Alright, I've wanted to do this thread in the Compendium for a long time, regardless of the fact that 1) I know it's going to be biased towards the Chrono series and 2) I know not everyone in the community may be that versed in, say, some of the oldschool classics and I know I'm not very up-to-date on the newschool.
The "Eras" will be split up mostly by the graphical eras. 8-Bit being Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom (NES/F) & Sega Master System (SMS), 16-Bit being Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom (SNES/SF) & Sega Genesis (SG), 32-Bit being Sony's Playstation (PSX), 64-Bit being Nintendo's 64 (N64)...though I think it might be prudent to combine the PSX & N64 eras since they did come out at relatively the same time and were basically each other's competition (and besides, there weren't many N64 RPGs)...then we can have the PS2, GC, & XBOX and then the current PS3 & XBOX360...
Now, the two segments I'm having trouble defining is the handheld eras & the PCs. I think it's safe to put the Gameboy & the Gameboy Color together (along with any Gamegear RPGs anyone could think of)...but what about the newer ones? GBA stand-alone? DS & PSP together? I guess that actually works, huh...But what about PCs? Seperately? Maybe put them up against those with the same graphical abilities (which I'd definitely need help defining)?
Well, anyways.
1) Ratings will be out of 10 with percentages encouraged for accuracy's sake (I would do 100/100, but that seems ridiculous). I'll try and contain the list to this first post and calculate in each new post. I think it goes without saying (though I'm obviously going to anyways) that
2) you should only vote for games you've played...I'd almost suggest games you've beaten or at least played through most of the way...but I for one know that some RPGs just aren't worth it...
3) at least try and have valid reasoning behind your scores people! Even if you don't post said reasons. Also, try and
4) include the system! I'll do some of my voting right now to give examples...
Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom & Sega Master System
The Legend of Zelda (NES/F) 8.66...7 (9, 9, 8, )
Phantasy Star II (SMS) - 8.6 (8.6, )
Guardian Legend (?) - 8.5 (8.5, )
"Earthbound ZERO"/Mother (F) - 8 (8, )
Dragon Warrior/Quest II (NES/F) - 7.675 (7.85, 7.5, )
Final Fantasy (NES/F) 7.8625 (8, 7.9, 7.55, 8, )
Dragon Warrior/Quest IV (NES/F) - 7.85 (7.85, )
Castlevania II: Simons's Quest (NES/F) - 7.5 (7.5, 8, 7, )
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES/F) 7.5 (6, 9, )
Final Fantasy III (F) 7.25 (6.5, 8, )
Gargoyle's Quest II (NES?) - 7 (7)
Phantasy Star (SMS) 6.775 (6, 7.55, )
Dragon Warrior/Quest (NES/F) - 6.675 (6.85, 6.5, )
Final Fantasy II (F) - 6.5 (6.5, )
Dragon Warrior/Quest III (NES/F) - 6.225 (7.45, 5, )
Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom & Sega Genesis
Chrono Trigger (SNES/SF) - 9.570833... (9, 9.7, 10, 9.5, 10, 9.8, 9.2, 9.4, 9.5, 10, 9.75, 9 )
Star Ocean (SF) - 9.55 (9.55, )
Final Fantasy VI (SNES/SF) - 9.405 (9.5, 9.9, 9, 9.5, 9, 9.4, 9.5, 10, 9.75, 8.5, )
Tales of Phantasia (SF) - 8.75 (8.75, )
Final Fantasy IV (SNES/SF) 8.65 (9, 8.5, 8.9, 8.5, 9, 8, )
Live-a-Live (SF) - 8.5 (8.5, )
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (SG) - 8.4833... (8.7, 8.5, 8.25, )
Breath of Fire II (SNES/SF) 8.48 (8.8, 8.6, 9, 8, 8, )
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (SNES/SF) - 8.4166...7 (8.5, 8.75, 8, )
Secret of Mana/Seiken Densetsu II (SNES/SF) 8.4 (9.1, 9, 7.5, 8, )
Earthbound/Mother II (SNES/SF) - 8.375 (8.75, 8, )
Shining Force II (SG) 8.2625 (9, 7.5, 9, 7.55, )
Lufia & the Fortress of Doom (SNES/SF) - 8.25 (8, 8.5, )
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES/SF) - 8.2 (9.4, 7, )
Shining Force (SG) - 8.1833... (8.5, 8.5, 7.55, )
Terranigma (SNES/SF) 8.0833... (9.25, 7, 8, )
Radical Dreamers (SF) 8.05 (7.5, 8.6, )
Mario RPG (SNES/SF) 7.925 (8.7, 7.5, 8, 7.5, )
Bahamut Lagoon (SF) - 7.85 (7.85, )
Breath of Fire (SNES/SF) 7.65 (8, 7.2, 8, 7.55, 7.5, )
"Secret of Mana II"/Seiken Densetsu III (SF) - 7.625 (8.25, 7, )
Secret of Evermore (SNES/SF) 7.5625 (8, 8.5, 7.25, 6.5, )
Final Fantasy V (SF) - 7.45 (8, 7.35, 7, )
Shadowrun (SNES/SF) - 7.25 (7.5, 7, )
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest/Mystic Quest Legend/Final Fantasy USA Mystic Quest (SNES/SF) - 7.25 (7.25, )
Illusion of Gaia (SNES/SF) 7.1833... (8.55, 7, 6, )
Robotrek (SNES?) - 6.5 (6.5, )
Soul Blazer (SNES/SF) - 6.5 (6.5, )
E.V.O. The Search For Eden (SNES/SF) - 5.875 (5.75, 6, )
Dragon View (SNES?) - 5.5 (5.5, )
Brain Lore (SNES?) - 5.1 (5.1, )
Nintendo 64 & Sony Playstation
Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX) - 9.625 (9.5, 9.75, )
Suikoden II (PSX) 9.5 (9.5, )
Xenogears (PSX) 9.475 (9, 9.9, 9.5, 9.5, )
Vagrant Story (PSX) 9.2625 (9.2, 9, 10, 8.85, )
Breath of Fire III (PSX) - 9.25 (9.25, )
Chrono Cross (PSX) 9.025 (9, 9.8, 9.5, 9.5, 9.8, 9.1, 8, 10, 7.55, 8, )
Star Ocean II (PSX) 9 (9, )
Final Fantasy IX (PSX) - 8.733... (8.5, 8.5, 8, 9.4, 9, 9, )
Final Fantasy VIII (PSX) - 8.65 (8.95, 8.5, 8.3, 8.5, 10, 8.55, 7.75, )
Final Fantasy VII (PSX) 8.42142857......... (9.2, 9, 8, 9, 9.5, 7.25, 7, )
Gradia II (DC) - 8.5 (8.5, )
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) - 8.5 (8.5, )
Suikoden (PSX) 8.5 (8.5, )
Dragon Warrior/Quest VII (PSX) - 8.25 (8.25, )
The Legend of Dragoon (PSX) - 8.25 (8.25, )
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64) - 8 (8, )
Parasite Eve (PSX) 8 (8, )
Persona II (PSX) 8 (8, )
Vandal Hearts (PSX) 8 (8, )
Vandal Hearts II (PSX) 8 (8, )
Megaman Legends/Megaman 64 (PSX/N64) - 7.75 (7.75, )
SaGa Frontier II (PSX) - 7.625 (8, 7.25, )
Breath of Fire IV (PSX) - 7.5 (7.5, )
Digimon World 2003 (PSX) 7.5 (7.5, )
Legend of Legaia (PSX) 7.25 (7, 7.5, )
SaGa Frontier (PSX) 7.25 (7.5, 7, )
Paper Mario (N64) 7 (7, )
Beyond the Beyond (PSX) - 5.5 (5.5, )
Quest 64 (N64) - 6 (6, )
The Granstream Saga (PSX) 5 (5, )
Nintendo Gamecube, Microsoft XBOX, Sega Dreamcast, & Sony Playstation 2
Baten Kaitos Origins (GC) - 9.99999 (9.99999, )
Skies of Arcadia (DC) 9.475 (10, 8.95, )
Tales of Symphonia (GC) - 9.3 (9.3, )
Devil May Cry III: Dante's Awakening Special Edition (PS2) - 9.25 (9.25, )
Devil May Cry (PS2) - 9 (9, )
Disgaea II (PS2) 9 (9, )
Persona III (PS2) - 9 (9, )
Romancing SaGa (PS2) 9 (9, )
Suikoden V (PS2) 9 (9, )
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra (PS2) 9 (9, 9, )
Baten Kaitos (GC) 8.7 (8.7, )
Star Ocean III: Till the End of Time (PS2) 8.6166...7 (8.6, 9.5, 7.75, )
Dragon Quest VIII (PS2) - 8.51 (8.5, 9, 8.8, 8.75, 7.5, )
Disgaea (PS2) 8.5 (8.5, )
Jade Empire (XBOX) - 8.5 (8.5, )
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona III (PS2) - 8.5 (8.5, )
Suikoden III (PS2) 8.5 (8.5, )
Final Fantasy XII (PS2) 8.466...7 (9, 7.9, 8.5, )
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures 8.4 (8.4, )
Gradia II (PS2) 8.3 (8.3, )
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (GC) 8.2 (8.2, )
God of War (PS2) - 8 (8, )
Grandia III (PS2?) - 8 (8, )
LaPucille Tactics (PS2) 8 (8, )
Phantom Brave (PS2) 8 (8, )
Shadow Hearts: From the New World (PS2) 8 (8, )
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (XBOX) 8 (8, )
Suikoden Tactics (PS2) 8 (8, )
Valkyrie Profile II: Silmeria (PS2) 8 (8, )
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wile zur Macht (PS2) 8 (8, 8, )
Final Fantasy X (PS2) 7.92142857......... (6.8, 8.5, 8.9, 9, 8, 6.5, 7.75, )
Skies of Arcadia Legends (GC?) - 7.8 (9.1, 6.5, )
Dark Cloud II (PS2?) - 7.75 (7.75, )
Suikoden IV (PS2) 7.5 (7.5, )
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Bφse (PS2) - 7.5 (7.5, 7.5, )
The Lord of The Rings: The Third Age (XBOX/PS2) - 7.375 (6.5, 8.25, )
Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness (GC) 7.3 (7.3, )
Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance II (GC/XBOX/PS2) - 7.25 (8, 6.5, )
Front Mission IV (PS2) - 7.125 (7, 7.25, )
Drakengard II (?) 7 (7, )
Legend of Zelda (GC) - 7 (7, )
X-Men Legends - 7 (7, )
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (XBOX/PS2/GC) - 7 (6.5, 7, 7.5, )
Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter (PS2) 6.8 (6.8, )
Pokemon Colosseum (GC) 6.8 (6.8, )
Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2) - 6.7125 (7, 7.1, 6.5, 6.25, )
Devil May Cry II (PS2) - 6.5 (6.5, )
Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance (?) - 6 (6, )
Dark Cloud (PS2?) - 6 (6, )
Fullmetal Alchemist II: Curse of the Crimson Elixir (PS2) - 5.5 (5.5, )
Champions of Norrath (?) - 5 (5, )
Nintendo Wii, Microsoft XBOX360, & Sony Playstation 3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance (Wii) - 8 (8, )
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) - 7.75 (7.75, )
Nintendo Gameboy & Nintendo Gameboy Color
The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening (GB) 9.4 (9.4, )
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (GB) 9 (9, )
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (GB) 8.8 (8.8, )
Pokemon Red (GB) 8.5 (9, 8, )
Pokemon Blue (GB) 8.5 (9, 8, )
Pokemon Yellow Edition: Special Pikachu Edition (GB) 8.275 (9, 7.55, )
Final Fantasy Legend III/SaGa III (GB) - 7.2 (7.4, 7, )
Final Fantasy Adventure/Final Fantasy Gaiden: Seiken Densetsu (GB) - 6.75 (6.5, 7, )
Lufia: The Legend Returns (GBC) - 6.25 (6.25, )
Final Fantasy Legend II/SaGa II (GB) 5 (5, )
Nintendo Gameboy Advance
Riviera: The Promised Land - 9.25 (9.25, )
Final Fantasy IV Advance 9.05 (9.1, 9, )
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 8.9 (8.9, )
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 8.8 (8.8, )
Golden Sun II: The Lost Age - 8.75 (8.8, 8.7, )
Final Fantasy V Advance 8.3 (8.3, )
Lufia: The Ruins of Lore - 8.25 (8.25, )
Sword of Mana - 8.25 (8.25, )
Pokemon Ruby 8.2 (8.2, )
Fire Emblem/Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword 8 (8, )
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones 8 (8, )
Mega Man Battle Network 8 (8, )
Mega Man Battle Network II 8 (8, )
Mega Man Battle Network III Blue 8 (8, )
Maga Man Battle Network III White - 8 (8, )
Mega Man Battle Network IV Blue Moon 8 (8, )
Maga Man Battle Network IV Red Sun - 8 (8, )
Pokemon Leaf Green 7.85 (8.7, 7, )
Pokemon Fire Red 7.85 (8.7, 7, )
Pokemon Sapphire - 7.85 (8.2, 7.5, )
Golden Sun 7.7166...7 (7, 8.4, 7.75, )
Pokemon Emerald - 7.5 (7.5, )
Breath of Fire II - 7.1 (7.1, )
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - 7.066...7 (6.2, 7.5, 7.5, )
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories 7 (7, )
Tales of Phantasia 7 (7, )
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls 6.875 (6.5, 7.25, )
Nintendo Gameboy DS & Sony Playstation Portable
Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time (DS) 8.7 (8.7, )
Pokemon Pearl (DS) 8.55 (8, 9.1, )
Pokemon Diamond (DS) 8.2 (8, 9.1, 7.5, )
Final Fantasy III (DS) 7.8 (7.8, )
Personal Computer (???)
The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion - 9.5 (9.5, )
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - 9.5 (9.5, )
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II Sith Lords - 9.5 (9.5, )
Fallout II - 9.3 (9.3, )
Fallout - 9.2 (9.2, )
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction - 9 (9, )
Planescape: Torment 9 (10, 8, )
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn - 8.5 (8.5, )
Diablo - 8.5 (8.5, )
Jade Empire - 8.5 (8.5, )
Darksun: Shattered Lands - 8.1 (8.1, )
Nethack - 7.8 (7.8, )
Dungeon Siege - 7.5 (7.5, )
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines - 7.5 (7.5, )
Neverwinter Nights - 7.33... (7.5, 7.5, 7, )
Baldur's Gate 7.2 (7, 7.4, )
CHRONO TRIGGER BACK ON TOP!!!