Support NeoGAF

[Wazzy]

As someone who's never played a FF game and is just going by what I hear about from the fanbase, I had no idea VI was considered to be such a classic. It got #2 on both IGN's and GI's lists. It's always VII this, VII that with the fanbase, with some VIII and IX sprinkled in (from my inexperienced, outsider point of view). Just find it surprising, is all.

From my experience with the Final Fantasy fanbase the usual popularity order I've seen is VII, X, VIII, IX, VI and IV. I feel over the years XII has pushed itself back into the top 5 but my experience for most of them is it was always the most disliked.

Gaming sites it's very different. The order I generally see online is VII, VI, IX, XII and VIII with some vocal IV and XIII fans here and there.

 

[cpp_is_king]

How is there not a single Zelda game on this list?

I mean I get that different strokes for different folks, but did they just completely forget about this entire franchise or something?

Lists such as these almost always have Ocarina of Time at #1, and for IGN to say it's not even in the top 100?

FWIW I wouldn't put it at #1 either, but I think the complete absence of the entire franchise shows that there are problems with this list that transcend opinions.

 

[Fou-Lu]

FFVI ranking highly is probably the least likely to create arguments. There are endless arguments among the fanbase trying to state one game sucks and another game is the best in the series, but most can agree that FFVI is one of the best in the series even if it isn't THE best.

How is there not a single Zelda game on this list?

I mean I get that different strokes for different folks, but did they just completely forget about this entire franchise or something?

Lists such as these almost always have Ocarina of Time at #1, and for IGN to say it's not even in the top 100?

FWIW I wouldn't put it at #1 either, but I think the complete absence of the entire franchise shows that there are problems with this list that transcend opinions.

You might just be trolling, but Zelda isn't usually considered an RPG.

 

[TrounceX]

The list actually seems pretty decent....

Except the Final Fantasy games are hilariously out of order.

83. Final Fantasy - game is not good, but ok it was the first in the series
52. Final Fantasy VII - preposterously low
40. Final Fantasy IX - should be much higher
31. Final Fantasy XII - should barely be on this list
22. Final Fantasy IV - lol c'mon
18. Final Fantasy Tactics - ridiculously high
02. Final Fantasy VI - I'll give them this one, but it is an obvious pick

FFVIII and FFV could potentially be on this list, but I can see the reasons why they may be excluded, even if I don't agree.

But BY FAR the biggest transgression is the omission of FFX. It is a conservative top 50 game, and could reasonably be seen in the top 20. To not make the top 100? Absolutely crazy. I feel like there must be some kind of mistake and they just forgot about the game. Look at all the games on this list and tell me FFX isn't better than one of them, just one. You can't.

 

[Chac]

But BY FAR the biggest transgression is the omission of FFX. It is a conservative top 50 game, and could reasonably be seen in the top 20. To not make the top 100? Absolutely crazy. I feel like there must be some kind of mistake and they just forgot about the game. Look at all the games on this list and tell me FFX isn't better than one of them, just one. You can't.

100% agree. To Zanarkand is an iconic video game theme.

 

[Lothar]

Is there any argument for any aspect of FFX not being excellent and top of the line? The only case you could make for a single thing I think would be voice acting, and lol, Star Ocean 2 is on the list. Compared to Star Ocean 2's voices, FFX's voice acting is godlike.

 

[Fou-Lu]

But BY FAR the biggest transgression is the omission of FFX. It is a conservative top 50 game, and could reasonably be seen in the top 20. To not make the top 100? Absolutely crazy. I feel like there must be some kind of mistake and they just forgot about the game. Look at all the games on this list and tell me FFX isn't better than one of them, just one. You can't.

I count at least 75 games I would rate lower than FFX on the list.

 

[Link1110]

Secret of mana is way too high. The magic system that pauses gameplay entirely, as well as the fact that part members can never beer of screen coupled with the fact that their ai is so dumb you have to repeatedly go back to get them made the game border on unplayable for me. And I really wanted to like it. Focal fantasy adventure is one of my favorite game boy games and sd3 and legend of mana are really fun.

Also it has an amazing soundtrack which is all bit ruined in game by sound channels cutting out for sound effects

 

[Cocaloch]

The first Fire Emblem is not a good game.

Also no SMT besides Persona? Honestly I'd probably put at least another 7 or 8 SMT games in the top 100.

Edit: Never mind, I see they meant 7, which is a great game.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Those who whine about FFIV obviously are too young to see how much of a huge step it was in terms of storytelling over any other game, especially for people who didn't play computer games or japanese games when it came out as FF2 in America.

FFIV was THE game of my teenage years. Chrono and FFVI were better, and you could say they both bring something new to the table storywise, but FFIV was huge.

 

[ULTROS!]

20 - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
19 - EarthBound
18 - Final Fantasy Tactics
17 - Suikoden II
16 - Deus Ex
15 - Fallout 2
14 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
13 - Persona 4: Golden
12 - Dark Souls
11 - Mass Effect 2
10 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
9 - Vagrant Story
8 - Diablo II
7 - Secret of Mana
6 - Planescape: Torment
5 - World of Warcraft
4 - Pokémon Yellow
3 - Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
2 - Final Fantasy VI
1 - Chrono Trigger

 

[stinkytick]

20 - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
19 - EarthBound
18 - Final Fantasy Tactics
17 - Suikoden II
16 - Deus Ex
15 - Fallout 2
14 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
13 - Suikoden II
12 - Dark Souls
11 - Mass Effect 2
10 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
9 - Vagrant Story
8 - Diablo II
7 - Secret of Mana
6 - Planescape: Torment
5 - World of Warcraft
4 - Pokémon Yellow
3 - Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
2 - Final Fantasy VI
1 - Chrono Trigger

Just a minor correction. 13 is Persona 4 Golden

 

[Wazzy]

Those who whine about FFIV obviously are too young to see how much of a huge step it was in terms of storytelling over any other game, especially for people who didn't play computer games or japanese games when it came out as FF2 in America.

FFIV was THE game of my teenage years. Chrono and FFVI were better, and you could say they both bring something new to the table storywise, but FFIV was huge.

Oh please. The game is acknowledged for its influence but overall to say it's better than a majority of the games listed is just simply wrong. You're propping it up purely due to nostalgia and not off what the game actually is. VII was far more influential than IV anyway so it's such a weird point to defend.

IV IS a good game but when you compare it to the many games released after they take what it started and do it much better. It's why Final Fantasy is getting a pass to be on the list when it's not a very good game.

 

[Toni]

20 - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
19 - EarthBound
18 - Final Fantasy Tactics
17 - Suikoden II
16 - Deus Ex
15 - Fallout 2
14 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
13 - Suikoden II
12 - Dark Souls
11 - Mass Effect 2
10 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
9 - Vagrant Story
8 - Diablo II
7 - Secret of Mana
6 - Planescape: Torment
5 - World of Warcraft
4 - Pokémon Yellow
3 - Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
2 - Final Fantasy VI
1 - Chrono Trigger

This is a pretty damn good list

Imokaywiththis.gif

 

[PK Gaming]

Those who whine about FFIV obviously are too young to see how much of a huge step it was in terms of storytelling over any other game, especially for people who didn't play computer games or japanese games when it came out as FF2 in America.

FFIV was THE game of my teenage years. Chrono and FFVI were better, and you could say they both bring something new to the table storywise, but FFIV was huge.

The problem is that the list is inconsistent. If influence is an important factor, why is FF7 all the way down at 52? If influence isn't the end all be all, then why is Pokemon Yellow Top 4?

 

[ASilentProtagonist]

In what order should I prioritize these RPGs?

Vagrant Story
The Witcher 3
Suikoden II
Tactics Ogre
System Shock 2
Bloodborne
Neverwinter Nights
Fire Emblem
Phantasy Star IV
Lufia 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
The Legend of Dragoon
Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga

Suikoden 2 at number 1# with Tactics Ogre a slight second. Vagrant Story is a must play as well.

 

[Wagram]

Chrono Trigger isn't my favorite RPG of all time, but I wouldn't fight against it on any list. It's one of the greats and is my go to recommendation for any person trying to get into the genre.

 

[Azuran]

Dragon Quest V is nowhere near the top 10 and yet, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy VI are all there? Childhood nostalgia is a powerful thing.

I bet that if DQV came out in America back in 1992, that game would be easily making every top 10 list ever made.

 

[Adam Prime]

The list actually seems pretty decent....

Except the Final Fantasy games are hilariously out of order.

83. Final Fantasy - game is not good, but ok it was the first in the series
52. Final Fantasy VII - preposterously low
40. Final Fantasy IX - should be much higher
31. Final Fantasy XII - should barely be on this list
22. Final Fantasy IV - lol c'mon
18. Final Fantasy Tactics - ridiculously high
02. Final Fantasy VI - I'll give them this one, but it is an obvious pick

FFVIII and FFV could potentially be on this list, but I can see the reasons why they may be excluded, even if I don't agree.

But BY FAR the biggest transgression is the omission of FFX. It is a conservative top 50 game, and could reasonably be seen in the top 20. To not make the top 100? Absolutely crazy. I feel like there must be some kind of mistake and they just forgot about the game. Look at all the games on this list and tell me FFX isn't better than one of them, just one. You can't.

This is a great post on all accounts, you nailed it.

 

[Spukc]

Well its official chrono trigger is THE most overrated piece of shit in history..

Great list ign but that first spot damn..
It feels even cheesier than ff7 on nr1

 

[Lothar]

Oh please. The game is acknowledged for its influence but overall to say it's better than a majority of the games listed is just simply wrong. You're propping it up purely due to nostalgia and not off what the game actually is. VII was far more influential than IV anyway so it's such a weird point to defend.

Pointing out influence is not nostalgia. It's just dumb to pretend like the game came out yesterday and ignore its impact. Why are people doing that?

 

[Hylian7]

Looks like Nocturne was snobbed out of a position again. At this point I just expect it to be absent from these lists. I suppose Final Fantasy I, DA: Inquisition, The Legend of Dragoon are the better choices.

Can't say I'm surprised about the first 2 positions. I was expecting either CT or FF VI to take the top spot and there it is. Either way, pretty uninteresting top 100 all around.

Sadly, I can't say I am surprised though. I wish more people could appreciate the genius that is Nocturne.

Chrono Trigger definitely deserves a high spot on the list though, glad it got one.

 

[Aleh]

Lol really, Pokémon Yellow? Like, not even Red and Blue. Yellow.
What a crazy top 100... nonsense after nonsense but I guess that's inevitable with this kind of things
FFVI ranking this high just screams nostalgia goggles and no one will make me change my mind

 

[Wazzy]

Pointing out influence is not nostalgia. It's just dumb to pretend like the game came out yesterday and ignore its impact. Why are people doing that?

Pointing out a games influence as a reason it's better than many other RPG's that do everything better and were even more influential IS nostalgia. FF VII was the most Influtiential game in the series and that is undeniable.

No one is ignoring IV's influence but that does not suddenly mean it gets a pass for its faults while games like VII get ranked underneath it and actually are far more beloved by fans.

 

[Cocaloch]

Well its official chrono trigger is THE most overrated piece of shit in history..

Great list ign but that first spot damn..
It feels even cheesier than ff7 on nr1

wut.

Chrono Trigger might be overrated, I don't think so though, but it certainly isn't a piece of shit.

 

[dreamlongdead]

Not feeling Secret of Mana at #7. It's not THAT great.

I haven't actually played the game, but I expressed similar sentiments in the GI thread.

Is it really that good?

 

[Antiwhippy]

Awwww yeah ign pulling out Pokemon yellow instead of the usual rgb.

 

[CircusOfClouds]

Glad they put ff6 so high up. What an all-around masterpiece.

 

[Imp the Dimp]

Pretty safe top 10, not too bad. Dark Souls is a top 3 GOAT game though, arguably the best single player game ever. Little strange for them to not have it in their top 10.

 

[Kill3r7]

Dragon Quest V is nowhere near the top 10 and yet, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy VI are all there? Childhood nostalgia is a powerful thing.

I bet that if DQV came out in America back in 1992, that game would be easily making every top 10 list ever made.

To be fair, Secret of Mana should not be in the Top10.

 

[Joey Fox]

Lol really, Pokémon Yellow? Like, not even Red and Blue. Yellow.
What a crazy top 100... nonsense after nonsense but I guess that's inevitable with this kind of things
FFVI ranking this high just screams nostalgia goggles and no one will make me change my mind

Pokémon Yellow is my favorite one. More recent games have too much going on for my taste.

 

[FTF]

You know what...that's a way better #1 and 2 than I expected.

 

[Tarextherex]

I haven't actually played the game, but I expressed similar sentiments in the GI thread.

Is it really that good?

Honestly it's not even close to something like Chrono Trigger or FFVI, both of which are still very worth playing today. Secret of Mana was pretty mindblowing for the time considering it had co-op. It's basically an isometric action rpg with good variety in locations/spells/etc. However the gameplay doesn't hold up as well because the dungeons aren't as intricate as Zelda dungeons, plus the combat has pretty dodgy feedback compared to something like Zelda. It's a fine curiosity if you like games of that era(great soundtrack btw), it's pretty cheap on Wii VC but don't expect it to be as good as the placement on that list suggests

 

[John Petrucci]

Glad they put ff6 so high up. What an all-around masterpiece.

I don't think any other game is so consistently in the top 2-3 on all time RPG lists from publications/game sites. Probably has gotten the #1 spot more than any other RPG as well. Deservedly so IMO.

I'm sure FF7 got a lot of number #1's in the 00's, but it doesn't seem to have aged as well as FF6 in many peoples' minds two decades after it's release.

 

[Indelible]

Definitely impressed with #1 and #2, two of my favorite games ever. The only gripe I have with the top ten is Vagrant Story, never could get into that game.

 

[defferoo]

yaasss Chrono Trigger

 

[RespectThySole]

Their top 20 is actually pretty good. Secret of Mana and Mass Effect 2 seem out of place to me, but other than that there's not much to complain about.

 

[Aquova]

Very happy, and not surprised to see Chrono Trigger and FFVI take the top spots. I am surprised about some of the other however. Pokemon Yellow is fine, but I am astonished that it beat out Gold/Silver/Crystal, which doesn't appear at all on the list.

Secret of Mana is... okay. It wasn't my cup of tea, but it was a fine game. It is not Top 10 RPG ever good tho.

Their Final Fantasy rankings are very strange, as others have noticed. I'm not a huge FFX fan, but I think it should've made the list, albeit towards the bottom. Personally, I would've switched FFIV and FFVII, in no way is IV better than VII. I haven't played XII, so I'm not sure where I'd put that one.

Finally, some games towards the bottom of the list I'd rank higher, such as Chrono Cross and Kingdom Hearts II, but that may be personal opinion.

 

[Vincent Grayson]

Well that's actually a stellar top 20

-but-

I must be the only person born in the 90s who doesn't think that Final Fantasy 6 belongs so damn high all the time

Shit almost feels like gaming's longest-running meme. I love the game but jeez

I'm with you. FF is my favorite series, and I've played it since the NES days. I like FF6 just fine, but it's not even in my top 3 FF games, much less among my favorite RPGs of all time.

 

[casiopao]

Not even a single Etrian hurt my soul.T_T

 

[NandoGip]

20 - Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
19 - EarthBound
18 - Final Fantasy Tactics
17 - Suikoden II
16 - Deus Ex
15 - Fallout 2
14 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
13 - Persona 4: Golden
12 - Dark Souls
11 - Mass Effect 2
10 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
9 - Vagrant Story
8 - Diablo II
7 - Secret of Mana
6 - Planescape: Torment
5 - World of Warcraft
4 - Pokémon Yellow
3 - Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
2 - Final Fantasy VI
1 - Chrono Trigger

Cant complain

 

[JeffZero]

I'm with you. FF is my favorite series, and I've played it since the NES days. I like FF6 just fine, but it's not even in my top 3 FF games, much less among my favorite RPGs of all time.

Well that's actually a stellar top 20

-but-

I must be the only person born in the 90s who doesn't think that Final Fantasy 6 belongs so damn high all the time

Shit almost feels like gaming's longest-running meme. I love the game but jeez

Haha, I'm with you both. I like FF6 a lot. It's still, like, upper mid-tier FF for me.

 

[Iva Demilcol]

Worst Persona game ever in their top 20... disappointing but expected.

 

[YankeeDonB]

Secret of Mana is in my top ten, but I'm genuinely surprised to see it so high here.

Also, Suikoden 2 is awesome, but I'm sad there's no 3 and 5, even if much lower ranked.

And got to agree on the weirdness of FF X omission. Wouldn't argue with it not being top 50, but not even on the list? That was a really well put together game and massively popular. I still randomly overhear late 20-somethings talking about how much they loved it when young.

 

[Reset]

Awful list. The only list where Final Fantasy XII is the worst rpgs of all time. Oh and Awakening is the second best Fire Emblem game? lol ok.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Awful list. The only list where Final Fantasy XII is the worst rpgs of all time. Oh and Awakening is the second best Fire Emblem game? lol ok.

It's the only final fantasy I've ever liked.

*shrug*

 

[Vincent Grayson]

Is there any argument for any aspect of FFX not being excellent and top of the line? The only case you could make for a single thing I think would be voice acting, and lol, Star Ocean 2 is on the list. Compared to Star Ocean 2's voices, FFX's voice acting is godlike.

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I've soured a lot on FFX over the years. I loved it at launch and played through it a couple times, loved FFX-2, and eagerly bought the ports on PS3, Vita, PS4, and PC...but I just don't really like playing it.

The environment designs feel super dated, the minigames are fucking awful, the music is inconsistent, the voice acting is (understandably) mediocre, and even the gameplay feels super rote (use character X for enemy Y, every time) now that SMT has been hammering the same weakness-heavy turn-based stuff for 15 years since.

I still like the story and characters well enough.

I mean, I don't hate it, and I would certainly place it in the top 100 somewhere, but that's largely because there's a ton on this list I wouldn't have put there, and a bunch I would have.

 

[JeffZero]

The FFX omission is strange.

 

[YankeeDonB]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I've soured a lot on FFX over the years. I loved it at launch and played through it a couple times, loved FFX-2, and eagerly bought the ports on PS3, Vita, PS4, and PC...but I just don't really like playing it.

The environment designs feel super dated, the minigames are fucking awful, the music is inconsistent, the voice acting is (understandably) mediocre, and even the gameplay feels super rote (use character X for enemy Y, every time) now that SMT has been hammering the same weakness-heavy turn-based stuff for 15 years since.

I still like the story and characters well enough.

I mean, I don't hate it, and I would certainly place it in the top 100 somewhere, but that's largely because there's a ton on this list I wouldn't have put there, and a bunch I would have.

I understand all these complaints except for score, which I still find fantastic. I thought the Hamauzu/Uematsu mix was perfect. Memorable tunes when needed, and a more subtle, atmospheric undertone tying everything together. I found myself listening to a disproportionate amount of X stuff in XV's car.

 

[Vincent Grayson]

I understand all these complaints except for score, which I still find fantastic. I thought the Hamauzu/Uematsu mix was perfect. Memorable tunes when needed, and a more subtle, atmospheric undertone tying everything together. I found myself listening to a disproportionate amount of X stuff in XV's car.

Hamauzu's stuff in it is what I still really like. X's Uematsu stuff is where he started to lose me though. I can't put my finger on why.