Approved Chrono Trigger review (taken from one I made in gbatemp)

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

The gameplay in regards of combat is fairly traditional, you can choose what actions the characters do like attacking, using spells (or techs as this game calls them), use items or flee. Player controlled characters and CPU controlled enemies will take turns performing actions, as specified by either player. A battle ends either
1) when one team is killed,
2) when one side runs or
3) a special condition is met (an event or cutscene takes place). It has the atb battle system introduced that Square introduced in final fantasy IV, which is basically real time combat, but you can configure it so you can take your time choosing your characters' actions.

However, it does bring some innovations to the jrpg genre like the fact that you can see the enemies outside of the battles and you can (most of the time) avoid them; the fact that in most battles enemies move over time and several of your techs get affected by their positions, and the fact that you can combine two or even three of the characters' techs.

I dont really have much to say about the overworld, although i'd say the locations and the dungeons are well designed.

The game has a "new game+" feature that allows you to start a new playthrough with the stats and items from your previous playthrough, this most likely exists to achieve the different endings that the game has, since the ending you get will depend on the point in the story at which you fight the final boss, since the latter is accessible at almost any time in the game. This encourages replayability since players would want to see all the endings the game has and also to probably check some stuff they missed in a previous playthrough (Although even the first playthrough is easy).

The soundtrack (composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu) is phenomenal and the songs do play at the right moment in the game. Some of the game's best songs are "Corridors of Time", Frog's theme and "Singing Mountain".

The visual aspect of the game is not far behind either, with sprites, scenes and backgrounds that are pleasing to the eye and art done by Yasuhiko Kamata, Masanori Hoshino, Tetsuya Takahashi and the late Akira Toriyama.

Later ports of the game bring several improvements such as being able to run by default instead of always holding down the run button; a record of all endings, enemies, and items obtained/defeated through playthroughs; a treasure atlas that serves to see the locations of objects; a menu to play the game's songs and pre-rendered 2D scenes made by Toei Animation.

 

[Tonberry]

I think this is really nice review! Very concise and to the point.
The only thing I might point out is that I would like to read something about your thoughts on the story, since narrative tend to be a big part of RPGs.

Good stuff still!

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

I think this is really nice review! Very concise and to the point.
The only thing I might point out is that I would like to read something about your thoughts on the story, since narrative tend to be a big part of RPGs.

Good stuff still!

I think the story is quite good overall

 

[tropicalavera]

I think this is a good start to your writing career, but I'm not gonna pull any punches!! You're getting feedback D

Overall I think you're not putting much of yourself into your writing - mostly sticking to plainly spoken descriptions of mechanics, features, and generally going for a sort of objective product review for consumers. And that's fine!! - maybe that's what you like to read!! (and maybe it's what you want to write!!!!) But I think you should try and write about your experience with the game - what you like about it - what the artwork reminded you of - why you like those particular songs in the soundtrack - and all of the stories that go with that.

If you want some homework then I'd say take this line:

I dont really have much to say about the overworld

and prove yourself wrong!! You DO have things to say about the overworld!! What would you say if that was the question on the end-of-year test and you HAD to answer it?? Start small - aim to write 333 (3 is the magic number) words just about the overworld in Chrono Trigger and see what you can come up with.

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

what you like about it - what the artwork reminded you of - and all of the stories that go with that.

I like the whole game minus the fact it can be too easy, and the art style reminded me of Dragon Ball

 

[tropicalavera]

I like the whole game minus the fact it can be too easy, and the art style reminded me of Dragon Ball

but why did you like it? how was it too easy? when did it get easy? what could have been changed to improve the experience for you?
Broadly speaking, I think you would benefit from expanding on your thoughts as you write.

And for clarity, I'm suggesting that you engage in a more subjective, personal approach to games writing because of your subject matter. If you were talking about some obscure retro title that few people had covered then maybe your current approach would be solid - but with something like Chrono Trigger - a game that has been written about ad nauseam - you should aim to deliver a fresh perspective; your perspective.

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

but why did you like it? how was it too easy? when did it get easy? what could have been changed to improve the experience for you?
Broadly speaking, I think you would benefit from expanding on your thoughts as you write.

And for clarity, I'm suggesting that you engage in a more subjective, personal approach to games writing because of your subject matter. If you were talking about some obscure retro title that few people had covered then maybe your current approach would be solid - but with something like Chrono Trigger - a game that has been written about ad nauseam - you should aim to deliver a fresh perspective; your perspective.

Its hard to be comunicative when you are introvert

 

[tropicalavera]

Its hard to be comunicative when you are introvert

you just gotta practice! Don't sweat it - writing is sorta THE introvert medium.

 

[Mr. SyS]

You know how the Playstation version is notorious for it's load times? Messing around with emulator settings can make that disappear or you can enable fast disc speed on a PS2 or PSP.

 

[starseeker300]

You know how the Playstation version is notorious for it's load times? Messing around with emulator settings can make that disappear or you can enable fast disc speed on a PS2 or PSP.

yep, ps1 is the worst way to play the game, addition of load times and none of the qol from later rereleases

I think the story is quite good overall

Chrono Trigger is my favorite game of all time, and also the only game I'd give a 10/10 score to. Glad you tried and liked it as well!

 

[miguk miguk]

yep, ps1 is the worst way to play the game, addition of load times and none of the qol from later rereleases

Personally, I prefer to play the DS version. Just the improvements to the translation alone are worth it, even with all the concessions they made to the nostalgia-obsessed Ted Woosley fans who reject the original JP script. The monster arena was a fun little addition as well, though I know some people didn't like how it could effect balance. (Pro-tip: just don't go to the monster arena or equip the prizes. It's entirely optional.) Plus the post-game, while not as good as it could have been, was still a nice little addition. And you get the FMV and beastiary, so there's nothing you need the PS1 version for.

 

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

Personally, I prefer to play the DS version. Just the improvements to the translation alone are worth it, even with all the concessions they made to the nostalgia-obsessed Ted Woosley fans who reject the original JP script.

Ted Woolsey was never a good translator

And you get the FMV and beastiary, so there's nothing you need the PS1 version for.

Except that the ds has slightly worse sound

 

[starseeker300]

My Rankings of Chrono Trigger Versions
1.) DS - overall best way to play game
2.) Steam - Slightly worse than DS in terms of qol, but much more accessible.
3.) SNES Original - If you want the Original Experience, good luck finding a copy for a reasonable price though ?
------ versions below this line are no longer recommended -------
4.) Playstation 1 - Worse Version of SNES, though it does also have the FMV's, which are nice but so does DS
5.) Mobile - Terrible UI, im not even sure if this version is still available legitimately tbh

Ted Woolsey was never a good translator

I wouldnt go that far, he was necessary for the time, he helped square get off the ground in the west with more natural in english sounding translations, but yeah better translations have come out since then, and the DS/Steam translation is the best in my opinon as well

 

[miguk miguk]

Ted Woolsey was never a good translator

Except that the ds has slightly worse sound

He was an okay translator given the limits imposed on him (NOA content rules, character limits, anti-anime guidelines). His translations were an improvement over the "a winner is you, this story is happy end" translations that were common before. And he rarely pulled the kind of beyond-the-pale garbage that Vic Ireland did. (Note the lack of slurs and racism in his translations.)

That said, his methods are outdated. Completely rewriting Frog so that he talked nothing like anyone from his time period was just inane. He added jokes where they were not, and eliminated jokes where they were. ("Vinegar is in a pickle" doesn't make sense when you don't even call him Vinegar.) He gave a name to the one purposely nameless character (yes, "the fiendlord" is a more correct translation) and removed Jina's name (Chrono's mom) for some odd reason. And changing Grandleon to Masamune was not only incorrect, but basically went backwards from common guidelines of the time (which for once were correct).

Unfortunately, some of those are still partially or entirely in the DS version. But it did reduce the problems with his translation, and the main plot is better detailed.

As for the sound, it's a small price to pay for a better version. The load times, UI improvements, and translation all make it more worthwhile than the PS1.

 

[starseeker300]

5.) Mobile - Terrible UI, im not even sure if this version is still available legitimately tbh

so i went and check and as of right now its still available on google play and apple stores

 

[Jeanfranc]

Ted Woolsey was never a good translator

Indeed, he wasn't good translator, he was a great translator

Post automatically merged: Feb 2, 2025

The gameplay in regards of combat is fairly traditional, you can choose what actions the characters do like attacking, using spells (or techs as this game calls them), use items or flee. Player controlled characters and CPU controlled enemies will take turns performing actions, as specified by either player. A battle ends either
1) when one team is killed,
2) when one side runs or
3) a special condition is met (an event or cutscene takes place).

I mean that's basically every dragon quest-inspired (Wizardry actually) jrpg combat system

However, it does bring some innovations to the jrpg genre like the fact that you can see the enemies outside of the battles and you can (most of the time) avoid them; the fact that in most battles enemies move over time and several of your techs get affected by their positions, and the fact that you can combine two or even three of the characters' techs.

You could say that Chrono Trigger popularized avoidable enemies on the field but it wasn't exactly a new thing by 1995, Romancing Saga did it first on the same console in 1992.

 

[Spike's iconSpike]

Thanks for your submission @Xdqwerty
Welcome to the guild!

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Welcome!