Something went wrong. Try again later
    Follow

    PlayStation

    Platform »

    Sony's first video game console established the PlayStation brand. It dominated the 32/64-bit era and was the best-selling home console up until the PlayStation 2.

    PSX JRPG's

    Avatar image for n3onthr33
    N3onThr33

    416

    Forum Posts

    373

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 1

    #1  Edited By N3onThr33

    Whenever I hear people complain about JRPGs they say they haven't evolved really other than graphically. So with that in mind, and if it's true, would I be able to play a Playstion One JRPG like Chrono Cross or Final Fantasy VII and get the same experience without feeling like I was playing a bad, dated video game? I realize that the graphics would be PSX graphics, but I'm fine with that. Any advice is welcome, and so are recommendations for games. Thanks.

    Avatar image for drac96
    drac96

    789

    Forum Posts

    6131

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 12

    User Lists: 6

    #2  Edited By drac96

    I played Chrono Cross again last year. I still believe it's an amazing game that holds up due to its unique battle system.  
     
    I don't understand why you're looking for recommendations  though. Have you played many PSX Rpgs and want to know if they stand up? Or have you played none of them and want to see if you still can without them seeming terrible?

    Avatar image for n3onthr33
    N3onThr33

    416

    Forum Posts

    373

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 1

    #3  Edited By N3onThr33

    I've played none of them, well, I played a couple hours into FFVII and it was still fine. I'm just wondering what would be some good ones to pick up if they're still fun to play.

    Avatar image for mcghee
    McGhee

    6128

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #4  Edited By McGhee

    The PS1 was the Golden Age of the JRPG. Games to play: 
    WILD ARMS 
    Grandia 
    Xenogears 
    Breath of Fire 3 & 4 
    Suikoden 2 (expensive purchase nowadays) 
    Alundra 
    Brave Fencer Musashi 
    Final Fantasy Tactics 
    Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9 
     
    And others, but this is off the top of my head.

    Avatar image for animasta
    Animasta

    14948

    Forum Posts

    3563

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 5

    #5  Edited By Animasta

    I'm actually playing through Persona 2: Innocent Sin right now and really enjoying it.
     
    well, if the battle system wasn't so fucking slow D:

    Avatar image for evo
    EVO

    4028

    Forum Posts

    20

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #6  Edited By EVO

    Ask people what their favourite JRPG is, and I think most would say one from the SNES - PSX era. So if anything, JRPGs are worse today than back then.

    Avatar image for drac96
    drac96

    789

    Forum Posts

    6131

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 12

    User Lists: 6

    #7  Edited By drac96

    Oh, well if that's the case there are a ton of games you should play. 
     -Vagrant Story  
    -Xenogears  
    - Final Fantasy 4,6,7,8,9 
    -Chrono Cross 
    -Legend of Dragoon 
     
    I could go on, but these are the games I can think of that were great. There were so many good JRPGs for PS1. They're all still fun to play, you just have to like JRPGs.

    Avatar image for benjaebe
    benjaebe

    2868

    Forum Posts

    7204

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 6

    #8  Edited By benjaebe

    Final Fantasy holds up pretty well, especially 8 and 9 since the character detail was much better.
    @Laketown said:

    " I'm actually playing through Persona 2: Innocent Sin right now and really enjoying it.  well, if the battle system wasn't so fucking slow D: "

    This too. Started playing it not long ago on a whim and it's actually pretty damn enjoyable.
    Avatar image for csl316
    csl316

    17001

    Forum Posts

    765

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 10

    #9  Edited By csl316
    @drac96: I second Vagrant Story and Chrono Cross.  
     
    Sure, graphics are dated, but they're still great games.  Both have fun and challenging gameplay, excellent music, good stories, and unique styles.
    Avatar image for animasta
    Animasta

    14948

    Forum Posts

    3563

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 4

    User Lists: 5

    #10  Edited By Animasta
    @EVO said:
    " Ask people what their favourite JRPG is, and I think most would say one from the SNES - PSX era. So if anything, JRPGs are worse today than back then. "
    nostalgia dude. Sure, FF might have been better back then (I personally think 12's the best but I'm weird) but other JRPG's completely kick the ass of most early JRPG's.
    Avatar image for n3onthr33
    N3onThr33

    416

    Forum Posts

    373

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 1

    #11  Edited By N3onThr33

    Alright, so the verdict is they're still fun. I'll have to start looking for Chrono Cross or one of the others suggested. Thanks guys.

    Avatar image for ch13696
    ch13696

    4760

    Forum Posts

    204

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 11

    #12  Edited By ch13696

    Wait, are you trying to get recommendations or are you trying to prove a point? 
     
    If you want a recommendation then play Legend of Dragoon. I also suggest Legend of Legaia, but I'm hearing from a lot of people that it's crap. I actually don't think so. 

    Avatar image for rasko9
    rasko9

    97

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 0

    #13  Edited By rasko9

    i think there should be more jrps now like ff13 and star ocean. 
    western rpgs like fallout 3 are hella boring.
    Avatar image for n3onthr33
    N3onThr33

    416

    Forum Posts

    373

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 2

    User Lists: 1

    #14  Edited By N3onThr33
    @ch13696 said:
    " Wait, are you trying to get recommendations or are you trying to prove a point?  If you want a recommendation then play Legend of Dragoon. I also suggest Legend of Legaia, but I'm hearing from a lot of people that it's crap. I actually don't think so.  "
    I was really wondering if they were still playable compared to recent JRPG's. But, I also asked for recommendations. I've seen Legend of Dragoon fairly cheap, I'll probably pick that one up then. 
     
    @rasko9 said:
    " i think there should be more jrps now like ff13 and star ocean. western rpgs like fallout 3 are hella boring. "
    I would disagree. But it seems like you're trolling, so whatever.
    Avatar image for fateofnever
    FateOfNever

    1923

    Forum Posts

    3165

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #15  Edited By FateOfNever
     These are pretty good
    Legend of Mana
    Thousand Arms (some of the writing could be better though)
    Valkyrie Profile  
    Star Ocean: The Second Story
    Tales of Destiny 
    Azure Dreams
    plus a bunch of others already mentioned and probably a good number more that I forgot about.
    Avatar image for xyzygy
    xyzygy

    10595

    Forum Posts

    5

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #16  Edited By xyzygy

    FFVIII Is the best Final Fantasy on the PS1, I would definitely reccomend that. The whole leveling, skill and battle system is a lot different than any other FF 
     
    And Star Ocean: The second Story is really good too. I actually currently have Wild Arms on hold right now as I really wasn't enjoying it but hopefully it gets better, but after seeing all these people recommend it, it can't be that bad of a game.

    Avatar image for plop1920
    plop1920

    562

    Forum Posts

    100

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 1

    #17  Edited By plop1920

    Try Legend of Dragoon, I don't remember the story so take that as you will but I do remember the combat system in that game being a lot of fun

    Avatar image for gaff
    Gaff

    2768

    Forum Posts

    120

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #18  Edited By Gaff

    While I generally applaud some Vagrant Story love, or non-FF JRPGs in general, I honestly think that some UI and gameplay elements haven't aged well.

    Vagrant Story's blacksmithing is incredibly obtuse as is the Blunt / Sharp / Piercing and Dragon / Human / Phantom / Beast / Undead / etc. mechanic.
    FFT is hampered by a terrible translation (a sign of the times) and game breaking exploits (hello, fully decked out calculator).
    Even a late JRPG like Persona 4 still has some UI relics that just bog the game down.

    They're still great games, but... The sheen has dulled a bit since they were first released.

    Avatar image for nocookiesforyou
    NoCookiesForYou

    856

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #19  Edited By NoCookiesForYou

    Played Final Fantasy IX couple of weeks ago. Sure the graphics aren't aged that well, but it's propably one of the better looking PSX games out there. Great characters, music, atmosphere and a good story. Definitely recommend that one.

    Avatar image for kingzetta
    kingzetta

    4497

    Forum Posts

    88

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #20  Edited By kingzetta
    @McGhee_the_Insomniac said:
    " The PS1 was the Golden Age of the JRPG. Games to play: WILD ARMS Grandia Xenogears Breath of Fire 3 & 4 Suikoden 2 (expensive purchase nowadays) Alundra Brave Fencer Musashi Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9  And others, but this is off the top of my head. "
    yeah! when squaresoft actually made good games
    Avatar image for deactivated-5d7530f19fbe4
    deactivated-5d7530f19fbe4

    812

    Forum Posts

    32

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 1

    User Lists: 0

    Definitely play Grandia 3. Also consider Legend of Legaia . I got it for a friend on his birthday a long time ago, and he liked that. I haven't played too much of it, but what I have played I liked. Its battles have you select attacks by inputting them fighting game style, only there's no time limit. It's interesting.

    Avatar image for blueaniman93
    blueaniman93

    620

    Forum Posts

    49

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #22  Edited By blueaniman93

    i played final fantasy vii last year and loved it  
    im sure if you can get over the graphical antiquity, you can have a great time with psx or earlier jrpgs 
    you cant go wrong with one of the psx final fantasies
    Avatar image for pixelprinny
    PixelPrinny

    1089

    Forum Posts

    141

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 6

    #23  Edited By PixelPrinny
    @FateOfNever said:
    "  These are pretty goodLegend of Mana Thousand Arms (some of the writing could be better though)Valkyrie Profile   Star Ocean: The Second Story Tales of Destiny  Azure Dreams plus a bunch of others already mentioned and probably a good number more that I forgot about. "
    Wow, points for mentioning obscure titles like Thousand Arms and Azure Dreams. 
     
    Playing through Tales of Destiny myself at the moment. It has its charm, but the Tales series has definitely come a long, long way since then.  
     
    Lots of good games mentioned in this thread... Xenogears would get my recommendation as the absolute must-play PSX JRPG. That game is phenomenal.
     
    @kingzetta said:
    " yeah! when squaresoft actually made good games "
    Squaresoft published good games in the west, you mean. Square Co. Ltd. was their Japanese parent company. ;P
    Avatar image for kingzetta
    kingzetta

    4497

    Forum Posts

    88

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 4

    #24  Edited By kingzetta
    @PixelPrinny said:
    " @FateOfNever said:
    "  These are pretty goodLegend of Mana Thousand Arms (some of the writing could be better though)Valkyrie Profile   Star Ocean: The Second Story Tales of Destiny  Azure Dreams plus a bunch of others already mentioned and probably a good number more that I forgot about. "
    Wow, points for mentioning obscure titles like Thousand Arms and Azure Dreams. 
     
    Playing through Tales of Destiny myself at the moment. It has its charm, but the Tales series has definitely come a long, long way since then.  
     
    Lots of good games mentioned in this thread... Xenogears would get my recommendation as the absolute must-play PSX JRPG. That game is phenomenal.
     
    @kingzetta said:
    " yeah! when squaresoft actually made good games "
    Squaresoft published good games in the west, you mean. Square Co. Ltd. was their Japanese parent company. ;P "
    same thing
    Avatar image for mcghee
    McGhee

    6128

    Forum Posts

    0

    Wiki Points

    0

    Followers

    Reviews: 0

    User Lists: 2

    #25  Edited By McGhee
    @kingzetta said:
    " @McGhee_the_Insomniac said:
    " The PS1 was the Golden Age of the JRPG. Games to play: WILD ARMS Grandia Xenogears Breath of Fire 3 & 4 Suikoden 2 (expensive purchase nowadays) Alundra Brave Fencer Musashi Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9  And others, but this is off the top of my head. "
    yeah! when squaresoft actually made good games "
    I actually didn't hate FF 13 like so many do, but it definitely doesn't stand up to past games. I have high (maybe misguided) hopes for Versus 13. What I've seen of that game so far looks really amazing.

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.