I have a bunch bottled up in this strange head of mine but I am curious to see who here shares my thoughts.

My first example is the Xenogears battle system, I thought it was one of the most incredible systems I have played when it first came out and felt it was ahead of it's time.

Any games and/or gameplay elements past or present that you feel are ahead of their time?

Pretty much everything in EarthBound

The ability to see enemies on the map, the ability to approach enemies from different directions, the ability to win fights automatically based on your strength and your advantage in battle, rolling HP, on and on and on

Damn

Now I want to play EarthBound again

Chaos Legion was the first Hack n' Slash game to truly innovate the genre, it was way ahead of its time, it made DMC seem like a simple minded series .

You know, I own the SNES cart, I have the cool scratch and sniff stickers, I have the strategy guide, etc...

You know what I don't have? The experience of playing this game through.

I seriously need to put aside some time and finally get around to playing through that game.

....I will buy that cart off of you in a heartbeat, you lucky man you

I got it off Craig's List last year, along with Super Mario RPG and a working SNES.

$25 total.

I would buy a Wii if Earthbound Wii came out..

Augh.

Hostages/Rescue:the embassy mission, team based stealth, sniping, repelling down building, civilian hostages, basically everything from rainbow 6 vegas, 2 decades earlier

I agree with the OP on xenogears, and then I look at other gems like Legend of Legaia's amazing combo system for an RPG. But I will always stand by Valkyrie Profile having the absolute best battle system for an RPG EVER! It was one of the few games that I didn't mind getting into battles, and choosing if you wanted to fight since enemies are seen on screen. But I will also say that I liked Valkyrie Profile 2's system a little better since you are now able to move around the battlefield and split up your party of 4 to pinzer attack or attack enemies in so many ways with so many different combos. Anyone in this thread who has not played both Valkyrie Profile games I urge you to play them, along with Legend of Legaia.