Finished Grandia 2 a week ago.
Ordered FFXV so that looks to be the next on my list of completed

I had this discussion with a friend a while back. We were thinking 'What makes games an RPG, when talking we came with another question. What makes games NOT an RPG today?'
The short answer was, pretty much everything has RPG elements but doesnt mean its an RPG. We also came down to the D&D conversation.
Some games give you total control of your character to progress through a story you have 'control' over( MMORPGS, Elder Scrolls, Fallout.)
Some give you a preset character but a flushed out story line that you get to play and develop (Final Fantasy, Tales, Dragon Quest)
Some give you some of both

I feel RPG's require the elements below, while some will be flushed out, others take a back seat but they are still there. These are elements that may be in other games, even all might show up but i think are required to be an RPG.

1. Long over arching story line with the stories between that develop the characters and the world you live in and seeing its effects throughout
   -- Think of the early shooters or side scrollers. Metal Gear games. You're a solider, get in kill win. Why? Because save the world. SoTN kill Dracula, why? Because he is bad and save the world. Now these games have developed out, and have stories now yes

2. A perception of control over parts of the story. You feel your characters thoughts, feelings, and may have some control of how a character perceives the world.
   -- JRPG's Final Fantasy Tactics or Front Mission 3, or WRPG Mass Effect where there is a predetermined script but you have a feeling of control over paths and a way to project your thoughts onto the character. Other RPG's may have side quests that let you do some of this if not in the full story

3. A D&D/LARP combat system. Turn based, or Real time but has pen and paper type rules
   -- ‘Real' FPSs a shot to the head kills you, no damage maximum, no ability to walk away with an arrow in your head because you had the best boots equiped in the game... looking at you Bethesda.

4. Character Progression (levels, abilities, skill tree, equipment layout)
   -- Basically every game has some element of this now.... but if an RPG doesn't it can be quickly denied and casted aside. If CoD or Overwatch removed leveling and weapon progression nothing changes in the game itself. It's a number you can look at, but if Final Fantasy or WoW didn't have leveling or progression... numbers would drop (Warlords of Draenor)

5. Dungeons/Bosses to progress the story or arc. Can give insight to the world you’re in rather than just a test or to move the plot
   -- This kinda goes back to the smaller stories and at this point also finds its way into many many games that aren't 'RPGs'. Most RPG’s will have side quests that give you extra insight, or story of the land its in. And yes some RPG's do have crawling through a dungeon looting, a boss that is just a test or to go "oh need to move the plot some how"

The difference between a JRPG and a WRPG and other types I think is normally in the decsion of what takes backseat and what is the driving force. WRPG may give you that large free roam perception of 'You are the character', an understanding of the world around you and a small push to get you moving in it. While JRPG's will focus home on that large quest driven story, a background on the world that changes around you and give you a character that you assume the role as in it.

**Note: This is not a full list and games will/do vary outside of these. L&R

I finally beat Grandia 2 after many many years of setting it down, restarting, setting down, etc...
This feel came on as the final credits rolled and I just stated even at the title screen... I sat there thinking of everything. The very first time I pressed play on my Dreamcast to the moments that just past. I already have games lined up but all I could think about was wow.... it's done....

I can only think of a couple video games that did this to me. FF7, FF9, Lunar Silver Star Story, Skies of Arcadia to name a few.

What games have you played that just left you in that state of just awe, 'what's next', and just wanting that little bit of extra even though you are fine with it ending.

Friends of mine at work used to call me cracker(another story) as a joke. One day I said "Let's get this straight, if I am a cracker we need it be known I'm not a bland Saltine, if anything I'm a Ritz Roasted Vegetable kind of cracker". From then on they would call me Ritz. The number comes from the store we worked at

Playing Grandia 2, after owning it on DreamCast and PS2 I never got to beat it.
Once I'm done going to start playing Final Fantasy 15