DS Daily: Chrono Glory

by Alisha Karabinus { Nov 30th 2008 at 10:30AM }

Yesterday, we lamented with our European readers over the delay for Chrono Trigger, but today, we want to talk to those of you who are playing it. Is it everything you hoped it would be? More? After all, this was the most-wanted game, chosen by DS Fanboy readers, so we expect to hear tears of joy in the comments. If you're not happy with it, please explain -- at length.

Gallery: Chrono Trigger

Tags: chrono-trigger, rpg, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris @ Nov 30th 2008 10:43AM

I pre-ordered from Amazon, so I'm still waiting for mine to get here. :-(

Bowser Rogozhin @ Nov 30th 2008 11:18AM

Developer: I have a great idea for a new DS game, Sirs.

Squaresoft Executive 1: is Cloud involved?

Developer: no, this is a brand new idea: new characters, a new way of telling a story. Everything new.

Squaresoft Executive 1: hmm.

*pushes red button

Squaresoft Executive 1: security!

Squaresoft Executive 2: now wait a moment. I'm sure Toriyama is involved, huh.

Developer: no, he's not.

Squaresoft Executive 2: oh, do you need his number? I have it here on speed dial.

Developer: no, this is an entirely new idea, one built from the ground up for gamers in 2008. We have the technology to do oh so many wonderful things, we have the talent and creativity to -

Squaresoft Executive 1: we tried that already. The World Goes Where?

Squaresoft Executive 2: nobody brought it, that's what matters. We don't do creativity or culture, just yen. Shoe me an Excel chart or show me nothing.

Squaresoft Executive 3: fuck this guy, just dig out any old rom and start printing. DS owners are 9/10s nostalgia, hell like they give a shit.

Squaresoft Executive 1: latest gamefaqs poll says Chrono Trigger is real popular.

Squaresoft Executive 2: Chrono what?

Squaresoft Executive 1: Wikipedia says we own it.

Squaresoft Executive 3: fuck it, print the first shit that looks like Toriyama.

aj @ Nov 30th 2008 11:48AM

It totally sucks that businesses try to make money in a free market. And it should be criminal how they FORCE people to buy their products.

Mateus @ Nov 30th 2008 12:55PM

Heh it must really be just like that.
At least this time it's the best game ever.

Jacob @ Nov 30th 2008 1:43PM

Didn't The World Ends With You do surprisingly well for a new IP?

Lidon @ Nov 30th 2008 1:59PM

Bowser, stop being such an anti-SquareEnix troll.

Josh @ Nov 30th 2008 2:56PM

No, it's funny.

Shuyin @ Nov 30th 2008 2:58PM

@Jacob: depends on what's your definition of good sales and bad sales. TWEWY sold about 200k copies in Japan in about 1year and 160k copies in the rest of the world in about half a year.
Some might see good sales here, but i don't think SE is very happy with those numbers (especially when compared to other games like FF&DQ ports and remakes).

SE doesn't take chances anymore, like in the PSX era when they made lots of new IPs (Musashi, Threads of Fate, PE series etc). This is a direct reaction of the fact that new IPs like TWEWY, Sigma Harmonics and Nanashi no game, sell less than ports like DQ4. This financial year, DQ4 sold more than those 3 new IPs combined.

It basically goes like this: idiots on the internet complain that SE doesn't make any new IPs and instead is milking old, established, franchises -> the same idiots buy ports and remakes, BUT THEY DON'T BUY THE NEW IPs -> SE gets the fiscal year's results and decides to make more ports and remakes (because that's what brings them profit) -> the idiots i mentioned earlier, make posts on forums and blogs complaining about the lack of new IPs

CT, however, deserves support more than other ports/remakes. Maybe someday we'll play Chrono Break.

chispito @ Nov 30th 2008 6:42PM

Really, who cares if they keep spewing out ports, remakes, and sequels? Let those for whom said games are intended enjoy them.

Support the developers who actually are taking chances and trying to create new and different experiences.

Madhatter @ Dec 1st 2008 3:47AM

LOL well done sir.

Shin @ Dec 1st 2008 8:57AM

I salute you and your brilliance, sir! XDXDXD

KingKRule @ Dec 1st 2008 3:01PM

Ha yo Executive 3 must have been a sailor... ha genious. Everyone else is moderatly civil and exec 3 is like "Yo fuck that shit"

Dopple Boppler @ Nov 30th 2008 11:27AM

I just picked it up last night and played for a good four hours. The only prior experience I had had with the game was at my cousin's house over 10 years ago, so it's pretty much been all new to me. I have to say, as someone who's basically too ADD for any RPG that doesn't have Mario in the title, this has been really great; one forgets just how forward thinking Square used to be back then. It also doesn't hurt that the battles are really, really fast.

aj @ Nov 30th 2008 11:51AM

I've never played it before. So speaking as someone who is picking the game up for the first time.....it's FUN.

And it's been a long, long time since I've played a FUN game.

(Actually, it hasn't been that long. The last FUN game I played was Star Ocean on the PSP.....another Squarenix re-release/re-make. How dare they make fun games! Before that, the last FUN game was Rocket Slime.....another Squarenix cash-in on a popular franchise. God, it's criminal how they keep making all these fun games.)

RAWRzilla @ Nov 30th 2008 12:16PM

I still cant get it to run on my CycloDS. :(

bombchu @ Nov 30th 2008 7:00PM

Download the new firmware :)

I first played this yeeeears ago. Maybe... 8 years? I'm glad I get to play it again. I was too young to get the humor and didn't notice the fun bits in the graphics. If you don't like it you don't like it, but I'm having a lot of fun! Played it for 'bout 6 hours straight last night! And more today... :D

Matt @ Nov 30th 2008 9:41PM

You need to download the newest cheats also to get past the piracy protection.

Nadril @ Nov 30th 2008 12:47PM

I forgot how wonderful of a game it is, honestly. Some of the moments in the game can still get to me after all these years.

I've gotten to lavos again, and I'm planning on going through the extra dungeon before trying to fight him :P

Sam @ Nov 30th 2008 1:01PM

It's probably the best port of an old game I've ever seen. The visuals have been faithfully transferred down to the last detail. Event the transparencies in the clouds look perfect.

The translation has been completely redone, from minor conversations with NPC's to item names.

My only complaint is that the new translation takes out some of the more silly, funny aspects of the original. Most notably, the "it must have been all that oatmeal!" line is now gone.

SephFinale @ Nov 30th 2008 3:00PM

I had a problem with Gato's song...it's a more literal translation, now.

And I spent my first four hours trying to do that damn soda drinking contest (As well as get all the fun goodies at the fair).

WHY DID THEY MAKE THE SODA DRINKING CONTEST SO HARD?!

Josh @ Nov 30th 2008 2:57PM

If there's anyone out there that doesn't find this game too good, reply please. I know precious few people who agree with me here...

hylianpsy @ Nov 30th 2008 4:22PM

*semi-spoiler*

I got bored with it once I got to the pre-historic era.

Josh @ Nov 30th 2008 4:51PM

Hehe, surprised I haven't been half-starred yet.

Kenneth Caldwell @ Nov 30th 2008 5:32PM

I've been rocking the Trigger this weekend. I'm really enjoying it so far. This is my first experience with the game, so I can't compare it to the SNES original.

Kai Wong @ Nov 30th 2008 7:21PM

Bleh, I'm seriously annoyed with this port. I get what SE is trying to do: they're trying to introduce a whole new generation to Chrono Trigger, while cashing in on nostalgia from the older generation. But for some reason, I can't get into it this time around: it's probably because I hate playing most games over again. It's the reason I've never beat FFT (seriously, my save file has disappeared/been corrupted/etc. 8 times -_-), and why I'll probably sell my copy to a friend.

FFIV at least felt new: 3d animation, voice acting, new dungeons. Complain all you want, but it was a different experience. But CT's "new" stuff seriously doesn't feel worth it at all. I can Youtube the new ending, the extra dungeons I've heard are just masked retreads (with poor level design), and the extra final boss just feels tacked on. It feels like Nintendo couldn't find any IP to press for the holiday season, so they just made a half-assed port.

KaBob799 @ Nov 30th 2008 10:42PM

Nintendo didn't make it

chibi_wings @ Nov 30th 2008 8:27PM

I've been playing it, and I love it. Feels so good to return to it after all those years =)

I'm not too far into it yet, busy with school, life, ect.

Aticus @ Nov 30th 2008 10:04PM

I haven't played the game yet (Sega kid growing up) but I plan on forking over $40 for it after the holidays wind down. If it is as good a reviews and people say it is, then it's worth it. SE games usually are long games so the price isn't too bad if you get 20-25 hours worth of gameplay.

-Aticus, http://www.paladintales.blogspot.com

GM @ Dec 1st 2008 5:32AM

One of my favorite games ever. This still holds a special place in my heart 13 years later. I highly recommend it for any one interested that has yet to discover it & if you don't want to pay the $40 you can DL an emulator version.

odan @ Dec 1st 2008 10:15PM

i feel happy to know we can replay a classic that really does need to be played by everyone at one time or another.
However i feel like its somewhat of a ripoff.
I still have my cart of snes version , and my snes.
So really what would i rather play.
And to be honest, i'd love to see Chrono 3 , rather then remakes again and again.
Or
Like that one post above me , something completely new. Kingdom hearts is an example of a take on something new that worked really well.
Kingdom hearts 2 , wasn't as good , 3 will suck , 4 well its final fantasy all over again.

Mert @ Dec 1st 2008 10:47AM

Playing this on a handheld is a completely new experience. ABSOLUTELY FUCKING AWESOME.

I found "Nom nom nom" in Guardia Castle p;

Cameron @ Dec 7th 2008 11:52PM

awesomeness in a hand basket, having loads of fun, and yeah im probably a nostalgia nut

Nate Roberson @ Dec 1st 2008 11:22AM

I played Chrono Trigger in grade school, and I loved it then. The port is faithful to the old game, and I like the new translation. I feel like things made more sense this time around, but... then again, I am much older now, and I probably didn't pay that much attention when i was younger.

The original storyline and gameplay is just as fun as I remember, and I do love how that all plays out here with the new translation and basic extras (art/movies/music/bestiary/etc.)

The shortcuts and on-screen maps in the touch screen are also pretty nice.

As for the added on content...

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM HERE ON*

The Arena of Ages is ok. I occasionally go in and burn some gold on my mostly-maxed creature, and he stomps on the enemy with 1200 damage attacks and 2500 damage crits. It isn't really challenging, but it amuses me somewhat. It feels more like a gamble to me, though, as I have no idea if winning the match will get me a Gold Stud (that was a nice surprise, as I only had a Silver Stud at the time) or a Hi-Ether (which is nice... but I don't really use items all that much).

For the new dungeons, I've only done the Lost Sanctum so far, and I don't particularly care for it. The items you get from it are nice, but relatively unnecessary. A lot of it is just running back and forth in a limited space, occasionally requiring you to go outside, time travel to the other entrance, go in there, do something, re-travel to the first entrance, go in again...

I can understand that it would have been difficult to integrate the quests into the rest of the world as it appears to be the alternate reality where Dinopolis thrived (from Chrono Cross), but... it still felt more 'tacked-on' than I would have liked. If it was more linear and less back-and-forth, I think I wouldn't feel so annoyed by it.

Oh, and if I have to run up and down that blasted mountain one more time, I'm going to fall asleep. At least it's not riddled with meaningless battles...

I can't speak on the final dungeon or the final-final boss yet, but I'm hoping that it doesn't consist of solid back-and-forth questing.

Deozaan @ Dec 1st 2008 2:38PM

One of the best DS games ever. But that's probably because it's just one of the best games ever.

The Boss @ Dec 1st 2008 7:45PM

I forgot how amazing this game was. I mean, I knew I thought this game was amazing, but why is it so capitvating with it's dated graphics and style?! Maybe it's the kick-ass soundtrack. I dunno, I just know that it killed my skepticism.

Man, I love it.

chris @ Dec 3rd 2008 11:35AM

Well, I don't own a DS, but I do own the SNES version, so I busted that out and have been playing it since the new version launched. Thirteen years later, and my saved games still work! Five characters have been maxed out in their levels, another is at 98, and the last is way back at level 76 (but this is to be expected!) I'm kind of disappointed to not be able to play the new dungeons, but I'm glad that such a quality game is available on a great new platform!

MechaBouncer @ Dec 12th 2008 5:14PM

I've been too busy playing it to come back here to comment about it. I would call this the definitive version of the game. The only thing that I don't like is the DS stylus controls for movement. However, their addition for menu navigation I do like. Plus, I'm not forced to use them, so I'm very happy about that. What's more, it retains all the cutscenes from the PS1 release, without the slowdown. This is probably my favorite release of the game, which is also one of my favorites of all time.