Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger was originally released way back in 1995 on the Super Nintendo. It received wide acclaim and many critics immediately put it up alongside the best games of all time. Unfortunately, it did not make it to UK shores that year; UK game players had to wait until it was released as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles on the PSone in 2001. Thus its release on the DS marks the first chance Nintendo fans have had to experience the game. It is interesting to note that with the exception of a couple of features new to the DS, this is pretty much the same game that was released fourteen years ago. Consequently, the first question that should be asked of it is: has it aged well? As you will see, the answer is a resounding ‘yes.’

{{ quote Many of its design choices are still as fresh as they were back in 1995 }}

Chrono Trigger is a Japanese role playing game that contains many of the characteristics of games in this genre, whilst also breaking away from these conventions in a remarkable fashion. The game’s storyline is a particular example of this. You meet a girl called Marle, who through being in the wrong place at the wrong time, gets thrown into a time warp, sending her back four hundred years. Since Chrono (the game’s protagonist) was involved in her disappearance, you go back in time to rescue her. Thus unravels a plot that will determine the future of the universe and allows the game to move between pre-history (65,000,000 BC) and a dystopic future (2300 AD). The story does sound like standard fare at first and you may be forgiven for thinking ‘what is all the fuss about?’ However, though the story isn’t exactly groundbreaking, what makes it great is the simplicity with which it is told. Japanese role playing games can fall foul of being unnecessarily wordy at times but Chrono Trigger steers clear of this flaw. The characters – and in turn the narrative – are built up with minimal dialogue, meaning that your attention is likely to be kept up, while the story moves along at a nice pace. This game also benefits from the inclusion of the FMV cutscenes from the PSone version of the game. These were drawn by the artist who drew the Dragon Ball Z cartoons and are suitably stylish, adding to the filmic quality of the game’s narrative.

In fact, with the exception of these FMV cutscenes, there has been little to no improvement of the game’s graphics from back in 1995. This is not a criticism, though; generally the game’s presentation has held up very well over the years. In particular, the art direction is astounding, with a mixture of bleak and colourful environments and a plethora of screen filling bosses. One minor pointer is that it could have done with a spot of polish in places, especially in the overworld, which looks a little sparse and basic in comparison to the rest of the game. The presentation is also aided by the game’s musical score, which provides a perfect accompaniment to the action, as changes in the story’s mood are mirrored by the music. The sound effortlessly veers between down key piano accompaniments and bass heavy themes that contribute to the game’s atmosphere. At the same time, one of my minor criticisms would be the repetitive battle music: while it suits the action, you may tire after hearing it battle after battle.

One of the most lauded features of Chrono Trigger was its battle system. Back in 1995, the developer, Square Enix stressed how original it was in allowing the game to flow. Instead of being transported into another screen, battles take place in the game’s environments, therefore allowing a smoother transition between combat and exploration. Furthermore, battles on the whole are optional: you have the choice of levelling up or ploughing on through the game rather than being forced into battling enemies over and over. Both of these features still feel very fresh today and overall the game has an exceptional flow to it. Besides the battles (which take up approx. half of the gameplay), exploration is a key element of the game so that you get to see the wide variety of environments on offer and to develop each character’s story. Somewhat unique to its time period, Chrono Trigger offered a selection of different paths to pursue so you can see how your actions at the start of the game can contribute to a different outcome of the story. These outcomes are seen in the game’s fourteen unlockable endings, one of which is exclusive to the DS version. Given the movement towards how choices in game affect the experience (Fallout 3 and Fable II are modern day examples of this) they add to the notion that Chrono Trigger was ahead of its time.

Overall, the game is a faithful conversion of a classic, with little movement away from the mechanics of the original game. However, there are a few features exclusive to the DS version of the game. First of all, the battles and your attacks are split between the two screens so that it all feels nicely uncluttered. There are also a couple of side quests specifically developed for the DS. These include two new dungeons: while they are adequate in their own right, they fall short of the standards of the dungeons in the main quest. There is also a Pokemon-style side quest that sees you training up a monster for battle. This is probably the weakest aspect of the game, since it can be completed within a few battles and there is little incentive to battle other players through a Wi-Fi connection. Although these features do not detract from the rest of the game, they are a little disappointing; those who have already completed Chrono Trigger may not have too much to attract them to this version of the game.

Saying this, those coming in new to this game will find a lot to admire and not just because of any rose-tinted specs you may have to hand. Many of its design choices are still as fresh as they were back in 1995 and put a lot of modern games to shame. It should be hard to proclaim a game as one of the best of all time but with Chrono Trigger it is hard to resist. It is full of little touches that make you smile and the sweeping narrative with a cast of likeable characters makes it a difficult game to put down. Many games can disappoint given the weight of expectation attached to them, but Chrono Trigger manages to surpass these expectations and cement its place as one of the DS’s must have titles.