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Xenogears or Chrono Cross?

I never finished Xenogears so I can't really say which is better between the two. But I can say that I thought Chrono Cross was fantastic. As long as you don't go into it expecting it to be a true sequel to Chrono Trigger then you should be fine. Think of it as it's own story with little connections to Trigger and you'll enjoy it may more. I think most people who loved Trigger but hate Cross dislike CC because they were let down that it wasn't a true sequel. And Chrono Trigger is my favorite game. Chrono Cross was still really great in my opinion.
 
E92 M3 said:
Xenogears. Best JRPG music as well.
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I agree. Still my #1 game
 
Hades Hotgun said:
Gears

Amazing art design, let down by terrible graphics. Great music that serves to enhance an ambitious and rewarding narrative among the absolute best in gaming. Decent gameplay, hampered by half baked mech battles and a broken random encounter system that lets you move around after a battle has been triggered, but before it actually starts.

For example, you will walk up to doors and not be able to go through, because you have triggered a fight and don't realize it. This won't be a major annoyance until Babel, where it will happen during forced platforming sections and the battle will load while you're in mid air, then you will fall after the fight.
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I started playing Xenogears for the first time a few weeks ago, and apart from the horrendous platforming, it's the loading times that almost made me give up on the game. I haven't timed it, but it feels like the game needs to load 10-15 seconds any time you enter or exit the menu, go through a door,...
 
I would say Xenogears first. Chrono Cross has a new game + so you might want to go through it again . Xenogears is a one and done .
As for quality ..I love them both but Xenogears wins by a very small margin
 
Go with Xenogears first, but definitely play CC at some point as well. As long as you go into CC not expecting it to be CT2, it's a great game on its own.
 
Chrono Cross->Xenogears->Chrono Cross again.

You can have a complete experience playing through CC once, fully appreciating the depth & density of that world, however, requires multiple play throughs -- and even then you probably wouldn't see everything.

Plus it's arguably the prettiest game on PSX. The soundtrack speaks for itself.
 
Like many others I'd recommend Xenogears as well. The whole combo system it has is by far my favorite combat system in any jrpg. I always hoped Xenosaga would have it but sadly they couldn't use it.
 
If I wanted to to play chrono cross what is the most interesting and effective party from both story and gameplay?
 
Honestly, I've never played Xenogears -- the general art style was acceptable to me, but I really don't have any interest in things that revolve around mechs (and religion? but if religion was a main theme, as it was in FFX, I'm probably better off never having played it.)

Chrono Cross has the misfortune of being the "sequel" to one of the most beloved JRPGs of all time. But it's still a good time and has a lot of variety/depth.

In the end, play whichever (or both) grabs your interest; as you can see, there are more than enough people pushing their preference here, so each still has it's fair share of fans.
 
i really liked xenogears in his time. but cross its fucking amazing, i really love it, just dont expect a trigger sequel.
 
heringer said:
Xenogears has not aged well in graphics and gameplay.
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I can agree with this. I played it probably five years ago and the gameplay was pretty boring, but it was still interesting enough. Chrono Cross bores me to tears though, absolutely hated that game.
 
Xenogears has characters that are fun to play as and memorable. Chrono Cross has way too many that are forgettable. I don't consider this a downside but many were disappointed with Xenogears disc 2. Disc 2 is very text heavy. Told mostly in a more narrative way but eventually you gain back control and can explore the world again.
 
The first 1/3 of Xenogears is pretty much the best JRPG ever. There's so much to see and do and take in... It kind of goes downhill after that though. The dungeons get longer and more confusing to navigate, the great battle system gets eschewed for the more basic gear-based combat, and then you hit disc 2. It's kind of tragic in a way.

Chrono Cross is a solid game, but I found it a bit boring.
 
Xenogears is a tedious, ponderous, belabored work. It was a chore for me to finally finish. Maybe because I played it fairly recently for the first time? It has aged very poorly.

Chrono Cross might have a similarly convoluted plot, but at least it knew when to finally end and it feels much less dated.
 
Man i see lots of hate on CC here, where is Ishida when you need him, But for OP's question, i'd get xenogears out of the way, and hope your dark/brightness settings are good for the dumb platforming that game has in certain areas. Then play CC, think of it as Chrono trigger being a worry free game and CC rectifying all those mistakes you made as a child and show you why those were mistakes (and too many characters for its own good ) or back to the future with doc thinking OH BOY time travel to OMG Time travel is bad... some people didnt like that idea.
 
Chrono Cross' story was really not great and made me wince a few times as an adult. Nice production values, great soundtrack, the combat hasn't aged well in my eyes. Disk 2 is noticeably cut down compared to disk 1.

Xenogears has its charms, and then disk 2 happens.

I'd choose Xenogears. Both games have the disk 2 problem, but I appreciated what Xenogears tried to do.
 
Both have their issues but I'd put Xenogears far ahead. Music, story, characters, and world are better in Xenogears. Although Cross does also has some great music. I'd put Cross's battle system ahead by a bit, but both are pretty weak. Not sure how either would go over for a new player. Xenogears is in need of a good translation, and faster text. Chrono Cross would probably feel a little less dated, but don't go in expecting an actual sequel to Trigger. In that regard it's shit. As an actual game, it's alright I guess. I didn't hate Cross in my one playthrough of the game, but I never felt a desire to play it again, and every time I've tried I don't make it too far before switching to Trigger or Xenogears.
 
Kain said:
Some say it's a deliberate choice but it's not, the game was too ambitious for its own good and the budget went to shit by that point of developement.
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Wasn't it more like it was supposed to be FF7 and was doing fine with it's budget, before that title suddenly got handed over to one of Sakaguchi's pet projects which became the FF7 we know - And then after FF7 was successful, Square management pulled funding and staff from projects that were not projected to be in the ballpark of FF7's success in favor of FF8 and other "proven" IPs, screwing over Xenogears?

At least that's the way I've heard it told.
 
Nottle said:
If I wanted to to play chrono cross what is the most interesting and effective party from both story and gameplay?
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In terms of story it doesn't matter. The vast majority of party members you get have fuck all to do with the story. The story in the game is mostly told in info dumps with very little character interaction.
 
Xenogears. Yes the story does take a hit f a nose dive in the second disc, but it is an incredible game with amazing music and a fun battle system.

I always loved the graphics for what it's worth.
 
Chrono Cross has the best soundtrack and battle system in RPG history. Xenogears is an absolute slog to play through.

Chrono Cross is easily in my top 5 of all time. I replay it every year.
 
Chrono Cross!!

One of the best JRPG's ever made! It has the best combat system ever created. There are multiple side characters to try and play and I enjoyed the story.

I think held up better visually than Xenogears as well.

Please note I am extremely bias as Chrono Cross is tied for one of my favorite games ever!
 
Both games are so different. Xeno gives you a mecha game with great characters and story while Cross handles characters differently due to the large amount of them and the stories ties to it's predecessor, Trigger. I think both have their merits but I lean more towards Xeno.

Soundtrack wise CC is better but I have a soft spot for Xeno's music because it's also really good.
CertifiedFP said:
Wasn't it more like it was supposed to be FF7 and was doing fine with it's budget, before that title suddenly got handed over to one of Sakaguchi's pet projects which became the FF7 we know - And then after FF7 was successful, Square management pulled funding and staff from projects that were not projected to be in the ballpark of FF7's success in favor of FF8 and other "proven" IPs, screwing over Xenogears?

At least that's the way I've heard it told.
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It's been an on going rumour for years but I think it was debunked.

Xeno just was too big for it's own good and it ended up causing disc 2 to change drastically from 1. The games still great and I'll adore it always but the way things play out is such a disappointment.
 
Xenogears. It's so good I'm scared to give it another playthrough just cause I'm scared it wouldn't be as good as I believe in my heart it is.

Chrono Cross is damn good too, with the best OST after NieR's.
 
I really can't think of a game that has better art design and music than Chrono Cross. Love both games, but Chrono Cross spoke to me with just the dreamlike vibe it gave off. It's a special game.

Now that you know that this game isn't Chrono Trigger 2, I'm sure you'll fall in love with the game. It's a great game in its own right and stands above the rest of its genre in some aspects.
 
I had more fun with Chrono Cross, plot and characters wise Xenogears is the better game, but beaware, Xenogears last third (second disc) is a huge disappointment. The end game is fine though.

None of them are among my favourites jrpg, good games but a little bit overhyped.
 
Chrono Cross by a bit. Better battle system. Xenogears had some major pacing issues as well. Both fantastic JRPGs, in any case.

Alcoholikaust said:
Xenogears by a country mile. Story music and art kill Chrono Cross.
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I beg to differ. On story, yes, I give Xenogears the win. Music and art, no way. Chrono Cross has the best soundtrack of any video game, ever, and some of the best art.
 
BOTH are great games. BOTH have their strengths and flaws. BOTH are absolutely worth playing.

My personal pick is Chrono Cross. I adore that game just a tad more than Xenogears, even if I acknowledge Xenogears has a much better story. I just prefer the visuals, world, music, gameplay, and charm of Chrono Cross more.

To me, Chrono Cross is the equivalent of a video game vacation to a beautiful location filled with beautiful music and beautiful characters, a play to see landmarks, historical areas, and observe the local wildlife.

Xenogears is the equivalent of a video game study on psychology and spirituality. It's very rewarding and its subject matter is very adult and deep. It's more "grounded" and tackles real world issues of politics, gender, race, religion, and the human condition in a fervent and meaningful way. It's far less "enjoyable" as a result, but there's more meat to it.

Due to this, I loved my time with both games, but Chrono Cross is the easier game for me to revisit time and again. It's the only game I have no problem just standing around doing nothing but looking at the visuals and soaking in the soundtrack and letting it transport me to some far-off location full of adventure, daring, and romance.
 
Chrono Cross! It is very different from Chrono Trigger, though.
Xenogears has an incredible story, but man is the game ugly and the gameplay dull.
 
I never played Xenogears, but I loved Chrono Cross.

There seem to be a lot of people that really dislike Chrono Cross though, and they tend to be people who have played Chrono Trigger and absolutely loved it.
 
As others have said, play both but Xenogears is probably my favorite game of all time, so I'll say that. For me, it still has the best story in a video game. Great characters, world, battle system, and music. Graphics aren't that hot and disc 2 lacks a lot of gameplay but everything else is aces.
 
People saying xenogears is the better game...there is nothing fun about chrono cross' battle system. Its a shittier version of materia.

Meanwhile, stacking combos and gear battles in xenogears was enjoyable.
 
Do you want half of a great game, or a mediocre bog standard pre rendered background jrpg that devolved considerably from its predecessor in a number of ways, but has fantastic music and pretty fmv's?
 
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