Best PS1 JRPGs with no random encounters, ranked

Final Fantasy 7 One of the best RPGs on PS1 if not the best. There is one thing that can be frustrating for newbies going into it for the first time: random encounters. These mechanics are largely abandoned in RPGs today but they still pop up every now and then Fantasy New Dimension and Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D Remake.

It wasn't until the PS2 or PS3 that they really took off in a big way. That said, there were some RPGs on the PS1 that were ahead of the curve. Let's take a look back at the ways RPGs have tried to navigate away from random battles and rank them accordingly.

7 The jade cocoon

An early Ghilbi collaboration

Some may think Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch The first was an RPG in which the famous anime company Studio Ghibli worked. Years ago, they helped do the artwork for Jade Cocoon, a somewhat forgotten turn-based PS1 RPG. like Neither nor Kuni, The jade cocoon features Pokemon-Like monster catching mechanics. Players assume the role of a new Cocoon Master who can use his dagger to lure and capture monsters. These creatures will appear in dungeons and the more players capture, the bigger the prey they can face. Monsters can also be fused to create better teammates, similar to the fusion found in personality Games.

6 Chandra: The silver star

A charming anime-inspired classic

Chandra: The silver star Origins on Sega CD was later ported to PS1. Although it looked dated by modern PS1 standards at the time, it was also ahead of the curve. In dungeons, players could see enemies before going into battle.

The turn-based battles also featured an auto-battle mode which was a new mechanic at the time and there were also some strategic elements to character placement. Overall, it's a pretty standard story of a hero conquering evil but as cliche as it may be, it's still a solid RPG on the PS1 as is its sequel, Moon: Eternal Blue.

5 Brave fencer Musashi

Silly samurai action with mega man powers

Brave fencer Musashi An action-adventure RPG while Square Enix, then Squaresoft, was experimenting with standalone PS1 projects. In need of a hero, the colorful kingdom calls upon a legendary samurai, Musashi, to their aid. Players can traverse the world, fighting enemies in real time. One of the more unique aspects of the action gameplay allowed players to copy enemy abilities similar to Mega Man in temporary situations. It has been ported to digital platforms such as PSN but has never been updated with HD enhancements but did receive a sequel on PS2. Musashi: Samurai Legend.

4 Grandia

Keeping Track Off Turns

Grandia Another is an RPG that debuted on Sega consoles, specifically the Sega Saturn. It was then ported to the PS1 and then upgraded to the HD Collection with the second main game, giving old-school RPG fans an easy way to check out the game. Grandia featured monsters in dungeons and also upgraded the traditional turn-based battle system. Players get to see the turn order based on actions taken. Some attacks and spells take longer and can potentially interrupt. Players had to strike a balance between high-powered attacks and low ones, and even enemies risked this gamble.

3 Valkyrie profile

Preparing for Ragnarok

Valkyrie Profile is both a 3D and 2D RPG that mixes polygonal backgrounds and sprites. The world map was in 3D and the titular Valkyrie flew to locations to solve problems to gain new party members in hopes of saving the world from doomsday. The dungeons were in 2D and featured a lot of platforming and puzzle-solving. Players can engage enemies that appear in dungeons or freeze them to help them platform. The four members were mapped to face buttons and players could create combos on their turn in battle, similar to an RPG/fighting game hybrid.

2 Chrono Cross

A tropical RPG between dimensions

Chrono Cross had spiritual consequences Chrono TriggerOne of the most celebrated SNES games of all time. Like that game, enemies appeared in dungeons and there were no random encounters or any kind of battles on the world map. The battle system was also slightly different as certain attacks cost percentages and players had to time their attacks perfectly to get the most out of their turn.

The cast was huge, and players had to replay multiple times to get them all. It's an odd game to be sure but it still stands as a standout title from Squaresoft on PS1 that has been upgraded with an HD remaster.

1 Parasitic eve

Spread the evil out of NYC to save Christmas

First Parasitic eve A wonderful mix of horror and turn-based RPGs. Players assume the role of a cop, Aya, who is thrown into a paranormal case during Christmas in New York City. Instead of fighting goblins and ghosts, players will face off against mutated rats and monkeys as they traverse the city. Players can enter a room and most of the time, players will be drawn into a staged battle. Sometimes enemies can be seen and ignored although Parasitic Eve skirts the line in random battles. In combat, players can run around to dodge attacks while Aya's ATB meter fills up causing her turns to increase. This is a game that every RPG and horror fan should play.