Best rpg you ever played?

[brighteye]

Ok i agree with the rest of the people here, Oblivion, Mass effect, Fallout,Kotor and so on.
But i just have to mention Jagged Alliance 2 and X-Com (or ufo:enemy unknown as its called in the US)

more tactical games ,but with heavy RPG elements in them, they will both be in my heart forever.

 

[Taerdin]

I have a few:Fallout 3(not a pure-breed RPG,but oh well),Final Fantasy,Mario RPG,Mario and Luigi Super Star Saga,and the whole Paper Mario series.

Fallout 3 is far more traditional RPG than all those JRPG's, there's no choice in them it's all linear levelling, Bethesda games are the closest thing to D+D you can get.

Well,I was referring more to game-play.When I think of the abbreviation "RPG",the first thing that comes to mind is turn-based games.But,that's just me.Also,JRPGs are odd,when it comes to normality...

When google thinks of 'rpg' it thinks this. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing_game] Any game really where you assume the rule of a character and that character evolves and grows (literally or figuratively really) could be considered an rpg.

When it comes down to it really, traditional rpgs are of the paper and pencil variety, and in those you do not endlessly grind the same thing over and over just to advance. It is more about making choices, and having fun within the world that has been laid out in front of you. To call Fallout 3 not pure breed rpg is kind of weird in that sense, as its probably one of the most true. The only person making your characters choices and in a sense their story is you, and thats how rpgs are played (aside from your backstory and the setting of course, those are created before the game really begins).

Rant aside, its probably just because I grew up on it but I would say Phantasy Star IV and Shining Force (1&2... and maybe even in the Darkness) were rather great. But then again if my parents had bought me a Snes instead I'd probably be touting Chrono Trigger or some such so that suggestion is probably pretty... flimsy at best.

I did rather enjoy KoToR, but I never actually felt the need to replay it more than once or twice :S

Star Ocean 2 was amazing, it had very fun combat (imo) or at least I very much enjoyed it.

Its hard to pick an absolute favourite, but I would have to say Suikoden II. That game was absolutely phenomenal. That and/or Final Fantasy Tactics. They both had equally amazing stories about knights and warriors, betrayals, adventure, heroics, and were just... unforgettably good. I've play both through at least 7 times each, and just thinking of them makes me want to play them again. I wish there were more games like them, and don't tell me theres more Suikodens... I know but they never were even close to the perfection that was II. I did enjoy III, but after that it went even further away from the formula of II.

And the other Final Fantasy Tactics games? Don't even get me started. Little kids caught in a fantasy world fighting for no real discernible reason? Lame. Where are the knights and thieves and betrayals...

 

[solidd]

Baldur's Gate 2 and the expansion were excellent.
Morrowind, was awesome.
Final Fantasy 7 + all the spinoffs (ESPECIALLY CRISIS CORE(on par FF7 itself imo..)) were a;; absolutely amazing.

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Without a doubt Fallout 3, no other game has had me so immersed in a world or a character as that game has.

 

[Sccye]

My favourite game, likely just for nostaliga reasons, is Shining Force II. I have a soft-spot for late-90s Black-Isle / Bioware things as well. So, Baldur's Gate I, II & ToB, Icewind Dale I & II, Planescape, Fallout 1 & 2 I have lots and lots of love for. They all just have a wonderful sense of humour and tongue-in-cheekness amidst some very complex and quite epic plots. Encountering Bondari and his level one band of adventurers in Throne of Bhaal after around 150 hours of gameplay is just wonderful. That ability to have some light comic relief at appropriate times without being too self-consciously 'wacky' adds a lot of character. Jan Jansen and Minsc are another wonderful example, come to think of it.

Neverwinter Nights was wonderful too, although I like some of the fanmade modules quite a lot better than the official campaigns. I'm thinking quite specifically of the Citadel, Stefan Gagne's things, Shadowlords / Dreamfall / Demon and Tales of Arterra. All of them put the Bioware stuff to shame quite wonderfully.

Oh, and I loved Panzer Dragoon Saga. That was wonderfully unique. Not to mention hard to get hold of. But so, so worth playing.

 

[Vrex360]

Mass Effect, no question peoples.

 

[WittyName]

FFX, but then I havent played many other RPGs...

Wow I really need to play games more often...

Never thought I'd say that....

 

[Abedeus]

Golden Suns, Neverwinter Nights...

And all Bioware games. All of them. KotORs, Mass Effect, Jade Empire... But all of them are nothing compared to Neverwinter Nights - game with gameplay as long as you can imagine. Really. Playing every good module would take you months of game.

 

[DRADIS C0ntact]

This is definitely a toss up between Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VII for me. Both are spectacular games that I have fond memories of.

 

[Jamash]

Western: The Witcher:[small]Enhanced Edition[/small]

Japanese: The Shadow Hearts series.

 

[Grimm91]

Xenosaga or The Elder Scrolls series. Take your pick.

 

[ace_of_something]

Hmmmm tough call. For a JRPG I?m going to have to go with Star Ocean the 2nd Story; that game caused me to get my first ?C? in college or Final Fantasy III (or 6 whatever) because to me all the clichés became cliché after this game.

For a RPG either Baulder?s Gate 2 or Neverwinter Nights (with all the expansions!)

For something not D&D based KoTOR.

 

[Uilleand]

Good thing I found this thread: I've been looking for a nice suck-me-in RPG for a while. With that said, can anyone recommend something with a great story I can really invest myself into? I have X360, PC, and DS. Thank you!

Stuff I've played (not much):
KOTOR 1 & 2 (liked these for story, freedom of choice, customization)
Mass Effect (liked this for same as above, but it's next-gen and I like the Bioshock-esque radial menus)
Some of FFIV (Final Fantasy isn't really my thing, as I HATE HATE HATE HATE grinding)
Oblivion (liked the open world, the graphics, the freedom)
Fallout 3 (ditto)

Problem with FO3/Oblivion is that when I'm given full freedom, I sometimes get bored because it seems all my different possible actions can't (and don't) have any effect on the world. It's the reason I couldn't get into GTA: A totally open world with no consequences kinda just makes me lose interest altogether. Please bear this in mind. That said, feel free to ignore it, if something's good I will like it.

I'm a Western RPG person. Woot BioWare is all I can say. I'm a sci-fi & fantasy fan as well. If anyone can pretty much just recommend something along the lines of KOTOR or Mass Effect that's pretty much what I'm going for. If there's s

This.
Times a kabillionty...
Especially thr part about feeling a lack of consequences in a too many open-world games. I had great fun traipsing through the Oblivion and Fallout worlds, butin the end, felt a complete lack of engagement in the characters/story.

BioWare always makes me GIVE A SHIT about the characters I encounter - the combined product of great writing and great voice acting.

ETA: The original NWN and Hoards of the Underdark, as well as Jade Empire also keep me coming back to re-engage in the narrative...

 

[F_demon]

...
Especially the part about feeling a lack of consequences in a too many open-world games. I had great fun traipsing through the Oblivion and Fallout worlds, butin the end, felt a complete lack of engagement in the characters/story.

BioWare always makes me GIVE A SHIT about the characters I encounter - the combined product of great writing and great voice acting.
...

My thoughts exactly. Fallout 3 made me go "aw crap, [npc that is following you] is dead, again. Whatever, let's get another one"
While the Bioware games such as BGII made me feel sad for yoshimo, because he didn't really have a choice to begin with. They had some interesting backgrounds and involvement in the actual story.

 

[Falien]

Planescape: Torment.

 

[asinann]

Final Fantasy 6

 

[LordSnakeEyes]

Can't go wrong with Fallout 3 or Mass Effect.
EDIT:

Hm...Mass Effect or Fallout 3, that is the question.

Damn, Ninja'd

Beat Me To It....

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I liked Morrowind ... *WITH expansions* ... not just OC. None of that Fast Travelling crap .. And the Adventures felt .... bigger ... than Oblivion. mainly because your character walked so slowly and when you had to travel on foot ... you felt like you were *really* going on an adventure

 

[laikenf]

I really loved Mass Effect and Fallout 3, but honestly I'd go with Tales of Vesperia.

 

[Vlane]

SMT Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2.

There aren't many interesting RPG's out there anyway (I still don't like the Bethesda games because they can't tell a good story and can't come up with a good combat system.)