Need RPG Recommendations

I am looking for some recommendations for good RPG series. For me, the most important features of an RPG are turn based combat (ability to control all characters), ability to explore the map and a good story. My favorites still are Final Fantasy I and Dragon Warrior I. I can't wait for Dragon Quest 8 this one sounds perfect for the style I like to play. I'm looking for more RPG's like it...

I am currently in the middle of Wild Arms I on the PSX (I will probably stop as Wild Arms Alter Code F is a remake of the same game). I tried Valkyrie Profile and I wasn't fond of the side scrolling game play.

Last night I tried the new Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and I hated the combat system. I like having control over all the characters and being able to see what each one of them does. I have Wild Arms 3 on it's way (eBay) and I am looking forward to Magna Carta next week.

Are there any other good RPG's that meet my preferences on the PSX/PS2/Gamecube/XBox? How was the Suikoden series? Lunar? Xenogears/Xenosaga? Breath of Fire? Arc The Lad?

Any thoughts are most appreciated...

get Lunar 1 and 2, Thousand Arms and the Final Fantasy collections for the Playstation. you'll be set for a bit.

breath of fire 4 is really good as well. pluss there's dragon qarrior 7....but that'll take too long to play through so just wait 'til 8 comes out. also try final fantasy 9.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

get Lunar 1 and 2, Thousand Arms

---

Agreed. If he's a man he'll track down Vandal Hearts too (I know it's a Strategy RPG, but whatever).

Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, FFVI, kthxbye.

I'm stuck in the 90's :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chux

Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, FFVI, kthxbye.

I'm stuck in the 90's :(

---

Yeah, strange, there's very few RPGs from the current gen that I can think of to recommend either. Maybe Disgaea, but that's another SRPG. And I hear Deagon Quest 8 and maybe FF10 are good.

I'm really picky about RPGs. I hate most of them.

FFX was good, and DQ8 is old school... so I'm still stuck in the 90's for the most part.

I really liked Xenogears, and you will too if you have the patience to go through the story and pay attention and don't mind playing a blatantly incomplete game.

Xenosaga can eat my ass with a spoon.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant.

Yeah, Shadow Hearts. BoF IV, yeah. FF X, yeah. You might like Atelier Iris, too. DQ VIII looks to be the best straight traditional rpg since the old days.

Oh yeah... Xenosaga is poop.