CoN 25th Anniversary: 1997-2022
Make Your Own List of Favorite RPGs

Posted: 1st October 2012 01:12

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We have all kinds of topics about lists of favorite RPGs, like this one and this one and even this one here. I've posted in the latter two already, but those lists are outdated. So here we go - let's all make lists of our favorite RPGs. Make it a top 5/10/15/28/whatever. Show those other lists who's boss. Mine is 10.

Laszlow's 10 Favorite RPGs

Honorable Mentions - Pokemon Blue, Dragon Age: Origins, Mass Effect 2, Dragon Quest V, Final Fantasy VII, Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken, Super Mario RPG, and Tales of Phantasia. Hardest cut was FF7. Easiest cut was Lagoon for the SNES.

10. Diablo II + Lord of Destruction

If Torchlight II stays as good as it is and gets a killer expansion, then D2 is jettisoned from this list in favor of T2. But until that happens, Diablo Dos is the best class-based, fast-paced, well-spaced multiplayer loot RPG there is. Great selection of classes and builds to try, action that stays fun 10+ years after the fact, and a gothic fantasy backdrop that feels a little dated, but still works. I mean, Diablo II is such an affecting and influential that it spawned its own subgenre of game, the "Diablo Clone." The fact that there's been a 10+ year search for the next great Diablo Clone has to mean something, right?

9. Persona 3 FES

This is the very special "recently-played game thriving on zeitgeist" entry in this little list. I recently threw around 80 hours at FES, and I thought it was great. Lots of interesting death motifs that are handled in a smart manner; Cool monster and character designs; fast-paced turn-based combat (!?); and a dating-sim twist that is a little sketchy at first, but eventually results in some good dialog, appearances from several great characters, and a surprising level of attachment to Persona 3's world. I really-kinda-wanna replay Persona 3 with a New Game+, but I want to finish some other games first (incl. Persona 4).

8. Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete

Playing Lunar 1 and 2 back to back is a hell of a good RPG experience, but Lunar 2 surpasses the original by making your party more useful and powerful, requiring much less of an experience grind, and offering a rewarding quest with several neat callbacks and one of my all-time favorite endings in a videogame. The first Lunar has better music and just as many memorable characters, but Lunar 2 has a better world map, better dungeons and combat, a broader and more forgiving loot hunt, and no Nash. I wholeheartedly recommend playing the two Lunar games in succession, but the second one is better from a design perspective and in overall entertainment. "Complete" is the PS1 version.

7. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

My second-favorite world map of all time (more on this later), Dragon Quest VIII has an incredible sense of adventure with a beautiful interpretation of most of the classic Dragon Quest formula. The quest is a series of vignettes that wouldn't be out of place in a book of fairy tales, but the story's classic quality, great boss encounters, vibrant, personality-rich characters, and great twists and turns make DQ VIII my favorite game in the classic series. It's a little slow-moving, but fun start to finish and quite rewarding if you explore the gorgeous map a little extra.

6. Seiken Densetsu III

Better than Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu II in Japan). SD3 takes several SD/Mana traditions, and delivers awesome game customization with six playable characters, four final class options for each character, three possible final dungeon/boss scenarios, greater variety and challenge in enemies and environments, and even a small endgame loot hunt. SD3 ditches SoM's tedious weapon/magic leveling and charged weapon combos for a more manageable attack meter and a simpler spell system that really works, especially with the multiple class options available. SD3 also looks ****ing gorgeous and has an interesting, quirky soundtrack similar to that of its predecessor; SD3 is the game that I wish had a legal, official English-language version more than any other.

5. Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness

This is the PSP version of Disgaea 1, which is just as good as the original with extra stages, additional cameo characters, music and language customization, the ability to skip animations if you want, and a few other extras. Basically, it takes my favorite game made in the last 10 years, makes some extremely neat and convenient improvements, and puts it on a portable system without sacrificing audio or visuals. Disgaea 1 delivers insane, entertaining grid-based RPG combat with a few wacky twists, a ton of class/stat/game systems to use and abuse, and plot and characters that manage to hit funny, dramatic, and poignant notes. I ****ing love Disgaea.

4. Skies of Arcadia

The best, most gorgeous world map of all time. I love SoA's visuals, and flying your airship between floating continents, through ancient ruins, or after sky pirates or rare discoveries is nothing short of exhilirating. SoA has turn-based combat rotating around MP and SP conservation that can get pretty intense and strategic (the battle music changes based on how you're doing!), and has more hidden $&*# to find than any other console RPG I've ever played: Discoveries, bounties, moonfish, chams, crew for your ship, parts for your ship, the list goes on. Add in a fun story and characters, BEAUTIFUL dungeons and towns, and a retro sense of exploration and adventure that totally succeeds. The DreamCast version has better audio and visual quality (appealing polygons that look like early cel-shading), but the GameCube version has more extras and hidden items. Both are awesome.

3. Final Fantasy VI

We've all played this, so we all know why it's awesome. A large, balanced cast of characters that is one for the ages, a well-executed battle system with all kinds of variety, and scads of content, especially in FF6's huge, sprawling, nonlinear second act. On top of the great cast, solid mechanics, and oodles of content you can garnish with strong visuals for the SNES, a FABULOUS soundtrack, and character customization that perfectly toes the line between "any character can do anything" and "each character has a specific role in combat." FF VI is great and totally holds up today, almost twenty years later.

2. Final Fantasy Tactics

I still think FFT has the best class system in videogame history, because of the incredible variety and potential available. Sure, a lot of games have more classes, more equipment options, and more skills, but do any of them have such crazy **** as Calculate? FFT's combat and classes are among the all-time best, and create an unparalleled feeling of power and control over the battlefield. Battles themselves vary wildly in difficulty, but certain story battles are so intense and dramatic that I remember them way better than I should. FFT's dense, intrigue-heavy story is fascinating and exciting, even if it has too much hidden detail (you have to look up the info compendium if you want to get your wars and kings straight), and co-stars my favorite NPC in videogame history in Delita. The musical store is also stunning, because why the **** not? I think that the Disgaea and Fire Emblem games of the 2000s are superior than the later games bearing the FF Tactics name, but no strategy RPG ever matches up against the original Tactics.

1. Chrono Trigger

Fast-moving combat, beautiful music, great visuals at the artistic and technical level, memorable characters and story moments, a total lack of necessary grinding or tedium, a great feeling of efficacy in battle, plenty of endgame optional content, and your very own robot pal. No other RPG has hit so many points on the checklist for what makes a great RPG. Chrono Trigger is also surprisingly short, to its advantage; at only 20-25 hours, it never wears out its welcome or forces repetition on the player (Portal is probably the best example of that "powerful brevity"), and offers solid replayability with a New Game + and multiple endings. Chrono Trigger brought together all the best JRPG talent of the 90s (teaming up Dragon Quest's Yuuji Horii and Akira Toriyama with a group of crack Square developers) and created something truly special. It's my favorite RPG of all time, after all.

~fin~

That breaks down to 4 Square (including the entire top 3), 1 Enix/Game Arts, 1 Square-Enix/Level-5, 1 Sega/Overworks, 1 Blizzard North, 1 Atlus, and 1 Nippon Ichi. So that's my list. Now post yours. Instead of whining about lists made on the internet by quasi-journalists, let us inject our own opinions into the conversation.

This post has been edited by laszlow on 10th December 2012 21:07

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Post #201167
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Posted: 1st October 2012 04:28

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Only gonna make a list of 5.

5: Legend of Dragoon
This games is just way too much fun, combat system was refreshing and visuals were awesome.

4: Final Fantasy 1
I only played the PSP version but it kept me entertained for days. All the extra dungeons and teh classic feel of playing it were just amazing.

3:Final Fantasy 7
As overhyped and overrated as it is, it introduced me to the world of rpg gaming and final fantasy in general, and the materia system is by far my favorite system in the whole series. plus it has my favorite FF soundtrack.

2:Final Fantasy 13
As much hate as im gonna get for this, i love 13. I love the characters, the music, the battle system, i even liked the linearity. Call me crazy but I just love this game. it was the first one in my mind to have characters that were kinda realistic and not cardboard cutouts. (cough...cloud, squall,tidus cough...). here come the flames......

1: Parasite Eve
If someone asked me to pick my 2 favorite gaming franchises, i would pick resident evil and final fantasy. mix the 2 and you get parasite eve. The combat, the upgrade system, the main character, the villian, the MUSIC!!!! Im not even gonna get started on the music. Hands down favorite video game OST ever!
Ive beaten this game more times than need be stated and i still enjoy it. I wish more people played this game, its kinda been MIA for awhile, (I dont count The 3rd Birthday) Its my favorite game of all time.

This post has been edited by omnislash5209 on 1st October 2012 04:29

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Posted: 2nd October 2012 19:49

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I actually used to keep a running list when I was younger. I think I still have the file somewhere, but it hasn't been updated in years. That said, a top 5 is pretty easy for me, top 10 can be super difficult.

10. Borderlands 2 (PC). Sure, I'll stick it on here, way early. But it's tremendous fun and an improvement in every way over the first.

9. Mass Effect 2 (PC). I'd like to stick the entire series in here as one entry, but if I'm looking at individual games, ME2 is the one I most want to replay. All three were great, and the universe that the creators designed is phenomenal.

8. Suikoden 2 (PSX). Best of the series without question, and a really fantastic PSX game overall. Really customizable in terms of the characters you can use in battle, and a very satisfying story.

7. Final Fantasy 6 (SNES, PSX). Just a fantastic game from start to finish. This and #2 on my list were the biggest games of my childhood that got me into the RPG genre.

6. Final Fantasy 9 (PSX). It's close, but it's my favorite numbered FF game. I love the atmosphere of the game - the world they created is one of my favorites in any game.

5. Earthbound (SNES). Still the funniest game I've ever played. I laugh myself silly throughout the game, and yet it always makes me emotional at the end. Awesome.

4. The World Ends With You (DS). SO GOOD. I actually 100%ed this game, as insane as it sounds, and as such can probably never play it again, but it is super fantastic. One of my favorite soundtracks and the best use of the touchpad I've seen on the DS.

3. Chrono Trigger (SNES, DS). I had to think about this, as I knew it was going to make the top 5, but I wasn't sure in what capacity. This game is a masterpiece, plain and simple. Phenomenal in all possible categories and a game I can keep replaying over and over.

2. Secret of Mana (SNES). Just a really, really fun game. The story isn't much to write home about, but I love LOVE LOVE the gameplay - I think it plays better and more smoothly than just about any other game out there. Fantastic music, fantastic leveling system, and as a bonus, you can play with your friends. More games need this.

1. Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX, PSP, iOS). Though this often shifts with #2 depending on which game I played most recently, it's likely that FFT is here to stay. Not just my favorite RPG of all time but also my favorite game, it has one of the most fantastic stories that I've ever experienced in a video game. Ever. The gameplay is phenomenal, the port to PSP (or in my case iOS) was fantastic, and it's so customizable that I don't think I've ever played two files the same way...and I've played through the game probably about 15 times.

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Posted: 20th October 2012 11:26

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The funny thing is, no matter how many times I do this, I still have difficulty doing it every time!

10. Dark Cloud - The best fishing I've found in a videogame, and a talking slingshot named Steve. Yeah, that's all it takes to crack the top ten, I guess tongue.gif

9. Chrono Cross - It has depth of plot, even if it doesn't quite add up at all times. I enjoyed recruiting characters, as well as swapping worlds, but the real beauty of this game is in its visuals and soundtrack, and the atmosphere resulting from their interaction.

8. Final Fantasy IX

7. Final Fantasy VII

6. Legend of Zelda: Windwaker - I like all the Zelda games I've played, but few have gone beyond enjoyable puzzles to really touch me in the way Windwaker did. The island theme is incredibly well done; very memorable.

5. Grandia - It's just such a fun game! It convincingly takes you from a party of wide-eyed-yet-inexperienced kids to a tightly-knit party that has learned love and loss - as well as how to fight tongue.gif

4. Final Fantasy VIII - Say what you will against it, FFVIII has some of the best plot moments in the entire series (missile crisis, Garden civil war, lunar base, assassination mission), and the really neat Junction system.

3. Final Fantasy VI - Best character development in a videogame, ever. On top of the fact that you get the best of both worlds in terms of linear storytelling in the WoB and open world in the WoR (along with great sidequests that actually pertain to character development), there really isn't anything that FFVI doesn't do well.

2. Vagrant Story - The equipment customization provides for tons of fun, the story is incredibly well-polished, and it's perfect for multiple playthroughs. The art direction in the game is well done, and the overall atmosphere - a melding of visual, audio, gameplay and plot - is impressively cohesive.

1. Final Fantasy X - Quite frankly the best plot I've ever encountered in tv, film or videogames, and quite possibly the best soundtrack as well. Great characters, well designed social and geographical world, great weapon/armor customization, great backstory and even philosophical content. I've teared up maybe four times in my life: three of those times upon beating FFX while watching the final scenes. That speaks to the power of emotion present not just at the ending, but indeed throughout the game building up to it.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X


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Posted: 20th October 2012 22:31

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Well, this proved to be a lot trickier than I had expected, not least because I first had to actually sit down and work out what RPGs I'd played! But, unless I've managed to forget any (which I suppose should probably preclude them from this list), here's my stab at a top 10:

Honourable mentions go to Breath of Fire IV and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, for having endearing characters/plot moments; and to Final Fantasy X, which despite the fantastic blitzball could never get beyond Tidus' awful teenage californian surf-boy voice in my mind - though I'm starting to believe I need to give the game another chance.

10. Legend of Dragoon
One of the first 'full' RPGs I ever played that wasn't made by Square, this game made aware of the fact that there really was a different way to do turn-based RPGs than the Final Fantasy mould. Plus, it had some pretty cool combat mechanics.

9. Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The first RPG(ish) that I ever played (not that I realised this at the time!); this game is responsible for getting me into the world of Zelda, and for keeping me glued to my GameBoy for hours.

8. Pokémon Red/Blue
I knew there had to be a Pokémon game in this list, and it took some thinking to pick this version. I've heard good things about Black/White, but haven't played them; and there may well be several of my favourite Pokémon that come from later generations, but Red/Blue is where it all began, and I was insanely proud the day my Pokédex read 151 (this, on reflection, was probably the beginning of my time consuming completionism which has evolved into 300+ hour game saves...).

7. Final Fantasy Tactics
A game which probably deserves to be higher on the list, but suffers from having entered my life at a much later stage and not having been played in one sitting (due to being forced to use an emulator and dodgy keyboard controls) - FFT is nonetheless a fantastic game with a gripping story and insanely deep mechanics.

6. Final Fantasy VIII
I know it gets bad press from some quarters, but I played this game at the point in my life when I was actually experiencing the teenage angst portrayed, so it struck a real chord for me - I also happened to share several traits with Squall at the time, for my sins. Besides, as has been said above, it contains some spectacular set-pieces, and I for one adore the introductory sequence to the SeeD exam in Dollet. Also, Moombas. You have no idea how much I wish I owned one of those little guys.

5. Final Fantasy VI
A game which I didn't get to play until it was re-released on PSX, but which instantly struck me - not least for its incredibly brutal plot. The characters are truly fantastic, and the gameplay is some of the best the series has ever seen. I'm now going to emulate the IGN poll I lambasted by not saying much more about it!

4. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
There's not much I can say about this game that hasn't been said. It's one of the greatest games of all time and was enough of a reason to buy an N64 alone. The music is instantly recognisable, and I would often spend minutes galloping around Hyrule Field on Epona - just for the hell of it.

3. Final Fantasy VII
I know, I'm perpetuating the fanboy love of VII by putting it so high up, but the fact remains that this is the game that got me into Final Fantasy, Amano and Uematsu, so will always hold a special place for me, notwithstanding its incredible critical credentials. Even without that, this game truly is a masterpiece, and whilst I'm not a fan of the extensive milking it has received through Compilation, I did very much enjoy the back-story which is filled in by Crisis Core and Last Order.

2. Fallout: New Vegas
I'll admit, the fact that I have only just completed this may well be a factor in its positioning; however, that cannot change the fact that this game is one which (horrendous lag upon my save file exceeding 11MB notwithstanding) I have enjoyed immensely. The plot, enhanced by the four DLC packs, has had me entranced, and so has the freedom to choose my own fate and that of the denizens of the Mojave. It's probably enough to say of this game's power over me that my save file upon completion (with all trophies/achievements obtained) exceeded 320hrs - and that's not including time wasted by dying/cocking up!

1. Final Fantasy IX
In all honesty, before compiling this list I never expected this to be at the top of my list. But as I refined my top 10, IX just rose higher and higher as I remembered all the things I loved: the skill learning, the characters' tragic pasts, Dagger's heaving bosom, the loveable retro stylings, or the end cinematic - which brought me to actual tears (and did so for a second time when I realised the horrible truth behind the narration). And that's all before I even mention Vivi - the little mage who could, and one of my favourite ever game characters. I guess that for me, like Sakaguchi-san, Final Fantasy IX is as close to the ideal Final Fantasy as I've experienced. I desperately want to find the time to replay this game.

I think it's pretty apparent that I've played far fewer RPGs than many here - and certainly less of the JRPGs beyond the mainstream - so I'm slightly apologetic for the abundance of Final Fantasy in this list. Having said that, they were the games I played during my formative years, so I guess it's only natural that they have made a firm home in my heart.

That said, I'm still hoping that should it ever get released, FF Versus XII is worthy of forcing its way into this list.

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Post #201309
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Posted: 24th October 2012 14:23

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If i had to choose 10 rpgs:

10:Oblivion:Love the quests and sandbox exploration.
9:Earthbound:Love the gameplay, and silly moments.The experience was really uniquefor me.
8:Dragon quest 8:Music atmosphere and feel was amazing.
7:Faxandu:I found it fun when i played it, and likely to replay it.
6:Parasite eve:This game was fantastic, and still is.
5:Breath of fire 1:I hadn't seen anything liked it at the time.
4:Final fantasy 4:I love ff4, and every character.
3:Suikoden 2:Most epic battles, and one of the best jrpg villains.
2:Ultima underworld:So unique for the combat style in first person view.
1:Final fantasy 6:People can keep their sephiroths, and edeas, but kefka was extremely unique for a villain. He wasn't a god from the start, and had to work for it.The characters were memorable.From terra to Gogo.

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Posted: 3rd November 2012 13:37

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Ah, damn, I'd forgotten Oblivion and Skyrim. I have no idea how I'd end up rearranging the overall list... just assume those two titles are in there tongue.gif

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X


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Posted: 14th February 2013 04:15

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See that list of mine up there? I'm making a few changes. Dropping Persona 3, replacing it with Persona 4. Persona 4 is probably in the #4 to #6 range (!), but part of that might be zeitgeist. Add Torchlight II and Valkyria Chronicles to my list of honorable mentions.

I enjoy making lists. Don't you?

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Posted: 17th February 2013 12:56

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5: Final Fantasy 6: First FF I ever played and one of the very few things I can say I have done EVERYTHING on.
4:Final Fantasy 5: I fell in love with the class system and I thought it was one of the strongest stories.
3: Illusion of Gaia: I struggled with this game for many years when I was a kid but I picked it up again 6 years later and fell in love with it all over again.
2: Terranigma: The music and the storyline are top of the top, though one may say the music is a touch repetitive.
1: Chrono Trigger: Way ahead of its time, and still worth playing through. I only have gotten 8 of the 13 endings but I'll keep comin back for more.

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Ramza and Zalbag are the greatest of FF chars.
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Posted: 17th February 2013 18:08

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10. Final Fantasy IV - There's so many more games I'd want to place on this list but I can't leave this one out. Not my favourite FF, but I've played through this over and over again and I love it.

9. Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden - I need to include at least one of the SRW games, and this is the one that I feel represents the best in the series. A surprisingly good story compared to other SRW games and it's challenging but still not brain busting like some other games in the series.

8. MOTHER series (3 in particular) - Three epic games, but they're so different. If I could only place one in the list I'd take 3, but the first 2 are great as well.

7. Chrono Trigger - A classic. I don't know how many times I've played through this, but it's as good every time.

6. Pokémon Series - This had to be in, yet it's hard to place. I've played basically all the "real" games so I can't single out just one.

5. Final Fantasy VI - As far as FF games goes (at least the ones I've played), VI has the best story, characters and among the best in gameplay. I don't think I need to say much here, if you're on this site you should be acquainted with the game already.

4. Final Fantasy III - Well, my favourite FF game has to be in of course. As far as RPGs go, it has a non-existing story and the gameplay isn't unique, but heck I love it. Since I first played the FMC-version this game has always had a special feel for me.

3. Paper Mario/TTYD - A personal favourite game (the first one that is), would probably end up 1 in a favourite games list but when it comes to RPG as a genre I'll judge slightly different. TTYD is technically a better game but nostalgia makes it necessary for me to include the first one.

2. Dragon Quest V - This game... Also one of the best games I've played. I'll never forget the story or how fun it is to recruit monsters.

1. Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (also known as Genealogy of the Holy War or Descent of Jihad) - Hands down my favourite Fire Emblem game and one of the best games I've played. I'm not sure what I can say without spoiling anything, but the story and gameplay are top notch.
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Posted: 20th February 2013 12:50

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10. Alundra
Sometimes I think I'm the only one who has played this game, or at least the only one who really appreciates it. Probably the best action-RPG I've ever played. Great old-school graphics combined with incredibly smooth game mechanics. Everything, including all exploration and battles, plays out in real-time. It's the perfect combination of an RPG and a platformer. There's a huge world to explore, but no world map; different areas become accessible as the main character gains new skills and powers. And the game is chock-full of mind-numbing puzzles which challenge both one's logic and one's dexterity. Add to that a great story with a truly unique plot device (the main character has the ability to enter people's dreams, which results in some really crazy "dungeons"), and you've got one amazing game. Legend of Zelda, eat your heart out.

9. Legend of Legaia
Such an underrated game. Its best feature is its amazing battle system, which is just a blast to play around with and which stays fun until the end. Physical combat depends on combinations of high, medium and low attacks, with certain combinations resulting in special attacks called Arts. Characters gain more attacks as they advance, and thus are able to use more powerful Arts (which can be discovered by random experimentation or learned somewhere in the game). By the end, you're chaining together eight or nine attacks (with multiple Arts that connect and flow from one to the next) and your characters are simply beating the ever-loving crap out of your enemies. Battles almost feel like a fighting game. Add to that a great magic system in which you gain new spells by absorbing enemies, which you can then summon in battle (and which grow stronger the more you summon them). LoL also has a great story (the entire world is shrouded in mist that turns people into monsters, which is used to great effect as a plot device), great music, and tons of secrets to find.

8. Wild Arms 3
The first three Wild Arms games are all great, but I think this one is the best. There's just so much going on with this game. I love the western-scifi-fantasy mashup of the Wild Arms games, and this one takes it to the extreme. The entire world is a desolate desert wasteland (it has SAND SEAS, for Pete's sake, and you SAIL on them with a special ship, and you have BATTLES with that ship), everyone uses guns, you ride around on horseback (and even FIGHT from horseback sometimes), and the cel-shaded animation is beautiful. The characters are all well developed, and the plot is absurdly convoluted, though mostly in a good way. Like I said, there's a LOT going on. The amount of secrets in this game is ridiculous. It's even got some Chrono Trigger-style replay value in that you can obtain the ultimate accessory for all four characters by playing through the game four times.

7. Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Although I'm listing this entry as just Episode I, it's really for the whole trilogy. Together, the three games might as well be considered as one. The first, however, is the best. Great characters, amazing story, amazing music, great battle system; if they weren't so damn linear, the Xenosaga games would be even better.

6. Final Fantasy VI
I don't really need to say much here. It's just such an incredible game.

5. Chrono Trigger
Again, I don't really need to say much. This game never gets old. I mean, time travel? Seeing the same locations, the same world, during different time periods? What an absolutely brilliant idea.

4. Suikoden 2
Epic. Absolutely epic. What's not to love about this game? Political intrigue, a feud between childhood friends, a great battle system, armies fighting against armies, an absurd cast of characters, building up your own castle, an incredible story, Suikoden 2 has it all. I absolutely love the first Suikoden (which falls just below this list, somewhere in 11-15 territory), and this game took everything good about it and made it even better.

3. Final Fantasy Tactics
Every strategy RPG I play comes up wanting in comparison to FFT. While I won't say that this game ruined the strategy RPG genre for me, I will say that it definitely decreased my level of enjoyment for it. Because I compare all other strategy RPGs to this one, and they just don't measure up. Best story and villains of any Final Fantasy.

2. Final Fantasy VII
I just have such a soft spot for this game. I know its flaws, and I don't care. I enjoy everything about it. The characters, the story, the gameplay, the battle system, the music, the sidequests, everything.

1. Xenogears
Am I really the only Xenogears fan around here? That makes me a little sad. It's quite simply the best RPG I've ever played. The story is beyond epic. The characters are fantastic. The world is fantastic. The music is gorgeous. The battle systems are an absolute blast. I just wish that they had been able to make the second disc more like the first; if time and money constraints hadn't gotten in the way, the game would likely be twice as long as it is. As it stands, it's still my favorite RPG of all time.

This post has been edited by Reod Dai on 20th February 2013 12:52
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Posted: 28th June 2013 20:53

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10. Chrono Cross
A moody, slightly disturbing story and a battle system not seen since, Chrono Cross is a game that I happen to love.

9. Final Fantasy VII
I LIKE IT OK?

8. Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
A remake of Dragon Warrior IV for the NES, DQIV has a unique chapter system that focuses on separate characters until Chapter 5, where the hero sets out to gather everyone to defeat Psaro the Manslayer. I love it, and you should too.

7.The World Ends With You
An original, edgy IP from Square-Enix, focusing on a group of teenagers who are competing in a life or death game where the winner gets to stay alive. Fast paced, intense, and modern, TWEWY offers a great soundtrack, amazing character development, and some damn fine replay value, it's a game no DS owner should be without.

6.Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Offering literally hundreds upon hundreds of gameplay, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies has more content than most console RPGs did at the time. Boasting almost 1000 different pieces of equipment, each of which changes your appearance, millions of randomly generated Grottoes that hold secret treasures and intense challenge, almost 200 sidequests, and some of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences of any RPG ever, DQIX is a game that even 3 years after its release, I'm still playing.

5.Final Fantasy VI
No comment.

4. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
A game I have beaten too many times to count, it took everything that made the first Paper Mario great and built on it until it was perfect. Considered a console counterpart to the Mario and Luigi games, it has similar battle mechanics and loads of wit that is always a joy to experience.

3. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
One of the first RPGs I ever played, it won me over with its fast and fluid battle system, charming and clever humor, adventurous atmosphere, and some of the best damn music on the GBA, composed by Yoko Shimomura! I come back to play this masterpiece over and over.

2. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
A beautiful, emotional story about a boy and his father, following the boy from birth to the epic conclusion. One of the only RPGs to revolve around a single family specifically, you and your father set out on a quest to find something... But what? With some of the most original storytelling in RPG history, Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is a magical and unforgettable game that will satisfy anyone.

1. EarthBound/Chrono Trigger
I'm cheating here, but in my opinion, they're both perfect.
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Posted: 29th June 2013 00:12

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7. Secret of Mana
This game is the perfect compromise between role-playing and open world. You run around and smack monsters like you would in Zelda, but it is number-based like Final Fantasy. This makes earning experience way less tedious and therefore more enjoyable. Definitely a worthy game.

6. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia! First played this game when I was six, but never quite beat it until I was ten; so every time I pick it up I am reminded of four years of my childhood. Aside from that, it is an extremely simple and basic game, which is a nice change from all the complications of the other Final Fantasy games. But the main reason I like it is a result of nostalgia.

5. Dragon Warrior
Probably the hardest RPVG I have ever played, but it is really fun. It is very simple compared to Final Fantasy. There is a lot less to keep track of, but fewer people to keep track of it for you, since you only have one playable character. It can also be more tedious due to the severe lack of chocobos, but it is still lots of fun.

4. Final Fantasy I
I love this game, the genesis of Final Fantasy. It is more challenging than most of the later games, but also more basic. A great game.

3. Final Fantasy IV
This one is still a lot like FF1, as far as gameplay goes. I like having super powerful characters, like Rydia, the twins, FuSoYa, and Rosa, too, once you level her up enough. It requires more thought and careful strategy than most of the others on this list, so it is a nice change.

2. Final Fantasy V
I like earning experience, so of course I would enjoy this game. I also like having lots of control over my characters. It is a fairly basic story, but the gameplay is just choices, choices, choices, so that it is next to impossible to play it the same way twice. And I just love the Job system.

1. Final Fantasy VI
Great story, great gameplay, nostalgia. I love magic, so I love how everyone can always use it. I like being able to control what spells my characters learn, and Magicite allows me to do that. I like control over the storyline, and this game allows for that somewhat. I love complex characters like Terra, sarcastic people like Celes, dashing heroes like Locke and Cyan and Leo, dark characters like Shadow, and mysterious ones like GoGo. It is just a great game with a great story. And did I mention nostalgia?
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