Best RPG

[Veszerin]

For the sole purpose of starting a nerd war, I propose this thread.

Chrono Trigger > Earthbound.


LET THE WAR BEGIN!!!

[The shoemaker]

Yeah I guess I'm not the one to start a war, because I've never played any super nintendo rpg so I'll just say SUPER MARIO RPG!

[SKTTR]

Earthbound + Chrono Trigger + Terranigma = Play these or die in shame!

I still can't decide which one is the best.
These 3 games are so different from each other, and the best in their own awesome ways. All of my friends agree. There's just one Playstation sucker who always talks about Final Fantasy 7 but who cares?

[Veszerin]

Earthbound + Chrono Trigger + Terranigma = Play these or die in shame!

I still can't decide which one is the best.
These 3 games are so different from each other, and the best in their own awesome ways. All of my friends agree. There's just one Playstation sucker who always talks about Final Fantasy 7 but who cares?Final Fantasy 7 = Most Overrated Game in history.


you know what. Forget what i said earlier in this post.

Baldur's Gate rules all.

[morikaweb]

Final Fantasy 7 = Most Overrated Game in history.


you know what. Forget what i said earlier in this post.

Baldur's Gate rules all.

Arcanum whoops Baldur's Gate.

For consols I'd say FF VI for story, and Crono for Game Play.

[hippiecrite]

Chrono Trigger. My favorite game ever.

[Sonic]

Zelda-Link to the past. Obviously. I presume you mean on the SNES since it's in the snes forum?

[deerslayer]

I would have to say Chrono Trigger if we are limited to snes games.

[tonyjohnson333]

gotta give sum love to final fantasy II on the snes. played that game through too many times. the first game i bought for the snes for an outrageous $70

[hippiecrite]

Zelda-Link to the past. Obviously. I presume you mean on the SNES since it's in the snes forum?

Zelda is not an RPG, it's an Action/Adventure game.

[enjoievan]

I love me some EarthBound. Sorry.

[morikaweb]

Zelda is not an RPG, it's an Action/Adventure game.

Good luck arguing that one, I tried and everyone and their grandma flamed me. These "Zelda is a RPG" peeps don’t even mind that Nintendo (the people who MADE the game) says it is not a RPG.

[kelvingreen]

The Zelda games are abstracted rpgs. Everything from a classic rpg is in there, just in such an abstract and simplified form that it looks like a different game. For example, in D&D, after a dungeon crawl, you'd be expected to go up a level, gain some hit points and perhaps some new special abilities depending on your class. In the average Zelda game, once you've finished a dungeon, you get an extra heart (level/hp), and usually a new weapon and/or new ability. It's really not too different at all.

So I wouldn't call Zelda an rpg as such, but I can see that it could be argued that way.

Also, best rpg of all is Baldur's Gate II.

[franman781]

Saying Legend of Zelda is an RPG is like saying God of War, Prince of Persia, or Spiderman 2/3 is an RPG. I mean , yes, they all have stories, some better told and some more interesting than others. however, the absence of a leveling system or partying which are fundamental parts of an rpg are missing from said games.
Wikipedia Definition of RPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_role-playing_game)

but don't get me wrong, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of my favorite games, but it's still an action game.

My favorite RPG and my submission for BEST RPG, which kind of blurs the line between Action and RPG is:
Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2. its one story so i consider it one game, i never got a chance to play chain of memories, though.

I mean when you collaborate Final Fantasy style story-telling and classic FF characters, with your favorite Childhood movies/memories from Disney; not to mention the style of comedy, the way Sora, Donald, and Goofy are the formula for a great 'sitcom' cast.

then the gameplay! fast paced fighting (but a bit button mashy, at least for the first short while, until you start getting abilities)
man, not i cant wait to see how FF Versus XIII, and KH3 turns out

...Kingdom Hearts!!

[deerslayer]

Unless you have 200+ spells to choose from and 10+ classes, multiclassing and redicolous amount of reading material available in form of background stories for swords, shields and things to protect your crotch, it's not really an rpg. RPGs are games that ppl with girlfriends shun and that requires an extreme amount of time to master :) I like Zelda but it's not really an rpg, unless maybe maybe maybe zelda 2, which is an action oriented rpg, but atleast they had the common decency to include xp and let you level up. If you want a good rpg look at BG1&2 and IW1&2, especially IW2, just something about that game that "does it" ;) And as far as flaming goes: BRING IT ON FANBOYS :P

[Veszerin]

Unless you have 200+ spells to choose from and 10+ classes, multiclassing and redicolous amount of reading material available in form of background stories for swords, shields and things to protect your crotch, it's not really an rpg. RPGs are games that ppl with girlfriends shun and that requires an extreme amount of time to master :) I like Zelda but it's not really an rpg, unless maybe maybe maybe zelda 2, which is an action oriented rpg, but atleast they had the common decency to include xp and let you level up. If you want a good rpg look at BG1&2 and IW1&2, especially IW2, just something about that game that "does it" ;) And as far as flaming goes: BRING IT ON FANBOYS :P
I stand with deerslayer.

*Patiently waits for a new Infinity Engine game*

[kelvingreen]

however, the absence of a leveling system or partying which are fundamental parts of an rpg are missing from said games.
Well, as I mentioned above, the Zelda games do have a levelling system, albeit one that's abstracted.

But, as I also said above, I tend to think that the Zelda games are so abstracted from the basics of the rpg genre that it's not particularly meaningful to count them as rpgs.

[Veszerin]

Just for the record. I am banning Final Fantasy 7 from this thread, as it's a mediocre game that is overrated to absurdity.

[crops55]

Just for the record. I am banning Final Fantasy 7 from this thread, as it's a mediocre game that is overrated to absurdity.

Overrated? Sure, I'll bite. Mediocre? You forget yourself sir. Being a website that is designed to disscuss and argue opinions how you can you ban a topic just because you don't like it? I'm not saying FF7 is better than any of the games you fellas have listed so far (mainly because I haven't played Earthbound or all of the 2d Final Fantasies besides 3 and 6.), but it certianly still deserves some credit regardless of your opinion on it. FF7 is a big reason why the RPG is such a successful genre in America. It did alot for the industry and did even more for the console it graced istelf upon. FF7 was the first true rpg I ever played and it impacted me in a way that few video games ever have. It was the type of game that I played for hours on end and when I wasn't playing it I was thinking about it. All day every day for what seemed like weeks it was FF7 and nothing else. The battle mechanics, the character development, the phenomonal music and the epic scale of the game alone just completely took a hold of me in a way that few games ever have. I mean the first time I stepped out of Midgar only to see that it was just a tiny little dot on the enormous overworld I was awestruck. I didn't think games could be done on a such a huge scale. Now, I understand maybe my perception of FF7 might be different if I had played some of these other RPG's you guys are talking about but I would still consider FF7 to be a great game and it sure as hell deserves a place in this discussion. Like it or not, FF7 still remains as a huge RPG contender. You don't have to agree with me but you can't dismiss its presence based on subjective conclusions. This game means alot to me and I'm sure it also does to alot of other people who experienced it when it was in its prime. This is probably why it gets so overhyped because people who love things tend to exaggerate and embellish a bit but the core truth is still evident. FF7 is an awesome ****ing experience.

So please don't try and turn your opinions into facts or you end up on the same level as the people on the opposite side of the spectrum stating that FF7 is the greatest RPG ever.

Oh and I consider Zelda as an Action RPG. An action game with RPG elements.

[franman781]

Just for the record. I am banning Final Fantasy 7 from this thread, as it's a mediocre game that is overrated to absurdity.

isn't that a bit unfair and extremely arrogant of you? i mean just because you like something or dont like something, doesnt mean you can change what people say or take away their ability to say it


READ THE F'ING BILL OF RIGHTS! (http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htm)

and if you have further questions Washington DC is about a stone's throw from where you live (info attained from your public profile)

[crops55]

isn't that a bit unfair and extremely arrogant of you? i mean just because you like something or dont like something, doesnt mean you can change what people say or take away their ability to say it


READ THE F'ING BILL OF RIGHTS! (http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htm)

and if you have further questions Washington DC is about a stone's throw from where you live (info attained from your public profile)

Whoa man thats a lil much. I wasn't trying to attack him, he doesn't deserve that. You probably could've phrased that with a little more respect my friend.

[morikaweb]

It truly is funny how some people think that the RPG genre is the only type of game on the market. For those Zelda is a RPG peeps try looking up the definition of a adventure game or better yet Action/Adventure.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_games
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action-adventure_game

[SKTTR]

So whats your definition of an RPG?

My definition is simple.
RPG's are RPG's when you fight monsters to gain experience points and level up your character.
And then the RPG splits up in realtime and turnbased.
Then you have different genres to mix with an RPG: Adventure, Strategy, Jump'n'Run.. etc.

So Zelda is not an RPG, it's an Action-Adventure.
Zelda II is a Jump'n'Run-RPG, just like Super Paper Mario.

Paper Mario is a turnbased RPG, just like Earthbound or Chrono Trigger.
Secret of Mana, Terranigma and games like Oblivion IV are realtime RPGs / Action-Adventure-RPGs.

Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics and Shining Force are turnbased Strategy-RPGs.

Then we have things like Eye of the Beholder, Sword of Vermilion and Shining in the Darkness: Dungeoncrawler/RPGs.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is just a horrible excuse of an Action-Adventure (in single player).

The Secret of Monkey Island, Another Code, Hotel Dusk, and Maniac Mansion are Point'n'Click Adventures.

Ah well... just opinions..

[franman781]

Censorship is a Problem

Whoa man thats a lil much. I wasn't trying to attack him, he doesn't deserve that. You probably could've phrased that with a little more respect my friend.

oops, im just very passionate about the issue of censorship. it always ticks me off when i see stuff like that, i cant help myself then.

[Veszerin]

Censorship is a Problem



oops, im just very passionate about the issue of censorship. it always ticks me off when i see stuff like that, i cant help myself then.

well, it is my thread afterall :-p

[franman781]

well, it is my thread afterall :-p

:: a bit confounded ::
didn't i mention arrogance?

ok, i have an idea.

i have a potential solution to this FFVII deal. let's avoid posts saying "FF7 is the best" or "if you like/dislike FF7 you're an idiot".

let's stay with the voicing of our opinions with info and reasoning behind it.

ok, FF7 is the best, why? and if you disagree, state why. this is basic stuff.

"Why?" is the question.

i'll start:
the Best RPG our there, imo is Kingdom Hearts. not the first game but the series as a whole.

I'm not a huge fan of turn based RPGs, although FFX has a certain charm. But the beat the snot out of any heartless in your way design is just executed well, non experienced gamers can appreciate it's button mashy feel and have a blast while more advanced gamers can use the whole array of abilities, combo possibilities, and magic spells/summons to win and still find a real challenge in the boss fights.

The Story is gripping throughout the whole game(s), and you don't find yourself exiting a cutscene only to be put back under control, only to move two steps back to another cutscene. i.e. many Final Fantasy games.

The presence of Final Fantasy Characters is a nice treat in how they interact with you and affect the storyline

and the way everything comes around full circle in the end is just amazing. it's the one game that has had my eyes swell up with a tear watching a cutscene, ive been blown away and wowed by many fmv sequences in FFX alone like when the people bait sin and crazy happens, but not like this, i really felt for the characters, because they're so believable and real(yes i said it).

for those who haven't played it, i suggest to try it, because though it is Disney and you might think it to be childish, trust me when i say that this is no kids game, a 12 year old will not understand half of what's actually transpiring. It reminds me of the old Disney movies (would make sense 'cause most of the worlds are from old Disney Movies), bringing a sort of nostalgia to the game as well.

It brings back that idea of 'no matter how bad things get, there's still that last ray of hope, as long as you believe it's there'

[Veszerin]

where's the chips and beer, wasn't someone supposed to bring some?

[Maxx the Slash]

The best SNES RPG is definately Terranigma. It's the last game in the "Soul Blazer Trilogy" (the first being Soul Blazer itself, followed by Illusion of Gaia, and then Terranigma).

It's about a boy named Ark living in an alternate dimension from our own (so alternate, in fact, that it's the opposite; we walk on the crust, have oceans of water and grassy lands, while they walk hamsterball-style under the crust, have oceans of lava and snowly lands). Anyway, Ark is a troublemaker who opens a sealed in the house of the Elder of Ark's village, the only village in the dimension, Crysta, without the Elder's concent.

Ark heads downstairs from the dorway into a room containing Pandora's Box. When Ark opens it, a pink creature named Yomi pops out, telling Ark he now owns the box and Yomi is his servant, but, Arks' friend Elle shows up and suddenly turns to ice. Ark heads back upstairs to find everyone but the Elder is incased in Ice. The Elder yells at Ark and tells him that opening Pandora's Box has just destroyed all the continents on Earth and frozen the citizens of his own world.

If he wants to save them, he must travel to each of the 5 towers in his world and resurrect Earth's 5 continents (Antartica isn't represented and Europe and Asia are combined into "Eurasia"). After doing so, Ark must travel to Earth and defeat evil monsters in order to resurrect the grassy lands, birds, other animals, and then finally humans. Ark then takes the role of "God", taking care of Earth's population, and then defeat a Satan-like being called Dark Gaia, threatening to destroy the world again.

[The shoemaker]

:: a bit confounded ::
didn't i mention arrogance?

ok, i have an idea.

i have a potential solution to this FFVII deal. let's avoid posts saying "FF7 is the best" or "if you like/dislike FF7 you're an idiot".

let's stay with the voicing of our opinions with info and reasoning behind it.

ok, FF7 is the best, why? and if you disagree, state why. this is basic stuff.

"Why?" is the question.

i'll start:
the Best RPG our there, imo is Kingdom Hearts. not the first game but the series as a whole.

I'm not a huge fan of turn based RPGs, although FFX has a certain charm. But the beat the snot out of any heartless in your way design is just executed well, non experienced gamers can appreciate it's button mashy feel and have a blast while more advanced gamers can use the whole array of abilities, combo possibilities, and magic spells/summons to win and still find a real challenge in the boss fights.

The Story is gripping throughout the whole game(s), and you don't find yourself exiting a cutscene only to be put back under control, only to move two steps back to another cutscene. i.e. many Final Fantasy games.

The presence of Final Fantasy Characters is a nice treat in how they interact with you and affect the storyline

and the way everything comes around full circle in the end is just amazing. it's the one game that has had my eyes swell up with a tear watching a cutscene, ive been blown away and wowed by many fmv sequences in FFX alone like when the people bait sin and crazy happens, but not like this, i really felt for the characters, because they're so believable and real(yes i said it).

for those who haven't played it, i suggest to try it, because though it is Disney and you might think it to be childish, trust me when i say that this is no kids game, a 12 year old will not understand half of what's actually transpiring. It reminds me of the old Disney movies (would make sense 'cause most of the worlds are from old Disney Movies), bringing a sort of nostalgia to the game as well.

It brings back that idea of 'no matter how bad things get, there's still that last ray of hope, as long as you believe it's there'

Theres always a spek of light shineing in the darkness. I love Kingdom hearts probably one of my all time favorite game(s). But I Dont have a ps2 so I don't know the whole story. But I know most of it.

[franman781]

Theres always a spek of light shineing in the darkness. I love Kingdom hearts probably one of my all time favorite game(s). But I Dont have a ps2 so I don't know the whole story. But I know most of it.

I played through KH1 on my roommates ps2 when i was out in college. then played through most of two but he didnt bring the game back with him after he came back from break; i got as far as right before the final boss in two. where it says something to the effect of 'this is the final safe point, turn around and continue increasing your level and finding all the extra stuff or go through here and finish the game'.

when i got home i bought a ps2 off of a friend and immediately got KH1 and 2. then was able to play through both with no interuptions,

my suggestion to you is just get a used ps2, it's not a lot of money, and get and play through both games. when you're done with that, just explore all the other awesome games that came out for the system. it's well worth the money.

[crops55]

well, it is my thread afterall :-p

I agree buddy. I wasn't trying to start any trouble I just thought that FF7 deserves a place in this discussion.

[Veszerin]

The best SNES RPG is definately Terranigma. It's the last game in the "Soul Blazer Trilogy" (the first being Soul Blazer itself, followed by Illusion of Gaia, and then Terranigma).

It's about a boy named Ark living in an alternate dimension from our own (so alternate, in fact, that it's the opposite; we walk on the crust, have oceans of water and grassy lands, while they walk hamsterball-style under the crust, have oceans of lava and snowly lands). Anyway, Ark is a troublemaker who opens a sealed in the house of the Elder of Ark's village, the only village in the dimension, Crysta, without the Elder's concent.

Ark heads downstairs from the dorway into a room containing Pandora's Box. When Ark opens it, a pink creature named Yomi pops out, telling Ark he now owns the box and Yomi is his servant, but, Arks' friend Elle shows up and suddenly turns to ice. Ark heads back upstairs to find everyone but the Elder is incased in Ice. The Elder yells at Ark and tells him that opening Pandora's Box has just destroyed all the continents on Earth and frozen the citizens of his own world.

If he wants to save them, he must travel to each of the 5 towers in his world and resurrect Earth's 5 continents (Antartica isn't represented and Europe and Asia are combined into "Eurasia"). After doing so, Ark must travel to Earth and defeat evil monsters in order to resurrect the grassy lands, birds, other animals, and then finally humans. Ark then takes the role of "God", taking care of Earth's population, and then defeat a Satan-like being called Dark Gaia, threatening to destroy the world again.
looks fascinating. never had the chance to play it, but will do so soon as it comes to VC.

[The shoemaker]

I played through KH1 on my roommates ps2 when i was out in college. then played through most of two but he didnt bring the game back with him after he came back from break; i got as far as right before the final boss in two. where it says something to the effect of 'this is the final safe point, turn around and continue increasing your level and finding all the extra stuff or go through here and finish the game'.

when i got home i bought a ps2 off of a friend and immediately got KH1 and 2. then was able to play through both with no interuptions,

my suggestion to you is just get a used ps2, it's not a lot of money, and get and play through both games. when you're done with that, just explore all the other awesome games that came out for the system. it's well worth the money.

Yes I was considering getting a ps2 just for those games. I have Chain of memories a very good game but not as good as the other 2. If you've never played it you should, it exsplains a lot about KH2.

[franman781]

Yes I was considering getting a ps2 just for those games. I have Chain of memories a very good game but not as good as the other 2. If you've never played it you should, it explains a lot about KH2.

i probably should get KH:COM, but i might just opt to read online storybooks or something...

i'm sure it is a good game, but i'm not a big fan of the card battle system. I'd like to keep my notion of the game to be a great action based RPG game with amazing storytelling, "action" being the key word.

also, KH2 does such a good job filling in the gaps between the two games, it makes COM seem like an optional sidequest that you pay for.

tell me if i'm wrong, please, if i have the totally wrong idea, i might be pursuaded to get the game afterall

[Maxx the Slash]

looks fascinating. never had the chance to play it, but will do so soon as it comes to VC.

Nope, you wouldn't have played it, since it wasn't released in America. Only Japan and Europe got it. America never got it because Nintendo was about to transition into 3D gaming with the Nintendo 64, so they didn't see the point in releasing it. Only way American's can play it outside of modding a Super Nintendo to play European SNES games is to download an emulator and rom.

[deggs]

haven't really played too many rpgs in a while but the one i remember liking most when i was younger was final fantasy 2 (or 4 in japan)... i had more fun with that one than with chrono trigger, ff3(6), ff mq, 7th saga, lufia (which, by the way should get released if square/taito know what's a smart thing to do... they were all fun games but i loved ff2(4) the most for some reason (prob cuz it was my first rpg). if only they'd release super mario rpg so I could check that one out. maybe it's getting a wii ware update or something...

[Shortay]

I haven't played any of the mentioned RPGs such as Earthbound and Chrono Trigger so I'm looking forward to giving 'em a go when/if they come to VC :)

[The shoemaker]

No really you wont be dissipointed if you get COM. The card battle doesn't make it any less "actoin" to the game. Also once you beat sora you can chose Riku and see his story. But Just saying It's not nearly as good as the ps2 games but still my favorite GBA game.

[darthmix]

I'll go with Secret of Mana. My third-favorite SNES game, and my favorite RPG of all time.

Oh, and even if we don't consider Zelda an RPG it still finds its way into a lot of these threads because it's been influential on games like Mana and Gaia that are RPGs, and because it tends to appeal to people who like RPGs. Sure, the levelling-up of your character is bound to items and not experience points, but the appeal is roughly the same.

There are games that are obviously RPGs, like Final Fantasy, and then there's the extremely broad category of games that have been influenced by RPG gameplay. This would include (on the near end of the spectrum) Zelda and Metroid, in which you explore and gain new abilities, and (on the far end) any action game in which you gain powers and become stronger over the course of the game. If that makes it sound like most modern games have some RPG elements, that's because they do.

We can define a genre as "that which has experience points" but that just seems like a semantic exercise to me. The influence of RPGs is much larger, and the line is a lot fuzzier, in practice.

[Veszerin]

the second Zelda was an RPG.

[Nintendofrk]

Final Fantasy 3 hands down