So I'm trying to stick to the years 1995 to 1999 as the core of Console Generation 5, but it is often that i get tired of the retro and just do a genre search for the latest RPGS and see what I can play for free or cheaply.
I should clarify "turn-based". Battle system only, so no SRPGs or Tactics games. Active-Time Battle systems are okay.
Here's the first week's failures. . . ahem, plays.
Romancing Saga 3 (1995; XSS) - I played the remake on XSS I've owned for years and have taken stabs at several times. For some reason, I couldn't get out of the first two RTS battles this time. I failed the first one, restarted, won it, then failed the second one. What the heck? I mean, let me get started why don't you game! Anyway -- took a break.
Final Fantasy VII (1997; XSS) - I got this on a sale digitally for XSS and played it there. Why is it I don't seem to enjoy any FF game after VI? I got a "game over" after the first boss fight with Guaridan Scorpion in the North Mako Reactor. What the?! I'll certainly try it again, but wow. What am I doing wrong?
Revelations: Persona (1996; PS Classic)
I discovered that the Playstation Classic mini console contains this first Persona game and so, with some trading, I got it. It was a way cheaper option than the original disc, which is probably hundreds of dollars. I also don't have a PSP anymore, otherwise I could've played the remastered version for that system.
I'm really liking the supernatural story and characters, but navigating the city without a map is very annoying. I mean, there is a map option in the menus, but it wouldn't open for some reason. I stopped, but later I downloaded a map to my phone. So, I will return.
Wild Arms (1996; PS4) - So I must have three copies of this in digital form now: one downloaded on my PS3, another on the PS Classic I just got, and a third got for free on my PS4 (not sure why it was free, but whatevs). I played it on the PS4 and got a lot farther than I did last time, which doesn't say much really. I finished each of the three characters' introductory missions and got past all the initial bosses, but then the guards in Lolithia's Tomb wouldn't let me in even though I'd talked to Emma like six times. Not sure what I did wrong but darn. They were supposed to let me in?! I'll return to it sometime. Anyway, I liked using Tactics Commands in battle. This is always fun for me, but sometimes it doesn't work too well. All-Out Attack certainly didn't -- better to use Defensive or Reserve to save spells for the bosses.
Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow (1996 and 1999; Switch) - So, there is no chance I'm getting to play these in their original form. Pokemon games on handheld are like crazy expensive. So I played the Switch remake of Yellow, Let's Go Pikachu, by renting it from my library. I liked it until I got stuck trying to figure out where the S.S. Anne was from Vermillion City. Well, sometimes I get frustrated and stop playing. Well, I got it's companion game Let's Go, Eevee! from the library. It's exactly the same game but with Eevee instead of Pikachu as your #1 pokemon. With the lessons learned from the first one, I am churning forward in it and will likely find the S.S. Anne because I found the map, silly Pooh.
Super Mario RPG (1996; Switch) - So I have already played the Switch remake and the original on Wii Virtual Console years agao, but this week I replayed the remake on Switch, this time on "normal" difficulty (I played on "breezy" previously). I got to the the Sunken Ship area, beat all the door guardians (only just) and then got wiped out returning to scour The Sea area. I really love this game, just not the puzzle you have to solve in the Sunken Ship; although, I did it before. Whatever. I'm keen to replay the original I have on my Wii hard drive as a comparison sometime this month.
Pokemon Stadium 1-2 (1998, 1999; Switch) - I remember playing this on N64 way back and enjoying it but this time not so much. I played it on the Switch subscription service. It seems that the best way to play this is if you can put your Pokemon Blue/Red data into it and battle your friends. The Switch version doesn't let you do this. So it's just rent-a-pokemon and battling trainers of different levels. Ho hum.
New Denpa Men (2024; Switch)
This is an phone game ported to Switch and reminds me of those Mii Plaza games like Warrior's Way. It has very simple graphics and all the basics of a traditional turn-based RPG. It was fun. It's a live, free-to-play game, so there are events to follow and options for in-game purchases. I kind of liked it for its simplicity.
That's a start, ain't it? I got so much more coming up to bat: I bought Valkrie Profile Lenneth on a sale on PS4 (purchased right on their phone app); I got Mario & Luigi: Brothership on hold at my library; and Paper Mario is on the Switch subscription service. I can't wait for those.
Comments
Cary Woodham
05/04/2025 at 09:32 AM
Even though one of these is not in your timeline, I hope you get to play Final Fantasy 6 and Chrono Trigger. FF6 is one of my top five favorite games of all time, and Chrono Trigger is not far behind that.
Super Mario RPG is also great. The remake won my GOTY the year before last. Such great memories playing this one. Back in the day, my brother Jeff would always ask for me to play "Mario PG" and "Chwono Twigger." But since he couldn't read yet, if I forget to read the text aloud, he'd yell out, "Tell it!"
I liked the PokeBall controller you could get to play Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee. It only had one button so you could play the game with just one hand and make throwing motions with it to act like you're throwing Pokeballs.
One interesting fact about the Pokemon Stadium games is that the former president of HAL and Nintendo, Iwata, programmed these. He pretty much saved Game Freak's butts on multiple occaisions. Back when I was wriitng for The Dallas Morning News and covering everything Pokemon, Jeff and I went to a mall where they were doing a stage show showing off the new at the time Pokemon Stadium. Since I was a press guest, they had me and Jeff go up on stage and play the game. The audience down below kept cheering for our Pokemon and Jeff was grinning ear to ear! He was about 6 at the time I think.
Don't listen to the reviews, Mario & Luigi Brothership is actually really good.
KnightDriver
05/08/2025 at 11:52 AM
Chrono Trigger comes up on best of lists for SNES so often. I just don't know how I'll get to play it though. Both the DS and SNES games are expensive. I wonder why they haven't remastered it? They did Chrono Cross.
I may play SM RPG again in its original form on my Wii this month, but I'm kind of taking a break from my plan right now.
I saw that Pokemon ball controller icon. It would be cool to try that thing out. I'll keep an eye out for it at my local shops.
That must've been great in front of a crowd.
I've heard Brotherhood starts a little slow but picks up, according to someone I read on reddit. I love the series, so I'll be playing it regardless.
Cary Woodham
05/08/2025 at 03:38 PM
There's a rumor going around that Chrono Trigger is getting a remaster...
Yeah it was great playing Pokemon Stadium with a crowd behind us. I heard stuff like, "Aw, he chose Snorlax!" "Go Snorlax!" "Wow, he has Mewtwo?!" "Look, Mewtwo used Swift Attack!"
Brothership has a really good message in the story about staying connected with friends and family.
KnightDriver
05/10/2025 at 02:18 PM
I heard Chrono Trigger is on PC through Steam, although I haven't checked because I don't have a gaming PC at the moment, but that is good news. . . or, a good rumor I'd like to believe. It seems a no brainer to me.
That's super cool. You both must've been thrilled by that.
Someone still has Brotherhood out at my library, but I'm patiently waiting. I think I'm next in line. I'm thinking of owning it though because I should have all the M&L games for my collection.
daftman
05/05/2025 at 04:06 PM
I tried playing the first Persona game on PSP back in the day and couldn't get into it. A big part of that was that I HATED the battle music so much. At this point I just remember that there was singing and I HATED the song. I would have to be scraping the bottom of my impressive backlog to give that game another go lol.
KnightDriver
05/08/2025 at 11:58 AM
Yeah, I want to go back to it, but there's quite a bit to put up with. I don't have the will right now.
Ranger1
05/12/2025 at 08:18 PM
Chrono Trigger was also ported to the PS1 as part of the Final Fantasy Chronicles two game collection, along with FF IV. Too bad we don't live closer, I'd loan you my DS copy.
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