The sidequests are some of the most brilliant that I’ve yet seen in a JRPG sure, most of them involve the same “put object/convince person in period X and then visit in future”, but finding out where these people are, how to change them, what to give, etc., really gives you a sense of inquiry and play that most games in the Japanese style do not. In fact, it’s remarkable how much thought went into this particular aspect, and it becomes especially clear when the game removes its linear clutches on your party. Actions you take in one time period will affect the future – sometimes in negative, and sometimes in positive ways. The events in the beginning take place in a variety of manufactured periods in history, each with a unique flavor and atmosphere. At its most basic, Chrono Trigger provides a contemplative, and well-thought out, version of time travel with the addition of a silent protagonists echoes of A Link to the Past abound (although that game had dimensions instead of time travel, it’s the same in practice). To begin: Chrono Trigger tells an engaging tale. Polished to a sheen to the point where the sun’s reflection might blind you, it’s incredibly well designed in game mechanics, story, graphics, and atmosphere, it shows us the heights of a particular formula. Yuji Horri and Hironobu Sakaguchi, friendly rivals, collaborated on a game! Dragon Quest combined with Final Fantasy! What could go wrong? Rather, because of the minds behind its creation, it’s no wonder that the game shows us a ultimate a case of iterative design. It’s a fantastic game, granted, but by no means is it revolutionary. However, its glowing reviews as of late have me a bit worried that the hype overtakes the actual product. There’s no person on earth who would say Chrono Trigger’s a bad game that much is obvious. Like most games from that company, Square promised us a world of adventure, excitement, and maybe a little philosophical musing. Squaresoft’s reputation at the time meant that any game slapped with the logo was a worthy investment of your time. Guess what game was on it? That day I picked up Chrono Trigger for the price of 69.99 US dollars. One day I happend to browse my local Toys R’ Us and came upon one of those demo game kiosk (you know, they used to have a lot of those before we had demos). I may have owned a Genesis, but it was a secondary concern (except for Gunstar Heroes). That doesn’t mean Chrono Trigger isn’t one of the finest role-playing games ever made, but it does mean the structure, mechanics, and narrative elements limit its audience.īack in 1995, during the days of the dying SNES and the new generation of systems that would change gaming forever, I was a Nintendo fanboy. However, the rest of the game strikes a largely derivative tone – it’s a refinement of a previously established formula, not an innovative creation in and of itself. The story and battle systems, as a result, reach a level of fine polish that makes each playthrough an enjoyable experience. With the expertise and craft of Hironobu Sakaguchi and Yuji Horii at the helm, two luminaries of Japanese RPG design, each complements the other’s weaknesses, creating something wholly other from their main franchises. TL DR – Chrono Trigger was, and is, a fantastic and well-crafted Japanese role-playing experience.
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