Romancing SaGa 3

In this age of ultra-realistic, hyper-detailed games, sometimes it's still great to go back and revisit the classics that laid the foundation for today's modern fantasy role-playing games. Having never been released in the west, Romancing SaGa 3 manages to be both brand-new and nostalgic at the same time. While it's more than two decades old, its mix of open world exploration, deep role-playing elements, and strategic turn-based battles is nearly timeless. Couple all of that with a robust cast of characters, each with their own distinct stories and personalities, all brought together in a story that plays like some grand episodic adventure, and the game quickly earns a spot right up there with other true classics.

While Romancing SaGa 3 pulls together all of these elements that RPG (or role-playing game) fans have come to know and love, it still somehow manages to pack in unique innovations that still feel fresh. For example, one major shock to the system is that experience points (XP) don't exist in this game. Instead, characters grow and improve through the active use of their skills. Need a powerful magic user in your party? Well then, you should start slinging some basic spells early and often. Feeling comfortable cutting a swift swath through enemies with that sharp sword? You'll be swashbuckling like a pro in no time. The idea here is that the characters don't improve arbitrarily, but rather hone their existing skills and evolve over time. This adds an extra personal touch to party members, as it's hard not to feel more invested in their story after helping them to truly grow into the heroes they ultimately become.