1997 - 2001 must have been the greatest epoch in RPG history. I mean, Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, Tactics... Vagrant Story, Chrono Cross, Legend of Dragoon...

What happened?

Why don't I enjoy RPGs like I used to? I know it can't be me (too much) because I still love playing games! Total War, Elder Scrolls, even the occasional call of duty. It's not rosy glasses, I played Legend of Dragoon and FFT just a few weeks ago. There's something enchanting about them that I just don't find any more.

Anyone else have this same feeling? Can anyone recommend something stellar that I should try to satisfy my RPG urges?
Turn based... would probably... be... best. As much as it pains me to say.

You should look forward to Wasteland 2!

Here's something to give you perspective: when FF7 was released, everyone was pining for the "golden age" when games like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger ruled the market.

In my case, I completely missed that era. Never played any of the games you mentioned.

Started gaming on PC and 8-bit NES, then stopped in early 90s when I got busy with school and work, etc. It wasn't until many years later when I had quite a bit of free time and picked up gaming again.

I believe the first game I played was Fallout 3, which if you can imagine from my perspective, was mind blowing. I felt like Rip Van Winkle

I believe this 100% I can't say as I understand it, because FF7 was my video games debut (for the most part). I had a SNES with mario kart and donkey kong when I was a bit younger, but that was it. My neighbors had a NES with Zelda and some dinosaur game. So I remember those a bit.

But for the most part, something seems to be missing in the way that a story is told. I just don't feel like stories unfold quite as dramatically. I don't feel surprised or enchanted anymore. Is it.. am I getting too old for this?

What causes it though?

Some of us still are. But the PSX RPGs were still very good games. After the PS2 came out they all went down hill. Well, JRPGs anyway. Western RPGs, mostly on the PC, are flourishing more than ever.

Maybe it's like a few other things in life eh? Never quite the same as your first time?
Who knows.

Nostalgia.

They are still around, it's just hybrid's now.

Is a word that gets tossed around so often you'd think there wasn't a single good game released before 2005.

Not everyone looking to the past are doing so through rose-tinted glasses. This is especially true for JRPGs. Despite there being a handful of really good ones, the genre in general has taken on a form that doesn't sit well with most of its old fanbase. Older games were simply better in just about every way besides graphics and perhaps localization.

What does nostalgia even mean in this context?

I still like playing the old games. They still fascinate me today. They haven't lost that appeal, as you would expect if it was just nostalgia.

Secondly, I still like playing games generally. I play lots of modern games. It's just that the RPGs seem to have lost the spark in their stories that really held my interest.

I can't really put my finger on what's missing, but I know something tangible is at play here. It can't be nostalgia. I really do think it has to do with the speed with which stories used to unfold, and how they moved from basic to epic over a series of twists.

You don't see that very often anymore.

Look at Final Fantasy 7 as an example. You start of as a mercenary looking for basic work in the slums, and gradually move up to saving the world. It takes you dozens of hours of playing before you even figure out that the world needs saving.
Compare that to Skyrim? You start off as a prisoner... then save the world. Like, instantly.
In fact, most of the plot is revealed to you during the opening sequence. How in the world can that possibly sustain your interest for very long?

You may want to specify that you seem to mean JRPG's, since sometimes the contention between western and Japanese RPG's can be sliiiightly ugly. They're not as big these days, but they're still around, and there are the occasional good ones. You might look into Dragon Quest 8, Xenoblade, or the Suikoden series.

Where's Richard Garriot when you need him?

Ahh yes, Suikoden was glorious. I played IV and V and loved them both.

I also played Star Ocean, which I really loved. Both TTEOT and TLH. Those were good.

I have not played Dragon Quest, or any of the Xeno games. I have all the Xeno games in the hopes that I break into them and play them one day, but I just can't seem to fall for the big mech RPG style.

Dragon Quest VIII is incredible, at least when it was released. Still a great game though

Play some SMT games..
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga
Shin Megami Tensei Digital Devil Saga 2
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne


Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 Innocent Sin
~
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Fes
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4

The Old school gamers are the one producing the games this time around, not the nu generation often blamed for simplification/streamlining/money hogging.

Food for thought

Played any of the Tales games? They aren't turn based, but I found them quite entertaining.

Haven't played Graces yet, but Tales of Symphonia and Vesperia were pretty good.

RPGs did seem to find a sweet spot around this time. There were also a lot of classic titles on the PC: Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, Fallouts 1 & 2, Icewind Dale and, of course, Morrowind.

There have been some good RPGs since then too, but I think there are a number of factors which have caused the genre to suffer:
- The rise of MMOs since the late 90s has shifted development talent and focus away from single-player RPGs.
- Technology has, in some cases, detracted from RPG immersion and sophistication. Eg The requirements of voice acting resulting in simplified NPC interraction, "Uncanny Valley" NPCs.
- Gaming in general has become more mainstream which tends to result in bland, if well-crafted, products.

In my case, as much as I loved the old school games, I have zero desire to fire up an 8-bit Ultima III: Exodus cartridge.

Evidence that everything's gone to hell. We call Skyrim an RPG. The RPG element has essentially been replaced by Graphics.

As far as I'm aware, Xenoblade isn't actually related to the Xenogears/Xenosaga games in any real way. (people did have their hopes up, when they first heard the name, of course. )

You do, I don't.

So your agreeing with me?

Same here! I had only played a few hours of this or that video game at friends' houses until the spouse got me playing Fallout 3.