What are the Best 8- and 16-bit Console RPGs?

[timewarpgamer]

Coming up with a top 5 is easy, but when you stretch it out to the top 10, things get much harder. You can find my current list here. Please note that for the sake of this list I'm not including tactical RPGs (i.e. Shining Force and Langrisser) or action-adventure games (i.e. Legend of Zelda, Battle of Oasis). Those genres will get their own lists. Any feedback or comments are appreciated. Thanks!

[sakicfan84]

I'd probably put my favorites from the 8-bit and 16-bit era rpgs something like this:

1. Final Fantasy 6
2. Chrono Trigger
3. Phantasy Star 4
4. Lufia 2 (really wish they had fixed a couple glaring bugs in this game...might have been even higher)
5. Lunar: SS
6. Dragon Quest 5
7. Dragon Warrior 4
8. Final Fantasy 4
9. Star Ocean
10. Lunar: EB

Really wanted to put Earthbound on there, but didn't want to bump anything. Type five are set in stone for sure...bottom five not so much.

Still lots of games I need to play from the 16 bit era. Never played a lot of the Japanese only RPGS, beyond DQ 5 and a couple others, that have become available through fan translations; hopefully get around to play more of them some day.

[Bootaaay]

Here's mine;

01. Final Fantasy VI
02. Chrono Trigger
03. Tales of Phantasia
04. Seiken Densetsu III
05. Bahamut Lagoon
06. Secret of Mana
07. Terranigma
08. Phantasy Star IV
09. Final Fantasy III
10. Breath of Fire II

I really should have put Breath of Fire II higher, but I forgot about it till the end and now can't decide where it should slot in :p

[glynnahab]

By combining 16 bit and 8 bit into the same category, you pretty much eliminate any 8 bit RPGs from this list.

Granted, there were some good RPGs of the 8 bit era. But by today's standards, most are archaic fetch-quests and grind-fests. Aside from a few select titles, 8 bit RPGs are nearly unplayable to me.

And to back my statement: Who would honestly say that they enjoyed FF1 more than FFIV?

[Hatta]

Phantasy Star on the SMS stands up quite nicely to the rest of the series. Wasteland is another absolutely fantastic 8 bit rpg, but it's not on any game console. Ultima III-V were released on the NES, and they're excellent games, but the NES ports are not the best so I don't know if it counts.

I think the problem is that most of the great 8-bit RPGs were on computers instead of consoles, not that there aren't any great 8 bit RPGs.

[blue_veilvet]

But by today's standards, most are archaic fetch-quests and grind-fests. Aside from a few select titles, 8 bit RPGs are nearly unplayable to me.

And to back my statement: Who would honestly say that they enjoyed FF1 more than FFIV?

Now that lowered my motivation even more to finish my NES copy of FF1 someday

[ott0bot]

I agree...when you add in the vast 16 bit library, there are few 8 bit titles that can compete. As for my input on your list.....

Obvoiusly the snes dominated. FF 3 is still my favorite and Lufia 2 is probably second. FF 2 is stellar as well. Earthbound is a great for a something a little different. Breath of Fire 2 is solid and so is Chrono Trigger. I like Robotrek too, fun game. I'm really enjoying FF V on the gba right now. Wish they would have brought some more of the square titles over here to begin with, but ohh well you can play the patched roms at least.

For sega titles....It's hard when you are excluding action rpg's and strategy rpgs...the things sega really excelled in. I think Phantasy Star 2 and 4 are both great titles as are Lunar 1 & 2. Vay is ok...but it's got issues. There is the pending release of Pier Solar, which, if it turns out to be all that it should, it should definatley be up there. Super Fighter Team translated and localized Beggar Prince and Legend of WuKong, but I haven't palyed them yet. Shining in the Darkness deserves a mention, great dungeon crawler with some personality. Eat that D&D.

I've only played Neutopia and thats action adventure...so not sure about the turbo grafx stuff.

[timewarpgamer]

Great discussion on the structural issues such a top 10 faces. Thanks, everyone. The top 10 approach I used is especially problematic for RPGs, because SNES is so ridiculously dominant. But if you went with the top 10 8-bit console RPGs, could you even come up with 10? Let me brainstorm...

Phantasy Star
Final Fantasy I through III
Dragon Warrior I through IV
Ultima something or other

Which, sparks another debate. How do you handle the franchises? Right now my approach is to highlight my favorite and give shout outs to sequels/prequels in my comments (I realize I need to add these for Phantasy Star and Seiken Densetsu III -- thanks for reminding me). Despite the gap in hardware capabilities, I think that top-10 lists for the other genres (i.e. Platformers, Puzzle games, even Sports) will have a better balance between 8-bit vs. 16-bit and consoles.

Some other comments in semi-random fashion:

I played the original NES Final Fantasy through completely at least 2 times way back in the day, but I can't imagine doing it again now. Those damn ineffective attacks are infuriating.

Totally overlooked Breath of Fire II, will have to give it a play through.

Bought Beggar Prince a while back and was quite impressed with it. Haven't tried Wukong yet, but would like to. And I'm highly anticipating Pier Solar. Just on the principle of supporting these retro game makers it's hard for me to resist buying these titles.

Anyone played Phantasy Star through with SMS Power's retranslation? I've been wanting to finally complete this classic and was debating whether to go with the original version or not.

[marurun]

If you go by the Gamefaqs list of NES RPGs (includes Japanese Famicom titles too, of course), there are quite a few from which to choose.

Frankly, I think Dragon Warrior IV was the best NES RPG to date, though the Ultima titles and other PC RPG ports weren't bad.

[MrPopo]

Wizardry is some old school evil challenege on the NES. We got two in the States with a third in Japan.