WRPG:
Deus Ex 1 (does that count?)
Skyrim
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Shadow Madness
Heard very good things about Divinity: Original Sin and KOTOR, have only played a few minutes of each though.
JRPG:
Phantasy Star series - any except for Universe, but especially PSIV.
Shining Force/SitD. SitD and PSIII were the games that got me into JRPGs and cemented the genre as my favorite kind of game for life. Also, unpopular opinion, but Shining Force 1 was the better of the two Genesis/MegaDrive Shining Force SRPGs.
LUNAR: The Silver Star and Eternal Blue
SMT: Nocturne (SUPER amped about the remaster)
Just about any SMT spinoff, but particularly DDS and P2EP. Currently working on P5 and enjoying it, but prefer the adult cast of P2.
Parasite Eve (beats out even Xenogears as my favorite late-'90s SquarePG)
Wild Arms 1&2.
Wherever, if anywhere, the DrakenNieR series fits in.
And a fuckload more. Unrecoverable JRPG junkie, just wish I had more time these days to play 'em.
I think Dragon Quest doesn't get enough love in the west. I love the ones with class systems the most, so DQIII, IV, VI, VII, and IX are my favorites, though I have to admit the level up system in XI is pretty cool too.
Honorable Mention: I'm sure the Witcher is a fantastic series, it looks well made, I just didn't like it.
Dishonorable Mention: Every single in-game moment of a Final Fantasy game is frustrating and disappointing. All of the stories are frustrating and unfulfilling. Except VII. VII at least had a compelling story. Also Advent Children sucked. I did like The Spirits Within, but the FF fans hated it - which makes me hate FF generally even more.
The Trails series gets overlooked, probably since it has such a daunting entry point.
Trails in the Sky FC >> Trails in the Sky SC >> Trails in the Sky The Third >> Trails from Zero >> Trails to Azure >> Trails of Cold Steel 1-4
Amazing series though it starts off super slow (the first game, Trails in the Sky FC is basically a 40 hour prologue), it has some of the best writing I've seen in a JRPG series. The characters are all very endearing and have great interactions too.
The Sky trilogy can be downloaded from GOG or Steam, Zero and Azure (the Crossbell Arc) aren't released here in the US, though there are ways to purchase a Japanese copy of the game and apply translation patches (Geofront's are decent translation-wise, but their added functionality and quality of life changes are top-notch.). You can get both games from Nyaa as well if that's what you're into.
Cold Steel 1 - 4 are all available on the PS4 (4 is being released in the US on October 27th).
9 JRPGs and counting is a steep entry point, but the payoff is so worth it.
It really is, my only concern is how much of a task it'll be for people new to the series to get into it a few years down the line. Falcom should really consider releasing an anthology.
I'll just throw in the Suikoden series. I got into Suikoden with S5 on the PS2 and just went backward from there. Played every game except for 4 and Suikoden Tactics, though I have read LPs of both. Absolutely outstanding series in terms of both story and gameplay.
Wasn't Suikoden 4 the one with the Rune of Punishment? But anyway, I can see what you are talking about. Suikoden can be a daunting series at times, but it is so worth it. That's why I am backing the spiritual successor on Kickstarter, Eiyuden Chronicle.
Chrono Trigger and FF6...nuff said.
Absolute pinnacle. The best games on the best system. I would add Super Mario RPG and Secret of Mana to the next tier
WRPG: Deus Ex 1 (does that count?) Skyrim Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Shadow Madness
Heard very good things about Divinity: Original Sin and KOTOR, have only played a few minutes of each though.
JRPG:
Phantasy Star series - any except for Universe, but especially PSIV. Shining Force/SitD. SitD and PSIII were the games that got me into JRPGs and cemented the genre as my favorite kind of game for life. Also, unpopular opinion, but Shining Force 1 was the better of the two Genesis/MegaDrive Shining Force SRPGs. LUNAR: The Silver Star and Eternal Blue
SMT: Nocturne (SUPER amped about the remaster) Just about any SMT spinoff, but particularly DDS and P2EP. Currently working on P5 and enjoying it, but prefer the adult cast of P2.
Parasite Eve (beats out even Xenogears as my favorite late-'90s SquarePG)
Wild Arms 1&2.
Wherever, if anywhere, the DrakenNieR series fits in.
And a fuckload more. Unrecoverable JRPG junkie, just wish I had more time these days to play 'em.
Chrono Trigger is the really solid.
Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door was really fun.
FF9 is great, I could gush about that for a while.
Skyrim. I mean yeah it's got it's got tons of flaws, but a game that huge isn't gonna be without a blemish or twelve.
Legend of Dragoon had interesting combat, good characters, and a decent story.
Half Minute Hero for the PSP was jam.
Legend of Dragoon was so underrated.
I think Dragon Quest doesn't get enough love in the west. I love the ones with class systems the most, so DQIII, IV, VI, VII, and IX are my favorites, though I have to admit the level up system in XI is pretty cool too.
Kingdom Hearts 1 is a classic. Great combat, semi-open worlds, and this mystic tone that pervaded all the old SquareSoft games.
2 made everything a lot more fun to play, but lost a lot of the exploration that I adore in KH1.
I wish Square would hurry up and port the KH 1.5, 2.5, and 2.8 collections to PC already.
Xenogears
Planescape Torment, Vampire Bloodlines, Kotor, Fallout 1&2...
JRPGs: Suikoden 1&2, FF7 first disc, Xenoblade C X...
Dragon Age Origins
KoTOR 1-2
TES: Morrowind
Mass Effect 1-3
TES: Skyrim
Legend of Zelda: BoTW
TES: Oblivion
Divinity: Original Sin
Shadowrun: Returns
Jade Empire
Honorable Mention: I'm sure the Witcher is a fantastic series, it looks well made, I just didn't like it.
Dishonorable Mention: Every single in-game moment of a Final Fantasy game is frustrating and disappointing. All of the stories are frustrating and unfulfilling. Except VII. VII at least had a compelling story. Also Advent Children sucked. I did like The Spirits Within, but the FF fans hated it - which makes me hate FF generally even more.
-Chrono Trigger -The Magic of Scheherazade -FF 5 -FF 8 -Wild Arms 2nd Ignition -Brain Lord
There is a few off the top of my head
The Magic Candle - awesome old school rpg
The Trails series gets overlooked, probably since it has such a daunting entry point.
Trails in the Sky FC >> Trails in the Sky SC >> Trails in the Sky The Third >> Trails from Zero >> Trails to Azure >> Trails of Cold Steel 1-4
Amazing series though it starts off super slow (the first game, Trails in the Sky FC is basically a 40 hour prologue), it has some of the best writing I've seen in a JRPG series. The characters are all very endearing and have great interactions too.
The Sky trilogy can be downloaded from GOG or Steam, Zero and Azure (the Crossbell Arc) aren't released here in the US, though there are ways to purchase a Japanese copy of the game and apply translation patches (Geofront's are decent translation-wise, but their added functionality and quality of life changes are top-notch.). You can get both games from Nyaa as well if that's what you're into.
Cold Steel 1 - 4 are all available on the PS4 (4 is being released in the US on October 27th).
9 JRPGs and counting is a steep entry point, but the payoff is so worth it.
Definitely second this. Trails (Kiseki) is outstanding on every front, I have the Sky series on GOG, but still trying to get Cold Steel.
It really is, my only concern is how much of a task it'll be for people new to the series to get into it a few years down the line. Falcom should really consider releasing an anthology.
No arguments there. I would love to see anthology releases for each of the arcs: Sky, Crossbell, and Cold Steel.
I'll just throw in the Suikoden series. I got into Suikoden with S5 on the PS2 and just went backward from there. Played every game except for 4 and Suikoden Tactics, though I have read LPs of both. Absolutely outstanding series in terms of both story and gameplay.
I was torn on this - I loved Suikoden; but at times it got too expansive which made it great and daunting...
I disliked 3 (I think) but the 5 (punishment) was one of my fav's for the storytelling.
Wasn't Suikoden 4 the one with the Rune of Punishment? But anyway, I can see what you are talking about. Suikoden can be a daunting series at times, but it is so worth it. That's why I am backing the spiritual successor on Kickstarter, Eiyuden Chronicle.
Interesting - did not know that was a thing
I forget - wasn't 4 the one with the Fire-bringer? I think 3 was the one with the Sun Rune
No, you have them mixed around a little. 3 was the one with the Fire Bringer. 5 had the Sun Rune.