Why are all the best RPGs are on GBA, PSx, and PS2?

I know there's a couple of RPGs on the next gen systems but for the most part they are half-assed. I can't bring myself to spend 200 plus on a system when all the best RPGs are on PSx (Chrono Cross, FF7, Xenogears), PS2 (Persona 3, Kingdom Hearts, Star Ocean TTEOT), and GBA (Fire Emblem, Riviera, FF5, FF Tactics Adv). PS2 is the best RPG system ever as far as I'm concerned and I've been beating the first Fire Emblem on GBA at least twice a year since it came out. Why are all the best RPGs are on GBA, PSx, and PS2?
DS anyone? Granted it doesn't have some of the RPG franchises from the GBA, but it's got new ones, and lots coming out I believe.You also forgot the SNES.....tsk tskWhy are all the best RPGs are on GBA, PSx, and PS2?
Maybe I'm just jaded, but I've always found that DS RPG's were some of the most half-assed, since the market (kids) aren't exactly the most demanding gamers out there.But to answer your question, first of all, I'm going to assume you're talking about JRPG's. In the case of PSX, I think there were so many good JRPG's because JRPG's are something of a niche market and the development costs were relatively low for sprite based games on 2d backgrounds. However, 2d backgrounds had an advantage because, aside from resolutions, there were no graphical limitations, so you had some of the most beautiful and stylistic environments. I also think that the 2d format tended to divest the games of a lot of the more dynamic gameplay elements, focusing the game's attention on strategic gameplay and, more importantly, the aesthetic elements that define an RPG like plot/characters, visuals, and music. And world maps. After the PSX, it apparently became cliche to put a world map in your game. Unfortunate.As for the PS2, I suppose it had a lot of good JRPG's, but even then development costs were lower. Nevertheless we started seeing a shift toward ''Western'' gaming, particularly in the Final Fantasy series, although others seem to have followed suit. This generation has focused on WRPG's because the alleviation of technical limitations has allowed for large, beautiful open world environments previously inhibited by consoles. So for console gamers, WRPG's are a novelty, and consequently developers have focused on those.But fundamentally I'd say it's markets and development costs.
Because PlayStation rocks for RPGS, and anz other game! I doubt any great ones are on GBA and I don't know what a PSx is.
Can't forget the huge console that really made a name for much of what we have today, the SNES. I've found timeless fun in almost all SNES RPGs!
A PSX is a Playstation/PSOne. How have you never read that?
My favorites I think are FFVIII, FFX, FFXII, and Dragon Quest VIII:)
This is true. but give the nextgen consoles more time.. fable is pretty good as ive heard and hopefully ff13 can change this.
Eternal Sonata, Infinite Undiscovery, Star Ocean, Folklore...all are decent RPGs
The Super Nintendo had it's fair share of fantastic and amazing RPG's. FF III/VI, Earthbound, Chrono Trigger all make the SNES an amazing console for RPG's.
To OrwellJames: I've never really been able to get into a Western RPG besides Baldur's Gate 2 and Jade Empire. You are quite right when you said graphical limitations put the focus on gameplay. I would like to say that there are some great RPGs on PS2 that lack world maps. Persona 3 is my favorite RPG ever and it takes place within one city. Kingdom Hearts is another game that has no world map. Also snes era games all have world maps.
To StealthKing: You must be a youngin. Everyone knows that PSx is an abbreviation for the original PlayStation. Also, you obviously need to download an GBA Emulator and play the first Fire Emblem to come stateside. It's one of the greatest games of all time. FF5 on GBA has the best character development system of all time and not one, but three world maps. Ask anyone who had a GBA and they probably played FF Tactics Advance which trumps the PSx/PSP version by adding the FF5 character development to the mix. FF6 is often stated to have the best story of the entire series. Plus there are other titles such as Riviera from Atlus, The two Super Robot Taisen games, and Summon Night games are all pretty good. Graphics don't really count for much in this genre.
To creaM: If fable 2 is anything like fable 1 it sucks. I found a copy of that game in the closet of the room I was renting at the time. It was right after I finished Jade Empire, and I played for about 2 hours and it just isn't much fun.
[QUOTE=''havokmaster'']Eternal Sonata, Infinite Undiscovery, Star Ocean, Folklore...all are decent RPGs[/QUOTE]

those are decent, valkyria chronicles and lost odyssey are incredible
Final Fantasy 10 is the best RPG on the PS2 I think.
Did carlobrown play Persona 3?
[QUOTE=''Tony_M0t0'']Did carlobrown play Persona 3?[/QUOTE]No I have never played Persona 3.
Persona 3 is the best RPG in existence meaning FF10 can't be the best on PS2. I would recommend every Shin Megami Tensei as a matter of fact. They are all good games.
SNES AND PS1 are the only consoles i've enjoyed a lot of rpgs on.ps2 is meh in comparison
I have never used a ''PSX'', so I'll be of no help there.



For GBA, there is the Golden Sun duology, the only traditional JRPG I have ever enjoyed. There is also Mario %26 Luigi: Superstar Saga for the more action-focused gamer.



For PS2, I can't think of much in the way of RPGs. There's always the classic God of War, if you consider that an RPG.