What's the best RPG game of all time?

[JCG]

Consolewise...Final Fantasy IV, if only for nostalgia value (music/designs/cliched plot/etc.). Really. Few if any realistic merits outside of that.

If you take that one out, it has to be FF VI, which was twice as good overall, despite the fact that the ending portion of the game seemed a bit rushed (little to no plot in the WoR). Still, the world was big and complex, the music/art was top notch (though Chrono Trigger's better on that regard, yeah), and you could become insanely powerful through magic/espers too.

Below those..FF VII, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Shin Megami Tensei (translated), Suikoden 2, etc.

PC-wise...Fallout 1/2 (relatively original theme, freedom + good graphics, sound and skill system don't hurt) and/or Ultima VII part 1 (almost total freedom of action/morality, outside of the main storyline...part 2 has lots of improvements, but the world wasn't quite as big and seemed to lack a few of the little touches...it's basically the same game though).

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Stuie
Harnmaster/Harnworld for its incredible level of detail in portraying a medieval-like fantasy world.

Is that the one where you hide behind some trees in your loincloth with a blackjack to wait for a goblin to wander by?

[Urban Ranger]

Final Fantasy is not real RPG. It's more like a play with you as an actor.

[JCG]

Yeah, but then again so are most console rpgs, with a couple of exceptions.

[Drake Tungsten]

Final Fantasy is not real RPG. It's more like a play with you as an actor.

Isn't acting "role playing" by definition?

[Agathon]

I started this thread because I've spent the last few days playing "Icewind Dale" which I bought ages ago but just got around to playing.

Not a bad game, but nothing like real RP. I have 3 fighters, two multi class fighters and one cleric. I should have had a Druid: the idea of turning into a Polar Bear appeals to me.

I've got a Paladin with 145 hit points!!!!

[Gatekeeper]

Chrono Trigger is the best RPGs, IMO.

The premise of the story — traveling through various eras of your planet's past, present and future to save it from destruction at the hands of an alien enemy — combined with good graphics and an entrancing mixture of science and magic made for a beautiful game. It's a legendary title, IMO, and the sequel, Chrono Cross, is pretty good, too.

I hope Chrono Break is coming out sometime in 2004.

Gatekeeper

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Final Fantasy is not real RPG. It's more like a play with you as an actor.

Isn't acting "role playing" by definition?

Not quite, even in the sociological sense.

However, in terms of "roleplaying games," there is a very specific meaning. Consider the campaign as an unfinished novel, it has some skeletons but everything else is just in the air. Outcomes of events are still undecided.

[LDiCesare]

Can be done easily enough in AD&D: class switching is allowed with hit points retained as long as the character has a 15 in the requisite stat(s) for the new class. Once you achieve a higher level in your new class than in the previous class you can freely mix the skills.

Nope.
You couldn't get up in levels afterwards, and there is just NO class or combination thereof that fits some of the characters I want. Systems based on skills (Chaosium, Rolemaster to a lesser extent) are much much better for that. In Ad&D you needed 15 minimum in the old class stat and 17 in the new if I remember correctly. Plus you had to be human. Too many limits. Getting a 15 is not that easy in the first place unless, as amost everyone does, you cheat the rolls.
Plus I hate the alignment stuff in D&D, which artificially binds you to moral codes that may not make sense for your character. You'll end up chaotic neutral if you can't find anywhere your morals go because that's the only alignment that alows you to do whatever you like.
Pendragon had a much nicer alignment system: It wasn't about a small set of good/Evil lawful/chaotic, but presented a whole set of qualities (ranging from courage to chastity), but it still ended up limiting the way you could control your character, which is something I don't like.

[Dis]

3rd edition you don't have to be human and you don't need a 17.

You're thinking of second edition. But 2nd edition you could also be a multi-class if you weren't human. That's a great way to be a fighter/mage.

[Bosh]

Any remember the Phantasy Star games for Sega. I played the third when I was 11ish and have vague recollections of lots of characters, an interesting plot, different planets and a sci-fi/fantasy mix that was done better than in most FF games. But then IIRC you had to do a good bit of walking aroudn in circles to level up.

Never much liked chrono trigger. Just can't stand games where the main characters are kids and none of them had half of the personality of the FF III (FF VI right?) characters which made up for a fairly boring combat system (except for the espers which were cool).

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Odin
Final Fantasy VI!

14 playable characters

100's of items, weapons, and armor

AWESOME storyline

Funny characters (Locke: Don't call me a treasure hunter or I'll rip your throat out! )

Great music, some of the best in a video game, EVER!

TONS of secrets

That was Final Fantasy III in the United States.

[Bosh]

ooooooh found some ROMs here:

http://pscave.com/dow/dow.html

now that I look at it I think it was PS II that I played. Anyone remember any of them well enough to tell me if they'd still be as fun as I thought they were 12ish years ago? And which one is the best?

thanks!

[Harry Seldon]

Battle Tactics Ogre was alright until you get to the end. I can't believe they make you fight so many battles on the mountain without any chance to resupply. I think I got to the eleventh battle and ran out of health potions then gave up because I had saved over all my games leading up to the final fight sequence. I did like the card system, though, for bonus attrib points.

[Urban Ranger]

Re: Re: Gives me chills

Originally posted by ajbera
The White Wolf games have the best settings and backgrounds, bar none (particularly World of Darkness).

I have not seen any of those, but Runequest also has some very extensive background as well.