For over fifteen years, Chrono Trigger was my go to answer for what my favorite game was. But that all changed when I replayed Final Fantasy X back in May. The entire presentation of the first Final Fantasy game on the PlayStation 2 called to me in ways that made me change my mind. But this inspired me to play Chrono Trigger again for the first time in a few years. It's as good as I remember, and that gap between my second favorite game and my third has grown. But what about the top two spots? Who really is my love? I can't figure it out, so I'm gonna need some qualitative thinking about it. I don't know if "qualitative" is the correct word, but I'm going to run down and compare Final Fantasy X with Chrono Trigger in as many categories as I can. Some will be less helpful than others, but I'm just gonna throw stuff at a wall and see what sticks. Who wins what category? Who loses? How many ties will there be?
Characters:
In that Best Playable Character spreadsheet I made a while back, I gave each character a score based on ten different categories. I then averaged all of those scores together. I won't get into the details, but Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy X got the highest scores. CT has a 7.86, and FFX has a 7.42. The third best score was a 6.78 from Final Fantasy IX. These unimportant ranks do well enough to let us know both games have a top notch cast of characters. But why? Well, for starters, there's a lot of growth.
One game has a naive Princess who becomes a noble leader (presumably), a murder bot that takes fate into his own hands, a defamed frog become a noble knight, and an enemy that becomes an ally. It's a bit more low-key, but we can also witness a genius save her mother. All of that with a silent protagonist who doesn't have any personality. Marle got as perfect a score she could get, but she's not the only one pulling the rope.
The other game has a racist overcome his prejudices, a goth gets over her dead ex, a defamed warrior overcome his past, a shy girl become a savior of a world, and an overconfident athlete sacrifices himself for a world he's not from. All this with an ebullient thief and a dead guy on the team. Tidus and Yuna have perfect scores.
Neither game has a score lower than a seven,
But even for the characters that don't have growth, their personalities shine enough. Ayla is renowned for being an early example of a character that doesn't fit into gender norms. She's strong and stubborn, traits usually assigned to male characters. The way she gets Kino to propose is hilarious. Rikku is one of the few bright spots in this dark plot, and Auron's role of wise elder (aged 36), who guides the team, is of utmost importance to the story. It's only the silent characters, Crono and Kimahri, who keep the scores down. One is a main character, which is a bummer, and the other has a role in the backstory for our real main character. In their defenses, Crono shows a lot of emotion for a mute, and Kimahri...uh...well...it's an important backstory.
The winner is clear with math: Chrono Trigger. (1)
(1-0-0)
Villains:
There's a lot of similarity between the final bosses of both games. Sin and Lavos are a bit bland, but there's something that makes them unique when you get into the plot. Sin is a reincarnation of Yu Vevon and the fusion between him and the Final Aeon. This time around, it's our main character's dad, Jecht. Lavos' fun is a lot more objective. He's not over-the-top like Kefka, nor is he inherently evil like ExDeath. He simply is. He's just an alien from space trying to survive. That comes at the cost of the planet we're on, but do we compare cicadas to Satan because they damage our plants each summer? It's simply survival, though not in the high standards that many edgy bosses claim.
The entire evil-doers for FFX got a 7.75, while CT got 6.75. What keeps FFX higher is the longevity of its villains. Had Azala stayed around longer, maybe it'd be more even? Regardless, FFX got the second highest score of the games I averaged, while CT is lost in a larger group of respectable B ranks. FFVII (8) has the most.
Math makes a winner: Final Fantasy X (1)
(1-1-0)
Side Characters:
Side Characters are a mixed bag. Despite leaving several important ones off the list, Chrono Trigger has seven listed at a total of 6.8. Final Fantasy X has fourteen at 5.1. That includes Braska and Jecht, so imagine how low it could be. Nearly everyone named in Trigger is involved in more than just one scene, has some personality, and gets some neat sidequests. Meanwhile, the ads in FFX serve one purpose. There's nothing particularly wrong with that. In fact, they're still memorable and enjoyable, but I'm of the mind that if you're gonna make an NPC, you might as well give them as much attention as you can. No wasted pixels!
More math: Chrono Trigger. (2)
(2-1-0)
The World:
The setting can make or break a game, and it's hard to get a bad one. Some may not be better than others, though. Spira is a single landmass with many races living on it. The planet in Chrono Trigger is explored across five vastly different timelines that still has enough strange creatures to keep it interesting. But again, neither one is bad, and I love both for distinct reasons. We get to see how the world changes through the eons in CT. As a kid, I would try to track the progression of a mountain or a peninsula through the years. I still don't know why... But the ruins of FFX give me a sense of adventure and mystery. What was this place used for before Sin showed up to wreck the place? Both are viable game choices, but I have some regrets about one. As I said about the NPCs, these ruins don't tell enough of a story. I've been thinking for nearly a year, coming up with (unwritten) fan fiction for various locations through Spira. Admittedly, I have no idea how the devs would have explored these concepts, so it'll always be a mystery. But do our actions change anything in the world? The answer for both games is yes! Once we can return to old cities in FFX, we can see how Bevelle's mistreatment of Yuna has affected everyone. And then the world levels up when the Al Bhed people become more common. Chrono Trigger is all about world altering events. The Porre mayor's disposition changing on whether or not we gave them Jerky, the Mystics slowly becoming more open, and Fionna's Forest are just a few examples. To say nothing of the Dark Omen!
Final rank: tie
(2-1-1)
Battle System:
No RPG is complete without the mechanics that drive the game and stats: combat. Games tend to be one of three things: A job system, predetermined role, or do whatever. Both FFX and CT fall into the predetermined role area, but FFX is more interchangeable than most, especially with remakes. And (nearly) every character has their role down pat. We have a decent idea who the tanks or thieves are. It's slightly less clear who the mages are in CT, but we know who's better at magic than others in both games. But both games have their unique qualities. As I said, Final Fantasy X lets you change the roles with little effort. It's not the best since it's too limiting to mix-and-match, but it was a new system, and a part of me hopes to see something similar again one day. But its best quality is the ability to change characters on the fly in battle. Meanwhile, Chrono Trigger has duel and triple techs. Your party members get to interact in combat! How is that not the best mechanic in any game ever? Why isn't it used more often? Not only do CT characters have their role, but a few can do a bit of everything, which is close enough to what FFX has to cancel it out with how rad team techs are.
Along the same lines, how repetitive is the combat? In FFX, smashing attack works most of the time. Occasionally, you should switch in Lulu, but everyone save Kimahri has their role. In Chrono Trigger, you have to figure out the proper strategy. Do you use attacks or magic? Do you have to wait for them to make a move? What do we go after first? CT is a lot more engaging most of the time.
Winner: Chrono Trigger. (3)
(3-1-1)
Plot:
There is no RPG without a story. Both games have intricate plots with twists and turns that kept me involved. We learn early on the thing we need to stop, but the way of getting there is a long journey where we learn about ourselves.
In Chrono Trigger, we see Lavos from a satellite's perspective as he destroys the world. We then track how he was summoned and find Magus. But that takes us to 65000 BC, where we learn the truth and see him fall. In 12000 BC, we can see where it all went wrong. We even lose someone dear to us there.
In Final Fantasy X, we see Sin firsthand, see more of his hard work, keep hearing about him, and then learn he's our dad. From there, we understand more and more of the truth of their religion before we lose ourselves. However, there are essays abound about the problems with Chrono Trigger's story. It's a time travel epic, and those are riddled with plot holes, inconsistencies, and narrative manipulation. Some make me wonder, and I tried to ask those questions throughout the blog updates. Personally, I don't mind them that much and hand wave them all away, blaming the "Entity" as I do. But I understand why some people wouldn't. Plus, there are a few out there that I've forgotten or don't know, so who knows what game ruining read that could.
Winner: Final Fantasy X. (2)
(3-2-1)
Soundtrack:
A game's OST can help draw in the player, keep them playing, and have it always in their peripheral because we can't stop listening to the music. I've written about CT's and FFX's music before, and I doubt I'll add anything new here. The short of it all is, they're both amazing! I've said Chrono Trigger is my favorite, though, so it'll get the point.
Winner: Chrono Trigger. (4)
(4-2-1)
Side Quests:
Killing god is hard work, and we need distractions. Both games have well known optional stuff, but one is more infamous than the other. Chrono Trigger's sidequests are one of two things. It can be simple things, like Bike Racing and feeding your cats. But there's also genuine story and character growth with the stuff Gaspar tells us about.
We can see our side hustles change the world via Fionna's Forest and experience what Lucca went through. We can let our lost friend, Cyrus, rest peacefully. What other game lets you take to the skies to bring down an ancient cornerstone to civilization? And it's all fun!
Final Fantasy X's, though, are all about the Celestial Weapons. And with those weapons come Chocobo Racing and Butterfly Catching. I don't mind Chocobo Racing, but catching insects is inane. Blitzball is either beloved or despised, so congrats on eliciting an emotion, but does anyone like Dodging Lightning bolts? Who thought playing Hide-N-Seek was a good idea? Thankfully, Auron and Yuna get things worth doing.
The winner is Crono Trigger. (5)
(5-2-1)
Iconic Moments:
I talk about them in all of those spreadsheets I've done, but I've never gone into detail about what I think they are. I won't here either, but a brief overview of what I consider an iconic scene to be something that drastically alters the game. Sometimes it's intentional on the developer's part, but it can be something that the players bring up themselves. Character deaths, limited main villain changes, emotional growth are all potentials. Some hit harder than, and I only care about the hardest!
For a game made in 1995 for the SNES, Chrono Trigger has them often. Marle disappearing in 600 AD is an early one, but the first time we step into the future is life changing for our characters. Magus is built up to be the main bad guy, but when we see Lavos fall, we know Magus is a nobody. And it's a two fold event because of what happens to Azala. And then there's the death of our MC, and then his rebirth.
Final Fantasy X has a lot of scenes of death. Sin attacking Kilika, Yuna performing the first sending, and then it repeats at Operation Mi'ihen. Hell, even learning who Sin is is huge. The area from Mt. Gagazet to getting the airship is one giant bomb, and I'll count that as four. When Rikku tells us what's going to happen to Yuna, Yuna turning against Yevon and Yunaleska (counted twice), and the sending of her aeons are mind blowing. Wakka apologizing for being racist, is pretty rad.
Winner: Final Fantasy X (3)
(5-3-1)
Miscellaneous:
Every game has small things that are easy to overlook but hard to write about. I'll discuss them here, with a small blurb, and count the totals as we go.
Some games are meant to be played once, but the games that stick with us can be finished multiple times. But how different are all those playthroughs? FFX doesn't change unless you missed something. CT, though, has twelve endings. And there are smaller pieces that are changeable in two of them.
Point to Chrono Trigger (6)
It's hard to compare two games across wide generations like this, but I think the delivery is worth mentioning. FFX has voice acting, allowing many scenes to shine and linger in ways that simple text boxes cannot. Would the laughing scene as the party leaves Luca be as memorable if it was made in 1999? On the flip side, how much would I have cried when Marle called out to Crono if I could hear her do it?
A point for Final Fantasy X. (4)
It's rather hard to objectionably discuss the charm of a game: the small things that don't need to exist but are fun when you see them. But I'm gonna try. Idle animations on the world map are adorable in Chrono Trigger. Don't move for a few seconds, and we can see some personality from our tiny characters. But, the Blitzball players always say a fun line when their contracts expire. Does that make up for the lines that our mom says when we introduce her to our new friends? No, but learning a whole new language might. What wins: Funny missable tech animations (Slurb Cut/Rock Throw) or ..uh... battle dialogue?
Whatever: tie. (2)
Both games got a sequel, but did either of them need one? I'm not talking about the quality of the aftermath; I'm simply wondering if it was warranted. The answer is no. That being said, I'd love to play a third title, Square!
Congrats: tie. (3)
While not a great listing, I find a good game lasts a long time. I know a lot about Chrono Trigger, and I was able to beat it in less than twenty hours this weekend. I know a lot about FFX, and it still took me over fifty. I have an old save file that's at 250 hours played, most of which is on Blitzball. If you're a poor kid with a small allowance, you want some bang for your buck.
Final Fantasy has that. (5)
I'm of the mind that not everything needs to reinvent the wheel. But some people are really into innovation. Both games bring some new things to the table, from the duel techs and the Sphere Grid to expansive time traveling and killing your possessed dad. But, sadly, none of these concepts caught on. I don't know many games that use them. The same can be said for a Sphere Grid of "choose your own party stat" mechanic. Even their sequels did away with them, for the most part. There are barely any team attacks in Chrono Cross, and X-2 became a traditional stat game. It's really sad and disappointing, game developers everywhere!
Alas, a tie. (4)
Missed Opportunities are in every game, even those I deem perfect. There's always something I wish could have been touched upon more or just more stuff to experience. The Red Portals in Chrono Trigger, for example. Why does only Lucca get to fix something in her personal past? When we first met Gaspar, he mentioned that groups of four people come to him all the time. Like...when? Finally, why is Chono a mute? He could have made the game a lot more fun with an actual romance between him and Marle, as well as a deeper friendship with him and Lucca. I've also always wondered about a few of those time related plotholes Chrono Compendium has written about...
Final Fantasy X isn't without issues. Lulu barely exists in the second half, and she's overshadowed by Auron once he joins the group. Her character arc is the Sunken Temple, an optional location that doesn't tell us much about her. She's tied entirely to Wakka, and Lulu and has nothing that's hers. Wakka has Blitzball, at least!
Those are the glaring omissions, so here's a point for Final Fantasy X. (6)
(6-6-4)
Wait...we tied! A part of me is thrilled we've tied, but another bit of me is upset. I hate math, but I had hoped it could help me understand what game I like more! How now shall I walk this Earth without a clear love? Alternatively, dude, I'm so happy both of my favorite games are practically equal. Even the ties got a good showing! Both of these games are masterpieces, and I'll die on this hill. It just goes to show you that nothing can tell you what to think besides your own heart. And science. Trust science, too, by the way. As for this now useless piece of writing, I'm gonna keep working on it for a bit. There are always things that'll pop into my mind later. I mostly stream of consciousness these things, which means I accidentally omit vital information. I suspect I'll be ill for the next day or so, so who knows what my mind will think up during that time. I'm gonna add it to alter this stalemate, trust me. Watch this space!
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