What was your favorite rpg?

[GameMaNiAC]

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcanum:_Of_Steamworks_and_Magick_Obscura]. It is probably the biggest non-linear RPG to this day, and believe me, I've played a lot. Every choice you make changes how the story progresses. Even the way you make your characters. Simple example: If you make an ugly character, most people will have a negative reaction to you at first, and comment about your "prettiness".

It's been made by the creators of the original Fallouts and it's my personal favorite. It's an example of what an RPG should be like. Sadly, it's one of its kind and I've yet to find a game which is as non-linear as Arcanum was.

 

[Vibhor]

And what definition do you use then?

Games which are stat based rather than skill or in case of level scaling, games which are based around whole leveling up thingie.
This definition covers all of the RPGs that are in the market.

 

[Shadowfaze]

Morrowind, Oblivion, All the pokemon games from Red-Ruby, FFIX, and Dragon quest VIII journey of the cursed king.

 

[Vibhor]

It's been made by the creators of the original Fallouts and it's my personal favorite. It's an example of what an RPG should be like. Sadly, it's one of its kind and I've yet to find a game which is as non-linear as Arcanum was.

Nope, it isn't made by the makers of fallout. It is made by Troika, the same company which made Vampire masquerade bloodlines.
Also, Deus ex is more non linear than Arcanum but both are completely different games. Arcanum is still good nonetheless.

 

[asam92]

Gotta say Secret of Mana on SNES still in my top 5 favs after all these years.
Fallout NV is also good if you can count that.
I dislike nearly all Turn Based RPGs so my range it very limited, the only Turn Based i really enjoyed was Golden Sun 1 & 2 and Dragon Quest 7 was pretty good as well although I never finished it.
I guess Pokemon is kinda turn based rpg as well so Pokemone Silver is my choice out of the Pokemon franchise

 

[RatRace123]

Mass Effect 1.

Though the combat mechanics were meh but the characters were well developed and the story was well paced, well written and I really enjoyed Shepard as a character, regardless of what personality you give him/her.
Actually, everything I loved about the game can be traced more to the story aspects rather than the gameplay or RPG aspects.

 

[Weslebear]

WRPGs, Oblivion by a landslide..

JRPG? Golden Sun, Skies of Arcadia or FF13.

 

[Fralf]

Really i can't choose between mass effect, dragon age or KOTOR, so i'll say Bioware is my favorite RPG.

 

[conmag9]

Final Fantasy X is and will likely remain my favorite for some time. Story? Love it. Combat? Great. Characters? Tidus is more bearable to me than most and I love the rest. Graphics? I STILL can't think of better cinematic (although obviously the ingame graphics have lost their edge). And there's so much extra stuff to boot.

I'm also very fond of Fallout 3 and Morrowind. I'll play the former when I want to get lost in the environments and carve up raiders before making little body arangements in the middle of the road, and the latter when I feel like emersing in an excellent fantasy world.

There's also Planescape: Torment. I adore a game and its focus on dialogue. Wish mages weren't so impractical though. "Oh, what's this? You're casting? Too bad enemies will swarm you and you might as well just beat them up".

 

[Nayr]

Tales of Vesperia
Eternal Sonata (playing it now, can't believe how abstract it is)
Golden sun 1,2, and I suppose dark dawn, I guess.
Tales of Symphionia
Star Ocean the last hope
Oblivion
Phantasy star online episode 1 and 2

All far to good.

 

[GameMaNiAC]

Nope, it isn't made by the makers of fallout. It is made by Troika, the same company which made Vampire masquerade bloodlines.
Also, Deus ex is more non linear than Arcanum but both are completely different games. Arcanum is still good nonetheless.

Several devs who were working on Fallout worked on Arcanum. If you know at least a little bit about Troika's history, you'd know that. If you remain unconvinced, I can give you links.

One of the reviews on the internet:

Spoiler

Created by ex-Fallout devs, Arcanum is an RPG in the same vein as Fallout, in that it is a plot-and-quest-based, open-ended romp through a very interesting world which reacts and shapes itself to your actions.
First off, let me say that this game has one of the best plots of any CRPG I've played, second only to games like Planescape. I know, at the beginning it seems like the creators read more went for an old, tried and true plot but trust me, nothing could be farther from the truth. This game has some of the best, most interesting and thought-provoking quests out there, pretty much all of which have the trademark solutions of the Fallout guys. If for no other reason, you should play this game to see the killer quest design and plot.

And no, Deus Ex isn't as non linear as Arcanum. It's not even an RPG. No character creation, no major story choices, limited dialogue. Don't get me wrong, Deus Ex is one of the best games ever and very non-linear, but it doesn't come even close to Arcanum's non linearity.

 

[Biodeamon]

Fallout 3. Or Or Runefactory.

 

[00slash00]

the amount of jrpgs makes me sad. actually it makes me sad that there arent more forgotten realms rpgs on here, in general. most modern rpgs are kinda lame. i had high hopes for dragon age: origins because i had heard it was supposed to be a spiritual successor to the baldurs gate series, but the game let me down in almost every conceivable way (though this has been true of every bioware games ive played, though ive never played any of the mass effect games). i havent gotten around to playing the witcher 2 yet but as far as modern rpgs go, the witcher was probably my favorite. i also loved demon's souls but despite the fact that i created a character and leveled up, i did not feel like i was role playing. to me it felt like an action game.

my favorite rpgs of all time are baldurs gate 1 and 2, and fallout 1 and 2 (NOT fallout 3, the fallout i know and love isnt a first person shooter)

 

[chromewarriorXIII]

My favorite RPG is also my favorite game, which is Tales of Symphonia. The entire game was just incredible for me. I loved the characters, the world, the combat, everything.

Second place goes to Golden Sun, without a doubt.

 

[xanderhunter]

JRPG: Most of the FF series probably led with 7 8 and 10.

Western RPG: Elder Scrolls and Fallout Series.

Honorable Mentions: Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger. Also Lufia 2 The Fortress of Doom and Super Mario RPG for being my first RPG

 

[Hristo Tzonkov]

Favorite RPG? I can give you a list of 5:

Planescape: Torment
Spirit Engine 2
Tales of Symphonia
Morrowind

The last one's tricky. I'm tempted to say Witcher 2. I'll wait for A) the patches to come in, and B) the hype to die down before I say for sure this is on my list. If not, Deus Ex. I also may have to make room for Deus Ex 3 when it comes out.

The patches are already coming.They've got a hairdresser,a few new quests and merchants and best of all the responsiveness on the game is improved meaning combat should be better.

I don't really understand JRPGs...I've played a few Final Fantasy titles to see what the hype is about and a few other random ones that have come out through the years but I really can't get into them.Seems like they took everything boring of the PnP system,simplified it and made it all flashy.This is not a demeaning comment to fans just some personal opinion.

As for my faves:
Arcanum(damn awesome)
Fallout NV(really better than F3 don't go saying different and bugs are a character building experience)
The Witcher 2(exceptional game with a real choice system)
Baldurs Gate 2(story + gameplay well handled)
Planescape:Torment(for that jaw dropping effect you experienced in Bioshock)

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

Fallout, Fallout 2, Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Secret of Mana, Star Ocean, and Mass Effect.

Those are my favorites in no particular order... I would suggest trying any that you haven't played, as they are all spectacularly awesome games in their own ways.