Chrono Trigger (DS) Review
Posted by Drew Robbins on 01.01.2009
The legendary time-traveling RPG makes its long-awaited appearance on the Nintendo DS. Does this experience still hold up well in this generation?
Title: Chrono Trigger
Publisher: SquareEnix
Developer: SquareEnix
Genre: Roleplaying Game
Players: 1-2
Rated: E 10+ for Everyone of Age 10 or up
Also available on: SNES, PS1
During the heyday of the Super Nintendo, SquareEnix (then Squaresoft) had begun to push out countless quality RPGs. Among them were Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy VI (then known as III), and the legendary time-traveling adventures known as Chrono Trigger. Though the game garnered rave reviews from critics, it was a title that quickly became a scarcity. You would have to break the bank (well, maybe just break the piggy bank) just to get a copy of the original SNES game. Of course, SquareEnix found a way to solve that problem, bring it to the PS1! Well, unfortunately, this attempt didn’t work all that well and was plagued with slowdown and load times. So with that, the problem persisted and many unfortunate gamers were left in the cold and incapable of experiencing Chrono Trigger.
Luckily, SquareEnix has created a remedy for this problem, that being another port of Chrono Trigger. The PS1 could hardly handle the game or its cutscenes, so surely the tiny DS would be no better? Quite the opposite, as it turns out.
Gameplay - RPGs (of the Japanese variety, at the very least) are known for having slow combat that is sure to be the game’s weakest point. While Chrono Trigger DS is mostly the same, the battles are thankfully fast-paced, and you won’t be forced to dwell too long on one encounter.
As opposed to the ordinary “magic,” Chrono Trigger offers up special attacks that are instead referred to as “Techs.” For the most part, “Tech” is basically just a fancy term for Magic. However, if two or more of your party members are ready to attack, you can perform “Dual-techs” or the dreaded “Triple-techs.” Still, this doesn’t make an encounter that much more exciting, because in the end, you are still just taking turns hitting each other.
Like you would expect, the gameplay never radically shifts over the course of your adventure. But, look on the bright side, Chrono Trigger is a game that features no random battles. Instead, you are able to scout out upcoming enemies and work-around them if you so choose, something that is very helpful when you are low on health and just need to reach that next save point.
Chrono Trigger DS is a port, and as any rational port would, it features a few new nifty features to enhance your experience. Sadly, none of these new features will “rock your world.” The new missions are fairly lackluster and frustrating, and the monster battles just come off as a boring version of Pokemon. Do you really want to see a green imp fight one of those slimes that is resistant to all non-magic attacks?
Graphics - In case you’ve skipped the past few paragraphs, I’ll take this time to remind you that Chrono Trigger is a Super Nintendo game. That being said, the game’s graphics are nothing to write home about. However, I still think that Chrono Trigger’s sprites look great, and the environments look…well, how would you expect them to look! 16 bits, this is all you need to know.
The graphical “showcase” doesn’t end there, though, because Chrono Trigger DS comes packed in with all of the cutscenes that were featured in the PS1 version. (Author’s Note: Heck yes!) If you were worried that due to the small screen, these cutscenes would come off poorly, then do I ever have some good news for you! Even with the obvious restraints, these cutscenes still look fantastic, and unlike the PS1 version, this has no nasty side-effects on the rest of the game.
Also of note is the battle screen, which has remained mostly the same, but now offers up some changes. You can now push all of your action commands to the bottom screen, leaving the battle screen completely unhampered by User Interface. This is a nice little touch, as I’m a big fan of not having U.I. interrupting my view of the game’s action.
Sound - Very few games have been able to knock something “out of the park.” Bioshock did it graphically, Sands of Time did it gameplay-wise, and now this brings us to Chrono Trigger’s audio. The soundtrack for Chrono Trigger is possibly the greatest of all time. Just watching the introduction cutscene should give you a sense of the incredible audio.
Taken from the PS1 Version
Now you may think that the quality slowly trickles down, but alas, it gets even better as the game goes on. The major strong-point of Chrono Trigger is how well-directed the audio is. Certain tracks will always come on at the exact right time in the story, creating a moment of surreal joy in anyone playing the game.
Fun Factor - Chrono Trigger is very much fun in the same sense as a game like Hotel Dusk. While I enjoyed digesting the game’s storyline, the same can’t be said for the gameplay. Though it doesn’t make me want to cause myself physical harm, it fails to invoke any feelings of enjoyment from me, something that can certainly be considered a problem in any game. Plodding through the battles is all made worth it in the end though, as Chrono Trigger is a memorable game that you will look back on fondly years after completing it.
Lasting Appeal - This game is most comparable to a fine piece of chocolate. You devour the bar and enjoy it greatly, but you know that eating too many would be hazardous to your health. Luckily for you, it has a great aftertaste that will pervade for the rest of the day. Lost? Chrono Trigger is a great game, and though you may never have the urge to pick it up again, it is an experience that will stick with you for a very long time. Heck, I played this game at least ten years ago for the first time, and even before the DS game came out I was fondly reminiscing on the experience.
The 411 - Despite being 13 years old, Chrono Trigger is a game that still holds strong, even when put up against more recent RPG outings. If you haven’t experienced Chrono Trigger by now, this is an absolute must-have in your DS collection. Even at the absurd $40 price-tag, this game is worth every penny.
Graphics
8.0
Just as you would expect an SNES game to look, but the cutscenes are absolutely breathtaking.
Gameplay
7.0
A typical RPG, nothing special here.
Sound
10.0
This is the best soundtrack in gaming history by far.
Lasting Appeal
6.5
A surprisingly short RPG that is good for about two playthroughs, but will leave a lasting impression on you.
Fun Factor
8.0
Great story and great sound-direction can counter-act boring gameplay.
