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xenogears or chrono cross

What's the better game, Xenogears or Chrono Cross?

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Yasunori Mitsuda is so ridiculously above and beyond any composer out there that you need to try both games. It's insane.
 
Adam Prime said:
lol that game is garbage man. Did you finish it? The random battles are fucking insane, like 5 step battle rate.

That poor man's broken ass PaRappa the Rapper battle system. LOL

Seriously you can't finish the game, beat the last boss, unless you are a rhythm game professional.
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I found the encounter rate more annoying in Xenogears than in LoD, as much as I love that game. I'd also say you're overselling the hand-eye coordination actually required to play LoD...significantly.

Other than battles not occurring anywhere near as frequently as you claim, you're also given ample warning before they occur. I did not appreciate Xenogears preventing jumping whenever it cut randomly to a battle, especially not in the platforming dungeons.
 
Chrono Cross is so good. My favorite RPG ever.

It might have the best combination of art direction and music you'll find in a videogame, period. The battle system and leveling system go against JRPG conventions and have some interesting ideas and help give the game a unique feel. Everyone owes it to themselves to play it.
 
Kageshinzo said:
I haven't played Legend of Dragoon yet but I think the reason why some people dismiss it is because it came out at a time when Squaresoft was putting out RPG heavy hitters left and right. It just sort of wallowed in the background.

I mean, really, in that span of year, LoD was sandwiched between Vagrant Story, Chrono Cross, and FFIX. Not to mention Capcom releasing Breath of Fire IV in that period as well. Personally, I did not get the game because I was in university and there were only so many RPGs I could play with the free time I had.

I'm sure it's an okay RPG though.
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No, it's not.

There's not a redeeming quality about that game. It's a signifcantly worse time investment than any of those JRPGs that you mentioned.

Even if it was the ONLY PS1 JRPG on the system, it wouldn't be worth anyone's time.

I HATE LEGEND OF DRAGOON. IT KILLED MY FAMILY.
 
Ishida said:
Great! Enjoy it and don't forget to share your opinions on the game. Prepare yourself for one heeeeeeell of a journey.
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Also don't forget to go away and play it. Shit is ridiculously easy to spoil and I'm surprised that someone hasn't managed to already in this thread.
 
I love both games, but if I had to choose one it would be Xenogears. It's the game that caused me to (finally) buy a PSX in 1998. It's also the first video game soundtrack I ever bought.
 
Xenogears is the only game I know where the text speed is detrimental to the quality of the game.

EDIT: Also, back when the forum had reputation points, if a person mentioned liking Legend of Dragoon, I'd take all of them away.
 
Oh my god. You can't, can't, CAN'T deny yourself one of these games.

Chrono Cross has the superior soundtrack, which is saying a lot cause Xenogears's soundtrack is already an untouchable, GOD-tier piece of work that easily wipes the floor with the vast majority of other game's OSTs.

The backgrounds and world in Chrono Cross are also so goddamn lush and beautiful. (Could be wrong by I think it's done by the same artist that did the backgrounds for Baten Kaitos.)

While I enjoyed the story in CC, do not go in expecting a direct sequel to CT. Overall, Xenogears easily wins out here. The scope, ambition, topics it explores are astounding, and having a heaping of it served full on in the 2nd disc was a treat for me.

Also, Xenogears has mechs so, instant advantage there.

All in all, PLAY BOTH.

Might wanna start with CC first though, cause I think Xenogears is longer, and kinda more punishing. (But overall, I'd say a grander, more rewarding experience and journey.)

perorist said:
Thank you. Disc 2 is the best part of the game unless you were looking forward to more grindy random encounters.
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Yeah it's like people that dislike Disc 2 completely missed the bread and butter of the game. Intentional or not on Squaresoft's part, what they did on the 2nd disc, let the game's strongest and most appealing aspect totally shine in the spotlight. I think it balanced extremely well with disc one.
 
Adam Prime said:
No, it's not.

There's not a redeeming quality about that game. It's a signifcantly worse time investment than any of those JRPGs that you mentioned.

Even if it was the ONLY PS1 JRPG on the system, it wouldn't be worth anyone's time.

I HATE LEGEND OF DRAGOON. IT KILLED MY FAMILY.
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Adam Prime said:
HEY, TRY EATING GARBAGE IN THE DUMPSTER BEHIND THE RESTAURANT. WHY NOT? IT'S FREE.
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Well, now, you just convinced me to see if I can hunt down a copy! :v
 
Honestly, my all time list goes.

1. Okami
2. Persona 4
3. Chrono Cross
4. Xenogears
5. Chrono Trigger
6. FFVII

You owe it to yourself to play both games. I just don't see why anyone would deny either.
 
I'm always surprised by how often Chrono Cross comes up on this board. I know it's not exactly alien to any body with passing knowledge of 90's RPGs, but none of my gamer friends in real life ever seem to know about this game.

Anyway, as always with these threads I'll throw in my opinion to help mitigate the hate.

Chrono Cross is one of my favorite games ever made. It's something some people have trouble getting into, especially if you can't separate it from Trigger, but, from my experience, if you can get into it, it will absolutely grab hold of you. The art and music from the game remain some of my favorite ever created.

The battle system can get a little dull since the game is too easy to ever take advantage of some of the more original concepts, and the number of characters stretch the depth a little bit thin across the board, but the world-building in that game is master class. I want to be there. I want to see every location, talk to every person, fight every monster. And there's enough options with what paths you take and who you take with you that the game can feel consistently fresh and mysterious through out the entire playthrough.

I also think the pacing is really well done. Not with the story perhaps, which is pretty back-heavy, but the game-aspect is paced perfectly. There's always a whole new world waiting to be revealed, new elements and equipment to acquire, just a ton of stuff to earn and learn and do. (Edit: Also, no grinding or random encounters. This cannot be over stated. Level is essentially just based on Story Progression through boss fights, which are awesome by and large. More RPGs need to do this, its way more respectful of your time and satisfying to play. You log on for the adventure, not to increase some petty stats)

I'm not even a fan of RPGs really, but Chrono and Xeno games have always kind of been the exception. Still, I don't think Chrono Cross, as an experience, should be so easily ignored.

I'm super rambling right now because I'm about to get off work but...yeah. I'm throwing my hat in the ring for Chrono Cross.Whichever you choose, please report your impressions back to Gaf as you play. I'd love to hear them.
 
Soriku said:
The pacing is really bad in Cross. The meat of the plot doesn't come in till towards the end of the game. Before then it's just going from place to place to place without much going on.

The battle system isn't that great either. At least it has no random battles.

I want to get Xenogears but I'm worried that the battle system and frequent random encounters will grate.
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I mean, the larger connections to Trigger come in at the end, but the moment-to-moment pacing is still great. Stuff is always happening.

Xenogears' random battle rate is exceptionally high, and frustrating.
 
Well, shit, reading through this thread and listening to soundtrack examples has pushed all my nostalgia buttons. I miss the old Squaresoft in such a big way. Why did things have to go so wrong? :(
 
Some of the guys who developed chrono trigger went on to make xenogears(and saga, and blade) that should make it easier for you OP
 
Xenogears. I Dont think any game will ever match the sheer amount of plot depth and amazing cast of characters in any JRPG evar. Hell, to this day, im still fascinated by Gnostic mythology because of that game.
 
cheststrongwell said:
I posted earlier that Chrono Cross has a much better soundtrack than Xenogears. I forgot about this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOjm9I_-Psw

I'm conflicted.
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Maybe it would help if you didn't just compare the two games best.

This Chrono Cross song is far far worse than anything you'll hear in Xenogears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRkqWdE_Nd0

And... it is the song you hear the most in the entire game.

For a game with supposedly one of the best soundtracks, there are times that I had to put my TV on mute just because I was so sick of this annoying fucking song. I never had to do that for any other game's soundtrack.
 
Xenogears' plot seemed fuckass amazing when I was younger, but the last time I played it, it seemed like a weird hodgepodge of religious imagery and goofy anime. Maybe it's better in Japanese.

Lothar said:
Maybe it would help if you didn't just compare the two games best.

This Chrono Cross song is far far worse than anything you'll hear in Xenogears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRkqWdE_Nd0

And... it is the song you hear the most in the entire game.

For a game with supposedly one of the best soundtracks, there are times that I had to put my TV on mute just because I was so sick of this annoying fucking song. I never had to do that for any other game's soundtrack.
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Man, I forgot(blocked) that song. Very shitty.
 
Get both eventually. I chose to do Chrono Cross first and haven't gotten to gears yet but either way i doubt you can go wrong. Play both eventually tho!
 
It's true that the major plot points happen at disc 2,thing is its just tells the story and lets you fight the boss battles , like going to the destination without the journey. That's why disc 2 is weak compared to the first. I think they had budget only for the final dungeon at that point .

And i never understood the "Cross story happens only in the last hour" theory, in that parts happens the connection with trigger but Cross has a nice plot with all the Serge/Lynx relationship and the dimensional travel between worlds.

Both are great games imho although I replayed Xeno 2 years ago on the psp and it has aged a bit poorly ...
 
suppadoopa said:
wow the text speed in this game

after this game did these people go on to plan out FFIX's battles or what
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Things like text speed and random battle encounter rates will test your patience for sure, but despite it being so archaic in aspects like these, it's still one of the most phenomenal RPG's ever. It's high points more than make up for its drawbacks. Just stick with it.

Also, just prepare for Babel Tower. IT WILL SCAR YOU. But it's still not enough to warrant walking away from the game.
 
suppadoopa said:
wow the text speed in this game

after this game did these people go on to plan out FFIX's battles or what
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Things to do at the start of the game for items much later. There is a web in the house you start in that you have to jump to get. Beat the rock paper scissors kid 5 times in a row for a badge (there are 2 more kids with other games in later towns, get their badges as well). In the path to visit the doctor there is a spider in one of the trees that you can get, and finally there is a ring in the flowers outside the doctors house. Minor items can be found everywhere and rewarded from doing things multiple times, like jumping down the well in the first town a bunch. Enjoy.
 
In my opinion, Chrono Cross is way better than Xenogears. I really liked Chrono Cross as a sequal to Chrono Trigger. I could have done with less playable characters but other than that, a solid fun game.

I never finished Xenogears once I got to disk 2. I remember hitting a really long and boring dungeon and just losing interest. Tedious long dungeons remove the fun factor and Chrono Cross brings in a lot of Chrono Trigger elements and nostalgia. Definitely go with Cross.
 
If you are like me and have a hard time playing older games sometimes then Cross holds up much better than Xenogears in that regard. Cross takes up the PS1 era Final Fantasy mantle while Xenogears is the full gnarly looking 3D type of RPG Grandia was.
 
ZombiePlatypus said:
Also, just prepare for Babel Tower. IT WILL SCAR YOU. But it's still not enough to warrant walking away from the game.
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Game is so good that I was ok with enduring that damned tower 4 times.

----------------

Xenogears is the first game that made me cry! The OST is fantastic, and it was also the pioneer in having a theme with lyrics for a Squaresoft title. My signature on my email is from Xenogears, too ("don't miss the greater happiness by being misled by minor sufferings"). I actually own two physical copies, and one digital - I actually wonder if I can get it on my Vita too...

OP, you will not regret getting Xenogears. Please also look up and read on Perfect Works. The scope of that game is huge, and it's one of gaming history's greatest tragedies that it wasn't allowed to fully develop as it should have been. Also a damn tragedy that there is no way we will ever see a remake.
 
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