Chrono Trigger

"A beautiful masterpiece...Nothing more."

The test of time is one that is rigorous and demanding indeed. Some things seem brilliant at first, yet lose all of their luster over time. They lack the shimmer they have had before. New cars don’t look so new anymore. New shoes become scuffed and worn, not resembling the $200 pair of sneakers you purchased not so long ago. However, once and a while something comes along that has a permanent aura around it, forever glistening like jewels left in the sunlight. Chrono Trigger is one of those things. Even in the present day, in a world of beautiful lighting affects and unmatched artificial intelligence, such a simple RPG from 1995 has the radiance that cannot be implicated by stereo surround sound or dramatic visuals.

The fair marking the 1000th year of prosperity is upon the inhabitants of Guardia Kingdom. However, after a mishap involving a pendant and a teleporter, the out of Towner known as Marle is sent into 600 AD. You, Crono (the game’s silent protagonist), decides to go after her. Unfortunately, upon making their way back, Crono, Marle, and their inventor friend Lucca stumble on a world 1300 years ahead of their time… A world left in desolation and destruction after being attacked by a mysterious being 300 years ago (1000 years after Crono and co.’s present time). Upon a whim of heroism, Crono and his friends vow to save not their own lives, but the lives of the people a millennium into the future.

The bulk of Chrono Trigger’s storyline revolves around time travel. Throughout the game you will encounter five different time periods, each with their own distinct features and trademarks. The 2300 A.D. world is, as previously noted, in ruin, whereas the ancient 65000000 B.C. is basic and reeking with the fumes of simple civilizations and cultures. This art of time travel is something that adds tons of options to the game, making for a beautifully open ended quest. While you’ll eventually get to the same place, you have many different ways of exploring around to find that. Even the concept of time passing is done expertly and without flaw. Be kind to a woman in 600 A.D. and she’ll teach her offspring about the importance of being generous, which may come back to save your tale in 1000 A.D..

As you take part in your quest across time, you’ll come to know and love a cast of memorable characters…Characters that won’t be forgotten even after time has left them far-gone as simply memories. Along with the silent protagonist that is our hero, a delightful arrangement of names and faces litters Chrono Trigger, from a dark magician with a shrouded past to a noble knight that just happens to be a giant frog. The most remarkable facet of these characters though is the fleshed out back stories that each has. Even the aforementioned mystery man has enough fragments of his past to give you a desire to learn more about him, and the way in which these stories is told is nothing short of legendary. While your primary objective is saving the future, you’l end up getting tied up in the affairs of your party more than once, but rather than being filler for the game, these out of the way quests become as much a crucial part of the story as the destroyed 2300 A.D. itself.

Aside from these glorious examples of storytelling though, Chrono Trigger is a fairly normal RPG…A normal RPG that does just about everything right. Techs, the game’s path for learning skills, is nothing more than a glorified level up system, (You gain TP or tech points to teach your characters abilities or “techs”). One fairly innovative idea though is the dual and triple techs, which, as you can probably figure out, are more powerful techs that involve two or even three party members joining powers together to heal some serious HP or rock one of the game’s more challenging bosses into oblivion. Aside from this characteristic though, there’s nothing that hasn’t been done before in Chrono Trigger. The most important part is that it does everything to perfection. Leveling up, unless improperly managed, is just right to keep the game challenging but not impossible, and the game’s dungeons are a certain joy to explore, despite the fact that a few may leave you with a few puzzled moments of, “Where do I go now?”.

Aesthetically, Chrono Trigger impresses as much as its story and battle system. However, graphics and sound are much more apt to fall at the feet of time, the passing of years marking aging visuals and distorted sound, exploiting them to criticism from the trained eyes and ears. Chrono Trigger’s graphics for its time are nothing short of breathtaking though. The characters are well drawn, with the constant anime style fitting with the game’s lighthearted setting perfectly. Even more overwhelming are the spell affects. Seeing lightning bolts fly from the sky to strike down enemies, or the entire screen covered in the green illumination that marks the coming of one of the game’s final spells is a slight to behold and cherish.

The backdrops for this visual feast are also tremendous, with each period of time that you’ll come across having an obvious theme to it. The natural look of 65000000 B.C. presents you with an array of browns and greens, giving it an outdoors presence. Meanwhile, the bleak scenery of 12000 B.C. or the ruined mass of land that is 2300 A.D. give the impression that this is a world that certainly needs help. The environments vary greatly from place to place, allowing you to see all sorts of landscapes from steep cliffs to expanding grasslands. All in all, the backgrounds for Chrono Trigger do nothing more than compliment the outstanding forefront marvelously, giving the game what was in its time the ultimate graphical package.

ON the other side of the spectrum we have the beautiful music compositions that accompany you on your quest through time. And beautiful they are. From the opening theme that prepares you for a mission of unique implication and vast importance to the final triumphant chords, the selection of compositions is always fitting and complimentary of the game in a way that can only be described as indescribable. The peaceful flutes and high pitched strings set a tranquil mood as you make your way across the overworld in 1000 A.D. However, the menacingly quiet tones offered up for the Zeel Palace later in the game “scream” danger and stealth, two very important words during said segment.
The affects that round out the aesthetical package of Chrono Trigger are also well done. The sizzle of lightning to the crackle of flame are executed in as well as can be expected, and the small things like the thud of a little monster kicking a ball really add personality to an already emotionally potent game.

And emotion is the main key in Chrono Trigger’s excellence. While the battle system is innovative and the graphics superb, it is that story that is so carefully woven that sets Chrono Trigger above the rest. While the music is beautiful and the sound affects appropriate, it is undoubtedly the appealing characters you will associate with that keeps you traveling through the corridors of Chrono Trigger time after time after time. A particularly powerful mix of simple but enjoyable game mechanics, pleasant music, nice visuals, and above all else, one of the best tales woven from the creative minds at Square bond together to make Chrono Trigger one of the best video games that has graced gaming. A true classic that will forever be etched in the annals of time.
The test of time is one that is rigorous and demanding indeed. Some things seem brilliant at first, yet lose all of their luster over time. They lack the shimmer they have had before. New cars don’t look so new anymore. New shoes become scuffed and worn, not resembling the $200 pair of sneakers you purchased not so long ago. However, once and a while something comes along that has a permanent aura around it, forever glistening like jewels left in the sunlight. Chrono Trigger is one of those things. Even in the present day, in a world of beautiful lighting affects and unmatched artificial intelligence, such a simple RPG from 1995 has the radiance that cannot be implicated by stereo surround sound or dramatic visuals.

The fair marking the 1000th year of prosperity is upon the inhabitants of Guardia Kingdom. However, after a mishap involving a pendant and a teleporter, the out of Towner known as Marle is sent into 600 AD. You, Crono (the game’s silent protagonist), decides to go after her. Unfortunately, upon making their way back, Crono, Marle, and their inventor friend Lucca stumble on a world 1300 years ahead of their time… A world left in desolation and destruction after being attacked by a mysterious being 300 years ago (1000 years after Crono and co.’s present time). Upon a whim of heroism, Crono and his friends vow to save not their own lives, but the lives of the people a millennium into the future.

The bulk of Chrono Trigger’s storyline revolves around time travel. Throughout the game you will encounter five different time periods, each with their own distinct features and trademarks. The 2300 A.D. world is, as previously noted, in ruin, whereas the ancient 65000000 B.C. is basic and reeking with the fumes of simple civilizations and cultures. This art of time travel is something that adds tons of options to the game, making for a beautifully open ended quest. While you’ll eventually get to the same place, you have many different ways of exploring around to find that. Even the concept of time passing is done expertly and without flaw. Be kind to a woman in 600 A.D. and she’ll teach her offspring about the importance of being generous, which may come back to save your tale in 1000 A.D..

As you take part in your quest across time, you’ll come to know and love a cast of memorable characters…Characters that won’t be forgotten even after time has left them far-gone as simply memories. Along with the silent protagonist that is our hero, a delightful arrangement of names and faces litters Chrono Trigger, from a dark magician with a shrouded past to a noble knight that just happens to be a giant frog. The most remarkable facet of these characters though is the fleshed out back stories that each has. Even the aforementioned mystery man has enough fragments of his past to give you a desire to learn more about him, and the way in which these stories is told is nothing short of legendary. While your primary objective is saving the future, you’l end up getting tied up in the affairs of your party more than once, but rather than being filler for the game, these out of the way quests become as much a crucial part of the story as the destroyed 2300 A.D. itself.

Aside from these glorious examples of storytelling though, Chrono Trigger is a fairly normal RPG…A normal RPG that does just about everything right. Techs, the game’s path for learning skills, is nothing more than a glorified level up system, (You gain TP or tech points to teach your characters abilities or “techs”). One fairly innovative idea though is the dual and triple techs, which, as you can probably figure out, are more powerful techs that involve two or even three party members joining powers together to heal some serious HP or rock one of the game’s more challenging bosses into oblivion. Aside from this characteristic though, there’s nothing that hasn’t been done before in Chrono Trigger. The most important part is that it does everything to perfection. Leveling up, unless improperly managed, is just right to keep the game challenging but not impossible, and the game’s dungeons are a certain joy to explore, despite the fact that a few may leave you with a few puzzled moments of, “Where do I go now?”.

Aesthetically, Chrono Trigger impresses as much as its story and battle system. However, graphics and sound are much more apt to fall at the feet of time, the passing of years marking aging visuals and distorted sound, exploiting them to criticism from the trained eyes and ears. Chrono Trigger’s graphics for its time are nothing short of breathtaking though. The characters are well drawn, with the constant anime style fitting with the game’s lighthearted setting perfectly. Even more overwhelming are the spell affects. Seeing lightning bolts fly from the sky to strike down enemies, or the entire screen covered in the green illumination that marks the coming of one of the game’s final spells is a slight to behold and cherish.

The backdrops for this visual feast are also tremendous, with each period of time that you’ll come across having an obvious theme to it. The natural look of 65000000 B.C. presents you with an array of browns and greens, giving it an outdoors presence. Meanwhile, the bleak scenery of 12000 B.C. or the ruined mass of land that is 2300 A.D. give the impression that this is a world that certainly needs help. The environments vary greatly from place to place, allowing you to see all sorts of landscapes from steep cliffs to expanding grasslands. All in all, the backgrounds for Chrono Trigger do nothing more than compliment the outstanding forefront marvelously, giving the game what was in its time the ultimate graphical package.

ON the other side of the spectrum we have the beautiful music compositions that accompany you on your quest through time. And beautiful they are. From the opening theme that prepares you for a mission of unique implication and vast importance to the final triumphant chords, the selection of compositions is always fitting and complimentary of the game in a way that can only be described as indescribable. The peaceful flutes and high pitched strings set a tranquil mood as you make your way across the overworld in 1000 A.D. However, the menacingly quiet tones offered up for the Zeel Palace later in the game “scream” danger and stealth, two very important words during said segment.
The affects that round out the aesthetical package of Chrono Trigger are also well done. The sizzle of lightning to the crackle of flame are executed in as well as can be expected, and the small things like the thud of a little monster kicking a ball really add personality to an already emotionally potent game.

And emotion is the main key in Chrono Trigger’s excellence. While the battle system is innovative and the graphics superb, it is that story that is so carefully woven that sets Chrono Trigger above the rest. While the music is beautiful and the sound affects appropriate, it is undoubtedly the appealing characters you will associate with that keeps you traveling through the corridors of Chrono Trigger time after time after time. A particularly powerful mix of simple but enjoyable game mechanics, pleasant music, nice visuals, and above all else, one of the best tales woven from the creative minds at Square bond together to make Chrono Trigger one of the best video games that has graced gaming. A true classic that will forever be etched in the annals of time.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/26/02, Updated 09/26/02