Chrono Cross vs Final Fantasy IX

[Jorpho]

This question has come up in a potential trade. Chrono Cross is the original release, FFIX is Greatest Hits. Since I lack an actual Playstation, I'll be playing whichever one I end up with on an emulator.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to play, finish, and enjoy FFIX, but I played through it rather quickly and I don't think I'd mind taking the time to go through it again. Chrono Cross I have not played at all.

What do you think?

[BocoDragon]

Defeintely Chrono Cross:

1. It's the non-Greatest Hits

2. It's rarer than FFIX in any version... and the FFIX GH is probably a cinch to find later anyhow.

3. Just purely on the merits of their gameplay: They are both excellent, but I think Cross holds a more special place in my heart.... The music is greater, the style is more original than a classic FF, and the storyline is more out there..

FFIX is an excellent title though, and it is better than Cross in the area of character development.... Still, you can get it later quite easily, and a non-GH Chrono Cross is a significant find at this point. Since you've never played it, that's another thing going for it.

Get Cross.

[Daria]

Based on pure trade value Chross is the game to get because it's the orignal edition.

But gameplay wise, I had a lot more fun playing Final Fantasy IX.

[insinion]

I actually never play chrono chross... I've finished chrono trigger on the snes and thought it was a great game. Is chrono chross worth playing? If yes i'll try to obtain a copy :pimp:

[kainemaxwell]

I just got into FF9 more then I did CC. Love the storylines and music of both, but CC seems not as tight as 9, maybe cause of the "collect them all" feel of all the extra party members.

[Daria]

I actually never play chrono chross... I've finished chrono trigger on the snes and thought it was a great game. Is chrono chross worth playing? If yes i'll try to obtain a copy :pimp:

Chrono Cross is NOTHING like Chrono Trigger.

[InsaneDavid]

I actually never play chrono chross... I've finished chrono trigger on the snes and thought it was a great game. Is chrono chross worth playing? If yes i'll try to obtain a copy :pimp:

Chrono Cross is NOTHING like Chrono Trigger.

Which is probably why I was dissapointed with it from the start.

[roushimsx]

Which is probably why I was dissapointed with it from the start.

Me too :(

I played the hell out of Chrono Trigger and when Chrono Cross came out, I was pretty darn excited for it. Unfortunately it seemed to draw from the same "style over substance" school of thought as Final Fantasy 8. I've tried to go back to it a couple of times with the intention of beating it, but I never seem to make it more than a few hours in before I realize I'm wasting my time and I turn it off :(

In contrast, after my disappointment with Final Fantasy VII and VIII I pretty much wrote off the damn Final Fantasy series. It wasn't until earlier this year when I finally fired up Final Fantasy IX and I was plesantly surprised. It's not a terribly original game at all...it's best to think of it as a very pretty SNES RPG. A lot of my complaints of the previous two games were fixed and it really did feel like a "true" Final Fantasy game again.

On trade value though, I'd say go with Chrono Cross.

[theshizzle3000]

Chrono Cross is one of the greatest games to ever be released and I believe it was only beaten by Metal Gear Solid and FF7 as best game for the PSX so I would definitely go with Chrono Cross over FF9 any day

[ubersaurus]

I loooooves the Chrono Cross.

It's very different from Trigger, and perhaps that's for the best. Nothing can do Trigger's style better than Trigger did.

[Nez]

Chrono Cross, fun game love some of the plot twists. The element field got on my nerves though.

[cyberfluxor]

Chrono Cross. You've already played FFIX and beaten it, it's a common PS game and will be easy to find later on, especially that GH version. Chrono Cross is a neat experience you haven't had yet and will be enjoyed as many others have. In addition it's sought after and has a collector's value to it and will just make you feel good playing it.

[Jorpho]

Interesting points. I thought that both of them were generally regarded as sort-of middling. I also had no idea that non-GH versions were still so valuable these days.

I gather that either one will work fine in most readily-available emulators?

[Blanka789]

If you want trade value, go with Chrono Cross. If you want gamepl;ay, I say Final Fantasy IX (although both are good).

[slip81]

Chrono Cross all the way.

You've played FFIX and GH versions are a cinch to find, so get the rearer, non-played game first.

[roushimsx]

Interesting points. I thought that both of them were generally regarded as sort-of middling. I also had no idea that non-GH versions were still so valuable these days.


Never underestimate the Squaresoft fanboys :)


I gather that either one will work fine in most readily-available emulators?

Yep. Chorno Cross works flawlessly in pSX Emulator and Final Fantasy IX worked almost flawlessly when I played through it back in May (the only problem being that it didn't properly stretch to run full screen).

With some fiddling, you can get them running with varying levels of success in ePSXe (pretty much the worst option for Chrono Cross), SSSPSX, and PSXeven.