My Top 10 Role-Playing Games

Well, I finally cracked and made it: my list of top 10 RPGs. This was extremely difficult seeing as how I’ve played dozens over the course of my life, but after some forceful encouragement from my girlfriend I was able to narrow it to 10 games. Some people will obviously think my list is crazy, and that there are some true classics missing. To this I say, I was born in 1986 and was therefore too young to play some of the truly old-school, original RPGs. Plus, I like to think that I grew up in the golden age of RPG rejuvenation of the mid-90s, and since all I had was a paper route it was quite hard to afford all the games I wanted to play. I was also a console gamer for the vast majority of my gaming life (including today), so that alone limits my potential library of RPGs quite a bit. Still, as my very wise friend Casey told me, “you played what you liked – no shame in making that list dude.” So, without further ado (and despite any fear of reader backlash), I give you my, Graduated Gamer’s, undisputed* list of the top 10 RPGs of all time!

10) Mass Effect 2

Oh Shepard, my Shepard!

With sexy alien lovin’, a rugged rogue hero, and humanity in danger of extinction, the Mass Effect series had everything a sci-fi fan could want. This may not be a traditional RPG, but the ability to build and level a party of players with different strengths and weaknesses from across the galaxy it still counts in my book. Plus, you’re basically on a one-man mission to save the universe as we know it from certain doom, and it doesn’t get much more RPG than that. The first Mass Effect was great as an intro, but the second installment had better characters (including cameos from the first game) and even better choices that affected the way you played makes the second installment trump the original. Oh, and the Geth Pulse Rifle is possibly the best weapon in a modern RPG I’ve ever seen.

9) Dark Cloud 2

Bringing a wrench to a sword fight is a bad idea.

Dark Cloud is an easily overlooked series from the PS2 era, but any fan of RPGs would be remiss to pass up a gem like this. The cell-shaded look made this game a beauty to look at and play, and still holds up well even to this day (and I’d love to see what an HD remake would look like). The true star of this game was the mix of two classes that are classic staples of the genre: inventor and warrior. One character is all toughness and is your go-to for up-close-and-personal encounters, whereas the other uses ranged weapons like guns and other clever “toys” to get by. Mix in the use of randomly generated dungeons and an original and touching story and you’ve got a classic RPG for the generation.

8) The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

If you played Skyrim, you likely died a lot and saw this screen too much.

“Let me guess: someone stole your sweetroll?” This game…seriously man, this game. I hadn’t sunk 100+ hours into a single playthrough of a game since Final Fantasy VII, but Skyrim easily stole 120+ hours of my life and I don’t think I even bat an eyelash when I found out. If there’s one thing that RPGs love to do, it’s send you on side quests to either distract you from the main story or give you more background to why you do what you do. Skyrim did an amazing job with the balance of the side quests and especially with the way they made you realize just how alive the world was around you while you were off gallivanting around as the Dragonborn. The specialty/trait trees added a nice spin to traditional leveling up and did a great job of getting you to think critically about the choices you made in the game and when assigning your next attribute. I’m actually afraid to pick it back up for another go around, it’s that addicting.

7) Final Fantasy VII

Iconic image is iconic.

Now before you jump down my throat about what many people consider the “best RPG of all time” only being #7 on my list, hear me out. Yes, this game essentially single-handedly brought the genre back to the forefront of gamers’ minds, and yes it was visually stunning (well, the CGI was at least), and yes it had an amazing hero-villain duo, and yes Aerith’s death was heart-wrenching. And yes, when I list all those things out and paired with the fact I’ve played it through 100% on three separate occasions makes me doubt its low position on the list. However, it’s more a gut feeling for me rather than the game’s influence on the industry. I tend to be a very emotional player and tend to connect more with a game via my heart than my head, and looking back I liked a lot of the characters, and thought they were all cool and badass; but I only loved a few of them. If you asked me 15 years ago, this game would be tops, but alas I grew up, and so did my tastes.

6) Final Fantasy Tactics

Dear Square(soft..er Enix): never stop making beautiful cover art.

If it not for a very unfortunate series of events, this game could very well be higher on my list. About 9 years ago, I played the hell out of this game. I think an entire summer was spent either playing SOCOM with my dad, or playing Final Fantasy Tactics late into the night. I lost many hours of sleep getting lost into a truly fantastical world of chivalry, knights, ladies, might, magic, and other wondrous things that little boys grow up dreaming about while building their LEGO Castle sets. I was so close to beating the game, and one night I saved before the final battle so I could tackle it when fresh from a full night’s rest. However, I was also going up north for vacation the next day with my parents, and in the process of packing I somehow lost my memory card. It was never seen again and to this day I’ve never actually beat Final Fantasy Tactics. Still, because the game was so memorable and the story so deep, it haunts me to this day as one of my biggest gaming regrets. [Also, go easy on me and avoid spoilers if you can.]

5) Fallout 3

"I don't want to set the world on fire."

This game was my introduction into western RPGs, and I don’t think I could have picked a better game. I never played the original PC Fallout games, but I did my research beforehand and realized I was in for a treat…and Fallout 3 did not disappoint. One of the best gaming moments for me ever was when I first stepped outside after escaping Vault 101 and blinking off the sun’s harsh light stared amazed at the harsh wasteland before me. From that point every quest, every pocket picked, every mole rat squashed was a lesson in what the western world could and should do with role-playing games. Despite the glitches (to be expected with a game of this size), I’ve never had so much fun exploring a desolate wasteland before, and I’m eagerly awaiting Fallout 4 (understatement).

4) Pokémon Red/Blue

Pokemon Rap Battle...GO!

What can I say about the games that started it all that hasn’t already been said? Not only was this game filled with 151 adorable creatures to catch and collect obsessively like a hoarder, but underneath the cutesy façade lied a complex game that relied as much on strategy and a little bit of luck as much as it did on grinding. For those of us lucky enough to experience this game when it released in the 90s, we’ll never forget the memorable moments that blew away our conventions of what an RPG should be, especially on a handheld. Whether it was sitting under tress during recess with cables running between bulky green-screen GameBoys, or running home after school to battle the next gym leader, my time spent with the first versions of Game Freak and Nintendo’s series about pocket monsters that became a massive hit will always be remembered fondly.

3) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Peach obviously isn't happy about placing third..

Seriously, you know you’ve got a winning combination when Nintendo pairs with Squaresoft to make a JRPG starring everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber. What made this game so fantastic was it took Mario out of his platforming safe-zone and dropped him smack dab into a world filled with magical star powers, evil wedding cakes, and, of course, hit points. The 3D look of this SNES game was gorgeous to behold in its time. To me though, the characters in this amazing mash-up are the reason the game shines. Princess Peach is no longer the helpless victim and instead busts heads with an iron skillet and a parasol (I’ll admit, it’s a bit sexist); newcomers Mallow and Geno are two of the best one-time characters of any RPG with their mix of heart-warmingly epic and tragic tales; and Bowser is seen in a new light as vulnerable when he’s kicked form his own castle, and even shows us his talent as a wordsmith when he waxes poetic to the gamer (hands-down the best representation of Bowser ever). For a game that seems to not take itself too seriously it is amazing difficult, even requiring gamers to grind intensely in the first hour of the game just to beat earlier mini-bosses. But if you move past the early frustrations, you’ll be treated to one of the best games the genre has ever offered. A must-play for any fan.

2) Final Fantasy IX

*gets misty eyed* ...IT'S DUSTY IN HERE! I'M CUTTING ONIONS!

The Final Fantasy series is filled with so many amazing games, and I truly believe that it’s hard to pick the best one without inserting so much subjectivity. With that in mind, here we go. Final Fantasy IX is, in my opinion, the best game of the series that I’ve played. I will admit that I only got part-way through Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VIII, and I haven’t played a game in the series since Final Fantasy X-2 (yes I played it, and I enjoyed it judgers!), but to this day, even when compared to Final Fantasy VII, nothing will ever compete with the whimsical world of Final Fantasy IX. Over the course of my life I’ve played hundreds of games, and I can easily count on one hand the number of games that caused my emotions to stir so much that it brought tears to my eyes, and this is one of them (to this day, “Melodies of Life” still gives me goosebumps). The love story of Zidane and Dagger is enough to make even a 6’4” bearded man quiver a lip, and the completely tragic existence of my all-time favorite FF character, Vivi, made the 12 year old me search his soul about the meaning of his own existence. Of course there are some flaws with the game, especially the ending where things become a bit confusing and convoluted, but as I said earlier I play more with my heart and when a game still gives you pause over a decade later, you know you’ve got a winner. To not have this in my RPG collection would be a mortal sin.

1) Earthbound

If this is what you think the game looks like, you're gonna be very confused.

And here we are: my #1 RPG of all time. I can’t accurately tell you when my love affair with this game began, but it was a long time ago. I’m talking a time where I had to beg my mom to take me to Blockbuster to rent a game once a week. A time where Funcoland was the big dog in the second-hand video game industry. A time where innocence reigned in my life and the goofy troubles and pressures of a boy named Ness spoke to the childhood version of me more than it ever could with each passing year. The issue with Earthbound is that it isn’t meant to be played by hardcore RPG gamers. It’s meant to be played by casual gamers, especially if they’re younger, because the game, while difficult at times, is light-hearted and speaks to the innocence of youth but the inherent pressures on that same generation of youngsters to one day “save the world”. I may have been an outlier by playing and beating it as a 9 year old, but the game was a dream to me and I felt like I was in a fantasy every time I booted it up. Even the soundtrack is trippy as all hell, but it works with the ever-quirky nature of the game. The humor is top notch, causing numerous laugh-out-loud moments. The writers for Earthbound should be on the staff of every game not trying to be a soap opera (I’m looking at you, Metal Gear 5). Also, the developers clearly had an appreciation for American culture (or a healthy sense of humor about it), because for a JRPG it has a decent amount of western themes (prayer, father-son issues) and references (Blues Brothers, fast food). The game can certainly give hardcore fans of the genre something to remember, as Earthbound is not only a length RPG but also a difficult one to boot. However, unless you played it in its prime during the glory days of the SNES, and unless you’ve retained a decent amount of youthful innocence, a lot of what makes this game #1 in my mind might just go right over your head….but you should still play it because it’s amazing!

[*Actually, it’s okay to dispute this list if you want.]

Making this list was a pain, mostly because there are so many games that are worthy of high praise as RPGs. Therefore, I decided to recognize those that were in the mix but didn't make the final cut to the top 10. Basically, this is just another chance for everyone to disagree with me, but I'm cool with that.

Honorable Mentions:

• Dragon Quest VIII
• Paper Mario 
• Mass Effect 
• Final Fantasy X 
• Chrono Trigger 
• Fallout: New Vegas

Paying Homage to Role-Playing Games

The other day I decided to create my list of top 10 role-playing games (RPGs), seeing as how it's my favorite and possibly most-played genre in gaming. I was ready to post it today, but decided that that just wouldn't do the genre justice. So, before I share my list with you all, I want to pay homage to the RPG, in my opinion, the greatest genre in gaming, not only currently but across the history of gaming. 

It very plausible that, in essence, without RPGs we wouldn't have video games at all. Some of the earliest games drew inspiration from pen and paper RPGs, and in turn those gaming forefathers inspired future generations of developers to craft even more complex ways to play as mystical sorcerers, hulking warriors, and shadowy thieves. Decades later, games like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Fallout revolutionized the way players could dive into the shoes of a hero(ine) of their choosing to save the world from some evil force (or in some cases seek to rule the world with an iron fist). Nowadays we’re lucky enough to have western RPGs that draw inspiration from JRPGs without all that “tedious” and “useless” grinding, as some might put it. However, JRPGs are still going strong with new and familiar faces across the landscape, and right now there is plenty to be happy about if you’re a fan of RPGs – I know I certainly am.

Respect your elders.

If there is one genre I recall from my earlier gaming days having a huge impact on why and how I play games, it’s most certainly RPGs. I played a lot of Mario and Sonic growing up, but when I sit and think about the games that constantly bring a smile to my face, titles like Earthbound and Pokémon always come to the forefront of my mind. To me, gaming was more about being immersed in a story, becoming part of a living, breathing world that your actions directly affected for better or for worse.

Growing up as an only child, I wasn't afforded the luxury of a sibling to play multiplayer with, and my game collection expanded maybe 2-3 games a year based on what Santa brought me under the Christmas tree. Therefore, I found RPGs to be the best bang for my buck as a solo gamer. I was able to get lost in a brand new world for 70+ hours each time, and I truly felt for the people in each one as if they were real. Perhaps being an only child and not having someone around during the summers led me to treat these sprites and pixels as my friends.

So many roles, so much time!

Whatever the reason, RPGs were and continue to be close to my heart, and because they spent so much time with me over the years, I've always come back to them time and again, like an old friend does. Sure we might not speak for a year or two, but it doesn't matter because once I fire up another, all is forgiven and we’re right back where we left off. So here’s the immortal RPGs of gaming past, present, and future – thank you for your countless hours of entertainment, sometimes grueling grinding, and amazing stories that let us live out fantasies of saving the world one summon, one limit break, one battle at a time.

Graduated Gamer Reviews Pokémon Conquest

Pokémon is one of those series you just know will be spoken of for years to come as one of the greats. Not only did it addict an entire generation to collecting all 150 151 of those pocket creatures from the original games back in 1996, but it single-handedly made handheld gaming a legitimate medium for gamers around the world. Since then, Pokémon has grown to so much more than a simple yet difficult RPG and a Saturday morning anime show – it has truly  become an icon of video gaming with the likes of Sonic, Mario, and Donkey Kong.

I was one of millions of people swept away in the original Poké-mania (Squirtle all the way!), however,  I  found that the gameplay of the series soon became repetitive and a bit dull over time. Sure the new Pokémon that came out with each version were cool (even though nothing will ever replace the original 151 in my mind), but the strategy remained the same no matter how deep the gameplay and story line got. It was because of this that I took a very large hiatus from playing Pokémon between Gold and White, and then after playing White I felt let down. I had to face the facts: Pokémon had become stale for me and I would have only Blue and Red to hold on to…that is, until I discovered Pokémon Conquest.

I'll admit, it's hard to feel like a bad ass with an Eevee.

I picked up Pokémon Conquest on a whim while on vacation. I would be away from my consoles for a week and like a junky I needed a gaming fix to hold me over. I was heavily considering Animal Crossing, but since New Leaf for the 3DS had just been released, I decided to go with a more solo adventure. Admittedly, I was a bit leery given my recent meh experience with Pokémon White, but Conquest isn’t your father’s Pokémon (trust me, this will be a saying one day in the near future, and it will be regarding you and Red/Blue when Pokémon Adamantium releases for the Nintendo Brain-Chip).

Don’t let my previous complaints about the Pokémon series fool you – I’m a big fan of those cute and powerful pocket monsters, and I still respect the series for revolutionizing RPGs and pumping new life into handheld gaming. I’m also a fan of strategic gameplay, whether it be RTS, turn-based, or something with a mix of either. Thus, I was optimistic and wanted Pokémon Conquest to be a good game (otherwise I’d be making another trip to the local gaming store). As soon as the game started, it didn’t disappoint. The premise is simple enough: you’re a Warrior, a unique individual with the ability to communicate with Pokémon via a “Link”. You hail from the kingdom of Ransei where neighboring castles have been warring for centuries. Your goal is to unite all 17 kingdoms under one banner in order to prompt a legendary Pokémon to reveal itself and Link to the ruler of Ransei (aka - you). This is your quest. Sounds simple enough, right?

Major bonus points if you can correctly guess "Who's that Pokémon?". 

Not so fast, my friend! There’s a warlord already on the same path to unite the 17 kingdoms, but in typical crazy antagonist fashion he wishes to use the legendary Pokémon to destroy the world. Time to get conquering, buddy! You begin with nothing but a few other Warriors at your side, and from there the choice is yours as to which neighboring kingdoms to start invading. The game limits your area of expansion to a few kingdoms at a time so you don’t overstep your strength and get destroyed by a much more powerful warlord. Each kingdom is themed, with the majority of the Pokémon having a specific  type (e.g. – Ignis is the fire kingdom, so you can bet you’ll find a Tepig, a Chimchar, and a Charmander ready to smoke your grass types).

Strengths and weaknesses follow the same pattern as they have in every Pokémon series before Conquest, so strategy is the name of the game when forming your invasion party. Since each kingdom is themed, it’s pretty easy to prepare for domination by loading up on Warriors with Pokémon that have an advantage over the kingdom’s type. What isn’t easy is actually building your repertoire of Warriors and Pokémon. Like I said, this isn’t a typical Pokémon game. You don’t keep them in Pokéballs, and you don’t capture Pokémon either. This means there’s no more stalking through tall grass (HUZZAH!), but it also means you’ll have to do a little bit of grinding. Every kingdom has a place where wild Pokémon and roving Warriors will appear. You can enter these areas to form Links with wild Pokémon, or recruit Warriors by defeating them in a set number of turns.

Gotta Catch 'Em All!

Forming Links is an easy affair consisting of “hitting A at a certain time enough times in a row”, but not every Pokémon is a good Link with you or your Warriors, as each has a specialty type they prefer. Even then there’s no guarantee an electric-type Warrior will form a perfect Link with that Mareep. Luckily you don’t need a perfect Link to have a strong bond, and I found myself not caring to find them. Links are further strengthened by winning battles or performing tasks like training or digging for gold (you gotta fund that war somehow). The higher the Link, the stronger your attacks become.

Speaking of attacks, this is one area where Conquest feels a bit cheap. You know how certain Pokémon get more awesome moves with experience, and how they would eventually allow more diversity of type-based moves? Well they threw this out the window for Conquest. If you fight with Eevee, you only have one attack from now until the end of the game, and it’s the same for every Eevee in the game. The only ways to get new moves is to Link with new Pokémon and/or evolve your Pokémon (which can be done with special items, reaching a certain Link level with your Pokémon, or performing certain tasks). However, this does give more incentive for diversifying the Pokémon you Link with, which is essential if you’re going to unite the realm.

The game runs on a month-based time system. Each month passes once all Warriors have made a “move” whether it’s training, battling, or other tasks. The good thing about Conquest is that you don’t have to micro-manage your army. You can set 6 Warriors to guard Greenleaf against invasion, and tell them to dig for gold every month to fund your main fighting force. This was a great way to not only build your army but also stay focused on the task at hand. Pokémon also have energy levels which can be affected by the month, so you can use that in your strategy and take time to increase their energy in preparation for an upcoming battle so your Pokémon will be at 100%.

Pokémon + Turn-Based Strategy = Super Effective!

Overall, the main story took me about 15 hours to beat, and it likely would have taken me less time had I not taken the time to Link with more diverse Pokémon for the fun of it. However, if 15 hours isn’t enough time to entice you, beating the main story is just the beginning. Once that’s done, the game opens up multiple other story quests to dive into, each based on a Warrior encountered during the main quest. The more Warriors you recruit in the main storyline, the more side quests you unlock. This added depth was a great way to extend the life of the game, and the different difficulties and lengths of each new quest kept me coming back for more. In total, Pokémon Conquest is easily a 30+ hour game when all is said and done.

So there you have it: a Pokémon game for a new generation, mixing in elements that made the franchise famous while also cleverly incorporating turn-based strategy gameplay. It does a lot of things right, and apart from the occasional grind to achieve victory in the next battle, this game is damn near perfect. If you’re a fan of either Pokémon or strategy games, you can’t go wrong with Conquest.