Spoilers ahead—the plot of “Chrono Cross” is not necessarily fantastic, nor even particularly cohesive. It begins simply enough, with a boy named Serge who somehow falls across a rift to a parallel universe called Another World, in which he had apparently died ten years ago. But halfway through the game, Serge switches bodies with an anthropomorphic panther, and later, said anthropomorphic panther morphs into a supercomputer in evil cyborg form. But then it turns out that the true villains are actually dragons, until they’re not, and the actual villain is somehow revealed to be the final boss from “Chrono Trigger.” And I haven’t even mentioned time travel yet.

Did the plot make any sense? No, but it also didn’t remotely resemble the plot of any other game anybody had played at the time, and that’s a compliment that rings true today. It was much more than the plot that was unusual—everything else about the game, from its Mediterranean-inspired setting to the similarly influenced music, defied conventions. It makes sense, then, that “Chrono Cross” was meticulously fashioned by its creators to deviate from its beloved predecessor. They set out not to make a sequel, but a companion.

The rest of the game was not far behind. The battle system was a strange, multi-headed beast, dealing in seven stamina points and six elemental colors instead of the venerable action-time battle gauge. What it lacked in transparency, it made up for in possibilities, as the new system allowed players to do anything in any order, so long as they had the stamina points—and the mental arithmetic to deal with decimals.

Likewise, the entire tone of the game underwent a shift from playful heroism to muted melancholy. Gone were the colorful plains and mountains of old, replaced with the misty archipelago of El Nido and the hauntingly empty highways of the Dead Sea. The exotic and unfamiliar locales each gave off a lingering sense of menace that was absent in the more lighthearted “Trigger.”

“Chrono Trigger” was said to be made by a dream team of Japanese RPG developers, and looking back, I’d describe the birth of “Chrono Cross” as a perfect storm. Whereas the successes of “Trigger” came from its simplicity, “Cross” was a grand experiment that pushed and prodded the genre into a new form. Its eccentricities tested not only what players looked for in an RPG, but also what fans looked for in a sequel. Those who played it with closed minds found an outlandish plot accompanied by an overly complex battle system, and those who expected a sequel found unsatisfying ties to the previous title.

Both groups would be correct in their criticisms, but the legacy of “Chrono Cross” is worthy of so much more. Despite its sometimes glaring flaws, it is arguably a bolder game than “Trigger” ever was. It dared to be different, and for that alone, “Chrono Cross” is well deserving of your time.

I recently went through my memory cards, and what I found was astounding. I’ve spent over 1200 hours playing Square RPGs. That’s equivalent to 50 days of my life. 50 days—that I’ll never get back—have been spent leveling up, killing monsters, and saving worlds. In the time that I played through “Final Fantasy X” (110 hours), I could have done millions of other things. But I didn’t. And “FFX” isn’t the only game in which I’ve logged over 100 hours. So, here’s your warning. If you don’t feel like becoming a college shut-in, do not take my suggestions. Go out and get a life. If you really want to continue reading, please do. I will see you and your pasty whiteness sometime next year.

10. “Dissidia: Final Fantasy” (PSP)

“Dissidia” is one big shout-out to the “Final Fantasy” fandom. Honestly, there’s no reason to play it if you haven’t played the other “FF”s. But to be fair, this RPG/action-adventure hybrid has been getting rave reviews. Play it if you have reason, otherwise, don’t bother.

9. “Dragon Quest VIII” (PS2)

“Dragon Quest” is one of the most popular RPG series in Japan. If you’ve never played any of the “Dragon Quest” games, “DQ8” is a good representation of what you can expect. Some may fault the series for being repetitive from game to game, but I actually don’t mind it.

8. “Secret of Mana” (SNES)

A spin-off of “Final Fantasy Adventure,” “Secret of Mana” is still a good game in its own right. If you have a Super Nintendo, it’s a must-play.

7. “Final Fantasy VI” (SNES)

“FF6” is a monumental game. With one of the better stories in videogames and a ridiculous number of controllable characters, it’s easily the second best game for the Super Nintendo, right after “Chrono Trigger.”

6. “Final Fantasy Tactics” (PS1)

A complete break from the other “Final Fantasy” titles, “Tactics” is still amazing in the fact that it has an amazing story line and an insane amount of customization. For fans of the “Fire Emblem” or “Advance Wars” series, this game is a must.

5. “Final Fantasy VIII” (PS1)

This is a controversial pick, but “FF8” is great because it ignored the standard RPG formula and tried something new. This game is less about how much you have leveled up, and more about how skillful a player you are. If you don’t like standard RPGs, try “FF8” sometime. It might surprise you.

4. “Final Fantasy X” (PS2)

The only “Final Fantasy” of note for the PlayStation 2, “FFX” really pulled it off. Square finally decided to implement voice acting, and what a game to do it in. Just a warning, if you have never played this game, be prepared to hate the main character.

3. “Kingdom Hearts” (PS2)

Disney + Square = Awesome. This game deserves a big WOW. Yes, it was designed for a younger audience in mind, but it doesn’t feel like it. If you can’t stomach the slower pace of turn-based RPGs, “Kingdom Hearts’s” action-packed combat might suit you better. (Plus, who doesn’t want to play a game with Donald Duck and Goofy as the main supporting characters?)

2. “Chrono Trigger” (SNES)

I don’t even know how to begin describing this one. It’s the best game for the Super Nintendo, and is the second-best RPG ever made. This game had it all. If you have never played “Chrono Trigger,” please, for the love of God, go play it.

1. “Final Fantasy VII” (PS1)

For RPG fans, this is no surprise. With one of the best storylines ever written, and some of the deepest gameplay ever, this is simply the ultimate in RPGs. If you haven’t played “FF7,” I would actually recommend buying a PS1 just for this game. My absolute favorite game of all time.

Because of my deprived in-house upbringing, I always ran straight to the TV sets at my friends’ houses, inserted the game cartridge into whichever system they owned, and exercised my fingers (certainly not my mind) until the dinner bell rang. And after, I moved straight to a different game for dessert. But eventually I would have to go home, back to the place where television shows and lame computer games failed to satisfy my appetite.  Then, everything changed this past summer.

Back home after my freshman year, my 20th birthday came around in early June. After a delightful hibachi meal, my mom and dad handed me their gift. I slowly opened the bag and found resting at the bottom the one treat I have been craving for two decades: a Nintendo 64. The system just sat there, peering up at me, as metaphorical tears dripped from my eyes onto its black curves and vents. It took them 20 years, but my parents finally allowed me to hold what they always denied. I owned my first video game system.

This tragic yet inspirational tale forced me to look back over my relationship with video games. I have played every popular console in the United States, but my favorite was always the Nintendo 64. Sure, everyone loved it for its first few years of existence before the new millennium, but I defend to this day that the N64 is still a game system superior to any kind created before or after its birth. No doubt, the graphics and ingenuity have improved with each new technological transformation, but gaming quality has never transcended that of the N64.

First, consider the complexity of today’s systems.  Does anyone else think that the controllers for the newest Xbox and PlayStation consoles are far too complicated?  It seems impossible to just pick up a controller and understand how to capably play any game with the mass of buttons, toggles, and gadgets.  It is unquestionably overwhelming.  Meanwhile, the Nintendo 64 controllers have only two primary buttons (A and B, imagine that) and one main joystick.  The Z-trigger serves as a nice addition, especially with the sleek and comfortable three-prong design of the N64 controllers.  The arrow pad and C-buttons await for difficult situations, but they rarely play a role in most games, keeping the N64 from overstepping its genius minimalism.  Give a new gamer an N64 and then an Xbox 360, and see which one she gets the hang of faster.  Simplicity always triumphs over complexity.

Accompanying its ease comes the personal advantage of the Nintendo 64.  Those newfangled devices continue to dig deeper chasms in human gaming interaction.  My parents used to not let me buy an N64 because it would keep me inside all day and away from my books. Now imagine adding the element of the Internet and other technological advances. My friends back home used to lie inside all day playing video games (no problem there), but now when they play Xbox and PlayStation against their friends, each player is in his own respective house, communicating over those dorky headsets, epitomizing the lazy gaming nerd that my parents visualized in my childhood. At least with the N64, my opponents have to be in the same room as me. That system always kept gaming life on a personal and human level.  Nowadays, the latest devices force gamers to talk to their friends through a screen. Call me old fashioned, but I like to ridicule my opponents in person. Nintendo 64 allows for me to do just that.

Everything before it possessed inadequate screen quality, a mere 32 bits or less of CPU. Everything after it convoluted the true essence and personality of gaming. There is no doubt that the Nintendo 64 is the most superior gaming system ever created. The advancements of the Wii have established a new type of gaming that may eventually provide competition, but still the N64 stands the tallest. It took me 20 years to own my first console, but I would wait longer if it meant owning the be-all and end-all of video gaming, the Nintendo 64.

The top 10 N64 games

1. Mario Kart 64
2. NFL Blitz
3. Mario Party
4. GoldenEye 007
5. Super Mario 64
6. Major League Baseball Feat. Ken Griffey Jr.
7. Cruis’n USA
8. Super Smash Brothers
9. Star Fox 64
10. Diddy Kong Racing