SYSTEM WARS DECIDES: What is the greatest RPG of this generation?

This generation has been incredibly kind to the RPG genre. Even as we saw the decline of JRPGs on home consoles, WRPGs really came into their own, and entered mainstream popularity. JRPGs, meanwhile, found a new home on handhelds, whereas MMOs finally found a future beyond just World of Warcraft.

There were so many standout achievements this generation- from Betehsda's incredible The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, to Bioware's ode to its heritage with Dragon Age: Origins. From The World Ends With You, a standout JRPG that broke free from series conventions to Guild Wars 2, an MMO that finally moved out of World of Warcraft's shadow. This genre prospered, this genre thrived... and now, with the end of this generation upon us, it's time to look back and select the best RPGs this generation brought us.

There was a massive vote, a preliminary round to shortlist the cream of the crop.

Over fifty games charted, in a masssive thread over 600 posts, but five RPGs prevailed over everything else These five RPGs charted at the very top, and were the only ones that managed to breach the 1000 points barrier in the voting.

To check out what games made it into the final round, and what the methodology to choose them was, check out the original thread.

But now that's all behind us... now it's time to choose the one best RPG of them all. Voting will be open for a period of ten days, until November 20, 2012, midnight CT. Vote for your favorite RPG, and try to defend your choice.

Oh, and just in cae you were curious, here is how the top five stood at the end of the last round:

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings: 1800 points
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: 1370 points
Demon's Souls: 1295 points
Xenoblade Chronicles: 1200 points
Dark Souls: 1030 points

Vote fellows!

Not Xenoblade or Demon's Souls. I have yet to play The Witcher 2 or Dark Souls, but have put in about 50 hours in Skyrim.

For now Skyrim, but I will wait to vote just in case I somehow get to play Dark Souls or TW2 soon :P. If I had to guess I would say TW2 of those 5. SHould I just play it and skip 1? At this rate I don't think I will ever play it if I don't.

None of those, Fallout: New Vegas is the best.

Edit: nevermind...sorry

This generation has been incredibly kind to the RPG genre. Even as we saw the decline of JRPGs on home consoles, WRPGs really came into their own, and entered mainstream popularity. JRPGs, meanwhile, found a new home on handhelds, whereas MMOs finally found a future beyond just World of Warcraft.

There were so many standout achievements this generation- from Betehsda's incredible The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, to Bioware's ode to its heritage with Dragon Age: Origins. From The World Ends With You, a standout JRPG that broke free from series conventions to Guild Wars 2, an MMO that finally moved out of World of Warcraft's shadow. This genre prospered, this genre thrived... and now, with the end of this generation upon us, it's time to look back and select the best RPGs this generation brought us.

There was a massive vote, a preliminary round to shortlist the cream of the crop.

Over fifty games charted, in a masssive thread over 600 posts, but five RPGs prevailed over everything else These five RPGs charted at the very top, and were the only ones that managed to breach the 1000 points barrier in the voting.

To check out what games made it into the final round, and what the methodology to choose them was, check out the original thread.

But now that's all behind us... now it's time to choose the one best RPG of them all. Voting will be open for a period of ten days, until November 20, 2012, midnight CT. Vote for your favorite RPG, and try to defend your choice.

Oh, and just in cae you were curious, here is how the top five stood at the end of the last round:

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings: 1800 points
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: 1370 points
Demon's Souls: 1295 points
Xenoblade Chronicles: 1200 points
Dark Souls: 1030 points

Vote fellows!

charizard1605

I'll wait to see whether Demon's or Dark Souls gets the most votes, and then choose accordingly. One of them needs to win.

Tales of Graces f.

No contest.

NOT SKYRIM BECOZ IT SUX.

WITCHER TEW IS DEEP AMD HAS STORY HURRR

Hands down Skyrim

The Witcher 2

I would say Dark Souls, but I really do not even consider it an RPG as much as a dungeon crawler.

I'm guessing Skyrim will win if only because it is the most mainstream and accessible. Most posters here have played Skyrim while missing out on most, if not all of other games on the list.

I have to go with Xenoblade, even though I thought there were better RPG options, such as TW2. Solely for the fact that it harkened back to older RPG's whilst refreshing that old JRPG feel. I still have to finish it, but I loved it.

Dark Souls people. Dark Souls.

Glad to see Xenoblade got some love. I vote Dark Souls, but all of top 5 are great picks.tagyhag

FYI, you find some awesome sigs.

Heh, SW would vote TW2 over the ME titles.

Guess I'll go with Xenoblade Chronicles because yay for underdogs.

Xenoblade Chronicles was my original pick, so that will be my choice again. I actually haven't played any of the other games on that list yet, so I'm not really in a position to pick the best RPG. Xenoblade Chronicles probably won't be winning anyway. Nice to see that it made it in the top five though.

*No Mass Effect game in the poll*

Heh, SW would vote TW2 over the ME titles.

Guess I'll go with Xenoblade Chronicles because yay for underdogs.

Slow_Show

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]Glad to see Xenoblade got some love. I vote Dark Souls, but all of top 5 are great picks.lundy86_4

FYI, you find some awesome sigs.

[QUOTE="Slow_Show"]

Heh, SW would vote TW2 over the ME titles.

Guess I'll go with Xenoblade Chronicles because yay for underdogs.

charizard1605

More truth has not been said.

Mass Effect's biggest problem was that the votes were split between all three games.charizard1605

Certainly didn't help, but TW1+TW2 still pulled in almost 600 more points than the combined ME series, which is an oddly large (if understandable, given how gamers have been this gen) gulf between two very similar series.

[QUOTE="charizard1605"]Mass Effect's biggest problem was that the votes were split between all three games.Slow_Show

Certainly didn't help, but TW1+TW2 still pulled in almost 600 more points than the combined ME series, which is an oddly large (if understandable, given how gamers have been this gen) gulf between two very similar series.

Skyrim

Out of those I pick TW2. Dark Souls is a damn close second but TW2 felt more like an RPG with my choices and character progression and the characters I met.

I would pick The Witcher 2, but the story and combat were really lacking in it. I think The Witcher 1 was more successful.

Western devs can't make good RPGs

Skyrim is horrible unfinished crap and Witcher 2 is just average, managed to play it for 5 hours before getting completely bored and giving up

1. Dark Souls

2. Fallout 3

Western devs can't make good RPGs

Skyrim is horrible unfinished crap and Witcher 2 is just average, managed to play it for 5 hours before getting completely bored and giving up

Zurrur

Western devs can't make good RPGs

Skyrim is horrible unfinished crap and Witcher 2 is just average, managed to play it for 5 hours before getting completely bored and giving up

Zurrur

Hey good for you man. Really glad to hear that. Tell it again would you?

[spoiler] not really, I don't give a sh!t [/spoiler]

*No Mass Effect game in the poll*

Master_ShakeXXX

lmao, love that movie, scene, and jack :P

Isnt Mass Effect considered as an RPG? i'll go for Mass Effect

Isnt Mass Effect considered as an RPG? i'll go for Mass Effect

finalstar2007

[QUOTE="finalstar2007"]

Isnt Mass Effect considered as an RPG? i'll go for Mass Effect

charizard1605

Some people don't get this thread, you guys had your opportunity to vote before, this thread is about the finalists, if your favourite RPG didn't make it then it's a shame. So pick one out of these choices even if it isn't one you like. It's not that hard.

Tales of Graces f.

No contest.

GeoffZak

Tales of Vesperia...

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="finalstar2007"]

Isnt Mass Effect considered as an RPG? i'll go for Mass Effect

seanmcloughlin

Some people don't get this thread, you guys had your opportunity to vote before, this thread is about the finalists, if your favourite RPG didn't make it then it's a shame. So pick one out of these choices even if it isn't one you like. It's not that hard.

[QUOTE="finalstar2007"]

Isnt Mass Effect considered as an RPG? i'll go for Mass Effect

charizard1605

I would pick The Witcher 2, but the story and combat were really lacking in it. I think The Witcher 1 was more successful.

JangoWuzHere

So you bash The Witcher 2 for having lacking combat, and then you go on to state that The Witcher 1 was more successful... How is rhythmic clicking more satisfying than actual combat?

The Witcher 2, without a shadow of a doubt. One of, if not the best game I have played this gen. Cant wait for the next instalment.

NIER.

NIER.

Twin-Blade

I prefered The Witcher 1 over 2. Though Skyrim beats both

NOT SKYRIM BECOZ IT SUX.

WITCHER TEW IS DEEP AMD HAS STORY HURRR

OB-47