GamePro's Top 26 RPGs Everyone Should Play

[Morfiend]

Top 26 RPGs.

I will say I do NOT agree with a lot of these and their placement, plus a lot of glaring omissions.

Blah.

[JWIV]

Top 26 RPGs.

I will say I do NOT agree with a lot of these and their placement, plus a lot of glaring omissions.

Blah.

That list is full of fucking fail.

[schild]

Wtf? Gamepro is still around?

26. Warhammer Online
25. Kingdom Hearts 2
24. Grandia
23. Skies of Arcadia
22. Planescape: Torment
21. Persona 3
20. Deus Ex
19. Disgaea PSP
18. Baldur's Gate 2: SoA
17. Oblivion
16. Pokemon Pearl/Diamond
15. Suikoden III
14. Super Mario RPG
13. FF XII
12. Earthbound
11. Mass Effect
10. KOTOR
9. A Link to the Past
8. Xenogears
7. The Ultima Series
6. Diablo 2: LoD
5. Fallout 3
4. Chrono Trigger
3. Ocarina of Time
2. WoW
1. Final Fantasy VII

Ok. Seriously? This doesn't even deserve commentary. Morphiend, why are you reading GamePro?

[Tebonas]

I don't know what Gamepro is but they certainly didn't make me want to find out more about them with that retarded list.

[schild]

GamePro used to be a decent print magazine with cover art that ranged from notably disgusting and horrible fan art to absolutely awesome (think Edge at their best). Also, they had some high quality printing practices (I mean the paper and color fidelity).

Mostly though, just a rag. This list however, is a fucking advertisement. Nine times out of 10, when an advertiser wants coverage, people will just throw together a list because that shit tends to get digged.

[fuser]

Morphiend, why are you reading GamePro?

Because PCXL is gone? 

[HaemishM]

WTF? Warhammer Online? WOW for fuck's sake? REALLY?

Yeah, Gamepro always had great printing but shitty shit shit shit writing. I see nothing has changed.

[Morfiend]

I just had to post it because of the absolute absurdity of it.

Oblivion beating out Planescape and Deus Ex?

No Fallout 1 or 2?

Fucking retards.

[ashrik]

Well I think that WoW has earned its place on the list. WAR definitely hasn't, what the fuck is it doing there?

And I always thought the Zelda games were Action/Adventure outings.

[Rasix]

WTF is WAR doing on that list.  How much did that cost? I'm not sure MMOs have a place in this sort of list, but that's a complete other issue I'm sure some may disagree with.

There are a lot of glaring omissions and crappy decisions based on certain franchises. Not shocking considering the source, I didn't even know GamePro still existed.  

[schild]

WoW isn't an RPG.

It's an MMO with some people that like to RPG.

RPers don't an RPG make.

It's an INCREDIBLY POPULAR online game and its importance to the online gaming genre should not be trifled with - but an RPG? comeon. COMEON.

[ashrik]

How is WoW not an RPG?

[Hindenburg]

Killing boars does not an rpg make.

It's just that ye average rpg actually gives a shit about story and characterization.

WoW doesn't.

But hey, a list that puts Suikoden III instead of Suiko2 shouldn't even be used as toilet paper.

[schild]

How is WoW not an RPG?

You're new here, so I'll be kind. I don't really consider any MMOG an RPG.

Online gaming is an entirely different animal to the traditional RPG genre.

When making a list of the best RPGs, you need to consider writing, pacing, character development of NPCs and PCs, the setting, a whole slew of things that are designed specifically with a goal in mind - of you taking over a person or group of people telling you their story. You're playing their role. Not your own role, sometimes choices can be made (Deus Ex for example) that change the end result or in extreme cases like Fallout 2, you create your own character and such, but your bits are clearly defined in that sure, you might have choice, but there's a beginning an end and stories in between.

As for an MMOG, you play yourself personified as some little toon and you go around a world with shit writing compared to the best RPGs (really, one of the major reasons no MMORPG should ever make a best RPG list), a game with no particular goal in mind, terribly inconsistant pacing, and character development that's largely non-existant (getting items does not a developed character make).

If you really want to argue that and say WoW is an RPG, it's the smartest kid in the most retarded class - the MMO class of RPGs. And if you somehow think that WoW compares even remotely to the best RPGs of the RPG genre, you're pretty insane.

I mean shit, Shenmue isn't on that list. They missed so many fucking amazing RPGs that no MMO even compares to that it's just maddening. Maybe in a list of the best 100 RPGs, I could agree with dropping WoW somewhere below number 85 (edit: But I still say it's not a fucking RPG).

[HaemishM]

I'd put Fable 1 on that list before I'd put any goddamn MMO.

[schild]

I'd put Fable 1 on that list before I'd put any goddamn MMO.

That's funny, I was going to say I'd put Blue Dragon or fucking Suikoden V on that list before any MMORPG.

Fuck, I'd put Mystic Quest on the list.

[Ingmar]

Shitty list is shitty.

Among the other failings, "the Ultima series" is such a goddamn copout.

[schild]

Shitty list is shitty.

Among the other failings, "the Ultima series" is such a goddamn copout.

I fucking HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE IT when sites put SERIES on a fucking list and then specify a fucking Final Fantasy or Fallout or Baldur's Gate.

What a giant crock of dick.

Have some consistency, motherfuckers.

[Nevermore]

Shitty list is shitty.

Among the other failings, "the Ultima series" is such a goddamn copout.

No kidding.  They have separate Final Fantasies listed but one catch-all for Ultima?  There's also a distinct lack of Parasite Eve on that list.  

[Ingmar]

Also, I'm sorry, none of the Zelda games are RPGs.

[schild]

Also, I'm sorry, none of the Zelda games are RPGs.

If we can't put Link to the Past or Ocarina on the list as Action RPGs, it's hard to put Deus Ex on the list.

Which would be a shame. As it's one of the best RPGs and one of the worst FPS titles.

Yet somehow, all three of those games go on the Best Games ever list.

[Ard]

WTF is WAR doing on that list.  How much did that cost? I'm not sure MMOs have a place in this sort of list, but that's a complete other issue I'm sure some may disagree with.

You know, I bet this was exactly it.  Even though it's dead last on the list, it's front and center on the very first page of the list.

edit:

But hey, a list that puts Suikoden III instead of Suiko2 shouldn't even be used as toilet paper.

This one is arguable because this is where the rift in the suikoden fanbase occured.  I place 3 above 2 also.  I'm not saying 2 is bad, 2 is very very good, but it's lower than 3.

But that's not what this thread is about.  GamePro sucks.

[Sky]

Why the hell isn't Hendrix on that list?

 

[schild]

WTF is WAR doing on that list.  How much did that cost? I'm not sure MMOs have a place in this sort of list, but that's a complete other issue I'm sure some may disagree with.

You know, I bet this was exactly it.  Even though it's dead last on the list, it's front and center on the very first page of the list.

See Reply #4.

[Ard]

See Reply #4.

I saw it.  I almost quoted it even.  I just got lazy.

[Ingmar]

Also, I'm sorry, none of the Zelda games are RPGs.

If we can't put Link to the Past or Ocarina on the list as Action RPGs, it's hard to put Deus Ex on the list.

Which would be a shame. As it's one of the best RPGs and one of the worst FPS titles.

Yet somehow, all three of those games go on the Best Games ever list.

Deus Ex has some RPG features they lack, particularly in the character customization/advancement area. I draw the line somewhere short of "hey I got another heart worth of health."

[schild]

Also, I'm sorry, none of the Zelda games are RPGs.

If we can't put Link to the Past or Ocarina on the list as Action RPGs, it's hard to put Deus Ex on the list.

Which would be a shame. As it's one of the best RPGs and one of the worst FPS titles.

Yet somehow, all three of those games go on the Best Games ever list.

Deus Ex has some RPG features they lack, particularly in the character customization/advancement area. I draw the line somewhere short of "hey I got another heart worth of health."

Compared to? Hey I got an upgrade that gives more health or hey I got another level in Final Fantasy? I understand it's a gray area, but nothing like MMOGs vs RPGs.

[Ingmar]

Also, I'm sorry, none of the Zelda games are RPGs.

If we can't put Link to the Past or Ocarina on the list as Action RPGs, it's hard to put Deus Ex on the list.

Which would be a shame. As it's one of the best RPGs and one of the worst FPS titles.

Yet somehow, all three of those games go on the Best Games ever list.

Deus Ex has some RPG features they lack, particularly in the character customization/advancement area. I draw the line somewhere short of "hey I got another heart worth of health."

Compared to? Hey I got an upgrade that gives more health or hey I got another level in Final Fantasy? I understand it's a gray area, but nothing like MMOGs vs RPGs.

I don't even want to get into JRPGs. Not a fan, and they're different enough that I think they should really be discussed separately. Games like the Fallouts have literally almost nothing in common IMO with the Final Fantasy games, where they have a lot more with Deus Ex.

[schild]

/shrug They both bring very different things to the genre. I'm thankful for both (western RPGs and JRPGs) but they should really start learning more from eachother. Well, Japan has started Hybridizing, America - not so much. I thought Persona 3 was particularly notable. But hay, I like most games.

[Zane0]

Take out all the MMOs, many of the console games, turn it upside down, and it is a little better.

To be fair, I've played roles in a number of MMO storylines that were full of conflict, intrigue, and betrayal -- I am speaking of player interaction and guild feuds of course, which has little to do with development. No MMO has facilitated these interactions very successfully or created a good conventional storyline, so it is a moot point.

[Strazos]

Disgaea PSP? lolz? Why not just use the Original?

And FF7 at the top is such a fucking fanboi copout. Hell, I'll admit to having liked the game when it came out, but come the fuck on, #1 in RPGs? Fuck that noise. Wow at 2 is just laughable, even if you want to say it's an RPG.

I can sort of see why they would use seperate Link games, but clump the Ultima series together, as LttP and OoT play Very differently, while I felt there was more continuity or consistency between the Ultima games.

And while I guess I can let Pokemon slide....Oblivion? On a list that includes Fallout 3? That's sort of redundant 

There is just a whole lot wrong with that list, including the lack of Fallout 1/2.

[Goreschach]

WTF is WAR doing on that list.  How much did that cost? I'm not sure MMOs have a place in this sort of list, but that's a complete other issue I'm sure some may disagree with.

You know, I bet this was exactly it.  Even though it's dead last on the list, it's front and center on the very first page of the list.

And it's #26? Who the hell makes a Top 26 list? They might as well have named it "Top 25 RPGs Everyone Should Play and Warhammer".

Not that the list wouldn't still suck, but bad taste is at least excusable.

[schild]

All their lists have a weird amount of shit. They're all advertisements.

[HaemishM]

Shitty list is shitty.

Among the other failings, "the Ultima series" is such a goddamn copout.

No kidding.  They have separate Final Fantasies listed but one catch-all for Ultima?  There's also a distinct lack of Parasite Eve on that list.  

Which means they are putting shit like Ultima 9 above Final Fantasy 2 (the SNES version - whatever number that was in Japan) or KOTOR. Asshat parade.

[UnSub]

I don't consider any title a true RPG unless you can make choices about what your character does that changes how the world behaves OR it has an excellent character driven narrative. XP and loot and levelling up do not make an RPG.

Awful list.