Compared to adventure games, RPG offer much more control over your characters growth, often by leveling and equipment. One comparison a friend made once is take a sports game, the managing the team and players is the "RPG" part, the actual playing of the sport is the action/adventure part.
Currently own: PC (duh), SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP.







