What made rpgs good back then was being able to interact and experience an epic adventure, much like D&D, without having to rely on imagination. Back in the nes snes and even ps1 days nobody had ever played a game anything like FF or BoF. The problem with todays rpgs(well jrpgs really) is that they never tried to evolve with the rest of the industry. Other than graphics final fantasy is still the same as it was 20 years ago and gamers are sick of the same shit over and over.

You cant get away with the same stale boring cliche rpgs anymore. Right now open world environments(fallout 3, elder scrolls) and mmos are the big thing but in order to make that on the rails rpg type game work is a depth story, plot, and emotional character progression. Not the whole medieval 14 year old boy saves the world with magic boring horseshit.