u/thewiredeathgrip

I had never played a Zelda game before. I almost started with Ocarina of Time, considering how often it's still referenced and praised decades after its release. However, my recent dive into 8-bit and 16-bit JRPGs (Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, Phantasy Star IV, Dragon Quest V) convinced me to begin with the SNES classic A Link to the Past instead.

After more than 20 hours of gameplay, I came face-to-face with Trinexx, the last major obstacle before finally taking on Ganon. That's when I realized I was missing the Ice Rod and couldn't defeat him. No big deal, I just had to backtrack.

But then I thought: why not use this little break to try out the original 1986's The Legend of Zelda?

I had recently watched Castle's YouTube video, "I Tried to Beat the First Zelda Completely Blind", and I guess that was the final push I needed. That little detour led me to try The Legend of Zelda, and I ended up absolutely loving it. Right now, I've cleared the first five dungeons.

I've been using RPG Shrine's guide for my first playthrough of A Link to the Past, so I already knew I would probably need some help navigating The Legend of Zelda as well. Personally, I'm fine with that. I see it as a product of a very different era, where guides, word of mouth, and a lot of trial and error were all part of the intended experience.

What surprised me most about the original Legend of Zelda is how quickly it hooked me. The music is simple but hypnotic - they hit gold really early imo. The gameplay feels incredibly fluid for a game from 1986, even if the hitboxes can be a bit frustrating at times. Honestly, it's kind of amazing.

The visuals also have far more charm than I expected. There's obviously less detail than what you'd find in the 16-bit era, but I still love looking at it. The world is colorful, sort of readable, and full of personality. Playing it has made me realize how many of the things I love about A Link to the Past were already there years earlier, despite the hardware limitations.

My plan is to finish all nine dungeons in The Legend of Zelda, go back to A Link to the Past and finally beat Ganon, and then return to the NES original for the infamous Second Quest. After that, I'm thinking Ocarina of Time, Link's Awakening (to keep a 2D Zelda in the mix), and then Majora's Mask.

I'm very late to the party, but it's been an awesome journey so far. I'm just glad there are so many awesome Zelda games to be enjoyed.

Playing my first ever Dragon Quest. I started with the remake of Hand of the Heavenly Bride on PS2 and enjoyed the first four hours, but after taking a short break I remembered how I regretted playing the PSP version of Final Fantasy IV instead of the original SNES version. So I decided to try the fan‑translated SNES version of DQV… and it completely surprised me. I wasn’t expecting it to sound, feel, and look this charming.

The pacing feels tighter, the combat flows better, and even without orchestration the SNES soundtrack has an energy and personality that really hit me. The pixel art has this unique hybrid 8‑bit/16‑bit look that feels warm and expressive, and the little visual effects are fantastic. Even the sliding mechanic in the Ice Mansion felt surprisingly fun and well integrated.

The PS2 version is still great, don’t get me wrong, but the SNES original has a kind of magic I wasn’t expecting.

Curious if anyone else had a similar experience.

This is my first experience with any of the Zelda games. I'm currently at the end of the Dark Palace, fighting the Helmasaur King, and I have a question regarding the aspect ratio. Looking at Link, it seems like the image is a bit stretched.

I'm currently emulating the SNES version of A Link to the Past through RetroArch. I've tried 4:3, the core-provided aspect ratio, and a few others, but Link always seems a bit chunky.

Looking at the screenshots, would you say I'm playing A Link to the Past in the correct aspect ratio? Thanks in advance! I'm loving this experience of playing ALttP... hard to explain how amazed I am with the game but I'll try in the future.

Playing my first Castlevania as we speak. This screenshot represents the moment where it sorted of clicked for me with the OG - even though it's very hard you have the weapons needed for the job. It's hard but fair! Maybe a bit soon to be talking when I'm only 11 stages in, but I'm loving the experience so far.

I started my JRPG journey with the amazing Chrono Trigger (awful PC port), then I proceeded with the masterpiece that is Final Fantasy VI, to then go back in time.... 1993 is not only the year when Phantasy Star IV was first released. It was also the year I tried for the first time gaming, which coincidentally was with the Sega Mega Drive.

Phantasy Star IV probably should have been my first entry into the genre - maybe I would have been even more impressed by the devs’ work. But in my case, PSIV came after two absolute behemoths of the genre. It’s extremely hard to match the quality set by Chrono Trigger and FFVI, but PSIV manages to hold its own, and I’m very happy I gave it a shot. You guys are absolutely right to sing Phantasy Star IV’s praises.

The presentation, for something released back in 1993, is somewhat surreal. The manga-style storytelling and the way multiple characters are incorporated into a single conversation - conveying emotions and reactions through different illustrated panels - is so freakin’ cool and effective. That feeling you get when playing an old game that was ahead of its time is hard to describe, yet incredibly satisfying.

The combat system could easily have been better than Chrono Trigger’s or Final Fantasy VI’s. It just gets a bit confusing with its names, and the timing of combos can feel hit-or-miss, but the macro system is another innovative idea that was clearly ahead of its time. With a bit more clarity and a few touch-ups, Phantasy Star IV’s combat could have been top notch, first in line.

I also noticed that random encounters can, for the most part, be ignored simply by escaping from them. I didn’t feel this much freedom when playing the SNES version of FFVI. It’s very noticeable how much PSIV respects the player’s time in comparison - the game feels designed to be completed without requiring excessive grinding and the "dungeons" were, for the most part, easy to navigate in.

The Algol system and the ability to visit Motavia, Dezolis, Rykros, and even space stations feels like an overwhelming amount of content for a 1993 game. I mean, we have a JRPG that respects your time, avoids grindfests, lets you explore multiple planets, and on top of that gives you four different vehicles to travel both between and within them? That’s incredible!

In terms of narrative quality, this is where Phantasy Star IV doesn’t stand much of a chance against Chrono Trigger and FFVI. The story is competent, but it lacks a certain depth. The Alys situation feels a bit rushed and underexplored. The game moves at a fast pace, which keeps things engaging, but sometimes comes at the cost of emotional weight and character development.

The soundtrack has many bangers, but the Mega Drive’s sound limitations do somewhat restrict how well its qualities are showcased. That said, I have to give massive credit to the team for embracing those limitations and using them creatively. Some of the sound design and effects are genuinely impressive. “Field Motavia” has such a wonderful vibe and really shows how the team managed to thrive within those constraints.

It may lack the grandiose musical moments of Chrono Trigger or FFVI, but I can’t help but love tracks like the opening theme, “The End of the Millennium,” the excellent battle tune “Meet Them Head-On!”, the eerie “In the Cave,” and the stylish “Tower” and cool "Staff Roll". Even the vehicle themes for the Land Rover, Ice Digger, and Hydrofoil stand out. More ambient tracks like “Rykros Field” and “Requiem for Lutz” are absolute gems and create a great contrast with the more upbeat parts of the soundtrack.

Conclusion: I absolutely loved my first playthrough of Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium. It’s honestly surreal going back to the Mega Drive, almost 30 years later, and discovering such a gem. I don’t have a huge amount of experience with JRPGs yet, but after playing Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, I feel confident saying that Phantasy Star IV deserves a place in the conversation as one of the best JRPGs of the 16-bit era.

I can’t help but wonder what it could have been if it had just a few more hours dedicated to building a richer and deeper narrative - because in that case, it might have been truly undeniable.

Currently mid-way through Final Fantasy IV (PSP). What do you recommend to play next?

Phantasy Star IV probably should have been my first entry into the genre - maybe I would have been even more impressed by the devs’ work. But in my case, PSIV came after two absolute behemoths of the genre. It’s extremely hard to match the quality set by Chrono Trigger and FFVI, but PSIV manages to hold its own, and I’m very happy I gave it a shot. You guys are absolutely right to sing Phantasy Star IV’s praises.

The presentation, for something released back in 1993, is somewhat surreal. The manga-style storytelling and the way multiple characters are incorporated into a single conversation - conveying emotions and reactions through different illustrated panels - is so freakin’ cool and effective. That feeling you get when playing an old game that was ahead of its time is hard to describe, yet incredibly satisfying.

The combat system could easily have been better than Chrono Trigger’s or Final Fantasy VI’s. It just gets a bit confusing with its names, and the timing of combos can feel hit-or-miss, but the macro system is another innovative idea that was clearly ahead of its time. With a bit more clarity and a few touch-ups, Phantasy Star IV’s combat could have been top notch, first in line.

I also noticed that random encounters can, for the most part, be ignored simply by escaping from them. I didn’t feel this much freedom when playing the SNES version of FFVI. It’s very noticeable how much PSIV respects the player’s time in comparison - the game feels designed to be completed without requiring excessive grinding and the "dungeons" were, for the most part, easy to navigate in.

The Algol system and the ability to visit Motavia, Dezolis, Rykros, and even space stations feels like an overwhelming amount of content for a 1993 game. I mean, we have a JRPG that respects your time, avoids grindfests, lets you explore multiple planets, and on top of that gives you four different vehicles to travel both between and within them? That’s incredible!

In terms of narrative quality, this is where Phantasy Star IV doesn’t stand much of a chance against Chrono Trigger and FFVI. The story is competent, but it lacks a certain depth. The Alys situation feels a bit rushed and underexplored. The game moves at a fast pace, which keeps things engaging, but sometimes comes at the cost of emotional weight and character development.

The soundtrack has many bangers, but the Mega Drive’s sound limitations do somewhat restrict how well its qualities are showcased. That said, I have to give massive credit to the team for embracing those limitations and using them creatively. Some of the sound design and effects are genuinely impressive. “Field Motavia” has such a wonderful vibe and really shows how the team managed to thrive within those constraints.

It may lack the grandiose musical moments of Chrono Trigger or FFVI, but I can’t help but love tracks like the opening theme, “The End of the Millennium,” the excellent battle tune “Meet Them Head-On!”, the eerie “In the Cave,” and the stylish “Tower” and cool "Staff Roll". Even the vehicle themes for the Land Rover, Ice Digger, and Hydrofoil stand out. More ambient tracks like “Rykros Field” and “Requiem for Lutz” are absolute gems and create a great contrast with the more upbeat parts of the soundtrack.

Conclusion: I absolutely loved my first playthrough of Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium. It’s honestly surreal going back to the Mega Drive, almost 30 years later, and discovering such a gem. I don’t have a huge amount of experience with JRPGs yet, but after playing Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, I feel confident saying that Phantasy Star IV deserves a place in the conversation as one of the best JRPGs of the 16-bit era.

I can’t help but wonder what it could have been if it had just a few more hours dedicated to building a richer and deeper narrative - because in that case, it might have been truly undeniable.

Since, Mega Drive was the first gaming equipment I've ever touched - coincidentally the same year Phantasy Star IV was released - and I've enjoyed the experience, what should I play next? Phantasy Star II or III? I already have Shining Force ready to go.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who recommended Final Fantasy VI after I posted about my first JRPG experience with Chrono Trigger a few weeks ago. I feel genuinely lucky to have played CT and FF6 back-to-back - and the debate over which is the better JRPG makes even more sense to me now having finished both. I'm nowhere near a definitive answer. But just like with Fallout (1997) and Gothic (2001), I know that FF6 and CT feel like elite gaming experiences, and I fully intend to replay each of them four at least once.

This time I skipped the PC port and emulated the SNES version via RetroArch - Ted Woolsey Uncensored Edition with CRT-Royale as shader. 100+ save states, fast-forward on for random encounters - where CT just shines over FF6. RetroArch clocked me at 54 hours - Umaro was the only one I didn't recruit. I can absolutely see why people expected 8 or 9 months to finish the game back in the day.

The biggest surprise for me was Nobuo Uematsu. I genuinely thought Chrono Trigger's OST would hold the top spot for months with tracks like "Wind Scene", "Secret of Forest", "Peaceful Days", "Frog's Theme", "Memories of Green", etc. I was not prepared for Final Fantasy VI level. The emotional depth, the way themes interconnect - "Locke's Theme" and "Forever Rachel" are a perfect example of how music, character and story were conceived as one - and how each track elevates and defines whoever or wherever it represents. The Opera House scene is wonderful. The only regret is that Uematsu didn't have a real voice for "Aria di Mezzo Carattere." So many highlights: "Shadow's Theme", "Phantom Forest", "The Veldt", "Terra's Theme", "Esper World", "Searching for Friends", "The Prelude", and so many more tremendous moments though many more tracks (e.g. "The Fanatics").

The combo systems in CT and Phantasy Star IV are a cool concept, but FF6's combat is just fun to play with the Esper system in particular - being able to personalize each party member's spell set - adds a layer of strategy that kept combat engaging throughout. The animations and the diversity of enemies, visually, were also a true delight.

So many playable characters... the option to field 12 simultaneously across three parties, and a story that gives almost all of them meaningful screen time. I was genuinely blown away early on when the game splits you into three parties . Finding out there was even more of that to come was such a great feeling. Felt like each character was adding just another important layer to the world - the Figaro brothers, Cyan, Shadow, Relm, Strago, Gau, Terra, Celes, Locke... so many memorable and important characters. Instead of taking an obvious protagonist, the weight was divided through the cast and it felt way more real seeing it executed.

I think I went in with expectations set too high from all the praise for Kefka, which dulled the impact of his reveal. Even setting that aside, I find it hard to fully praise Kefka as a villain - I feel like he doesn't get enough time to have his motivations explored properly - >!I know the Magitek Knight explains something, but just doesn't feel enough reasoning!<. It might click on a second playthrough though.

It's easy to love WoB - everything is fresh, the pacing is tight, new characters and locations keep arriving. But the more I think about it, WoR's slower pace earns its place in the end. It reflects what just happened to the world, mirroring that into the adventure and it's palpable though gameplay. My only real complaint: I wanted more Kefka during WoR. An extra playable character whose story is tied directly to him could have solved that. >!World of Balance with Terra and Emperor Gestahl as main protagonist and antagonist, and then changing up gears with World of Ruin having Celes more as a protagonist over Terra and Kefka as the definitive antagonist!< = brilliant move!

I've returned to my first console, SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis, and I'm currently seven hours into my first save of Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium. What other games would you guys recommend from the 16-bit era? Terranigma? Earth Bound? Shining Force II? Dragon Quest V?

Regarding Final Fantasy, I was thinking about playing VII (original - 2026's port) next and then IX next. Do the combo FFTactics-Vagrant Story-FF XII...Not sure if it matters having X before or after XII.

Chrono Trigger is an outstanding RPG and easy to recommend to anyone interested in the genre. For a game originally released in 1995, it still justifies full price today. However, the PC version released by Square Enix is technically problematic. During my playthrough, I experienced over 40 crashes, along with noticeably inferior visuals compared to the original. For a 2018 port of such a classic, this level of instability and lack of care by Square Enix is unacceptable.

Playing as we speak Final Fantasy VI (SNES version) via emulation (with a CRT shader) and it's a blessing as well a reminder how more awesome my CT experience could have been. The silver lining is that I have another very good reason to replay the game.

Despite the technical limitations of the SNES - text-based storytelling with limited space and no voice acting - the narrative felt remarkably strong. It is a well-structured story that unfolds across different time periods, using time travel not only as a narrative device but also as a design strength. Reusing the same world map across different eras while making it feel varied and expansive felt like a particularly effective approach.

The soundtrack is outstanding and tracks like "Secret of the Forest", "Memories of Green", or even "Frog's Theme" are just some of the highlights of a memorable audio experience that CT offers.

Chrono Trigger was my first JRPG. Now, while playing Final Fantasy VI (SNES), one key difference becomes clear: the constant presence of random encounters. Chrono Trigger avoids this design further enhancing the experience. It keeps the pacing consistent, reduces unnecessary interruptions, and removes the need for grinding, resulting in a more focused and intentional progression

There is so much more that could be said. This is a game that any RPG player should experience at least once - just not through this PC version.