Top 50 Role Playing Games (RPG) of All Time

[theaveng]

(This topic was erased by the crash, so I'm rescuing it from oblivion.)

This is a cooperative effort. Key word: "Cooperative" Give me your input please. If there's a game that does not belong... or a game that needs to be added... let me know, and I'll modify the Top list.

(alphabetical order)

AD&D Forgotten Realms 2: Curse of the Azure Bonds (C=64/PC)
Anarchy Online (PC)
Asheron's Call (PC)
Baldur's Gate 2 (PC)
Bard's Tale 2 (C=64/PC)
Beyond Oasis (Genesis)
Chrono Trigger (S-NES)
Dark Age Of Camelot (PC)
Darklands (PC)
Deus Ex (C=64/PC)
Dragon Warrior 4 (NES/S-NES)
Dragon Wars (C=64/PC)
Dungeon Master (S-NES/PC)
Eye of the Beholder (S-NES/PC)
Fallout (PC)
Final Fantasy 3 (S-NES) aka Final Fantasy 6 (PS1)
Fire Emblem (NES)
Golden Axe Warrior (Sega Master System)
Golden Sun (Gameboy Advance)
Knights of Legend (C=64)
Knights of Xentar (PC)
LandStalker (Genesis)
Legacy of the Ancients (C=64)
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (S-NES)
Libertation: Captive 2 (Amiga)
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (PS1)
Might and Magic 2: Gates to Another World (C=64/PC)
Miracle Warriors (Sega Master System)
Morrowind (PC, Xbox)
Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn)
Phantasie 3 (C=64/PC)
Phantasy Star 2 (Genesis)
Planescape: Torment (PC)
Questron 1 (C=64)
Secret of Mana (S-NES)
Shining Force 2 (Genesis)
Skies of Arcadia (DC)
Suikoden 2 (PS1)
Super Mario RPG (S-NES)
Sword of Vermilion (Genesis)
Temple of Apshai Trilogy (C=64/PC)
Times of Lore (C=64)
Ultima 4 (C=64/PC)
Vagrant Story (PS1)
Valkyrie Profile (PS1)
Warriors of the Eternal Sun (Genesis)
Wasteland (C=64/PC)
Wizardry 1: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (C=64/PC)
Wizards Crown (Apple 2)
Xenogears (PS1)

[buttasuperb]

no.

[Keir]

Please change Bard's Tale 2 to Bard's Tale. Please?

[Sylentwulf]

I REALLY think this deserves to be 2 lists. Consoles, and computers (YES, the C-64 is a computer)

They're two totally different categories as far as I'm concerned, maybe a top 25 of each or something.

[theaveng]

Sorry guys. This topic is CLOSED. The moderators turned off editing so the original list can't be changed.

Sylentwulf: I disagree. A console like Playstation2 *is* a computer minus the keyboard. And the PS2 is far more powerful than the C=64 ever was. So why separate them? There's no reason too.

[digitalpress]

WTF? Who says the topic is CLOSED?

In case you hadn't noticed, I do update these things quite regularly. Anyone can start one of these lists off but if they go to the Archive forum I need to manage them since they're tied into other parts of the DP website.

We now return to our regularly scheduled debate!

[theaveng]

The person who started the thread should manage them.

Troy

[theaveng]

Legend of Zelda's not really an RPG is it? I recommend deleting it and replacing it with Paper Mario.

[digitalpress]

Legend of Zelda isn't a role-playing game?

Uh oh.

[mauigamer]

I agree with Sylent on the C64 issue. Using your argument any RPG on a Pentium 2 or lower computer would be included too because the Xbox is faster and superior to any Pentium 2. I also definitly believe that Zelda is a RPG. I would include the first Zelda and Ocarina to the list.

[digdug]

Get Rid of something but you MUST have EVERQUEST on there, with over 400,000 people playing obviously it is one of the best RPG's EVER!!!


Chris

[NvrMore]

Legend of Zelda's not really an RPG is it? I recommend deleting it and replacing it with Paper Mario.

1. WTF! :crazyeyes:

2. Paper Mario doesn't even come close to Zelda 3

3. WTF!!

Please!.. DP, tell me you're in control of this list now

[theaveng]

When I created this list, I wanted it to include ALL rpgs... including ones for computers like Commodore=64 or 80's IBM PCs. And yes, modern computers too. I simply don't see any reason to separate the C=64 Bard's Tale from the PS1 Lunar.



Question: Is Baldur's Gate 2 the PC version (Tower of Bhaal) or the PS2 version (Dark Alliance)? I've been told the PC version is superior, but never played either one of them.

[asharru]

[this post edited by admin]

PLEASE READ THE RULES.

[ashbourn]

zelda is a adventure game a RPG u lvl up and in zelda u do not u know u get more hearts but it not the same thing.

[asharru]

[NvrMore]

An RPG is not simply about statistics and leveling up, that is only one style of RPG. The RPG genre consists of numerous styles, just because a game does not conform to the typical statistical, turn-based style adopted by Square doesn't mean it is not a RPG.

Even Square's RPG don't always conform to the typical statistical turn based formula, however many of those games didn't make it over here because of various reasons including that particular misconception.

Zelda is what is known as an action-RPG, the standard FF series are turn-based RPGs (yes, they are still that genre despite Square's attempts to remove the turn based element). There are also strategy-RPGs, puzzle RPG's and a number or other styles which aren't commonly seen outside of Japan (Damn them for keeping all the good stuff to themselves).

They are all RPG's, however certain misguided people insist on persuing the notion that if it isn't of the standard statistical, turn-based formula then is isn't an RPG. They're very wrong, they just need to play a few games made by people other than Square.

Yes, Zelda is most definately an RPG.

[NvrMore]

Damn the edit's off

Just read through that last paragraph and I noticed that it may come across the wrong way so I'd just like to make the point that it wasn't having a go at you ashbourn, it was just a note on a misconception many people carry which they misguidedly insist is fact.

It wasn't meant to offend, just in case it comes across that way, I just can't edit the damn thing to fix it.

[theaveng]

The reason I asked, "Zelda not really a RPG is it?" was because of this message from psxnation.com:
ELRIC
"I personally don't consider the Zelda games, great as they are to be RPGS. Therefore they can be stricken from the list immediately. They don't have stats, levels, or any of the other things that make an RPG an RPG. They are action games where you power up you character, and no more an RPG than Devil May Cry or the Soul Reaver games."

Sounded convincing to me.



BTW, is Link to the Past really the best Zelda game? I figured Ocarina of Time would be better liked.

[NvrMore]

Contrary to ELRIC's argument, an RPG does not have to have stats, levels or turn based actions. Again that is only one of styles within the RPG genre and sadly one which some have come to believe is the only possible style that an RPG can take.

Basically it's like saying Mario cart, F-zero, Wipeout etc. aren't racing games because they don't involve gear shifts, fuel consideration and they allow weaponry.
Or that Mario World and Mario 3 aren't platform games because they allow the player to explore around a world (to and extent) and travel between levels via said map whereas most other platform games just throw you from one level to the next.
Or that Smash TV isn't a Shmup because it doesn't involve a spaceship or constantly scrolling levels like is commonly percieved when regarding the genre.

etc.

The RPG genre is not so limited as to only include the single style and type of RPG employed by Square, even Square do not restrict themselves solely to that style and have made numerous attempts to move away from it e.g. Secret of Mana employed a action-rpg approach but retained the experience based power up system (Levels are just permanent power ups, as are hearts in Zelda they're just earned and represented in slightly different ways).

Notably there are just as many, if not more RPG's which are not of the turn-based style, it's simply that some people have become so trapped in a single vision of what a genre is because they have a mostly limited experience covering only one particular style and as such cannot look beyond that.

And on the other note..

IMO Zelda 3 is by far the best of the Zelda series. I loved OOT, but it just wasn't up to the same standard. Like any RPG it comes down to personal taste but for the most part I've found that most people prefer Zelda 3 to OOT.