10 Video Games That Only Get Better With Age

10. Chrono Trigger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfm2QtA6IiM Along with side-scrolling platformers, the classic sprite-based JRPG's (Japanese Role Playing Games) seem to be one of the more age-proof genres of video games. The formula is tried and true, which typically includes a strong focus on narrative, management of a party of characters, and some sort of variation of turn-based combat. From some of the earliest JRPG's on the orignal Famicom/NES, right up through recent releases like Xenoblade Chronicles and Ni No Kuni, these games have struck a chord with gamers worldwide, particularly those that grew up with Super Famicoms and Playstations in their homes. Yet of all the great RPG's that came out of Japan in that glorious era that was the 1990's, perhaps none is more beloved and timeless than Chrono Trigger. Pick up Chrono Trigger today on the multitude of platforms it's available for, and it won't be long before you realize why this is. You are immediately pulled in to a fascinating tale involving a charismatic cast of characters that are surprisingly well-written and developed. You become emotionally invested in these characters' well-being, an astonishing feat considering that this was well before the days of facial animations and voice acting in games. The game's time travel mechanic is a wholly original and brilliant feat. You were able to explore the main continent on the back of a pterodactyl in prehistoric times, in decimated undergrounds of the distant, post-apocalyptic future, and many points in between. Despite the game's main narrative following a somewhat linear path, this ability to travel through time, as well as the ability to pick up side quests in each era, gave the game a sense of openness and freedom that separated it from other JRPG's at the time. Perhaps what makes Chrono Trigger stand out above all else is its incredibly deep and exciting battle system. While you eventually amass a group of playable characters, you can only play with three at a time. Each character learns special abilities called Techs, and they can be combined with other characters' Techs in battle to create unique special attacks, some which do more damage to certain enemies/bosses than others. The amount of potential for battle tactics is seemingly limitless, especially once you have a full roster of high level characters to choose from, and it will keep you constantly tinkering with your lineups in between battles. Instead of random encounters, enemies appear in the overworld, allowing you to avoid fighting if you so choose. You'll spend very little, if any, time level-grinding your characters, as the game is wonderfully balanced. The beautiful 16-bit sprite graphics, as well as a soundtrack that easily ranks among the best ever created in the history of video games, are just icing on the cake. Chrono Trigger is a game for the ages that plays as well today as it did back in 1995. And with all the platforms it's available on (I personally recommend downloading it from Nintendo's Virtual Console), there is no excuse not to play this gem.