So I think the JRPGs this generation were all about big BIG gameplay innovations rather than trying to get the palyer caught up in the sweeping, epic sagas of the last two generations. It was kind of a return to the SNES days when you had a lot of different voices trying different things, and that's fine by me. All my favorite JRPGs this generation embody this.

Of course you have Demon's Souls. This title has really changed gaming as a whole, with everyone trying to get a piece of the competitive co-op and world invading that it pioneered. I think this game came at the right time, because this gen was all about responsive real-time action games, and if any Japanese RPG was going to make it big, this was going to be it. I guess we shouldn't be surprised by its success. But the game hardly had any story, very typical of this generation, that I never got taken on the emotional rollercoasters of the PS1 and 2 days.

White Knight Chronicles also carried this theme. It actually did try to have a story, but it really wasn't worthwhile at all. But if you really enjoy traditional JRPG combat and watching where it's been heading since FFXII and Xenoblade, this game is for you. The customization system is truly excellent and the game brings your traditional fantasy landscapes to life with some beautiful environments and effects. The first time stepping out of the castle into a large, sprawling open world was just... perfect. Like Demon's Souls, the big innovation here was online, and you can complete ignore the story and just have a blast playing the quests with friends. I think they took the servers down, though...

Valkyria Chronicles and its excellent PSP sequel round out my list and also opens up everything that went down on handheld. We also got such badass remakes with Dragon Quest and Tactis Ogre.