turn-based jrpgs

[water dog]

Chrono Trigger is regarded as an RPG ahead of its time. Though arguable I'd say there is a close match for it in the recent release of the DS game Radiant Historia.

The music is superb

It's turn based BUT, it uses a pseudo-Grandia like system where you can who's turn is next and what you do can ultimately effect who goes next.

The story is good, and even npc's play a larger role in the world which took me be surprise.

The battle system is deep, hard, and yes in fact sometimes random battles are long. It all feel rewarding though, you learn more as you fight more. I think there's some sort of growth because in the later half of the game the battle take a super curve where you can get punished if you don't stop and think before your next turn.

I wish I had a clip to show you all the things this game does right, but by in large at the end I felt like I was playing what should have been Chrono Cross. Strange...

Anyway, I found a clip, but it doesn't really do the game nor the battles justice. If you can get your hands on this game I dare say you won't regret the effort, or time.

That looks amazing, actually.