SNES: Star Ocean and Tales of Phantasia
the real time combat system combined with all the true RPG elements making the gameplay very appealing. Instead of just putting commands to your characters, you could make them move and plan many strategies.
SNES: Chrono Trigger
to me it was the first RPG where you play a turn based battle (with active time) in the same place you move/explore. Many RPGs even today take you to a special combat arena once you engage an enemy. ... In this game, you don't "transport" to that arena, you actually fight there on the spot. And once is over you continue your quest.
I was hoping for a modern RPG to do that.
SNES: Secret of Mana/Evermore
the first game where you can get "tired" if you run a lot you stop running because you need to recover. Same thing after you attack an enemy. It's cool because you have to get out of the way in order to give a nice blow.
Playstation: Parasite Eve
The best combination between a novel and an RPG game. The game is short, but the addition of RPG elements to a story (where can I find that dammed book?) gives a breath of air that most games with a lot of cutscenes can't deliver.
Playstation: Valkirye Profile
the first RPG I played where you can give and recieve damage over 9999... It feels so good when you give 50,000-100,000 in damage (maybe more...) to a foe.
Gamecube: Baten Kaitos
The card battle system where a combination of luck and strategy play an important part for the outcome of the battle. It uses a poker like combination to increase the power of the attack/defense
DreamCast/Gamecube: Skies of Arcadia
The ship battles. A friendly but very useful interface
The ability to change the element of your weapon attack during your turn of the battle without changing weapons or items
"You'll never know what you can do unless you try"
