Best RPG you've ever played

[Arcane Azmadi]

Aw hell, this is a really tough question. Between Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Grandia II and Shadow Hearts: Covenant it's really hard to decide.

As for mechanics I wish were more wide spread, though- the Wild Arms mechanics of allowing you to evade random encounters if you don't feel like fighting them by expending recoverable points and an automatic gauge that heals your HP at the end of combat until it runs out at things I think should be in more games (or at least the ones which refuse to give up on random encounters). The Force Point system is also brilliant, but that's a bit too specific to the series.

 

[cartographer54]

Earthbound was awesome. If only they released the other ones...

 

[Ildecia]

It's an MMO but guild wars wins hands down

sir. i love you.



but in my opinion. Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon is the best game ever.

the game was about 4 people:
a super sayin
a fat ninja
a secret agent with lime green hair as long as she is tall
and a robot.
defending japan from people who want to turn the continent into a stage so they can dance.


and the impact boss battles were awesome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kF144cwGow&feature=related

 

[Haloperidol]

Fallout 3..I don't remember ever replaying any single RPG over and over again more times than I did with Fallout 3

 

[Fortunefaded]

legends of cosrin.

My first experience at rp games on the internet with other people. I have so many treasured memories from that game.

 

[Tomster595]

I'm not a big RPG fan, but my favorite is Oblivion.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Tales of Symphonia. The gameplay was great. Plenty to do. (I actually liked the story and the characters even if someone on this board does not) Looked really good, flowed very well. Had a co-op feature I never used....yeah it was awesome game

 

[micky]

absolutely fallout 3, wasted so much of my life on that game, not even close to finding all the little secrets.

 

[Agayek]

Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn

I honestly have trouble thinking of a single thing I dislike about this game. The story is suitably dramatic and well told, the villains memorable, the supporting cast brilliantly brought to life, the combat engaging, the visuals stylish, and even the music is fantastic.

It is, hands down, the greatest RPG ever made in my oh-so-humble opinion, and a game I think anyone who even remotely enjoys the rpg genre should play. It puts everything else to shame.

Ten years running and still king of the genre!

Take heart fellow adventurers, for you have curried the favor of Boo. The only miniature giant space hamster in the Realm.

Edit: For the unintiated, that means this thread is already over, as the best game ever made has already been mentioned.

 

[Skullmaster123]

Chrono Trigger.
I also liked Pokemon Crystal.

 

[eatenbyagrue]

I keep having to say it, but I never get tired of doing so: Persona, Persona, Persona. Persona 3 and 4, to be precise. Both are degrees better than any modern era Final Fantasy.

That said, the Fallout series is right there on top. Fallout is just awesome.

 

[CrashBang]

I always say it but Pokemon Blue. Changed my life!
More recently I'd say Fallout 3, it struck a perfect balance between combat and RPG elements. Although so did Oblivion, so I guess I just love Bethesda

 

[Savagezion]

Earthbound and Arcanum are a tie.

 

[Humble85]

Earthbound and Arcanum are a tie.

Arcanum is one of my personal favorites too. Loved the setting and gameplay, though buggy.

 

[Alex The Rat]

As for JRPG's I'd have to say Chrono Trigger. Great story, gameplay, the graphics are obviously older but have actually aged much more gracefully than later games like Final Fantasy VII or VIII, in my opinion.

CRPG's? The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind. Nostalgia might have something to do with it, because I'm willing to admit objectively that Fallout 3 is more fun to play and Oblivion is much prettier, but I think that Morrowind contains the most depth and the best game world of any game Bethesda has released.

Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn

I actually tried to get into this game last summer and simply couldn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping. I'll admit that I didn't get very far at all, but I think that it suffers from the same disorder as many other Black Isle game: The opening sequence is probably the least enjoyable part of the game, especially for novices of the series. Any advice on making my next attempt more successful, or do I just need to man up and stumble my way through the beginning?

 

[dancinginfernal]

Earthbound.

...Damn, I need to play it again now.

 

[Darkblaven]

MMORPG: Guild Wars, why? a free MMO, that lets you do the standard MMO stuff likes quests (with or without party), PVP, PVE, Guilds (clan), Clan wars, guild halls, a great story, and its has 3 expansions. (Sounds oddly famaliar, no?)

RPG: Star Wars: Knights of the Old republic, or Sacred 2 (for xbox 360), I don't care what anyone says I love Sacred 2! also everyone who has played Sacred 2 will agree with me. (PC, PS3, or Xbox 360 it doesn't matter its a great game!)

 

[Simriel]

I'm gonna be different and say Pathfinder. Paizo created a truly sublime RPG system thats so enjoyable to play. Hey, no one specified it had to be a computer game.