[technomancy]

Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI both have excellent stories and character development coupled with the best game soundtracks ever composed.

The Marathon trilogy starts off a bit slow, but it's got some great sci-fi writing (if you like sarcastic AIs that are constantly making opaque references to classical literature) and twitch action.

If twitch action is your thing though, it's hard to beat Descent and Descent II.

I'm currently playing through Planescape Torment, which is less like an RPG and more like an avant-garde fantasy novel.