Story Driven Games

[Mizango]

If you havent, play some god hand, you wont be disapointed.

Agreed.

[Mizango]

I don't fuck with Atlus, that won't change.

Enjoy your grind, I won't.

'rade. But you still my man.

[Charismatic]

I'm just sayin... aside from Kartia every Atlus game I played practically requires stupid amounts of grind if you don't already know the game.
(Not that I played many Altus games)

[Mizango]

Kartia was awesome.

[MisterBob]

Can always play Digital devil saga, Devil Summoner and the Persona series and join the winning team with me.

Don't forget SMT III: Nocturne.

That game has an incredible story (especially if you go through with the True Demon Ending). The story is presented differently than most JPRGs though, it's more focused on the Vortex World, Amala, and what is happening around you, instead of the whole "I'm a developing teenager saving the world" thing.

[Avanarius]

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

Fucking amazing event driven story. Reminds me of those ole' point and click adventures where they focus mostly on story and the gameplay is just there to drive the story more.

Runs like a dream on most systems and the graphics are pretty okay.

[Charismatic]

Kartia was awesome.

Yes sir it was, though when I played it again recently I found it to be far too easy.
Killed the fond memories I had of playing that game as a kid and being challenged.

After maybe the 3rd level I just stopped using Phantmos because I didn't need them.

[Mizango]

Don't forget SMT III: Nocturne.

That game has an incredible story (especially if you go through with the True Demon Ending). The story is presented differently than most JPRGs though, it's more focused on the Vortex World, Amala, and what is happening around you, instead of the whole "I'm a developing teenager saving the world" thing.

Absolutely.

Yes sir it was, though when I played it again recently I found it to be far too easy.
Killed the fond memories I had of playing that game as a kid and being challenged.

After maybe the 3rd level I just stopped using Phantmos because I didn't need them.

Yeah man I hate that. Sometimes nostalgia gets the best of you and you wish the memories you had would have stayed. Since we talked last week I am having a hard time convincing myself to not play Secret of Mana, Lufia and Legend of Mana all over again...

I dont want to ruin it but I must.

[Trichocyst]

I tend to take a great deal of abuse for my view of Final Fantasy VII, but I've definitely wanted to play it again after beating Crisis Core. I just need a bigger memory stick.

Without a doubt my favorite story driven RPG is Suikoden II and it's not even close. Suikoden V was really good too (if you can get through the slow beginning) and definitely reminded me why I loved the first two games so much. I wanted to like (and finish) IV so much, but it was just lacking all around. It got a lot better after you get your castle, but it took a while to get there and maintaining the enthusiasm to keep going was difficult for me.

[Shalafi]

They released after years for FFIV on the Wii. I've been playing through FFIV to refresh my memory of the story and now I'm starting on these. There's at least 9 little stories, not sure if they all connect in the end; I'll find out soon enough.

[Davricle]

Myst series are good. I really did enjoy The Last Remnant if you get a chance to play it. Also, aside from the others already mentioned on this page (so many good ones) I have to second the .hack://G.U. series

[Correction]

Silent Hill 2
think my first mind fuck ever. And i only played at night after 11pm shit was scary yo

Endless lists of JRPGs and the best told story in video games is getting drowned out.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is also a very well done narrative.

[Mizango]

.Hack://GU is always a good one.

[Palom]

I'll reiterate what's been said about Suikoden V. It's probably one of my all-time favorite RPGs.

The story is a bit slow to start. I took about 10 hours until the first plot twist that really set the game in motion (but I do like taking my time with games and doing everything I can, so I imagine that's a bit longer than most people). However, I really enjoyed the voice acting in the game, and those first hours were spent developing the characters, to the point that when the plot twist came, I was holding back tears. And it only got better from there.

[Kaisha]

Killer7 had quite the mind-fuckery 'wtf?' story that made you keep playing through its eccentric on-rails gameplay just to see how the heck things play through and make sense (or not) in the end of things.

[Yuri-G]

pretty much anything Atlus does. Tactics Ogre, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, Persona 3 & 4 (2 is good but is not worth the astronomical price unless you can download it), Digital Devil Saga, DemiKids... ok that last one was a joke.

Nocturne and DDS are a lot more about gameplay than story, but their stories are above and beyond almost anything else you'll ever play just the same. They're the kind of games where you get a little bit of plot development after every (long) dungeon, but that plot development is so good that you're dying to finish each area just to find out the next piece to the story.

[Kurokikaze]

Super Mario RPG. Not exactly story driven, but a great RPG nonetheless.

[Yuri-G]

it had a decent story. nothing phenomenal or dramatic but pretty cute.

and someone mentioned the BoF series; I think 2 actually hasa great story. it just wasn't done very well due to the horrible localization. if you play it on an emulator with the hacked retranslation patch, it's pretty good I hear. scenes like the one with Mina where she

Spoiler: show

sacrifices herself by turning into the Great Bird

are pretty moving. it is the kind of game that picks up a LOT towards the end though, the first 3/4 aren't quite as powerful.

[Tekoa]

Lunar: Silver Star Story & Lunar 2: Eternal Blue

The anime cutscene's are good and the story is pretty solid. Gameplay takes some getting use to but it's fun.

Arc The Lad Series.

1 is pretty dry and short, but it definitely sets the stage for the fantastic rides that 2 and 3 were.

Working Designs came out with some fantastic games before they went under. My personal favorite being Dragon Force. Not a very story driven game but I'm a sucker for strategy games.

Also I know you mentioned the FF series. You probably played tactics but if you haven't, it's absolutely a must.

[Tekoa]

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. <3

This was the right answer.