The Greatest RPG of the 16bit era was ...

Final Fantasy 6 , Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 4 and Phantasy Star 4 are all great games.

and while I don't own the Mega CD versions , Lunar and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue would be in my list too.

and while I don't own the Mega CD versions , Lunar and Lunar 2: Eternal Blue would be in my list too.

Darkman2007

I wasn't 100% sure if the SegaCD stuff counted as the 16bit era, but if so, then you already know "LUNAR SILVER STAR" is my choice, being my favorite rpg of all time (though I admittedly prefer the PSone version)

If not, then Final Fantasy IV (SNES's FF2) for me.

[QUOTE="ohthemanatee"]if we're going by consoles only then I choose Final Fantasy 6 if we're counting the PC, then I choose Star Control 2Darkman2007

well... weren't 386 and 486 computers 16-bit? :P

Final Fantasy VI. Loved Terranigma though, but I think it's outside my top-5 16-bit RPGs.

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"][QUOTE="ohthemanatee"]if we're going by consoles only then I choose Final Fantasy 6 if we're counting the PC, then I choose Star Control 2ohthemanatee

well... weren't 386 and 486 computers 16-bit? :P

[QUOTE="ohthemanatee"]

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"] its really hard to put the PC into a generation. I mean ,there were games on the PC at the time that were quite far ahead of anything consoles could do.Darkman2007

well... weren't 386 and 486 computers 16-bit? :P

dammit :\

well I guess I'll stick with Final Fantasy 6

though I still say Star Control 2 was the best RPG of it's time

[QUOTE="ohthemanatee"]if we're going by consoles only then I choose Final Fantasy 6 if we're counting the PC, then I choose Star Control 2Darkman2007

And they also cost quite far more than consoles...

I mean sure, the X68000 had some close to perfect arcade ports during the 16-bit era, and gets praised for it. But it was an elite computer set up that few people not closely associated with computers had the luxury of own. One of the middle range X68k set up capable or running all games would've cost you around 356,000 yen at the time (US$4,345 now).

A high price to pay to play a close to perfect port of Final Fight if you ask m, compared to what it would cost you to play it on say, the Mega CD.

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"][QUOTE="ohthemanatee"]if we're going by consoles only then I choose Final Fantasy 6 if we're counting the PC, then I choose Star Control 2Panzer_Zwei

And they also cost quite far more than consoles...

I mean sure, the X68000 had some close to perfect arcade ports during the 16-bit era, and gets praised for it. But it was an elite computer set up that few people not closely associated with computers had the luxury of own. One of the middle range X68k set up capable or running all games would've cost you around 356,000 yen at the time (US$4,345 now).

A high price to pay to play a close to perfect port of Final Fight if you ask m, compared to what it would cost you to play it on say, the Mega CD.

The Zork Series on the PC.

[QUOTE="Panzer_Zwei"]

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"] its really hard to put the PC into a generation. I mean ,there were games on the PC at the time that were quite far ahead of anything consoles could do.Darkman2007

And they also cost quite far more than consoles...

I mean sure, the X68000 had some close to perfect arcade ports during the 16-bit era, and gets praised for it. But it was an elite computer set up that few people not closely associated with computers had the luxury of own. One of the middle range X68k set up capable or running all games would've cost you around 356,000 yen at the time (US$4,345 now).

A high price to pay to play a close to perfect port of Final Fight if you ask m, compared to what it would cost you to play it on say, the Mega CD.

Most game programmers of the time had a X68000 I'm sure. There's a lot of games that have some small references to the system.

You can clearly see an X68000 in Battle Mania : Daiginjou for example.

I got an EXPERT model (not the best model but it plays all games) in mint condition and with all cables, keyboard, mouse and even a controller (and the original box and documentation, though it does me no good) for only about $75.

The big bummer was that its special monitor cost nearly the same. That and shipping fees. But it's funny how some things are very cheap while others are very expensive to get in Japan.

Dragon Quest V.

Chrono Trigger, for the sheer fact that it got me hooked on the genre for life. Final Fantasy VI (we called it III back in those days) is a close second because it reinforced the addiction =D

I had played the first Shining Force and Crusader of Centy before these.I liked them, but didn't really understand at the time that they belonged to a genre called RPG, so it didn't really occur to me to play more RPGs until much later....if that makes any sense, lol.

Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI for sure.

1. Chrono Trigger
2. Earthbound
3. Final Fantasy VI
4. Super Mario RPG

My avatar gives this away of course... Phantasy Star IV!

Chrono Trigger!!!

Easily Breath of Fire 1 and 2 for me.

Limiting it to just one from the 16 bit era.....impossible!

I only had the SNES during this era, so I can only limit it to SNES titles.

Final Fantasy 2 andFinal Fantasy 3 (US - SNES versions) = Both of these titles were the very first RPG games I had played. I remember when I intially started playing final fantasy 2, I was upset because the action was turned based. It was not very long before I absoluted loved the gameplay! The story was like nothing I had ever experienced in a game, the music was nothing less than fantastic, and the atmosphere of the game added to the gameplay. IN my opinion Final Fantasy 3 did everything its predecessor did, but better.

Secret of Mana = Well crafted Action RPG, with outstanding gameplay. The atmosphere and in game music was stellar. Sure the story wasn't as good as other RPGs at that time, but it was still engaging.

Phantasy Star IV s an excellent choice, although Phantasy Star II is also unforgettable, and for me it caused the most impact when it came out.

For the Mega Drive you can't also forget about Shadowrun and Rent-A-Hero.

For the Mega CD, the Japanese umblemished versions of Lunar : The Silver Star and Lunar : Eternal Blue were truly memorable. The system also had the best 16-bit version of Shin Megami Tensei.

The PC-Engine also had some truly remarkable RPGs as well : Tengai Makyou II : Manji Maru and Kaze no Densetsu : Xanadu, come to mind.

Definitely Chrono Trigger

I don't even need to play most of these suggestions to hold up Final Fantasy 6. Few other games reward you by making you feel inadequate. And this is pretty much the only English-language game from this era to pull character sprites so well.

What is it that people love about Chrono Trigger? It does everything wrong. The menus are awkward, the battles are completely trial-and-error, the script is paper-thin and the art-direction is underwhelmingly sedate, especially for this pedigree. Getting Yuji Horii to pen a game for Squaresoft is like Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee fighting aliens in a film directed by Tim Burton, how do you get that wrong?

Probably FFVI. There just weren't any other RPGs on that scale back then.

Earthbound is my number one. Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger follow up. I'm trying Terranigma right now though, a little slow right now, but all RPGs are at first.

I enjoyed playing Sword of Vermillion...

Chrono Trigger, period

Phantasy Star IV s an excellent choice, although Phantasy Star II is also unforgettable, and for me it caused the most impact when it came out.

For the Mega Drive you can't also forget about Shadowrun and Rent-A-Hero.

For the Mega CD, the Japanese umblemished versions of Lunar : The Silver Star and Lunar : Eternal Blue were truly memorable. The system also had the best 16-bit version of Shin Megami Tensei.

The PC-Engine also had some truly remarkable RPGs as well : Tengai Makyou II : Manji Maru and Kaze no Densetsu : Xanadu, come to mind.

Panzer_Zwei

You got excellent choices, however I will also add that I am a big fan of the Cosmic Fantasy games and sadly officially we only got Cosmic Fantasy II. I will say I agree with the choices of Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, however there are plenty of games that have sadly been forgotten as well. None the less, I say Cosmic Fantasy II is a forgotten gem in the 16 bit RPG era.

I don't even need to play most of these suggestions to hold up Final Fantasy 6. Few other games reward you by making you feel inadequate. And this is pretty much the only English-language game from this era to pull character sprites so well.

What is it that people love about Chrono Trigger? It does everything wrong. The menus are awkward, the battles are completely trial-and-error, the script is paper-thin and the art-direction is underwhelmingly sedate, especially for this pedigree. Getting Yuji Horii to pen a game for Squaresoft is like Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee fighting aliens in a film directed by Tim Burton, how do you get that wrong?

CrankyStorming

I love how you cut the game down, but your explanations are mere internetMemes, that donot explain anything. And I find your statements about the battles being trial and error quite funny to say the least....

Phantasy Star IV s an excellent choice, although Phantasy Star II is also unforgettable, and for me it caused the most impact when it came out.

For the Mega Drive you can't also forget about Shadowrun and Rent-A-Hero.

For the Mega CD, the Japanese umblemished versions of Lunar : The Silver Star and Lunar : Eternal Blue were truly memorable. The system also had the best 16-bit version of Shin Megami Tensei.

The PC-Engine also had some truly remarkable RPGs as well : Tengai Makyou II : Manji Maru and Kaze no Densetsu : Xanadu, come to mind.

Panzer_Zwei

Yup, Shadowrun has always been a close second to Phantasy Star IV for me.

Shining Force 2 one of the greats for the Genesis

My avatar gives this away of course... Phantasy Star IV!

djsundowner

FINAL FANTASY III (SUPER NINTENDO)

The Zork Series on the PC.

topsemag55

Looking back at it, I really should have included Earthbound for the SNES onto my list.

I remember playing through that game as a kid during summer break, and it was one of the best gaming experiences I had every had. I really had never played an RPG like this game. The quirky humor, the bizzare atmosphere, and unique spin on the RPG genre at the time had me hooked. The gamplay was very solid, but its the unique style that Earthboung had that truely set it apparent from any game being released at that time.

FF III/VI.

Final Fantasy VI , Chrono Trigger and Secret Of Mana are my personal chooses.