What to play after experiencing Chrono Trigger?

Submitted ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨verycoolusername@lemm.ee⁩ to ⁨patientgamers@sh.itjust.works⁩

Left feeling a bit empty after playing for the first time a few months ago(why did I wait so long?) I am afraid no JRPG will be able to surpass it. Would love to have a discussion about similar games that reach the same quality lebel (Note: I have already played Final Fantasy VI ).

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flubba86@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Its not a very “patient gamer” recommendation, but Sea of Stars came out a couple of weeks ago, it is a modern game inspired by retro JRPG titles like Chrono Trigger. I haven’t played it yet, but it looks super cool.

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- NOSin@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Finished it yesterday, can confirm, while it’s not on par of course, it’s a great game and an amazing tribute to old JRPG.
  
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bomanicious@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I’m at the final boss of Super Mario RPG and can vouch for it being really fun. While it’s not as epic in scale and story as Chrono Trigger, it’s got good humorous writing, good pacing, and the difficulty is just right imo.

I also really like that if you lose a battle, the game resets you at your last save point and carries over any exp you gained, making grinding way less tedious.

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- johntash@eviltoast.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Super Mario RPG is definitely worth playing. It was one of my favorite games on the SNES. I’m excited for the switch remake of it too.
  
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Shihali@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Nothing else reaches the same quality as Chrono Trigger in the same way. You have to settle for lower quality with similar pacing, or try to reach the same level of quality in a different way.

Similar pacing, lower quality: Phantasy Star IV, Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy IV
Comparable quality, different style: Earthbound, Final Fantasy VII (FF6 is the real answer, but FF7 is the most similar game to FF6)
Similar aspects, lower quality: Dragon Quest IV, Radical Dreamers & Chrono Cross, possibly Radiant Historia

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- caseyweederman@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Radiant Historia definitely hits some of the same notes.
  
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Some_username_u_have@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
New Game +

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- kratoz29@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Huh, this game has that mode? If that is so then that it is amazing.
  
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  - Some_username_u_have@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Yeah. There are some endings that you can only get from new game +.
    
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- ikapoz@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  The only answer
  
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Kolanaki@yiffit.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
More Chrono Trigger!

Have you seen all, IIRC, 11 endings?

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- caseyweederman@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Quick note, Cross is very deeply, broadly, and extensively a sequel to Trigger.
  
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  - WarmSoda@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Eh officially it is. In reality though they tacked all the references to Chrono Trigger in at the end of development.
    
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Crozekiel@kbin.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Earthbound is fantastic. Also, Chrono Trigger has several different endings and secret things to accomplish along the way, so it is good for more than one play-through. Finally, I remember stumbling into a game decades ago around the same time I first discovered Chrono Trigger called Seiken Densetsu. I remember having a copy in English and really liking it.

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Hailstorm8440@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Earthbound probably

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CycloneWolf@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Suikoden II is generally considered one of the best JRPGs on the PS1, and while the English translation isn’t spotless the writing and setpieces have a similar quality to Chrono Trigger. It is a sequel to Suikoden and you’ll enjoy the second game a bit more for having played it, but it’s not a requirement. The original Suikoden wasn’t nearly as polished and I’d hate for you to give up on Suikoden II because you burned out on it.

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- lemmy_get_my_coat@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Absolutely loved Suikoden 2
  
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Cagi@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
[deleted]
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- caut_R@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  That game was probably my biggest surprise in the last decade, I expected nothing and got one of my top 5 videogame stories and atmospheres of all time. The game does so much with so little. Couldn‘t warm up to the battles though lol
  
  Dunno how anyone who likes JRPGs could play the first game and be like „you know what, I don‘t need to play the sequel.“
  
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BeeJackPin@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I can’t believe it hasn’t been mentioned, but Secret of Mana is definitely a strong contender as GOAT JRPG.

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- ikapoz@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Better? Never. I will say it is the by far the best real multi player rpg I’ve played.
  
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  - counselwolf@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    multiplayer? would it be a good game for a couple?
    
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- BackOnMyBS@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  I agree. When I have my SNES nostalgia, I play Secret of Mana first, then Chromo Trigger for the withdrawals.
  
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blunderworld@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
If you want something more modern, but that still feels vary classic, try Sea of Stars. It gives off major chrono trigger energy from my play through so far.

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- impiri@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  It’s got that Chrono Trigger Feel™. The first time we triggered a battle, the party and enemies all jumped to their starting places on the map. I was so happy
  
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kromem@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Xenogears for PS1

Very different from all the later ‘Xeno-’ titles.

Same composer as CT.

Not as polished a game design, but overall outstanding and interesting in story, mechanics, and scope.

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TheReverendSavage@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Echoing a few here Earthbound Legend of Dragoon Illusion of Gaia Secret of Mana Suikoden Final Fantasy 6

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gowan@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Chrono Cross, duh

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- weew@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  only if you want to render everything you loved and achieved in Chrono Trigger meaningless
  
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  - kratoz29@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Hmm, is there any non spoiler explanation of this?
    
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Raze157@kbin.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I liked Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age more than Chrono Trigger.

Super Mario RPG is pretty high up there, as well.

Lost Odyssey is a gem that doesn't get enough love. Chronicles trigger might be a bit higher on my list, by this is definitely worth a playthrough. Be prepared for some real pulls at your heart strings if you read through the short stories in the game.

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hogart@feddit.nu ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I just love everything about Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. The second game never came close for me. But most have already played it.

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- caut_R@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Curious, exactly the opposite for me. The direct battles in the sequel did it way more for me than the pokemon mechanic in the prequel. Absolutely loved the sequel, great art style (apart from the „clay/plastic“ overworld). I thought the prequel was alright but it didn‘t have me glued to the screen.
  
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  - hogart@feddit.nu ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Haha that’s so nice to hear! Glad you liked it!
    
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zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Undertale, tales of vesperia, golden sun, Earthbound are some decent choices

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Jeredin@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Illusions of Gaia and Secret of Mana 100% - they’re action JRPGs but have the same vibe in many ways.

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eddanja@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Sea of Stars JUST dropped.

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- abraxas@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  
  Sea of Stars
  
  I’ve heard a lot of vague talk about it. I have Game Pass (which it’s one). Does it live up to the hype? It might be my next try if/when I cool on Starfield.
  
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  - Teodomo@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    What I’ve heard is that it’s very much like Chrono Trigger aesthetics-wise but very different regarding writing quality. Now, a lot of people play JRPGs not necessarily for their plot, story, character motivation/development and quality of prose but for their particular atmosphere crafted by their use of graphics, music, animation/sprites, etc and there’s nothing wrong with that, so maybe it will be your vibe
    
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  - EnderofGames@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    It’s directly Chrono Trigger inspired.
    
    If this wasn’t !PatientGamers, this’d be a lay up for Sea of Stars, and every comment would just say “Sea of Stars”.
    
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  - pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I played the demo and liked it a lot. Beautiful looking game that feels good to control. The only reason I’m not playing the full game is that I feel like I owe Baldur’s Gate III my attention, since I so rarely but new games :p
    
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Milky@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
My big 3 on that system were Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, and Mario RPG, in no particular order (though I generally lean toward Earthbound). I would throw Zelda: A Link To The Past as an honorable mention (not an RPG in the same sense of course). All classics and worthy of respect in their own light

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- pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Gotta say I want to recommend Zelda: LttP too, even though it’s more action-y. One of those games that feels like you’ve really gone on an adventure.
  
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Beemoe@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I am only a few hours into Chrono Trigger so I don’t know what metrics to assess quality but currently Xenogears, not mentioned at the time of this post was my absolute favorite go to game.

Its such a whirlwind of a story, and while the second disk is a bit of a let down playability wise, lots of story and exposition is still there. The last few fights are amazing.

And additionally Final Fantasy XIV, the MMO has one of the best story narratives I’ve ever experienced across the main game and it’s expansions concluding with endwalker last year. I love Xenogears, but if I ever got to wipe my memory to experience something for the first time I’d pick FFXIV. It’s a stout 150hrs ish though to get through it though at this point but all soloable/minimal party play.

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Nemo@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Secret of Evermore, or switch genres. Nothing beats Chrono Trigger.

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PumpkinSkink@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I’m kinda surprised how few people have mentioned Chrono Cross. It’s not the same game, but it has a lot of cross over, and might help scratch that itch for “more chronotrigger”.

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- pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  The music and general vibe are worth it in their own
  
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Gerudo@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
For some newer ones, Chained Echoes and Sea of Stars have been fantastic.

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thecrotch@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Chrono trigger has a sequel, Chrono cross

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- Shalakushka@kbin.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  I'd like to give people in this thread the warning I wish they had given me about this game. Don't go into Cross expecting it to have anything to do with Trigger (or expecting it to be 10% as good as Trigger). They made a weird JRPG where every character is just a text filter and then decided in the last 3 hours that it was the sequel to Chrono Trigger. It has nothing in common with CT except a couple of places names and some dead characters, and would be a much better game if they called it Lynx Quest or Radical Dreamers 2 or what the hell ever.
  
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  - darkfieryvortex@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Can’t agree enough. My brother and I played through Chrono Cross together and that’s honestly the only reason we even finished it.
    
    It’s tenuously connected to Chrono Trigger at best and those plot points are terribly written anyway. Combat is mediocre, the element system is annoying, and there’s so many characters that only a couple of them get any screentime.
    
    If you enjoyed CT, don’t play CC; you’ll almost certainly be disappointed.
    
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  - caseyweederman@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Hey so my rebuttal is just a really long list of spoilers for Chrono Cross, demonstrating how every corner of Cross is deeply connected to Trigger. Seriously, like, every aspect of the game.
    I will always prefer an experiment that fails over an unending stream of bland clones.
    
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  - pomodoro_longbreak@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    I disagree with the extent of your warning, but only just. I also originally bounced off of Chrono Cross because it wasn’t what I was expecting (3D Chrono Trigger). Once I went back to it like it was a brand new game, I grew to enjoy it on its own merits.
    
    At least play it long enough to get the nostalgia whenever you hear the music come up on rainwave :p
    
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sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I guess that depends on what you liked about it. Here are some other JRPGs I’ve enjoyed:

Golden Sun

Xenoblade Chronicles

Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

I personally prefer more action, so here are some ARPGs I really enjoy:

Ys series - especially Ys 1 and Ys Origin

Zelda series - currently playing Skyward Sword and loving it

Tokyo Xanadu Ex+

JRPG isn’t my favorite category (I prefer ARPGs with minimal loot), so I’m probably looking for something different than you, but hopefully something here was helpful.
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SkeletalWizard@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Live-A-Live is probably the best game similar to Chrono Trigger since the whole non-random battles element came from there. That and several of the team members that worked on Live-A-Live worked on Chrono Trigger. Also, the whole OST is by Yoko Shimomura, the lady who did the osts for;

Kingdom Hearts Street Fighter II Super Mario RPG Legend of Mana Mario & Luigi Series

The Remaster is well worth it and fixes a lot of RNG issues that the original SFC version had.

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WhoRoger@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
I find the usual large and long SNES/PS1 era JRPGs quite bloated and grindy, to be honest. A while ago I played Phantasy Star IV, which is a lot more lightweight, linear and shorter than say, FF6, and I found that quite refreshing. Maybe you can try that as a change of style.

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- Zeppo@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Phantasy Star II is pretty awesome too.
  
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  - monotremata@kbin.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    II is very good, but it does get VERY grindy right at the end.
    
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Xianshi@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
Bravely default for the 3Das or emulate it with Citra

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- caut_R@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
  Not gonna spoil anything, but I fell so hard for the twist and it absolutely made the game for me lol, big recommend.
  
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  - Xianshi@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
    Oh i have already played it. Yes same here, I went into it blind so it was great. Emulated it too so I could speed up the grinding
    
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DaniloT@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago
There are a lot of good jrpg recommendations in this thread, but more focused on the jrpgs of that time. If you are looking for something more recent, I can’t recommend Persona 5 enough, you don’t need to have played the earlier ones as the stories are independent from each other, it is as good as Chrono Trigger for me, and now quite accessible since persona 5 royal came to pc and all consoles. The recent dragons quest games are also pretty good.

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