Final Fantasy Vll - lX
Lunar
Breath of Fire 3/4
Xenogears
Chrono Cross
Star Ocean 2
Legend of Dragoon

And I don't know if this one counts but i really liked it...

Legend of Mana

CTStalker

Canada9720 Posts

March 22 2007 13:03 GMT

#86

I am reviving this topic because so far nobody has really explained the reason why they selected a given RPG in depth.
For me, the choice of the greatest RPG (greatest game ever, really) for the PS1 is simple: Xenogears. No game I've ever played compares to the detail that has been included in this game. In addition to (at the time) the incredibly unique and dynamic gameplay, Xenogears featured a storyline with religious and moral sub tones to a more explicit degree than any RPG before it. Most RPG's contain themes of friendship, love, rivalry, and animosity at the core of their story, but Xenogears enveloped these feelings and more in its incredibly complex tale. In addition to the incredible storyline content, Xenogears boasted the most unique combat system since FF7's materia. Every other RPG made on the PSX pales in comparison; there really is nothing that approaches the level of detail and sophistry of this game.
I welcome and encourage discussion about this -- while I no longer play RPGs, Xenogears strongly affected my appreciation for video games. I played most of the RPGs for the PS2 (I've played literally all of the PSX RPGs), and IMO they failed to even eclipse the worst of the PS1 RPGs in complexity and compelling detail. Somehow technical achievements were subsidized via the reduction of story elements.

P.S. please do not mention RPGs from other, newer systems -- this thread is about the achievements of RPGs from the Golden Age; it is about the gaming system that claims home to the greatest and most groundbreaking RPGs of the '90s.

KissBlade

United States5718 Posts

March 22 2007 13:12 GMT

#87

Xenogears is seriously one of the best storyline rpgs ever. Unfortunately, gameplay was awful.

CTStalker

Canada9720 Posts

March 22 2007 13:15 GMT

#88

How was the gameplay awful? The rotational camera was a great idea; the game's combat system was amazing - how could you tire of the tiered foot-gear-relational combat system? The graphics on-foot weren't the greatest, but still, the gameplay was stellar.

thedeadhaji

39489 Posts

March 22 2007 13:19 GMT

#89

xenogears is truely one of the most memorable games I have played. Probably has to do with the time I played it, the music, the characters, and the presentation of the world environment. TBH b/c I was in 7th grade (ugh like 10 yrs ago? damn I'm old) I dont think I fully grasped the storyline's complexity, and because I played my friend's copy, I cannot replay it

.

It's been so long that I cant really recall the faults of the game, but I somewhat remember that the mech battle system could at times be pretty tedious with the whole fuel restriction etc.

CTStalker

Canada9720 Posts

March 22 2007 13:23 GMT

#90

not tedious at all -- it succeeded in producing regular difficult battles where FF7 and 8 failed.

roadrunner_sc

United States1220 Posts

March 22 2007 13:56 GMT

#91

Wild Arms, BoF3 were my favorites. In my opinion a great RPG only needs a decently gripping plot and sensible dialogue. As long as the story moves along smoothly, "perfecting" the other aspects only gets you so far.
Agree with everything you've said about "technical achievements" CTstalker. Graphics improvements seemed to have brought about weaker storylines and rather bland game-play.

lol I just found my dusty old Ps1 in the closet.

stuthedog

Burundi262 Posts

March 22 2007 14:24 GMT

#92

you guys have made me feel very nostalgic. there was nothing quite like playing ff7, wildarms, the lunar series on ps1. only experience that was better imo was playing ff2 and 3 on snes and lunar 1 and 2 on sega cd (which imo is way better than the ps versions. incomparable.) also, playing ff10 on ps2 was very cool, too.

currently i dont have a console system (ps1 dunno what happened to it, ps2 i left in my car and it broke) so i have a handmedown gameboyadvance ive been playing. ff4 (or whichever the one with the crystals is) blows except for the job system and lunar legend is but a shell of the sega cd version. ill be receiving golden sun pretty soon and i hope thatll be better than the previous.

fig_newbie

749 Posts

March 22 2007 14:37 GMT

#93

is there *ahem* a way to get these games via emulator?

XCetron

5226 Posts

March 22 2007 14:38 GMT

#94

Tales of Destiny 2 been mentioned but man that gotta be my fav RPG ever. I dont like many RPGs beside TOD2, FF4, and FF9. The rest of the FF series can die for all I care. (Yea I hate FF7)

TOD2 pwns.

thedeadhaji

39489 Posts

March 22 2007 14:47 GMT

#95

wait umm, ToD2 is for ps2... or was tales of eternia called ToD2 in the states?

stuthedog

Burundi262 Posts

March 22 2007 14:54 GMT

#96

On March 22 2007 23:38 XCetron wrote:
Tales of Destiny 2 been mentioned but man that gotta be my fav RPG ever. I dont like many RPGs beside TOD2, FF4, and FF9. The rest of the FF series can die for all I care. (Yea I hate FF7)

TOD2 pwns.

i actually think ff7 is one of the most overrated games ever (which still makes it better than most rpgs). what made it fun was that EVERYONE was playing it and it became a communal and thus memorable experience. i think ff10 is my favorite of the "next gen" series, perhaps ff8 as well but i dont remember if i finished it or not.

IntoTheWow

is awesome32278 Posts

March 22 2007 20:14 GMT

#97

On March 22 2007 23:47 thedeadhaji wrote:
wait umm, ToD2 is for ps2... or was tales of eternia called ToD2 in the states?

I thinks Tales of Eternia is the PSP version of it.

nullmind

1303 Posts

March 22 2007 21:11 GMT

#98

Sorry for off topic but can someone who knows a lot about RPGs recommend me a PC based rpg game? What I like is something 'like' mmorpg and zelda from nintendo where you raise one character and learn new skills/magics as you kill etc. Graphic is not important for me since one of my favorite rpg games are text based, but the game play has to be good. I don't mind if it takes long time or it takes grinding. I want something that I can play offline when I want to play not mmorpgs. I've tried diablo2, netherwind, etc but never liked the control of the character nor the storylines. =/.

{CC}StealthBlue

United States41117 Posts

March 22 2007 21:37 GMT

#99

The only fault I found with Xenogears was the translation, one look at the FMV would prove it. While the chars lips would be moving, there wouldn't be any sound.

MaxdigsSoda

Sweden304 Posts

March 22 2007 22:08 GMT

#100

On March 23 2007 06:11 nullmind wrote:
Sorry for off topic but can someone who knows a lot about RPGs recommend me a PC based rpg game? What I like is something 'like' mmorpg and zelda from nintendo where you raise one character and learn new skills/magics as you kill etc. Graphic is not important for me since one of my favorite rpg games are text based, but the game play has to be good. I don't mind if it takes long time or it takes grinding. I want something that I can play offline when I want to play not mmorpgs. I've tried diablo2, netherwind, etc but never liked the control of the character nor the storylines. =/.

Download a ps1 emulator for PC then.. The best rpgs ever made are all on ps1, you cant get anything like it on the PC.