1) The Last Remnant (PC and X360) - Great game. Recruit and manage small parties, and battle monsters. Customize your characters by having them fight a certain way. There are many characters as well. There are four different races, with different physical weapons, different kinds of magic, and different kinds of super techniques (reserved for more major characters).
Imperfections/things I wanted: More of everything. This game genre feels pretty rare, so I was pretty sad when the adventure had to come to an end.
2) Phantasy Star Online (DC, GCN, Xbox, PC) - Three races, and three classes (there's an exception for the robot race, they can't be mages). Very minimal story telling, with just messages placed down here and there. This leaves the imagination to create the story for you. Tons of loot to get, and the duels were always fun. The game also has a great soundtrack. The game also has two tracks for each stage. One track is played when there is no fighting, and when a fight happens, the second track is played.
Imperfections/things I wanted: While each stage did have two tracks, I wish there were more.
3) Diablo 2 and Lord of Destruction - Excellent game with 7 distinct classes. Staggering amounts of loot to get. Each class can be built several different ways. Some classes are more item dependent than others for things like PvP, but they are all doable.
Imperfections/things I wanted: Music was pretty lame to me. Besides the Tristram track, the rest was pretty boring. I can't even remember another theme that was played in that game. And why did this game create such a big expectation for Diablo 3 for me? Total let down.
4) Dragon Quest V - This game kinda reminds me of that Oregon Trail game. You and your family go on a quest and slay monsters. Alright so they aren't that similar. But it was cool killing slime with your character's family. It had some pokemon elements too. You can recruit monsters to help you out.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I never liked how I could see the monsters attack, but I can't see my party members or their attack animations. Just the slash or explosion from a spell. I guess I don't like the PoV. This game also needs more battle themes.
5) Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story (NDS) - One of my favorite games ever. A great story for a Mario game, and great gameplay. Time all your jumps, and hammer swings, and you can walk out with 0 damage done on the Bros. Besides controlling the Bros, take control of Bowser and beat up buildings. Another thing I like about the game is the setting. Parts of the stages are (like in the title) inside him. Kinda like that Osmosis Jones movie.
Imperfections/things I wanted: Hmmm...I wish King Boo was a playable character.
6) Dark Souls (PC, PS3, X360) - Another game that seems to have very little story telling. Or should I say it doesn't normally tell you the story like in other games. I suppose I like this approach (also found in games like Left4Dead) since it makes you ponder about it while you try to dodge a fatal attack. Speaking of fatal, there are plenty of fatalities to go around in this game.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I know this isn't a game like Diablo, but I wish there was more loot.
7) Chrono Cross (PS1) - I don't remember much, but I did remember having a lot of fun with this game. Tons of characters to recruit. Nice soundtrack. Somewhat different from other RPGs. It got rid of the leveling, and I think I had to equip magic lol. There was also an element field you had to manipulate so you can summon.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I guess the downside to that huge cast of characters is no character development. I think each character should have gotten some sidequests. Also there was this one character who I thought was Magus from the previous game. Thanks to the internet, I found out he is his own original character, and the Magus storyline was scrapped out. That was dumb. He will still be Magus to me.
8) Dragon Age Origins and Awakening (PC, PS3, X360) - Gather an army, press space and queue commands for something awesome to happen. My friend was saying this game was full of cliches, but a lot of it was still new to me. I had a lot of fun playing as a Mage, and have Alistar tank for me. Then I became too powerful with that Fade stuff. He also said the story sucked, but I enjoyed it.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I have this problem where if I enjoyed the first game, I place a good amount of faith that the next game will be even better. But here's hoping DA3 will be good!
9) Tactics Ogre - Ok I don't own this yet. But I played it on my friend's PSP, and it's pretty damn good. Not sure what's going on since I started...well I don't know where even lol. But the game left a great impression on me, so I will give it a spot on the list. I wish to play it some more, but I don't own a PSP. Hopefully it gets ported to a platform I do own or will own.
10)Path of Exile - This game isn't out yet. I played the beta and this too left a great impression on me. You can customize your character a lot. It seems you can build your character to be any class, judging by the massive skill tree. The story and music is ok. Oh and it's free.
Honorable Mentions
11)Skyrim - It's an ok game. What really makes the game good are the mods. I first thought the combat was decent, but after playing Dark Souls...
12)Oblivion - I actually enjoyed this more than Skyrim, even though Skyrim does feel like the better game. I guess it's because I once again created bigger expectations for the continuation.
13)Chrono Trigger - I didn't feel right placing two Chrono games, so I picked Cross over Trigger. But this is still a great game.
14)Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door - I didn't feel right placing two Mario games, so I picked Bowser's Story over this. But this is still a great game.
15)Legend of Alon Dar - Ok this game I vaguely remember. It was so long ago, and it was one of those obscure rpgs found on the ps2. I just remember it being two players, and beating the life out of monsters. I know I logged many hours into the game, so I will mention it. I think there were four races, humans, orcs, lizards, and another kind of lizards. No idea what the story was about.
Imperfections/things I wanted: More of everything. This game genre feels pretty rare, so I was pretty sad when the adventure had to come to an end.
2) Phantasy Star Online (DC, GCN, Xbox, PC) - Three races, and three classes (there's an exception for the robot race, they can't be mages). Very minimal story telling, with just messages placed down here and there. This leaves the imagination to create the story for you. Tons of loot to get, and the duels were always fun. The game also has a great soundtrack. The game also has two tracks for each stage. One track is played when there is no fighting, and when a fight happens, the second track is played.
Imperfections/things I wanted: While each stage did have two tracks, I wish there were more.
3) Diablo 2 and Lord of Destruction - Excellent game with 7 distinct classes. Staggering amounts of loot to get. Each class can be built several different ways. Some classes are more item dependent than others for things like PvP, but they are all doable.
Imperfections/things I wanted: Music was pretty lame to me. Besides the Tristram track, the rest was pretty boring. I can't even remember another theme that was played in that game. And why did this game create such a big expectation for Diablo 3 for me? Total let down.
4) Dragon Quest V - This game kinda reminds me of that Oregon Trail game. You and your family go on a quest and slay monsters. Alright so they aren't that similar. But it was cool killing slime with your character's family. It had some pokemon elements too. You can recruit monsters to help you out.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I never liked how I could see the monsters attack, but I can't see my party members or their attack animations. Just the slash or explosion from a spell. I guess I don't like the PoV. This game also needs more battle themes.
5) Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story (NDS) - One of my favorite games ever. A great story for a Mario game, and great gameplay. Time all your jumps, and hammer swings, and you can walk out with 0 damage done on the Bros. Besides controlling the Bros, take control of Bowser and beat up buildings. Another thing I like about the game is the setting. Parts of the stages are (like in the title) inside him. Kinda like that Osmosis Jones movie.
Imperfections/things I wanted: Hmmm...I wish King Boo was a playable character.
6) Dark Souls (PC, PS3, X360) - Another game that seems to have very little story telling. Or should I say it doesn't normally tell you the story like in other games. I suppose I like this approach (also found in games like Left4Dead) since it makes you ponder about it while you try to dodge a fatal attack. Speaking of fatal, there are plenty of fatalities to go around in this game.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I know this isn't a game like Diablo, but I wish there was more loot.
7) Chrono Cross (PS1) - I don't remember much, but I did remember having a lot of fun with this game. Tons of characters to recruit. Nice soundtrack. Somewhat different from other RPGs. It got rid of the leveling, and I think I had to equip magic lol. There was also an element field you had to manipulate so you can summon.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I guess the downside to that huge cast of characters is no character development. I think each character should have gotten some sidequests. Also there was this one character who I thought was Magus from the previous game. Thanks to the internet, I found out he is his own original character, and the Magus storyline was scrapped out. That was dumb. He will still be Magus to me.
8) Dragon Age Origins and Awakening (PC, PS3, X360) - Gather an army, press space and queue commands for something awesome to happen. My friend was saying this game was full of cliches, but a lot of it was still new to me. I had a lot of fun playing as a Mage, and have Alistar tank for me. Then I became too powerful with that Fade stuff. He also said the story sucked, but I enjoyed it.
Imperfections/things I wanted: I have this problem where if I enjoyed the first game, I place a good amount of faith that the next game will be even better. But here's hoping DA3 will be good!
9) Tactics Ogre - Ok I don't own this yet. But I played it on my friend's PSP, and it's pretty damn good. Not sure what's going on since I started...well I don't know where even lol. But the game left a great impression on me, so I will give it a spot on the list. I wish to play it some more, but I don't own a PSP. Hopefully it gets ported to a platform I do own or will own.
10)Path of Exile - This game isn't out yet. I played the beta and this too left a great impression on me. You can customize your character a lot. It seems you can build your character to be any class, judging by the massive skill tree. The story and music is ok. Oh and it's free.
Honorable Mentions
11)Skyrim - It's an ok game. What really makes the game good are the mods. I first thought the combat was decent, but after playing Dark Souls...
12)Oblivion - I actually enjoyed this more than Skyrim, even though Skyrim does feel like the better game. I guess it's because I once again created bigger expectations for the continuation.
13)Chrono Trigger - I didn't feel right placing two Chrono games, so I picked Cross over Trigger. But this is still a great game.
14)Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door - I didn't feel right placing two Mario games, so I picked Bowser's Story over this. But this is still a great game.
15)Legend of Alon Dar - Ok this game I vaguely remember. It was so long ago, and it was one of those obscure rpgs found on the ps2. I just remember it being two players, and beating the life out of monsters. I know I logged many hours into the game, so I will mention it. I think there were four races, humans, orcs, lizards, and another kind of lizards. No idea what the story was about.