I've never really gotten that much into RPG's besides MMO's and I was wondering what would be a good game for a first timer.  Just tell me if there's an old one i should get or if there's any new ones about to come out that should be good.

Demon's Souls is a really good PS3 exclusive RPG but for a first timer then I'm not so sure since it is a difficult game. Though maybe rent it first before buying, that's what I did and I ended up buying it because I liked it so much.

Oblivion's really good. You can get 100 hours out of it.

If you can find it, I highly recommend Eternal Sonata.  Not the longest RPG, but one of my favorites of this generation.

I would say Star Ocean 4... it has a great battle system... but everything else about that game is totally forgettable, especially the characters. I can't stress that enough - ESPECIALLY THE CHARACTERS! They are so derivative, uninteresting and their voice acting is some of the worst I've heard in a game. RPGs are meant to have great characters to make you feel for about them, but when you play a game where you just want every character to stop talking it kind of ruins the mood.  
 
Try Eternal Sonata - It's a really cool music-themed RPG with a fun battle system similar to the Tales games, except your movements are timed. It makes it a little more strategic, but it's still pretty easy. Your characters are all named after music concepts, they fight with intrsument-like weapons. Allegretto, one of the main characters, fights using a sword whose handle looks like the head of a violin. Polka, another character, fights with her parasol which has the shaft of an Oboe. It's a fun game! 
 
There is also Valkyria Chronicles but it's a very different RPG and being a first timer, I don't think it's something to get into right yet. Maybe if you play some more RPGs before it to get the jist of the genre, and to see how special it is. I personally don't care for it but it is very different. 
 
People will probably tell you about Demon's Souls, but be warned it's a very demanding game. The learning curve at the beginning is very high and if one character dies (even a shopkeeper) they're gone for good in a playthrough. Play it when you think you're ready for a challenge.

I would say Fallout 3 myself. 

Demon's Souls. 

Dragon Age: Origins.

Depends on your preference, but I'll throw another vote in to each Demon's Souls, Valkyria Chronicles and Dragon Age.

" @xyzygy: Forgettable? Not really,  more like, you want to forget. Damn the voice acting...Especially Sarah and Lymle. Lymle's 'kay and Sarah's horrible speech haunts me to this very day. The game's pretty good though.  Most of the rpgs on PS3 aren't really rpg, they're more like TBS/RPG. "

" Depends on your preference, but I'll throw another vote in to each Demon's Souls, Valkyria Chronicles and Dragon Age. "

To start off? Oblivion Game of the Year edition is the only answer.
 
Especially since you're experienced only in MMOs, get ready to make a difference in the world you play in on Oblivion.
 
I'd stay away from the PS3 version of Fallout 3...it's really quite buggy on that platform.

" Dragon Age: Origins. "

Valkyria Chronicles.

"Also Tales of Vesperia comes out on PS3 soon as well, its supposed to have some new stuff added to it from the 360 version, and most people will agree that its one of, if not The best RPG this console generation so far." Tales of the abyss was better. But that's my opinion

Plus, get some PS1 rpgs. they made some pretty good ones for that console...

Tales Of Vesperia. Best RPG of this Generation.

Games with less story than some of the one suggested above, but still very much worth your time include Borderlands and Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.  Both of these are more loot-based RPGs.  I'm sure you know about Borderlands, but Sacred 2 is one that gets overlooked a lot.  It's a Diablo-styled game with a decent amount of customization. 

Demon's Souls - even though I'd not really call it a RPG. It's more of a slowerpaced, tactical and highly athmospheric hack 'n slash game with a very interesting online component.

" Tales Of Vesperia. Best RPG of this Generation. "

" Games with less story than some of the one suggested above, but still very much worth your time include Borderlands and Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.  Both of these are more loot-based RPGs.  I'm sure you know about Borderlands, but Sacred 2 is one that gets overlooked a lot.  It's a Diablo-styled game with a decent amount of customization.  "

Do not get the PS3 version of Sacred 2. I had it and it was just a horrible experience... so glitchy, bugged, online was a joke (people were popping in and out, not very many people). 
 
@Jikla said:

"

"Also Tales of Vesperia comes out on PS3 soon as well, its supposed to have some new stuff added to it from the 360 version, and most people will agree that its one of, if not The best RPG this console generation so far." Tales of the abyss was better. But that's my opinion

"

Valkyria Chronicles and Demon's Souls

If not Tales Of Vesperia, then Dragon Age.: Origins.

" Valkyria Chronicles and Demon's Souls "

Dragon Age: Origins.

depends if you want an RPG or a JRPG. there is very different styles between the two, though both have excellent games. i would say dragon age for rpg, or demon souls from what ive heard only (havent played it yet), or for jrpg hit up valkyria chronicles, or wait for final fantasy xiii in a few weeks.

Dragon Age Origins, Oblivion, Fallout 3, Eternal Sonata, and Tales of Vesparia if you know Japanese and can import it. Since you say you're new to RPG's I wouldn't recommend Demon Souls. That game is hard.

Just wait a month and get Final Fantasy XIII

" depends if you want an RPG or a JRPG. there is very different styles between the two, though both have excellent games.  "

" @btman: well, the main and obvious difference being that a JRPG is a japanese RPG. when i think of most jrpg's a turn-based battle system comes to mind though that isnt in every game of the genre, but certainly a large portion. jrpg's in the case of final fantasy games, may also be guilty of having dozens of characters with impossible hairstyles! okay ive got it. while an RPG might be like, say Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion, which i liken to dungeons and dragons (putting on some armour, riding a horse, slashing at gremlins and dragons, that sort of thing), JRPG's have a much more obvious attention and influence to asian pop culture. ^-^ V <- lots of this sort of thing in many cases. mind you im not bagging out JRPG's, as I do like them very much so.   at the moment im playing mass effect 2, which although is a third person shooter, or over the shoulder, whatever is technically correct terminology, it has clear western role playing mechanics and gameplay (rpg), though im waiting out for final fantasy xiii on launch day (jrpg). "

dragon age

Valkyria Chronicles, definitely. Demon's Souls is also another RPG/pressure test, if you are into that kind of stuff.

I would definitely throw a vote in for FFXIII.  It looks good, even though I thought XII was a critical failure.
 
But seriously, if you want a "Good" RPG, go back to PS1 and pick something out from Wild Arms, Suikoden (PS1 stuff), Breath of Fire or Final Fantasy.  I thoroughly enjoyed each title as they came out and I feel there is something in them that is missing in a lot of JRPG's now a days.
 
If you don't want to get FFXIII I would strongly suggest a WRPG, as they have more promise as of late.

Download Suikoden.

Valkyria Chronicles

Valkyria Chronicles