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Chrono Trigger: 30th anniversary

Today is the 30th anniversary of the U.S. release of Chrono Trigger! It was my favorite SNES game.

When I rented Chrono Trigger in middle school, I assumed it was a two-player action RPG because the box looked like Secret of Mana. Ironically, Akira Toriyama didn't work on Secret of Mana! However, his work on the Dragon Quest series served as inspiration for Secret of Mana. I saw no similarity between Chrono Trigger and the 8-bit sprites in Dragon Warrior. Anyway, despite the lack of multiplayer, I took to Chrono Trigger immediately. With the money I earned mowing the lawn, I bought the game for about $75, which, adjusted for inflation would be nearly $150 today!

Chrono Trigger's main gimmick is time-travel. The appropriately named Crono and his friends (you can choose their names) travel between the present (1000 A.D.), the Middle Ages (600 A.D.), a post-apocalyptic future (2300 A.D.), antiquity (12,000 B.C.), and prehistoric times (65 million B.C.). Changing events in the past alters the future. For example, at one point you leave Robo, a robot, in the Middle Ages so that he can spend centuries planting an entire forest you need in the present! The inventor Lucca, whose teleportal technology mysteriously causes time-travel, repairs the rusty Robo, who rejoins the party no worse for wear! Whenever you go back to the Middle Ages, he is also still on the map laboring. The plot revolves around preventing the emergence of the world-destroying alien Lavos, whose ancient origins are uncovered in a lost magical society. The themes are very similar to what one finds in Final Fantasy games. Chrono Trigger clears the (admittedly low) bar for story in video games. The game is humorous and irreverent throughout, similar to Dragon Quest.

The meet cute

The game has an archetypal cast: the silent, Link-like swordsman Crono; the secret, tomboy princess, Marle; the goggled inventor, Lucca; the knight turned into a frog, Frog; the robot, Robo; and the cavewoman Ayla. The villain of the game's first half, Magus, will join the party only if you spare him. Both Frog and Ayla speak in period-specific, stereotyped language, though Frog only uses archaic "thee"s and "thou"s on the SNES.

Chrono Trigger's other gimmick is that, instead of learning spells, characters learn "techs" as they level. In addition to their own techs, every character learns at least one dual tech with every other character, for a total of 45. These can only be used when both characters have full gauges (the game uses the same Active Time Battle system as FF6). They team up for a powerful effect combining each character's individual talent. In addition, every three-character combination that includes Crono learns a triple tech. This system necessitated keeping the number of playable characters relatively low.

Chrono Trigger doesn't use random encounters. In non-town locations, enemies patrol specific spots and can usually be avoided (somewhat like Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest). The same concept was used contemporaneously in Earthbound (not by Square), though it wouldn't become the RPG standard for another decade. As a kid trained on the old JRPGs, I deliberately triggered every random encounter to stat-max! On my current replay, I try to avoid enemies, both to progress quickly and to make fights more challenging.

The world map in the present

When the party engages enemies, menu-drive battle occurs on the same screen. Enemy positioning matters, and they continue to move. Many techs have an "area of effect." For example, Lucca's flamethrower [flame toss] hits all enemies in a line, and Crono's cyclone hits one target plus all surrounding it. Sometimes it's best to hold until a foe has moved into a vulnerable position. In addition, attack animations change when an enemy is close up; for example, Marle smacks it with the butt of her crossbow. The enemy may also perform joint-attacks; for example, the armadillos roll into a ball to be kicked by another enemy! Foes also change stances, affecting how they behave; for example, the shadows with face-like shields shouldn't be attacked until they turn the shield away, exposing themselves. These features make battles interesting and are partly why Chrono Trigger is so well regarded.

Some non-combat-based events occur in Chrono Trigger (like FF6). Notably, your actions at the beginning of the game determine whether Crono is found guilty or innocent at his trial.

The game is celebrated for its New Game+ mode, which adds twelve additional endings. During a second playthrough, the party can warp to Lavos at any time. Depending when you beat it, you get a different ending. With the help of Nintendo Power, I had fun getting all of them one summer.

Chrono Trigger boasts many fun and well designed dungeons, towns, items and equipment, monsters, and boss fights. Equipment upgrading is linear: each new town offers better equipment for some characters, even if it doesn't make sense for the time period. Lucca's first gun upgrade, the dart gun, is sold in the Middle Ages. Robo upgrades his arm before robots were invented.

Lavos will destroy the world in 1999 A.D. (SNES version)

Chrono Trigger boasts outstanding art and graphics. It's on par with Final Fantasy VI. The music by Yasunori Mitsuda is also amazing. I've listened to the Chrono Trigger soundtrack more than any other video-game soundtrack, including any of the Final Fantasy games.

Chrono Trigger is the epitome of 2D JPRGs. People who prefer a more traditional and/or customizable experience may prefer FF6, but Chrono Trigger excels in its innovation and joy.

The game has been rereleased, without any radical changes, four times: the PlayStation in 2001, the DS in 2008, mobile in 2011-12, and Steam in 2018. The PlayStation version suffered from load times, though it added anime cut-scenes. The DS version introduced a modern translation, which replaced Ted Woosley's original (he also did FF6), and fixed minor bugs. The Steam version was poorly received at first, but subsequent patches turned it into an excellent version that I strongly recommend. There's a rumor that an HD-2D remake is being made. As awesome as that would be, the original still holds up. Play it!

Grade: A+
Linked Reviews
"Chrono Trigger is, and will always be, one of the most unforgettable RPG experiences ever to grace a video game console."
— Corbie Dillard, Nintendo Life, 10/10

"The action-packed story of a boy's quest through history stands the test of time, with almost flawless pacing and gameplay. Most notably, Chrono Trigger features 13 endings."
— IGN, #2 of Top 100

"An enthralling experience sure to enrich your existence with its intricate narrative, exciting battles, and glorious music."
— Asheton Phinney, Ultimate Nintendo: Guide to the SNES Library, 5/5

Original SNES title screen

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