Chrono Trigger Review

As a Squaresoft RPG, Chrono Trigger sets itself apart from the usual Final Fantasy motif. In fact, the simplified approach it takes can barely categorise itself into the 'RPG' niche. Stats are updated automatically, magic (or 'Tech') spells are learned automatically through normal 'leveling-up', and only one weapon type is used per character. It's an accessable, enjoyable, adventure/RPG hybrid that breathed life into the genre.Little does Crono realise a chance encounter with a girl named Marle will soon send him off on an adventure through the very fabric of space and time itself. For Marle is a Princess of the royal family, and her pendant carries strange powers. An accident at the Millenium Fair sees Crono, Marle and, Crono's inventive friend Lucca teleported from the present day through a machine built by Lucca, with Marle's pendant acting as the 'key' to opening the rift in time. A freak accident indeed, but a fateful one also. Appearing in the same location 400 years earlier, our trio of soon-to-be heroes are caught up in a battle against a warlord from the south named Magus, and his armies of Reptile creatures, intent on ruling the world of humans. His motives are initially unclear, however it soon becomes apparent that he is up to something far greater than territorial dominance.In their attempt to escape, Crono and co. are thrust forward into a desolate future. Barren wastelands and destroyed city-remains are all that the tiny human population have left. Devastated, they seek to find the answer within the futuristic ruins, finding a robot companion simply called 'Robo' and an information database that depicts the destruction of the world 300 years earlier, in 1999 - the Day of Lavos!And so what follows is an epic mystery-solving quest through time, to uncover what happened, how it happened, and most importantly when it happened. The timelines are all intermingled, the fate of one affecting that of another. The arrival of Lavos, the summoning of Lavos, and the awakening of Lavos - all have to be tracked back to their origins if there is to be any hope of setting things right and restoring the future to one of peace.Squaresoft made many great decisions here, to ease players into an exciting world without swamping them with figures. Each character has experience points, and Tech points. Experience points will 'level-up' a character, increasing HP and MP by a little each time, whereas Tech points will learn new Tech abilities. These are learned sequentially, one after the other, gaining in strength and effectiveness each time. There's nothing to customise, you cannot choose what to learn, you simply 'get stronger'. However, this simplicity is initially misleading; battles feature three characters at a time, each taking turns. The 'ATB' (Active Time Battle) system used in Final Fantasy games is brought into play here, meaning that you can either use individual Techniques per character, or wait for two or more characters to reach their turn and combine Techniques together to form new ones. These Double-techs (or Triple-techs, eventually) are far more powerful, and are totally dependant on which three characters you are using at the time. A sword swinging attack from Crono, for example, can be combined with a basic Cure spell from Lucca to create a spinning 'Cure-all' spell. There are many more examples, all varying in effectiveness depending on the currently used characters.Unlike Final Fantasy titles, battles are not random. Encounters take place on the same screen as normal actions, enemies can often be avoided, run away from, or sidestepped as you see fit. Often, encounters are forced upon you, but usually where you can see them and where you are ready for them. Luckily, respawning enemies mean you can always train to boost your stats, by roaming around enemy-filled locations repeatedly. All needs are catered for!Graphically, Chrono Trigger is pushing the Super Nintendo hardware pretty hard. The large, detailed sprites are bright and colourful, the environments almost 'organic-looking', and the magic spells complexly made up of transparancy effects and particles, and there are large amounts of animation throughout. Aesthetically, it is also fresh and vibrant, with each time-frame looking totally unique and fitting the mood perfectly. The barren wasteland in particular is incredibly atmospheric, and of course, all of this is helped by the stunning audio: wind whistles in your ears, rain can be heard pouring down, seagulls are squarking, blizzards roar and factories sound satisfactorily like metal-on-metal. The music is also memorable, thanks to the compositional work of Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobou Uematsu.The storyline twists and turns as new people are met and join your team - a different person from each time period, all fighting for a common goal. And your actions in-game will also affect certain characters' availability as well as the outcome of the ending. An incredibly clever multiple ending scenario sets itself up, depending on when you take on the final battle, which can be accessed rather early on in the game. However it is hard to win unless you are strong enough, which is why the 'NewGame+' option opens up a new avenue of replayability, and allows easy access to the many differing end sequences.Chrono Trigger is, quite simply, a masterpiece. An adventure of epic proportions played out in an accessable way, with replay value and so many secrets to discover. The puzzles that cleverly utilise the timelines and the structure of the landscapes are ingenious, and the memorable characters and their motives add a unique sense of urgency to the whole experience.Needless to say, this a must-have game for any RPG fan, or any adventure fan. It is a tragedy that it never saw a European release, however it should be sought out in any way possible. This one is timeless. Score: 10