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[Blade Master Model 42]

Super Nintendo era RPGs I really enjoyed include Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6 (originally titled 3), and Breath of Fire, though that last one hasn't, to be completely honest, aged well.

Chrono Trigger is amazing, with a heavily time travel based story, with a lot of replayability courtesy of the new game+ mode, and multiple endings. It's been re-released on the DS with a redone translation, but good luck finding it, because I haven't.

[Zangi]

You could try KOTOR 1 and KOTOR 2.... within the same line as Mass Effect / Dragon Age... but ya know, not as stripped down.

[Neonivek]

Just about any really old RPG is Hardcore

Albion
Lands of Lore (all of them)
Ultima (all of them)

It is just that today "pathetic stupid easy" is the common game type. Back then you expected a bit of difficult from your videogames.

Heck the Super Heros of Hoboken (or however it is spelled) is one of the toughest RPGs I ever played. Tougher then ALL the RPGs  mentioned here combined (well not by me... Witcher is easier then this game). MIND YOU I don't like that game it is sort of stupid tough.

Though if you want an older RPG that isn't SUPER tough but still a good example of how tough those games could be back then... How about

Quest for Glory (1 and 2 have remakes)

[klingon13524]

The Witcher one and two are aimed at mature hardcore gamers, so I'll suggest them.

[vodot]

Anyone tried Morrowind Overhaul - Sounds and Graphics yet?  Long before the realease of this compilation, Morrowind was giving me an almost out-of-body sense of vertigo when it crashes, due to me having physically forgotten that I was just playing a 'game'.

For me, with the right mods, it's always been the definition of immersive gaming.

[Deon]

I've played with that and it's great. Of course Morrowind is loved by me not because of hardcore gameplay or good story, but because of the awesome and unique setting.

Speaking of which, Daggerfall is quite hardcore, but requires some dedication to get into. Look up GrimithR on youtube and his Daggerfall LP.

And of course I consider Baldur's Gate 2 to be the best RPG ever. My own taste.

There's a mod which combines BG1&2 and replaces worldmap movement with TONS of locations, it's a really awesome project.

[nenjin]

I'd definitely recommend Quest for Glory 1 - 4 if you want some retro RPG gaming.

Temple of Elemental Evil is quite hardcore, IMO and its huge. I found it better than NWN 1 or 2. (NWN 2 is modern, but it's bland and formulaic.)

[Enzo]

I want to know what makes a rpg qualify as hardcore. Difficult? Traditional? Dark? Mature? Manly? EXTREME? I mean, almost anything could qualify as hardcore if you stretch the definition far enough.

Front Mission 1 (SNES, DS) and 3 (PSX) are SRPG favourites of mine. Both have detailed worlds and good storylines with political and personal conflicts. Both have 2 main storyline paths, basically easy mode and hard mode, and even easy mode is fairly challenging. Both are fairly gritty without being over the top about it. A little bit of tedious micromanagement upgrading units, but this is the DF forum after all, it's nothing you can't overlook.

7th Saga for SNES gets honourable mention for being stupidly difficult for absolutely no good reason, if that's what you're looking for. It's not the highest quality game overall though.

Valkyrie Profile : Covenant of the Plume (DS) is another SRPG and definitely hardcore. In fact it tries way to hard to be hardcore, but it's still fun. The game revolves around making a pact with a demon (or something, I don't know), in which you can murder your own teammates and steal their souls for buffs. Battle strategy is generally to surround and gang-beat opponents into bloody pulps to accumulate OVERKILL BONUS. It also gives the choice between more and less difficult story paths.

The PC recommendations in this thread are all good. Baldurs Gate and Fallout series, Arcana, Planescape, etc. Never was a fan of the Elder Scrolls games but everybody else seems to like them. The SNES, DS, and PSX/2 all have a huge library of quality RPGs, if you have the hardware. Used PS2's and DS's are dirt cheap now too, I recommend investing.

[Levi]

Dark Souls.   

[lordnincompoop]

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.

Icewind Dale.

Geneforge.

[Neonivek]

I'd definitely recommend Quest for Glory 1 - 4 if you want some retro RPG gaming.

What is interesting is that the Quest for Glory series isn't even by itself "traditional" for its time. It is unique in that it is the only RPG Adventure game (In that it combines RPG and Point and Click Adventure)

[EuchreJack]

I'd suggest Romancing SaGa, either for the SNES or PSX.  I've played the second game for the SNES, but good luck getting it in English.

Eight possible characters, multiple quest lines, managing weapon damage, three different factions you can purchase from, it can get complex.

[Frumple]

Wait, wait. There was a Romancing SaGa game for the PSX? Or...

Oh. The SaGa Frontier stuff? Yeah, they're alright. The SNES ones felt a lot more coherent to me, which is troubling considering how patchy the fantranses are and how nonlinear th'bloody things were. Iirc, 3's mostly playable, but I don't think 2 ever got anything really shoved through for it. Few things in the works, but...

Anyway, my obligatory mention is for Black Sigil, on the NDS. It's surprisingly decent, and very much old-school.

[Goron]

Just about any really old RPG is Hardcore

Albion
Lands of Lore (all of them)
Ultima (all of them)

It is just that today "pathetic stupid easy" is the common game type. Back then you expected a bit of difficult from your videogames.

Uhhh, yeah... well... I will admit I never played Albion so I can't speak for that but... Ultima (any) was not hard and Lands of Lore (any) was not hard. In fact, both series are actually pretty easy.
It amazes me how much and to what extent people create fictional memories of 'old' games.

[DFNewb]

If you count them, Disgaea is fun and story driven. The first one is the best with the second being the second best and so forth for the next 2 games.