exactly, for example, instead of choosing attack, magic, or item from a command menu, you just push a button and attack with no delay like you would do in real life, as obie said. Some people prefer this type of battling, not me however, turn based is so much better and requires more of a strategy while batting.
I'll go with Chrono Trigger on this...for all the aformentioned reasons. I think the whole story is great. I like how you can beat the game different ways and at different times in order to get 11 different endings. The option of killing Magus or letting him join only adds to the story. And i like all the additional stuff like getting special equipment and weapons that you don't necessarily need in order to beat the game. I would say any one of the Zelda games...but i don't really think of them as traditional RPGs. I think of them more as action/adventure games.
Just plain old Final Fantasy for NES is probably still my favorite. Watching your characters level up, and thinking, does he look a little more bad ass, or is it just me? The very first guy that you go and beat turns out to be the meanest dude on the whole game. Everything seems to have been based on that formula, but I may be wrong.