The Last Story is about 40-60 hours and in my opinion the best of the three. After all it's the ideas and variety in gameplay and story/characters that count (in an RPG), but Xenoblade is pretty amazing as well in almost any way (also gets my "best vg soundtrack 2011" award).
Xeno often goes way beyond The Last Story in regards of scale or "epicness" and helpful features and interesting extras, but the basic gameplay, battle system, and controlling of characters isn't as rich as what I found in The Last Story.

And don't listen to the other comparisons. Xeno lets you play as a group of teenagers (with 2 exceptions) and TLS has a more mature and mature acting party. If you're a teenie you might enjoy Xeno more. If you're older then you might enjoy the TLS characters a lot more.
And if you decide to get only one, you will miss out on one great RPG anyway.

PS. I'm in the last tower of Pandora's Tower. And it is indeed much like Zelda, but only the dungeon part (which is most of the game). I think it lacks an overworld that is more than just one building, and I have serious issues controlling my character when swinging on a vine or hanging lamp or hook or something. It's definately the most difficult of the three RPGs, because it's much more action and puzzle-based, and once your level is high enough to not get slaughtered by the monsters, it's still quite challenging to find solutions to the puzzly sections of the dungeons. Combine that fact with the time limit, and the feature "enemies can damage your items/equipment and make them useless until returning home to repair for money" and there you go.
I don't think it's on the same level as Xeno and TLS, but I like it still and will beat it soon, and because it's so different there's always the chance that you like it more than the other 2.

I can't believe how many people haven't at least tried A Boy And His Blob yet. That game is amazing!

Isnt it super-childish with the challange level suitet for an 8 year kid?

It is if you ignore reality, yes.

If you mindlessly plow through every level, sure. But if you try and 100% it, it gets a little trickier than that.

To me 'Gears of War' looks childish. A Boy & his Blob looks like some wonderful & whimiscal interactive animated movie. Kirby's Epic Yarn had the challenge level suited for a 6 year old but that didn't stop you from playing it then did it Vonseuxy? I tend to usually dislike easy games, but sometimes it's really just about soaking up that one of a kind unique experience and both A Boy and his Blob along with Kirby easily have that going for them.

Because that is totally relevent to that conversation (not that you're wrong, though Gears of War was never meant to be mature and high class. The developers made it specifically to be fun and over-the-top, something I've never seen you have any problems with before).

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Unless Von ment childish from a visual perspective, just thought i'd toss in what i feel looks childish visually, which is what most young XBOX/PS3 gamers feel is the complete opposite. And are you kidding me? Gears of war is dead funkin' serious, fun doesn't apply here, it's life or death baby. Because Ice Tea says so. lol If you've seen MS's E3 2011 presentation with Ice demonstrating gears 3 than you would know what i'm talking about. Why so serious? lol

Anyways, going off topic. I really need to check out Dewy's Adventure....Oh Dewy, you're so Doobular tee hee.

He meant childish from a difficulty perspective...

And just because it's not obviously funny doesn't mean it's meant to be taken seriously. Trust me, I got plenty of laughs outta the first two games (never played 3) and from the dev stories I read, it seems they had fun making it, too. It's story is B-movie quality and the action is hyperviolent to the point of satire. Outside of it's lousy attempt at drama with that one dude's story about his dad, I didn't really see much to take seriously.

@MickeyMacAttack

"isn't it super childish WITH the challenge levels suited for an 8 year old"

I took it as childish going in both directions, my badskies.
Anyways, i don't think i could even attempt playing more than 10 minutes of either entry in the franchise just to experience the B-Movie frills and over the top Goopy blood filled cheese , let me guess the over the top loud mouth curse filled dialogue from these beef bound stubble sporting Gorilla's were part of the reason for the laughs? Must of been. but eh, Gears of War is a franchise I'd never give a chance and i mean never. The only possible way would be pointer controls, but even then it just seems like another technical powerhouse-looking mindless(uh oh, the same could be said for the upcoming Resident Evil 6. eek!) shooter. An easy one at that with an overabundance of save points. Correct me if i'm wrong. But the bosses look might impressive, i'll admit.

Yes it did, I've never finished the game, and don't think i'll ever pick it up again. The only time i had any fun with it was playing co-op with my nephew of 7. There's really nothing apealling about it for me. I liked Return to Dreamland much better mostly because the challange rooms and because it required some well timed jumping and coordination. You know, the kind of thing that makes platformers cool. As for the visual perspective, its not a huge problem to me, Mario, DKC, Rayman, WarioLand have very child firendly visuals but I'll take them anyday over those pseudo-mature games (as Gear of Wars). I think Epic Yarn was devoloped with kids under 10 in mind, I have the same impression with A Boy And His Blob. Then i'm just out of this demographic.

Does anybody know how good Rhythm Heaven Fever/Beat The Beat: Rhythm Paradise is for people who have played the DS game?

pretty much the same quality of awesome. Buy it.

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Interesting. So I just imagined that some of my favourite games this generation didn't sell bucketloads and have massive-high critical ratings.

Great to know.

While I fully admit that I like some games that aren't popular (Nier), and dislike others that are (The Last Story), and yes, I like my "weird" Japanese games more than 90% of the stuff that comes to the west, most of my reviews are generally in-line with the approximate rating the games get in the Japanese press.

Now, how much longer do you think you're going to get away with following me around trolling me before the mods are going to start noticing that I keep reporting you?

You'll love it! The DS game is probably my favorite over the Wii game though, but its still amazing.

Can anyone recommend me some RPGs/RPG-esque titles? I have Monster Hunter Tri, Xenoblade Chronicles, Animal Crossing City Folk, Rune Factory Tides of Destiny, and I have The Last Story preordered.

I've been looking into picking up Harvest Moon Animal Parade, which I suppose is more of a simulation than an RPG, but it seems like it fits my taste.

Animal Crossing is an RPG?

@Zolgar, you should get Little King's Story.

RPG-esque titles? Now we're talking. Sakura Wars, Muramasa, Fire Emblem, Lost in Shadow, Fragile Dreams, Okami, and even Skyward Sword added some RPG elements new to the Zelda series. If none of that tickles you, there's always the Virtual Console.

@Gamesake How is A shadow's tale and RPG? Also, isn't Okami an adventure game like Zelda?

RPG-esque titles, not RPG titles.