Dig out those old SNES cartridges, gamers! (Or Android apps, or Virtual Console files, or emulator ROMs, or bookmarked SNES archive sites, or…) This week on Tor.com Peter Tieryas is going to be replaying classic time-traveling RPG Chrono Trigger!
The replay begins NOW and starting on Tuesday, September 22nd, Peter will be checking in with recaps of his experience revisiting one of the most fondly-remembered video games of all time. Does it still hold up decades later? Does the story still have an impact even after you’ve grown up and consumed mass quantities of time travel fiction? Is there anything you might have missed playing it as a kid? (Turns out there totally is.)
Let’s play from the beginning to the confrontation with Magus in 600 AD and check back with each other on this thread starting at 10 AM EST on Tuesday the 22nd. (That page won’t be live until 10 AM, FYI.) Peter has discovered some pretty interesting things in the beginning of the game, especially in regards to the various meanings of the titular “trigger.”
Epoch away!
I’m in. I will pause my FF5 play through for this.
Video games and I have a complex relationship. I have always been interested in games and gaming, but I’ve never been a serious participant. I had a Genesis and an original Gameboy, but mainly stuck to platformers. I always kept up with what was happening in the gaming world though, and I would still buy gaming magazines even after I stopped playing. In college I found out that I was one of the really weird people who like watching other people play video games. I watched my roommate in college play through Final Fantasy X, and I’ve watched plenty of videos online of people playing Final Fantasy VII to the point where I know the story and characters even though I’ve never controlled Cloud. Years later, well after the PS3 was out and after I had graduated from college, one of my brother’s friends let me borrow his PS2 which he no longer used. I beat Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, Katamari Damacy and its sequel, The Mark of Kri, and Dragon Quest VIII, then he asked for it back and I haven’t played anything since other than the first Final Fantasy on my phone this past summer.
I’ve always been interested in Chrono Trigger, and I recall some of the images from the gaming magazines I used to read (frog guy? cool ship!). So what I’m basically saying is, I’m looking forward to reading these articles even though I’ve never played the game and probably never will.
This should be fun! Shame my SNES is a few states away…
Still, for anyone replaying this game, I heartily recommend Boss Fight Books’ recent book on Chrono Trigger (titled, well, Chrono Trigger) It’s a fun analysis of the characters and themes and stuff.
I just played through this last year on my Android emulator, so I am in for this replay. This is one of my favorite games of all time and was the one that got me into turn-based RPGs. A friend convinced me to buy a PSX rather than an N64 because he said Final Fantasy VII was like a 3D Chrono Trigger (not entirely accurate, but close enough that I never regretted the purchase).
@2 ScavengerMonk, I don’t know your situation, but I would recommend buying a Slim Edition PS2. You can get them for about $50 and they hold up pretty well. In addition to this (which is part of the Final Fantasy Chronicles on PSX, along with Final Fantasy IV), you would also be able to play Final Fantasy V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX. Legend of Dragoon was also pretty good. These games are well worth your time.
I got a chipped psone around twelve years ago so I could play games imported from America that were not available in the UK (thankyou Amazon and Ebay) The games I most wanted to play were Chrono Trigger, Crono Cross and Xenogears. All were and are fantastic JRPGs.
I also got Valkyrie Profile (First played on PSP but wanted to try original), Parasite Eve (only the sequel was released over here), Final Fantasy Tactics (I suck at this and never made it far) and finally I got Legend of Mana just a few weeks ago but have not got round to trying it yet.
I’m currently replaying Triple Triad, you know that card game with the Final Fantasy game attached. I’m a sucker for old RPGs (even though they weren’t old when I began playing).
Other great old RPG’s I play are Legend of Dragoon and Vagrant Story and does anyone else want a remake of Final Fantasy VI once they’re done with VII?
@5, that’s a pretty great list of games you’ve got there. I’m fine with them not doing a remake of Final Fantasy VI. I’ve got the Final Fantasy Anthology that has that one and Final Fantasy V on it, so I’m covered :). I actually liked Parasite Eve 2 better than the first. I also suck at Final Fantasy Tactics. That game made me realize I don’t really like strategy RPGs. I don’t have the patience for them.
This is just great! I´ve been (re)playing it for a few days now. I first played it baaaaack in 1996 on my SNES; i used to rent it on the weekends at a videogame store in a huge supermarket very near to my house; eventually, i stopped playing it, but could never finish it. Three years ago I got it on the Wii VC, but only last week did i decide to play it through. It´s still as awesome as i remembered it to be: it holds extremely well, the character design and the battle system are brilliant, and the music is, along FFVI´s, the best SNES soundtrack ever (i particularly like the music in Zeal: very atmospheric). And, of course, the story is the best thing ever. Absolute classic
Hey, I’m looking forward to this. I’ve never actually played Chrono Trigger, although it’s always been on my to-play list. My roommate started re-playing it about a week ago, and it’s been making me want to play, so I decided when I saw this.. eh, what the hell. So I just started, and I’m enjoying it! A couple thoughts, I think it’s a little harder than games are these days. I definitely didn’t stalk up on tonics or ethers, and then found myself in a position where I needed them, so I have been restoring from some save points already. I also assume I played through far enough, I just fought “Yakra” who I am assuming is Magus 600AD. I might propose/suggest that in some way the proceeding posts are spoiler-free, I feel like I’ve got a spoiler already knowing that Yakra is going to be someone named Magus, I could be wrong, I hope so…. But it does seem like a fun game, I’m enjoying the story and this is also probably the “oldest” game I’m aware of where you can avoid monsters by running behind them when their backs are turned. It looks great and I look forward to the next “chapter.” :-)
@@@@@ Kyle, keep going. Magus goes by no other name. ;)
I’ve started Chrono Trigger several times, but never seem to keep up on it. Maybe this replay will keep me motivated this time around. I’m in.
I’ve also played through most of the games listed above. (Very special soft spot for Xenogears). My roommate and I played through Chrono Cross. That was an epic time. We devoured FF Tactics too. I actually prefer the strategy style to the classic RPG. Some of the absolute best games were made before the graphics wars and I wish more developers would get back to that quality level.
Will do, Jason. Thanks for the tip!
I’m perfectly happy WITHOUT ‘remakes’ of these older RPGs. The new 3D art just doesn’t that they add never hits the nostalgia buttons for me. The Virtual Console-type releases are perfect. I imagine those updated graphics may appeal to younger gamers who never got a chance with these games the first (or second) time around.
I just want a FFVI remake to enjoy the opera section in full orchestral HD. Of course the sprite version is still wonderful.
I’m seriously wanting to replay FFVI now just to reexperience the opera section again =p
@13, 14 Did you catch the Distant Worlds concerts? Maria and Draco’s aria is pretty sweet done live with a full orchestra. I think the singer doing Maria’s parts was almost started crying when she got a standing ovation.