Chrono Trigger

Creator(s): Squaresoft (now Square-Enix) | Release: 1995

Chrono Trigger is a turn-based RPG that is considered to be one of the best video games of all time and a timeless classic due to it’s polished and innovative gameplay mechanics as well as it’s art style.

It was a dream project developed by 3 designers that Squaresoft dubbed the “Dream Team” and which consisted of:

• Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of the Final Fantasy series)

• Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball)

• Yuji Horii (creator of the Dragon Quest series)

Story: Masato Kato

Score: Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu

• “Chrono Trigger - Main Theme”

• “To Far Away Times”

• “Yearning of the Wind - World Map Theme 3”

Gameplay

• “Active Time Battle” system

• No random encounters with combat occurring on the map

• Enemy location during battle can affect the range of attacks

• Characters can work together to perform double and triple techs

• Time travel mechanics featuring the same over world at 6 different time periods

• New Game+ feature which allowed players to replay the game with their current levels and equipment

• 14 multiple endings

Chrono Trigger was initially released on SNES but has been ported to several different consoles over the years with additional content.

I recommend playing the 2008 DS version as the definitive version. The DS re-release contains all of the bonus material from the 1999 PlayStation port (i.e. anime cutscenes created by Akira Toriyama’s Bird Studio, “Extras” menu for viewing cutscenes, artwork, music, techs, enemies, bosses, endings, and item locations) but also added features to the DS including a more accurate and revised translation by Tom Slattery and multiple quality of life features (i.e. a dual-screen mode which clears the top screen of all menus and makes use of the DS’s touch screen, a self-completing map screen, a default "run" option). Masato Kato participated in development of the re-release and helped develop additional content which includes:

• Arena of the Ages

• Lost Sanctum

• Dimensional Vortex which features a new final boss (Dream Devourer) and new ending that further foreshadows the events of Chrono Cross

• Additional ultimate weapons are also added and found in the Dimensional Vortex areas: Dreamseeker (Crono), Spellslinger (Lucca), Venus Bow (Marle), Apocalypse Arm (Robo), Dreamreaper (Magus)

• Additional Details

  Chrono Trigger features 7 party members; each has their own endgame side quest that unlocks their ultimate weapon.

  Time Periods

  • 1000 A.D. - Present | 600 A.D. - Middle Ages | 2300 A.D. - Future | 1999 A.D. - Day of Lavos | 65,000,000 B.C. - Prehistoric | 12,000 B.C. - Antiquity | End of Time

  STRATEGIC COMBAT

  Some battles require more strategy in terms of timing and tactics rather than a brute force approach:

  • Dragon Tank

  • Guardian

  • Heckran

  • Zombor

  • Masa & Mune

  • Nizbel

  • Magus

  • Azala & Black Tyranno

  • Giga Gaia

  • Son of Sun

  • Mammon Machine

  • Queen Zeal

  • Lavos (cycles through 9 boss mechanics)

  • Lavos Core & Lavos Bit

  • Optional Boss: Spekkio @ level 99 (his form changes depending on how strong your team is)

  The Epoch is a time travel machine that the group receives from Balthasar and allows them to travel through time. Dalton steals the Epoch and adds wings to it, transforming it into the Wings of Time before you steal it back.

  CRONO’S DEATH:

  • After Queen Zeal awakens Lavos in 12,000 B.C., Crono sacrifices himself to save the party from being killed by Lavos. Gaspar gives you the Chrono Trigger which will allow you to embark on a side quest to go back to the time of Crono’s death and save him.

  RECRUITING MAGUS:

  • After defeating Dalton, you can confront Magus on the North Cape and are given the choice to either fight Magus or spare him. Fighting him will result in Frog being changed back into a human at the end of the game. Sparing Magus will result in him joining your party.

  SUN STONE

  • Lucca’s endgame side quest involves rejuvenating the Moon Stone with sunlight into the Sun Stone. This involves giving beef jerky to the Mayor’s ancestors for free which leads to the downstream effect of making the Mayor a loving and kind person because of how he was raised. This will allow you to recover the Moon Stone.

  FIONA’S FOREST

  • Fiona’s forest side quest involves telling Fiona to plant the seeds in 12,000 B.C. instead of burning it and Robo helping Fiona’s descendants in 600 A.D. to till the land (which can be seen on the overworld). Returning in 1000 A.D., a lush forest is seen and Robo is revived.

  PROMETHEUS:

  • Robo’s side quest reveals that his real name is Prometheus which is referenced in Chrono Cross as the Prometheus Circuit.

  Easter Egg(s)

  • Crono can adopt cats at the Millenial Fair by winning the 80-point game at the fair which will lead to Crono’s room getting filled with cats.

  • Magus’ henchmen derive their names from Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath, Slash from Guns N' Roses, and Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers.

• A Guide to Crono's Decision at Millenial Fair

  TRIAL SCENE: After rescuing Marle in 600 A.D. and returning to the present, Crono is put on trial where your actions from the beginning of the game at the Millenial Fair affect how the trial plays out.

  1) After bumping into Marle, talk to Marle first instead of going for the pendant right away

  2) On the left side of the fair before the area that contains Gato, there's a parcel on the table. This is a man's lunch; don't eat it.

  3) On the right side of the fair, there's a little girl who is looking for her cat. The cat is located on the left side of the fair and will follow you if you interact with the cat once (not twice) and by walking (not running) back to the girl.

  4) Take Marle to go buy some candy, and let her take her time by waiting patiently by her side until she is done.

  5) Show Marle’s pendant to Melchior the merchant, but refuse to sell it to him when he asks.

• Kidnapped by Dalton

  KIDNAPPED BY DALTON

  After Crono’s death, add Ayla to your party before being captured by Dalton. This will allow you to do battle despite having your equipment taken because Ayla’s weapon is her fists. Without Ayla, you have to sneak through the vents to find your equipment without getting caught or entering battle.

• Saving Lucca's Mom

  • Occurs after the Fiona sidequest

  • Lucca enters a red time gate and goes back in time to 990 A.D. and is given the opportunity to save her mom from losing her legs from one of her dad’s inventions. This involves inputting the code: L Triangle R Triangle into the machine using the controller. This code is Lucca’s mom name Lara.