Chrono Trigger: A noble spirit embiggens the smallest screens

by Phil Larsen { Jul 15th 2008 at 1:15PM }

We can only put up with tiny scans and crazy Japanese writing for so long before we go Chrono crazy. Thankfully, we've nabbed a select number of high-quality screens and created a genuine, bonafide, one-hundred percent awesome Chrono Trigger gallery.

Again, they look pretty much identical to the original SNES version, but remember that for a good portion of the world, there never was a first time around for Chrono Trigger. New to some, old (yet inspiring) to others -- but either way, it's a kickass batch of images from one of the greatest games ever made.

Gallery: Chrono Trigger

Tags: chrono-trigger, chrono-trigger-ds, jrpg, port, rpg, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

CaptainRainbow @ Jul 15th 2008 1:31PM

Looks great, unlike what some people would have you believe.

acefondu @ Jul 15th 2008 2:37PM

Really? Because it looks like a SNES game to me that I played some 10 years ago. Yeah, I'll agree it was great THEN.

Twinkie Beyond @ Jul 15th 2008 1:33PM

Bought the original at launch, loved it...but what will this one offer that the original and the FF Chronicles version do not? Even as a collector, I'm not wasting my money on buying just a portable version of the same game. Made that mistake with FFII/FFIV.

FoolsRun @ Jul 15th 2008 1:33PM

Those are perfectly cromulent screens; nothing more, nothing less.

Roto13 @ Jul 17th 2008 1:38AM

aj @ Jul 15th 2008 1:53PM

But what of the second screen?!?

I hope that the game just plays on the touch screen, and the only added features are that you can use the stylus to move the characters around and deal with battles and menus (sorta like Magical Starsign), but that you don't HAVE to use the touch screen to move around (unlike Magical Starsign). Leave the top screen blank, or just have a little status screen or something.

Blue @ Jul 15th 2008 2:15PM

Until I see a picture of Chrono Trigger on the DS (with both screens), I will continue to hope that the actual port will have slightly larger/more detailed sprites and/or more frames of animation. And a redone script.

I mean c'mon, the first game was on a 32 MB cartridge, and DS carts go up to 4 gigs. Don't waste that potential!

ryan @ Jul 15th 2008 6:06PM

4 Gb, not 4 GB (ie: 512 MB) in case anyone was curious.

ChangeOfFate @ Jul 15th 2008 5:07PM

Yay! We get to pay $39.99 for a 14 year old title too! I'm so excited!

(sarcasm +1)

TJF588 @ Jul 15th 2008 7:12PM

Shut.
The.
Fuck.
Up.
You.
Old.
Farts.

Look, some people've never played CT, and I'm sure there are those that wouldn't touch the PS1 port (or, even if they'd want to, wouldn't have a card on them to play it). It's portable, it might have a different feel due to touchscreen controls, and it'll hopefully have a cleaned script. Graphics-wise, look at the thing. "Good THEN"? I mean, pick up a handful of DS games from a wholly random selection of the 2D kind and TELL me this doesn't look great.

Anyway, basher bashing out of the way:

1/5 -- That still strikes me as a Michael Jackson pose.
3/5 -- Guy on the left kinda freaks me out.
5/5 -- Are those HP/[whatever MP is in this game] bars? Were those there before?

Todd @ Jul 16th 2008 2:15AM

No... those bars weren't there before. I was wondering what they were myself. It would make sense that they represent HP and MP, but that would be an unnecessary addition. Unless they took away the text box that displayed that information. (Maybe that's what's on the second screen.)

Dr_W@dsy @ Jul 16th 2008 1:37AM

Well, despite being 28 I've never played the original CT. Was into PC gaming as a kid, and most of my early 20's, but then kinda pulled back to console when I got married (it's cheaper, since I don't have to keep upgrading :))

Since getting my DS I've enjoyed playing a bunch of old classic games that I'd missed out, and many of my favourite games at the moment are from SE (TWEWY, FF:CC, and FF:IV). As far as I'm concerned, if they just threw the original rom onto a DS cart and tacked on SNES emulation, I'd still buy it. Given the hype though, I expect them to make some additions, but not many.

Remember that no matter what SE do, they'll be hated by about 15% of the fans. If they just port it then people who still have the cartridge and a SNES (or a rom and an emulator) will complain. If they change it then purists will complain that they've messed with perfection. Luckily for me, I'm in the intervening 70% who can't play it at the moment, and are looking forward to the chance to play a great game.

psyborg @ Jul 16th 2008 8:39PM

So there are sidescrolling sections? Sweet.

Chrono Trigger seems very inviting even to a non RPG fan. It really says "play me" more than any other RPG I've seen. I might have to finally check it out on the DS, who know maybe it could change my opinion of the genre.