Oh, sure, this has been done before. Probably by me even. But it’s been awhile since we’ve done it, so let’s do it again.
It can be on any system, including PC.
I will not bother defining RPG, so any game you honestly feel is RPG can count.
My vote is:
You?
Final Fantasy on the old nintendo. That game had a huge replay value because the characters were so mutable. newer FF games you have too definite a story line so its more like reading a book than writing one.
I’m a graphics whore.
Well, I think it depends on the kind of RPG you’re looking to play.
For the best story and movies, I’d say FF8 (aside from the whole ‘we grew up in the same orphanage and didn’t remember, and oh yeah, Irvine just forgot to mention it’).
However, for the most like a FPS but isn’t really, but is also just excellent, I’d say Deus Ex.
My favorite is probably the Elder Scrolls series (Arena and Daggerfall). I’m sure everyone that knows what I’m talking about is groaning, but I loved the fact that it was so close to being like a free form D&D game. If you got past the bugs, you could make any character, do anything in the game. The fact that there was finally a computer game that you could use the spell Feather Fall to jump rooftop to rooftop while trying to pick the locks on windows.
So, hmm - most recent RPG that I’m enjoying: Dungeon Siege.
Classic RPG I like the most: Original FF on NES
Best game that needs redone and fixed of all bugs: Daggerfall
Guess that sums it up. Yeah.
John
If you’re talking consoles, I don’t have an anwer. I’ve looked at the Final Fantasies but never got into them. I felt like I was watching an anime that made me fight slimes every 2 mintues.
On the PC, some of the series I’ve enjoyed:
Those are the ones that spring to mind immediately.
I’m a PC whore. Can’t stand those consoles.
Gold medal: Wizardry 1 : Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Silver medal: Ultima 7 : The Black Gate
Bronze medal: Fallout 2
It wasn’t perfect, but I have the fondest memories of Xenogears for PS1.
The usual suspects:
Arcanum
Planescape: Torment
Fallout
Fallout 2
Baldur’s Gate
Baldur’s Gate II
Icewind Dale
Daggerfall
Torment and Fallout 1 & 2 can be had for a song at my local Wal-Mart. Run and get yourself a copy now, you fools. Arcanum is still selling as full retail price, and it’s worth it. Go. Why are you still reading this?
In rough order,
Planescape: Torment
Fallout 2
Ultima 7: The Serpent Isle
Deus Ex
Baldur’s Gate II
Pool of Radiance (The original, of course.)
My votes:
I think the Lunar games are the best RPGs that not very many people ever saw or played. The graphics are dated by today’s standards, but the storylines are good and the translators actually know what they’re doing (and added a lot of PG-rated humor to the series).
I’ll second FF6 (FFIII SNES). Excellent, excellent game. FFTactics is by far my favorite, however.
LUNAR games are great, too. They don’t get the credi they deserve, though SSSComplete was somewhat linear.
The only PC RPG I’ve played thus far is BGII. Eh. I was really, really into it for a while, but then lost interest quickly.
I second Xenogears–sure, the jumping puzzles were irritating, but it was very engrossing. There aren’t nearly enough sci-fi rpgs with giant mechs out there.
Pool of Radiance 1, Death Lord and Bard’s Tale 1 took up most of my formative years. Having to choose between them would be like having to pick your favorite child…
Final Fantasy IV (2 US). It had everything: the dark knight Cecil (with a kick-ass ability that was left out of the US version); Kain, a dragoon with a powerful jump attack that rivaled Cecil both as a dark knight or paladin; Rosa, a white wizard who could destroy all undead creatures with her White spell; Rydia, an annoying girl who could summon huge creatures and burn everything in sight.
Man, all the newer games are mostly FMV whores that play themselves more than you play them… (hmm, sounds like a bad pun).
Another joyous vote for Fallout 1 & 2. Dogmeat !!! Arf!!!
Also Avernum 1 & 2 by http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/
Graphics would be at home in the early nineties, but my god!! the gameplay!!!
This game has been made by one single guy (he subcontracts graphics & sound) labouring out of love for the genre, not being pressured by deadlines or investors. He releases a new game when HE is happy with it and not before.
The skills and levelling system is as good as I have ever seen.
Combat is turn based 
The plot and writing are just stupendous, relatively speaking, IE bloody good in absolute terms. I mean BLOODY GOOD.
The best part is that you can download the games and play up to about one quarter of them with no restrictions whatsoever, then if you like them enough to want to play on you register the game and are sent a key code to unlock the full game. There is no downside!!
Finally, Dungeon Master. I believe that there is a java-based freeware version available. This is a first person-perspective dungeon romp that came out originally in 1988. Ingenious puzzles, brilliant spell-casting system, and incredibly atmospheric to play. I won’t include a link 'cos I’m not sure of the legality, but Googling shouldn’t be difficult.
Gold medal: Fallout 2 (PC). I played this through beginning to end, developing my character a different way each time, and never tired of it.
Silver Medal: System Shock 2 (PC): With all due respect to Deus Ex, this is the game that best melds FPS with roleplaying elements. Again, played through it using each of the character classes, developing the character differently each time, and never got tired of it.
Bronze Medal: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS). Metroid, but with better graphics, a better story, better gameplay, and a way to get your character and several familiars up to level 99 practically overnight without cheating. Played it through beginning to end a half dozen times.
Honorable mentions: Diablo 2 (PC), Fallout (PC), Gauntlet Legends (Arcade).
Nintendo:
Dragonwarrior 4
Final Fantasy
Faxanadu
Super NES:
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 3
Earthbound
Playstation:
Xenogears
Revelations: Persona
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
List can change at any time.
You gotta go with Final Fantasy 3 for SNES on this one. That game has a great story line, its long, and you have tons of characters to use. The way magic is conducted in it also makes it tons of fun.
How could I forget Final Fantasy Tactics? What an awesome game. I got totally addicted to it. It’s the only RPG that I’ve actually enjoyed playing random battles in.
The absolute best RPG I’ve ever played is Final Fantasy 7, mostly because of the storyline. Graphics were good at the time (despite the toothpick arms). Music is awesome, especially One Winged Angel. I think most everyone here would agree that the Final Fantasy series is an excellent group of RPGs. Top Three would probably be VII, Tactics and X. Beyond Final Fantasy though…
The two Lunars (Silver Star Story and Eternal Blue) are probably the second best RPGs I’ve played. Sure, it’s linear and doesn’t leave a lot of character customization, but it’s just fun to play and see through.
Another RPG no one ever really thinks about is the Shining Force series for the Genesis and later on, the Saturn. Now, I haven’t played Shining Force III, but Shining Force I was my favorite game back when I had my Genesis, right up until Shining Force II came out. Excellent gameplay, major character customization (or Force customization), fairly good graphics, good music; an overall great game.
(P.S. I have Final Fantasy V - X and Tactics, along with both Lunars, Chrono Cross and Castlevania: SotN, which is also an awesome game. And yes, I am a nerd.)
OH MY GOD!! I forgot that too!!! It is TRULY a superior game!