What a year it's been, gamer girls and boys! We've seen the arrival of the GameCube, the XBox, and the Gameboy Advance. We've seen some cruddy games and some really excellent titles as well. We at RPGFan have worked diligently to bring you all the news that's fit to be tied, and by this time of the year, so are we!
It's come down to this, RPGFan editors have all voted for their top 5 favorite RPGs and a few honorable mentions that also includes non-RPGs. Not only is this to voice our own opinions, but you can also use this as a buyer's guide or a historical reference. Okay, maybe not a historical reference. :). Keep in mind that not all the editors have played all RPGs so don't be surprised if you don't see your favorite RPG on one of our editor's list. It could simply be because he didn't get to play this game yet and as such, couldn't put it on his list.
Also, don't forget to check out the overall RPGFan Top 10 RPGs of 2001.
1) Final Fantasy X - I've only just begun this game and already it's taken over my life. The graphics, music, voice acting, story, cinematography, gameplay, it's all rock solid. I've really been swept up by Tidus and Yuna's journey, the inner conflict, Sin, and everything else about it. Truly this is the number one title of the year.
2) Final Fantasy Chronicles - I've always had a place in my heart for retro games; the only person on the site who rivals me is probably Slime. Fortunately, Square fixed the egregious mistake of failing to include Final Fantasy IV in the previously released Final Fantasy Anthology with Final Fantasy Chronicles. Unfortunately, the load times in Chrono Trigger were unacceptable. Still, Final Fantasy IV is my favorite RPG of all time, so how could I really complain; it was worth the purchase just for that.
3) Dragon Warrior III GBC - I'm a big Dragon Quest fanboy, I'll admit, but this little gem deserves all the accolades it gets (which unfortunately are solely from me here). It improves in every way imaginable on the original NES version, and it's fun. The story may be lame (let's face it: it's VERY lame) but for me, RPGs are not about story exclusively, and a great game system can make up for a poor tale.
4) Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland - Don't ask, just... don't... ask. There's something about farming the land, doing repetitive tasks, and interacting with cutesy villagers in an ultra-wholesome atmosphere that just appeals to me. Though this is my first Harvest Moon title, it won't be the last one I play. I recommend every PS2 owner get this; you'll question why you're not living on a farm.
5) Golden Sun - Sequels, remakes and handhelds should be the subtitle for the Games of 2001. Golden Sun was Camelot's first foray onto the GBA, and they performed magnificently. The entire game was rock solid, fun, and gorgeous. It was definitely on par, graphically speaking, with first-generation PlayStation titles, perhaps exceeding them. However, if Camelot decides not to release the sequel, there WILL be hell to pay.
Honorable Mentions
Civilization III
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Zelda: Oracle Series
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Anachronox
1) Final Fantasy X - Though only released in the US on Dec 19th, I had the opportunity to play the Japanese version, and what should I say? This game is mind blowing. On the other hand, what did you expect?! Square has once again delivered a masterpiece worth carrying the heralded "Final Fantasy" name.
2) Final Fantasy Chronicles - Super Famicom classics re-visited. Neither game has lost its magic from the good old 16-bit days ("You spoony bard"). Final Fantasy Chronicles was one of the last RPGs released on PSX, but definitely one of greatest as well.
3) Sakura Taisen 3: Is Paris Burning? - This time Ichiro Ogami and (mainly female) company are fighting off the forces of evil in Paris. As in the two previous games, Overworks and Red Company have again delivered a wonderfully light-hearted game.
4) Love Songs - Yet another dating sim? To answer your question, here comes an emphatic "yes!" Love Songs features cute character designs and is extremely fun to play.
5) Okage: Shadow King - Not as tough as Eminem, but much more entertaining is the slim shady featured in Okage. Originally known as Boku to Maoh (The Devil and I) in Japan, after its localization Okage is still a lot of fun to play, despite the game's flaws, which made their way across the Pacific as well.
Honorable Mentions
Devil May Cry
Dead or Alive 3
1) Final Fantasy X - Every Final Fantasy is a momentous occasion. FFX revolutionizes console RPGs just like FFVII did back in 1997. The voice acting is a step forward for the series and really adds to the game, as spoken dialogue is just about everywhere. The music and graphics are bar none; never before have I seen such effects and textures in a console game. The story is just as intricate and amazing... definitely the best RPG of the year, HANDS DOWN.
2) Final Fantasy Chronicles - C'mon, a re-release of two of the greatest RPG's of all time? And with one of them completely re-localized? #2 RPG of the year, no question.
3) Golden Sun - One of the best GBA games, and feels like a polished SNES RPG with effects you would expect on a PlayStation. Hours of great gameplay due to its excellent battle system.
4) Dark Age of Camelot - Following in the footsteps of Ultima Online and EverQuest, Dark Age of Camelot utilizes an advanced 3D engine for stunning graphics, a large online universe, and it's pretty easy to pick up on. One of the best massive online RPGs.
5) Anachronox - Though a bit buggy, the patch Ion Storm released fixes most of that, and the game has good graphics, a really moody atmosphere, and a great plot. Definitely the best console-esque RPG on the PC.
1) Final Fantasy X - Quite possibly the best RPG of the last 5 years, the latest installment in Square's long-running series does not disappoint. With fully 3D environments, a revamped battle system, and full voice acting, Final Fantasy X makes leaps and bounds over the RPG status quo.
2) Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 - 1000+ hours. Need I say more? Sure, PSO is slightly repetitive and simplistic, but it is absurdly addictive. With the addition of Challenge Mode, Battle Mode, and tons of new quests, PSO Ver. 2 adds a lot to the entire PSO package.
3) Final Fantasy Chronicles - It's about time that we American folk got our hands on Final Fantasy IV... and what a way to do it. Featuring a completely retranslated script, virtually no load-time, and tons of extra doo-dads, this package was wonderful. While I already have it on cartridge, the inclusion of Chrono Trigger is icing on the cake, as many people regard it as the best (or second-best) RPG on the SNES.
4) Castlevania: Circle of the Moon - CotM was the reason I picked up my GBA in the first place. I loved Symphony of the Night, and this is just more of the same great gameplay. If only the next 2D Castlevania would come sooner...
5) Golden Sun - This solid RPG is the only real thing that keeps me from tossing my GBA and its terrible screen out the window. But, hey, I'll take what I can get. Golden Sun is great, although the story ends rather abrubtly.
Honorable Mentions
Devil May Cry
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Shenmue 2
Megaman X6
1) Final Fantasy X - I guess this one was predictable. But honestly, FFX's presentation, from graphics to music, are all miles ahead of any other RPG I've played. The new system is particularly interesting, and the loading times are slim to none, which is just great. FFX is a new evolution for the series, even more so than FFVII was back in 1997.
2) Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons - While I found it weird that Nintendo and Capcom were co-developing a Zelda game, or 2 for that matter, the results were fantastic. The Oracle games managed to keep the classic Zelda feel, while adding many new features like linking the two games. All in all, a great effort, and I hope to see more like it on GBA.
3) Final Fantasy Chronicles - It sure took long enough to get the remakes of Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV to make it to the US. While I already loved CT and owned the import of the PSX version, I wasn't sure about FFIV. After the PSX ports of 5 and 6, I was concerned about loading times and slowdown, but Square impressed me by releasing a near-flawless version, with multiple additions to the prior US release and a great translation.
4) Castlevania: Circle of the Moon - Konami amazed me with this one, managing to cram all the fun from the PSOne's Symphony of the Night into a GBA cart. With an RPG-like leveling system, dozens of special abilities, excellent control and music, this game kept me stuck to my GBA for weeks.
5) Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 - While Version 2 was mostly an update to the original game, it was sure a welcome one. While the game can become repetitive with excessive play, I never got tired of playing online with friends. That, coupled with a virtually limitless arsenal of hidden weapons and items and special quests, makes it a game that can last for a long while. Now just give me that GameCube one...
Honorable Mentions
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Megaman X6
Sonic Adventure 2
Megaman Battle Network
1) Final Fantasy X Yeah.. go FFX!
2) Golden Sun - I've only played a little bit of this, but it has that same Camelot charm that all the shining games had, so...by the time I'm through with it, I'm sure this won't change...
3) ICO - I love this game, for everything from the subtle yet charming personalities of the characters, to the incredible environments!
4) Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 - I...I...well...PSO's a good game...it's just the lack of a tie-in to the rest of the PS series that bothered me... As a stand alone, it's one of few games to get hundreds of hours out of me...
1) Final Fantasy X - Originally scheduled to release sometime in January, Square got a move on to catch the holiday craze. Being the first Final Fantasy title to include voice acting, Square put everyone's fears to rest with one of their most competent localizations yet. A beautiful soundtrack, a refined battle system, a great way to learn new abilities and up statistics...Final Fantasy X has winner written all over it. Besides, they need to make up for the atrocity that was FFIX.
2) Sakura Taisen 3: Is Paris Burning? - The third installment in everyone's favorite dating sim/strategy RPG takes our playboy out of Tokyo and places him in more Parisian surroundings. Unfortunately, ST3's storyline faltered in the originality department, but there's no denying the new battle system and graphics are pure bliss.
3) Shadow Hearts - A game that will sadly be passed over for the big FF this Christmas, but looks like it should set up somewhat of a cult following. After the tragedy that was Koudelka, it's nice to see Sacnoth live up to their hype as former Square employees.
4) Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 - For a game that plays so simply and has such a basic premise, PSO was an addiction of mine for about 3 months. Hackers and cheaters, however, have ruined what was a greatly enjoyable game and Sonic Team's reluctance to patch security holes has created a rift among players.
5) Golden Sun - How could so much 2D RPG goodness come out of a handheld? Golden Sun is full of everything; a fun, albeit cliched story, 2nd generation 32-bit graphics, and very listenable music. Now why couldn't we have seen something like this on the N64?
Honorable Mentions
Devil May Cry
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Rez
Dance Dance Revolution Extra Mix and 5th Mix
Advance Wars
1) Phantasy Star Online - The world's first console-based online RPG, Phantasy Star Online takes a new approach to the series by offering an action-based realtime combat system. With a storyline left very much open-ended, it is up to you to fill in the gaps and (arguably) tie it into the rest of the Phantasy Star series. Though far from perfect, offering free online play in the US, and having consumed easily over a thousand hours worth of gameplay time, it is easily my choice as game of the year.
2) Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 - A decent upgrade of the original title, there were bug fixes and the welcome addition of new options such as battle and challenge mode, as well as an assortment of new items to find and a new difficulty level. Though the game made the original release obsolete, with a pay-to-play fee in the US, a better (read: GameCube) version planned to be released in the not-so-distant-future, and with the online community dwindling due to rampant cheating, it was a fun ride, but it wasn't enough extra meat to keep the majority of the original audience satiated, nor pull in new players. Still worthy of recognition.
3) Record of Lodoss War - A Diablo-esque action RPG for the Dreamcast, the game boasted some of the highest amount of customization in a console game to date. Given the ability to upgrade weapons, armor, shield, and more to your content, and with a large assortment of optional, REWARDING dungeons to explore, the game offered plenty of replay value. While the visuals are a mixed bag, and the CG movies are cheesy compared to anything Square puts out, the story is strong, as is the gameplay. Definitely worth picking up
1) Final Fantasy X - Best FF game since Square jumped ship over to Sony? Hell if I know... I haven't played all the PSX FF games, and I've played all of 15 minutes of FFX. I've heard good things though... at the very least, those Japanese FFX comercials were pretty damn hot, and Tidus ain't too bad himself.
2) Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - The sometimes lethargic pacing of the BG series and its often tedious battle system is revamped from the bottom up to better suit action hungry console gamers, and to great effect. That bar wench does bounce just right too, and you know that's what really counts! If only she kicked high...
3) Phantasy Star Online - A multi-player online RPG that doesn't suck? Apparently so... at least that's what Parn would like you to believe. Can't say that I really trust chibis much myself though.
4) Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Ages - Is it possible to utterly loathe and thoroughly enjoy a game at the same time? I wouldn't think so myself, but Zelda made it painfully clear that it's not too bright to put much stock into what I think. Both Zeldas serve up GBC gaming goodness no drooling hand-held RPG fanboy should be without... as long as those servings are kept bite sized.
5) Escape From Monkey Island - Not an RPG? Sure it is... in that graphic adventure kinda way only a game that wanted to be an RPG, but didn't quite make it could be. I though I was a villainous, blood-thirsty pirate for months after playing this game, and if that's not involuntary role-playing at its finest, I just don't know what is!
1) Sakura Taisen 3: Is Paris Burning? - Three years in the making and it finally came! Although my interest in this series probably still puzzles a lot of you, this is by far my favourite game of the year. Beautiful graphics, good story & characters, nice music... Sakura Taisen 3 lives up to the reputation of the series. Let's keep our fingers crossed that ST4 does too.
2) Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons - I didn't have very high expectations about these two, but they turned out to be very good surprises. Two games every GBC owner should own, although the "déjà vu" feeling may be a bit strong for those of us who've played the 8-bit and 16-bit Zelda games.
3) Segagaga - Sega's self parody game, Segagaga is one of the most original games I've ever seen. Even if its mediocre gameplay and average graphics should not warrant it to be here, its witty humor and delightful quirkiness earns it a spot on my list. This is simply the funniest game I've ever played, I can't recommend it enough if you speak Japanese. Just wait till I review it.
4) Final Fantasy Chronicles - If you still haven't played these two classics, you'll have no excuse now with the re-releases, and the revised localizations will finally enable you to enjoy your BombRing and Smut.
5) Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth - Alas, Hoshigami comes a little too late, but if you're desperate for a FFT substitute, and forget we're in 2002 already, it may just be the game you need. If you don't mind the tedious gameplay and bad sound effects, that is.
Honorable Mentions
Marie & Elie no Atelier
Minna de Puyo Puyo
Dance Dance Revolution 5th Mix
Dream Audition 3
Mario Kart Advance
1) Final Fantasy X - I really wasn't all that excited about FFX up until Mid-November when I bought my PS2. Man, oh man, this one's a killer. Overtaking every Final Fantasy but number 4, I became addicted to the game. I just could not stop playing, craving battle after battle, hoping to max out my characters. All I can say is WOW!
2) Golden Sun - At first I thought, mini-RPG that I could take anywhere... ehhh. But for some odd reason I actually bought it, and was I ever glad I did. This is the game Lufia: The Legend Returns SHOULD have been! Camelot, YOU ROCK!
3) Shadow Hearts - After disliking Koudelka so much, I figured I'd just pass on this one. For some odd reason, though, someone up there MUST have wanted me to play it, because I ended up getting a free copy, and MAN was I surprised! Shadow Hearts takes Koudelka and mutilates it. Great game.
4) Final Fantasy Chronicles - God really does answer prayers! When Squaresoft decided to re-release these two classics, I nearly wet myself... boy am I glad I didn't. Anyways, two classics in one game for the PSX, what more can I say?
5) Phantasy Star Online ver. 2 - Super addictive and LOADS of fun to play... until the cheaters came. Playing with friends has never been so much fun! I just can't wait for the GC version!
Honorable Mentions
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Devil May Cry
Super Smash Bros. Melee
1) Golden Sun - Camelot is back in the saddle, albeit pint-sized, and they're not taking any prisoners. I've never played a hand-held game this much in my LIFE! The fantastic character designs, the flawless combat system, the AMAZING storyline, this game is a jewel. This is THE game that proves that not only is the GBA a full fledged console, it's a true 32-bit pocket beastie! ROAR!
2) ICO - The year's best adventure game bar none. The first game I've ever seen that truly pushes photo-realistic graphics on the PS2. Though not exactly story heavy, ICO does more with mood and setting to convey it's story than 1,000 lines of prose.
3) Final Fantasy X - Though the jury is still out on the voice acting, the game is a worthy follow-up to Squaresoft's flagship series. The game is simply breathtaking and the story is impressive. The return of random battles is a hard pill to swallow, but it's a moot point compared to the game's finer points. What a happy X-mas gift from Santa Square.
4) Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition meets Diablo...'nuff said.Bring along a friend for the most addictive hack-and-slash RPG this side of PSO.
5) Kessen II - Live the Romance of the Three Kingdoms CG movie, and beat the snot out of thousands of troops. A great story with great graphics, but as a Strategy-RPG, may not appeal to some.
Honorable Mentions
Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2
Final Fantasy Chronicles
Dragon Warrior VII
Record of Lodoss War
Tales of Destiny II
1) Final Fantasy X - Final Fantasy X: No surprise here as Square's venerable RPG series makes the jump to the PS2 by improving on almost every facet of the 32-bit incarnations. That a series of games that's reached the double-digits in terms of installments can remain this intriguing, this fresh, and this good is a testament to Squaresoft. Forget that it's recently become cool to bash Square-there's no denying that they make great games.
2) Final Fantasy Chronicles - Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger for $40? Forget about the load times, these are classic games that any RPG fan should experience. If you came into RPGs with Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation, then you should play these games to get a feel for what the 16-bit era was all about.
3) Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - While those familiar with the PC versions of Baldur's Gate may not recognize this game as a Baldur's Gate title, it's still a fantastic hack-and-slash Action RPG in the tradition of Diablo (and even older games like NetHack). Beautiful graphics, addictive gameplay, and excellent voice acting more than make up for the measly three character choices and the relative shortness of the quest itself. If you're looking for a dungeon hack on the PS2, this game is for you.
4) Record of Lodoss War - This Dreamcast Diablo clone won't turn up on a lot of top 10 lists, but it should. While the graphics aren't the greatest, the gameplay is addicting and the storyline pretty solid, too. If you like hack-and-slash action, this one's worthy of your consideration. Plus, like almost all of the Dreamcast games still around, it's cheap. You shouldn't have to spend more than $20 for a copy of this one.
5) Shadow Hearts - Sacnoth demonstrates that they not only recognized the failures of their first title, Koudelka, but that they also figured out how not to make those same mistakes again. Shadow Hearts isn't a game that's going to blow you away with its graphics, but the story is excellent, the music some of the best of the year, and the gameplay fairly innovative thanks to the 'Judgment Ring', which adds an extra dimension to the standard menu-driven RPG battles. Shadow Hearts is my sleeper hit of 2001.
Honorable Mentions
Halo
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2
Tales of Destiny II
Saiyuki: The Journey West
1) Final Fantasy X - Definitely the most pleasant surprise I've had all year, FFX tells one of the most interesting stories in an RPG, and the character development is done very well through excellent, if stereotypical, voice acting... at least in the Japanese version. The scripted battles are well done and the difficulty level has been raised up a notch. Best reason to buy the PS2 this year.
2) Tear Ring Saga - The pseudo-sequel to the popular strategy game series Fire Emblem, Tear Ring Saga takes us to a detailed medieval world that actually has the guts to keep the world realistic by not making a game where it's the Hero™ vs the Dark God™. It has a huge cast of interesting characters and the battle system is top notch as well. My only complaint? It's too F@&CKING hard at times and the fact that you lose characters the moment they die can make you stuck at a dead end...
3) Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden - As long as they keep making them, I'll keep buying them. The ever popular strategy RPG series where you control mecha from various anime series continues with a side story to Super Robot Wars Alpha. SRWAG fixes up some of the quirks of the original and adds more animations to all the attacks as well. The way they revamped the upgrade system to encourage the use of weaker weapons is a plus as well. The fact that two of my favorite anime series, Turn A Gundam and Blue Gale Xabungle are featured in this iteration of Super Robot Wars is also a major plus.
4) Sakura Taisen 3: Is Paris Burning? - Long awaited by the fans of the series, Sakura Taisen 3 lived up to my expectations with fluid animation and well done character designs. The cast of ST3 is very likable and there is more of everything that made ST1 and 2 great. It's just too bad that the battle system in ST3 is broken...
5) Growlanser III - Yes, it's a sequel released 5 months after Growlanser 2, but hey, it really is that good. While game mechanics are pretty much the same, we are allowed to explore this time around and the world that Growlanser III takes place in is much more interesting this time as well. The number of variations of the missions are quite fun as well. Being designed by Career Soft, the developers of the original Langrisser series, compounded with the beautiful designs by Satoshi Urushihara, we are treated to a classic RPG that innovates as well.
Honorable Mentions
DaiAkuji
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Growlanser II
Shen Mue II
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (The Eternity That You Wish For)
1) Dark Age of Camelot - While perhaps not the greatest game to come out this year, DAoC has proved the most adept at taking every free moment I've had and sucking it away. Combine the addictiveness of a MMORPG with three vastly different realms to choose from, 33 character classes in total, solid monster bashing, worthwhile tradeskills, and incredibly fun Realm vs. Realm action, and you've got a raging success from Mythic. It's derivative and somewhat flawed, mainly due to the early release, but it's great fun. It's even stable, too. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
2) Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal - Take arguably the best RPG of 2000, add another 30-50 hours of gameplay, incredibly epic battles, interesting areas to explore, and wrap up an incredibly epic storyline spanning two full games and two full expansions, and you've got Throne of Bhaal. If you played BG2 and haven't bought ToB, you're missing out - and if you never played BG2 either, you're missing out doubly so. Well worth the money.
3) Diablo II: Lord Of Destruction - Radically altering the Diablo 2 landscape with two entirely new classes, a new act (the best of the 5, by far), hundreds of new items and item types, more monsters, and revamped group experience code, Lord of Destruction took a solid yet familiar game and changed it for everyone. While the combined effect of the changes was to take the power level of both characters and monsters far over the top, it provided more life to a game that had been a massive addiction for gamers everywhere, and changed enough of the rules that the old, familiar ways of playing no longer applied.
4) Phantasy Star Online - Essentially a pretty Dreamcast clone of the original Diablo, PSO provided an entertaining way for Dreamcast owners to have fun with their friends no matter how far away. Sadly ruined by hackers, PSO was a landmark and proved that, just maybe, consoles could support online games too.
5) Wizardry 8 - Another typical late-year release and addition to the list, Wizardry 8 would probably rank higher if I had gotten farther through it before now. Taking old-school PC RPG gameplay and updating it with great graphics and a solid 3D engine, Wizardry 8 is just the ticket for those gamers who yearn for the games of old - massive areas to explore, a combination skill/level based system, 8-person parties, and open-ended gameplay. Party creation alone is a treat, if somewhat overwhelming with options - for that melee slot, do you want something typical like a Dwarf Fighter, or a more exotic Dracon Valkyrie or Felpurr Samurai? I can only hope I enjoy the rest of the game as much as I've enjoyed the bits I've played so far.
Honorable Mentions
Max Payne
Return to Castle Wolfenstein