Top 3 RPG's

We've all seen this type of topic before, but since the forums seem to be picking up in activity lately, I think now's a good time to ask the eternal question: What are your favorite RPGs . . . and why?

(Not necessarily in order)

Chrono Trigger
My first RPG. Also, it was brilliant in the sense that it captured the FUN of time-travel stories without getting bogged down by temporal theorems/paradoxes. Your group of heroes are trying to undo a horrible future by going back in time and stopping it at the source. The idea is so simple, so cool that it was just bound to work. The fact that the game had a memorable cast of characters, an innovative battle system, and gorgeous graphics (at the time) was just icing on the cake.

Skies of Arcadia
Another idea so brilliantly simple, that you just have to wonder why the HELL no one ever thought of it before. You play as a swashbuckling pirate in a world that mimics the Age of Exploration. You travel throughout the world from continent to continent, making discoveries, meeting eccentric new characters, and going from one dashing adventure to the next. If there's someone who didn't dream about stuff like this as a kid, I haven't met 'em. The gameplay was also very unique in the sense that it encouraged you to explore and examine EVERY single nook and cranny of the world, just as the main character was sworn to do in the plot itself.

Final Fantasy X
A controversial pick, as many people either love or hate this game. Personally, I love it. I really don't care that RPGs in this day and age are opting to be more cinematic with their cutscenes than in previous generations. That is, I don't mind as long as said cutscenes are in moderation. (Unlike in . . . say . . . Xenosaga). Nor do I mind if the core gameplay works. That's why FFX is distinct to me over the rest of the series. The game takes the time to develop its plot and characters, so they actually seem like real people instead of just tools in the game which I use to get from point A to point B. Also, the battle system was a refreshing change, though switching characters in battle did make things a bit easy at times.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wow, thanks, Leknaat. I just got back here and wasn't able to defend my thread, so, much appreciated!

There's nowhere I can't reach.