Assuming you want something with a similiar style to Skies - from the little I played of it, I'd say is a story and specifically character focused game, light mood, little importance given to gameplay depth - some possible picks are:
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Is one of my first recommendations. Character focused, nice mood and pace, plenty to see.
Looks very good for its age, one of the better integrated battle systems (fights happen in the standard exploration screen), very good music.
Only possible issues: Torayama character design, reminiscent of the first Dragonball - and his touch can also be felt in the mood of the story - in case you don't like him.
Got to emulate it (PS1 version is supposedly plagued by loading times), but with a cheap PS2>PC joypad adapter is pretty much like playing on a console.
Grandia (PS1)
The king of Happy Mood RPGs, again story and character driven.
Pace isn't as smooth as CT, but the battle system is among the absolute best in the genre.
Possible "problems": characters are little more than kids, the PS1 3d is pretty hideous by today standards. Not sure if it has been released in Europe, and might be hard to find.
Other possible choices, with a slighty more "realistic" tone:
Lunar Eternal Blue - PS1, outdated 2d graphics, anime fmv, simplistic battle system, funny writing, relatively more focused on the "love story" than average. No Euro release.
Final Fantasy 9 - PS1, one of the best looking PS1 RPGs, really cured, released in Euro, the italian translation tempts me to rip my eyes off.
Even more serious tone, still nothing close to dark:
Xenogears - PS1, heavyer on story, imo very good. No idea about an Euro release.
Tales of Phantasia 2 - PS1, random encounters + action battle system, good 2d graphics, main characters are flat but secondary ones and the world have their charm.
FF 6 - SNES, amazing game for its time, and still great today. Great music, deeper than any of its sequels, some really ispired characters.
FF 8 - PS1, the significant aspect of this one are the realistic looking characters, excellent FMV, focus on a (simplistic) love story. Released in Euro.
FF X, or FF X2 - PS2. I have a personal dislike for these, since Square characters became laughable, pretentious buffoons. Still, if that doesn't offend you, they brought the typical polish of Square on current gen hardware. If you want fanservice, X-2 is The Way. Both released in Euro, and IIRC horribly butchered in the process.
Shadow Hearts Covenant - PS2, one of my favorites. Adult but not taking themselves too seriously, fun characters to carry the show. Nice battle system, cool side quests (but only close to the end), a good amount of story and villains to keel. A little slow paced on the first hours, and will spoil to death the first SHadow Hearts, which is also a game really worth checking (but much more niche and unpolished).
Star Ocean 3, PS2, briefly played, has a messy battle system but might meet your tastes....
Be aware that:
Baldurs Gate, Planetscape, Fallout, KOTOR, etc.
They have their qualityes and have been recommended here, but what no one said is: they have NOTHING in common with Skyes of Arcadia, and are not geared for beginners -and I'm not implying they are necessarily better games for experienced players, either.
The mentioned Mario RPGs for GC and GBA may be good, but of course not exactly what one may choose if the reason he is attracted for RPGs is story, romance, or drama.
FF7 is often suggested, but I think mostly due being the first RPGs for many, and tecnicaly impressive for the time.
Today is ugly and nothing so special imo.
This, just from the top of my mind. There is a lot to pick from, if you don't confine yourself to this generation and Euro releases.
Also a lot of cool games with different takes on the genre - Valkyrie Profile and Final Fantasy Tactics for example were really something.
FFX wasn't exactly my favourite, but it's as good a place as any to start.
