Most Powerful game you have ever played

[Kuya]

We get that you like Mass Effect... but for some of us, jrpgs have a more lasting impact than those open-world western rpgs. (and yes, I actually tried giving Mass Effect a shot but the storyline was way too boring and shepard's lines fell too scripted for my tastes... it just felt like the VA was reading shit from a piece of paper rather than actually trying to act the part.)

Still entitled to my opinion the last time I checked.

Why are you answering him like he's attacking you lol?

[Xavier]

Just going to toss in my 2 cents. Ending of FF8, MGS3 and Xenosaga 3.

All were very touching. I remember actually crying at the Laguna end of FF8, but I was a lot younger then too. The Xenosaga series is so overlooked, I'm so glad I went back and finally played Episode 2 and 3, the story is just fantastic.

[Charismatic]

I still haven't played Ep.3, I still haven't recovered from Ep.2's shit gameplay.
The story was excellent, but seriously, I'm not here to read books, I am here to play some fucking video games.
I've heard Ep.3 is way better, but I'm just still not ready to hop in there after Ep.2.

[Exoduso]

Stop bashing the series, especially if you haven't played Episode 3.. seriously.

And Kuya, maybe if he'd stop trying to push his belief that Mass Effect is the best thing since sliced bread into every topic that discusses video games, it wouldn't be such an issue.

[Zagnutz]

Xenogears really pulled me in. FF VII got me a little when Aeris died. On that same note, FF Advent Children had a few moments that were cheerful and sad for me. Star Ocean(2nd Story) had a few moments for me. As far as RPGs though, there used to be an old mmorpg called Underlight that you had to role play at all times, and that really had some power due to how there weren't any NPCs and the PCs/Devs made the plots and stories.

[Charismatic]

Stop bashing the series, especially if you haven't played Episode 3.. seriously.

And Kuya, maybe if he'd stop trying to push his belief that Mass Effect is the best thing since sliced bread into every topic that discusses video games, it wouldn't be such an issue.

Read my post, I didn't bash the series, I bashed Ep.2, I HAVE played that.
Ep.2 was SHIT.

[Vinen]

Stop bashing the series, especially if you haven't played Episode 3.. seriously.

And Kuya, maybe if he'd stop trying to push his belief that Mass Effect is the best thing since sliced bread into every topic that discusses video games, it wouldn't be such an issue.

Read my post, I didn't bash the series, I bashed Ep.2, I HAVE played that.
Ep.2 was SHIT.

Go play EP3. It makes up for the flaws of EP1&EP2 then manages to become better then Xenogears.

[Kaylia]

I still haven't played Ep.3, I still haven't recovered from Ep.2's shit gameplay.
The story was excellent, but seriously, I'm not here to read books, I am here to play some fucking video games.
I've heard Ep.3 is way better, but I'm just still not ready to hop in there after Ep.2.

Gameplay is the last of my worry when I play RPG, unless it slow me down too much between cutscenes. Ep2 gameplay was definitively not great, but most people who complain about it never played it the right way (with elemental combo, enhancing magic, move). The length of certain fight near the end of the game, and having to boost everyone every fight if you're underleveled is kinda stupid tho.
Like other pointed out already, almost everyone who completed the series ended up loving it. Ep3 gameplay is closer to traditional rpg, but the environement was beautiful, story was epic and music was great.

My most recent fix with Mass Effect has led me to feel that the connection the player creates between him or herself and their avatar Shepard really surprised me. I honestly can't even imagine any other way Shepard would look or act other than the way I played him on my first run through.

I havent seen the whole game (first 3 hours and ending), and there is definitively some nice thing about it. The plot look interesting, environment is beautiful and conversation flow smoothly. My biggest gripe however is that most character don't seem to have any personality, it's hard to feel any emotion comming from them.
The choice selection is kinda stupid too, often feel like your character answered something different than you picked.

[Exoduso]

I play an RPG more for the story (if it's good) but that's just me..

Xenosaga 2 was shit, I agree... but without playing EP.3 you really have no idea what you're missing. (plus Ep.2 had some decent story development, especially the URTV/Yuriev storyline that keeps expanding on in Ep.3 and has a really nice finish that could've easily been the actual ending of the game.. anyone who's played it knows how epic it was hehe..)

[Kriz]

Do what I did.

Download the CS videos and watch them. I hated Ep.2 that much...

But man Ep.3 was sweet action.

[~O> Good Rats <O~]

LUNAR Silver star story........ i dont think i saw anyone mention this game (tho i mighta missed it), and its my favorite RPG :\.

the main song that luna sings thru the game just makes ya sad, even tho the endings not.

Not a sad ending? Did you finish it? He sacrificed everything he had for her

As far as emotionally gripping games go, two come to mind:

Ace Combat 5 is one. Without giving anything away, mission 17 "The Journey Home" made me bawl.

And the other is definitely Homeworld. Those of you who have played it know exactly what I'm talking about and are probably crying at your computer all over again.

Of course i beat it lol, like i said its my favorite RPG.
Sure he sacrifices everything for her, but in the end they are happy and together, so i cant really see that being a sad ending

Also i completely agree, the MGS1-3 games/story is probably the best ever created.

[Cletis]

SSX3 in a dark cold room with big stereo is so awesome

[Elcura]

Do what I did.

Download the CS videos and watch them. I hated Ep.2 that much...

But man Ep.3 was sweet action.

Do you have a link for the cutscenes of EP1 and 2? I can't get EP 1 without importing it, asides from that it doesn't seem like a great game, I don't really want to buy EP 2 and play it, but I do want to know the story. I don't mind importing and playing EP 3 though, since I've heard nothing but praise for it.

[ronin sparthos]

My two cents:
*spoils*

Fina Fantasy Tactics: Still spawning controversy over the story 10years later, did Ramza and co live? die? depends on who you talk to. Delita was one of the better villains in a game and basically a game thats about a brother trying to save his sister all while playing out like a broadway play. Truely a masterpiece of its time.

Valkryie Profile1/2: After all those emotional scenes in 1 where you watch everyone die and you come in as the 'grim reaper' of sorts was pretty powerful. Exposing all the layers of corruption among the gods rolled nicely into part 2 when you face off against Odin and at the last minute where history is about to repeat itself you see where the timelines split. The little love scenes between Alicia and Rufus were touching as well, though we all know it could never be.

Chrono Trigger: When Crono got vaporized i remember yelling 'what the fuck' >.>

Chrono Cross: When you realize that you got mauled to death by a lynx in 'Another World' and that your father was actually 'reprogrammed' to become the antagonist was a nice twist.

Final Fantasy 7: Aeris dying. Though when i first played through i knew something was fishy when Aeris got her level 4 limit break really early and the Gold Saucer Cutscenes forshadowed her death.

Final Fantasy 8: Lagunas your dad! what the fuck. My reaction back then >.>;

Final Fantasy 9: The scene when Zidane tells everyone farewell than goes on that suicide mission to save the then untranced-Kuja. I was so pissed that wasnt fully in FMV but that scene was awesome especially with the team thinking Zidane was dead for a year before he came back at the play.

Final Fantasy 10: Tidus 'vanishing' and giving his dad that high five was awesome and Auron finally being sent after a job well done was pretty touching as was Yuna sending all her summons into sheer oblivion against Yu-yevon.

[Kazen]

The ending of Persona 3 was pretty epic and also kinda sad, it really sets the stage for the upcoming Persona 3 FES.

[Elcura]

but that scene was awesome especially with the team thinking Zidane was dead for a year before he came back at the play.

Most epic moment in a FF game.

[Marcin]

Do what I did.

Download the CS videos and watch them. I hated Ep.2 that much...

But man Ep.3 was sweet action.

Do you have a link for the cutscenes of EP1 and 2? I can't get EP 1 without importing it, asides from that it doesn't seem like a great game, I don't really want to buy EP 2 and play it, but I do want to know the story. I don't mind importing and playing EP 3 though, since I've heard nothing but praise for it.

If you're still looking, PitylessEnvy put all of the cutscenes up on youtube, for all three games.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=PitylessEnvy

[Elcura]

Do what I did.

Download the CS videos and watch them. I hated Ep.2 that much...

But man Ep.3 was sweet action.

Do you have a link for the cutscenes of EP1 and 2? I can't get EP 1 without importing it, asides from that it doesn't seem like a great game, I don't really want to buy EP 2 and play it, but I do want to know the story. I don't mind importing and playing EP 3 though, since I've heard nothing but praise for it.

If you're still looking, PitylessEnvy put all of the cutscenes up on youtube, for all three games.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=PitylessEnvy

Excellent, thanks.

[Kaylia]

http://bluelaguna.net/splash/xenosaga.php
Dunno if its better or not for you, but there is direct download for all cutscenes. I'm not sure it worth your time to sit down through everything without the context, but it should be enough to play Episode 3.

Personally, I would just read episode 3's database and recaps, then watch the best cutscenes (the one that are heavy on plot, or the kickass sword fight) before playing Episode 3.

Final Fantasy 10: Tidus 'vanishing' and giving his dad that high five was awesome and Auron finally being sent after a job well done was pretty touching as was Yuna sending all her summons into sheer oblivion against Yu-yevon.

People can say what they want about FFX, but ending was perfect. Too bad FFX-2 happened to break it...

[Elcura]

Bah, maybe I'll just watch cutscenes/stuff from EP1 and play EP2 before getting to 3, that way I'll be positive I haven't missed anything awesome/important in terms of story.