Some of my favorite games are the ones that I can look back on and say, "Holy crap, I went through puberty while playing that game." Looking through the Time to Kill articles here on DP, it got me to thinking: most games coming out lately are relatively short compared to some of the great RPGs of the mid to late 90s, on the SNES and the Playstation.
Even the RPGs released today don't have that crazy length, for the most part. Now, I'll admit, there are plenty that you could sink a 'developmental stage' or two into, but games do seem to log in and 20 or less much more often than the 60 or more I used to do. And maybe it's us?
Current gamers, and those just getting into serious gaming (you know, teenagers, etc...) sometimes just don't have the patience to let a game heat up, to really see how wonderful games like Final Fantasy III are. ("When I was your age...")
For instance, my wife, who sometimes feels a little left out of the group with me and my gaming friends, asked me "What is the best one of those long RPG games that you guys play?" She is referring to the same type of game I have been describing. Basically, I told her if she were to crack down and play through Final Fantasy III that she would be in a special club, and I'd love it. I don't see it ever happening, because she doesn't have the patience, or the time.
Name one or two games that you would suggest that EVERYONE play, even though they clock in at 40+ hours on average.
For me, I would say that everyone should play FFIII for SNES (not psx!), and Suikoden 2 for the Playstation. Both games represent the best of their era, and are possibly underappreciated by some. Grandia for PSX is a close runner-up.
And everyone has already played FF VII, so think of something else. (I might get some ideas!)