Obligatory JRPG back in the day: Shining Force/SFII, not really remembered when people talk of traditional isometric SRPG's.

Games of today:
Far Cry 2. I know it sold decent and it did get good critical love, but I really feel like it was an important game last year that got a bad rap because too many mainstream/novice FPS gamers realized how big transportation is apart of the game and bitched their asses off. Despite hating Rev Rant from Destructoid, I totally agree with his video on it (most important game of 2008) and could go further on it (of course i feel MGS4 was the most important game of '08).

Valkyria Chronicles. Damn. Most 360/PS3 RPGs are flops anway, but this one flopped harder. And I think nearly everyone who played it realizes that if any JRPG this gen should've gotten the consumer support it deserves, it's this one. I remember the penny arcade guys touting it as easily one of the best games of last year, and I usually think they're uninformed and unnecessarily pompous.