This Game Made Me Rethink JRPGs

[@taxevader674]

Take a shot every time he says JRPG and you'll fucking die (great vid btw)

[@Vailskibum]

Alright I'm convinced, gonna try actually finishing Chrono Trigger at some point

[@aerth6946]

Wait, you didn't??

[@VZed]

Every time someone plays Chrono Trigger and loves it there's one more reason in the world for Square to just continue the series already, GEEZE!

[@damonke79]

Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest games ever made. We will probably never see a collaboration on that level again.

[@Galactic123]

Damn, you didn't even mention one of my favorite aspects of Chrono Trigger, the incredible music! As an old gamer who actually played it on the SNES when it first came out, I was COMPLETELY blown away by the music in the game. I didn't think music like that was even possible on a 16-bit cartridge, and there was nothing comparable at that time. I still listen to CT music pretty frequently including orchestral covers of the classic tracks.

[@wizawhat]

Man you're right, the music is really incredible. If you want to appreciate it more I recommend looking into the composer's experience making it, Yoshinori Mitsuda. Getting the soundtrack done in time almost broke him and he thought about quitting multiple times but there's still so much passion in it. If you wanna learn more check out Resonant Arc's old Chrono Trigger Review

[@Plasmariel]

Incredible? No doubt!! comparable? Yes.

[@QuestingRefuge]

Chrono Trigger really is a near perfect game. Definitely want to revisit again now! I think the character stories is much more common in the way Japan does narratives in general and it really shines in these games. Excited to see what else you end up checking out! I wonder if you have tried and tactics RPGs. Final Fantasy Tactics would be high on my list of recommendations.

[@wizawhat]

I haven't played a ton of tactics games but I really love what I've played! Particularly Advance Wars Dual Strike and FF Tactics Advance. The original FF Tactics is definitely on my list

[@Vassileva85]

My first JRPG was Revelations Persona in 1997, I was 11 at the time and I had only recently got my PlayStation the year before. I love the genre, I credit it for my recovery after I suffered a traumatic brain injury in my early 20s.

[@tcmr5775]

I really like your channel. I'm excited to see it grow. You're going to make it big.

[@chrilz1498]

Excellent video, I hope you find a ton more JRPGs you enjoy now that you're getting more into the genre!

[@riyuphoenix4533]

Chrono Cross is a good gateway RPG. Depending on your preferences and modernisation, I personally think rpgs with Random encounters should be a thing of the past, as you should control where and we when you want to grind.

[@PrimeHylian]

Chrono Trigger still remains in my top 10 favourite games, as it feels so innovative in its storytelling and gameplay even today. Also Frog MVP.

[@wizawhat]

In This House We Stan Frog

[@MajWinters100]

Nice video. I'm also a Frog fan, and seeing your gameplay it becomes clear that you were inexperienced with the game hehe. I'm not trolling or hating here, but I also play with marle as an anchor, but after I learn haste (I'm happy to see you've used haste, I didn't in my first playthroughs back when I was a kid). Otherwise, it is a mix and match for the needs. There are a few team combos that I find stronger for certain parts with my playstyle. For instance, the gaia giant I also use ayla and marle. Marle hastes the party, and chrono and ayla falcon hits the hands (the skill makes chrono draw a horizontal line on the screen which hits both hands), and in my gameplay takes to turns to kill them, then it is focus the head. And so on, and so on. But, I'm glad you enjoy it for the same reasons that I do. I've really seen myself in this video.

[@wizawhat]

Having come from FFX I knew how essential haste was as soon as I got it. I love hearing people have a similar experience to my own!

[@Weighty68]

Welp, now I gotta play Chrono Trigger! I’ve encountered a similar issue with my JRPG desires lately where I wanna immerse myself in a genre I’ve largely neglected apart from Pokemon and FF15 (this one’s debatable even lol). So, I crafted a list of must plays and quickly found myself saturated in a mass of storytelling I don’t think I was equipped for. I slimmed the list down recently looking to go for smoother stories that integrate well with the gameplay like Shin Megami Tensei and Dragon Quest until branching out later, but Chrono Trigger may just have to come before them all. Thanks for the video, Wizzy. Happy to see your passion pouring out with this one!

[@wizawhat]

Could not recommend Chrono Trigger enough as a starting point dude, glad to see you broadening your horizons as well!

[@saotiago]

i've played it this year for the first time and had a very similar experience! completely fell in love with this game and its story. great video!

[@iamnoimpact]

Awesome video, man! I saw somewhere, I think on your twitter, that you were a little disappointed in the activity on this video and it wasn't getting as many views or as much engagement as you' hoped. I hate that that becomes the waterline on which you base the quality of your videos, but I understand that that's what really is the bread and butter of this hobby/job/profession, whatever. HOWEVER, I would like to encourage you to make even more videos like this! I'm always such a fan of seeing videos that see people going back to games that they have missed and appreciating or even talking about them in a glowing light. It's such a pure reason to make a video, and it's truly the content that I would ideally see all over KZbin. It's tough to keep up with all of the new stuff and/or the popular content generators, so to go back and check out an old and beloved game was a bold move. I really appreciate it. Lastly, just have to throw in the recommendation. I haven't gone down the comments, but if you haven't played it Final Fantasy III/VI. Top three all time for me.

[@wizawhat]

To be clear, I'm actually really happy with how this video has been performing and I was comparing it to my last release which did semi-poorly. I'm glad you said this cause going back to experience older games I missed over the years has been what has interested me the most lately, so thank you! I definitely plan to make more videos like this. Also, the end goal is to eventually get to FF6, I've heard amazing things about it but I want to at least try out a couple of its predecessors before trying it

[@micahneilson9956]

Radiant Historia: perfect chronology on 3ds

[@stegsaurus]

Great video, Wiz! I played the DS version of this game as a teenager and adored it. I’m generally a fan of RPGs but there are so many classics (most FF games and Secret of Mana for sure) I still need to play. You should look into Radiant Historia and Golden Sun next, if you haven’t already! Neither is quite as good as CT, but they’re both classically styled JRPGs with some unique elements.

[@wizawhat]

I've gotten a few recommendations for Radiant Historia, and I've been curious about Golden Sun for awhile, may have to look into that one, thanks!

[@H1t0k4]

Was in similar situation with JRPGs, decided to try new game from a series i never tried, Tales of Arise. Did the same thing for me as Chrono Trigger did for you, you should definitely try it!

[@wizawhat]

I've been hearing great things about Tales of Arise, I'll def look into it!

[@MoonSpiritChannel]

My favorite game of all time, and the most definitive way could be on Steam, but the DS version has full game, and an extra new side quest. Don't get the SNES version unless you auction off your kidneys, and don't play the PS1 'updated' version for that has horrid load times.. And I'm glad you enjoyed your time on this game, and I'm happy to hear that it made you change your outlook on a genre you were jaded towards. I cannot tell you how much I love this game from beginning to end. The best soundtrack I've listened, great characters, excellent story, etc.

[@wizawhat]

I really enjoyed playing the steam port. I've heard that it was really poor quality when first released but the developers have done a lot to correct that since then and the added animated cut scenes from the PS1 version was a really nice added touch! I think if I replay the game I might try to go for the DS port

[@MoonSpiritChannel]

@@wizawhat Yeah, it was. When it first came out, they did the bare minimum, like they did with the original Steam ports of Final Fantasy. It was technically a mobile port work, as in the UI was ugly, the font was hideously generic, and that's all I remember.

[@Rokabur]

@@wizawhat The Steam port is still broken. At least one FMV will NEVER play (SE never fixed it) still retains the AWFUL mobile interface.

[@nova338]

Chrono Trigger is a practically perfect game. RPGs are my favorite genre, but Chrono Trigger is in a league of its own

[@lot8113]

Video after video, the parallels between your gaming journey and mine get more and more defined, as your channel carves for itself a special role in my enjoyinment of content. I really appreciate you sharing this, and your channel does something for me that no other has been able to do. I know this is largely insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and I know that after all the parallels stop when it comes to the very specifics, but still, I truly connect with this content, and I appreciate you for it.

[@wizawhat]

You say this is largely insignificant, but for me this is a pretty significant comment. Connecting with people is why I continue to do this, so hearing you express that means more to me than you probably realize! Thank you!

[@lot8113]

@@wizawhat awesome to hear that, thank you very much

[@strain42]

I've definitely had an on again off again relationship with JRPGs similar to yours. I think Persona 3 was the title that really sucked me back into them. Megami Tensei as a whole has been the thread that keeps me connected to the genre and most other modern titles in the genre I touch to this day are ones that feel influenced by that franchise in some capacity.

[@DeepMoon45]

Absolutely agree with this. Megami Tensei/Persona are the games that helped reinvigorate my love for gaming and they are what I consider my personal alltime favourites. I completely get the feeling of always being drawn to JRPGs that at least have some influence off of that franchise

[@xRdlH]

I watched your Maplestory video (my favorite MMORPG ever) and now I see that you are a huge Final Fantasy X and Chrono Trigger fan (my 2 favorite games ever). Are you literally ME? Earned yourself a sub

[@wizawhat]

Welcome friend ☺️

[@josephabdilla7716]

One of the greats. Glad you had this experience :)

[@dakotashroom5401]

We need more time traveling retro video games. Pixels are the best.

[@vagabundorkchaosmagick-use2898]

It's understandable that the best* RPG ever, made you re-consider that position. *Ok, ok. Second best. Don't look at me that way, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition, but take into account we're talking about a 1995 game, which came just 3 years after I became a gamer. I'm sure you will understand.

[@hypnovike]

Of all the video games I have played so far anytime I wonder what the best video game is I always come back to Chrono Trigger. Between it's perfect soundtrack, timeless graphics, unique combat system, multiple endings, short length for a JRPG, and meaningful side quests it still stands as my favorite video game of all time over 2 decades later!

[@wizawhat]

Quite the respectable Favorite Game if you ask me!

[@reuniclus3621]

Yep. Frog's amazing. I love how focused his story is in comparison to most of the main cast, and that he's not a flawless person but triumphs above his shortcomings to become a true hero. By the way, did you manage to get the 7th playable character? It's easy to miss if you don't have any information beforehand, but there's a seventh (completely optional) playable character you can obtain very late in the game. You definitely know who this character is, but I'm not sure if you know that they're playable. If you're not willing to replay the game so soon, then you can just look at information about them. Once again, this is all assuming you don't know they're obtainable.

[@wizawhat]

I do, wanted to avoid showing for spoilers

[@reuniclus3621]

Alright, I appreciate that.

[@wowwar2]

I love JRPGs, especially chrono trigger. Almost all of them have their own special systems with their own hidden depths. I really wish that the contemporary audience would get past the whole "urgh, turn based, yuck"

[@justifiedfun9811]

Try the Tales of series, action and Great RPG story's. Might be the best thing for you

[@wizawhat]

Heard good stuff about Tales, its on my list

[@SocraTetris]

I think you did a great job explaining why the ATB in this game was actually important! I've watched a ton of videos on why Chrono Trigger was such a good game, and no one has explained quite with that context.

[@wizawhat]

Thank you for noticing!

[@samuelmwangi4715]

Excellent video dude. I would be interested to see a video and know your thoughts on Suikoden 1 & 2

[@wizawhat]

I'll look into Suikoden, I honestly haven't heard much about it but a few folks have recommended them

[@jacobmonks3722]

What's incredible to me about Chrono Trugger is how it doesn't feel like it was made in the 90s. It doesn't feel like it has any particular period of time intrinsically tied to it. It creates and implements systems in ways that are STILL rarely seen in RPGs today. For example, the party is so well balanced that any team you go with will be able to find some solution for any given problem. I fought the final boss with 2 very different teams, and had a vastly different experience between them, and yet I never thought that I was unfairly outmatched. I can't think of another RPG that nails that balance anywhere near as well. Even some of my favorite RPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles, Tales of Vesperia, and Final Fantasy IX have characters that I really don't care to use very much. Chrono Trigger somehow escapes this fate, and every party member not only feels worthwhile as a personality, but as a fellow combatant.

[@Holgast]

Knew this would be CT from the thumbnail. The trial absolutely blew me away when I played it. But still never finished, I was stuck at the Ocean Palace...maybe I should dust off the DS cart and give it another go.

[@aerth6946]

It's so cool to see how you refused to remain ignorant to the better side of the JRPG Genre despite it's many flaws. I'll be looking forward to more of it. Sub.

[@wizawhat]

Hell yeah, I'll keep that in mind

[@BinaryDood]

I also think there is a big existencial layerideas being in Chrono Trigger. Though I experienced, seems like many didnt'. Cool to see those ideas being brought to the forefront with Chrono Cross, even if the game is lackluster in areas.

[@DeepMoon45]

If you haven't played them already I hugely recommend the Persona series. It's ultimately the series that did a similar thing for me as Chrono Trigger did with you except my fatigue was towards gaming as a whole rather than just one genre. Persona absolutely changed my outlook and reinvigorated my love for videogames as a whole from just how much it blew me away!

[@civilwarfare101]

I tried playing Chrono Trigger years back but couldn't really get into it due to how confusing I found the game. But I have played lots of games since so I may fare better, I also played Cosmic Star Heroine which was inspired by this which I really like. Might return to this.

[@wizawhat]

Honestly there is no shame in using a guide for some of the parts where it can be a little difficult to understand where to head to next. I'd definitely recommend giving it another shot!

[@SolidArf]

SUCH a top tier vid. I love JRPGs but never got around to Chrono Trigger -- but the way you took us through your experience and the concept behind the game's last stretch... sounds like everything I could want in a game. Great stuff. (Also wow the FFX stuff was beautifully put and got to me. That game always just. Ya know?)

[@wizawhat]

FFX man... what a journey. There is a lot to love about Chrono Trigger if you're an FFX fan. I implore you to give it a shot. If you grab the steam port make sure to select the original graphics

[@SolidArf]

@@wizawhat Bumping it up the backlog! And thank you for looking out, will do.

[@twilighttiger64-falcomfana73]

I'm glad Chrono Trigger changed your mind on JRPGs! But there's also some games that I'll recommend that are developed by an awesome AA studio. As a fan of Nihon Falcom, it is my duty to tell you about them. They are a group of JRPG developers that are extremely niche here in the West, and even in Japan they aren't too well known either. But what makes them special is that they are the Godfathers of JRPGs and their games and how incredibly fun they are with OSTs and stories that will ruin JRPGs for you. The two main series I'm recommending to you are Ys (Pronounced geese without the G, so eese.) and Trails (Kiseki in Japan). Ys may be more of your style, so here's what I'll tell you about Ys. Buckle up, here's along one and get some popcorn as I gush about Ys and try to convince you to give it a shot. There is a tl;dr at the bottom if you don't want to read this all. Ys is an ongoing series of action JRPGs following the adventures of a red-haired swordsman Adol Christin. Adol lived until he died when he was 63 and each game in the series is a discovered travelogue. Each travelogue is a separate year in his life like how in Ys VIII he is 21 while in Ys 1 he is 16. There are currently 10 games in the series, 9 of them following Adol on his adventures while the last game is a prequel that takes place 700 years before he is born. So with that out of the way, why play this series with a weird name? Because it is the definition of simple, yet fun. Ys is a more gameplay focused series and most of the games are pretty short ranging from 10-15 hours of the earlier games of the series and the more modern games have a bit more meat on their bones close to 40-50 hours, but still feels short and sweet. And wanna know the best part? Even if Ys is at its worst, it's still pretty fun to play and enjoy the story that's there. The games are never rushed and are tested to hell and back to be great experiences with a sadly rare amount of polish games these days have. And hoo boy that OST (Spamming Links to certain songs will come later) This series has been going strong for 30 years now the latest game in the series, Ys IX:Monstrum Nox is an incredible experience and the series just has that feeling of not losing steam compared to Final Fantasy, despite how Ys has a lower budget and it shows in the graphics, but makes up for it in pure quality. So where do I start? Well, Ys is incredibly accessible and that helps it more and why I recommend it more than Trails. A good set of games to act as your starting point for this challenging yet rewarding series with lots of neat lore and individual stories would be Ys 1+2, (Both games are 5-10 hours long and from the 80s, so go in with 80s game expectations) Ys Origin (The prequel I mentioned earlier) Ys III:The Oath In Felghana, Ys VIII:Lacrimosa of Dana (My personal Favorite and the longest in the series that usually takes a True Ending playthrough 40-50 hours. Don't worry, VIII is the only game in the series with a True Ending), and Ys IX:Monstrum Nox. Now I just gave you 5 Starting points and that may be a bit broad, but the choice is yours. But to help, I''l describe the scenario of each one. Ys 1&2:Adol's first adventures and it's available on PC, PSP, and a shit ton of classic PC versions. I reccomend this the most as you can see where the series started. The story is simple, yet good like all Ys games. 16 year old Adol Christin ventures to the land of Esteria where he is shipwrecked and is involved in the ancient land of Ys and how and why it disappeared, uncovering forgotten legends of Ys and the twin goddosses that ruled them. (Pro tip:Turn on VSync if you play the PC version. You'll thank me later ;) ) Ys Origin The absolutely most accessible Ys game as it is on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One and you can jump in knowing nothing about Ys and still have a fun time and Origin is home to some of the best storytelling in the series as this is my second most recommended game. It's even better if you played Ys 1&2, but still great if you don't. You can play as 2 characters each with their own unique and great stories and beating both of their stories (PC version. Other versions only require 1 story finished.) and you can unlock a 3rd character with their own story and absolutely worth a 3rd playthrough of the game for that character's story. In this game, you are a group of knights and sorcerers who are searching for the twin goddesses of Ys after descending to search for them in Darm Tower as that's where they have gone missing. Ys III:The Oath In Felghana (A.K.A. arguably the hardest in the series that can and will make you question your will to live at points) Available on PC and PSP. This game is a remake of the original Ys III as The Oath In Felghana replaces the original for many good reasons that I will not delve into. Anyway, this is another of Adol's adventures as he arrives in the homeland of his buddy Dogi to find out that monsters have suddenly sprung up out of nowhere and causing massive problems for the relatively peaceful Felghana. Eventually the story involves a girl named Elena and her brother who absolutely steals the show and makes this game's story, Chester. Chester is such a good character and a memorable antagonist that you later sympathize with. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is my and many people's favorite Ys game for a good reason. It is simply put, a masterpiece. This game is available on PC, PS4, and Switch. The game originally had a horrible launch with it's localization and especially with the PC version having a rough start, but here in 2021 those issues are long gone now. Anyway, I HIGHLY recommend this as your 1st Ys game if you like your games a bit longer as this along with Ys IX is are the more story-focused entries. You again play as Adol and you Dogi are sailing to find new adventure, and adventure finds them as Adol's horrible luck with boats gets them shipwrecked on a deserted island. You later find out that you're on the cursed Isle of Seiren and you go out to find the other passengers of the ship you were on as you're trapped on the island and you build a small village with a mission to get out. As you explore the island and find castaways, Adol begins to have strange dreams of a girl named Dana and the Kingdom of Eternia from centuries past. And later Dana begins to dream of Adol and somehow they are linked and alongside getting off the island, you are slowly finding about Dana, Eternia and what happened to it, and a greater mystery behind it all to where the ending is explosive and strong. Now does that sound like a fan favorite or what? Finally we are here at the latest game in the series. Ys IX:Monstrum Nox. Available on PC, PS4, and Switch. This game isn't as long as VIII (from my experience) but this is still a very neat game and my second favorite. In this game, Adol has made it to Gllia, which houses the Prison City of Balduq where he is fasley accused and arrested and as he breaks out, he meets a strange woman who afflicts him with the curse of Balduq, turning him into a Monstrum. As Adol is now cursed, he cannot leave Balduq and has to uncover its secrets in order to escape and along the way you meet the other Monstrums and see how they curse affects them. This is one of the more darker games in the series with its tone and atmosphere, and overall aesthetic. Ys IX is also a great story that can work as first Ys game as it's currently the new shiny game that still works as a nice intro to the series. Now that leaves us with Ys 1&2 and YsVIII:Lacrimosa of Dana as top picks, but you can choose IX or Origin if you want or if you like being crazy, The Oath In Felghana. I said I would talk about Trails so here. It's a sub series of The Legend of Heroes that is turn-based, focused more on story, gameplay, lore, worldbuilding and of course, awesome music. The series prides itself on its slow burning pace with a timeline that harder to jump into as it is the One Piece of JRPGs where starting from the beginning is usually the best and it's why Ys is much easier to recommend because of a lower barrier to get over. But if you like Ys and wish the story had more oomph then try Trails. You can get Sky FC (The 1st game in the series) on Steam. Tl;dr Play this cool fun series called Ys, start with 1&2, VIII, Origin, and/or IX, awesome music, neat stories, overall high quality game.

[@wizawhat]

Very interesting, thanks for the detailed comment. I've heard vaguely of Ys before, didn't know too much specifically about it but I can tell you're very passionate about it. Origin sounds the most immediately appealing to me so I'll put that on my list, thanks for the recommendation!

[@twilighttiger64-falcomfana73]

@@wizawhat Glad to hear I got someone interested in Ys. Trust me, Origin is awesome. I would love to see you do a video of it if it makes a positive impact on you.

[@LobsterFusion]

I think the big difference between J and W RPG's back then we're their accessibility. In CT, the game does a good job at feeding you tools to learn the game. Get into your first battle, learn the ATB, and learn Cyclone for Crono. Next battle you want to use Cyclone so you are set up with three enemies bundled together and you learn area attacks. And then Baldur's Gate which was released a few years after. Dungeons and Dragons rule set which requires pre existing knowledge to understand. I had to Google what 1d20 and 2d6 meant. You almost need a glossary of terms to make sense of it all. It's not for me and made learning the game very difficult.

[@wizawhat]

That's a really good point. Maybe that's why I always felt those old WRPGs felt really intimidating just by looking at them, I was never into tabletop RPGs

[@ChrisTheFields]

You've made me very happy, Wiz.

[@lyraalley4514]

I recognize the song at 2:17 but I can’t quite put my finger on it and it’s driving me up a wall haha

[@wizawhat]

I believe it's from octopath traveler

[@Redtreevortex]

I’ve never been a RPG guy, but it was nice hearing about how they’ve affected you. I’ve personally never played a JRPG, I might try this one out.

[@MechaSlinky]

I've never been an RPG, either, but I've loved them since I was a kid. Chrono Trigger is easily one of the best ever, with the other being Earthbound (although it's a bit less beginner-friendly with some clunky UI elements). The SNES has a fantastic library, especially for RPGs.

[@Redtreevortex]

@@MechaSlinky I just realized my mistake lol, but thanks for the response.

[@MechaSlinky]

@@Redtreevortex I was secretly hoping you'd never notice.

[@benedict6962]

It sounds like you need to try out Nocturne: Rebirth for some of the best ATB has to offer.

[@Tiosh]

I put in a game genie code to put max level on all my characters practically at the beginning of the game so I never got the chance to flesh out the characters with side quests since my party was already super buffed out. Maybe one day I'll do a legit run through but I am just not a fan of the grind slog.

[@slusheewolf2143]

I'm a gamer that grew up on solely JRPGs and I didn't like Chrono Trigger, despite finishing it with the "main" ending where you have Chrono in your party I really loved the lore of the game, though, and that's what sold me to complete the game

[@jumponeverything]

God I wish chromo trigger was on modern consoles, if it was in switch I'd buy it in an instant. Also I want to bring attention to a game called sea of stars which is inspired by chromo trigger and has chrono triggers composer as a guest composer. It looks really cool and seems very promising.

[@wizawhat]

Wow Sea of Stars looks incredible! Definitely putting this on my list

[@joramgroen9847]

Great video! Besides Pokemon I really don’t play turn-based RPGs, but after watching this video I might give Chrono Trigger a try

[@StewNWT]

Gotta play FFIV, VI, Suikoden 1, Wild ARms 1, Alundra 1, Xenogears, Secret of mana and Crosscode

[@HeadphoneMAN0017]

I suggest you try Xenoblade Chronicles, in my opinion one of the best JRPGs ever made.

[@swaggyquaggy5077]

For me this was persona 5 highly recommend to all

[@kyotow7388]

wow no way never heard about this little gem

[@NockLegacy]

Sounds like you’d love chained echoes

[@SuperRainbol]

Breaking News everybody, somebody played chrono trigger and liked it, an event so rare they had to make a video about it

[@handeezyspeakseasy398]

Love Chrono Trigger but Love Chrono Cross More ❤

[@wizawhat]

One day I'll play Chrono Cross

[@handeezyspeakseasy398]

@@wizawhat and when you ever make a video on that game you already know I'm watching it first day 😆

[@heek8964]

Man I should play chrono trigger.

[@wizawhat]

Yes you should

[@AngryCosmonaut]

If your interested in JRPGs with a great story and without any of the baggage that typically comes with the JRPG genre (Annoying Anime Boys and Girls, High Schools, Save the World, Slow Pacing, Obtuse Combat, and Stupid Clothes) you should check out the Suikoden Series, particularly 1 and 2. Probably the best JRPG series on the Playstation 1 and 2, shame we won't see it again since its a Konami property. At least we got Eiyuden Chronicles coming!

[@wizawhat]

Honestly you've sold me a fair bit on Suikoden based on that description alone!

[@AngryCosmonaut]

@@wizawhat I think Suikoden 1 only takes 15-25 hours to 100% and Suikoden 2 20-30 hours, depending on how much you want to take in the game. Though even though Suikoden 1 shows its age a little bit at points, you still finish it thinking "hey the was pretty good, maybe even great." Then you finish Suikoden 2 and think "Damn! there's no doubt that's a great RPG period!" I will tell you though that given there is 100+ recruitable characters for your very few are given the kind of character development Frog is given in ChronoTrigger, usually just a few of the most prominent main cast. Recruitable characters are kinda like the side quests of the game and function as Party Members, Shops, Minigames, or upgrades for your castle. It's easy enough to pick up these days if you got a playstation emulator like duckstation or a playstation (I think they're both on PSN for PS3/4/5 now for around $8).

[@CsabaGamings]

I downloaded chrono trigger like 2 years ago, still didn't play it... I need to play it though, but my backlog is bottomless

[@wizawhat]

Call me biased but... I think you should move Chrono Trigger closer to the top of your list 🙂

[@CsabaGamings]

@@wizawhat I'll play Crosscode and Eastward first, I already started them. :D after them Chrono Trigger will come

[@GameSharks]

FF6 would be a logical next step after Chrono Trigger, but if you wanna step into something more obscure, Radiant Historia is absolutely fantastic. It's a successor to CT not in tone or intent, but spirit. However it is definitely more demanding than CT is

[@wizawhat]

FF6 is on my list of absolute must play, I think I may try to play a few of the previous PRs before getting to that one though

[@GameSharks]

@@wizawhat FF4's definitely a good one in that regard, especially if you can get into the right headspace to appreciate how ambitious it was at the time. FF5 is pretty complex and one of the harder FF games though, I don't say don't try it, but just keep that in mind

[@wizawhat]

@@GameSharks Thanks for the recc! I've heard great things about 4 so maybe I'll just have to hop into that one, although I'm curious to give 2 another shot seeing as I played a small bit of it as a kid on the GBA version

[@terribleveteran7678]

i never liked that many rpgs. might give chrono trigger a try it looks pretty good

[@wizawhat]

If you play on PC, the Steam port is decent, just make sure to go with the original graphics option!

[@Mid-AirMan]

What a unique take. Chrono trigger is a great game.

[@MechaSlinky]

Pro Earthbound when, Civvie?

[@wizawhat]

I played some of Earthbound years ago when it was released on Wii U. There were things I liked about it but I fell off around where Poo joins the party. I may give it another shot eventually

[@MechaSlinky]

@@wizawhat That's pretty good, about halfway through the game. It's a unique game. The ending is something. I've played it too many times to accurately recognize its flaws anymore; the inventory management is second nature now as I always know what I'll need next. Mother 3 is equally worth checking out, especially if you want a more dramatic, story-focused game. Earthbound Beginnings is an interesting clunky little oddity but definitely not a must-play.

[@FrankDaTankGaming]

Great vid, now play Persona 5 :)

[@hhexxbug]

this is really late, but i stopped playing right before the magus fight. i stopped enjoying the game, and i'd like to finish it, but just can't see how people love the game.

[@wizawhat]

I feel like the story got a bit more interesting after beating Magus, but it's been a while

[@justifiedfun9811]

Port this game please!!!!!

[@Stureuh]

Well if you liked Chrono Trigger and play J-RPGs for their character driven stories, I would suggest Earthbound. It's a masterpiece.

[@sharebear421]

ffx > chrono trigger auron > frog

[@wizawhat]

honestly? I respect it.

[@CoNteMpTone]

There are three more JRPGs that hold up to Chrono Trigger. None of them is a Final Fantasy. Reply to this comment and ill tell you my absolute top spots.

[@TigeriPlaysGames]

frog enjoyers rise up

[@rpghero46]

not ff15 or tales of arise thats for sure rpgs for philistines those two.

[@boredfangerrude]

I tried Chrono Trigger but it's far from the master piece you call it. And I'm an experienced RPG/JRPG gamer. The controls are archaic so for people that didn't grow up with those controls, you are going to have a rough time. And you don't get enough information a lot of the time so it's a lot of trial and error to figure out what you need to do. I was forced to put the game down because I got stuck and didn't want to look up a guide. I do plan to eventually return to it but I can't say I recommend it for everyone interested in RPGs/JRPGs.

[@wizawhat]

I think attributing a lot of trial and error to it is a fair criticism. It's a holdover from older JRPGs. I'm curious what you mean by archaic controls though? They seem pretty standard to me and I didn't have any problems controlling the game

[@MechaSlinky]

That doesn't sound like Chrono Trigger at all. I think one of us has accidentally slipped into an alternate universe again.

[@jinyboi]

Same. I played Chrono trigger when it first came out for the DS. And while it was good, i can hardly consider it the best jrpg I've touched. Some of the most memorable jrpg i played were actually on PS2 and ps4

[@boredfangerrude]

@@wizawhat If you play a newer version of the game then sure, it has decent controls but I picked up a version on Steam and the controls were weird. It's an older game that has been rereleased a few times from the sound of it.

[@wizawhat]

@@boredfangerrude My playthrough was on the Steam port. That port was notoriously poor quality when it was first released because they just ripped the mobile version and put it on Steam with no changes. They've since made a ton of changes and it plays fine, there's not much difference in it compared to other JRPGs released at the time that are unanimously praised. If you gave it another shot, you may have a better experience.

[@bigblueshoe777]

With all the reasons you list for liking Chrono Trigger, please don't ever place Chrono Cross, you'll be so disappointed.

[@justifiedfun9811]

Greatest game ever!!!!!

[@kitkat7074]

So negative

[@Mr_pumpkin_]

First 🙂

[@sonofthefakegod]

Ooo I was expecting a different game. Ctrigger is a super over rated game. Its at best a 7 out 10 not bad but not great. Meh combat Avg story Below avg characters Good soundtrack Short Its just not great