Top 10 Best Console RPGs

Though the earliest days of Role Playing Games began first with pen and paper Dungeons and Dragons, and later with bootleg text-based versions on the mainframe systems of colleges, the tradition of the RPGs for consoles is also not without merit. There have been countless titles released for console platforms, and though opinions will vary from gamer to gamer, here are ten solid entries in no particular order.

EarthBound - SNES

EarthBound is the story of Ness, Paula, Jeff and Poo, a group of children who, warned by a time traveling alien named Buzz Buzz of a future where the world is dominated by the evil Giygas, must take measure to defeat him by way of their collective psychic abilities, martial arts and book smarts. They are aided on their quest by Jeff's scientist father, Dr. Andonuts, who provides them with various inventions, and a rock band called the Runaway Five. Featuring a hefty soundtrack and a distinct lack of an overworld, this vintage title stands the test of time, and is still played by many a classic gamer today.

Star Ocean- Till the End of Time - PS2

Fayt Leingod is a teenage boy vacationing on Hyda IV with his parents and attractive female friend Sophia, when suddenly the Vendeen Empire attacks, unprovoked, throwing the Pangalactic Federation into war. During the course of the evacuation, Fayt is separated from his family, and crash lands on a technologically primitive planet, Vanguard III. Through a series of errands, he encounters Cliff Fittir, who is part of the Anti-Federation group Quark, and leaves Vangard III to meet with Quark's leader. However, they are taken off-course to Elicoor II, another relatively primitive planet, which gives the game the effect of traveling forward through time, with each stop on Elicoor II seeming slightly more advanced. It seems like a fairly straightforward fantasy RPG, but then things take a turn, and the player is required to grasp some fairly esoteric concepts. Combat is in real time, so this game will please fans of the Diablo series, Torchlight and Nier. However, some of the maps can be a bit difficult to navigate, and until the quests associated with these sections are completed successful, gameplay might seem a bit stalled. With 2 discs and over 80 hours of gameplay, this one feels like a solid victory when completed with several different endings based on Fayt's choices throughout the narrative.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - SNES

All of the Zelda games are well-loved, and it's difficult to choose just one. However, for sheer "replayability", A Link to the Past is a clear winner. This is the third entry in the Zelda series, and provides a return to the overhead perspective format, but with enhanced controls. Link can now move diagonally, and with the acquisition of the Pegasus Shoes, he can even run. A Link to the Past is also important in that it is where the series first introduces the concept of two parallel universes, Light World, where Hyrule is located, and Dark World, which used to be the Sacred Realm, but was tainted when Ganon, the series antagonist, got a hold of the Triforce. Link travels back and forth between the two worlds via the Magic Mirror, solving puzzles, and ultimately defeating Ganon.

Final Fantasy VII - PS

SImilarly to the Zelda series, it is challenging to choose the best from among the Final Fantasy series, which has been a template upon which many other games are based. However, for sheer storytelling, Final Fantasy VII is a clear standout. While it utilizes the same battle system as the previous title, FFVII is the first in the series to have fully rendered polygons. For this reason alone, it is memorable, but the characters introduced are some of the most enduring favorites of the entire series, particularly Cloud Strife, Aeris Gainsborough, and Sephiroth, who remains one of the most infamous villains in video game history.

Paper Mario - N64

Oh, Princess Peach. Always getting herself kidnapped, and just when she and Mario were about to have a romantic moment. It's Bowser again, and in addition to Peach, he's stolen the Star Rod from Star Haven, which will make him invincible. Mario must rescue seven Star Spirits who have been imprisoned inside a deck of cards and work with them to defeat Bowser and his evil assistant, Kammy Koopa. Mario also teams up with various "allies" throughout the game, who are recognizable as entities from the Mario Universe, such as Goombas and Bob-ombs. The game includes both turn-based combat and puzzles to accrue "Star Points" in order to level up. The plot unfolds via conversation with NPCs who provide details on quests. There are even side quests for poor, bored Peach while she's waiting to be rescued. On the whole, this will satisfy any nostalgic Mario cravings for those who haven't played it, provided you can get your hands on an N64.

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