The PlayStation 1 was home to some great JRPGs, and these particular ones featured incredible stories for gamers to enjoy.
Sony’s debut on the console market came with the PlayStation, one of the greatest consoles ever made that blew its competition out of the water. After the company failed to combine its efforts with Nintendo and Sega to develop a console, Sony decided to jump into the market on their own feet and came out swinging. CD-ROM technology may seem rather mundane now, but the simple addition of a disc drive to this console did wonders for developers who wanted to cram as much stuff as possible into their games.
With every genre trying to push the boundaries of what is possible in their games on this new hardware, JRPGs weren’t far behind. 3D graphics, experimental battle systems, and epic storylines were just a few of the many ways in which this genre improved, with the latter being especially notable. The PS1 was a hub for some of the greatest JRPGs ever made, and a lot of these titles made it a point to feature some of the most epic stories that gamers could enjoy.5 Chrono Cross
The last thing gamers expected from a sequel to Chrono Trigger was a game that Suikoden-ed its cast and introduced so many party members that it felt somewhat overwhelming. This, coupled with gameplay and a storyline that felt notably different from its predecessor, led to a cold and unwelcoming fan reception for Chrono Cross. However, trying to live up to the legacy of the greatest JRPG ever made was a tall order, and Chrono Cross holds up as an excellent JRPG once these comparisons are done away with.
The plot is complex and deals with parallel worlds and divergence, with the protagonist, Serge, trying to figure out an event that led to his death in a different world. It’s an excellent story bolstered by engaging characters who manage to stand out despite having to share their presence with numerous other figures. The narrative of Chrono Cross is one of its biggest strengths and a huge reason why gamers can’t get enough of this excellent title.4 Xenogears
Many people consider Xenogears to be a tale of unfulfilled potential, with Tetsuya Takahashi’s dreams unable to become a reality as the game exhausted its budget.
