The best 16-bit JRPG.
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals is actually a prequel to the first game, but is much improved in all areas. It has everything you would expect from a JRPG of this era, except it has some surprises too.
The weak points first. The graphics aren't in the same league as some of the better looking games of the generation - no big deal I say as it doesn't harm the gameplay in any way. It lacks a little of the polish of Final Fantasy VI, and the story doesn't flow as well as Chronotrigger, it kind of goes in stages.
The good parts. This is a JRPG masterpiece. No, seriously! The story is really good, with a good mix of characters. The gameplay mixes classic turn based random battles on the world map as in FFVI, with on screen enemies in dungeons, as in Chrono Trigger.
You also get capsule monsters to fight in battle with you. These are just like Pokemon, you feed them items to make them evolve into their next form.
One of the main draws of this game is tools and puzzles. You get tools such as hammers to bash through walls and fire arrows to burn grass. You'll need all these to complete the puzzles in the game, some are really difficult and will challenge anybody.
There's plenty of side quests and things to do, including a casino and the ancient cave. A 99 level cave where you start from level 1 with no items and have to get to the bottom and beat the boss. There are also dragon eggs to find for special rewards.
Another major point for me is new game plus. You earn double exp and money after your first playthrough, this adds massive replay value and is the only way I have ever gotten to the bottom of the ancient cave.
Overall this game is a true classic but often overlooked. Try it if you like 16-bit JRPG's, you'll love it.