My top 10 RPGs

[Leon 55]

Okay, back when I started playing videogames (when Kirby's Adventure was new on the NES), there were but maybe a few RPGs. These days, there are literally hundreds. Now, I haven't played many RPGs, but I thought I'd give my top 10, based on depth, gameplay, how well it inspells the player, replayability, and the very definition of 'RPG'. Also, bear in mind I have been attempting to have a life and have had little success in playing and completing every RPG on the market.

 

10: Jade Cocoon - PS1

This RPG was a classic. You play as Levant, a cocoon master, who has been chosen to fend off the spirits of the forest by capturing monsters. Your goal was simple: Capture monsters, mix and breed them, and save your town from the impending evil. An overall decent game, but when you go against 3 monsters with just one of your own, the game tends to get a little unbalanced.

 

9: Azure Dreams - PS1

Azure Dreams placed you as the son of Guy, a master monster tamer who mysteriously vanished after reaching the top of the tower, and is presumed dead. This game has a lot of back and forth, as you must train your monsters to reach the top of the tower. The biggest drawback of this game is the main character's level resets every time you leave the Monster Tower.

 

8: Crystalis - NES

This is basically a second generation Action-RPG. Crystalis was the first A-RPG that incorperated an experience-based leveling system for the main character AND allowed magic. This game's main quest was to create the sword of elements and save the world. (Sounds generic, but it is 20 years old, so give it a break.)

 

7: Vagrant Story - PS1

With Vagrant Story, you play as Ashley Riot, a VKP member who is seeking a man named Sydney in Lea Monde. The only problem: other people are searching the ancient city in search of the ancient Grimoire arts and ultimate power. Not a traditional RPG, persay, but by definition an Action RPG.

 

6: Final Fantasy X - PS2

An in-depth, story driven RPG based on the story of Tidus; a young man pulled from his world and placed in Spira. At first, the meaning of his visit to Spira by Sin is unclear, but as the story unfolds, it proves to be a tale of Romance, Mystery, and Death.

 

5: Legend of Zelda - NES

The one that started it all; Legend of Zelda proved to be one of the very first Action RPGs. This game started the LoZ francise and took the videogame world by storm. With the simple story of collecting the 8 pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom to defeat Ganon, this game is anything but straightforward. Without assistance, you could wander for weeks trying to find the next level.

 

4: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - N64

From the time this game was first announced, til it's release, it took 2 years, and 3 date push-backs. I remember getting so mad when it was announced, then pushed back time and again, by nearly 11 months. This game pushed the Legend of Zelda francise to the limit, and wasn't bested until Twilight Princess. (the only reason TP isn't on the list is I found it with a slow opening.)

 

3: Dragon Warrior - NES

Nothing like getting back to the roots and hitting the very definition of 'Role Playing'. This game puts you into the game as Sir Erdrick's heir. This game was one of the very first turn-based RPGs ever to hit the NES, and started the rise of RPGs. (In fact, Final Fantasy even refers to Dragon Warrior, as the headstone of Erdrick plays a cameo appearance in the city of Elfin.) The reason this game hits so high on my list is it portrays the very definition of 'RPG'; though by today's standards, the story is extremely overplayed.

 

2: Final Fantasy VII - PS1

One of the major masterpieces of the videogame legacy. This game brought polygon cutscenes into a major part, and gave the game depth. On top of that, a complex story gave this game everything it needed, from love, to heartache, and even betrayal. Revered as one of the best RPGs of all time, the only reason this stays from the top of my list is the opening 2 hours of the game (before leaving Midgard) was just a little too slow for my tastes.

 

1: Brigandine - PS1

A strategy/tactical RPG that was ahead of its day. Though Ogre battle came out before Brigandine, it was this game that took TRPGs to the next level. Where FFT has the standard 'square tile' setup that you would find on a chess board, nothing captivates the feel of a battle field in a TRPG like Brigandine. With a hex-grid setup, and a Risk game feel, Brigandine takes the top of my list. The story is simple: Zemekis, leader of Almekia's troops has grown restless, and talked into overthrowing the king by his right-hand man, Cador. When this happens the continent is thrown into war; and the other 5 countries' leaders of Forsena, whether they see it as an opportunity to expand, or to liberate the country, decide it is time to act. Gameplay forces you to take on the role of one of the 5 countries leaders and defend your castles, all the while trying to take over the continent. With the library of usable units, and 5 different countries to play (plus the code to play as the bad country), this game has a high replay value tagged on. To make it a little harder, you have 10 years (and each turn takes up a month) to accomplish this.

[Polraudio 122]

Very good games Leon

The one's i like out of your list are

Azure Dreams

Final Fantasy X

Legend of Zelda

Final Fantasy VII

Brigandine - PS1

 

Here's my top 10(No certain order i like all the same)

Final Fantasy 6/3 -PS1/SNES

Final Fantasy 7 -PS1

Final Fantasy 8 -PS1

Final Fantasy 9 -PS1

Final Fantasy 10 -PS1

Final Fantasy 12 - PS2

Starocean 1 - SNES

Starocean 2 - PS1

Starocean 3 - PS2

Radiata Stories - PS2

Yea i know im a Final Fantasy and a Starocean fan.

Sorry no descriptions im bad at them.

[Leon 55]

If you like the first Legend of Zelda, you really should consider Crystalis. I am a die-hard Zelda fan, but Crystalis is like... RIGHT there with it.

[Jesse66126 4]

1. Legend of Dragoon(easy to play,easy to get hooked on) -PS1

2. Chrono Cross- PS1

3.Wild Arms1 and 2-PS1(one is easy but two is nearly impossible without a guide)

4.Grandia(all of them are good,but VERY easy,won't need a strategy guide)

5.Final Fantasy 1,4,7,8,10 and 12

6.Fire Emblem(Any of them! there're all good!)

7.Shadow of Destiny(very short and easy but fun)

8.Ephermal Fantasia(very fun but VERY hard)

9.Chrono Trigger-(PS1 and SNES)

10.Tales of Symphonia

[Polraudio 122]

If you like the first Legend of Zelda, you really should consider Crystalis. I am a die-hard Zelda fan, but Crystalis is like... RIGHT there with it.

Looks like a good game.

[Wyzrd 12]

Very good games Leon

The one's i like out of your list are

Azure Dreams

Final Fantasy X

Legend of Zelda

Final Fantasy VII

Brigandine - PS1

 

Here's my top 10(No certain order i like all the same)

Final Fantasy 6/3 -PS1/SNES

Final Fantasy 7 -PS1

Final Fantasy 8 -PS1

Final Fantasy 9 -PS1

Final Fantasy 10 -PS1

Final Fantasy 12 - PS2

Starocean 1 - SNES

Starocean 2 - PS1

Starocean 3 - PS2

Radiata Stories - PS2

Yea i know im a Final Fantasy and a Starocean fan.

Sorry no descriptions im bad at them.

I'm surprised you've heard of Radiata Stories only person beside me I've ever known to have it was Ark. Great Game.

[Sherry 0]

My Personal Top 10 is:

 

1 Breath of Fire 3

till today is this the best game i ever played ^^

(far away from the others)

 

2 Final Fantasy 9

(oh i really love this story, and such a smart enemy named Kuja)

3 Final Fantasy 7

i played this game later than final fantasy 9, and the graphic was never a problem for me

4 Jade Cocoon

This game is really classic, i loved it

5 Fire Emblem

a very very good game, but i didnt really liked "The Sacred Stones"

 

Sorry, but i cant find more games i would really listen in my top 10 ^^

[Shade the Mystic 1]

Have I even played 10 RPGs ?Man, I'm gonna have to think about this one...

 

10. Final Fantasy 1-3- I'm grouping these three together because they're essentially interchangable. Four warriors, crystals, job system, whatever. I still couldn't tell you how the stories for the three of them differ from one another. Nice games, still.

 

9. Final Fantasy 7- I have to admit, I like this one, recently beat it for the first time, but I still don't think it lives up to all the hype. There's just something...missing. Although I will give it props for making me cry like a baby whenever I hear Aerith's theme....yeah, I know.

 

8. Legend of Zelda- Do I need to justify this one?

 

7.Grandia- I swear, I will beat this one day. I'm right at the last boss. Maybe I'll start over and not waste those precious mana eggs on the people who are just going to leave the party anyways.

 

6. Lunar- For the music alone.

 

5. Super Mario RPG- Belome still kinda creeps me out.

 

4. Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2- I couldn't even begin to tell you what these games are about (what the hell are they talking about? "Hearts"? Do...do they mean literal hearts, or emotions, or souls, or what??), and yet I still play them over and over. What does that tell you?

 

3.Final Fantasy X/LoZ:OoT/LoZ:TP/Shadow of the Colossus- Yep, four-way tie, a 'quadruple-kiss', if you will. I just can't decide which of these four I like best, and they all so very much belong on this list in some capacity.

 

2. Startropics- The hell? I know, an obscure-as-heck game from the NES era. Still, it's a pretty damned good game, I'd say.

 

1. Final Fantasy 6- Fourteen people. And they make you care about every single one. Sure, you might not use Relm or Umaro in a fight, but they make you care. And that's a trick right there, that is.

 

And Kefka owns Sephiroth. Keeps him in a little aquarium by his bed. Feeds him brineshrimp. Like a pet.

 

Hey, looks like I have played 10 rpgs! Lookit that! I need a life...