When I was younger, I wasn't one of the "cool" kids on the block to own a Nintendo. I grew up playing Sega. We had both a Sega Genesis, and a Sega Master System. I recall the first time I ever played a video game, and that game was an RPG. The thought of traveling from place to place while fighting baddies wasn't much of a thought to me at the time, but it sure was fun. As time went on and as I acquired more consoles like SNES (I finally became 'cool'), playstation, and others, I became hooked onto RPGs. So, I've decided to compile a list of the top 10 rpgs from our childhood. As a rule, only one game per franchise has been included. We all know that one series could probably dominate this list, so I've limited to one game per franchise.

Growing up while playing Sega, I never truely had the chance to experience Mario. Don't get me wrong I like Mario games, but I tend to prefer the blue hedgehog rather than the red plumber. I will admit, i realize the impact he's had on the VG market, and chances are if there was no Super Mario Bros. there'd be no Playstation, Xbox, anything. That being said, I'm moving on. Super Mario RPG was a combined effort of Nintendo and SquareSoft (now Square-Enix). It was a great game that started out with your typical "Bowser kidnaps princess, Mario must rescue princess" storyline, but quickly (and when I say quickly, I mean after like 10 minute) changes into something more complex. The game is very creative, mixing up great SquareSoft elements, like storyline and gameplay, with Nintendo characters. What you get is a fun, memorable game that's very challenging. By the way, look out for a few Nintendo cameos throughout the game, along with one Final Fantasy cameo that is crystal clear.

So, the rules state that I can only choose one Shining game on the list, and I have to go with Shining Force II. Why? Well, the game has a cool storyline for one. I mean, the intro itself is very long and detailed, and rather than being a traditional history explanation of good and evil, it serves as part of the story itself. If that doesn't bring you in, then I don't know what will. So, when I first played this game, I was pretty let down because I was expecting a traditional RPG experience, but after I found out it was a Strategy RPG I dismissed it for a while. However after letting myself become more immersed into it, it became one of my favorite RPGs on Genesis. The strategy element of the game is done very well, giving it an easy to use feel. Some of the battles range are tough too, so its a good balance of difficulty. Furthermore, you also have secret characters to recruit and even a few side quests. Oh, and I should mention that the music is really good too.

This one's probably a lesser known SquareSoft game, as it may have been overshadowed by another release at the time (Xenogears, which gets an honorable mention). So, usually RPGs are either in two extremes: they're futuristic, or they're medieval. Parasite Eve however, is set in the present. That's one of the reason's why I liked it so much. It kind of has this sci-fi/horror feeling to it that is very enjoyable. You play as a cop named Aya Brea who goes to an opera on Christmas Eve. When all the audience starts to spontaneously combust into flames (in a very cool CGI clip), and she's the only survivor, along with the lead actress, she begins an investigation which has ties to her own past and (of course) the well being of the world The game is really unique mainly because of the battle system was pretty innovative for its time. It combined elements of ATB (Active Time Battle) from Final Fantasy, along with the free movement of other survivor horror games like Resident Evil. You also got to upgrade your weapons, and at one point, you can collect enough items to make your own weapon. It was a fun game, and one thing in particular that I liked was that it took place in the non-fictional city of New York City. And whats more, it was very detailed, including Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and even The Museum of Natural History. Kudos to the staff for doing their research.

Ok, so this game might not be affiliated so much with our youth, but it does give us a youthful feeling due to all of the Disney references. The idea of a Disney/SquareSoft RPG was a major point of dispute for many people, including myself. But when I checked it out, I was pleased, because this is probably one of the best RPGs released on Playstation 2. You play as Sora, a teenager who gets separated with his friends and after joining up with Donald Duck and Goofy, he sets on a journey to find his friends, and ultimately restore balance between the worlds overrun with Heartless. On one hand you have your classic SquareSoft storytelling, along with their famous RPG elements (with numerous appearances by various Final Fantasy characters), and the other, you get memorable Disney Characters. Put them together you get a game that has a great storyline, is fun to play, and its even family friendly. Check it out...cause if you don't, then I'd say you're pretty heartless :-p Oh yeah, I can't forget to mention that Kingdom Hearts II also has a world that features my favorite Disney movie...TRON!!!!

Yet another SquareSoft game (common trend here?). I wanted to rate this higher, mainly cause of the many memories I have playing this game cooperatively with my brother (yes, this game is not 2, but 3 players. A feat rare for an RPG at the time), but unfortunately, it ranks at number 6. But, the fact that its making the top 10 list, i'd say thats good enough. I have so many fond memories of this game, and I even remember where I bought it at ($35 at a KB Toys at my local mall.Secret of Mana is about an unnamed hero (though sources say his name is Randi) who against the orders of his village elder wanders outside of his village and unknowingly pulls out the legendary Sword of Mana which releases monsters that the sword protected from. After being banished from his village, the hero sets upon a journey to reforge the legendary sword and stop an ancient evil that is on the rise. So, this isn't you're average RPG. This is an action RPG where instead of having battle screens, you fight on the field while traveling. Its a very lighthearted game (with some dark moments of course) with colorful characters, and superb music. Plus, you can play it with not one but two other friends (well, when the girl Purim and the sprite Popioe join). Its a classic game that anyone should revisit whenever they get the chance. Heres a tip: don't save the game at Niko's in the Ice Forest. This will cause your file to mess up. Though, it might help when wanting to get an extra sword orb...

So, Phantasy Star II was the first RPG (possibly game) that I ever played. So, it has a very special place in my heart. Its a great game, but its second to this masterpiece. Phantasy Star IV is about Hunter Chaz Ashley and his mentor Alys Brangwin. After receiving a routine monster kill request, they find ties to a larger evil and decide to investigate. Eventually, they discover that a very ancient evil that was once thought to be gone has returned, and its up to them (and friends) to stop it. Why do I like this game so much? Well, for starters, it has an awesome story that ties together past Phantasy Star games (well, I and II mainly...no mention of III), the presentation for the time was impressive (awesome cut scenes), and of course, the gameplay itself was very good (Combination attacks, need I say more?). The music was pretty good too, with some remixes of older tunes from the original Phantasy Star. On the game's box it says "The Explosive Finale", and its just that, explosive! *Slight Spoiler* Did you know that during the final dungeon, you can actually fight the original Dark Force (in the form of a Prophallus) from Phantasy Star I? He's there, but he doesn't appear that much, so be on the look out for him.

I'm pretty sure that when some people see this entry, they'll think, "Oh boy, another fanboy." Yes, I love EarthBound, but that's because its such a charming game, and its just so darn fun. The game is about a young boy named Ness (a play on SNES). After a Meteorite crashes into the town of Onett, Ness takes it upon himself to investigate the meteor and search for your neighbor Pokey's brother. Upon arriving at it, he is greeted by Buzz Buzz, a being from the future who lets him know of a prophesy stating that three boys and one girl will save the world from an evil known only as Giygas. So, Ness then sets off to fulfill his destiny...while making sure to call at home every now and then. So, this game seems simple on the outside (graphics, gameplay), but what you actually get is a very deep story, zany enemies, and a very satisfying RPG experience. Come on, you fight hippies! That has to at least get a recommendation. Oh yeah, you can order Pizza as well. I think there's a reason why Ness keeps appearing in Super Smash Bros. games, which poses the question: When will this game be released on Virtual Console? Come on Nintendo...

With so many quality Final Fantasy games, its hard for me to choose just one, but I have to go with my personal favorite... Final Fantasy VI, is IMO, the best Final Fantasy game made thus far (FFVII is a VERY close second). Its also the first Final Fantasy game I ever played, so it has a special place in my heart. Final Fantasy VI takes place 1000 years after the War of the Magi. A young woman named Terra is being used by the Ghestalian Empire to search for an esper. After meeting it, the Esper and Terra seem to bond, and she wakes up free from the control of the empire. After being rescued by Locke the Treasure Hunter (a fancy phrase for thief), they begin to recruit members to fight against the Empire, led by Emperor Ghestal, and his right hand man Kefka. Many have said it in the past, and I'll say it now, Final Fantasy VI is a masterpiece. It has the largest cast to date (12 plus 2 secret characters and some temporary characters) all with their own side stories (minus the secret characters), one of the most memorable vilians (Kefka and his oh so amazing digitized laugh), Espers, and one of the most memorable scenes in FF history (ok, some may argue that) in the form of an opera. I should also mention the soundtrack is probably one of my favorite soundtracks of all the Final Fantasy games. This is probably the game that put RPGs on the map in America before FFVII came along.

This game needs no introduction. I had only read about this game briefly in a magazine, and then when I saw it in a store while in Louisiana. Having only read it, I decided to check it out, and BOY was my life changed forever (ok, maybe not) You play as the silent protagonist Crono. On the day of the Millennial Fair, Crono runs into a young lady named Marle, whom while trying out one of Lucca's (Crono's best friend) experiments, gets transported back in time. As Crono and Lucca race back to save her, they unknowingly set off on a chain of events that will save the balance of many periods of history. This game features awesome music, great gameplay (battles that can for the most part be avoided, combination attacks, side quests), and even some replay value (New Game + allows you to play through the game again with all non event items, plus multiple endings) its an RPG fan's dream. The time traveling aspect of the game was done very well. Actions you make in the past effect the future. I think its probably one of the best plot devices in a game and the fact that the creators did it so effectively shows just how great this game is. This game was recently announced for Nintendo DS, so its the perfect time to experience this classic.

Lunar 2 is hands down my favorite RPG. Released on the Sega CD (later on Playstation), it was probably one of the few good games on the not-so-good system with a ton of crappy FMV games (ok, Night Trap wasnt THAT bad...). This game has so many great memories attached to it that I'm not sure that I can even explain many of them. Lunar 2 is the sequel to Lunar: The Silver Star (Another great game). It takes place 1000 years after its prequel. Its male lead is named Hiro, a young archeologist with a interest in the past. After seeing an interesting light show at the blue spire, Hiro, his Grandfather Gwyn, and his trusty companion Ruby set on a journey to discover the cause of the light. There they meet a young woman named Lucia, who claims to be a traveler from the Blue Star. But why has she come to the world of Lunar? Where do I start? Lunar 2's game's gameplay and graphics are quite simple. But the story is amazing. There's so much character development. Pretty much all the characters are likable, and they get their own time to shine and grow. Its also pretty challenging. I can recall a few bosses that made me go back and level up and any RPGer knows that that is pretty much punishment. What else can i say about it? Great music (Field to Tomorrow is still probably one of my favorite RPG tunes), great characters, great voice acting, etc. There are also a few good twists in the game. So much that when I got halfway through the game, I actually thought it was over, only to be presented with a plot twist. I RARELY get that feeling whenever I play a game. Oh yeah...when you finish the game, there's an epilogue that ties together the ending....in the form of a few more dungeons and exploration. Fact of the matter is, this game is amazing, and its without a doubt my favorite RPG of all time!

So, there you have it. Those are some of the RPGs that are closely tied to my childhood. With the current generation of gaming consoles, its important to see where the future may be going. However, with the inclusion of features like XBLA, VC, and PS Store, its great to see the games of our youth still being offered. That being said, I think its always important to see where we once were and have a chance to revisit those experiences.

List by Avictory25