I am NOT including Xbox/PC/GC or any small system (DC, SegaGen, Gameboy) because they do not have enough RPGs nor the quality that these systems have.

*yes I know Lunar & Grandia were a DC games, but really...who played them on DC?

PSX:
Best Storyline ~ Xenogears, far and away the best story with the strongest backgrounds of characters and plot of any PSX game created.
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy VII & VIII, Suikoden II, Chrono Cross

Best Battle System ~ Star Ocean: The Second Story, is very unique for a PSX game as it is very wide open as a battle system is concerned. Freedom of movement around the screen whilst attacking and defending makes it the most dynamic battle system for PSX.
Runner-ups: Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy VII, Grandia

Best Graphics ~ Parasite Eve 2 & Final Fantasy 8, both of these games simply were the best RPG graphics on the PSX. Both the CGI cinematics and actual gameplay were revolutionary for Squaresoft and the RPG industry. Both games were so close to eachother I can not decide which would be better.
Runner-ups: Valkyrie Profile, Parasite Eve 1, Xenogears, Chrono Cross

Best Sound/Music ~ Valkyrie Profile, the voice acting is suberb, with a multitude of characters for which actors had to play, they did a great job on every one of them. The actual music during gameplay is also top-notch, with moving tunes for every area and battle.
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy VIII, Xenogears, Vagrant Story, Tales of Destiny

Best Replay Value ~ Final Fantasy Tactics, simply put, the most addicting game to replay for the sake of just destroying the competition, finding all characters & items, and mastering all classes for each character at level 99. My friend leveled to 89 on the Mandalia Plains before hitting the second story battle, it took a little under 50 hours to do so.
Runner-ups: Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy VII, Star Ocean: The Second Story, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

Best PSX RPG Overall ~ Chrono Cross & Final Fantasy VII
Overall Runner-ups: Xenogears & Final Fantasy VIII

SNES:
Best Story ~ Chrono Trigger, who has not played through this game 5 or 6 times, not just to get to level 99 and max out some stats for every char, but just for the sheer fun of finding the endings and reliving the greatness of it all? Travelling through time to stop a disaster is simply mind boggling to some, and a true trip for others.
Runner-ups: Lufia: Rise of the Sinestrals, Final Fantasy VI, Earthbound (in a strange way), Secret of Mana

Best Battle System ~ Secret of Mana, what can be better than a one player RPG? Well a 3 player of course. With friends to help you stop Mana from destroying the world, this game makes battles come at you without warning and intensity. Who doesn't love actually having to dodge and attack, it is an action RPG with multiplayer.
Runner-ups: Secret of Evermore, Final Fantasy VI, Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen, Chrono Trigger

Best Graphics ~ Final Fantasy VI, without a doubt the most beautiful graphics on the Super Nintendo. With the monster stills and great backgrounds, this game made all other games envy it.
Runner-ups: Chrono Trigger, Tales of Phantasia, Secret of Evermore, Bahamut Lagoon, Seiken Densetsu 3 (Secret of Mana 2)

Best Sound/Music ~ Earthbound, comon, who doesn't like the sound of trippy music and flashy 70's style sound effects? While you are listening to psychodelic melodies, you can be watching pulsating lights and aliens.
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Evermore, Tales of Phantasia

Best Replay Value ~ Chrono Trigger, see how it has the best storyline? It also means you play it again and again. Not much to be said here.
Runner-ups: Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Secret of Mana, Breath of Fire 2, Final Fantasy VI

Best SNES RPG Overall ~ Chrono Trigger
Overall Runner-ups: Final Fantasy VI & Secret of Evermore

PS2:
Best Story ~ Final Fantasy X, I don't think that many would contest that FFX has the best storyline of any PS2 game out there at the present time. With in depth character development and backgrounds along with intimate interaction between characters it becomes a forever lasting impression on the player.
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy X-2, Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, Shadow Hearts, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time

Best Battle System ~ Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, one of SquareEnix newest arrivals. Being able to choose up to 8 characters (out of a total 10) to be in your party and level up on one play-through is great. Just like Star Ocean 2, you can freely move around the battle system and attack whenever you wish. Multiple other features make this probably the best battle system ever for any RPG.
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Shadow Hearts, Grandia II

Best Graphics ~ Final Fantasy X & X-2, again a strong showing from a Final Fantasy game. With the seemless flow from CGI to gameplay while moving around the game, it feels like you are just watching a movie...and directing it at the same time.
Runner-ups: Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, Shadow Hearts: Covenant, Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht, Unlimited SaGa, Front Mission 4

Best Sound/Music ~ Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, SO:TtEoT has the greatest music, but that is nothing new to expect from Square or Enix who both have strong games musically (Valkyrie Profile, Final Fantasy X). With one of the most beautiful soundtrack the PS2 currently has this game takes the cake. Combining CGI + Voice Acting + great music makes this game a treat just to listen to.
Runners-ups: La Pucelle: Tactics, Final Fantasy X-2, Unlimited SaGa, X-Men: Legends

Best Replay Value ~ Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, while the ending doesn't really change, the characters available, the 4 difficulty settings, 300 battle trophies, costumes, weapons, attacks, combos, and everything else just makes you want to come back for more.
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy X, Gladius, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Best PS2 RPG Overall ~ Final Fantasy X & Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Runner-ups: Final Fantasy X-2 & Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht

So yea...there ya have it.

Striker

This post was edited by Striker_99 on Nov 25 2004 12:39am

graphics for Final Fantasy IX? I thought those were kick ass on PSX

I really loved the battle system in FFVII,FFVIII, and FFX.. but what i hated about FFX was the dialouge and the voices.. didnt like them at all, but the plot was still cool.

The music in FFVI, FFVII and FFVIII were absoulutly stunning.. Nobuo Uematsu is a true genius in making music, i even add some of the music to my playlist sometimes(yeb im a nerd)

I have to admitt that my favourite rpg up to this point is ff7..

Star Ocean: the second story was also great.. i never finished all thoose side-quest though.. but made it to lvl 30 in that tournament.. i had to encounter this big purple nasty bird..