The perfect JRPG (action RPG not turn-based). Amazing story, good characters, plot twists (not overdone), quite possibly the most innovative battle system ever (uses the mic, D-Pad, touchscreen in every way possible, etc.), and SO.MUCH.POSTGAME.CONTENT. You'll spend 20 hours on the main story and 200 on the extras (k maybe not 200 but still a whole lot).
Charming game, although a bit too easy. Challenge runs of this game are why I still play it to this day. The story's awesome, the partners are cool, and there's enough humor to keep anyone involved on their
1st 2nd 3rd 42nd playthrough.
Battle Frontier. That is all.
Take normal 9.5/10 Super Mario game except the developers spent 30 minutes on the story instead of their usual NOTHING. Best Mario title yet.
This is one of the most replay-able games ever. Amazing story. Not just for a Pokemon game, but for any game. You will cry at least once. And it has top-notch gameplay. Can get repetitive at times, but this game has the story to force you to finish.
Okay, yes it's a Flash game (turn based RPG), but don't write it off yet. In fact, that should make you want to play it more because it's
absolutely free. It's in three parts (eight are planned so you get a cliffhanger at the end since the story's incomplete) but you won't feel let down at the end at all. Great music (even though it's in MIDI it perfectly captures the mood of the levels), SNES-style graphics, masterful writing. Let me go on about the writing a little: it puts Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door's writing to shame. This game is not just funny, it's drop-dead hilarious and dead serious at the same time. It's a 50 hour story (without sidequests) so you'll sink some time into this one, but you will not be able to stop playing. With sidequests this game will take you weeks to finish. It will be worth your time, though. Well-done bosses, ~11 party members (you use four at a time) each with unique skill sets, etc. The most impressive thing about this game (series?) is that it is
completely made by one person. It's ~50 hours of your life well spent. (chapter 1's about an hour at most, chapter 2's about seven hours long, and chapter 3's over forty. Your saves transfer between chapters as well!)
Honorable Mentions:
Every Mario and Luigi Game- the funniest group of games you'll play in a loooong time.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl- Didn't have the lasting appeal that I thought it would have but what can I say it's a great game either way. Nintendo REALLY fucked up the online though.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword- Really fun game. Light humor in an otherwise serious game, standard Zelda gameplay (read: perfect gameplay), controls are a bit iffy but that's about all the flaws I can find. Also has cool story (bro).
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift- Yay tactical game with the grids and the mages and wizards and stuff.
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. I've only done one of the endings so far, but damn it was good. A bit annoying if you get the same ending twice on two playthroughs, though. It might be useful to resort to using a SPOILER-FREE guide just to make sure you're not going down the same path twice.
Just played a second ending and WHAT THE LIVING MINDFUCK IS UP WITH THIS CREEPY-ASS GAME NEED TO GET THIRD ENDING?1/!??!!