Chrono hits the DS in this great adventure
When a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions at the Millennial Fair, young Chrono must travel through time to rescue his misfortunate companion from an intricate web of past and present perils. The swashbuckling adventure that ensues soon unveils an evil force set to destroy the world, triggering Chrono’s race against time to change the course of history and bring about a brighter future.
I can’t claim to have played the original Chrono Trigger, but over the years have heard it mentioned countless times as one of the great RPGs. I’ve always wanted to play it, but just never found the time to. Now I finally have a chance with the DS version of the classic game, but after all these years can it still compete in the RPG arena?
If anything, Chrono Trigger shows how ahead of the curve it was back in 1995. Even by today’s standards it easily stands amongst the other games in the genre, despite this version not getting the 3D effect that Final Fantasy IV got. It essentially looks like the original game which fans of the classic will love, but those who haven’t might think it looks far too dated to be a DS title…which is unfortunate because underneath the sprites lies a deep and challenging RPG that any fan should enjoy.
The story of Chrono Trigger is gripping and keeps you going that bit further, I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t played it yet…but it has some great moments that will stand in the history of the genre for years to come. You can move Chrono with the d-pad or with the stylus, I personally prefer to use the d-pad but at least they offer you the choice to use one or the other. Combat can either be quick-paced or turn-based depending on your tastes, which are a nice inclusion and mixes things up for veterans of the original, while offering newbies a choice of combat that suits them better. It’s a good combination and makes up for the game’s small shortcomings.
The areas in the game are simply amazing and you will grow to love the characters as you progress, it’s just an outstanding example of how far ahead the game was, like it was before it’s time. Back then a lot of people appreciated it, but now a lot more can since it’s on a more modern system and one as popular as the DS. The addition of a new dungeon almost makes the game worth buying again for those who have played the classic to death, and also including wireless play is just the cherry on the cake. Square-Enix knows how to please its loyal fans and it’s with games like this.
The soundtrack is just fantastic and adds to what is an amazing game which will last you a long time. It’s not a game that you will complete quickly, its great value for money when compared with the shorter games that are commonplace today.
The Verdict
Chrono Trigger was and still is a classic RPG. It’s simply astonishing from beginning to end and any RPG nut cannot claim to be one without playing this great game.
