have a top 100 where the bottom 20-30 titles are not receiving 1-2 votes each. I am seeing a lot of variety so far this year. Vagrant Story is getting a lot more love than it did last time.

To clarify, you an still post your list without explanations. However, though who do take the time to explain their choices have a chance to win a free game.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Covenant is my favorite of the trilogy, but I played them way out of order(2-1-3).

 

[Ultratech]

Hmm...this could be tricky.

1. Xenoblade - One of the best RPGs I've ever played and I'm not even finished with it yet (though I'm a good 2/3~3/4 through it). Expansive world, decent story, so much I could go on about, but I'm sure others have done well in explaining it.

2. Tales of Destiny: Remake - Still one of the best Tales games in my mind. Takes Tales of Destiny and completely changes the game from its original PSX iteration. Gives us one of the best battle systems to grace the PS2, pretty good visuals, lots of remixes, and some good stuff that's carried to Tales of Graces. GET IT.

3/4. Persona 3/4 (Eh, I often consider them more or less the same despite the differences)

Takes SMT gameplay and kinda mixes with with a pseudo-life simulator. It's pretty interesting to create Social Links and watch those relationships grow. And of course, it's a Pokemon-like bonanza trying to create and fuse demons.

5. Pokemon HG/SS - Takes the 2nd Gen and gives us a total remix using 4th Generation graphics. The game looks a whole lot better and feels more complete than the original games as a result. And the game really tugs at those Nostalgia strings...plus it's got that classic Pokemon gameplay!

6. Dragon Quest V - One of the best stories I've come across in a game. Perhaps it's something about the way it chronicles the Hero's life from child to adult to being a dad of his own children. It feels like you grow with the Hero, and you have plenty of motivation of going after the villains. Also introduces the Monster Recruitment system!

7. Mother 3 - Again, pretty good story. It's interesting to see how the world of Mother 3 changes throughout the game, and of course, it's got that inherent wackiness of the Mother games.

8. SaGa 2 - Err...it's got that SaGa leveling system, monsters, and catchy tunes. It's really good!

9. Valkyrie Profile - I really loved VP, almost to the point I was playing it every Sunday morning for a few months. There was really something about seeing the backstories of the Einherjar and watching them fall to their often tragic fates. This was something I hated about VP2, since the einherjar you got were basically generics with a little backstory in the menu. I could care less for them since they were found a shitty weapon lying around. Add in all the mythology in the game and the 2D art, and it's something I recommend to everyone.

10. Diablo 2 - The classic still being played to this day! Need I say more?

Honorable Mentions:
Phantasy Star Online

 

[AuthenticM]

subscribed to thread

 

[linko9]

We have about 100 lists so far which is great. Hopefully we can get around 200 participants again this year. It takes at least that many to have a top 100 where the bottom 20-30 titles are not receiving 1-2 votes each. I am seeing a lot of variety so far this year. Vagrant Story is getting a lot more love than it did last time.

To clarify, you an still post your list without explanations. However, though who do take the time to explain their choices have a chance to win a free game.

Vagrant story... I played the first 4 or so hours of that on my friend's PSX years ago and could tell it was a really, really good game. For some reason I never got around to picking it up myself, I need to do that. I remember getting flashbacks to those 4 hours of Vagrant Story when I played though Demon's Souls and Dark Souls.

 

[Zwei]

This thread is most excellent. Everyone's doing a good job with their posts.

 

[Diomedeskun]

1. Dragon Quest IV- I like V more and III is almost as good, but this game will teach you the basics of what makes a good, solid RPG. I recommend the NES version over the easier DS game for the sake of having a little challenge.

2. Final Fantasy VI - A great classic that twists many of the conventions for the sake of story and character development. Not so unconventional any more, but that is because so many games borrowed from it since. A truly great game to judge other JRPGs by.

3. Xenogears - The great story over gameplay RPG, at least until Xenosaga, but still has a fun battle system and was quite impressive for its time.

4. Grandia - Just a fun, solid RPG with fantastic gameplay and a likeable cast. I have not often felt such a wonderful sense of discovery and awe in a game.

5. Suikoden II - Essentially perfect. It shows just what you can do to tell a story with an RPG in ways that other mediums could not. Best developed world in an RPG.

6. Fallout NV - This is a world to get lost in. Fallout 3 may be similar, but the Mojave wasteland is a much more entertaining place, with its crazy Romans, casinobots, gamblers, cowboys, and other weirdness. So good.

7. Baldur's Gate - This will teach you a very different RPG style than what you get with JRPGs. Hardcore, serious D&D roleplaying, great strategic gameplay, cool characters, adequate story. Haven't played 2, so can't recommend it yet.

8. Ultima VII - The deepest, most explorable and interactive world I've ever played in an RPG. Such rich and compelling gameplay, and all in glorious 2D. Probably the best RPG ever.

9. Paper Mario - Charm, wit, and fun, all combined into a remarkable game. The sprawling 1000 year door is deeper, but I found more to love in the simpler original.

10. Ys Oath in Felghana - The most fun action RPG I've ever encountered. VII and the PC engine I-II could go in this slot comfortably also. Great mix of challenge, great boss fights, adventure, great characters, fun story, and just amazing gameplay.

Damn, no room for Valkyrie Profile, Chrono Trigger, or Star Ocean: The Second Story.

 

[Dance Inferno]

Disgaea: An Afternoon of Darkness - Probably the game I have spent the most time with (especially if PS2 and PSP incarnations are added together). Great story (not in a dramatic sense, but I like that the Disgaea series does not take itself too serious and makes fun out of itself and games and cliches) and an incredible depth. The Disgaea sequels are also great games, refining the battle formula. But the first Disgaea had the best and most original story of the bunch. And the PSP is the ideal system for it, looking forward to Disgaea 3 on the Vita.

Dark Cloud 2 (2 points) - Awesome game, I loved every bit of it. Frustrated that there is no PS3 Dark Cloud 3, giving it 2 points so I do hope Sony and Level 5 notice the love for this game.

High five! This man has good taste.

 

[Requeim]

don't really have time to do a write-up atm :/. Also, i haven't played any gamecube or wii rpgs yet, but i will soon enough (yay christmas)

anyway:

1. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne [2 points] - Best game ever made
2. Pokemon Crystal
3. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
4. Demon's Souls
5. The World Ends With You
6. Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
7. Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
8. Diablo 2
9. Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria
10. Nier

 

[MushroomSamba]

-- Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
A fantastic remake of my favorite game of all-time. The original released back in '98 was my first exposure to SRPGs, and it's since grown into my favorite genre. The remake fleshes out the translation, turning the plot from convoluted mess into an enthralling epic. The added cutscenes and characters may not be game-changers, but they're charming bonuses that polish up the overall product.

-- Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Fire Emblem is quite possibly my favorite franchise in videogames, and this is the most outstanding of the bunch, IMO. It catches some flak for being fairly unforgiving in a series already famous for permanent character deaths and enemy one-hit kills, but it personally made it that much more exciting for me. Battles can be scrappy, gritty, win-by-the-edge-of-your-teeth affairs, and I absolutely love it for that.

-- Final Fantasy X
The presentation and graphics were insane at the time, and I have to admit, they still hold up fairly well to this day. Say what you want about the melodrama and voice acting, but it did pack an emotional-wallop with me. Their implementation of turn-based combat was extremely refined as well.

-- Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones
As much as I love FE Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn on the GC and Wii, respectively, they didn't have the same visual charm as the GBA series like Sacred Stones. This game was actually my introduction to Fire Emblem and despite the series not having evolved much over the years, it's still been love ever since.

-- Chrono Cross
It gets some shit for not being Chrono Trigger 2, but (as heretical as this may sound) I actually preferred this over its predecessor. CC sports my favorite combat system in traditional JRPGs, and the music is quite simply phenomenal.

-- Pokemon Black/White
I was addicted to Red/Blue in a bad way as a kid and no Pokemon game has since laid as impactful of an impression on me since then. Objectively speaking though, Black/White is clearly the one to play. It's got the coolest-looking lineup since the original 151.

-- Mass Effect 2
I really want to pick both Mass Effect games, but I'll just keep it to one for the list. Went with ME2 just to stick to the group of haters here. I'm a bit of a space opera nut, and the ME scratches that itch plenty. Oh, and the Renegade Triggers are genius.

-- Guild Wars
The only MMO I've played, but it sure left an impression. RPG-ing with friends is a blast.

-- Suikoden II
Pretty decent RPG all-around, but it's that castle-renovation aspect that made it especially memorable. Pimping that place out turned out to be a lot more addictive than I anticipated.

-- Final Fantasy IX
One of the few main leads in a FF game I actually didn't want to strangle. In fact, the entire cast was so un-strangleable that they were actually loveable. Go figure.

 

[ihearthawthats]

i haven't played many current-gen rpgs, but i'll cast my vote anyways.

1. phantasy star online - addicting combat mechanics. felt great to group play.
2. final fantasy x-2 - simply one of the best battle systems in a final fantasy game.
3. final fantasy x - ideally this would go together with x-2, but i love em both so much that i don't mind them taking up 2 spots. visuals/audio that ps2 provided were a huge step above its psx offerings.
4. shining force 2 - a lot of charm. great cast of characters.
5. pokemon red/blue - one of the first few rpgs that i dumped 500 hours on. gotta catch em all.

 

[NervousXtian]

Witcher 2 - Takes advantage of technology to create some fantastic moments, and true branching storyline.

Ultima Online - When it first came out it was a mind blowing experience. Great memories when we created our own private server and just had a blast.

The World Ends With You - Such a crazy mixture of music, gameplay, and batshit crazy story. Truly took advantage of the DS and seriously nothing like it before or after.

Persona 3 - 1 part High School Sim + 1 part RPG somehow worked pretty good. I ended up hating the actual dungeon and combat by the end, but that has more to do with 100hrs of playing then the game.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together - Strategy RPG perfected.

Jagged Alliance 2 - Strategy Warfare RPG-lite perfected.

Dark Souls - No game has immersed me in the world quite like Dark Souls, too bad it let me down in the end, but for a good 30-40hrs it's world was amazing and connected. When it became disconnected it failed, but when it was on.. it was fucking on.

Suikoden II - So much going on, it is the king of classic JRPG's to me.

Pool of Radiance - Gold box perfection, so much you could do and the world so huge for what it ran on. Amazing game, and so much that was lost from that world to present as far as what you could do character and loot wise.

Fallout 2 - Such a great world, and improved on part 1.

 

[Aeana]

I got a couple of PMs asking me to contribute to this thread, so I will see what I can come up with. It's very challenging, I think.

 

[Grimmy]

1. Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant (PC, 1992) - Sir-Tech
2. Final Fantasy VI (Super Nintendo, 1994) - Square
3. Betrayal at Krondor (PC, 1993) - Dynamix
4. Fallout 3 (PC, 2008) - Bethesda
5. Quest for Glory: So You Want to be a Hero? (PC, 1989) - Sierra
6. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PS1, 1999) - Atlus
7. Mother 3 (GBA, 2006) - Nintendo
8. Final Fantasy X (PS2, 2001) - Square
9. Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (PC, 1992) - Origin/Blue Sky Productions
10. Ys I & II (TurboGrafx CD-ROM, 1989) - Hudson Soft/Nihon Falcom

Honorable Mentions:
11. Jagged Alliance II (PC, 1999) - Sir-Tech
12. Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (PC, 1991) - SSI
13. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (PSP, 2011) - XSEED/Nihon Falcom
14. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (Super Nintendo, 1995) - Natsume/Taito
15. Planescape: Torment (PC, 1999) - Black Isle Studios/Interplay