this is most definitely a game where my official opinion is "fuck the haters". i can understand the arguments about the simplistic gameplay systems, but it was just such an amazing experience, not least because it was the first RPG to really bring 3D vistas to prominence (and i don't think any game has really done a good job of it since.) thanks to the free camera, the then-fresh power of the dreamcast, and the first person view, i just marveled at every location in the entire game.
it also really did recall that feeling i got from final fantasy IV, of really getting involved in the adventure of the quest and enjoying all of the characters. it was built from cliched building blocks (does anyone argue it wasn't?) but they were used to such great effect. it was just, yes, EPIC and CHARMING in a way nothing has been since.
TOS really fails at that, actually, comparatively, but it's the closest game in tone since. probably because it hijacks its story from more recent games, tries to go crazy on the twists and complexity and just boils over into a frothing pile of irrelevant nonsense by the end.
skies made you feel like you were in control of your own destiny, and there was, for me, a real emotional component to finishing that game. beautiful.
waiting for rieko kodama to do a PS2 game; the fact that she hasn't left sega is about the only reason i give a shit about that company anymore. PSU is an MMO -- don't kid yourself -- but if she's invovled it'll wipe the fucking floor with PSO, as much as i like it.