This section presents different aspects of some popular RPGs on Snes, PS and other consoles. If you are only interested in the newest RPGs, you will then be able to compare the old ones with the new ones.

Update: (Nov. 2, 2002)

Well, yet another correction to 'The Best RPGs of all time'. LUNAR takes the cake.

The storyline is great, the Anime clips are great. The dialogue is great: "Ramus- S-So This is where Luna sleep, is it getting hot in here?", "Royce- His primal yell freed him from my spell. Kyle- I can do other things with my toungue, too. Royce- Tempting, maybe another time". And each of these quotes are accompanied with the character's Anime expression, its great. The music is great, I've heard the CD soundtrack 4 times this week.

Alright so I've gotten a little LUNAR-crazy during midterms, don't ask why.

Update: (Labor Day, 2002)

After having played 18 hours worth of Final Fantasy 3, I can now tell you how good this game is. This game came out a year before Chrono Trigger, in 1994. Put it this way, Chrono Trigger has better graphics and sound effects, and no random battles. Am I saying that FF3 is worse than Chronon Trigger? NO WAY. FF3 has to be the best SNES (or best, period) RPG I have ever played. I probably say this about all RPGs I am currently playing, but this made me think. Purist RPgamers are going to critsize putting Super Mario RPG as the best RPG. So I've decided to make 3 short lists: best old school RPG, 3D RPG, and non-traditional RPG. The criteria (in order of importance) is: storyline, characters (i.e. dialogue, cut-scenes), funfactor (tilt), side quests, battle system, hidden/special items, etc.

Best Old-School (Traditional) RPG

• Tie: Lunar Silver Star Story Complete (PSX) and Final Fantasy 3 (SNES)
• Runners up: Chrono Trigger (SNES) and Wild Arms 1 (PSX)

Best 3D (Traditional) RPG

• Legend of Dragoon (PSX)
• Runner up: Wild Arms 2 (PSX)

Note: I'm pretty sure that FF7,8,etc. would tie with Legend of Dragoon due to their popularity (and the quality of FF3).

Best Non-traditional RPG

• Super Mario RPG (SNES)
• Runner up: Pok�mon (Gameboy)

Note: Some may place Zelda in this category, though I can't. Its tough, though solid.

RPGs are a unique brand of video game. You have to think a bit, get involved in a storyline, take part in tedious battles, and, in some cases, collect furry monsters. Having played RPGs on both the SNES and PSX platforms, I have compiled a collection of 'best of' list to those who wish to purchase, rent or obtain ROMS of the games on those platforms, can get the best (or worst) games. The top five of each category are listed.

Best RPGs of all time: (choice changed -- view 'Update Nov.2, 2002')

1. Super Mario RPG (SNES) I played this game 10 TIMES!
2. LUNAR: Silver Star Story (PSX)
3. Chrono Trigger (SNES)
4. Legend of Dragoon (PSX)
5. *Final Fantasy Series ranks somewhere in the top 5, due to popular response*

1. LUNAR: Silver Star Story (PSX). C'mon, you didn't know that Luna was the godess Althena.
2. Legend of Dragoon (PSX) What? Shana's a princess? What? Lavitz dies? What? The cool guy in black was really a teenage wingly named Lloyd? What?
3. Chrono Trigger (SNES)
4. Wild Arms 2 (1st Disc) The struggle against Odessa was solid and well developed.

1. Wild Arms 2 (2nd Disc) (PSX) "Encroaching Parallel Universe", what the f**k. Why are all the characters talking about their weaknesses in a wholesome, somewhat religious manner?

1. Wild Arms (Both 1 and 2 - PSX) The games feature many wonderful puzzles. Unfortunately many are irrational and can only be solved by mindless guessing. I went to the internet in search of answers to many problems. Puzzles
2. Breath of Fire 2 (SNES) The game is decent, but somehow, after Windia, you get stuck and can't move on.
3. Eartbound (SNES) This game even has a help booth (in the game) if you have problems. Lord.
4. Chrono Trigger (SNES) I got through this game once, but in the ROM version, I had trouble getting past the dome with all the people in it in AD 2300.
5. Lufia 2 (SNES) Much like Wild Arms, many puzzles are difficult to solve. It doesn't help that I didn't have an instruction manual. I had to play with the keys to figure out that you could stand in one place while holding something.

• Dishonorable Mentions: Harvest Moon (SNES), Secret of Mana 2 (SNES), Gokuden: Legend of the Super Sayain (SNES)

1. Wild Arms 1 (PSX) (Opening Scene) A tear forms whenever I hear this track, amazing.
2. LUNAR: SSSC (PSX) Luna's voice is wonderful. The BGM is nice and old-school.
3. Chrono Trigger (SNES) The AD 600 music is very nice.
4. Super Mario RPG (SNES)
5. Legend of Dragoon (PSX) The music is good, especially in the castles. Too bad they couldn't crank up the volume.

1. Legend of Dragoon (PSX) Additionals, dragoons.
2. Chrono Trigger (SNES) The realtime nature of fights and combo system were brilliant.
3. Super Mario RPG (SNES)

1. Wild Arms 1 (PSX). Lord. The random battles are annoyingly frequent. You tap in all your commands at the beginning and watch the badly drawn polygons fight each other. Yay.
2. Earthbound (SNES). You see your enemies in 2D in big psychedelic rectangles (not even in the 2d where the characters appear to be somewhat 3D), imagine that.
3. Any part of any game where you can't solve the battle and have to move everywhere to solve it, but keep on running into random battles.

1. Legend of Dragoon (PSX) The pre-rendered backgrounds and Cut Scenes were great.
2. Wild Arms 2 (PSX) My first 3D RPG. It's 3D! And you can rotate the screen!
3. Super Mario RPG (SNES) Except for Donkey Kong Country, the best looking video game on the SNES.
4. Wild Arms 1 (PSX) Clean graphics
5. Chrono Trigger (SNES) The floating island (10000 BC) was great.

1. Lunar: SSSC (PSX) There are many involving anime scenes in this game. The singing of Luna in many of these scenes is very good. The anime helps to connect with the character. Also whenever a character speaks, his/her anime face shows up next to the dialogue. Happy speak has a happy face, etc. Many great jokes are in this as well e.g.

   Kyle: I can do other things with my tongue, too.

   Female villain (Forgot name): Not now, maybe another time.

   The bromides and Althena Spring scenes come close to Hentai as a plus.
2. Wild Arms 1 (PSX) As dicussed before, the opening scene is the BEST.
3. Legend of Dragoon (PSX) Gameplay, battles and cutscenes flow exquisitely. The opening scene is nice Lloyd: "It is none of your concern." Great. The Dragoon War cinema (Rose and Zieg) was very well animated as well. these scenes rival those on the PS2.

1. Super Mario RPG (SNES) This is the RPG that plays like an action game (e.g. Donkey Kong). You jump onto platforms, etc. When you bump into an opponent, the RPG-style battle begins. There are so many secret games. After having played this game 10 times I have still not located the whereabouts of 1 treasure chests. The environments are cheerful with many outside modes (Yoshi Racing, Minecart Racing, Tadpole music playing, etc.)
2. Legend of Dragoon (PSX) There are quite a few outside modes. Some are for training, but most are cheerful sideshow type modes, like chopping vegetables against the computer, and other games. Finding stardust is also there.
3. Wild Arms 2 (PSX) Great logical puzzles. Many rune (medium) dungeons that keep the play alive outside the standard game. The use of tools (bombs, wands, etc.) to solve problems reminds players of Zelda.
4. Wild Arms 1 (PSX) The tool aspect is here as well.
5. Lufia 2 (SNES)