RPGFan Feature - The Best RPGs of All Time

Breath of Fire III is the closest any game has come to the high-fantasy novels that had captured my imagination as a child. Its world is steeped in magic, mystery, and adventure begging to be explored. Its characters are diverse in both morphology (your party includes a tiger-man, a gargoyle, and a turnip... thing) and personality, and unlike some JRPGs of that era, the writing and localization are superb. Each of the systems, from the dragon transformations to the apprenticeships to the fishing sidequest, are deep and constantly entice the player to delve deeper, progress further. For me, it was and is a fantasy adventure reminiscent of Tolkien for its depth and sense of adventure.

Called simply Fire Emblem on North American Game Boy Advance systems, this game is notable for many reasons. Beside being the only strategy RPG and the only non 1997/98 PlayStation 1 JRPG on my list, it was the first Fire Emblem game released outside of Japan thanks to the popularity of Marth and Roy in Super Smash Brothers Melee. Though I have played every Western Fire Emblem game since, this one remains my favorite by a mile. It pulled no punches with its difficulty, and in doing so, it forced players into consequential, strategic choices. Even better, the story and characters remained compelling by avoiding many of the cliches and tropes that would plague some of the later games. This was the perfect Fire Emblem to introduce the series to the world and worthy of the unadorned moniker.

I suspect this choice will rankle some readers who believe Final Fantasy VII is overrated, but in my humble opinion, those readers are wrong. True, the story is crazy, but it's good crazy. The kind of crazy that leaves you sore and dehydrated after a debauched weekend, but with memories to keep you warm into the long nights of your twilight years. That crazy ride is even better because of the endearing cast, the likes of which have not been seen since. If that weren't enough, the game is huge and engrossing. Want to spend hours outfitting the right materia loadout? Go for it. Feel like breeding giant ostrich-like birds that can climb mountains? Black, or gold? It's all there, and it's all fun as hell.

You may have noticed that the games on this list share a couple of common characteristics. First is a compelling story and likable cast of characters. Second is a combination of several well-wrought systems that invite deep and thorough exploration. Star Ocean: The Second Story is perhaps the ultimate example of these two traits. Each character in its large cast is unique and personable, and the Private Action system encourages players to explore their backgrounds and relationships. Combat is frenetic and engaging, and the skills and crafting system is unparalleled in both its breadth and depth. Layer all that on top of the freedom to explore a vast world, and the result is a game that is difficult to put down.

My love for this game exceeds my ability to describe with the written word. It flows from a wellspring in my soul that appreciates heartfelt stories above all else. I know that sounds saccharine, particularly when applied to a video game, but the fact remains that every time I pick it up, I find myself immersed in the protagonist's struggle to secure a home and reconcile with his best friend. It is at once epic and political while remaining deeply personal. All of the systems, from the unity attacks to the process of recruiting characters and building your headquarters, speak to those themes. Some games hit you in a soft spot, and Suikoden II does that for me, but it is helped by a dynamic and well-realized world that rewards exploration with charm and treasure.