Hmmm. Interesting, I read through the thread before posting. I didn't see any mention of the two things i find the most important in a rpg. Techinally any video game is capable of either of these but in rpg's it's the eastiest and most common to find.
For me, the two most important aspects of rpg's are immersion and gamer euphoria. Immersion can be achieved by any combination of aspects of a rpg. That combination can be different for each person but the end result is always the same, the better immersed someone is, the more they'll enjoy the game. Any style of rpg can do that. Sometimes it's the story that pushes you into complete immersion then other times it might be a particular battle that's fun. Sometimes just fishing in a game will do it. Glitches and bugs are the bane to immersion though.
Gamer euphoria is harder is achieve and it's fleeting. First, it can only be anchieved by doing something challenging to you within a game or by some goal that you set out to accomplish and doing it. You can't keep repeating the same thing and get it again. It requires a fresh goal or experience. Some gamers know what it is and most don't. It's probably the best natural high out there. haha. The easiest way to experience it is by playing difficult rpg's.
