Other side of the coin. I would have made it ten, but...symmetry to other topics FTW.
Here comes my list:
1) Tales of Symphonia - Despite how much my opinion on RPGs has changed since I played it, Tales of Symphonia is still the best game I have ever played. I love EVERYTHING about this game: the real-time battle system, the fantastic cast, the complex and emotional storyline, and the graphics, which at the time were of a totally different style to what I had previously experienced. Tales of Symphonia is more than just another instalment in the Tales series; it's easily the best one of them all.
2) NieR - NieR is so underrated. It has a dark, tragic storyline that is quite the emotional experience, plus some very dry humour. It has that trademark Cavia insanity that only Cavia are capable of producing. Not quite as insane as Drakengard, but still just plain weird. The main cast is a talking book, an old guy out to find his daughter - something you never see in games these days - a monster child, and a hermaphrodite who swears with every other fucking word. What's not to like about this?! The graphics aren't fantastic, but then, graphics mean nothing when you've got a story, a cast, and a soundtrack as good as what is on offer here. NieR boasts the greatest soundtrack ever; nothing else comes even remotely close to matching it. NieR needs more love.
3) Xenoblade Chronicles - After about twenty hours of play, I'm slotting this in at number three already. The battle system is involving and extremely well-designed, the story is gripping and intriguing, the world is unbelievably expansive, the soundtrack is amazing, and whilst this game COULD let me down, I don't believe it is going to, because it takes less time than twenty hours for a promising game to turn out to be a pile of garbage. This is a true return to form for the JRPG genre, after what feels like an eternity of nothing but remakes, ports and shit attempts at making something good.
4) Baten Kaitos: Neverending Wings and the Lost Ocean - This was a truly unique game; for it's time, it was absolutely stunning, easily better than anything the PS2 could come out with, making it a real achievement for the Gamecube. The story was quite shocking at points, the battle system was quite interesting and, above all, it was hard as hell. Baten Kaitos remains one of the toughest RPGs I've ever played, and as it is one of the few games to utilise a card-based battle system and actually get it to work, it gets a mention on my top five for being so different from anything else. Plus the OST is classic Motoi Sakuraba.
5) Zettai Hero Project: Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman - Just look at the title of the game. This is trademark NIS awesomeness, which I found particularly appealing because of the masses of Power Rangers references. This was clearly targeted at people like me, who grew up watching and loving superhero shows, and the script is absolutely fantastic. Before I'd even started playing it, I was convinced that this was a game I wasn't going to forget in a hurry. The gameplay was even more expansive than Disgaea, with a terrifying amount of customization and, of course, a ridiculously high level cap, which adds for some real challenge. With the exception of Hyperdimension Neptunia - which suffers more than a little in the gameplay department - this is easily the most amusing game I have played to date.
Might edit this...I missed out Star Ocean: The Last Hope, FFXII and a few others I should mention...
Here comes my list:
1) Tales of Symphonia - Despite how much my opinion on RPGs has changed since I played it, Tales of Symphonia is still the best game I have ever played. I love EVERYTHING about this game: the real-time battle system, the fantastic cast, the complex and emotional storyline, and the graphics, which at the time were of a totally different style to what I had previously experienced. Tales of Symphonia is more than just another instalment in the Tales series; it's easily the best one of them all.
2) NieR - NieR is so underrated. It has a dark, tragic storyline that is quite the emotional experience, plus some very dry humour. It has that trademark Cavia insanity that only Cavia are capable of producing. Not quite as insane as Drakengard, but still just plain weird. The main cast is a talking book, an old guy out to find his daughter - something you never see in games these days - a monster child, and a hermaphrodite who swears with every other fucking word. What's not to like about this?! The graphics aren't fantastic, but then, graphics mean nothing when you've got a story, a cast, and a soundtrack as good as what is on offer here. NieR boasts the greatest soundtrack ever; nothing else comes even remotely close to matching it. NieR needs more love.
3) Xenoblade Chronicles - After about twenty hours of play, I'm slotting this in at number three already. The battle system is involving and extremely well-designed, the story is gripping and intriguing, the world is unbelievably expansive, the soundtrack is amazing, and whilst this game COULD let me down, I don't believe it is going to, because it takes less time than twenty hours for a promising game to turn out to be a pile of garbage. This is a true return to form for the JRPG genre, after what feels like an eternity of nothing but remakes, ports and shit attempts at making something good.
4) Baten Kaitos: Neverending Wings and the Lost Ocean - This was a truly unique game; for it's time, it was absolutely stunning, easily better than anything the PS2 could come out with, making it a real achievement for the Gamecube. The story was quite shocking at points, the battle system was quite interesting and, above all, it was hard as hell. Baten Kaitos remains one of the toughest RPGs I've ever played, and as it is one of the few games to utilise a card-based battle system and actually get it to work, it gets a mention on my top five for being so different from anything else. Plus the OST is classic Motoi Sakuraba.
5) Zettai Hero Project: Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman - Just look at the title of the game. This is trademark NIS awesomeness, which I found particularly appealing because of the masses of Power Rangers references. This was clearly targeted at people like me, who grew up watching and loving superhero shows, and the script is absolutely fantastic. Before I'd even started playing it, I was convinced that this was a game I wasn't going to forget in a hurry. The gameplay was even more expansive than Disgaea, with a terrifying amount of customization and, of course, a ridiculously high level cap, which adds for some real challenge. With the exception of Hyperdimension Neptunia - which suffers more than a little in the gameplay department - this is easily the most amusing game I have played to date.
Might edit this...I missed out Star Ocean: The Last Hope, FFXII and a few others I should mention...

). Great game 
My favorite PC RPG. Great skill system, great conspiracy theory based plot, and some of the best gameplay on a game in first person to date. This game gives you options. Are you going to go in through the roof, through the sewer, or through the damn front door to complete your mission? You're awarded for finding these different ways to do things. It's not Call of Duty. You're not going to rush in guns blazing. That will only get you killed. Augmentations add a nice touch to the game, letting you have better strength to pick up heavier things to get to new places or to run quieter so you sneak up on someone better and knock them out. You could go through this game without killing anyone but the bosses if you wanted to. Skill system that you can upgrade as you get experience from completing missions or just finding hidden areas. No pulling off no scope head shots in this game. Not until you're at least a master in rifles with some accuracy mods on your sniper rifle. Zoom in on that thing with no experience and it's just gonna bob everywhere and you're not going to get anywhere. Oh, and an awesome laser sword. 'Nuff said.
it still makes me sad to this day because I cannot find a copy for under $150 


It's one of the 2 that've made me SHRIEK out loud.
)