Being the youngish (17) gamer that I am, I never played any old rpgs and need something to fill up the 32 gig stick I bought. I have about 10 bucks, and I was thinking either FF7 or Chrono Trigger. Keep in mind I never played either, and plan to only play it on my vita. Any other suggestions would be great.

Wild Arms and Legend of Dragoon. Two of the greatest PS1 RPGs in my opinion and I have been playing them a bunch on Vita. If you were to get a Final Fantasy I would suggest 8 or 7, I liked the story and characters more in 8.

The ps1 version of Chrono Trigger suffers with some small load times before and after battles which could be bothersome. I say go with FF7.

@msavo: thanks, I'll have to look into those

Techinically not an RPG, but you should play Castlevania:Symphony of the Night. Because it's the best game on the system.

For Final Fantasies, 7 or 9 I'd say. You should look up on some gameplay to realise what you are getting into though, some games don't age well. 7 Especially so. Tactics is pretty awesome too if you are into that kind of game.

@TobbRobb: watched a little bit of SOTN on youtube, it looks quite a bit more up my alley, I think I'm gonna have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

Plus has that FF tactics from the PSP free on Monday anyway, so looks like I'm gonna have all the bases covered

I'd recommend Vagrant Story if you're into RPGs, though I'm not entirely sure how well it's aged.

As far as FFs go, I'd recommend FF8 over 7 anyday, although most people would tell you to ignore 8 and go for 7 or 9. I think if you do get a PS1 FF game, you can't really go to wrong with any of them.

Out of the two you mentioned, FF7 is valuable to play so you'll know how to respond when crazy people tell you FF7 is the greatest RPG ever. Chrono Trigger is interesting in it's potential for different endings and stuff, but I'd choose FF7 as it has a tighter pacing overall.

I've been playing FF9 and it has annoying load times before and after battles. Other than that is seems pretty good about 3 hours in. I know Chrono Trigger is amazing, but I don't know how well it works on the vita. I'd recommend Vagrant Story too.

Crash Bandicoot!

Chrono Trigger is the better game, it also ages a lot better

@TobbRobb said:

Techinically not an RPG, but you should play Castlevania:Symphony of the Night. Because it's the best game on the system.

For Final Fantasies, 7 or 9 I'd say. You should look up on some gameplay to realise what you are getting into though, some games don't age well. 7 Especially so. Tactics is pretty awesome too if you are into that kind of game.

I agree 100%, I replayed SOTN last month, it was even better than I remembered. It's a bit short though, took me about 8-9 hours to beat both castles.

I'd say get Final Fantasy Tactics: great gameplay, good story, and the gameplay style (battles usually take around 15-25 minutes) works well for portable gaming. Know that it is more of a strategy RPG though.

@Carncarn: It's a bit longer the first time! But yeah, I could speedrun it in 3h averages a few years back. It definitely isn't a long game when you know the tricks. Can be even shorter too, I just knew the how but couldn't ever pull it off properly. :(

Damn that game is great, I wish more "metroidvanias" where as much fun. Super Metroid is basically the closest for me.

I played Resident Evil 1 for the first time earlier this year and it holds up so that's an option. FF7 will get you more game time though and it's better suited for playing on a handheld.

Xenogears.

Final Fantasy 7. The DS version of Chrono Trigger is probably the best, or the original SNES version. Probably wouldn't go with PS1.

PS1 is a mine of gold for great games. How about Tomba 2? Not an RPG but still a great time though I don't know if it's offered on PS+.

I say Chrono Trigger if it's between that and FF7. FF7 isn't a bad game but it hasn't aged incredibly well. It's still fun, yes, but the weird isometric 3D just doesn't look right. Maybe it's because the top-down perspective of Chrono Trigger is way more common.

Also, I played a bit of Chrono Trigger on the PSP and it had no load problems.

EDIT: If you've got a DS, play Chrono Trigger on that. The PS1 version uses the SNES translation, which is understandable but not really good. The DS version is a completely new translation that stands up a whole lot better.

Parasite Eve is definitely worth checking out, it's still novel after all this time.

Chrono Cross is my favorite ps1 rpg. Yes playing Chrono Trigger would seem to be a pre req for playing its sequel but if your like most people then playing Cross after Trigger will just make you sad they didn't do a proper followup. Chrono Cross had great music, tons of characters (who deosn't love turnip) and a story that's actually interesting. Plus it has that awesome impressionist world.

All of those SNES -> PS1 ports came out worse. The disc format added obnoxious load times that the carts didn't have so know that.

@believer258 said:

I say Chrono Trigger if it's between that and FF7. FF7 isn't a bad game but it hasn't aged incredibly well. It's still fun, yes, but the weird isometric 3D just doesn't look right. Maybe it's because the top-down perspective of Chrono Trigger is way more common.

Also, I played a bit of Chrono Trigger on the PSP and it had no load problems.

EDIT: If you've got a DS, play Chrono Trigger on that. The PS1 version uses the SNES translation, which is understandable but not really good. The DS version is a completely new translation that stands up a whole lot better.

The DS port of Chrono Trigger also spawned the iOS and Android versions so you could play those and get the same updated translation.

Wild Arms is one of the greatest games ever made.

Xenogears

PS1 is a mine of gold for great games. How about Tomba 2? Not an RPG but still a great time though I don't know if it's offered on PS+.

@Zidd said:

@believer258 said:

I say Chrono Trigger if it's between that and FF7. FF7 isn't a bad game but it hasn't aged incredibly well. It's still fun, yes, but the weird isometric 3D just doesn't look right. Maybe it's because the top-down perspective of Chrono Trigger is way more common.

Also, I played a bit of Chrono Trigger on the PSP and it had no load problems.

EDIT: If you've got a DS, play Chrono Trigger on that. The PS1 version uses the SNES translation, which is understandable but not really good. The DS version is a completely new translation that stands up a whole lot better.

The DS port of Chrono Trigger also spawned the iOS and Android versions so you could play those and get the same updated translation.

Yeah, but I'd rather put up with a bad translation that isn't really that bad than I would put up with really bad touch screen controls.

Resident evil 2. 'nuff said.

@killerklown907: I really implore you to play Final Fantasy 9 over 7. The graphics and the story hold up a lot better and 9 is sort of a throwback to those SNES final fantasies.

Vagrant Story and Xenogears are also 2 games you should play.

@killerklown907: Xenogears and Final Fantasy 9. If your looking for old school rpg, I'd also suggest playing some of those psp remakes of old psx games star ocean 1 & 2, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy IV complete collection, Lunar, Tatics Ogre, and Persona 1 & 2.

FF7 still one the best JRPGs to date, great story, characters, battle system and world. Played right through it again 2 years ago on my PSP and it looked fantastic on that small screen and had quicker loading times from the PSX going into battle.

I haven't played either in many years, but I never much cared for Chrono Trigger. Chrono Cross, on the other hand, was a great game when I played it. I still have a sealed copy of it that I should probably get around to playing (or selling and just get it digitally).

Final Fantasy 9 is, arguably, the best in the series. It has the classic roles, summons, and a great story that I've enjoyed many times over. I only played through FF8 once, mostly because of how farm-happy a lot of the ultimate weapons are. It does a great job of putting you in a different world that at times doesn't even feel like the classical interpretation of a Final Fantasy game.

FF7 is... well... people like that game a lot, and I've played it beginning to end a few times now, but it didn't click with me. I thought it looked like garbage back in the day and it looks even worse with time. The characters aren't particularly interesting, either. The only truly positive thing I can say about it is that it has a great soundtrack (get the Piano collection if you're into it; it is fantastic). While it isn't the worst Final Fantasy game ever made (and no, FFMQ does NOT take that title), it is far from the best.

If you're going to play these games, play them in reverse order of release; Final Fantasy 9, then 8, then 7. Think of it as taking a time machine from one point in the recent past and then jumping off a cliff into the early PS1 days where everything looked terrible.

Vagrant Story, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Crash Bandicoot 2, all classics. Parasite Eve and Tomb Raider 2 were kind of great, though haven't aged amazingly (graphics-wise, yet I still enjoy them). Honestly, if you're interested in Chrono Trigger just watch the Endurance Run.

And I like FF7, though it's got plenty of haters nowadays.

Play Tomba instead.

Honestly, I would just start with FF7. I beat it for the first time a few months ago (so no nostalgia), and while it may not be the greatest rpg of all time like some people may say, it's still a really great game. Plus it's a good reference point to take with you into other PS1 rpgs, especially FF8/9.

Definitely FF7. There's a lot of hipster hate surrounding that game, but it's revered for a reason.

Suikoden

I can't believe nobody has mentioned it yet.

chrono trigger has held up far better than ff7 imo

Is Tactics Ogre playable on the Vita?

it's more expensive than the PSone Classics games since its a PSP remake but still, check it out if you can.

@ImHungry: Vagrant Story I think has aged really well. The combat system is still so unique it feels like a really fresh game.

@FancySoapsMan said:

Is Tactics Ogre playable on the Vita?

it's more expensive than the PSone Classics games since its a PSP remake but still, check it out if you can.

Yup it is playable on Vita. Definitely recommend it.

As for traditional JRPGs, the Final Fantasies are good. FF9 is my personal favorite because it's just so charming and funny. I think the graphics hold up well because of its cartoonish style and painterly textures.

Though if you want more depth and customization, I think FF8 has that covered more than FF7 or FF9 with the junction system and GF abilities.

Chrono Cross is also great. People like to hate on it cause it doesn't stack up to Chrono Trigger. But if you play it as its own game rather than a sequel, I think it stands on its own really well.

Chrono Cross is a great RPG for PS1. As is Legend of Dragoon and FF 7,8 and 9.

Play Vagrant Story you Goddamned heathen.

People have been raving for ages about Vagrant Story. I've had it for a while and didn't get that far in. What exactly am I missing here?

Just save up for Persona 3 Portable.

@Nightriff: I've actually only got $10 to spend because I'm going to pick up persona 4 golden when it comes out, but I'll check out 3 once I get some extra cash

@Spoonman671: D:

@killerklown907: Ok, that works, both are amazing games

Xenogears, FF IX.

This has gone on long enough, let's all be honest here, Final Fantasy 8 is what everyone should be playing everywhere at all times.