Word of the day: "gluteus maximus" (free-associative reasons)

Get off your ass fetish, G-man.

Was having a very erudite conversation on the state of console gaming vs. PC gaming. While the nuances and intricacies of the dialogue are too long and involving to be posted here (it was a very collegial, but intense discussion), an interesting point cropped up. My colleague claimed that for every one "universally acclaimed" PC RPG, there were at least two "universally acclaimed console RPGs"

Now, my obvious rebuttal to this is that, particularly at present, RPGs make up a greater proportion of the console gaming industry than they do of the PC gaming industry; noit to meniton console gaming being larger a market than PC gaming in the whole (pseudo- RPGs like Diablo or the Sims notwithstanding). However, an RPG does not lend itself to easy definition - so it's hard to say what is truly an indicator of better quality. However, I decided to try to produce a personal list for "greatest console RPGs" vs "greatest PC RPGs"; taking liberties by using my own personal "gut feel" for what an RPG is. Again, these are purely my opinions, and many people will dispute what constitutes universal acclaim. For one, I certainly don't believe sales figures make for a good game, but for another, I also realise that every person's definition of a "good game" varies incredibly..

Console RPGs

Final Fantasy series (notably IV, VI, VII, VIII, and X - IX was good, but I'd hardly call it "great")
Shining Force series
Xenogears
Chrono Trigger
Illusion of Time / Illusion of Gaia
Secret of Mana
Zelda
Dragon Quest series
Grandia series
Lunar
Phantasy Star
Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen (personal favourite)

I have chosen what intuitively feels like an RPG to me and left out classics-but-not-quite-RPG like Devil May Cry, Front Mission, Final Fantasy Tactics, Dragon Force, Brave Fencer Musashi, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Resident Evil/Parasite Eve/Silent Hill and good but derivative ones such as Secret of Evermore, Suikoden, Breath of Fire, Wild Arms, Alundra, Saga Frontier, Star Ocean, & Vandal Hearts. And no matter what anyone says, Metroid, Shenmue, Castlevania, Ominusha, Tenchu & other of their ilk are NOT RPGs in the classic sense of the word just because stats and inventories are involved. Despite all their glory, I also hesitate to put Metal Gear Solid and Grand Theft Auto into the above list. And finally, the Sonic, Megaman and Mario RPGs DO NOT COUNT in my book. Translating these great franchises into RPG is like making Dungeons & Dragons into a movie - oh wait, they did that! And how did it turn out...?

PC RPGs:

Bard's Tale series
Wasteland
Ultima series
Wizardry series
Might & Magic series (not Heroes)
SSI Gold Box series (okay okay! but they were great in their time!:)
Megatraveller
Ultima Underworld
Fallout series
System Shock series
Baldur's Gate series
Planescape: Torment
Neverwinter Nights
Elder Scroll series (Arena / Daggerfall / Morrowind)
Arcanum
Darklands

Again, I've been forced to omit not-quite RPGs like Elite, Privateer, Starflight, Drakkhen, all the MMORPGs (different genre and class entirely; having other people alters the nature of interaction), console rip-offs like Anachronox and Septerra Core, console ports like the Soul Reaver and Legacy of Kain sequels, hybrids like Diablo, Nox, Dungeon Siege, X-Com, even Deus Ex (I have great difficulty with this one, but in the end like Metal Gear Solid, no matter how great and innovative it is, I was looking at RPGs in what I intuitively felt was the "classical mold". And I think it's safe to say Deus Ex transcends the definition of "classical") and Thief. Hexen and Heretic also don't count. The Sims can be perceived also as the ultimate RPG in some way, as well, only in a wholly mundane environment. Gothic has incredible scope but I can't quite put it up as "classic".
Lands of Lore and the Krondor series are good RPGs in their own way; yet not quite "classic" to my mind.

Ultimately, the distinction between console and PC RPGs is slowly diminishing; it's no longer the classic "linear" vs "non-linear" argument, particularly as both sides start to incorporate elements from each other; PC RPGs with more emphasis on storyline and characterization; and console RPGs offering less linearity and more scope to explore "living interactive worlds". Which is better is ultimately a matter of personal taste, but I think it's safe to say that for the gaming fanatic, each have had their own great products, which can be tastefully enjoyed and savoured for very different reasons.