I was talking with a co-worker today about Chrono Trigger and he said something like "that is considered to be the best RPG ever right?" I thought well... probably? But I think Final Fantasy VI could give it a run for its money? Both are in our top 10 Nintendo games of all-time list. I then said to him that it would be a pretty interesting battle on my site.

So then I thought... why not find out? I suspect Chrono Trigger will still win by a decent amount, but it could be close.

Which do YOU prefer?

PS. I know a lot of people probably have other RPGs that they would consider the best ever, but for the most part when it comes to Nintendo fans, these two seem to be the top dogs.

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Zero said:

It was a pretty close one, but looks like Chrono jumped ahead in the end! As expected.

That's what he does, I guess.

I'm pleased to see it was close, though. I know this board prefers CT but I like that we have some FF3 diehards too since that's long been my favorite RPG. Both great games, at any rate.

@Mop it up You may be right. I don't have any real numbers but I'd swear RPGs in general have just gotten longer and longer. On occasion, they justify the length, such as Xenoblade. Usually though I start getting bored somewhere in there.

Part of why I like going back and playing "retro" RPGs is feeling like there is a good chance it will be a tighter experience.

Shadowlink said:

@carlosrox

Are you on crack?


Secret of Mana is pretty damn mediocre. Chrono Trigger is superior in every way.

Yeah... Well a vote for CT from me comes as no surprise but I have to agree - Secret of Mana is interesting..but just doesn't compare. I give FFVI, a game I arguable haven't played as much as Mana, more props.

Music and character designs and story (from what I've played so far) are all superb in FFVI - but the overall gameplay is CT's clutch over it's main rival for me. CT made me an RPG fan -

I played neither of those, so I have no opinion on that matter. I'm kinda glad, though. That means I can still experience each of these games for the first time and, since you all talk about them so much, I'm probably in for a wonderful experience.

Besides Super Mario RPG, I've never played a Square RPG. With that said, which one of the two should I play first (considering I don't have much experience with JRPGs)?

@HammerLord

CT is easier to get into; the pacing is more gripping from the get-go. I feel that FF3 is ultimately more rewarding, but it takes a little time to build up steam, so CT is probably a better entry point in that way.

@HammerLord

Play Final Fantasy first. Save the best for last.

@HammerLord
@TriforceBun
@GameDadGrant

I'm in the GDG camp. I actually feel that Final Fantasy III is easier to get into, with Chrono Trigger being more for a well-trained, seasoned RPG player. But thats me.

When I initially read Grant's post, I thought "yeah! Play Final Fantasy first!"



You know..like Final Fantasy..on the SNES! DO IT, HL!
Trust me, its TOUGH to go BACK.

I actually feel Final Fantasy III/VI may be more accessible to the uninitiated, though it is tough to judge at this point. The battle system is a little more straightforward, so even though it has random battles instead of set encounters, it still seems more simple and has a more gradual difficulty curve. Some of the bosses in Chrono Trigger can be quite tough for someone who doesn't have the intrinsic understanding of RPGs that us seasoned veterans oft take for granted.

I dunno, I was a "veteran" by the time I got to FF III (VI) and the ending part where it gets super open-ended still confused me.

@Mop it up

I think both games have their difficulty spikes. Chrono Trigger has Giga Gaia, but FF3 has Chadarnook. The Floating Continent is always quite a tough spot too.

I still feel that CT's slightly more linear/focused character progression (combat-wise) and more evenly-paced storyline make it a bit more accessible, but maybe I'm in the minority there...?

@TriforceBun Nah, I agree. CT is definitely more accessible with linearity, but I found great pleasure when I stumbled upon special scenarios in FF6 which where party dependent. There was definitely a lot more of right place at right time scenarios in FF6.

Voted CT because I don't do random encounters. Can't do them. Utterly refuse to do them. I think I played all of 15 minutes of FFVI before my blood started to boil.

I put many hours into CT, loved the game but something shiny came along and distracted me and I never went back. Same happened with Radiant Historia (and Earthbound come to think of it) I just don't have the attention span, commitment or determination to complete these games. Although I will hungrily consume the Mario & Luigi RPGs; those rhythm-based battles are so involved and satisfying.

I'm watching Karen play though Chrono Trigger right now. It's her first RPG, and she's loving it.

It's true that there are some aspects of it that are pretty damn hard or not obvious for the unitiated. Against some bosses who have "charging up" phases, she doesn't always pick up on clues when it's time to attack and when it's time to heal. She also didn't have the reflex of trying different types of attacks when one is ineffective. And that's in addition to all the little strategies that veteran RPG players have, like not having two powerful characters attack the same minor enemy that one attack can't quite kill, and have a less powerful character finish it off instead (speeds up the battle a little bit).

All that, plus the fact that you need to be quick if you don't want to let the enemy get more hits in (even in wait mode, time isn't paused when you're selecting between Attack, Item or Tech).

But the characters are charming, the story has a great pacing to it, and the game is just so damn FUNNY. The dialogue shines in this game, and there are tons of cute little touches and funny moments, such has your party being sent high in the sky and boucing several times on the landing, when you get out of that whirlpool in 1000 AD. Or the "traps" in that area in the future where you need to avoid kicking a soda can in a garbage can, lest you trigger an enemy encounter. Or anything that has to do with cats.

So she has stuck with it, and she's gotten through most of the game now without me looking over her shoulder and telling her what to try against bosses or where to go next. She's just about to get imprisoned in the Blackbird, 15 hours in. That's pretty far into the game! And that's something else Chrono Trigger has over pretty much any Final Fantasy: its length is reasonable enough for people who might not play video games for hours every day to get through. And for those who do, well, it's infinitely replayable thanks to the several endings.


Final Fantasy III, I haven't replayed since that one time in the mid 90s. I want to, at some point, but last time I tried, I found the beginning pretty damn slow. Narshe kind of sucks.

Maybe we'll play it co-op once Karen finishes up CT.

Don't get me wrong, I think both games are fairly accessible for RPGs. But I think they are in different ways, and so I guess it depends on the person which one is easier to get into. Maybe it's just that I cut my teeth on the original Final Fantasy that I think it's the more accessible series. Or maybe it's that I appreciate the wider variety of characters and equipment, thinking it's an important thing to learn about most RPGs.

I can breeze through all of Final Fantasy III/VI in 15 hours, but of course I'm familiar with the game. Those older RPGs had a good length for sure. I don't think I still have my first save file to see how long it took the first time.

The best part is that a person can't go wrong either way no matter which game they choose.

I had to snap this pic in Akihibara for this thread:

FF6 confirmed worth more!

That Final Fantasy VI box is beautiful.

I prefer FF6 a little more, but, to be honest I'm not a huge fan of either game. Those are two of my bigger "WHAT!? you don't LOVE that game?!?!" titles. Both have a lot going for them. The Toriyama art in CT alone gives it major points. I'm not big on time travel though .... I think we can all agree that beyond Bill & Ted, nothing remained to need exploring in the realm of time travel fiction. FF6 was a little too drab for me. Plus, I found the cast to be a little less cohesive than others.

So, yea, good games, but neither one really ever grabbed me. FF6 gets a bit of an edge (ha! ... no wait, that's FF4), but, that's mostly due to the FF-flavor that I have an affinity for. Which probably shouldn't trump my Dragon Quest/Ball Toryiama affinity, but, in this case does for some reason!

Lufia 2 beats both of them but I have yet to play Chrono so VI wins.

I voted Chrono Trigger but for many years this really could have gone either way for me.

Now though, I think its without a doubt Chrono Trigger. Not to say there's anything wrong with FF6, as I think it is damn-near flawless as well, but if I had to be completely honest with myself, its original release was... kinda' buggy lol. That, and CT is just such a tight experience, feels like thought went into every single detail, every nook and cranny of the game...

Man. Playing through CT right no and I have the jones to do FF6 very soon afterwards, but playing a lot of old-school stuff lately has really reminded me of just how tightly these games were made.

Guillaume said:

Final Fantasy III, I haven't replayed since that one time in the mid 90s. I want to, at some point, but last time I tried, I found the beginning pretty damn slow. Narshe kind of sucks.

Maybe we'll play it co-op once Karen finishes up CT.

Yeah this is actually probably the one other thing I'd hold over FF6. It starts pretty slow, and the pacing can be fairly "get on with it plz k thx" at certain points.

CT doesn't feel like that for me at any point.