Regarding the topic, yes, as has been said by many people here, it's Pokemon. I personally may not be a fan of either, but that doesn't negate the fact of how well known they are. Truthfully, I'd not be surprised (but am not claiming one way or the other) if Pokemon and Pikachu have surpassed Mario for global recognition.
Now, if you wanted to say a game as revolutionary to the JRPG, I'd probably give that to FF7. To get something out to the masses, you have to take the (perceived) complex item, and give it a simple wrapper. However, this doesn't decomplicate things, so something is added to fluff up the space from what was removed. FF7 used graphics as a wrapper, and when they added stuff (FMVs up the wazoo), some of what made up the classic JRPG spilled out. The "complicated" parts, such as where do I go now, were what was removed. The game took you by the hand through it, which is what made it more accessable, and led to the explosion. Knowing full well that many of the newer fans would complain if the walking hand was removed meant that they had to keep these changes to keep their market.
To "kill" FF7, if you will, would require making it even more accessable. The graphics wrapper is already in place, so that won't work again. However, what could they add, and what else would be removed in the process? I don't think it's going to happen, and truthfully, I don't want it to, either. I pine for the games of yore, knowing full well that I am a dying breed...
-dunno001
-On a quest for the truly perfect game; I don't think it exists...
