When Chrono Trigger graced the SNES in 1995, it soon became one of the medium’s most beloved games of all, well … time. Today the game still shines as an epitome of the RPG genre, combining all the right gameplay, visual, and auditory elements into a meticulous balance that brings the player just shy of nirvana. Last year the game was imported to the Nintendo DS, and after craving that nostalgia like a hero itching for adventure, I finally plunked down the cash for the handheld console and curled up with the old school game laced with a modern twist.

The amazing soundtrack and lush graphics are sure to knock you off your feet from the start, especially now that the DS offers a clean, organized way to play the game. By implementing both screens, menus and maps are constantly ready at your convenience, providing a user-friendly experience that puts the emphasis on the gameplay rather than the technical set-up. Fans of the old style will still be able to switch the view to the original, one-screen mode, and those interested in the new presentation can enjoy the game without the obligation to use the stylus.

Chrono Trigger’s combat system leaves plenty of RPG games in the dust. Using real-time sequences instead of random battles—a feat that took strong series like Final Fantasy years to implement—your party of three can unleash physical attacks as well as techs, which offer a wealth of both impressive attacks and magical, elemental moves that operate offensively, defensively, and as a means of healing. As you progress, your party will be able to work together to dish out an arrangement of dual and even powerful triple techs—knocking your foes off their feet.

The game doesn’t come short of enemies, either. Besides the baddies you’ll encounter as you explore the always unique, epoch-influenced landscapes, tough challenges consisting of multiple opponents and boss battles are thrown your way. You’ll often be bombarded with these sequences one after the other, but despite the intimidation, the game thoroughly understands the line between difficult and just plain grueling. Chrono Trigger rarely crosses into that dark threshold, as it makes sure you have plenty of items, experience, and save points between you and the more ferocious of tasks. When you do find yourself stumped, the solution usually comes down to a matter of strategy.

Weapons and armor, as well as your inventory, are neatly categorized. As far as weapons are concerned, each party member specializes in a certain type—Lucca uses guns, Chrono is best with swords, etc.—which makes it easier to pimp out your group to an optimal level. When it comes to items, the only downside seems to be the lack of descriptive labels on key items—but then again, a little mystery never hurt anyone.

The DS version tosses in an abundance of new gameplay while padding your inventory, too. The Arena of Ages, Lost Sanctum, and Dimensional Vortex easily offer enough additional hours to double the main quest length—giving the player the chance to bulk up in preparation for Lavos. However, these extras can quickly become an exercise in laborious frustration, so be careful how long you stick around those lazy Reptites and troublesome dungeons.

Chrono Trigger’s story never falls flat. It remains, throughout the 20-25+ hour investment, impressively told with quirky, memorable characters. The ability to swap dialogue-interactive party members with ease, travel to various time periods, finish countless side-quests, and achieve different endings puts meat on the game’s already formidable bones. Considering the plot revolves around time-traveling, the game could have easily slipped into the abyss. Instead, Chrono Trigger remarkably manages to weave an intricate, dynamic tale of a world you shape through the course of time while never straying from the domain of well-constructed simplicity. If you do happen to commit any time or reality paradoxes along the way, you sure as hell don’t suffer under the mind-bending weight. So forget the confusion and headaches. Just go with the flow.

Do You Remember is an ongoing effort at Spawn Kill to showcase some of the great and often forgotten titles in gaming history. Be sure to check back every Thursday for the newest edition of Do You Remember.

[Ed. Note: WITA.  also known as Stephanie Carmichael, is currently a guest writer at Spawn Kill! We can guarantee you'll want to sink your teeth into more of her work, which you can find here at her personal blog, Impulse Creations, RadNerd, and scattered all over the place at GEN! Thanks for stepping in, Stephanie!]

Tags: Chrono Trigger, Nintendo DS, SNES

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am and is filed under DS, Editorials, Retro. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.