I've stuck to just one game from a series, otherwise it would be a list of almost nothing but Interplay games.
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - I dread to think how much time I've spent with this game. It was my first Elder Scrolls experience, and in my opinion it's still the best. It didn't hold your hand or limit your choices and it gave you a massive island to explore with interesting experiences everywhere, and it's clear a lot of thought and love went into creating Vvardenfall with its little secrets scattered all over the place. It's only downside is those damn cliffracers!
Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn - For me this was BioWare at their peak. As with Morrowind, there is just so much to do with crazy amounts of quests and encounters packed into each area, huge amount of character customisation, and of course the fantastic cast of characters who you really care for (special shout out for recording completely new dialogue for Edwyn's transformation). It manages to boil down D&D to all it's most interesting moments, whether it's story, exploration, or combat, you're always doing something interesting.
Planescape: Torment - Probably the deepest and most thought provoking writing of any game on this list, and possibly of any RPG. Combined with the weird and interesting setting, it's unforgettable.
Fallout 2 - Yep, it's Black Isle again with all the quality that entails, but this time in a post apocalyptic setting. It wisely didn't stray from the template set by the previous game but just improves on what was already there. It's an interesting world filled with curious characters and quests which have an impressive number of options for going about finishing them.
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Absolutely immense. You can keep dipping in and spot something new. Its does what several of the previous games on this list do in that it rewards you for going off and exploring instead sticking to the quests. I'm sometimes put off putting something relatively new on these kinds of lists but I'm very confident that this game will stand the test of time to be considered one of the great RPGs.
Chrono Trigger - There are a lot of good JPRGs out there but CT stands out as the best. It's not so much that it does anything particularly original but it does everything very, very well. Gameplay, story, visuals, music it's all excellent.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - Our first chance to roleplay as a jedi or sith in a video game and BioWare gave us lots of choices to make to play up our Light/Dark side. However, for me KotOR is all about its great companions (HK-47 still one of my favourite characters ever), and an epic storyline with one of the great plot twists in gaming.
The World Ends With You - Interesting premise, a contemporary setting, great music, and a very distinct visual style. It also has a truly original combat system which makes good use of both the DS's screens and even the mic. Definitely the most unique game on my list.
Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines - Filled with jank that needs fan patches to get the best out of it. However, it's extremely immersive with interesting quests, and also a lot of thought was put into the various vampire clans which really makes further playthroughs as a different character worthwhile. Despite its issues it still manages to elevate itself into my top 10.
Terranigma - It's been a while since I've played it but it still sticks in my mind after all that time. Very nice visuals, a great soundtrack, decent action, but what makes it really stand out in my mind was it covering a lot of deep themes that I hadn't experienced in a game before, and it was cool seeing how your actions would change the world.
--VOTE INFO START
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
{UNDERRATED 4 points} Terranigma
Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
Planescape: Torment
Fallout 2
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
Chrono Trigger
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
The World Ends With You
Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
Gothic II
Xenoblade Chronicles
Golden Sun
Dragon's Dogma
Mass Effect II
Dragon Age: Origins
Baten Kaitos
Dark Souls
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
1. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - Bloodlines oozes atmosphere. Wandering the streets of downtown LA, haunting soundtrack in the background, is an experience unlike any other. The world feels dark yet so alive which is expressed in the writing, the world and the visuals. It all comes together to create a beautiful, believable and ominous world. The writing is stellar and the voice-acting also deserves a thumbs-up. On top of all that, Bloodlines also excels in offering choice. You can choose between different clans at the start. And it isn't purely an aesthetic choice. Playing as a Malkavian completely changes how you will approach the game and offers you the chance to play as mentally insane schizophrenic with prophetic abilities. Playing as a Toreador for example will give you a more classic game experience. The point is that Troika has gone out of their way to deliver replayability and uniqueness to each clan in the game. There isn't anything like it, to be honest. Besides clans Bloodlines offers a lot more of choice & consequence. Your decisions impact the world, which factions you will align with and who you will or won't piss off. Thanks to its robust skill system it is possible to approach most missions in a myriad of ways. Besides the obvious smooth-talking or combat, often you will find a back entrance or a computer somewhere. Exploring will always yield rewards. Combat is serviceable and allows you several options, ranging from guns to swords to vampiric abilities. Pick swords, seriously. The quests Bloodlines offers are great in variety and execution. From exploring a haunted beach hotel to tracking down seriously messed up video producers, it all works extremely well in the world Troika has created. I have to be honest, I have one major complaint about the game. The finale is a crazy rollercoaster but relies too much on combat and not enough what made the previous 30 to 40 hours of the game so great: dialogue and interactivity. It is a small spot on what is otherwise a masterpiece of game design.
2. The Witcher - The Witcher is the game that got me into RPGs. I fondly remember the gloomy swamps, the sun rising while the villagers woke up. I remember strolling through the wheat fields on a summer day. The beauty of the world is in stark contrast with the society that lives in it. There is no good or evil. You're not the saviour of the world. Even the tasks you're set out to perform are low key. You try to gain access to the city, solve a murder mystery, help a village deal with the fallout of a broken wedding. All the while a conflict is brewing in the background. A rebel group fighting for what once was, fighting in the name of long lost values and ideals. On the other side a religious order that has proclaimed a crusade against non-humans. The magnificence of the world is supported by an excellent alchemy system, rhytmic combat and a wide array of choices with real consequences. It doesn't hurt either that the game still looks beautiful for modern standards. Chapter 4 is still one of the most stunning locations ever created in an RPG and feels exactly like an adventure set in the world of the Witcher should feel.
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - The Witcher 3 takes the best aspects of the first entry (atmosphere, soundtrack, aesthetics, open-world) and combines them with those of the second entry (storytelling, writing, voice-acting) to create one of the most ambitious games ever made. The game should be made a case study on how to create an a cohesive, consistent and mesmerising open world. Instead of presenting you with the typical forest-desert-ice environments, The Witcher 3 drops you off in Velen, a swampy land torn apart by war between Redania and Nilfgaard. Velen is scarred by bloody battles and the environments reflect that through oppressive scenery and prowling monsters. When you leave the swamps in the south, you will see more and more signs of beauty emerging. You will pass villages, forests and the scenery gradually becomes more pleasant. Eventually you cross the Pontar and leave behind all misery for a region filled with rich grain fields and orchards which are the extensions of a city growing from the inside. The Witcher 3 introduces a new hallmark for worldbuilding and meanwhile fills its world with some of the best side-quests and characters seen in gaming. The Bloody Baron, Dijkstra, Yennefer, Keira Metz, Gaunter O'Dimm, (I could go on and on) are extremely well developed characters and they elevate the storytelling and questing to a very high level. And I certainly don't want to forget Geralt himself. It's a joy to role-play as him. While you will always play as Geralt, CD Projekt has ensured you have more than enough options for player agency and moral agency. The Witcher 3 does role-playing very well on a smaller spectrum. The only flaws to this masterpiece are the shallow skill system and the loot distribution.
[UNDERRATED] 4. The Secret World - The Secret World is a flawed game. Its biggest flaw being that it is an MMORPG. The combat is floaty, the game is an unoptimized mess and it has many of the typical MMO pitfalls. But despite all that, The Secret World deserves a spot in my top-3. Very rare is it that an MMO gets praised for its story. Even rarer is it that an MMO outshines nearly all single-player games in terms of storytelling. And The Secret World is such an MMO. The game takes place in an alternate reality of our world coming with all the cultural references. The story heavily relies on urban myths and legends as the canvas for the overarching theme of the literal corruption of the world. You start off in Kingsmouth, New England, a location heavily influenced by Lovecraftian horror. The atmosphere there is so tense and oppressive that you can't help but get sucked into the wonderful storytelling of Funcom. The story is told through long, dramatic character monologues and they work great. Unlike other MMO's each NPC has a very distinct personality and his or her own ambitions. The great writing, voice-acting and voice-directing certainly contribute to these aspects. The story goes from New England to Egypt to Romania to Tokyo and it all ties in wonderfully at the end. It truly is a marvel that one of the best told stories in gaming should come from an MMO. Next to that The Secret World combines its magnificent storytelling with quest mechanics that could come straight out of an adventure game. Investigation quests have you searching up Bible verses, translating morse code and searching up company websites. CDProjekt, please take note. This is what detective work should be like. And besides its MMORPG shortcomings, the dungeons in The Secret World are an absolute joy to explore. From Soviet cosmonaut training facilities to the Hell dimensions, they are all mini-stories crafted within the bigger picture of the story.
5. Fallout: New Vegas - Despite shortcomings such as the sometimes insufferable Gamebryo engine and the accompanying technical issues, Fallout: New Vegas is one of the best open-world story-heavy games out there. You start out as a courier without any links to a previous life (at least not until the revelations in Lonesome Road, take notes please Bethesda). This is the ideal set-up for developing your blank slate character into someone with their own morals, values and allegiances. And New Vegas offers plenty of opportunities for that. The showdown in Goodsprings is basically New Vegas on a microscale. The major factions and the faction-interplay in the game are really well done, although the Legion could have used some more work, despite the DLC's giving them more background. The NCR is superb in taking the mantle of the defender of old world values, praising democracy and bureaucracy above everything else, even at the cost of efficiency. House is a charismatic figure with a rich history and someone who has the best interests of New Vegas at heart. As long as he stays in charge, of course. The Legion is the only faction with a distinct place on the black & white moral spectrum. The story is a simple one culminating into a logical climax at Hoover Dam but the road to that climax is great and filled with memorable quests. Every quest provides you with a variety of solutions (I assume everyone has seen the White Glove Society flow chart by now, that's how great quest design can be!) and really help reinforcing the feeling that you are playing a role. Patching up enemy soldiers to increase morale? Sure, I have the necessary medical knowledge! Replacing the skill checks by a charisma check was probably one of the worst decisions in Fallout 4. The game has some great armour sets especially in the DLC's (hello Riot gear!) and a huge variety of weapons in display. At times Fallout: New Vegas feels like role-playing heaven but sadly at other times the engine's limitations come into play, mainly the floaty combat and terrible facial expressions. Despite that, Obsidian has done a wonderful job into creating their own Fallout game with its own distinct style, mixing it up from the usual post-apocalyptic style that Fallout 3 and 4 have.
6. Dark Souls - Dark Souls was the first Souls game I played and I fell immediately in love. The minimalistic approach to storytelling reinforces the desolate nature of the game and reinforces the bleakness of the world. And the world is extremely well made. Shortcuts between locations help create the illusion of one coherent world (in stark contrast to Dark Souls II). The big draw of the game is of course the combat. It has weight behind it and requires skill. The armour and weapons you find in the game are well designed and fun to handle. The aesthetics are bleak yet immersive and at times seem to come out of a fairytale. Dark Souls also shines at boss design and exploration. Some minor issues and annoyances (fuck Blighttown) aside, Dark Souls provides the player with an amazing combat system to explore a bleak world and, above all, kill shit.
7. Gothic II - We move on from Poland to Germany. Gothic II is the main example of a great open world RPG. The first town you enter bursts with life It feels like a real town with people having their own daily routines. The game is huge and it is densely packed with interesting stuff to do. At the beginning the game is very unforgiving but rarely does it feel unfair. You will have to learn through trial & error. When I was attacked by an angry drunkard, I ran away towards the guards who solved the problem for me. This difficulty adds weight to the loot you acquire. I have rarely been more pleased to find a better sword than in this game. There is no handholding in this game, you'll have to make your own map notes and do your own thinking to solve quests. The different factions in the game do a great job of adding choice and consequence to your actions. For me it is still one of the (if not the) best open-world RPGs around.
8. Divinity: Original Sin - Larian had always dreamed of making a turn-based RPG but were advised by their publishers to go for an action RPG instead. Now, Divinity II isn't a bad game by any means but it is clear that in Divinity: Original Sin Larian has really managed to fullfil their potential and reinvigorate the turn-based combat system. The combat is great fun and makes excellent use of good positioning and the different elements. The recently added tactician mode in the enhanced edition makes the experience even better with tougher fights. Combat isn't all there is to Original Sin however. While the story is a bit goofy, the writing is solid enough (not as good as in Divinity II though) to carry it. Most quests can be solved in different ways and out-of-the-box thinking is always encouraged. Despite that, you shouldn't play Original Sin only for the story. The combat is the highlight of the game and everything else is mostly an excuse to kill stuff. If Swen and his team somehow manage to improve on the storytelling and writing in the kickstarted sequel then it could become one of the best RPG's of all time.
9. Alpha Protocol - Alpha Protocol could very well be the definition of a flawed gem. Released as a buggy mess to unfavourable reviews, the game managed to gain some sort of cult status over the years. The combat itself is nothing special and sneaking seems like the best way to approach objectives. Where the game truly shines is in its innovative dialogue system, great characters, engrossing story and faction interplay. First the dialogue system, it's simple, elegant and allows you to role-play as a suave joker or an aggressive brute. Not only that but your dialogue choices heavily influence your relation with the characters of the game. Certain characters will respect your joking nature while others will hate you for it. You can make your enemies respect you, you can make your allies hate you. There are so many paths of divergence that it is impossible not to admire the effort Obsidian has put in creating this game. The storyline is equally great (especially thanks to the characters carrying it) and manages to completely draw you into the game. This is one of the only games where you truly feel like a special agent operating from a luxurious villa in Rome or an underground bunker in Taiwan. During your travels and missions you recover intel which you can use to deduce a person's motivations and what his style is. It all works very well together. Alpha Protocol is at its peak in dialogue and stealth sections and crashes when it comes to boss fights. But all in all, Alpha Protocol is a great game and I'd rather have a flawed gem than a polished turd.
10. Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Despite being a good game, Returns disappointed many Shadowrun fans who had expected something more. And that something more came in the shape of Dragonfall. Dragonfall takes the core foundations of Shadowrun Returns but improves on all of them. It features an improved combat system, a hub was added with the great Kreuzbasar and HBS significantly reduced the linearity of the main story while also adding in a lot of optional quests. One of the biggest improvements however was the addition of well-developed companions with their own stories, ambitions and side-quests. Meanwhile it retained the good aspects of Returns: an intriguing storyline about corporations and conspiracies and offering choices in solving quests. The writing in this game is consistently great and, together with the distinct visuals and soundtrack, helps set up a great cyberpunk ambiance that prevails throughout the entire game. Dragonfall was one of the best games of 2014 and got a worthy successor in the name of Shadowrun: Hong Kong one year later. I am really hoping it won't be the last adventure of Harebrained Schemes within the Shadowrun universe.
11. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer 12. Shadowrun: Hong Kong 13. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings 14. Risen 15. Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga 16. Lords of Xulima 17. Gothic I 18. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II 19. Expeditions: Conquistador 20. The Surge
--VOTE INFO START—
<FULL POINT GAMES – 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT – 3 points} Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
{UNDERRATED – 4 points} The Secret World
The Witcher
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Fallout: New Vegas
Dark Souls
Gothic II
Divinity: Original Sin
Alpha Protocol
Shadowrun: Dragonfall
<HONORABLE MENTIONS – 1 point>
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer
Shadowrun: Hong Kong
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Risen
Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga
Lords of Xulima
Gothic I
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
Expeditions: Conquistador
The Surge
--VOTE INFO END--
1. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars- This was probably my first real RPG experience. I can actually still remember the moment I got it, my mom was picking me up from school (I was in elementary) and she said she had a surprise for me. She then revealed Super Mario RPG from behind her back, and we were both very excited since she would often play games with me back then. I can also remember getting stuck on the first boss and putting the game away for awhile (what seemed to me to be a VERY long time, but looking back it couldn't have been that long at all). However, once I returned to it, it became one of my absolute favorite games ever. I've played through it numerous times, which is not something I often do with games let alone RPGs. The rest of this list is in no particular order, but this one has to be number one. The characters, the music, all of it is ingrained in my memory. I still will randomly get the closing credit's music stuck in my head out of no where.
2. Diablo II- I played this game with my friends an insane amount of time. INSANE. For awhile I didn't even own it, so I would just play it at my friends house. He had two computers, one for his room and one in his dad's so we could even play together. When I finally got the game myself I didn't see the outside world for days, maybe weeks (maybe this is an exaggeration, but damn did I spend a lot of time inside just playing D2). This game, with the Necromancer, probably cinched my love of summoning classes in all other RPGs, and at least in the ARPG genre, no class has ever beaten the D2 Necromancer.
3. World of Warcraft- This list is a very different list because of WoW. There is a HUGE swath of gaming history that I pretty much ignored due to me just playing WoW. I played it religiously from open beta till the end of Burning Crusade. My first MMO, and the only one that could really sink it's claws into me. I eventually burned out on the game, trying to get back into it with Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm, but it just wasn't the same for me. My friends had also gotten terribly addicted to the game, like a real addiction, and that put a sour taste in my mouth towards it, but I still can't deny the years of enjoyment it brought me.
4. Pokemon Gold & Silver - Ah, Pokemon. I've played every entry in the mainline series to some degree, but Gold & Silver are probably still my favorites. I mean, c'mon, it had Johto AND Kanto! Every game since, if you are a fan of Pokemon, you've been wanting a game to have two regions and it never happens. I remember being so excited for this game to come out, I tried to download a ROM of the Japanese version. Well, I succeeded but I had no idea what I was doing, and I believe it was corrupted in some way anyhow. But man, this game was great. Added the Dark and Steel types, too.
5. Persona 4- Persona 4 was not my first time into the SMT world (back when I was a youngun my friend actually owned and played Persona 2), but I think it was the first time I had ever owned one of the games myself. I also got into it via the Endurance Run on Giant Bomb. I think I watched the first 10 or so episodes and then had to go out and get the game. I've sadly owned but never played Persona 3, and while 5 was a great game, it just doesn't beat Persona 4.
6. Mass Effect 2- The Mass Effect series is one of my favorites of all time, and I believe this to be the strongest of them. This is another on the list of few games that I've played through more than once (along with Mass Effect 1). The gameplay was perfected, and I had a stronger attachment to the characters in this one. Solus and Garrus are my boys, for life.
7. Fire Emblem: Awakening- It was a tough choice between this and Fire Embelm 7, but in the end I had to give it to Awakening. It rejuvenated the Fire Emblem series world wide, and the gameplay of having kids and them joining your party was amazing to me. I've only played localized Fire Emblem games, so that was all very new. Loved how the kids would have different stats and hair color based on the parents. The story also wasn't complete dreck like it's follow up, Fates.
8. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness- I kind of picked this game up on a whim when it first came out, only to find out that I absolutely loved everything about it. The humor was on point, the characters were all very likable, and the gameplay was NEVER ENDING. I've tried to get into the other Disgaea games after this one, but the characters just seem to pale in comparison and for whatever reason I can't get past that. I had 200 something hours into this game back when, outside of Diablo 2, that was insane to me.
Ok so in my Mario RPG description I said, outside of Mario RPG, the list was in no particular order. That's partly true. The above games are DEFINITELY on my list no matter what, these last 2 I feel could be switched in and out with some of my honorable mentions depending on the day. Not to say they aren't amazing, just that it's damn hard to make a list of only 10 RPGS.
9. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion- I originally had Shin Megami Tensei 4 here, but realized half of my description was talking about how I'd go to my friends house to watch him play Nocturne. I also realized I was sorely lacking a modern Bethesda game, and it was between this and Fallout 3. I spent so many hours playing both (possibly more in Fallout), but Oblivion was the first open world RPG that truly grabbed me. I had tried to get into the Elder Scrolls series before with Morrowind, but something about it never really kept me playing. Not so with Oblivion, I played this game like mad, going into any Oblivion Rift I could find and destroying some Daedra. You could NAME YOUR WEAPONS! I think I spent a good amount of time just trying to decide what I would name this cool sword, or this awesome shield.
10. Dragon Quest III- This is specifically the Gameboy Color version. I think I played this game so much the cart died. It was my first introduction to a game where you could make your own party members and choose what their classes were, and that just blew my mind.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Suikoden III- I've begun to notice a lot of these games have memories of me going to my friends and playing them, but this one was the reverse. My friends would come over to my house to watch me play Suikoden III. The mixture between strategy rpg and traditional turn based was just too good to be true to me, plus ALL those characters. I love having a large party in my RPGS and Suikoden allows you to have the largest when it comes to its army battles. Never played the others, I understand II is especially great. This description is longer than the other honorable mentions, because I messed up my counting in my top 10 list and had two number 5's, leading me to believe Suikoden would be my number 10. I'M SORRY, SUIKODEN III!
2. Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne- As mentioned, I'd go to my friends house just about every day and we would play this. It amazed me.
3.Dark Cloud 2- I just have fond memories of playing this during a summer. It had a lot of charm.
4. Shin Megami Tensei 4- This was originally on my top 10 list, so it needs an honorable mention!
5. Fable II- This is another game that almost made my list. Depending on the day a lot of these honorable mentions probably could have gone in the place of Oblivion or Dragon Quest III.
6. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic- This is the best Star Wars game ever made. It probably should have gone on my top 10.
7. Dragon Age: Origins- Yet another that I feel like really deserved a place on my list. Man this is hard.
8. Fallout 3- Mentioned in my Oblivion write up. Toss up between the two.
9. Borderlands- Picked this game up randomly when trying to find a co-op game me and my buddy could play at his house while watching his little brothers. This became far more than a random co-op game for us.
10. Sunless Sea- Is this an RPG? I think it is, there are stats and I definitely role played my character to hell, and the game made it easy to do with the writing and choices and world laid before you. Game took me by surprise.
--VOTE INFO START
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Diablo 2
World of Warcraft
Pokemon Gold & Silver
Persona 4
Mass Effect 2
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Dragon Quest III
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
Suikoden III
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Dark Cloud 2
Shin Megami Tensei 4
Fable II
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Dragon Age: Origins
Fallout 3
Borderlands
Sunless Sea
7. Gothic II - We move on from Poland to Germany. Gothic II is the main example of a great open world RPG. The first town you enter bursts with life It feels like a real town with people having their own daily routines. The game is huge and it is densely packed with interesting stuff to do. At the beginning the game is very unforgiving but rarely does it feel unfair. You will have to learn through trial & error. When I was attacked by an angry drunkard, I ran away towards the guards who solved the problem for me. This difficulty adds weight to the loot you acquire. I have rarely been more pleased to find a better sword than in this game. There is no handholding in this game, you'll have to make your own map notes and do your own thinking to solve quests. The different factions in the game do a great job of adding choice and consequence to your actions. For me it is still one of the (if not the) best open-world RPGs around.
If it is not, you either have to go back and add comments to your post, or you have edited a post recently and I missed you. Either way, PM me a link to your post once it qualifies and I will add you.
I will NOT be checking posts prior to this one a second time. If you had a reserve post that you updated recently, you need to let me know.
There are currently 114 Cosmic Star Heroine keys still up for grabs. Everyone who qualifies for a key also qualifies for the further prize raffles.
If it is not, you either have to go back and add comments to your post, or you have edited a post recently and I missed you. Either way, PM me a link to your post once it qualifies and I will add you.
I will NOT be checking posts prior to this one a second time. If you had a reserve post that you updated recently, you need to let me know.
There are currently 114 Cosmic Star Heroine keys still up for grabs. Everyone who qualifies for a key also qualifies for the further prize raffles.
Hey Kswiston, first of all thanks for this very generous action. But you can take my name off the list and give it to someone else as I don't think this game is something for me. I'd rather have someone else play the game then =)
I also don't need an extra CSH key, I already have it on PS4 (was a backer) and Steam (which I meant to give away to a friend but haven't even done so yet).
Bloodborne
Not much to say about this that hasn't been said already. Top notch combat system, fantastic lore, beautiful level design etc. The setting it self is very unique and masterfully presented. The slow twist from Victorian horror to Lovecraftian horror is brilliant. There are bunch of susbstories involving various characters in the game and all of them were interesting and at times very moving. Much like the other souls games BB allows it's story room to breathe. Much of it is left intentionally blank to allow the player and the community to figure out. This in my opinion makes it all the more engaging. And of course the combat. It's fast, satisfying and brutal.
Child of Light
A masterfully told fairy tale. It takes much of the tried and tested jrpg mechanics and refines them. Removing much of the tedious grinding while keeping the enjoyable combat system. The beautiful art style makes the game look like a watercolor painting in motion. The story is simple but moving.
Demon's Souls
The father of a brand new genre. Much of what makes this game so special became apparent years after it's release. What seemed like at first an overly complicated gameplay system later became an object of study and inspiration.
Dark Souls
Excellent world building and boss fights. It's become an icon at this point with tons of memorable moments.
Dark Souls 3
A brilliant finisher for the trilogy. Refines a lot of the mechanics and it's the best iteration of them.
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
A masterpiece of world building and story telling. Tons of interesting character and side quests fill a lived in and believable open world.
Persona 4
Brilliant characters, music and overall style. It was fun living out another high school life while solving a murder mystery.
Deus Ex:Human Revolution
My favourite cyberpunk/sci-fi rpg ever. The sense of atmosphere and style is top notch. The gameplay systems are fantastic and the choices you make in fact carry a significant amount of weight.
Pyre
Truly one of the most innovative rpgs I have played recently. Replacing violent combat with a fantasy sport is genius. I found me self really invested in forming different team comps and trying out new strategies, The way the game continues despite losing matches is also a brilliant feature. It actually makes losing a huge point of tension and you find yourself feeling the loss along with the characters in the game. The way the game presents different scenarios and character interactions based on your decisions really add a lot of weight to the games world.
Nier: Automata
Yoko Taro is a mad genius and Platinum games are action game maestros. This game constantly played and shifted my expectations. I found myself being constantly surprised and awe inspired by the game.
Undertale
One of the most charming and joyous games I have ever played. The humor, the characters, the music and of course the combat system all come together to make something very special. Though it may lack the gameplay depth of other rpgs it makes up for it by genuinely putting weight on every choice you make.
Valkyria Chronicles
I absolutely adored the characters and world building of this game. The game also deals with some very real issues that exist in our world and it handles them with surprising levity and grace.
Dark Souls 2
The weakest souls game but still very good. It creates and intriguing world filled with beauty and horror in equal measures.
Fallout 3
This game has all the strengths and flaws of a Bethesda game. They have created a wide open world and gave you the freedom to play however you want but it also has the short comings we are all familiar with. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my journey through the capital wasteland.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Although the main story was disappointing the game more than made up for it with the side stories and DLCs. The game is still pure sci-fi/cyberpunk goodness.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
A very faithful recreation of the tv show. It conserves the witty humor and deep satire the show is known for. The fact it's also a grand rpg is the cherry on top.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Another Bethesda game on this list and it's here for a similar reason. Bethesda are masters of player freedom. You can have so many different types of build and characters. You can pick any direction and run into something interesting.
Deus Ex
I still haven't finished Deus Ex. However, the parts I did play were genuinely brilliant. The game was so ahead of it's time when it released and the times still hasn't caught up to it.
--VOTE INFO START
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} Bloodborne
{UNDERRATED 4 points} Child of Light
Demon's Souls
Dark Souls
Dark Souls 3
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Pyre
Nier: Automata
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
Undertale
Valkyria Chronicles
Dark Souls 2
Fallout 3
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
South Park: The Stick of Truth
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Deus Ex
I need to keep everyone on that list for the other raffles, but I have marked your names in blue.
If we pass 200 eligible participants, I'll ask if anyone else wants to pass their key on to latecomers. There still are over 100 unreserved keys, so I am not too worried about it at present.
This is the game that started it all for me at seven years old. Not just my love for gaming, nor my love for roleplaying games, but the love for all the little nuances that make up the whole product. But even digging past my own personal nostalgia for the title, I have always felt that VIII is an underrated game that is quite ambitious and daring. The people at Square could have easily cashed in on the VII money and made a direct sequel or even a spiritual successor in a sense; they didn't. Instead, they created a game with a whole new (controversial) system and made it focus in on a romance between two teenagers. This game has it all for me - the best soundtrack of Uematsu's career, the best visuals and scenery of the entire series, vibrant and beautiful character designs from Nomura, and a battle system that will let you make it as easy or as challenging as you want it to be. When I think of an rpg and Final Fantasy, this is the title that instantly comes to mind.
2. Suikoden
Not Suikoden II? While I did consider putting Suikoden II in this spot, I was reading over the list of potential underrated games and saw that the original Suikoden was a candidate and had to put it down. While the game is lacking the production values and lush storyline of it's sequel, it largely succeeds thanks to the original design of having over a hundred potential party members and the own personal growth of your castle being linked to it. One of the things I greatly prefer about the original game is the wonderful soundtrack that was created for it. It is fun, vibrant, and full of texture. The one-on-one duels and the war battles are also great and unique additions that really help make this game stand out. While it is a short game, it is interestingly endlessly replayable thanks to a safe but good script, fun and varied character designs, and beautiful sprite work.
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
While I am a massive fan of the original game, Knights of the Old Republic II was the game that made me really get out of my element and start experimenting with the consequences of my choices and dealing with the moral ambiguity of their actions. This also led me to become a huge fan of Obsidian's work and made me open to explore older Western RPGs to experience some of their great games. The influence system in this game is revolutionary - it completely changed the way several games dialogue trees branch and the responses the characters give to you. No longer is it the "level up and I will share you more about my past" response we've been used to. Based on your actions and what you say to these characters, they will change their dialogue to accommodate them and really flesh them out to become more than just props. The writing in this game is aces and Kreia, in particular, is a standout character in all of gaming.
4. Fallout: New Vegas
Another Obsidian game and my most played game on Steam. I was a huge fan of Fallout 3 when it came out - and still am - but the announcement that Obsidian was going to release a new Fallout title was one of the most exciting periods for me as a gamer. New Vegas takes what is great from the Capital Wasteland and adds even further greatness. Making karma matter less in favor of reputation was a brilliant move that made far more sense in the grand scheme of things. The dialogue and quest branching in this game is insane, so many outcomes, and all of those outcomes piece back together to make an excellent ending showing you the consequences of your actions in the Mojave desert. It also gives character to the wayfaring friends you encounter along the way, each with their own quest and purpose. Rose of Sharon Cassidy and Arcade Gannon stand out the most for me.
5. Chrono Cross
I love this game. I started out blind when I first played it (I have since played Trigger) and was super interested in this game that felt like a hybrid of Final Fantasy and Suikoden. I was really surprised when I started to browse message boards on the internet and found out just how divisive this game was. It hasn't been very long since I first played the game - only about two years ago - but it stuck with me in the most positive way. I truly think this game has some of the most gorgeous visuals in a roleplaying game despite it being a Playstation title. The team that made this game really pushed the tech to it's limits considering how great it still looks to this day (not even mentioning the all time excellence that is the soundtrack).
6. Mass Effect 2
I love characters. I love meeting new cast members that come together as my time, whether I love them or hate them, and learning the stories that shape who they are. It is a good thing, then, that this is exactly what Mass Effect 2 is: a story of a man/woman combing the galaxy for a new team while learning and helping those along the way. You get to see and resolve clashes between party members, learn more about the lore of several species, while also having satisfying reunions with party members from the previous game. It also improves on the original game considerably with the streamlined combat and getting rid of the tedious Mako sections. Miranda and Samara are still two of my favorite characters ever.
7. Dark Cloud 2
I grew up playing the first Dark Cloud over and over with my friends. It was a wonderful childhood memory that I won't ever forget - so imagine how excited we all were when we discovered a sequel came out with even more things to do. Thankfully they decided to remove the dehydration element of the original game and opted to make this game a little more story driven with the two main characters (Max and Monica) while also allowing you to recruit party members around the world in different timelines. The growth in this game is so well done and extensive.The weapon upgrade system, in particular, almost requires a full chart to see all the different possibilities you can achieve by mixing and matching materials.
8. Kingdom Hearts
This was the first game I got on the Playstation 2 and one of the only games I ever played with all of my family. So excuse me if the nostalgia goggles are on a little bit tight for this one. I considered voting for Kingdom Hearts II instead after a critical playthrough (and, indeed, it probably is a better game overall) but I decided to go with Kingdom Hearts instead because of how underrated it seems these days and how well done the actual narrative is. I love the series but there is something so pure about the storyline and the characters and themes in the first game that are lacking in later titles. I love how broken the MP system can be in this game and also how outright challenging this can be if you don't know what you are doing. Fighting against Unknown in the 1.5 Remix was one of my favorite boss fights in a game ever.
9. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
My (and I am assuming a great deal amount of others) first experience into the HD generation of gaming. I will never forget walking out of the Imperial City sewers and taking in all of that extreme and overdramatic bloom effect shining all around the lake.. only to be peddled by bandits a few moments later. There is a lot of freedom to Oblivion in the way that you make and shape your character - something I truly enjoyed. I played the game for hundreds of hours, trying new races and species, always managing to find new objects and locations. It is definitely dated nowadays but who can dislike all of those terrible voices, abysmal artificial intelligence, and those faces only a mother could love? Oblivion is fun from start to finish. My favorite part of the game was the Dark Brotherhood sequence and all the fun quests (like Who Dun It) involved.
10. Final Fantasy XIII-2
This is probably my most controversial choice but I stand by it completely. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a total blast, through and through, and one of the most fun games I have ever played. So much so that I even platinumed it twice. While the storyline can be a little bit shaky from time to time, the monster catching and stat raising was something fun and new to the series and Noel/Serah felt like an enjoyable and compelling lead duo. I suppose it is almost a bit like Dark Cloud 2 if you think about it in that aspect. Not to mention it has one of the best soundtracks ever. Does this game really need to exist? No. Was it really necessary to retcon the uplifting ending of XIII? No. Should we all be thankful it happened anyway? Yes.
--VOTE INFO START—
<FULL POINT GAMES – 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT – 3 points} Final Fantasy VIII
{UNDERRATED – 4 points} Suikoden
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
Fallout: New Vegas
Chrono Cross
Mass Effect 2
Dark Cloud 2
Kingdom Hearts
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Final Fantasy XIII-2
<HONORABLE MENTIONS – 1 point>
Final Fantasy VI
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Suikoden II
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Fallout 2
The Legend of Dragoon
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
NieR
Final Fantasy XV
#1 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (NSW):
I consider this an RPG, and my apologies if you do not. I was looking forward to this game since...2013? I forget when we first got the "Legend of Zelda Wii U" working title. I kept getting excited for it any time there was a chance we would find out more about it, and then we didn't...quite a few times...and then it was delayed...and then delayed again. I don't think I ever became uninterested in it, but I stopped getting excited for it. The bits and pieces of game play we saw looked great, but I kept my expectations in check until the reviews came pouring in - my goodness, instant hype.
I still had this nagging feeling that it might not live up to those expectations, but after the first night I knew it would. I don't think I've been this engaged in a game since WoW first released - that feeling where you don't notice time passing, and suddenly it's 4 hours later; that feeling where you just want to do "one more thing" and then it's another "one more thing", etc. Sure I've had this feeling in small burst from other games, but release day was the first time I've binged on a game to this extent in a LONG time. I love to explore - both in real life and in games - and that feeling is ever present in BotW. The ability to climb anything and use the glider further amplifies this - I would go so far as to say that without them the game would pale in comparison.
I was a little uncertain how I would feel about the weapons/shields/bows being able to break, but after some time in the game I think it adds to the experience. It really makes you try out new gear and chose what you use and when - saving the best gear for boss fights, etc.
I am thoroughly enjoying the stealthly play-style. I bought the full Sheika gear set (for added stealth), crouch-walking when coming up to an enemy for reduced noise, and using the bow to take them out from afar. I love being able to pick up arrows that missed their target (both mine and enemies). The stealth aspect also worked to my advantage in catching a horse. That horse was dope! A couple of times I died while I was off doing stuff away from the horse and he was always waiting for me nearby, except the last time - he was gone...sad times
In terms of progression, I enjoyed the game so much that I took my time to savor everything the game has to offer. I was compelled to seek out the array of collectables, and love that they serve also as a means to enhance your character or add more storage. After about 20 hours in I had completed 20 shrines, and started making my way to the first dungeon, but was in no rush to end this wonderful experience.
After about 55 hours in this game was looking to be my personal GOAT. This game had a wealth of gameplay options - the main story quests, a variety of side quests, general exploration, collectables, quick challenges found in the shrines, longer challenges in the divine beasts, and even just experimenting with the game's mechanics. At this point I had completed 50 shrines and 2 divine beasts - which put me right around 1/2-way point through the available content. I successfully caught another horse and registered him this time with a stable, so we're buddies now. For traveling, I found myself warping for long distances, and running on foot for short distances (so that I could scout out areas or collect items). I still used the horse as a fun alternative to my exploration at times, but it's not the main method of travel that I assumed it would be. Somehow I accidentally mounted a bear - I think I was more surprised than he was!
Speaking on the game's engagement, I have to give it credit in particular for holding my attention in the Lost Woods - between a half-hour of getting lost just trying to find out what was in there, and then an hour of the Challenge of Wood (leading to the East Shrine), and an hour of tailing one of the young Korok dudes (leading to the Northwest Shrine) - and still I keep wanting to best these challenges, never looking for help online to get past them, and not wanting to quit and do something else.
At about 90 or so hours in, I was satisfied with all that I had accomplished, and set off for the final battle. At this point I had activated all the towers, defeated all 4 divine beasts, about 83 shrines, and collected 53 Korok Seeds. I had the master sword, 21 hearts, a stockpile of weapons, food, and upgraded gear.
The Gatekeepers did a number on me, and being in the mood to finish the game I skipped them. I thoroughly enjoyed taking out the corrupted Guardians with the Ancient Arrows. The Calamity Ganon fight was pretty fun - and the help from the divine beasts was a nice bonus. It took me a bit before I realized that I had to shield reflect some of his attacks when he got below 25%. After figuring that out, it was a breeze to finish that part of the fight off. Then, much to my happy surprise, there was a fun FINAL BATTLE on horseback where I was shooting arrows of light at Ganon - good times, except for the odd time that my horse got stuck below Ganon's foot and I couldn't mount back up, so I finished it off on foot. This game was such a pleasure, and absolutely worth the wait.
After taking a short break for some other games after beating this one, I came back for more! At 112 hours in, and I've finished all of the shrines, gotten nearly all of the gear (and upgraded it to the 3rd level). I think all that is left now is about 25 side quests, the 4th great fairie, and korok seeds (No, I'm not collecting 900, lol). I love this game, and immediately bought the DLC when it was released. Extremely highly recommended game!
#2 - Chrono Trigger (SNES):
I don't know why I never really played many RPGs growing up, but I've certainly made up for it since, and this one had been on my list to play for a long time now. I was very excited to play it, and at the risk of spoiling this review, the game lives up to all the hype.
This game is almost too good - It managed to avoid the pitfalls of many other RPGs, and did so way before their time! The sprite work was great, and the music was fantastic and quite memorable. The characters were intriguing and useful - some have advantages over others for physical/magic/healing, but none have been a burden to play with. The leveling/gold accumulation was on point - and I didn't feel like I needed to grind to beat bosses or buy new gear. I never really got lost - as there were plenty of clues within the gameplay to know where to go next. The world was dynamic and the time mechanic was well thought out - I loved how the future changed based on things you've done in the past, and how areas stayed relevant throughout the game instead of just passing through them and forgetting about them.
The final battles were exciting, and added to the story.
I loved the Moonlight Festival after beating the last boss.
Man that ending - soooo good - maybe be one of the best I've seen! To be honest, I was worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype its generated over the 21 years that it was out before I played it, but after completing it I can attest to its greatness - what a treat! This one is absolutely getting more playthroughs.
#3 - Super Mario RPG (SNES):
Many years ago when I was visiting cousins, I came across this game in their collection, but had never heard of it (maybe there wasn't a lot of marketing for it at the time?). Anyway, I saw that it had the Mario characters in it, and gave it a try. As I played though it, I was a little confused at first why I was teamed up with Bowser, but kept right on playing. Thinking back, this might have been my first RPG, and I will attribute my thenceforth love for them to this game! I proceeded to commandeer my cousins' SNES, and got most of the way through it before our vacation ended and we went back home. Never finishing it has been nagging at me for the better part of 20 years, but with it's release on the Wii U VC (yes I know there's been a billion other ways to play it), I jumped back in.
I love this game, and it's easily a lock for me as one of the SNES's top offerings (along with SMW, LTTP, FF's, DKC's, etc). I love how the story and tone of this game is so vastly different from Super Mario World, and yet still totally works within that universe. It plumbs the depths of Bowser, and you know what, he's more than just a "Bad Guy" like Wreck-It Ralph. Sure he has an outwardly expressed tough-guy attitude bent on conquering the Mushroom Kingdom, but inside he's just a dude trying to make his way in the world. I love the quirkiness of the characters, and how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, like some other RPGs. I thought the characters and areas were enjoyable. The music and art were great too! The leveling and currency accumulation were perfect in this game. The length of the game felt perfect, and it wasn't padded with filler content. The collaboration on this game between Square & Nintendo is ever present in the best way, and I'm sad that it didn't continue to more games. In conclusion, this game was another fabulous RPG that I will definitely re-visit regularly.
#4 - World of Warcraft (PC):
I don't have nearly enough room to go into the details of my 10-year stint with this game (and 1.5 years of in-game play time). Some brief thoughts are: it's one of the most immersive games I've played; I've built real life friendships while playing this game; it was my source of entertainment and social encounters when I was laid off and out of work for a year due to the recession in 2008; it helped me grow as a person, between multitasking, researching, preparing for events, coordinating with people, being accountable for events you sign up for; and so on.
I enjoyed the music, but wouldn't say it's something I'd keep on my iPod. The visuals have been pretty on point for the period of time each expansion has been released in. But my greatest take away is the sense of exploration that is available in this game. I've said it in other reviews, but that really is one of my favorite things to do in a game - just explore, and I think the only game I've played that can rival that is Breath of the Wild.
I don't play this regularly anymore, but I do check out each new expansion for a couple months when it goes on a Black Friday sale.
#5 - Final Fantasy IX (PS1):
It's been years since I played this title, and I still fondly remember it, though the details may be a bit hazy now. Certainly it's time for another playthrough of this title!
Final Fantasy VII blew my mind when it first released, and I loved it dearly, but this game took that formula and tightened it up. I liked the characters in FFVII, but I loved the characters in FFIX. The story was fun and exciting in FFVII, but it was captivating and complex in FFIX. I thought the exploration and music of each stood toe to toe, and the thing I love the most about FFIX (and FFVII) was the visual art style of the pre-rendered backgrounds/objects, which gave it a leg up over other games at the time, and have helped it age well in my opinion.
#6 - SteamWorld Heist (WIU):
I adore everything about this game. From the title music "To the Stars", which got ample playtime (from leaving the game on the title screen just to listen to it) before and after playing the actual game, to the characters which were humorous, to the gameplay which never got old, to the storyline's 3 arcs. It was one of the games that captured my attention completely while playing, and digged at my brain when I wasn't. I was afraid that I would tire of the gameplay midway through since the underlying concept was very consistent all the way through, but I never did. There was enough variation in the levels (even when replaying a particular one due to the randomly-generated ship's layout), as well as the enemies, that the levels were always a thrill. The countdown timer for additional enemies encouraged efficiency in strategy, and the collectibles added further challenge/reward. I loved this one enough play it again to 100% it before moving on to the next game, and will definitely come back for the New Game +
#7 - Final Fantasy VI (SNES):
This game was pretty phenomenal. I loved the huge cast of characters, and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities when I got to do multiple team battles. The characters were all pretty versatile, which made playing as different setups a breeze, and I appreciated the sometimes forced team setups as it got me out of my comfort zone of the same 4 characters, and into more experimenting. Overall, Celes was my favorite character, but everyone had their own personality and skill-sets that made playing them interesting as well, and there wasn't a character I didn't like playing. I'd love to spend more time with the Yeti and the Mime, since I didn't find them until I was nearly ready to fight Kefka.
Once again, the music and sprites were top notch. The story did feel a little loose to me aside from going after Kefka, but the game was enjoyable enough that it didn't bother me all that much. Maybe that was on me for reading too much into the War of the Magi, and expecting a grand coming together of the people against Kefka, and when it didn't happen (since the townspeople had seemingly accepted their fate), it was only my party (albeit a rather large one) against him, and it felt a bit lonely/sad to me.
The content of the story aside, I felt that the story-telling continues to improve with each iteration. The opening and closing scenes must have something else at the time. The interactions between the characters were great, and the use of special sprites just for the characters shaking their finger like "Nuh uh, let me tell you what's what", along with a few others were a nice touch.
Overall I thought it was another great SNES RPG, and now that I've played FFIV, FFV, FFVI, Chrono Trigger, and Super Mario RPG over the past 2 years, my personal order of appreciation would be CT & SMRPG as the best, but this one is close!
#8 - Xenoblade Chronicles (WII):
Somehow this one was totally off my radar at the time it came out, but over the years since release I would occasionally hear people praise it. Eventually it had my attention enough that I checked out a couple videos on it and the visuals and music immediately captured my attention. I went out in search of a copy and after the 4th or so Game Stop it was mine.
The playstyle was a bit new for me, since I had previously played turn-based RPGs on consoles, and MMORPGs on the computer using a keyboard and mouse. Getting used to it was pretty easy, but choosing the optimal moves was a bit more of a learning curve for me.
I thought the story was intriguing ,and the characters were captivating, but ultimately the exploration was what I loved the most. The scenery was so beautifully crafted, which each area having its own unique setting and points of interest. The village that Riki lived in reminded me of the Ewok village in Star Wars; the wide open grassy areas felt like a nice summer day in the county; and the snowy area with the crystals and beacons of light were stunning.
As in any RPG the music has to be good, if not great, since you'll be listening to mostly the same few tracks for countless hours - and it was. I still have the soundtrack on my iPod to listen to it from time to time.
My only real issue was that I was progressing faster than I was leveling, which means I needed to take a break from the story to grind out a few levels to be able to beat the Elite/Boss NPCs - especially the final third of the game.
Overall I enjoyed it, and the ending was great. The new game plus option popped up, and suddenly made me want to go for another play-through. I definitely want to play this one again. Good times!
#9 - Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3):
This game was fantastic. I love Studio Ghibli movies, and when I found out they were involved in this game, it immediately sparked my interest! The combination of the animated sections (cut scenes) with the cell-shaded aesthetic (used for the general gameplay) really made it feel like an interactive Ghibli movie.
The music was great, and the story was engaging. The characters were fun and likeable. The side-quests had good/decent rewards, as well as a bonus currency (for other useful rewards) that made finishing them enticing. The XP and gold accumulation was spot on, and didn't require additional grinding.
The AI was great at following direction when setting roles, and my only criticism would be that they burn through their mana incredibly fast.
After finishing this game, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming sequel!
#10 - Red Dead Redemption (PS3):
This was a pretty fun game. Loved how they captured the Old West setting in everything from the scenery, music, dialogue, and general way of life. It felt very open and free in terms of gameplay, which added to the fun from exploration, but it also felt semi-unstructured in terms of story progression. Initially, it felt more like an Old West simulator, where I was just dropped off in that time period and doing my thing. However, the story really started coming together about midway through, and tightened up the experience. I totally wasn't expecting the ending to play out the way it did.
In fact I could feel that there was some kind of story twist coming when the game kept going after being reunited with my family, but I was expecting something to happen to my wife or son. It's kinda neat that you can continue the quests after the game is done from the perspective of the son.
There were a couple things I felt needed a bit of critiquing namely the control of horses/wagons felt a bit un-refined (kinda like Twilight Princess). There were also instances where dialogue between characters cut in and out, which ranged from mildly annoying to potentially missing key story elements. That aside, I felt the gun aiming/control was fantastically tuned for a console controller, and I definitely appreciated that. Overall, the game felt a little bit drawn out, but was definitely enjoyable, and worthy of a recommendation!
--VOTE INFO START
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Chrono Trigger
Super Mario RPG
World of Warcraft
Final Fantasy IX
SteamWorld Heist
Final Fantasy VI
Xenoblade Chronicles
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Red Dead Redemption
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy V
Salt & Sanctuary
Child of Light
Thinking about it, I would probably consider every game in my list a 10/10 and could probably still come up with 10 or 15 more games that I would call 10s before we even start to get to 9s. I am such a sucker for RPGs.
My lost probably won't be huge. I have such a backlog.
I can't even really play some in the meantime as I'm committed to finishing Wii U games that really use Miiverse. I had just finished Mass Effect 1 right before the announcement of discontinuation.
It was really tough not to immediately read the books and go to 2 after that infodump at the end of 1 but now that some time has passed I don't feel the pressing need.
I'm playing through Deus Ex Human Revolution DC right now (really incredible port with all the Gamepad features, great touch implementation, automatic achievement posts, you can even record audio notes) and I'm afraid to focus on stealth as I'm not a fan and feel like as the game goes on it'll get to a point where it's not something I want to deal with anymore.
Then again you die so quickly even on normal and iron-sights by clicking in the right stick is weird. The level below normal though seems to overcompensate way too much. Which is understandable since it's for people who just want the story. You can take like times the shots and recover health like 6 times quicker than normal.
This is probably my most controversial choice but I stand by it completely. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a total blast, through and through, and one of the most fun games I have ever played. So much so that I even platinumed it twice. While the storyline can be a little bit shaky from time to time, the monster catching and stat raising was something fun and new to the series and Noel/Serah felt like an enjoyable and compelling lead duo. I suppose it is almost a bit like Dark Cloud 2 if you think about it in that aspect. Not to mention it has one of the best soundtracks ever. Does this game really need to exist? No. Was it really necessary to retcon the uplifting ending of XIII? No. Should we all be thankful it happened anyway? Yes.
I'm not the only one who really liked this game? Wow. I absolutely loved this game. It was such a big big improvement over FFXIII in terms of gameplay and the story was at least enjoyable. Nice to see it get some recognition!
I'm not the only one who really liked this game? Wow. I absolutely loved this game. It was such a big big improvement over FFXIII in terms of gameplay and the story was at least enjoyable. Nice to see it get some recognition!
I had fun with XIII-2, but the story and tone were so bonkers and tangential to XIII that it didn't sit that well w/ me in the end.
XIII had its issues (didn't make my essential list), but the super tight puzzle battle progression was pretty cool, and at least the tone was really consistent, even if the story itself wasn't any great shakes.
Still, I respect anyone ballsy enough to put XIII-2 on a list like this. Definitely an interesting game worthy of a look!
I'm not the only one who really liked this game? Wow. I absolutely loved this game. It was such a big big improvement over FFXIII in terms of gameplay and the story was at least enjoyable. Nice to see it get some recognition!
Thinking about it, I would probably consider every game in my list a 10/10 and could probably still come up with 10 or 15 more games that I would call 10s before we even start to get to 9s. I am such a sucker for RPGs.
Perhaps those of you who enjoy discussing RPG mechanics can weigh in on this:
You might have noticed that the sample game banner for this year's aggregate list has 4 multi-colored squares in the top right.
These are placeholders for icons that will categorize each game according to some game mechanics.
I have already finished two sets:
Playable Character Control
=> Single PC (this will include games that give you helper characters like New Vegas)
=> Active control over one character, and computer scripting for the rest. The difference between this and Single PC is that you can choose to actively control any character in the party.
=> Full control over all party actions (unless you choose autobattle).
Battle Flow/Combat System
=> Turn-based
=> Active Time Battle (mostly Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. Some others)
=> Real-time
=> Real-time with Pause
=> Optional Real-time or Turn-based (Might and Magic VI for example)
In both cases, The classifications work for both JRPGs and WRPGs, as well as any sub-genre of RPG.
I need to decide on two more of these game mechanic categories. They need to be equally applicable to all games being nominated here. They have to be informative and in good faith (no "Real RPG? Yes/No"). I generally don't want binary classifications, especially in cases where 80%+ of titles discussed here would be in one category (such as single player vs multiplayer).
One thing the Souls series is known for is it's difficulty, however Dark Souls 1 gets challenging (but fair), better than any game I can think of. The game punishes you for mistakes, but never manages to feel unfair, barring one instance.
It's dreary atmosphere is just neat.
Dark Souls is a must-try for anyone with a passing interest in action-rpgs. It is the de facto ARPG of it's generation.
2. Wizardry : Tale of the Forsaken Land (Underrated)
This is a PS2 first person dungeon crawler. It has a unique battle system called Allied Actions, allowing you to use team attacks based on your party's roles and formation.
For example Restrict Shot, you can use two party members to block one enemy from casting magic. If the enemy party casts a spell your party will promptly throw a first person dagger at him, denying his cast. Satisfying.
I describe the game's atmosphere as evil satanic wizards but doesn't take itself too seriously.
3. Dragon Quest 8
The first Dragon Quest in full 3d color. If there's one thing those Level-5 bois know how to do, its cel shading.
You got your classic DQ gameplay, the god-tier Level-5 graphics, good voice acting, a symphony soundtrack, and the best cast in a Dragon Quest game ever.
King Trode is the best videogame comic relief character ever made, facts.
4. Shin Megami Tensei : Nocturne
Almost made this my highlight, because for a turn based rpg it's a must try. The backdrop is fighting demons in hell basically, and that's just cool.
The game has an auto attack, animation speed up button (enough said).
A hardcore dungeon crawler with good production values. On the mount rushmore of PS2 RPGs.
5. Planescape : Torment
You already know this game has the writing. A quirky and well developed cast. One of the most unique settings in rpgs.
Its a Wrpg that shares aspects with those old Jrpgs, it's linear and story focused. The worldbuilding of this game is some great stuff.
Also it had the balls to make its main character look like a zombie with dreads, which is commendable.
The ending is
badass and metal as hell.
6. Phantasy Star Online
An old dreamcast action mmo with a lot of depth. There are still private servers of this game being played. Simple to play but hard to master.
It has a mode called "Challenge Mode" which is some of the most fun mmo action to be had. In it you start at level 1 and must work your way through the stages using only the weapons & items you find in the stage. Healing items can be scarce, but finding OP weapons in this mode is boosted, making the random element of it exciting. It requires teamwork and theres so much to learn like damage canceling, combo timing, accuracy requirements, map knowledge. Playing this mode on voice chat with friends is some quality gaming for ya.
PSO single handedly inspired the Monster Hunter series.
7. Monster Hunter Tri
A deep action series with some the coolest menu art ever. Seriously.
They have an icon for every item and monster in the game, and they all look iconic as fuck. Just google monster hunter potions; now that's a logo you could build a brand on.
On top of the quality gameplay, the art & setting are just so cool it makes you want to like this series.
The gameplay of Monster Hunter is it's own genre, you won't find it's like anywhere else done better. I chose Monster Hunter Tri or MH3U, because it was the first most accessible MH game.
8. Super Mario RPG : Legend of the Seven Stars
One of the first console rpgs to use action inputs.
The cast is colorful & great. They'd fit right in on a Super Smash Bros. title
Not to mention the silent movie humor of the sprites. SMRPG is unbeaten in that aspect.
Why do I still remember the sound effects 20 years later?
9. Final Fantasy 9
The entry of the famous Final Fantasy series that best captures the spirit of the old and new games.
Featuring one of the most interesting characters in the series, Vivi. You get to see one of Final Fantasy's classic black mages have a personality.
Final Fantasy has always been an innovator, but I feel they've strayed too far from the originals in the most recent titles. Black Mages > Boy bands
Great characters, great ending, great game.
10. Chrono Cross
A JRPG that dares to try something different.
Ok so maybe all the characters don't technically have a personality.
To quote another GAF member Chrono Cross is a 'phantasmagoric journey".
The soundtrack for this game is the GOAT bro.
One of the main characters is an anthropromorphic cat Darth Vader. That's enough for me.
--VOTE INFO START—
<FULL POINT GAMES – 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT – 3 points}Dark Souls
{UNDERRATED – 4 points} Wizardry : Tale of the Forsaken Land
Dragon Quest 8
Shin Megami Tensei : Nocturne
Planescape : Torment
Phantasy Star Online
Monster Hunter Tri
Super Mario RPG : Legend of the Seven Stars
Final Fantasy 9
Chrono Cross
<HONORABLE MENTIONS – 1 point>
Elder Scrolls 3 : Morrowind
Pokemon Fire Red
Skies of Arcadia
Final Fantasy 10
Front Mission 4
Chrono Trigger
Mass Effect 1
Dark Cloud 2
Suikoden 3
Fallout 4
--VOTE INFO END--
1st-gen Pokemon was my gateway to RPGs as a kid. It was by far my favorite game at the time. Then Silver and Gold came, making everything bigger and better. New Pokemon, new types, breeding, day/night cycle, all those things made it such an improved experience compared to the first one. I played this game A LOT, and it's the only Pokemon game that I got the full Pokedex. The whole journey up to facing Red was an amazing experience. The remakes introduce the more modern mechanics to the game, making it even better to play. I've honestly lost count on the amount of my replays of the original + remake.
I still remember 10-year-old me reading a review of FFIX in PlayStation magazine and thinking "this looks like Pokemon, I should try it". To this day it's probably the game that's closest to my heart. The core theme of the game is "coming home", and what that means for each character. It's also a "coming home" for the series, which returns to its fantasy roots after a couple of more sci-fi oriented games. This central theme is also beautifully conveyed through the music, which I also consider the peak of the series as a complete sountrack. Again, LOTS of playthroughs of this game over the years, which are going to increase even more with the speedier PC version available.
This gets my underrated vote. Dark Chronicle, a.k.a. Dark Cloud 2 in NA, was one of my biggest PS2 era timesinks along with FFX and KH2. This game has a lot going for it. I really liked the weapon upgrade system, taking photograhps of things and making inventions out of them was fun, and the concept of building the towns to change the future was super cool to me.
If you told me that there'd be a series of Action RPG games by SE where you go around Disney worlds, while featuring Final Fantasy cameos, I'd ask you to pass whatever you're smoking. And yet, here we are. The first game was great, but KH2 really nailed the combat and was so fun to play. If you like this game, do yourself a favor and watch a Critical Mode speedrun, it truly showcases the whole battle system.
Even though I was part of the PSX era, I was way LTTP on this game. Its strengths have already been mentioned a lot so I won't repeat the same stuff. I think recruiting all the different characters and improving your HQ was the biggest draw for me. Even though FFIX is my favorite, I'd say as objectively as I can that Suikoden II is the greatest JRPG of the PSX era.
Yeah we get it, it's Dark Souls. Again, I won't tire you with the same old. But I will say that one of the most important things this game (and the series in general) did was to incorporate death/failure as actual part of the game instead of a rewind button. Most games treat player death as an error. Dark Souls treats it as a function.
The Director's Cut version of this was my first Deus Ex game, and I had a pretty good time with it. Interesting setting, with lots of things to do, and lots of ways to do them. The debate battles were also pretty cool. Boss battles were kind of meh, and honestly I'm not sure if boss battles fit this type of game, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. Sad to see that Mankind Divided didn't have very good reception, I had high hopes for it.
I played this with the Steam release, and while I've heard good things about it already, I was still surprised by its quality. Some missions were a bit of a slog to get through but overall a great experience. Story has some pretty dark moments too. I'm honestly kind of baffled that this wasn't a bigger hit, but I guess in the context of the PS360 market back then it kind of makes sense.
Certainly didn't expect such a vast improvement over Returns. The game drops you right into the action, and then lets you take a breath to explore the well populated hub and figure out how you want to accomplish your goal. What I really liked is that it allows you to roleplay your character without having the fear that you are missing out on stuff, which is a trapping that many games with dialogue options fail to avoid. It also provides you with excellent NPCs to bounce off, with well written and interesting dialogue, and a lot of big choices to make as you approach the end of the game. The combat is decent and allows you to pull off some cool shit. One criticism I have is that I'd like more party slots to rotate some guest characters without leaving out a core member.
There is no other game that deserves to be highlighted more than Path of Exile this year. I originally played it about 2-3 years ago, and while I enjoyed it, there were some issues (mainly desync) that caused me to stop playing. The game had completely fallen off my radar, so the only reason I heard about the Fall of Oriath expansion was because a lot of people started playing it on Twitch when it hit. The game had a lot of improvements over the years, but Fall of Oriath elevated it to the next level. Remember having to replay the game on the next difficulty to progress? Scratch that, here's 6 new acts that seamlessly take you all the way to the end game mapping system. In terms of build creativity, Path of Exile is above and beyond anything else. It's hard to convey all the possibilities that the skill gem system (think materia on crack) enables, combined with the vast passive skill tree which ranges from simple stat bonuses to core mechanic altering Keystones. I am 100% confident in saying that PoE dethroned Diablo 2 for me from the top of the isometric loot ARPG genre.
--VOTE INFO START
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} Path of Exile
{UNDERRATED 4 points} Dark Chronicle/Dark Cloud 2
Final Fantasy IX
Pokemon Soul Silver/Heart Gold
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Dark Souls
Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Valkyria Chronicles
Suikoden II
Kingdom Hearts 2
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
Final Fantasy X
Dragon Quest VIII
Mass Effect
Diablo 2
Guild Wars 2
The Last Remnant
Undertale
Dark Souls 2
Child of Light
Transistor
Perhaps those of you who enjoy discussing RPG mechanics can weigh in on this:
You might have noticed that the sample game banner for this year's aggregate list has 4 multi-colored squares in the top right.
These are placeholders for icons that will categorize each game according to some game mechanics.
I have already finished two sets:
Playable Character Control
=> Single PC (this will include games that give you helper characters like New Vegas)
=> Active control over one character, and computer scripting for the rest. The difference between this and Single PC is that you can choose to actively control any character in the party.
=> Full control over all party actions (unless you choose autobattle).
Battle Flow/Combat System
=> Turn-based
=> Active Time Battle (mostly Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. Some others)
=> Real-time
=> Real-time with Pause
=> Optional Real-time or Turn-based (Might and Magic VI for example)
In both cases, The classifications work for both JRPGs and WRPGs, as well as any sub-genre of RPG.
I need to decide on two more of these game mechanic categories. They need to be equally applicable to all games being nominated here. They have to be informative and in good faith (no "Real RPG? Yes/No"). I generally don't want binary classifications, especially in cases where 80%+ of titles discussed here would be in one category (such as single player vs multiplayer).
Character growth could be one. Not sure how to divide that up so it is informative and interesting though.
But, for example, you have a strong dichotomy between class-based/fixed class DQ/FF. Or between SMT characters you build yourself versus demons/Personas/Pokemon you collect, breed, and train.
You have games where you pick your build and games where characters grow in more-or-less preset ways. And then ones in-between, like a game where you choose classes that greatly determine your role but you still have some ability choices.
I think that's a core gameplay issue, but yeah, idk how you'd divide it up.
Another thing could be the mechanics of the story, but there'd need to be more than "there is choice vs. there isn't."
Edit: as to the former there are also all those equipment based systems, like the espers, materia, books, etc. in various FF.
I need to decide on two more of these game mechanic categories. They need to be equally applicable to all games being nominated here. They have to be informative and in good faith (no "Real RPG? Yes/No"). I generally don't want binary classifications, especially in cases where 80%+ of titles discussed here would be in one category (such as single player vs multiplayer).
One thing that's always interesting to me is the number of characters in the party. Games with only one character obviously play differently to party based games, but even with party based games the number of characters matters a lot to me. Having 6 or 8 characters in your party gives the game a different kind of feel than the standard 4 character parties. Similarly, the few games where you only control 2 characters immediately jump out as being very unique (things like The World Ends With You or Beyond Divinity).
Another one is the level of linearity. There's obviously a big difference between linear and open world games, and there's also games that, while being linear, offer the player a wide variety of side quests (things like Xenoblade Chronicles). A related category would be story linearity, although I'm not sure how to exactly to break this down. There's obviously games with completely predetermined stories, but then you also have games with small branches in the story (various SMT games), games with very drastic story changes (The Witcher 2) and games that have a very non-linear approach to storytelling (Sunless Sea).
A rather obvious choice is also the subgenre of the game - action RPG, strategy RPG, dungeon crawler/DRPG/blobber etc. I'm honestly a bit surprised this isn't already in the banners (or am I just missing it?). It's easy to determine and very informative. Not quite sure what to do with traditional JRPGs though. Just labeling them as JRPGs could easily lead to another "what is a JRPG" debate.
Fire Emblem was character driven in the Tellius series too.
Part of the problem in the Awakening/Fates entries is that they try to tell these serious campaign stories while simultaneously having the entire cast act like a bunch of goofs in the support stuff and some of the other dialogue.
Disgaea had everyone act like goofs at all times, and it mostly works. Stuff like Final Fantasy Tactics is always serious, and it works.
A few comedic moments in serious games, or serious moments in comedic games are fine, but they should pick one feel overall and stick to it.
Also, the campaign plots could stand to be stronger.
What I mean to distinguish is between stories that had a strong, focused, and competent overall story and games that eschewed that in favor of boiling everything down to episodic personality moments.
You do have personality moments in the former, of course. They are cohesive narratives about people as well as about places, wars, and themes.
The thing is, they basically threw their hands in the air as to making war stories and as to making worlds post-Tellius.
They even suggested as much themselves when they talked about their approach to story in Fates and the advice from the mangaka. It was a purposeful shift to make their stories more engaging and less boring to a wider audience.
No more map scenes--no more telling you why this army is there, how it can be there, with some strategic narrative that gives the appearance that yes, you're on a sensible campaign.
More expressive, immediately recognizable personalities.
Fire Emblem is supposed to be a lighter, fluffier, romp now. It is all about grabbing you with these personalities and giving you exciting things to do with them and giving you the light airs of a narrative to cast them in certain lights.
And you're right, that was always part of it, but there were ambitions beyond that.
As an example:
I think Conquest, with the world-building and story-telling of the Tellius games, could've given us a main character as much a breath of fresh air as Ike (or Micaiah--but I think she fell kind of flat, personally). It also could've been a really interesting reversal with you playing that tortured bad guy with a good guy's heart that FE loves. But they completely gut that promise by a) failing to actually hold the character's feet to the fire while putting on airs of "woe is me and my tragic fate," b) leaving the entire invasion of Hoshido to a farcical, undercooked plot, (which was written so as to try to take everything off the MC's hands) and c) completely demonizing Nohr without looking into why they who come from a hard, inhospitable land might covet their fertile neighbor.
And this is narrative work that I think their approach left simply off the table, tbh. It was never going to happen with how they thought, at that point, they needed to be doing things. They want to evoke interest and feeling and avoid boring people with details.
(You get the impression that Conquest's story is more dictated by Pokemon Emblem than actual interest in telling that story).
Another thought:
I also think, for example, that they used Ike's characteristic blunt-ness and naivete to cut against and reveal the bullshit in his world. In general, the most developed characters were much more situated within the world and saying something about it as well as themselves.
...
I just feel that Fire Emblem needs to grow in this direction again, personally. I think after Fates, that is a more popular opinion than after Awakening, as Fates was more widely panned for its story as far as I can tell.
This thread has told me that I really need to play more of the Ys games. I own a few of them from super cheap steam and PSN sales, but I've only played through Ys 1 from the Chronicles collection on PSP.
Yeah! Ys 1 is not representative of the quality of other Ys games. It's by far the worst one. I'd recommend going with Origin or Oath in Felghana next.
I also have the first Trails in the Sky on GOG that I'm eager to play, but people always talking about how extremely long these games are makes me wanna wait until there's a dry spell of new stuff before jumping in.
Yeah! Ys 1 is not representative of the quality of other Ys games. It's by far the worst one. I'd recommend going with Origin or Oath in Felghana next.
Idk. I liked Ys I and II better than the other two I played (Oath and Origin--preferred Origin among those). The level growth is wonky in the first one, but I feel that what they managed to do with the combat system was a revelation. II has a much better level curve, but the bosses suffer a bit from the magic system imo.
...
As to those suggestions kswiston, some category ideas. Not sure if they've managed to both be exhaustive and informative .
For the story one:
Minimal core narrative-may or may not be a main story, but either way it is not the main point, which is instead to explore and seek out content.
(meant to include games like a TES and also stereotypical dungeon crawlers).
Fixed-narrative-perhaps there are some minor choices that change say, a small video at the end or open up the post-game, but for the most part you go through the story and the world together in a mostly linear fashion (perhaps there are some do this or that first then the other situations and optional content).
(vast majority of JRPG, for example).
Divergent narrative-games that have radically different content and endings, depending on what you do in the game. Things like you can end the game (in a non-fail state) at different times to different effects. Or choices change scenarios that you experience.
(Example of the former: Chrono Trigger and the latter: Chrono Cross. I imagine this is more prevalent in western RPGs?)
For the build one:
Custom builds: player gets to choose at least the vast majority of abilities and stats a character has.
(problem case: I'm currently playing Digital Devil Saga. That and, say, earlier Persona games give you control over your main characters stats as well as the abilities of all your characters. They don't give you control over the other characters stats however (well in P2-2 your choice informs 1/4 of their stat growth iirc.
In general there is a problem when you can't control stats, but you can control abilities.
Maybe and/or?
Although I can't think of a case the other way around, where it is problematic that you can't control abilities but can control stats.
Also a problem in cases like SMTIII or IV where you get to build your lead character, but your demons have fixed classes.)
Class system: player gets to choose a class, which either removes or greatly determines future ability and/or stat choices.
(Problem case: Persona 3-5--you get to don classes and builds as the main character, but other characters have a fixed class.
Perhaps a problem in class-change games, like classic DQ or FF class-based games. Are you just equipping classes to customize your character? Still, at the end of the day your stats and often abilities are often determined by which class you operate in (like FFT limiting taking abilities from other classes))
Fixed-class system: characters have a preset class, which determines the majority of their abilities and stats.
(Problem case: Final Fantasy VI. Characters have preset classes and stat growths but the esper system allows for customization).
Its fucking Chrono Trigger, man. It still feels fresh to this very day. The spritework is impeccable, the character and enemy designs are Toriyama at his best, the music is absolutely beyond, the story pacing gives you enough time in each area without overstaying its welcome. A true classic in every sense of the word, formed from a once-in-a-lifetime team.
Final Fantasy XIII is a top-tier Final Fantasy game and a damn good RPG. It only rewards you with as much satisfaction as you put into it, however. With its stunning art design and impeccable Masashi Hamauzu soundtrack, the game is an absolute feast for the senses. The game unfortunately catches a lot of scorn for its characters, but I believe this is largely due to bandwagoning. Every JRPG has some bad characters and silly plot devices, but 13 catches a lot of the criticism. Vanille and Fang are the best lesbian couple in gaming. Vanille in particular is a wonderfully rich character, enduring some pretty intense stuff for a good portion of the game. The gameplay is often criticized as well as being too easy and so simple that all you have to do to win is mash the confirm button. That criticism is the easiest way to see that somebody didnt play the game for very long. While the sequels expanded on the lore of the FFXIII subseries, it retconned what I already felt was a complete and satisfying story with a beautiful ending.
My first entry into the Dragon Quest series was IV when it was remade then localized on the Nintendo DS. I had no idea what I was getting into, I just knew I liked RPGs and Dragon Quest was a pretty well-known series in the genre. Instantly, DQIV became a favorite. The structure of the game is a rarity, with each eventual party member getting their own dedicated section of the game where the player gets to see their hometown, culture, and how they live. The localizations accents further add to the distinct differences in each location. The characters are wildly distinct, making for a truly ragtag bunch in the end. What other game lets you bring together a chosen hero, a spunky princess, a portly married merchant, twin dancers, and more? Dragon Quest IV truly made me care for and appreciate every character, which in turn made the journey more personal. Wrap it all up in classic DQ combat and charming locales and you have a classic on your hands.
VII is one of the most hotly-debated entries in the Dragon Quest series. Its very long and the story is mostly made up of smaller vignettes in each individual town across two time periods rather than a single overarching narrative. This draws both rabid admiration and great ire from various fans. While its definitely not everybodys cup of tea, if youre a fan of DQ vignettes, VII has some of the very best in the series and now that its been remade for the 3DS AND localized its more accessible than ever before.
Dragon Quest XI is exactly the current-gen JRPG I was craving for so long. In true Dragon Quest fashion, each area has its own little story to experience and theyre all great. The game is beautifully rendered and captures Toriyamas style very well. XI easily ranks among the best in the series and is one of the best examples of an older series gracefully entering the HD era that I can think of. I can only hope it does well when it finally releases in the west, because its a damn good game.
This entry would be spent on Etrian Odyssey V had it been eligible, but IV is still very deserving of the spot. The Etrian Odyssey series is the zenith of DRPGs. Not only is the gameplay itself polished within an inch of perfection, the ability to map the labyrinth as you explore is as addictive as it is nostalgic, hearkening back to ye olde DRPGs of yesteryear. Yuji Himukais beautifully-designed portraits provide something for everybody as they create their party of adventurers and Yuzo Koshiros phenomenal soundtrack ensures that no matter how long youre stuck in a certain labyrinth, the music wont be something you tire of. The game is chock-full of stuff to explore, including a lengthy and challenging post-game. IV is one of the best entries in what is in my opinion the absolute best series of DRPGs.
When I imagine a JRPG, in its most basic form, I imagine the likes of Dragon Quest I or Final Fantasy I. Final Fantasy VI is the same concept, but expanded to perfection. The characters are memorable and interesting (we dont talk about Umaro), Kefka is one of the best villains I can think of in a JRPG, and the halfway point twist with the World of Ruin, especially in the beginning of it with Celes and Cid, is an emotional high-point in the entire franchise. Add in the classic ATB battle system and the ability to equip Espers to learn new abilities and you have the makings of an essential RPG.
It took me a bit to decide whether I wanted Nier or Nier Automata on my list but in the end I decided on this one. Sure, Nier is a fantastic experience but Automata is Yoko Taro with the help of Platinum on his side. The story is just as great as in the first game, but this time I felt like the pacing was a bit better. The three main androids are well-designed and their individual stories are true to Yoko Taro form. Its the gameplay improvements that make Nier Automata a joy to play, though. Upgrading and planning out chipsets to improve your abilities then sliding and dashing through the world with controls that feel like butter is an incomparable feeling. Combat is fun as well and once you get the hang of the dodging youll be dancing around the field like a whirling dervish of blades. I cant wait to see what Square Enix and Yoko Taro do next with the IP, but Id personally love a remake of the first game with updated gameplay and graphics.
My favorite Tales game shifts yearly, but right now its definitely Destiny. Its the second game in the series and they managed to get so damn much right. Destiny released in 1997, the same year as Final Fantasy VII, so it could definitely be seen as being a bit behind the times in terms of graphics but in terms of character and story it feels ahead of the pack to me. The characters are easily among the most memorable in the series, with Stahn, Rutee, and Leon regularly still placing in popularity polls two decades later. Its a damn shame the PS2 remake was never localized, as it could have introduced more people to an often-overlooked game within a fairly well-known series.
The game cannot be fully enjoyed without having played Cold Steel 1 beforehand, but if you have then you know just how great this game is. Its like CS1 was 95% characterization and buildup in preparation for CS2 while at the same time building off of the foundation of the Trails series starting all the way back in Trails in the Sky. The series has easily the most incredible world-building Ive seen in games to date, where even the NPCs are memorable and will often reappear in various games in the series and locations only briefly mentioned before might go on to be hugely important to the story. Once the third game in this subseries releases it will likely take the place of this because the series seems to get better and better. Of course, since its a Falcom game, the music shouldnt be overlooked as its great as well.
Avalon Code is one of the most ambitious and unique games Ive ever played, but unfortunately was held back by budget restrictions and the hardware for which it was designed. The gist of the game is the hero has been granted a book that they must then use to make a record of every living thing before the world ends so it can all be created anew after the apocalypse. This involves scanning objects, anything from enemies, to puffs of grass, to the NPCs in your hometown by slapping them over the head with your book. Once this has been done, you can take a peek into what makes them tick. A Stone Ogre for example, might have some code for dogs and rocks within his pages. If you take away the rock code and place it on a sword, the enemy becomes a plain, weakened Ogre and your sword becomes a stone sword and has a slight buff. By playing around with codes on the enemies you encounter, you are able to weaken, strengthen, and change elements around in the heat of battle. NPCs are affected by this as well, and while it isnt as broad as youd hope you can still greatly affect the lives of those around you, such as opening somebodys cold heart or healing a girls chronic illness. The story is alright and involves an evil army from a neighboring kingdom but the gameplay is so innovative and nothing like Ive ever seen before that I would be remiss not to include it on this list.
Boktai is that weird Hideo Kojima game that uses a real, literal solar sensor attached to the game pak to read the amount of ambient, natural light in your surroundings and use that to directly impact gameplay. Its utterly phenomenal and works way better than youd think. While the first game was a little short and washed-out for my tastes, the second expands on everything the first did and makes it even better. New weapons, a new form for Django to fight in, and a great story that involves various vampires and Django finding out what happened to his father. The third game added a bit too much and was never localized, so I tend to lean toward the second as being the best in the series. Lunar Knights, the half-spiritual-half-direct sequel on the DS is fun as well, but has lost a bit of the charm that made Boktai so great. The Megaman crossover that can be unlocked with a link cable is super fun and seeing Snake from Metal Gear in the town is a fun Easter egg as well.
Mystery Dungeon games tend to feel super similar. After youve played one, youve played pretty much all of them barring a few innovations as the series progresses and uses new properties. The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are great, but if you just want some solid, straight-up mystery dungeon-ing, look no further than Shiren the Wanderer. This write-up is specifically for the Vita version, which is an enhanced port of the Nintendo DS original game, Shiren 5. The story is solid and sparse, but the main attraction in the game is working your way slowly but surely to the end of it which is when all the bonus challenge dungeons unlock and the real hard stuff begins. The pixel art is utterly gorgeous on the system and the sheer variety of bullshit the game throws your way will keep you on your toes until you finally conquer whatever dungeon you were challenging. Its a punishing game at times, but the reward for tackling the game head-on is oh-so-satisfying. While a Pokemon MD game might be better for newcomers to the genre to learn the ropes, Shiren is what happens when you take a microgenre and refine it until it shines.
Another game that shouldnt be played without the first since together they form one singular story. Golden Sun 2 continued from where GS1 left off, but with an entirely new and much better party. Easily among the best RPGs on the GBA, GS2 has graphics that look beyond what other games on the system were doing. Finding Djinn is as fun as ever, and the puzzles that require interactive Psynergy to solve are legitimately fun. Its just a great conclusion to the duology made even better by the save transfer from GS1.
Regrettably I still havent played Grandia 1 beyond the introduction, but I have played and loved Grandia 2. Its battle system is still held up as exemplary to this day and Ryudo is probably one of the best-executed examples of an asshole with a heart I can think of. It feels a bit too tropey these days, likely largely due to being a product of its time, but its still a fantastic game.
Kanto was great but simple and Johto was poorly balanced but the idea was great, but it wasnt until Pokemons third generation made up of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald that I really, truly loved the games. Sure, theres a lot of water that bogs down the back half of the game, but the Pokemon designs in Hoenn felt so tropical and new and I felt challenged in a Pokemon game which hadnt happened before. The introduction of double battles and quirky things like the ereader cards were fun, but Emeralds Battle Frontier really made the third generation special and is a feature often left out of the series and highly demanded to this very day.
Suikoden 2 does everything Suikoden 1 did but better. The story is better and the characters are more interesting (especially when you find somebody returning from the first game!). While the later games in the series had their ups and downs, 2 is still held in high regard by myself and many fans of the series and JRPGs in general as a high point in both fields.
While unfortunately never localized, Summon Night 3 introduced the best character in the series, Aty, as well as upgraded graphics being the first mainline entry not on the original Playstation but on the Playstation 2. While the Summon Night games have never been as complex as a lot of SRPGs, they make up for it with character and charm. Aty (or Rexx if you have poor taste and picked the male character) is a teacher who travels with her student (who is chosen from one of four options based on a questionnaire in the beginning of the game). Together Aty and her student defend the island on which they are stranded against an armys advancements. Theres also an unfortunately named legendary sword involved (Shartos, FYI). 4 and 5 didnt quite live up the 3s greatness and 6 is more of a crossover so this entry still remains my favorite in the series.
Its just so incredibly expansive, which is especially notable for a Wii and 3DS game. The combat is a bit lackluster for me, but the story is great and theres just so damn much to do.
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} Chrono Trigger
{UNDERRATED 4 points} Final Fantasy 13
Dragon Quest 4
Dragon Quest 7
Dragon Quest 11
Etrian Odyssey 4
Final Fantasy 6
Nier Automata
Tales of Destiny
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
.hack//Quarantine
Avalon Code
Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django
Golden Sun 2
Grandia 2
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Shiren the Wanderer 5: The Tower of Fate and the Dice of Fortune
Suikoden 2
Summon Night 3
Xenoblade Chronicles
Finished writing out my thoughts for my 10 picks. I'll probably pretty it up, edit it a bit, and add some comments for my honorable mentions later. I keep feeling like I'm missing a really obvious game or something.
Perhaps those of you who enjoy discussing RPG mechanics can weigh in on this:
You might have noticed that the sample game banner for this year's aggregate list has 4 multi-colored squares in the top right.
These are placeholders for icons that will categorize each game according to some game mechanics.
I have already finished two sets:
Playable Character Control
=> Single PC (this will include games that give you helper characters like New Vegas)
=> Active control over one character, and computer scripting for the rest. The difference between this and Single PC is that you can choose to actively control any character in the party.
=> Full control over all party actions (unless you choose autobattle).
Battle Flow/Combat System
=> Turn-based
=> Active Time Battle (mostly Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. Some others)
=> Real-time
=> Real-time with Pause
=> Optional Real-time or Turn-based (Might and Magic VI for example)
In both cases, The classifications work for both JRPGs and WRPGs, as well as any sub-genre of RPG.
I need to decide on two more of these game mechanic categories. They need to be equally applicable to all games being nominated here. They have to be informative and in good faith (no "Real RPG? Yes/No"). I generally don't want binary classifications, especially in cases where 80%+ of titles discussed here would be in one category (such as single player vs multiplayer).
(I'm struggling what I want to put as my tenth essential RPG so you'll have to excuse me as I continue to contemplate...)
(In alphabetical order)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow – The Metroidvania label never really made sense to me; it doesn't play like Metroid at all. You can gain levels and obtain random item drops, so it's more of an RPG with platform elements than a pure platformer. What Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow succeeds in is building a world without excessive exposition. You wander in the castle searching for powerups and the next boss to slay. There isn't any explanation, really. So it's like Metroid, but the progression feels more rewarding because of the various souls you can obtain on top of getting stronger through level-ups and items. You can combine several souls to tackle bosses so it also has puzzle elements as they will kick your ass several times over. It's never been more satisfying to become the most kickass vampire hunter.
Diablo II – You had to be there when the Internet was in its infant phase. A multiplayer RPG with randomly generated maps, random loot and even a functional economy. Think of the amount of hours you can spend grinding and trading. Combine it with a compelling world, five different classes (seven classes when its expansion Lord of Destruction arrived after a year), the option to play it with up to 8 players and a fantastic soundtrack and you have a classic in the making. What other hack and slash RPGs fail to realize and copy is that it's very much a roguelike with an action component. You go through randomly generated dungeons to slay monsters and grow stronger with a random loot system that can make any math student whet their appetite. When you die, you lose all your equipment at the location you've been slain. With three difficulties, each much harder than the one before, you'll certainly die a fair amount of times and there's even a hardcore mode for the truly roguelike fans. There's nothing like it and so still hasn't been surpassed. RIP Blizzard North
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles – While most Final Fantasy games are considered classics for a reason, The Game Designers Studio, a shell company of Square Enix since Sony retained the exclusive rights to the mainline Final Fantasy games, made a completely unique spinoff that made teamwork central. The game supports up to four people and the four races available are pretty much standard RPG archetypes. What shines is the seamless gameplay and the interaction with the world and its inhabitants whether friend or foe. The controversial use of seperate GBAs for each person even has the benefit of not bogging down the action while you're carrying the sphere and comboing off spells together. It's all very satisfying to play with four people. It also has stellar world design and a mesmorizing soundtrack. It's as if you escaped to this world and made real friends. That's certainly a different experience than the douchebaggery you see on display in supposedly cooperative games like MMORPGs. "wtf l2p ur class nub" kind of breaks the immersion.
Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade {Underrated Vote} – Advance Wars is one of my favourite games of all time and this is very much medieval Advance Wars. Whereas other games in the Fire Emblem series suffer from unbalanced mechanics, making it either too difficult or too easy, The Binding Blade is rather balanced. Like chess, the king piece is vulnerable and requires protection. At all times you'll need to be aware of potential risks and act accordingly. Maps are creative and act like puzzles, especially ones where you have to talk to certain characters. Because of the random level-up system and multiple routes you can take, it's very replayable. It also has a ranking system so you can replay it to improve your overall score. If you're a fan of RPGs, puzzle solving and chess, try it out.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door – It makes so much sense to put Mario into a world where its previous enemies, Goombas and Koopas, are friendly characters each with their own personalities. The original Paper Mario was released at the end of the N64's lifespan and The Thousand-Year Door is very much an evolution. The battle system, the partner system, the badge system, it's all very delicately designed to give you a steady sense of progression and the battle system can be considered unique for its timing based system. It's simplistic yet so satisfying to hit the right timing. It's no slouch either for its difficulty. Some bosses will require some nifty skill to best them. Overall, it's what can be considered as Nintendo magic. It's something that future Paper Marios, and even its sister series Mario & Luigi, never quite reached.
Golden Sun: The Lost Age – Imagine The Legend of Zelda was a proper RPG. There's Zelda II, but Golden Sun feels like a modern reimagination of Zelda in RPG form. You play as a silent character who's forced to embark on an adventure where you'll meet loads of people, towns and dungeons you have to solve. What Golden Sun did fantastically, and has yet to be mimicked successfully, is combining Zelda-like gameplay with RPG elements; an inventive class system, a superb summoning system and an outstanding soundtrack given the limited GBA sound chip. It's the sequel of the original Golden Sun, but it's so well-made that nobody complained you had to get two games to experience the full story. It's essentially a PSX RPG stuffed in a Game Boy, with interactive dungeons and one of the best designed turn-based battle system of all time, and for that it deserves to be one of the greats.
Pokémon Red/Blue – 151 monsters, well, 150 to be more exact. There were numerous rumours spread throughout the world how to obtain that elusive 151st Pokémon, but they all turned out to be fake. Such is the cultural phenomenon of Pokémon. In 1997 and beyond, this has taken over people's lives, young and old. Every lunch break was filled with Game Boys exchanging these monsters for the purpose of collecting and battling. What makes the original Red/Blue so special is its captivating world that's designed solely to explore and catch these 150 critters. Everyone who played it had its own tale to tell. That's what made it such an unbelievable success. Whereas future games has added more monsters to the 151, the original is still unmatched for its tightly designed gameplay. It's why Pokémon has endured to this day.
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos – The first moba that didn't actually start as a moba. Warcraft III combined the real-time strategy elements of the Warcraft series with hero units. It was certainly refreshing at the time; you played the various campaigns with essentially an RPG character that both took you through the story and eased you into the multiplayer. When Defense of the Ancients got released, the rest was history. Still, people are playing Warcraft III to this day and why not? The various mobas released in the past decade are still missing the real-time building aspects that Warcraft III integrated so seamlessly. And it's still as playable as ever when those hero units and their armies are clashing against each other.
Xenoblade Chronicles – Massive RPG. That's what should be in the description of this Takahashi game. Considering it's a Wii game, that's a fantastic accomplishment. It combined JRPG storyboards and characters with MMORPG elements and it did it flawlessly. It goes up and up and beyond anything you've played before. The massive world, the variety of flora and fauna, the battle system, the towns, the soundtrack, the voice acting, the plot twists, it's all wonderful to behold. It's an evolution of the JRPG, something that Square Enix has struggled in well over a decade, and Takahashi did it with his wealth of experience on inferior hardware. Xenoblade is here to stay.
--VOTE INFO START—
<FULL POINT GAMES – 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT – 3 points} ...
{UNDERRATED – 4 points} Fire Emblem 6: The Binding Blade
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Diablo 2
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Pokémon Red/Blue
Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
Xenoblade Chronicles
I need to decide on two more of these game mechanic categories. They need to be equally applicable to all games being nominated here. They have to be informative and in good faith (no "Real RPG? Yes/No"). I generally don't want binary classifications, especially in cases where 80%+ of titles discussed here would be in one category (such as single player vs multiplayer).
Maybe how dialogue trees work, if they do exist? Like, is the narrative fixed, and if not, how flexible it is? Maybe how loot/items work, how upgrades to weapons/stats are handled, whether battles are random or not, or if the difficulty is scaling.
I am going to say yes for Digital Devil Saga 1+2, since they originally released about 6 months apart in Japan.
For similar reasons, I will count the two Xeen games (Might and Magic IV and V) as one title. When you install both of them, they literally become one game.
On the other hand, I am going to say no to pairing the Trails in the Sky games as one entry. FC and SC were almost two years apart in Japan, which is a pretty normal gap between sequels, even if they continue the same story, and even if Falcom started going the Final Fantasy route of giving direct sequels the same numbered entry in the overall Legend of Heroes series.
Good suggestion. I am going to leave that out of the icon section though, since I think that I can get the same point across if I pick the art pieces properly. Plus, some games don't fit nicely (like Chrono Trigger). I will definitely keep your suggestion in mind when choosing art.
Perhaps those of you who enjoy discussing RPG mechanics can weigh in on this:
You might have noticed that the sample game banner for this year's aggregate list has 4 multi-colored squares in the top right.
These are placeholders for icons that will categorize each game according to some game mechanics.
I have already finished two sets:
Playable Character Control
=> Single PC (this will include games that give you helper characters like New Vegas)
=> Active control over one character, and computer scripting for the rest. The difference between this and Single PC is that you can choose to actively control any character in the party.
=> Full control over all party actions (unless you choose autobattle).
Battle Flow/Combat System
=> Turn-based
=> Active Time Battle (mostly Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. Some others)
=> Real-time
=> Real-time with Pause
=> Optional Real-time or Turn-based (Might and Magic VI for example)
In both cases, The classifications work for both JRPGs and WRPGs, as well as any sub-genre of RPG.
I need to decide on two more of these game mechanic categories. They need to be equally applicable to all games being nominated here. They have to be informative and in good faith (no "Real RPG? Yes/No"). I generally don't want binary classifications, especially in cases where 80%+ of titles discussed here would be in one category (such as single player vs multiplayer).
Progression Options
=> Preset character progression (example: Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest III)
=> Player can customize which abilities to use/unlock (example: Chrono Trigger, Pokemon)
=> Player chooses a base class, but can then customize stat allocation and ability unlocks within that class (example: Souls, Baldur's Gate)
=> Player can customize everything (example: Divinity, Elder Scrolls)
Choice and Consequence
=> Player choices, if present, will not meaningfully affect the story (example: Dragon Quest)
=> Player choices will affect the resolution of certain quests, but not the overarching story/ending (example: Final Fantasy VI)
=> Player choices will significantly affect the story as a whole, including changing the ending (example: Planescape: Torment)
EDIT: Oh, another suggestion, and this is a big one for me:
Structure of the Game World
=> Linear progression through a series of locations (example: Final Fantasy XIII)
=> Overworld map, from which towns and dungeons are accessible (example: Dragon Quest)
=> Open-world (example: The Witcher 3)
Progression Options
=> Preset character progression (example: Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest III)
=> Player can customize which abilities to use/unlock (example: Chrono Trigger, Pokemon)
=> Player chooses a base class, but can then customize stat allocation and ability unlocks within that class (example: Souls, Baldur's Gate)
=> Player can customize everything (example: Divinity, Elder Scrolls)
Choice and Consequence
=> Player choices, if present, will not meaningfully affect the story (example: Dragon Quest)
=> Player choices will affect the resolution of certain quests, but not the overarching story/ending (example: Final Fantasy VI)
=> Player choices will significantly affect the story as a whole, including changing the ending (example: Planescape: Torment)
EDIT: Oh, another suggestion, and this is a big one for me:
Structure of the Game World
=> Linear progression through a series of locations (example: Final Fantasy XIII)
=> Overworld map, from which towns and dungeons are accessible (example: Dragon Quest)
=> Open-world (example: The Witcher 3)
Character growth could be one. Not sure how to divide that up so it is informative and interesting though.
But, for example, you have a strong dichotomy between class-based/fixed class DQ/FF. Or between SMT characters you build yourself versus demons/Personas/Pokemon you collect, breed, and train.
You have games where you pick your build and games where characters grow in more-or-less preset ways. And then ones in-between, like a game where you choose classes that greatly determine your role but you still have some ability choices.
I think that's a core gameplay issue, but yeah, idk how you'd divide it up.
Another thing could be the mechanics of the story, but there'd need to be more than "there is choice vs. there isn't."
Edit: as to the former there are also all those equipment based systems, like the espers, materia, books, etc. in various FF.
Having something that categorizes character growth does make sense, and I have been thinking of ways to do it. As always the trick is to find a fairly finite number of categories (say 3-6) that cover all RPGs, and finding a way to represent them graphically in a pretty tiny icon (I think the squares are 36x36 pixels, not counting borders).
For instance, here are the icons for battle flow:
If you read the icon legend that will eventually be in the OP when the aggregate list goes up, I think that you would be able to tell what each are without going back to re-read it. I don't want to use letters for the other 3 (well, 2. I have icons for party control) or it will just become a mess of acronyms.
One thing that's always interesting to me is the number of characters in the party. Games with only one character obviously play differently to party based games, but even with party based games the number of characters matters a lot to me. Having 6 or 8 characters in your party gives the game a different kind of feel than the standard 4 character parties. Similarly, the few games where you only control 2 characters immediately jump out as being very unique (things like The World Ends With You or Beyond Divinity).
Another one is the level of linearity. There's obviously a big difference between linear and open world games, and there's also games that, while being linear, offer the player a wide variety of side quests (things like Xenoblade Chronicles). A related category would be story linearity, although I'm not sure how to exactly to break this down. There's obviously games with completely predetermined stories, but then you also have games with small branches in the story (various SMT games), games with very drastic story changes (The Witcher 2) and games that have a very non-linear approach to storytelling (Sunless Sea).
A rather obvious choice is also the subgenre of the game - action RPG, strategy RPG, dungeon crawler/DRPG/blobber etc. I'm honestly a bit surprised this isn't already in the banners (or am I just missing it?). It's easy to determine and very informative. Not quite sure what to do with traditional JRPGs though. Just labeling them as JRPGs could easily lead to another "what is a JRPG" debate.
Maybe how dialogue trees work, if they do exist? Like, is the narrative fixed, and if not, how flexible it is? Maybe how loot/items work, how upgrades to weapons/stats are handled, whether battles are random or not, or if the difficulty is scaling.
I could throw a party number in the party control icon, but with the SPRGs, there's just too much variety to really tell you much. The Fire Emblem games eventually give you over a dozen units, and unit cap changes from map to map.
Linearity is one of 3 choices for the last three spots that I have been debating. My main issue would be determining what counts as linear. Is Fantasy Life more linear than Tactics Ogre, because the main scenario is fixed? You spend most of your time not playing the main scenario in Fantasy Life.
Regarding sub genres. I would include them if there were clear and finite categories, but there aren't. The text summaries in past lists usually mentioned the sub genre, but it's hard to do that in graphical form. For instance, New Vegas is an open world, first-person shooter hybrid RPG. What is the symbol for that, as opposed to a non-open world first person shooter hybrid like System Shock 2?
I'm not trying to shoot people down, the reason I asked for suggestions is that I have thought of, and subsequently been stumped by the same sorts of things
I talked about some of these with JeffZero a few months back as well. But since it was difficult, I threw it on the backburner.
Progression Options
=> Preset character progression (example: Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest III)
=> Player can customize which abilities to use/unlock (example: Chrono Trigger, Pokemon)
=> Player chooses a base class, but can then customize stat allocation and ability unlocks within that class (example: Souls, Baldur's Gate)
=> Player can customize everything (example: Divinity, Elder Scrolls)
Choice and Consequence
=> Player choices, if present, will not meaningfully affect the story (example: Dragon Quest)
=> Player choices will affect the resolution of certain quests, but not the overarching story/ending (example: Final Fantasy VI)
=> Player choices will significantly affect the story as a whole, including changing the ending (example: Planescape: Torment)
That will be tricky, since they're abstract processes and not things that are represented with tangible objects.
Maybe you could do one arrow pointing right for preset characters, three arrows pointing right for customization within a class, and arrows pointing in every direction for complete customization. So something like this:
If it doesn't, and you believe that you qualify (by having a list of at least 5 games with comments explaining your choice of each), send me a PM with a link to your post. I will add you. I am NOT going to recheck posts prior to this one though.
There are currently still over 100 keys left to be claimed, so it is not too late to participate and win free games.
With that in mind, we now have over 125 participants (including no comment lists), plus 5-6 lazy votes. I believe that puts us over the participant count of the 2016 thread. Of course, Kuwabara's version of the thread allowed up to 20 full point picks (and 10 honorable mentions), so we need more people to get the same point spread!
In my experience, the end product works best with at least 200 participants. We could probably do a decent Top 50 with what we have so far, but I usually post the top 100, even if 51-100 don't get the full banner treatment. The bottom ranks would become pretty meaningless if it only takes 1-2 votes to make the cut. With 200 participants, the Top 100 cutoff tends to be 10-15 points, which would be would require 3-4 people, even if everyone was using their underrated 4 point vote (so more realistically 5+ votes)
I am pretty confident that we'll get there by the end of voting. Of course, more would be better!
Thanks to everyone who has participated so far. There have been plenty of very informative posts so far, and I always love seeing what people cook up in terms of graphical flourishes. This might be the highest effort vote thread on GAF. Cumulatively, we have written over 90k words. More than the first Harry Potter novel
To start off, the RPG genre is not amongst my favorites. I dont finish most of the games I start, so I tend to avoid overly long games (especially in the past 5 years or so). Ive also not played a huge amount of them, and the more traditional ones that I have played were mostly from my childhood/adolescence. So, I just wanted to throw that out there. Im no expert here, but this felt like a fun little experiment! Games are not in any particular order, either. On a side note, Im pretty excited to try out Cosmic Star Heroine. I havent played a game like that in so very long, Id say its about time!
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (HIGHLIGHT) Its hard to choose a favorite game from one of my all-time favorite franchises. OoT is right up near the top, though, and it cemented itself there when a young 12 year old FeedMeAStrayKitten first powered on this classic. The Water Temple may have caused me to have premature gray hairs, though.
Diablo 3 (UNDERRATED) I feel like many never got over the rough launch of the game, the mishandling of the auction/store, the comparisons to Diablo 2, etc. But they should! Because the game has been glorious for years and such a ton of fun. Played many hours on the PC, only to find myself sucked back into the Ultimate Evil edition (PS3) with my partner (who despite not having much in the way of video game experience, she found this game a blast). It has issues, sure, mainly story and script related. But I find myself not giving a damn when the game is this fun to play through.
Phantasy Star Online Quite possibly the first console game I played online, it really struck a chord with me at the time. Also my first taste of MMO-ness (which thankfully has never fully consumed my gaming soul).
Diablo 2 Im probably one of the few who likes D3 over D2, but Ive never been into the real hardcore scenes of either game. Diablo 2 was great fun solo or online.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim I loved Oblivion, yet this one came along and felt even better (though I know Im in the minority on that one, too). I was swallowed into this world for quite some time, and its supremely rare that I want to actually finish the majority or all of the quests in a game (which I didnt 100% here, but came close).
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic A longtime fan of the Star Wars franchise (Jedi Knight was a childhood favorite of mine), I found this game fantastic. The story, the setting, the dialogue, the gameplay, nearly everything just felt right.
Mass Effect 2 This actually may be the most recent game Ive played on this list (with the exception of some messing around in Diablo 3). I put off playing the Mass Effect series for years and when I was able to scoop up the trilogy for the PS3 for a measly $5 on PSN, I knew it was time. And DAMN. The first was great, but the second was outstanding. Improved in nearly every way (especially combat)!
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker A timeless classic. I loved the visual style, the sailing, the combat, etc. Ive only put a few hours into the Wii U remaster, and thats a damn shame.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within I had previously played the very first game in the franchise when I was a child, and while I do recall liking it, it was way too tough for me to really get into. I ended up trying out this game on a whim when I got it for free via Playstation Plus sub and it kinda blew me away. I put the game on easy and just went to town and had a blast. I ended up getting addicted to it again sometime later when I purchased Enemy Within on mobile. Ive never even tried out the Long War mod stuff, nor Ironman difficulty. Thats just too much for me.
Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask Delightful. Harrowing. Tense. Somewhat terrifying. Completely memorable. The mask system was a joy and the whole NPCs having their own schedule system was a revelation (which I also enjoyed in one of my all-time favorites: Deadly Premonition!).
--VOTE INFO START
<FULL POINT GAMES 2 points>
{HIGHLIGHT 3 points} Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
{UNDERRATED 4 points} Diablo 3
Phantasy Star Online
Diablo 2
Skyrim
Knights of the Old Republic
Mass Effect 2
Wind Waker
XCOM Enemy Unknown/Within
Majoras Mask
<HONORABLE MENTIONS 1 point>
Final Fantasy VII
Borderlands
Borderlands 2
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Super Mario RPG
Links Awakening
Mass Effect
Diablo
Baldurs Gate Dark Alliance
--VOTE INFO END--
Unranked Honorable Mentions:
Secret of Mana
Paper Mario
Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Gauntlet Dark Legacy
Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past
Pokemon Blue
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy 8
Secret World
Fallout 4
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect 3
World of Warcraft
Guild Wars 2
When it comes down to it, Earthbound is my favorite game of all time. There is something magical about childhood and the possibilities of the unknown. No game understands that as well as the opening of Earthbound. The cold, rainy night. The rasp of a knock on a door. Your friend telling you something amazing is happening outside and we have to go explore it.
Earthbound is about possibilities.
So much of what Earthbound fails at, Mother 3 succeeds. But it is the grandiose nature of Earthbound's journey that sets it apart. Like kids in a sandbox making up whatever next part of the adventure they please: ”And now you're in Egypt following around a mouse!" I think every kid needs an experience like Earthbound. Something to show them the wonder of not only the world, but their own imaginations.
Likewise, the original Pokemon hit lots of those same grace notes as Earthbound. ”All boys leave home one day. It said so on TV." Pokemon Blue was that moment for so many young children. Leaving home, going into your backyard and discovering new creatures.
Pokemon is about fighting, sure. But it's important to remember the first listing in your menu isn't your team, it's your Pokedex. Pokemon is asking you to learn. Learn about the world around you, document those findings and explain that to friends. As a science nerd, this spoke deeply to me. I was more concerned with reciting Pokemon trivia than link cable battling. Because Pokemon knew that kids want to absorb as much information about things they care about, and I deeply cared about Pokemon.
I waited years for Mass Effect. I went out to get the game immediately after school let out and my dad picked me up. I told my dad all about the world and the idea of a story told across 3 games. I got home, loaded it in, played through the intro. Fun times! Then I got to the Citadel and was given the Codex.....
Two hours later my dad walked in to me reading every entry. ”Umm..I thought you were playing a game?" I couldn't explain to him why I was enraptured by this universe, but I was and still am. Mass Effect is my favorite sci-fi universe and Mass Effect 1, despite its clunkiness, will forever be treasured for its portrayal of an immediately whole universe.
4. Chrono Trigger
What hasn't been said about Chrono Trigger? Maybe, gun to my head, the greatest JRPG of all time. Heck, the game amazingly being given as a gift here is an homage to the greatest of Chrono Trigger. Its music, art, polish, story, battle mechanics. Literally it's a dream team project where nothing went wrong. It's infinitely replayable and MOST IMPORTANTLY doesn't overstay its welcome in terms of length. We need more RPGs like Chrono Trigger. Not just great ones, but ones that cut out all the bloat and given us lean dosages of polish.
My favorite Final Fantasy, again, because of the world. I guess the trend for me and JRPGs is worldbuilding. By making this a ”fish out of water" story, Tidus gets to constantly ask questions of the world around him. ”What's this? Why do you do that? Who is that and why should I care?" Tidus' smarmy confusion can be grating for some, but for me, it allowed me to learn about a world and cast of characters without hunting down NPC text. And the pilgrimage conceit is a genius way to handle parties meeting up. Mix in great music, visuals and top-notch turn based battles, a genuine character-focused story in Yuna, and I'm all in.
You think this is a mediocre RPG? I feel ya. But B-tier media has a place in my heart, and Dragoon fits that to a tee. Like Legend of Legaia, Dragoon was one of the many PS1 JRPGs looking to cash in on the craze. Much has been said about what Dragoon does poorly, but let me mount a defense for what works for me: Dragoon's world is deep. By the end of the adventure, everyone is related, prophecies are revealed, history is explained, lied about and then changed. Like a fun fantasy book, Dragoon was written by some writer who didn't want to stop writing lore. I admire that spirit, and I admire Dragoon's feel. (Also, that music and background art!)
The only right entry point for someone who's stayed away from JRPGs. We need more games like Persona 4 Golden. Games that tell small, human stories about regular, broken people. Games about friendship and being stronger when you trust in one another. Not just trust in your friend with battles, but trusting in them with your secrets and fears. Persona 4 works because you care about these people and want to spend time with them. Quality of life JRPG trappings are great, but when I think of my time with P4G, I immediately think of running through that small town to my part-time job so I could make money to go hang out with my friends.
More video games should be about life, friendship and hope.
Again, my love for B-tier RPGs shows its face. Jade Empire is less-Bioware, but what other game has this great setting?! While simplistic, the combat is fun and the general choice system Bioware is known for still works here. I still long for a sequel, knowing full well they may rip the RPG parts right out. Either way, I'm at least glad I got to experience what I did.
9. Golden Sun
Okay, this one to me is more about the art and mechanics. There was just something so engaging about equipping your djinn to access your magic, but then summoning them and weakening yourself in order to summon even stronger spells. It's such a crazy battle flow and one that full flows into the games environmental puzzles! What other game does that so well? A very talky game with a story that has some fun twists, Golden Sun came at the perfect time in my youth and still does things I hope other games learn from.
10. Dark Souls
I never would have thought this game would be on my list. I stayed away from the franchise for so long. I just didn't get it. Then one day I decided to really give it a try and it consumed me. It was all I thought about and all I wanted to do in my free time. The gameplay loop of exploring, leveling up and dying became second nature. The perfect game to put all of your focus into or even watch TV while you play. A game that gives you freedom to run past entire levels once you know where you're going. While sometimes I wish the story stuff was more engaging, the abstraction keeps me coming back. I don't care who the Lords are, I just want to go kills some minions and level up! That's an RPG!
--VOTE INFO START—
<FULL POINT GAMES – 2 points>
Earthbound
Pokemon Red & Blue
Mass Effect
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy X
The Legend of Dragoon
Persona 4 Golden
Jade Empire
Golden Sun
Dark Souls
I could throw a party number in the party control icon, but with the SPRGs, there's just too much variety to really tell you much. The Fire Emblem games eventually give you over a dozen units, and unit cap changes from map to map.
Don't see why that's a problem really. An 8+ party size category would cover the games that give you a lot of units, and would also deal with the changing unit cap. With SRPGs in particular this number tells you a lot - there's a drastic difference between Fire Emblem games, which give you a lot of units to command, and something like Devil Survivor, where you're limited to 4.
Linearity is one of 3 choices for the last three spots that I have been debating. My main issue would be determining what counts as linear. Is Fantasy Life more linear than Tactics Ogre, because the main scenario is fixed? You spend most of your time not playing the main scenario in Fantasy Life.
Regarding sub genres. I would include them if there were clear and finite categories, but there aren't. The text summaries in past lists usually mentioned the sub genre, but it's hard to do that in graphical form. For instance, New Vegas is an open world, first-person shooter hybrid RPG. What is the symbol for that, as opposed to a non-open world first person shooter hybrid like System Shock 2?
If you go with this framing, you should do something with the last option (player choices will significantly affect the story as a whole, including changing the ending (example: Planescape: Torment)), because it currently covers both games with minor story ending changes (like several SMT games) and games where can you completely change the entire story and game progression (The Age of Decadence). I would personally split it between small story changes and major story changes, because games that actually do put in the effort to let you drastically change the story deserve a special shout out imo. Although it doesn't really look like many of them will make the final list, so it might not be needed in the end.
