Triangle Strategy / トライアングルストラテジー

Normally I’m not a fan of strategy RPGs, but the stars aligned for me and Triangle Strategy. I played the demo when it first came out, and it piqued my interest. It seemed to have more JRPG trappings than Fire Emblem, and the lack of permadeath eliminated the main source of stress I had when I tried Fire Emblem. This year I was in the mood for a Switch RPG that required some thinking but could also be easily picked up and put down, so on a semi-whim I bought Triangle Strategy, and now, over 100 hours later, here I am.

Chrono Cross / クロノ・クロス

Chrono Trigger is a stunning masterpiece with beautiful pixel graphics, engaging gameplay, fantastic music, memorable characters, and a well-paced, well-constructed time travel story. It's no wonder it's hailed by many as one of the, if not the, greatest video games of all time, and it's fully deserving of such exemplary accolades.

Chrono Cross, its sequel, is fine.

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology / ラジアントヒストリア パーフェクトクロノロジー

Desertification has been ravaging the continent of Vainqueur, forcing the two major countries of Alistel and Granorg into a war over the remaining fertile land. We play as Stocke, a special intelligence operative for Alistel. One day, Stocke receives from his boss what appears to be a blank book—but turns out to be a magical artifact known as the White Chronicle, which allows Stocke to travel through time. Teo and Lippti, children who act as advisers to the holder of the White Chronicle, warn Stocke of the world's inevitable destruction from desertification and task him with stopping it.

Dragon Quest XI / ドラゴンクエストXI

Although it didn't pick up as much popularity in America, Dragon Quest is a veritable phenomenon in Japan. And with good cause: Dragon Quest XI is an insanely fun, good ol' fashioned RPG that's filled to the brim with content. This is a game not to be missed.

Mind Zero / マインドゼロ

Today, I'm going to be talking about a JRPG about a group of Japanese high schoolers that each bond with a unique magical being, allowing them to fight alongside said being, prompting them to venture into an alternate, twisted version of our own world to fight other magical beings and get to the bottom of what's going on. And if the title of this post and image right above this paragraph didn't give it away, I'm not talking about Persona. No, I'm talking about the Persona knock-off, Mind Zero!